The U.S. Department of Agriculture imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

Church Bros. Farms announced that Jennifer Lind has joined the company as director of business intelligence and analytics. Lind brings over 20 years of produce industry experience to this newly created position, blending expertise in sales operations with data-driven decision-making. She will lead the advancement of the company’s AI-driven processes in demand planning, customer segmentation, and revenue optimization.

Top execs driving retail innovation — the winners of International Fresh Produce Association’s Retail Merchant Innovation Award — will be recognized at the Retail Awards Reception on Oct. 18 at the Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta. 

Wakefern Food Corp. successfully hosted its 2024 Wakefern Showcase Sept. 18 and 19 at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center in Edison, NJ. Bigger and better than ever, the event provided a valuable opportunity for Wakefern members and more than 2,500 retail associates to explore nearly 300 vendor partners and the extensive range of services and innovative solutions the cooperative offers its members and wholesale customers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture imposed sanctions on American Fruit & Produce Corp. in Miami 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.

Mission Produce Inc. recently held its 12th annual golf tournament to raise funds for The Mission Foundation. This year’s event took place at the Moorpark Country Club in Moorpark, CA, and brought together 160 participants from around the globe to raise more than $100,000.