After 31 years farming, Tommy Smith, chairman of the Carolina Blueberry Association in Garland, NC, is a little surprised to find his industry has become an overnight sensation.

With blueberries showing category growth across the spectrum and consumption rising annually, what three decades ago was a niche product has in the last few years become a rising-star commodity.

VANCOUVER, BC — Canadian retailer Sobeys Inc. announced May 12 its further entry into the discount arena with the launching of eight discount supermarkets under the "FreshCo." banner in Ontario. Each of the stores was converted from the "Price Chopper" banner, which is another Sobeys' format.

A shortage of supply has created an asparagus market that is about as hot as anyone can remember — and there is no expectation that it will change any time soon.

While the prices might not continue to top $50 for a 28-pound box as they were doing the third week of May, industry experts are saying it could be well into summer before supply and demand get back in harmony.

PHILADELPHIA — Two-and-a-half is a number on the mind of every distributor on the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market. That is the factor by which the distributors' rent will increase when they move later this year to the new Philadelphia market.

Heightened overhead costs give Philadelphia’s receivers one choice: build sales volume.

Paul Villa, owner and president of Great West Produce Inc. in City of Commerce, CA, along with a group of eight other prominent members of the Los Angeles-area business community, had an opportunity to spend a day aboard a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine, the USS Albuquerque, at sea off the coast of San Diego.

Mushroom Good Agricultural Practices were highlighted by the president of the American Mushroom Institute at a May 13 meeting of government agencies in Harrisburg, PA.

AMI President Laura Phelps was one of a half-dozen speakers representing Pennsylvania agricultural interests at the meeting, which was titled FDA Produce Rule Listening Session.