Indiana

Meijer Expands Regional Footprint With Supercenters Opening in Ohio and Indiana

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:11:27 GMT

Meijer plans to officially open its doors to two supercenters in Indiana and Ohio on May 6.

Both stores will feature a wide assortment of fresh produce and grocery staples, the retailer says, including bakery, meat, seafood and deli departments, a floral area, garden center, apparel and home goods sections. The supercenters will also include a full-service pharmacy with a drive-through option, a health and beauty care section, a pet department, electronics, toys and sporting goods. More details about the stores will be shared closer to the grand openings.

By adding these locations, the family-operated retailer says it will increase its store count to 59 in Ohio and 44 in Indiana, continuing a long-standing commitment to regional growth and community partnerships.

Aurora, Ohio

Meijer, a privately owned, family-operated retailer, plans to open its new 159,000-square-foot Bainbridge Township supercenter at 7300 Aurora Road in Aurora, Ohio, on the site of the former Geauga Lake amusement park.

“The feedback we’ve received from customers about the value and convenience we offer is consistently positive, and we are excited to bring that experience to our neighbors in Aurora and Bainbridge Township,” says Todd Anderson, vice president of the Ohio region for Meijer. “Being part of this historic redevelopment at Geauga Lake is an incredible honor, and we look forward to serving customers at this location soon.”

Ohio was the first state Meijer expanded into outside of Michigan. The retailer employs more than 14,000 team members statewide at stores and its distribution and manufacturing facilities in Tipp City.

Since its first store opened in Ohio, Meijer says it has been committed to supporting the causes, events and teams that matter most to Ohioans. In northeast Ohio, that includes fighting hunger alongside the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, supporting community treasures like Cleveland Metroparks and partnering with fan favorites like the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Guardians and Ohio State University athletics.

Brownsburg, Ind.

Meijer plans to open a new 159,000-square-foot supercenter at 9202 E. 56th St. in Brownsburg, Ind. A Meijer Express gas station will open on April 8 adjacent to the store.

“We know value and convenience are key for our busy customers who are stretching their dollars, and our supercenters are a one-stop shop that delivers both every day,” says Jess Murray, vice president of the Indiana region for Meijer. “We are excited to join the Brownsburg community and look forward to opening our doors to customers later this spring.”

Meijer has been a part of Indiana communities since 1994. The retailer employs more than 13,000 team members statewide at stores and its distribution and manufacturing facilities in Middlebury.

Since its first store opened in the state, Meijer says it has been committed to supporting the causes, events and teams that matter most to Hoosiers. This includes fighting hunger with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, supporting community events produced by the 500 Festival and partnering with fan favorites like the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana University athletics, Notre Dame athletics and Purdue University athletics.

Pumpkin yields down in Indiana

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 19:17:09 GMT

By mid-October, one of the telltale signs of fall is out in full force — squat, vibrant orange jack-o’-lanterns adorn front porches and apartment stoops across the U.S. This year, however, it might be a good idea for consumers to pick up their pumpkin sooner than later. Indiana, one of the nation’s top fresh market pumpkin producing states according to the USDA , reports below average yields this October, due to early summer drought conditions.

While Indiana’s reduced output doesn’t amount to a major pumpkin shortage, according to Stephen Meyers, assistant professor of weed science at Purdue University, consumers should expect fewer pumpkins available for this year’s fall harvest. Pumpkin growth relies on well-timed summer rainfall and this past summer set records in Indianapolis as the driest June on record. It also set records in Indiana as one of the hottest Junes in recorded history

“For many farms, the pumpkin season starts [in fall] as they are planted into a cover crop that is going into the ground right now. The cover crop will then be terminated in late spring or early summer, which is when the pumpkins are then planted to time with a fall harvest,” Meyers said in a news release. “For our farm, we planted and didn’t receive much, if any, rainfall for June, which doesn’t encourage much growth for the pumpkins starting out.”

Indiana is one of the nation’s largest pumpkin producers, cultivating around 6,000 acres each year. The majority of Indiana’s commercial pumpkin crop is sold to the fresh market. Large-scale operations often have irrigation systems in case of limited rainfall; however, there can also be a slight benefit to a dry summer, according to the release.

