Page 67 - Roduce Editorials News Today

Wakefern Food Corp. is now accepting the Electronic Benefits Transfer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payment method for orders placed via Instacart from its ShopRite, Fairway Market, Gourmet Garage and The Fresh Grocer locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland. The cooperative’s online shopping service, available directly on the banner brands’ websites, also accepts EBT SNAP payments.

The 2022 date season experienced something of a curveball according to Albert Keck, chairman of the California Date Commission. “Tropical Storm Kay came up the coast of California and made a beeline right into southeastern California, so it effected things,” he said. “It was a strange year. We had a lot of storms throughout the season, all the way through Yuma and the Coachella Valley, so we’ve had to deal with the effects of that.” 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture filed an administrative complaint against Fresh Florida Products Inc. for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. The company, operating from Florida, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to eight produce sellers in the amount of $390,603 from May 2021 through February 2022.

Verdant Technologies was awarded the International Fresh Produce & Floral Association Science & Technology Circle of Excellence Award at this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, FL. Each year, the IFPA selects one individual or organization that solves business challenges within the produce and floral industries through the application of scientific and technological advancements to create better products, processes, or value to customers.

Kalera Public Ltd. Co. is  recalling 633 cases of Krunch, Butter and Romaine whole head variety lettuce sold under the Kalera brand because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, Distribution of the product — with lot codes 001293 and 001294 on the label and — was limited to some retail and foodservice customers in Florida. The company has notified these customers and is working with them to ensure consumers do not receive any of the products affected by the recall.

SpartanNash expanded its partnership with same-day delivery service Shipt at company-owned grocery stores across Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio, with delivery in as soon as an hour.

The days of paper shopping lists are nearing an end, and it might not be smartphones that do them in. Smart contact lenses sound like science fiction, but Amazon has partnered with a company to use them to augment the experience of something not particularly science fictiony: grocery shopping.

Side Delights completed a package refresh, showcasing the new line at the recent IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show. The new packaging was well-received and is now available nationally.

“To spend more or to spend less.” Those are the thoughts of consumers ahead of the big upcoming holiday season. As of the end of September the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that food costs are up 11 percent, energy 20 percent, electric 15 percent and gasoline 33 percent for the month ended in September… and the beat goes on.

At the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, folks from Crunch Time Apple Growers were spreading the exciting news that RubyFrost apples would be back in stores in November, just in time for the holidays.