Produce is rarely the first, or second or, even, third thing people think about when talking about New York state.

However, the state, home to nearly 20 million people and the shining towers of New York city, is actually a major player in a number of key produce categories and plays a huge role in providing fruits and vegetables to people throughout the northeast and even the entire country.

The New England Produce Council Inc. announced that Tom Murray, the president of its board of directors, will be retiring effective Sept. 1. Murray has been a pivotal figure in the council's growth and success over the past four years as president and prior to that as a board member for 13 years, totaling 17 years of esteemed service to the NEPC.

Pure Flavor introduced new sustainable packaging options, including 100 percent compostable mesh bags and recyclable paper trays. These options maintain the high product visibility and freshness that consumers love, making it easier to make the eco-friendly choices without sacrificing convenience.

Recent consumer reports highlight the growing preference for sustainable packaging:

Brighter Bites partnered with Lakeview Farms to host Peppers with a Purpose at IDDBA’s 60th trade show to raise funds and awareness for the nonprofit’s mission.

Target plans to roll out a new generative artificial intelligence tool to team members at all of its nearly 2,000 stores by August. The tool, called Store Companion, is a GenAI-powered chatbot designed by Target that can answer on-the-job process questions, coach new team members and support store operations management. Target is currently piloting the tool at about 400 stores, using the teams' feedback to improve the experience ahead of the chainwide rollout.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will resume inspections of avocados and mangos in the Mexican state of Michoacan, according to Ken Salazar, U.S. ambassador to Mexico.