Latest News From Northeast (U.S.)

Greenhouse grower Little Leaf Farms has confirmed through recent Nielson data that it was cited as the bestselling packaged lettuce in New England, surpassing field-grown brands.

Hydroponic spinach and leafy greens grower BrightFarms has penned an exclusive licensing deal with a fellow indoor grower, Element Farms, to launch a branded spinach line across 190 Giant Co. stores.

The Pennsylvania-based fruit marketing company is launching its Eastern apple season with ginger gold, Honeycrisp and mcintosh varieties, and it expects peak supply from November to January.

Expect to see some new faces on New England Produce Council’s two boards: the executive board and board of directors.

William Hogan is bringing over 20 years of experience in financial management and private equity to lead the greenhouse grower’s accelerated growth and expansion.

The brand is currently offering organic mini watermelons, organic cantaloupe and organic honeydew melons from Mexico and California to its East Coast customers.

Northeast and mid-Atlantic distributor Baldor Specialty Foods is expanding its leadership team by adding two specialty foods industry veterans in vice president roles.

Indoor vertical grower AeroFarms is transferring its Newark, N.J., commercial operations to its commercial farm in Danville, Va., so that the New Jersey location can handle R&D operations.

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — Amid the white baby grand piano, dozens of chandeliers and a chocolate fountain, members of the Eastern Produce Council met at EPC's John J. Jay McAleavey Annual Gala.

Wakefern, which had record sales of more than $18 billion in 2022, is a retailer-owned cooperative including the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market banners.

Kevin Benson and James McKinnis bring decades of produce industry experience to the Maryland-based wholesaler's growing sales team.

Springworks Farm, a certified organic aquaponic greenhouse company based in Lisbon, Maine, has received a $22 million round of fresh funding that will fuel the company’s regional expansion.

NEW YORK — When the invitation from Bowery Farming appeared in my e-mail inbox, a tingle of excitement sparked in me.

Multiple growing regions in North America have strengthened the availability of the crunchy, flavorful apple variety this winter, despite crop shortages in Washington.

The national children’s education-based nonprofit anticipates serving an additional 250 families in the D.C. area.

With almost 40 years of experience directing sales teams, Jay Schneider will lead the New Jersey sales office and drive business strategy for the Los Angeles-based company.

See who was at EPC's 8th annual Apple Picking Event Oct. 8, at Melick Farm in Oldwick, N.J., established in memory of Joe DeLorenzo, former EPC president.

FreshDirect is starting its first loyalty program. The Bronx, N.Y.-based company trucks deliver fresh produce and groceries directly to homes across metropolitan New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

A new location and updated schedule, as well as an appearance by the “Jackie Robinson of women’s hockey,” are all on tap for NEPC's upcoming expo.

Milton, N.Y.-based Hudson River Fruit Distributors, an East Coast apple supplier, has added a fourth-generation family member, Marcus Albinder, to its staff.

"Each year has its own challenges,” New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher told attendees at the May 24th Eastern Produce Council barbecue at Demarest Farms, Hillsdale, N.J.

Move over, blueberry pie: Chelsea Consalo, executive vice president of Consalo Family Farms and Fresh Wave, Vineland, N.J., loves to bake this blueberry pie.

They're baaaaaack. About 3,000 people attended the 2022 Baldor Bite show, compared to about 1,750 at the last show.

Eastern Produce Council had its annual Casino Night gala April 9 at Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, N.J.

The fourth Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class — including produce retailer and supplier professionals — saw first-hand the increasing complexity of the produce logistics and distribution system.

After acquiring a lot of new customers, FreshDirect is focusing on strengthening its brand and continuing to build market share, particularly in the New York City metro area.

Produce with superpowers and disappearing packaging: Come be amazed at Arrowfarms' booth at the 2021 New York Produce Show, Dec. 12-16.

Caesar DiCrecchio was sentenced to spend 10-plus years in prison, three years of supervised release and pay $8 million in restitution for defrauding the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market of more than $7.8 million.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture and New York Jets honored Stillwater Township Elementary School at a New York Jets-Miami Dolphins football game at MetLife Stadium for its nutrition and wellness achievements.

Williamsville-based Tops Markets and Schenectady-based Price Chopper/Market 32 have completed a merger, enabling the combined companies to maintain separate brands with the benefits of scale and efficiencies.

The youngest generation handling business for their family companies at Hunts Point Produce Market weigh in on what trends they’re seeing in the greater New York City area.

BRONX, N.Y. — You might think weather affects mostly the farmer in the produce supply chain, but Hunts Point Produce Market wholesalers and distributors watch the weather closely too.

It was 1986 when Myra Gordon started as a part-time executive assistant for the newly formed Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association Inc.

Hionis Greenhouses, Whitehouse Station, N.J., provided another learning experience for the third Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class.

While the majority of fresh produce is bought in-store, online shopping carts are filling up with more and more fresh produce too, but there’s a lot of room for improvement.

BOSTON — This food trend forecaster studied serial killers as a criminalist in London before going to culinary school and becoming a registered dietitian — and she has a different way of predicting consumer trends.

Work, with all its transitions and challenges, doesn’t have to define you, but the way you handle those challenges can, said former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson, pro football hall of famer.

Bronx, N.Y.-based Baldor Specialty Foods, which distributes throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, has promoted two executives as a way of streamlining the rollout of future initiatives.

New York City-based indoor grower Square Roots has launched two new salad mixes, entering the $8.1 billion-packaged salads and greens category.

The New York Apple Association is hitting promotions hard this season in these ways.

Lyndonville, N.Y.-based United Apple Sales is experiencing extremes: A great Northeast U.S. growing season so far, and a severely hot Northwest U.S. growing season.

Newark, N.J.-based AeroFarms and Nokia Bell Labs formed a multi-year partnership to identify and track plant interactions at advanced levels with artificial intelligence plant imaging systems.

NEW YORK — New York City will be the first in the U.S. to require people to show proof of vaccination to dine indoors at restaurants. How will this mandate affect foodservice demand from the area's produce wholesalers?

It's National Peach Month! Celebrate with Jersey Fresh peaches.

Ed Harwood, cofounder and emeritus chief science officer at AeroFarms, has died, leaving a legacy of patented innovative agriculture technology and expansion beyond his expectations.

Bronx, N.Y.-based S. Katzman Produce honored the recipients of its 2021 Fifth Annual Scholarship Program at a celebratory dinner with the winners, their families and guests from the company.

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has awarded a grant for trials of early spring, high-tunnel miniature cabbages and sprouting broccoli crops.

NEW YORK STATE — The crops may turn out just fine this year in New York, but that’s about it.

NEW YORK STATE — After such a rollercoaster in 2020, the state’s growers, shippers and marketers don’t know what to expect for 2021.

The next Empire State Producers Expo will be in-person Jan. 11-13, 2022, said Brian Reeves, president of New York State Vegetable Growers Association.