Kwik Lok Corp. has provided $48,000 to organizations as part of a twice-yearly allocation philanthropy program. Organizations chosen for gifts for this allocation are working on COVID-19 recovery or are striving to mitigate impacts of climate change. They demonstrate inspirational efforts that align with Kwik Lok’s ongoing commitment to unlocking opportunity, improving well-being, protecting resources and fostering innovation.

The employers at the Hunts Point Produce Market have reached an agreement with Teamsters Local 202 on a new three-year contract covering 1,400 workers at the Market.  The agreement represents an over 10 percent increase in wages and benefits over the course of the contract, with an average 3.4 percent increase in each year of the agreement.

Teamsters Local 202 members approved their new union contract with the largest raises in the history of its bargaining unit — more than 97 percent of workers voted in favor.

Instacart is terminating about 1,900 jobs. Those expected to lose their jobs complete consumers’ orders at stores and hand them over to others for delivery. The company also announced it has begun testing new pickup solutions with retailers.

According to multiple sources, many of the eliminated jobs belong to workers in Illinois who voted last year to join the United Foods and Commercial Workers union (UFCW). As part of the planned transition, Instacart said it “intends to offer” those affected a chance to apply for jobs with the retail store where they currently work.

Pear Bureau Northwest introduced a turn-key nationwide Aisle of Red Pears display challenge open to retailers of all sizes in the U.S. and Canada, coming just in time for the health-focused months in the new year.

The challenge is simple to enter, with all entries receiving a $25 gift card. To enter, retailers just upload a photo of an eye-catching, 12-square-foot display of red Anjou pears. In addition to all participants receiving a $25 gift card, a $500 gift card for every 50 qualified entries will be randomly selected, with up to 10 awarded.

The North Carolina State Ports Authority is expanding capabilities to better support the North Carolina agriculture industry through a partnership with Scoular.

North Carolina Ports recently received approval from the North Carolina Council of State for a land lease to develop an agricultural transload facility on the port of Wilmington. Council of State approved the long-term lease for Scoular to develop an at-port facility that will receive, store and load agricultural products.

T&G Global named Doug Bygrave as its new chief financial officer, effective March 1. Bygrave will succeed Bastian von Streit, who is returning home to Germany to take up the position of chief financial officer global produce with BayWa AG.

Currently company secretary, with additional responsibility for risk and treasury, Bygrave has been with T&G for over 24 years. In this time, he has held senior finance business roles across the entire business and also run shared services.