GrubMarket completed the acquisition of Vernon, CA-based JC Produce, a fresh produce company that sources fruits and vegetables globally, with a focus on South America and Asia. JC Produce sells to hundreds of retail, foodservice and wholesale customers across the U.S. and has a strong reputation as a leader in food-safety practices.

The Arizona LGMA Food Safety Committee has approved multiple changes to the food-safety standards (also known as metrics) that all Arizona LGMA members must adhere to. The changes went into effect Sept. 16, and Arizona Department of Food & Agriculture auditors will begin verifying compliance in November when harvest starts for the 2022-23 season.

Ocean Mist Farms, a leading grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., will appear for the first time at Southern Innovations this year and feature its value-added fresh-cut products for retail and foodservice.

Ocean Mist Farms is a fourth-generation family-owned business located in Castroville, CA, but Sept. 21-23 Southern Innovations attendees can find the company in booth No. 611.

Seven Seas, which is a member of the Tom Lange Family of Cos., is anticipating a 20 percent growth in its Peruvian asparagus imports this season.

Veteran produce salesman Tracy Wood joined the company five years ago and continues to help grow the imported asparagus program from both Peru and Mexico. He noted the company sources from both countries of origin with Peru supplies typically occupying the space from mid-April to mid-January and Mexico asparagus dominating sales from mid-January well into spring.

It will be 10 years in April since colleagues Patricia Compres and Maria Bermudez used their experience clearing agricultural products through customs to launch Advance Customs Brokers & Consulting LLC with its office in Miami.

Today the company still operates out of Miam but clears freight throughout the country.

“We’re continuing to grow every year,” said Bermudez.

“In the past year we have grown 10-12 percent,” said Compres, noting the company’s business has more than doubled since they started.

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.”