The COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency on March 13 and it continues to be a challenge; however, Publix estimates its sales for the three months ended Sept. 26 increased approximately $1.25 billion or 13.4 percent due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The company’s sales for the three months ended Sept. 26 were $11.1 billion, an 18.3 percent increase from $9.3 billion in 2019. Comparable store sales for the three months ended Sept. 26, 2020 increased 16.5 percent.

Sev-Rend is pleased to announce the addition of James (JC) Nyssen as its new Pacific Northwest Sales Manager

Bringing JC Nyssen on as the Pacific Northwest Sales Manager lines up with Sev-Rend’s goals to further service its clients in the produce industry with high-performance packaging. This move allows Sev-Rend to further support the ever-growing fresh produce industry.

MountainKing Potatoes is doubling down on efforts to fill orders of its smaller-sized varieties as retailers brace for packing capacity issues due to a recently authorized fourth round of purchases for the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program, continued consumer stockpiling during COVID and an increased demand for in-home cooking during the holidays.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge and World Trade Bridge seized methamphetamine valued at nearly $21 million in a shipment of vegetables.

“The trafficking and production of methamphetamine has increased substantially over the past year, causing drug traffickers to become more creative in their methods of smuggling their product into America,” said Acting Port Director Andrew Douglas, Laredo Port of Entry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on First Fruits Holdings LLC, doing business as Four Rivers Onion Packing, in Wake Forest, NC, for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include barring the business and the principal operators of the business from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

The sales of bagged avocados have been on an upward trend for the past couple of years and they received an extra boost because of the novel coronavirus as the sale of almost all packaged or bagged produce registered gains. Seemingly, consumers are attracted to product that is insulated against repeated touching by other shoppers.