United Natural Foods Inc. wrapped up its Natural & Conventional Spring & Summer Show in Orlando, FL, last week, hosting over 1,000 brands and more than 2,000 customers. The show was the first of four major buying shows UNFI will deliver in 2023 and the first to bring together all natural and conventional products covering every store department and category.

Shows are a valuable way UNFI utilizes its scale, insights, and innovative offerings to help community grocers of all sizes differentiate, grow, and succeed.

During its 16 years in business, Grower Alliance has developed a reputation as a leading grower-shipper of watermelons. It is now taking another step forward in that regard with a new program out of the Dominican Republic.

Michelle Ramirez-Jacobson said Grower Alliance began operations in the DR last year and just received its first load of watermelons on Jan. 23

“In fact, they are going through Customs as we speak,” she told The Produce News on Jan. 24.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture filed an administrative complaint against Vantaggio Farming Corp. for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. The company, operating from California, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to two produce sellers in the amount of $1.16 million from March 2020 through November 2020.

The Creel family celebrated a wonderful New Year's gift when Mary Elizabeth Creel was born Dec. 30, 2022. She weighed seven pounds, two ounces, and was 19.5 inches long.

She is the second child for Stephanie Nicole Creel, known as Nikki, and Bobby S. Creel III, known as Tripp, who live in Crozier, VA. The new baby joins big brother Parker, who is three-and-a-half years old.

Carbon Robotics, a leader in AI-powered robotics, introduced its LaserThinning technology, continuing the rapid innovation of its state-of-the-art LaserWeeder. LaserThinning targets areas where vegetable crops are purposefully overseeded and then thinned for optimal crop spacing, growth and yield. This is particularly valuable for farmers growing any direct seeded leafy green and cole crops — such as lettuces and broccoli.

February is American Heart Month, or Heart Health Month, a time when consumers of fresh fruit and vegetables can prioritize their cardiovascular health.