Now more than ever customers are looking for contactless options for their shopping experience, and Tops Friendly Markets aims to deliver that with its new Tops Shop + Scan app. Already available in six area Tops locations, this service is now expanding to include stores in Amherst, NY, and Derby, NY.

On March 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced suspension of the South Texas Onion Marketing Order provisions. This action is a result of a referendum held by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service concerning continuance of the marketing order.

National Watermelon Promotion Board held its biannual board meeting virtually on Saturday, March 6 during which board member Jordan Carter was elected president by her peers, becoming the first woman to serve in this position. Prior to this nomination, Carter (District 3, Cordele, GA) served as secretary/treasurer as well as interim president since January 2021.

The Kroger Co. and 80 Acres Farms bring farm-fresh produce to customers across Ohio. Today, the companies are growing their partnership to reach more shoppers in the Midwest — both in store and online.

"Everyone deserves easy access to fresh, affordable, delicious food," said Dan De La Rosa, Kroger's group vice president of fresh merchandising. "This newly expanded partnership means more communities will have just-picked produce at their fingertips 365 days a year. We're proud to partner with 80 Acres Farms as we work together to create a world with Zero Hunger | Zero Waste."

Not only has Avocados From Mexico been named to Fast Company's prestigious annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies for 2021, but it also has been recognized as the No. 1 innovator in the Branding category. The list honors businesses that have found a way to be resilient in the past year and turned those challenges into impact-making processes. This year's list features 463 businesses from 29 countries; AFM's honor follows being named to Fast Company's List of 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators last year.

Vertical farming company Kalera announced that Sonny Perdue, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Georgia governor, will join its board of directors and has also personally invested in the company in the latest financing round. Perdue’s appointment to the board follows the addition of Maria Sastre to the board of directors, as well as Kalera’s acquisition of Vindara Inc., which develops seeds specifically for use in vertical farming environments.