The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses — Fresh Life, Dukarani Food Processing, New Start Produce Group and Nationwide Foods — 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.

These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

Solar Shrink, a patented mulch film, offers great advantages to growers including being a “greener” product that is easier to use, cheaper to apply and more effective.

“The industry needs a fully recyclable product that doesn’t make the grower suffer in terms of costs and use,” said Neil Weisensel, marketing manager of consumer and industrial segments at Charter Next Generation, which is the manufacturer of the product.

Natural Grocers, one of the largest family-operated organic and natural grocery retailers in the U.S., launched its personalized shopping experience designed with the individual customer in mind.

The company expanded free educational services with knowledgeable and friendly personalized shopping sessions.

Carson McDaniel, a third generation member of the family that established and is running McDaniel Fruit Company in Fallbrook, CA, has been elevated to the position of vice president and is now a member of the senior leadership team.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its March Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, March 22 at the Sheraton Cerritos in Cerritos, CA. The luncheon packed in over 200 attendees with members eager to hear from guest speaker Chef Nyesha Arrington.

Two of the larger seasonal melon shippers are joining forces to provide retail, foodservice and fresh-cut customers with year-round supplies of cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and mixed melons.