O.C. Schulz & Sons Inc. understands a vital key to success is simply doing the right thing, for a long time. Longevity is synonymous with the fifth-generation family potato farm, which has made a name for itself growing, packing and shipping spuds from the Red River Valley.

Schnuck Markets Inc. announced Jada D. Reese will lead the company’s human resources team as the new chief people officer. Reese will begin her new role on Jan. 30 and will bring to Schnucks 26 years of professional experience, including human resources leadership roles at BJC Healthcare, Express Scripts and Anheuser-Busch. She most recently held the role of senior vice president, human resources at Enterprise Bank & Trust.

United Natural Foods Inc. expanded its Wild Harvest private label organic produce line with more than 40 new offerings available nationwide. Since its 2022 launch, the Wild Harvest organic produce line has enjoyed significant growth as consumers have come to rely on the brand for their eating occasions.

With a preseason estimate of 29.5 million bushels via the USDA August report, the Michigan Apple Committee, based in Lansing, MI expected this year’s crop to beat that estimate by several million bushels. “Based on conversations with industry members and looking at storage reports for the year so far, I’m thinking the crop size is closer to the mid-30s [million bushels],” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee.

The California table olive industry commended the U.S. government’s Jan. 12 decision to implement the World Trade Organization ruling on Spanish olives in a way that upholds U.S. law and safeguards a fair U.S. marketplace, while also complying with WTO rules.

J.G. Hall & Sons is one of the largest private, potato grower-shipper-packers in North Dakota’s Red River Valley. Jackson Hall, manager and partner at the fourth-generation family farm, said, “We’re only packing our own potatoes, we follow them from field to end product.”

J.G. Hall & Sons, based in Hoople, ND, operates 6,500 acres of red and yellow potatoes for the fresh market. “We have had a very good season,” said Hall. The company reported an above-average crop with excellent yield and Hall said, “We’ll be busy late into spring, maybe into the summer.”