SpartanNash has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Markham Enterprises, Markham Oil and its affiliates, a chain of convenience stores and fuel distributor in mid-Michigan. Following the closing of this transaction in early December, SpartanNash will continue employment of Markham Enterprises' team members. This is the company's second acquisition this month and third of the year.

Brighter Bites received a $25,000 donation from Sun Orchard, a leading developer and manufacturer of all-natural citrus based ingredient and beverage products, servicing market leaders across the foodservice, specialty industrial and club channels.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agriculture specialists assigned to the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized 14,745 pounds of fresh hog plum and fresh passion fruit last week.

After nine years chairing the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers board of directors, George Gilvesy has chosen not to seek reappointment, which has resulted in the appointment of Steve Peters as his successor, effective Nov. 1.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses — FP & H, J.A. Blurr Farms and H&L Fresh Produce — for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and 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 of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., through its vegetable division Mann Packing, sold its Fresh Leaf Farms brand and operations to First Leaf Farms, a new partnership between the Costa and Nunes families, both prominent leaders in the Salinas Valley produce industry.