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The Kroger Co. has responded to a lawsuit filed by Albertsons Cos. Inc. following a court ruling blocking a proposed merger.

Sanctions include suspending the businesses’ Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business without USDA approval.

The grocery food index rose 1.6% over the last 12 months, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The USDA has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses in Texas, Florida, New Jersey and Oregon for violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The lawsuit follows recent court rulings blocking the proposed merger of the two grocery retailers.

The ruling, which can be appealed, could jeopardize the deal between the two major grocers.

New Zealand kiwifruit growers have approved expansion of Zespri SunGold kiwifruit acreage to be added throughout Italy, France, Japan, South Korea and Greece.

The November USDA crop production report reported that the potato area harvested in 2024 was 923,100 acres, down 4% from 2023.

U.S. holdings of fresh apples on Dec. 1 were 121.5 million cartons.

Funding will allow states, territories, and federally recognized tribes to purchase locally produced foods for distribution to emergency food providers, schools and child care centers.