The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on Riba Foods Inc. The company, operating from Texas, failed to make prompt payment to seven produce sellers in the amount of $948,577 for produce that it purchased, received and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from October 2022 to May 2023, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. 

As we close out May and move into June, several high-volume items are still working through supply gaps. Some markets are getting help from lighter school demand, but weather, disease pressure and seasonal transitions continue to limit availability on key commodities. The biggest areas to watch this week are lettuce, lemons, potatoes and avocados.

BJ’s Wholesale Club announced its next wave of new club growth with locations in Kentucky, Florida and Indiana set to open this fiscal year. The new clubs are part of the company’s ongoing strategy to open 25-30 new clubs every two years.

The new clubs will be located in Frankfort, KY; Ocala, Lecanto and Port St. Lucie, FL; and Portage, IN.

This expansion strengthens BJ’s presence in the Florida market up to 46 clubs and grows BJ’s footprint in the recently launched Kentucky and Indiana markets.

Summer is almost here in the Pacific Northwest, and Superfresh Growers is gearing up for the return of its highly anticipated summer fruit lineup, featuring sweet cherries, juicy blueberries and fresh apricots.

The Kroger Co.'s Valerie Jabbar, senior vice president of retail divisions, retired in May after 38 years of service.

Jabbar began her career with Kroger's Fry's division in 1987 as a clerk and rose through a series of progressive leadership roles across multiple divisions, including district manager, vice president of merchandising, division president of Ralphs and group vice president of center store merchandising before assuming her current role in 2021.

In today’s fast-paced world, shoppers want to get in and out of stores quickly. With changing lifestyles and eating habits, customers now look for food options that are not only healthier, but also more convenient, making their shopping experience faster and more efficient.