The Packer

Nature Fresh Farms, Leamington, Ontario, has hired Stephanie Swatkow as director of marketing.
AGRO Merchants Group, a global cold storage and logistics company, has added two ripening chambers at its Vineland, N.J., facility.
Despite increased volume this year and lost foodservice business because of the COVID-19 crisis, avocado prices will remain steady through 2020 and into the first quarter of 2021, a new report from Rabobank predicts.
The value of strong relationships between farmworkers and management has never been greater, Peter O’Driscoll and Vic Smith believe.
A bill seeks to temporarily quadruple the fresh produce voucher benefit for participants in the Women, Infants and Children’s program.
Date growers in California’s Coachella Valley had a wild ride this spring.
Peppers should be plentiful from California’s Coachella Valley this season.
Good growing weather this winter should result in some exceptional fruit and vegetable crops out of California’s Salinas Valley this season.
Northwest Cherry Growers, Yakima, Wash., estimates production for this season will be 20.5 million 15-pounds boxes.
Dierbergs and Slice of Earth Farm Stand are new companies to the Market. Del Bosque Farming, GOLDEN BASIL FARM LLC, Gordy’s Market, Kennies Markets Inc., Mariposa Food Co-op, Porter Farms and others have updates.
Harvest of the California cherry crop, estimated at 7 million 18-pound boxes, is underway in southern growing regions near Bakersfield and Fresno.
Fox Packaging, McAllen, Texas, is participating in two organizations to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, How2Recycle and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
The SEPC is transforming its Southern Innovations conference in September with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind, practicing safety measures and focusing presentations on the change caused by the virus.
Kori Tuggle, whose industry experience goes back more than 20 years, has joined Braga Fresh, Soledad, Calif., as vice president of marketing and product development.
What’s the point of creating a breath-taking produce department when the produce is picked up by an Instacart shopper?
Awe Sum Organics, Santa Cruz, Calif., will be starting its Mexican table grape program in mid-May.
Blue River Legacy Farms LLC, Select Berries LLC, Tropical Sales of Florida LLC, and Western Sky Produce LLC are new companies to the Market. Clements’ Marketplace, Okimoto Corp., Sanchez Market and others have updates.
Peruvian avocado exporters plan to ship up to 190 million pounds of fruit to the U.S. this season, and the industry is taking steps to protect workers to ensure a steady supply.
The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association expects summer volume to remain consistent as the crop approaches peak shipments in August and September.
Big cherries are on tap this season for Stemilt Growers.
Cal-Organic Farms, Bakersfield, Calif., is preparing to ship new crop yellow, red and white onions from the Coachella Valley in mid-May.
Fresh-cut fruit provider Fresh Innovations, Stockton, Calif., has a new CEO, Tim Stejskal.
Mothers at berry company Driscoll’s joined to create a series of stories, challenges and tips on surviving — thriving, even — during the pandemic.
When you’re at the grocery store and you see the iconic Green Giant™ Fresh label on potatoes, you might not realize that it’s more than a “jolly green giant” that’s at the wheel.
With up to $2.1 billion for specialty crop producers at stake, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided the first details of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program direct payment plan.
D’Arrigo Bros Co of New York Inc. has been Endorsed. Cherry Hill Super Market and Complete Design & Packaging are new companies to the Market. Country Sweet Produce Inc., Sol Sweet Farms LLC and others have changes.
Credit and financial services company Farm Credit is offering a web seminar featuring produce growers who will talk about the pandemic’s effects on their companies.
Gotham Green, Brooklyn, N.Y., is opening a 30,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse in the Denver area to supply retailers in eight states.
This information, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, shows week-by-week shipments and f.o.b.s for commodities from shipments for the fresh market.
Two universities and an association that represents blackberry and raspberry growers are studying retail strategies and how the pandemic is affecting sales.
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