Page 50 - Roduce Editorials News Today

Hapco Farms, a leading broccoli grower-shipper based in Westhampton Beach, NY, has tripled its broccoli acreage on the East Coast this year. With new acreage in Florida and North Carolina, Hapco Farms said it is now the largest grower of broccoli on the East Coast.

Meijer announced Jan. 26, 2023 as the opening day for its first two Meijer Grocery stores. "By opening Meijer Grocery stores, we're introducing a new way for our customers to shop that provides convenience, value and the great quality our customers have always come to expect from Meijer," said Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes. "Our customers' needs are always evolving, and we're committed to meeting them where they are. That's why we're excited to share...

We are three weeks from Christmas; which commodities are being naughty and which are being nice? The strawberry market, which has seen sky-high prices, declined 5 percent for the first time in months. Strawberry markets typically peak during the early weeks of December and descend steadily as California winds down and Mexico and Florida pick up production. This year has seen abnormally high prices for an extended period due to an early end to the summer season.

It might be too dramatic to say that the avocado has had a rags to riches career over the last few decades, but it’s not an exaggeration to note its meteoric and unprecedented volume growth in that time frame. Virtually everyone agrees that the current cult status of the avocado and its ever-increasing popularity was impossible to predict and a very pleasant surprise. At least almost everyone.

Veteran potato salesman Ken Gad of Cambridge Farms, which is based in South Easton, MA, admits that the current potato marketing situation is very difficult to judge. I'm going right down the middle, he said.  I usually have a strong opinion about what is happening and what is going to happen, but this year I just can’t put my finger on it.

Atlanta is a big city, but it’s also a proud local community. One way many Atlantans express their pride in their city is through their devotion to supporting the local food movement. That is done, in part, through the city’s residents buying produce at the plethora of farmers markets that are located throughout the bustling and exciting city. These markets bring fresh produce and other local goods to the people of Atlanta, who want to eat delicious and healthy foods.

Square Roots and Gordon Food Service opened a new climate-controlled, indoor farm today in Shepherdsville, KY. Since establishing their strategic partnership in 2019, Square Roots and Gordon Food Service have been building indoor farms together across the continent — with the ultimate aim of bringing locally grown food to customers at a global scale. In the past year alone, Square Roots has deployed new, co-located farms on Gordon Food Service distribution centers in Kenosha, WI; Springfield, ...

The International Fresh Produce Association provided a map of its efforts to advocate for improved efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and collaboration at the FDA. The update comes before the Reagan-Udall Foundation is expected to issue a report commissioned by the FDA to provide holistic recommendations to strengthen the foods program. 

Dave Puglia, president and CEO of Western Growers, moderated a grower keynote roundtable that discussed the state of organic growing with panelists Brie Reiter Smith, vice president of product leadership for Driscoll’s, Michael DuPuis, quality assurance and public relations coordinator for Divine Flavor, and Tom Nunes V, president of The Nunes Co. The thought-provoking keynote roundtable explored the perspectives of these purveyors of organic production on topics such as supply chain issues, i...

Southern Specialties has a produce portfolio that includes baby squash, baby carrots and other baby vegetables, as well as broccolettes and clipped greens, all available under the company’s Southern Selects label.   Its main Southern Selects product is asparagus, which it grows, imports and markets in bulk presentations for retail and foodservice and is available in conventional, organic and in value-adding offerings in a variety of pack sizes.