Joseph A. (Joe) Hynes, longtime food industry consultant and founder of Joe Hynes Consulting Co., died March 9, of complications from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Mr. Hynes met his four-year ALS challenge with unwavering courage and dignity, while never losing his sense of humor and always encouraging his vast network of contacts to “live in the now.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Vietnam has granted market access for California peaches and nectarine effective immediately. Eliminating the phytosanitary barriers keeping California peaches and nectarines out of the Vietnamese market required multiple rounds of technical negotiations over the course of several years.

Though California experienced significant rainfall during the spring growing season, the sweet potato crop was not adversely impacted, with Bakersfield, CA-based Country Sweet Produce expecting a very good summer crop for its well-known Bako Sweet brand.   

Industry friends Buzzy Heroman, Steve Neubauer, Greg Royer and Ken Young have established a memorial tribute through the American Floral Endowment honoring William (Bill) J. Gouldin, Jr., who died June 19, 2024, at the age of 75.

In June, the Southeast Produce Council's Next Generation Leadership Academy embarked on an extraordinary journey in central Florida, blending transformative leadership experiences with unique educational opportunities to explore the revolutionary role of artificial intelligence in agriculture.

Walmart opened a new 730,000-square-foot perishable distribution center in Lancaster, TX. The new facility, located 15 miles south of Dallas, receives and processes fresh produce, eggs, dairy, flowers and frozen goods for delivery to nearby Walmart stores. The new PDC is Walmart’s second Lancaster-based facility, following the next generation fulfillment center that opened in 2023.