The Kroger Co. appointed Greg Foran as CEO, effective immediately. Foran will also join Kroger's board of directors and succeeds Ron Sargent, who served as interim CEO since March 2025. This announcement follows an extensive search process conducted by the board to identify an innovative retail leader with a strong track record of execution at scale.

The Southeast Produce Council announced the recipients of the 2026 Vorhees Vision Scholarship, an award created to recognize and support young individuals who demonstrate a strong entrepreneurial spirit while pursuing their educational goals.

The Vorhees Vision Scholarship honors the legacy of the late Terry L. Vorhees, founder and first executive director of the Southeast Produce Council. Through his vision and leadership, SEPC became — and remains — one of the produce industry’s most valuable resources for education, networking and professional growth.

JOH is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026, marking seven decades of partnership, growth and service to clients and customers across the food industry.

Founded in Boston in 1956 as a small food brokerage, JOH has grown into one of the country’s most trusted independent sales and marketing partners. Today, JOH supports clients and customers throughout the Northeast, north central and Mid-Atlantic regions, backed by over 600 teammates who are passionate about delivering results.

Fresh Farms has announced a new strategic partnership with Sun World International, under which the company will supply Sun World’s proprietary table grape varieties to the North American market as part of Sun World’s global network of licensed marketers.

Through this partnership, Fresh Farms will produce, pack, and market Sun World–branded grapes across its operations in Mexico and South America. Supply will be sourced from Fresh Farms’ own production as well as from a network of trusted grower partners, ensuring consistent volume, quality, and year-round availability.

Some of the most meaningful research opportunities come from stepping beyond the familiar — new environments, new collaborators and new ways of thinking. A new named fund through AFE is designed to make those experiences possible for Ph.D. students in floriculture.

Established in January 2026, the Royal Heins International Floriculture Research Scholarship Fund supports semesterlong international research experiences that help doctoral students grow both scientifically and professionally.

Northland Potatoes has spent nearly eight decades bringing together growers across Minnesota and North Dakota, and as the organization moves through the current shipping season, its role as an advocate, promoter and connector for the region’s potato industry remains as important as ever.