Mann Packing Co. Inc. announced two new products to its existing lineup of fresh produce: the new Veggie Sides and the Better Crunch Lettuce, available now at select retailers.

The Veggie Sides are perfectly seasoned fresh vegetables that are easy to prepare in the microwave and ready in just three minutes. Flavor variations include broccoli with lemon and herb sauce, cauliflower with parmesan pepper sauce and sweet potatoes with a spicy brown sugar sauce. Veggie Sides are now available, and can be found at select SaveMart, Kroger, Walmart, Meijer and Lucky stores nationwide.

Food Lion announced a major step forward today to expand its store network through previously announced plans to purchase 62 BI-LO/Harveys Supermarket stores from Southeastern Grocers. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, which satisfies one of the conditions of closing the transaction of the purchase of these stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Spring was a difficult time for R.C. Hatton Inc., as the company had to destroy a lot of crops like other farmers did, because the foodservice industry had shut down for the most part. But by summer, things seemed to be turning the corner.

As the calendar was about to turn to November, W. Calvert Cullen IV, president of Northampton Growers Produce, reflected on 2020 and was grateful that his company was able to rely on its team and operations to stay going during the pandemic.

“Luckily for us we were considered essential, so everyone has been working every day just like normal, and we’ve been continuing on just like before,” Cullen said.

The Southeast Produce Council has announced that Southern Exposure, which was scheduled to be held Feb. 25-27, 2021, will now take place April 6-8, 2021, following Easter Sunday. This strategic decision was carefully made by the SEPC Executive Committee to ensure that retailer and foodservice members are able to join the highly anticipated event.

While COVID-19 has had a tremendous effect on the produce business and the way people are living their lives, Chuck Weisinger said it’s also another factor that has led to numerous changes in how produce professionals are adjusting to life in the 2020s.