The Kroger Co. and 80 Acres Farms, a leading global vertical farming company, are working together to bring fresh, clean produce to more households.

80 Acres Farms has been a supplier to Kroger since 2019, starting with a single store in downtown Cincinnati and growing to more than 300 stores across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky in 2021. The company plans to serve about 1,000 Kroger stores across the Midwest and Southeast.

Peruvian grower-shipper Agrokasa and its U.S. sales division Pacific Produce (PacPro) LLC implemented a grove-to-retailer service this year that proved highly successful and will be offered to others next year.

Isabel Tavera, vice president/sales director for PacPro, revealed that the service was trialed on one container with one retailer in 2022. For 2023, it has been expanded to 30-40 containers to that same retailer.

“We call the program Delta Avocado and it is a ‘technical sell,’” Tavera said. “We work with the customer from the grove to the store.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture filed an administrative complaint against Heyvel Produce LLC for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. The company, operating from Texas, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to one produce seller in the amount of $405,163 from June 2022 through July 2022.

MINNEAPOLIS — Providence, RI-based United Natural Foods Inc. hosted its 2023 Conventional Winter Show Aug. 8-9 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The show brought together more than 2,000 grocery retailers, providing them with face-to-face access to approximately 500 of the company’s suppliers and vendors.

The Conventional Winter Show showcases UNFI’s expansive portfolio of products, merchandising strategies and insights to help retailers drive sustainable growth and profitability in their businesses.

Ethan Williams has been promoted to Vanguard International USA LLC's vice president of global sales and marketing.

“This is another important day for Vanguard International and Vanguard Direct as we continue to make structural changes designed to reinforce and grow the business for the Group as a whole,” said Dirk Winkelmann, president of Vanguard International and Vanguard Direct.

The Kroger Co. announced a commitment to offer more resources to more associates following the completion of its proposed merger with Albertsons Cos.