Bananas are one of the top-selling items in the produce department every day of the year. The banana supplies are currently sufficient with good quality, according to shippers.

Why are banana ad promotions infrequently seen these days?

It has been a big year for Skip Consalo, CEO of Consalo Family Farms, the Vineland, NJ-based operation that is now on the verge of entering its 97th year of business.

Coming off Cathy Burns’ State of the Industry address last month in Anaheim, CA, we all heard loud and clear the importance of taking action with policymakers. While there is a lot of noise within the federal government at the moment, many quieter regulatory and scientific efforts that impact the way Americans eat continue.

Philip Joseph Margiotta, who dedicated his life to his family’s very successful wholesale produce business — originally known as M. Trombetta & Sons and now known as J. Margiotta Co. — died Nov. 18 in New Rochelle, NY. He was 99 years old.

Several companies have announced recalls of cantaloupe that has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99 people have reported illnesses across 32 states, with 45 hospitalizations and two deaths connected to the Salmonella outbreak.

Whole cantaloupes have a “Malichita” or “Rudy” sticker with the number 4050 and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.” Trufresh, Crown Jewels and Pacific Trellis announced recalls of whole melons.

The Chilean Cherry Committee, which represents more than 85 percent of the volume of global Chilean cherry exports, released its second estimate for 2023-24, which factors in the impact of rains this season. The committee forecasts global exports of 81.48 million boxes (five kilogram each), a decrease of 14.6 percent from their first estimate in October, and slightly lower (1.89 percent) than last season's total exports.