Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc., one of North America’s leading marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, announced the expansion of its organic fresh-cut fruit production in North America, specifically in the United States and Canada. This expansion will allow Fresh Del Monte to continue growing its fresh-cut fruit and organic fresh-cut fruit businesses nationally, while diversifying its variety of produce SKUs.

John Anderson, chairman, CEO and managing partner of The Oppenheimer Group, has been named the recipient of the 2021 CPMA Lifetime Achievement Award. He was honored at the CPMA Fresh Week.

Anderson is known for his strategic vision and outstanding leadership skills. He joined Oppy in 1975 when the company was a single office produce sales operation, earning just a few million dollars in annual revenue. He has since then become a leading grower, marketer, and distributor of fresh produce, generating a billion dollars in sales each year.

Brookdale ShopRite has announced the debut of Fresh to Table, an innovative store-within-a-store concept that delivers a reimagined shopping experience where customers can find fresh, on-trend foods, easy-to-prepare recipes and ingredients, and meal solutions in a variety of grab-and-go formats. Brookdale is the latest ShopRite to introduce the Fresh to Table concept, joining ShopRite locations in Greenwich and Burlington, NJ, and Monroe, NY, that have successfully launched this innovative shopping experience.

As part of CPMA Fresh Week, an April 15 Canadian food industry panel convened online to discuss increasing online sales.

“Online grocery and food sales took the world by storm in the past year, forcing the industry to transform the way it interacts with its customers,” CPMA said in a statement. The featured panel examined “the opportunities for online growth, marketing in a virtual world and what online sales mean for the future of brick-and-mortar retail.”

Mucci Farms has been awarded with the Packaging Innovation Award for its new Naked Leaf Living Basil Sleeve at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s 2021 Annual Convention & Trade Show. The 95th CPMA show was held in a virtual format featuring exhibitors from across the North American produce industry.