ProAmpac, a leader in flexible packaging and material science, joined with Scotts Miracle-Gro, Metropolitan Tea and Purition to celebrate receiving five 2023 

Derrick Jenkins, former vice president of produce and floral at Wakefern Food Corp., died April 14 after a battle with cancer. He was 64.

Mr. Jenkins spent nearly 40 years at Wakefern, joining the company in 1982 as a temporary junior accountant for the produce division. He rose through the ranks, working as an analyst, buyer, produce manager, senior produce manager and procurement manager before being named vice president of produce and floral. He retired from the Keasbey, NJ-based company in 2020.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry intercepted 3.52 million fentanyl pills weighing 776 pounds concealed within a shipment of green beans, worth an estimated street value of $21.12 million.

On Monday, at approximately 7:21 p.m., CBP officers encountered a 48-year-old male driver of a tractor trailer, with a shipment manifested as green beans. During initial inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver and cargo load for an intensive agriculture inspection.

For retailers, nothing is more important than having ripe fruit on display each and every day. But is it enough to justify the investment in ripening rooms? Few know the answer to this question better than Gary Campisi, former head of quality control for produce, floral, meat and seafood at Walmart and Sam’s Club.

What’s the importance of having ripe bananas on display for retailers?

The 2023 Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Convention & Trade Show will take place next week at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The exhibit space is sold out, but there is still time to register to attend the event, connect with key industry leaders, and hear from awards recipients.

Here is a snapshot by the numbers: