United Natural Foods Inc. expanded its Wild Harvest private label organic produce line with more than 40 new offerings available nationwide. Since its 2022 launch, the Wild Harvest organic produce line has enjoyed significant growth as consumers have come to rely on the brand for their eating occasions.

With a preseason estimate of 29.5 million bushels via the USDA August report, the Michigan Apple Committee, based in Lansing, MI expected this year’s crop to beat that estimate by several million bushels. “Based on conversations with industry members and looking at storage reports for the year so far, I’m thinking the crop size is closer to the mid-30s [million bushels],” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee.

The California table olive industry commended the U.S. government’s Jan. 12 decision to implement the World Trade Organization ruling on Spanish olives in a way that upholds U.S. law and safeguards a fair U.S. marketplace, while also complying with WTO rules.

J.G. Hall & Sons is one of the largest private, potato grower-shipper-packers in North Dakota’s Red River Valley. Jackson Hall, manager and partner at the fourth-generation family farm, said, “We’re only packing our own potatoes, we follow them from field to end product.”

J.G. Hall & Sons, based in Hoople, ND, operates 6,500 acres of red and yellow potatoes for the fresh market. “We have had a very good season,” said Hall. The company reported an above-average crop with excellent yield and Hall said, “We’ll be busy late into spring, maybe into the summer.”

With inflation booming and prices rising, families across the country are tightening their belts and seeking ways to stretch their budgets. That’s why Allegiance Retail Services, under the Foodtown and Green Way Markets banners, launched a campaign to inspire and showcase to consumers how they can prepare three healthy, quality meals on a budget of $9 per day, promoted as the $9 a Day Challenge.

Gumz Farms specializes in red and yellow potatoes, along with yellow, white, red and sweet onions, and packing and shipping year-round. Currently, Gumz Farms, based in Endeavor, WI, handles almost 20 percent of the fresh-market red potatoes in the state and grows approximately 40 percent of Wisconsin onions, positioning family farms as a leader in the Wisconsin potato and onion market.