The wrath of Hurricane Kay brought heavy rain up the West Coast in California last week, impacting several fruit and vegetable crops. Although the rain was needed, it delayed harvesting and shipping; growers are still assessing their damage.

NASHVILLE, TN — The crowds were out at Southern Innovations 2022. People were seeing new products, they were hearing about new ideas, they were making new contacts, they were reconnecting with old friends — and they were enjoying every minute.

As one participant put it, "It's a great opportunity to come and see what's new. I think every booth [has] something of a little different twist," whether it's a new flavor or new packaging. "That's why it's called innovation. And I think it's great."

WASHINGTON, DC — The International Fresh Produce Association kicked off The Washington Conference on Sept. 26. Following a day of industry council meetings and the inaugural Produce Economic Forum, attendees convened for an opening reception at the Grand Hyatt Washington, in a downtown neighborhood of the nation’s Capital.

Wholesum Family Farms has a long history as a responsible grower and was an early proponent of organic produce. So in many ways, it is understandable that the company was also an early adopter of the Fair Trade movement, which shares some basic tenets with organic production.

“I think that responsible growing is one of the ingrained values we have at Wholesum and the path into Fair Trade certification was part of our evolution as a company,” said Joanna Jaramillo, marketing manager for the Amado, AZ-based grower.

St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets Inc. will acquire two Fricks Market stores in Missouri. One store will reopen as Schnucks, but the second location will remain a Fricks Market, operated by Schnucks, until a new, 23,000 square-foot “Schnucks Fresh” store is completed.

The U.S. fresh produce and floral industries support 2.2 million total jobs across all 50 states and $120.1 billion in labor income, nearly reaching pre-COVID levels, according to an economic impact study conducted on behalf of the International Fresh Produce Association. The report highlights the significant role the industry plays not only as an employer, but as being critical to the U.S. food system.