Ask anyone who is doing business in the produce industry in the Boston area and they will tell you it is a unique marketplace, filled with both opportunities and pitfalls. The key is to stay ahead of the curve.

That is the approach officials at Peter Condakes Co. will tell you has worked for decades as the company first established itself and thrived in the region.

Food waste in the fresh produce sector was the focus of an International Fresh Produce Association virtual town hall meeting in late December with two major retailers weighing in on their desire to be part of the solution.

Symbolizing love and growth, 1-800-Flowers.com has named the peony and the philodendron as its 2024 Flower and Plant of the Year.

Grower Alliance was coming off two successful industry events in early November, emboldened about its growth plans for the future.

“We had a great IFPA Global show,” said Michelle Ramirez-Jacobson, owners representative. “It was our first time exhibiting there, and we made a lot of great contacts. We took 28 growers with us, and most of our long-time growers already registered for next year.”

GrubMarket has completed the acquisition of Miami-based A&B Tropical Produce, a well-respected fresh produce business best known for sourcing tropical and exotic fruits and vegetables such as plantains, yellow yams, yuca, avocados and dragon fruit from producers domestically and from 11 countries across Central America, South America and the Caribbean. A&B currently sells over 50 commodities to nearly 100 foodservice and wholesale customers across the U.S. and Canada.

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