Westfalia Fruit named Raina Nelson president of its U.S. operations as of the end of August. Nelson, a well-known trailblazer in the global produce industry, will succeed outgoing President Art Bruno, who is retiring after six years at Westfalia Marketing USA.

Progressive Produce announced Andy Webb as its director of sales and business development for the company's citrus division.

Summer just got a little bit sweeter with J. Marchini's 2021 fig crop. J. Marchini Farms, Joe’s Premium fig season began with the Breba crop in the beginning of June, which is the first short crop that only lasts for a few weeks. Now they are kicking off their main fig crop, which will be going from August to October and includes three different varieties: Black Mission, Brown Turkey and Kadota.

The Kroger Co. and ghost kitchen industry leader Kitchen United announced a partnership to offer customers freshly prepared, on-demand restaurant food.

"Our customers' appetite for fresh, on-demand meals continues to accelerate, and we remain focused on offering new and innovative products that provide anything, anytime, anywhere," said Dan De La Rosa, Kroger's group vice president of fresh merchandising "Our partnership with Kitchen United taps into restaurants' growing use of off-premise kitchen space to increase customers' access to their favorite foods."

Wisconsin red potato harvest is under way at Alsum Farms in Grand Marsh, WI, with the first potato loads being washed, graded and packed for fresh market delivery to distribution centers and retail grocers the first full week of August.

“We are having ideal weather for the first harvest of red potatoes this summer at Alsum Farms,” said Larry Alsum, president and CEO of Alsum Farms & Produce in Friesland, WI.

Stemilt’s Artisan Organics peach and nectarine season continues to thrive through these hot summer months with excellent quality and “some of the best flavor” to date, said Brianna Shales, Stemilt marketing director. Retailers can load now to boost their category for the weeks to come and delight consumers around the country with some world famous sweet and juicy organic stone fruit.