Fred Scott has joined the managerial team at Summertime Farms as director of sales and marketing. The new position is charged with expanding the sales and distribution of the Des Moines, IA-based line of potato products labeled as Summertime Farms in Iowa and the surrounding Midwest region.

Instacart, one of the leading online grocery platforms in North America, recently released its first "New Year, New Cart" 2021 Grocery Trends Report forecasting the at-home food trends and grocery shopping habits for the year ahead. Combining an in-depth look at Instacart purchase data with a new Instacart survey of 2,050 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll, Instacart's "New Year, New Cart" 2021 report reflects five key shifts in shopping behavior, buying preferences, and food attitudes after nearly a year of COVID-19 pandemic living and cultural shifts.

Communication within every company and association is key, particularly during these times of less in-person time and more face-to-face via app meetings and instant connecting across the internet.

And many marketing campaigns are expanding the digital component to keep association members in touch with each other while at the same time opening new avenues for meeting the needs of customers.

Dole Fresh Vegetables has enhanced its popular line of Dole FreshTakes Bowl Salads with three on-trend new flavors and proprietary new packaging that allows salad lovers to mix — and enjoy — their Dole fresh lettuces, toppings and dressings in the same bowl without spilling.

Albertsons Cos. Foundation is awarding almost $14 million in grants from its Nourishing Neighbors community relief fund to local hunger-fighting organizations in areas their stores serve from coast to coast.

The grants include almost $4 million for 13 large grants to organizations across the United States as part of Nourishing Neighbors’ new innovation grant program, which awards grants up to $500,000 to organizations with innovative projects or new ideas for eradicating hunger.

Early August saw both potatoes and onions from Hailey, ID-based ProSource off to good start to the season after favorable growing seasons and mild harvest weather.