“A dry summer obviously isn’t good for seed germination, but the dryness means there is less disease pressure,” Meyers said in the release. “Pumpkins are susceptible to a number of plant pathogens, but when conditions are drier, that means fewer fungicides have to be sprayed.

13 States Launch New Legal Challenge to California Egg Law

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:04:58 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — More than a dozen states banded together Monday to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to block a California law requiring any eggs sold there to come from hens that have space to stretch out in their cages.

In a lawsuit filed directly to the high court, the states allege that California’s law has cost consumers nationwide up to $350 million annually because of higher egg prices since it took effect in 2015. The lawsuit argues that California’s requirements violate the U.S. Constitution’s interstate commerce clause and are pre-empted by federal law.

A federal appeals court panel rejected similar claims last year in a separate case brought by six states, ruling that they failed to show California’s law would affect more than just individual farmers. The latest lawsuit seeks to address that by citing an economic analysis of the California law. It also asks the Supreme Court to take up the case directly instead of requiring that it first move through the lower courts.

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, a Republican who is running for U.S. Senate in 2018, is leading the lawsuit. Other plaintiff states are Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. All have Republican attorneys general except Iowa, which has a Democrat.

The California attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

California produced about 5 billion eggs and imported an additional 4 billion from other states in 2012, according to the lawsuit. Thirty percent of those out-of-state eggs came from Iowa, the nation’s top egg producer. About 13 percent of California’s egg imports came from Missouri, the second highest percentage cited in the lawsuit.

The number of eggs produced in California dropped to 3.5 billion last year despite rising nationally, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Missouri’s egg production was up 60 percent since 2012 to 3.2 billion last year.

Hawley asserted in a statement that California’s egg law is “a clear attempt by big-government proponents to impose job-killing regulations” on other states.

California voters approved a ballot initiative in 2008 that requires that hens in cages spend most of their day in spaces large enough that they can lie down, stand up, turn around and fully extend their limbs. The measure gave farmers until 2015 to comply.

After California egg farmers raised concerns that they would be put a competitive disadvantage with those elsewhere, state legislators in 2010 expanded the law to bar the sale of eggs from any hens that weren’t raised in compliance with California’s standards requiring at least 116 square inches of floor space per chicken. The industry standard had been 67 square inches.

The California law cites concerns about protecting people from salmonella and other illnesses. But the suing states say such health concerns are unmerited and merely a pretext for protecting California’s agriculture industry.

The lawsuit cites a study from a University of Missouri economist who concluded that the national price of a dozen eggs has increased between 1.8 percent and 5.1 percent since January 2015 because of the California cage requirements. The study said the price increase has added thousands of dollars annually to states’ costs for supplying eggs to prisoners.

The study also estimated that California’s egg regulations have cost U.S. households up to $350 million annually, including about $97 million for those whose incomes are in the lowest one-fifth nationally.

Copyright 2017, The Associated Press

Caito Foods to close fresh-cut business

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:39:05 GMT

(UPDATED 4 p.m.) Caito Foods LLC , Indianapolis, plans to close its fresh-cut facility and discontinue those products.

The decision was caused by a “recent unforeseen cancellation of a customer contract” that makes up the majority of the company’s fresh-cut business, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act letter filed with the state Indianapolis. The letter is dated Feb. 27.

The WARN Act requires companies to provide advance notice of plant closings and mass layoffs; Caito Foods plans to lay off 330 employees with the fresh-cut facility closing, according to its letter.

The letter does not give a closure date for the facility’s shutdown, but employment terminations will be in a two-week period starting about April 27. The name of the fresh-cut customer that cancelled its business was not named by the company.

“This notification does not impact the Caito Foods produce distribution operations which have been the foundation of the Caito business since 1965,” according to a company statement from Meredith Gremel, vice president of corporate affairs and communications at SpartanNash.

SpartanNash acquired Caito Foods in 2017.

SpartanNash’s statement said the decision was made “to support the company’s strategy to deliver locally produced fresh-cut fruits and vegetables to its independent and national account customers, as well as corporate-owned retail stores.” The statement does not clarify the source of the local fresh-cut fruit, or if it plans to source fresh-cut from third-party processors in various markets, and SpartanNash has not responded to requests for comments.

In 2019, SpartanNash closed the Fresh Kitchen operations, Indianapolis, which was part of the Caito acquisition.

