Page 109 - Roduce Editorials News Today

BOSTON — The New England Produce Council drew a sizeable and energetic crowd to its 2022 expo, held here Aug. 24-25. And those at the expo — sponsors, exhibitors, attendees and NEPC executives — really liked what they saw. As one exhibitor said on the show floor, "This is probably the best NEPC show that I've attended in my many years of coming."

Instacart launched a new collection of inspirational shopping content and experiences across the Instacart App. Oriented around discovery, these experiences are brought to life with the launch of “The World is Your Cart,” Instacart’s newest creative system featuring GRAMMY Award-winning singer, rapper, flutist and entrepreneur Lizzo.

The Consalo family have been a staple of the New Jersey produce scene for approximately 95 years. Consalo is a trusted name thanks to its dedication to growing healthy, quality fruit and vegetables. Consalo Family Farms offers both conventional and organic produce, specializing in blueberries, citrus, cooking greens, herbs, salad items and hard squash. Its top items in New Jersey are blueberries, wet vegetables, herbs, cooking greens, salad items, eggplant, peppers and squash.

Normally, a demand-exceeds-supply situation, along with the ensuing strong pricing, would be welcome news to a shipper. But when a market is as tight as the current potato market, no one really benefits. “The market is high, supplies are extremely tight and everyone is looking for product,” Art Miller, owner of Epic Produce Sales, which is based in Phoenix and sources a large portion of its potatoes from Colorado, told The Produce News on Aug. 11. “We’re still using our storage crop but ...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture imposed sanctions on Farm Fresh Packers LLC in Pompano Beach, FL, for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include barring the business and the principal operators of the business from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

The Kroger Co. announced the winners of its second annual Go Fresh & Local Supplier Accelerator. The accelerator cohort consists of five new and emerging brands, each selected to join Kroger's Fresh suppliers and enhance the selection of local items available across the Kroger Family of Companies.

With September right around the corner, retailers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are gearing up to provide customers with delicious fresh apples from growers in Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Each year, shoppers eagerly await the arrival of popular varieties, such as the Honeycrisp, Gala, Ginger Gold and Paula Red.

With more than 70 years of history, the roots of Sunview are solid, with three generations having kept the farm strong. The company offers conventional and organic table grapes from the Central Valley of California.

Food costs continue to rise — both eating at home and eating out — and many consumers are desperate to figure out ways to save during these less-than-optimal times. To offset these rising food costs, consumers are bargain hunting when grocery shopping, eating more meals at home and cutting back on restaurant visits, according to Information Resources Inc. and The NPD Group. The two recently merged to create a leading global technology, analytics and data provider.

Mike Hulett has worn many hats throughout his 24-year career in the produce industry, from working on the family farm when needed to brokering fruit to being a grower-shipper to serving as a category director of produce merchandising for the world’s largest grocery chain. Now, he is tapping into that well-rounded background as he looks to reshape Farm Fresh Direct and position it for future growth.