Paul Auerbach, president of Maurice A. Auerbach Inc., in Secaucus, NJ, admits that being in the produce business isn’t easy. He is constantly being thrown curveballs that cause problems and call for adjustment. Nonetheless, his company continues to grow and continues to thrive.

“We have to manage these issues just like everyone else,” he said. “I like to think that the key to our success is that we disappoint less than others.”

Though Peruvian asparagus importer Crystal Valley Foods expects a decline in volume this year, the company’s marketing director, Katiana Valdez, said supplies will be sufficient for holiday promotions.

The pandemic changed a lot of things, not the least of which was the way consumers shop. The likes of Amazon had already made online shopping an everyday event; the pandemic simply sped things up — especially when it comes to buying food.

Now, almost three years later, food retailers are still behind in developing integrated, seamless and personalized experiences across all channels, so says the 2022 Grocery Omnichannel Retail Index findings, recently released by OSF Digital, in partnership with FMI, the Food Industry Association, and NRF, the National Retail Federation.

In years gone by, U.S. importers of Peruvian asparagus would often compete, touting the freshness of their product because they brought the product into the United States via air rather than ocean.  That is rarely the case today as ocean shipments dominate the space.

“Ten years ago, 10 percent of the volume was shipped by ocean and 90 percent by air,” said Walter Yager, president of Alpine Fresh. “This year, I expect 80 percent by ocean and 20 percent by air.”

The Nickey Gregory Co. is gearing up for the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Innovations show, something it has done every year since the show originated as a fall conference in 2001.

MountainKing launched a re-brand of one of its popular, gourmet varietals with the introduction of its Butter Cream Potatoes, available in three-pound poly mesh bags.

Formerly branded as Butter Russets, the newly named Butter Cream Potatoes better aligns with the qualities of the high-flavor, yellow-flesh variety known for its natural buttery and creamy flavor, said Andreas Trettin, marketing director for MountainKing.