Related stories:

SpartanNash to exit Fresh Kitchen operations

Caito Foods grows after acquisition by SpartanNash

SpartanNash acquisition of Caito Foods finalized

Produce from the sky drops to celebrate the new year

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:22:40 GMT

Boise has the Idaho Potato Drop, Vincennes, Ind., has a watermelon drop, Kennett Square, Pa., drops a giant mushroom and now Yuma, Ariz., has a unique way to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

The second annual Iceberg Drop in Yuma features a giant illuminated head of iceberg lettuce , a fitting way to celebrate the area’s status as the U.S. winter production capital of leafy greens and vegetables.

The Iceberg Drop, with the tagline “Lettuce Celebrate,” received some media attention, appearing on a USA Today list of five “most surprising drops” this New Year’s Eve.

In Boise, revelers will be celebrating the seventh annual Idaho Potato Drop , with a giant spud lowered by a crane. Vincennes will have its 12th annual celebration by dropping 20 watermelons onto a “splatform” to welcome the new year. This will be the seventh year for Kennett Square, Pa., to drop its giant mushroom .

Related story:

Naturipe rings in Year of the Blueberry

Iowa Family Honored for Stewardship Efforts

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:01:56 GMT

Glenn and Bev Rowe, owners of Rowe Ranch in Lorimor, Iowa, were selected as one of seven regional honorees of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The award, announced during the 2015 Cattle Industry Summer Conference, recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices employed on the ranch. This year’s regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be announced during the 25th anniversary celebration in January 2016.

ESAP is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation, and is presented to farmers and ranchers who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the farm and ranch land in their care.

“When we bought the land in 1997, most of it was overrun with thistles, locust and cedar trees with very little grass on it. What grass there was, was fescue and other less-desirable forage,” said Glenn Rowe. “Part of it had been farmed for a year, had soybean stubble which didn’t amount to too much and it actually made it a little easier to put new seed in. But, it was a challenge every day.”

The Rowes have partnered with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service on no less than seven projects including rotational grazing, rural water pipeline installation, reseeding and fertilizing after soil testing, internal fencing of paddocks, installing water heavy-use fabric at crossings, and stream bank stabilizations. They maintain at least 23 paddocks, with the largest being 24 acres. Herds are rotated at least weekly and as often as weather conditions dictate. Cows quickly become accustomed to being moved and usually are waiting at the gate to be rotated.

“Our rotational grazing has been a tremendous benefit to the forage production of this part of the country because of it helps us better manage and distribute the grazing pattern of the cattle across the whole pasture,” said Rowe.

Glenn and Bev have transformed nearly their entire property, planting hundreds of trees around their home and dedicating 40 acres of ground to serve as a wildlife refuge planted to trees. Much of their land is managed as grazing land, but about 250 acres is utilized to plant no-till corn and soybeans, which the cattle graze in the fall after harvest. The Rowes have also fenced cattle out of farm ponds and added wide buffer zones to filter water that flows into creeks on the property.

“Our goal is to retain as much of the water on the land as we can and keep it as long as we can before it runs off. If our forage has the opportunity to absorb those nutrients from the water, that helps our forages and it helps the water downstream,” said Rowe. “Hopefully that improves the quality of the water before it leaves our land.”

Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Nearly 1 in 4 Iowa Farmers Use Cover Crops

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 20:55:45 GMT

A new study released by global consulting firm Datu Research reveals that conservation practices such as cover crops and no-till are catching on in Iowa.

According to the study, 23% of respondents are using cover crops. Most are still experimenting in small-scale trials of fewer than 100 acres before committing to adoption on a larger scale. Additionally, nearly half (47%) reported using no-till.

The study’s authors say an important obstacle to wider adoption is the lag time that farmers may face implementing these practices before yield gains occur.

“We set out to find the economic win not just for farmers, but for the businesses they deal with,” says lead author Sarah Mine. “The idea is to find other actors who are willing to share the short-term costs and risks to gain a greater return in the long run.”

Because 55% of farmland in Iowa is rented, Datu looked at the potential economic gain for landowners who rent to conservation-minded farmers. Researchers say that landowners could benefit economically from farmer adoption of conservation agriculture, which can reduce in varying degrees the use of fertilizer, pesticides, fuel, equipment and labor. Crop insurance provides another potential opportunity in light of evidence that conservation agriculture can increase crop resilience to weather threats such as droughts or floods.

