The Southeast Produce Council hosted a special reception on March 8 for its inaugural class of the Next Generation Leadership Academy during SEPC’s Southern Exposure conference March 7-9, in Tampa, FL, marking the completion of the year-long program. This program is designed for up-and-coming leaders in the produce industry, to develop purposeful leadership styles.

Baldor Specialty Foods announced that Satyan Parameswaran has joined the company as chief digital and innovation officer.

Arable Capital Partners LLC, a leader in sustainable food and agribusiness investing, made a strategic investment in Progressive Produce LLC. Founded in 1967, Progressive Produce is one of California’s premier produce companies, specializing in potatoes, onions and asparagus.

“With strong brands and presence across multiple channels, as well as top-tier leadership, Progressive Produce is an outstanding addition to our portfolio that is positioned for continued growth and success,” said Derek Yurosek, managing director of Arable Capital Partners.

ProducePay launched a new Visibility solution to provide fresh produce marketers and retailers full transparency of produce shipments from the field all the way to their final destination.

February online grocery sales ($7.9 billion) were down 10.5 percent compared to 2023, according to the most recent Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopper Survey. Lower average order values were the central catalyst driving the downward year-over-year sales trends as ship-to-home dropped 15.4 percent and pickup fell 12.8 percent. Delivery, the only method to expand sales, was up 4.7 percent, aided by a strong rebound in monthly active users versus last year.

It is a time-honored tradition for suppliers of product — be it fresh produce, consumer goods, apparel or pretty much anything else sold at retail — to make the trip to Bentonville, AR, to talk to a merchant representing Walmart.