Spring is here and summer is just ahead. That means California strawberries are on tap. California’s ideal climate produces 90 percent of the nation’s strawberries, yielding 1.8 billion pounds annually, and more organic strawberries are grown in California than anywhere in the world.

As the Peruvian avocado industry enters another season of significant shipments to the U.S. market, a major effort needs to be on supply chain education.

Today’s consumers continue to express strong interest in cooking with fresh vegetables, but increasingly busy schedules often make that goal difficult to achieve. Between work demands, school activities, commutes and packed family calendars, many consumers are seeking meal solutions that deliver freshness, flavor and nutrition — without requiring time-consuming prep.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on seven produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and for failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval. 
 
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry: 

Brewster Heights Packing & Orchards, one of Washington state's largest vertically integrated apple and cherry growing, packing and distribution enterprises, has commenced a voluntary Chapter 11 restructuring process by filing petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of Washington.

Wegmans Food Markets kicked off its company-wide Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack scan campaign to raise money for the company’s 53 Feeding America food bank partners.