The study’s recommendations include researching yield effects of conservation agriculture. Until adequate data on yield increases are available, these practices are unlikely to increase land value, according to Mine.

“Conservation agriculture translates into economic value and environmental sustainability for future generations,” she says. “A fair share of the economic benefit really should accrue to farmers.”

A separate ongoing 12-year study by the University of Illinois has shown that the use of cover crops does not improve crop yields, although it does increase the amount of sequestered soil organic carbon. Soil organic carbon stock gains were 30% higher for no-till, 10% higher for chisel plowed and 18% higher for moldboard-plowed plots.

“This suggests that soil organic carbon stock losses from tillage, water erosion and some disturbance or mixing during no-till planting, aeration, nitrogen injection in corn years and mineralization were less than the soil organic carbon gain from the cover-crop treatment,” says U of I soil scientist Ken Olson.

The published paper is available at http://tinyurl.com/jvvflvz .

What are your conservation agriculture challenges and successes? Share your story on the AgWeb discussion forums.

Taylor Farms announces investment with Pure Green Farms

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 13:15:01 GMT

Salinas, Calif.-based Taylor Farms has announced it has entered the greenhouse growing market with an investment in Pure Green Farms .

The terms of the investment were not disclosed by the companies.

This expansion into greenhouse grown fresh offerings will complement Taylor Farms’ existing 122,200 crop acre field grown program and 16 salad producing facilities across North America, according to a news release.

“We’re excited to venture into the industry of indoor growing with this investment,” Bruce Taylor, founder and CEO of Taylor Farms, said in the release. “Our customer partners have asked for a national solution, and this is our first step.”

Pure Green Farms’ already established facility located in South Bend, Indiana, is a climate-controlled environment equipped with high-tech machinery that grows, packs and ships leafy greens year-round, according to the release.

Pure Green Farms’ first harvest was in March 2020 and operates on a site that can potentially expand up to 300 acres. This operation produces greenhouse leafy green varieties in the most efficient automated greenhouse system, according to the release.

“We are thrilled to work alongside an industry leading company like Taylor Farms,” Joe McGuire, CEO of Pure Green Farms, said in the release. “We know this is just the beginning of a fantastic relationship with Taylor Farms and we’re looking forward to continuing to address the increasing demand for local product offerings.”

Indiana Tightens Manure Regs for Medium-Sized Farms

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:31:48 GMT

Indiana livestock producers with 300 or more dairy or beef cattle or 600 or more swine in confinement will face tightened manure regulations this summer.

Effective July 1, herds larger than these trigger levels will be required to have 180 days of manure storage, up from the current 120-day limit. In addition, no manure can be spread from these operations on snow-covered or frozen ground, according to Tamilee Nennich, a Purdue University Extension specialist.

Indiana will also reduce the phosphorus limit from 400 parts per million (ppm) to 200 ppm. The new limit will be phased in over a seven-year period. The key point in this new standard is that if soils contain more than these limits, livestock producers will not be able to spread manure on these fields, Nennich says. This will likely require producers to haul manure farther when fields exceed these levels.

Smaller livestock operations could also come under these regulations if they have a pollution discharge to waters of the state, says Todd Janzen, an attorney based in Indianapolis, Ind. “Every small livestock operation is only a phone call away from becoming a regulated farm,” he says.

Discharges could come from things such as cattle in streams, a feedlot, manure overflow from a pen into a ditch, silage leachate escapes from bunker silos, or contaminated runoff from field tile.

If smaller livestock operations are applying manure during winter, proposed new rules may require them to apply manure at 50% of normal agronomic rates, on fields with less than 2% slope and on fields with more than 40% crop residues. The key to all of this is to maintain complete and accurate field records of manure applications, Janzen says. Without those records, regulators are unlikely to give smaller livestock producers much leeway should a problem occur.

Indiana Horticultural Conference and Expo returns in person for vegetable, fruit growers

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 04:55:54 GMT

The annual Indiana Horticultural Conference and Expo (IHC) returns to West Lafayette on Jan. 23-24, according to a news release.

Beginners and experienced, small and large vegetable and fruit operators are invited to join Purdue Agriculture specialists and educators for two days of educational sessions and networking with fellow Indiana and Midwestern farmers and vendors, according to the release.

