Despite a slow start for its colored Bell pepper deal, IPR Fresh is now seeing strong movement and prices for its main commodity and is optimistic the good market conditions will continue through the spring.

Jose Luis Obregon, president of Nogales, AZ-based IPR Fresh, told The Produce News in late January that the deal was delayed out of the gate in early November but started picking up in mid-December and has been going strong ever since.

US Foods Holding Corp. plan to open five new Chef’Store locations in 2024, including its first store in Georgia. The new locations are expected to open in the second half of 2024.

Dole Food Co.'s organic Fair Trade Certified pineapples were named a winner in Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Sustainable Innovation Awards.

The pineapples are grown year-around in Costa Rica according to strict social, environmental and economic standards. Growers receive a fair price for their fruit, and farmworkers are granted an additional dividend with every purchase to invest back in their local communities and businesses as they see fit.

Giorgio Fresh Co., has a long-standing tradition of growing high-quality mushrooms to fit customers’ needs. With years of experience behind its name, Giorgio Fresh knows what it takes to be a success in the mushroom industry.

The company is excited to be headed to Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure again this year, where it will be exhibiting at booth No. 710, and introducing its new Savory Sauté kits.

A Fresh Thyme Market store manager has been charged with embezzlement and using a computer to commit a crime for allegedly stealing at least $750,000 from one of the retailer's stores over the course of about a year.

Zespri has released its final forecast for the 2023-24 season with record per-tray returns forecast for green, organic green, SunGold and RubyRed kiwifruit.

The February forecast has green at a record $9.44 per tray, significantly up from last season’s final Orchard Gate Return of $5.78 per tray.

Forecast SunGold kiwi returns are also at a record level of $12.62 per tray, well above last season’s final OGR of $9.97, while organic SunGold kiwi is at $14.21.