As Pacific Trellis Fruit marks its 25th anniversary, the company reflects on a quarter-century of delivering premium fresh fruit and leading innovation within the industry.

It appears to be a foregone conclusion that dockworkers at more than a dozen East Coast and Gulf Coast ports will go on strike tonight (Sept. 30) as their contract expires at midnight with the negotiations having stalled months ago.

Though U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), the bargaining arm of the ports, has filed a court injunction to force the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) back to the bargaining table and has also appealed to the Biden Administration to step in and keep the ports open, neither of those remedies appears imminent as the deadline approaches.

Rice Fruit Co. has promoted Alexandra Roberts to the position of vice president of culture and compliance. In this role, she will continue her dedication to ensuring food safety and fostering a responsible and sustainable company culture while expanding her influence as a leader within the company.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses — Assured Edge Solutions, Golden Hills Foods, Zia Onion Sales and Fresh Central Trading — for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

As the leaves change color and the air gets cooler, it’s time for florists to prepare for the always-exciting fall season. Rio Roses explores five ways to prepare flower businesses so they can reap the rewards of a busy autumn.

1. Use Data to Plan for Fall