Educational sessions will include topics of small fruit production, apple production, food safety, fresh vegetables, controlled environmental agriculture and business marketing, the release stated. Indiana cider makers will be back in person for the traditional cider contest, and a silent auction will be held to benefit the Fruit and Vegetable Extension and Research Fund. A trade show also will be open to meet vendors of equipment, seeds, irrigation and more.

“After two years of virtual Indiana Horticultural Conference webinars, we are excited to be meeting in person with Indiana and Midwestern fruit and vegetable growers,” Stephen Meyers, IHC co-chairperson and assistant professor of weed science in the Purdue Agriculture Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, said in the release. “Events like this are a great way to connect with and provide updates to the stakeholders and industries we serve. It also allows us to get feedback on where future Purdue research and outreach efforts will have the most impact.”

Certified private pesticide applicators can attend recertification sessions for an additional fee. Participants will need a private applicator license number to receive recertification credit.

Sponsorship opportunities are available here. Registration is open online through Jan. 16. Participants can purchase one-day registration for $50 or two-day registration for $90. Lunch is provided with registration. Onsite registration will not be available. The conference will be at the Beck Agricultural Center, 4550 U.S. 52, West Lafayette, Indiana.

For more information, contact Lori Jolly-Brown, events and communications coordinator for Purdue’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, at 765-494-1296 or ljollybr@purdue.edu.

Top retailers in the Southeast by market share

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:42:31 GMT

Each year, The Shelby Report showcases valuable retail market share data. In the interactive map below, find each major market in the Southeast. Also, highlighted are the major cities in each market.

All markets are “labeled” or identified by their primary state (with metros or key cities). Percentages are estimates based on annualized sales, industry data, institutional research and store footprints. Shares are updated as market metrics dictate and retailers supply their store lists.*

Market shares are for chains, independents and/or the wholesalers (voluntary or cooperative) which supply them within each region’s distribution area, extending well beyond typical metros or CBSAs. Each market is defined by the sphere of distribution, not by a rigid geographic boundary.

Major cities in each market:

Alabama/Florida/Georgia/Mississippi - Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Pensacola, Panama City, Columbus, Meridian
Central Florida - Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Myers, Port St. Lucie
Georgia - Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Rome
Kentucky/Indiana/Tennessee - Louisville, Lexington
Mid & East Tennessee/Kentucky/Virginia/Georgia - Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga
Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama - New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Alexandria, Gulfport, Mobile
North Carolina/South Carolina/Virginia/West Virginia - Charlotte, Raleigh, Roanoke, VA Beach, Charleston
North Florida/South Georgia - Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Tallahassee, Albany, Brunswick
South Carolina/East Georgia - Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, Conway, Augusta, Savannah
South Florida - Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach
West Tennessee/Arkansas/Mississippi/Louisana - Memphis, Little Rock, Jackson, Monroe

Top retailers in the Midwest by market share

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:42:33 GMT

Each year, The Shelby Report showcases valuable retail market share data. In the interactive map below, find each major market around the Midwest. Also, highlighted are the major cities in each market.

All markets are “labeled” or identified by their primary state (with metros or key cities). Percentages are estimates based on annualized sales, industry data, institutional research and store footprints. Shares are updated as market metrics dictate and retailers supply their store lists.*

Market shares are for chains, independents and/or the wholesalers (voluntary or cooperative) which supply them within each region’s distribution area, extending well beyond typical metros or CBSAs. Each market is defined by the sphere of distribution, not by a rigid geographic boundary.

Major cities in each market:

Illinois /Indiana - Chicago, Gary
Indiana/Ohio - Indianapolis, Fort Wayne
Iowa/Illinois/Montana/Minnesota - Des Moines, Sioux City, Cedar Rapids
Kansas/Missouri - Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita, Columbia
Michigan - Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, Saginaw
Western Michigan - Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Traverse City
Minnesota - Minneapolis, St. Paul, Dultuh
Missouri/Illinois/Indiana/Kentucky - St. Louis, Springfield, Champaign, Terre Haute, Evansville, Paducah
Nebraska/Colarado/Iowa/Kansas/South Dakota - Omaha, Lincoln, Sioux Falls
North Dakota/Montana/South Dakota/Minnesota - Fargo
Ohio - Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown
Ohio/West Virginia/Kentucky - Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Toledo, Huntington
Wisconsin / Upper Michigan - Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, Marquette