Coming off Cathy Burns’ State of the Industry address last month in Anaheim, CA, we all heard loud and clear the importance of taking action with policymakers. While there is a lot of noise within the federal government at the moment, many quieter regulatory and scientific efforts that impact the way Americans eat continue.

Philip Joseph Margiotta, who dedicated his life to his family’s very successful wholesale produce business — originally known as M. Trombetta & Sons and now known as J. Margiotta Co. — died Nov. 18 in New Rochelle, NY. He was 99 years old.

Several companies have announced recalls of cantaloupe that has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99 people have reported illnesses across 32 states, with 45 hospitalizations and two deaths connected to the Salmonella outbreak.

Whole cantaloupes have a “Malichita” or “Rudy” sticker with the number 4050 and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique.” Trufresh, Crown Jewels and Pacific Trellis announced recalls of whole melons.

The Chilean Cherry Committee, which represents more than 85 percent of the volume of global Chilean cherry exports, released its second estimate for 2023-24, which factors in the impact of rains this season. The committee forecasts global exports of 81.48 million boxes (five kilogram each), a decrease of 14.6 percent from their first estimate in October, and slightly lower (1.89 percent) than last season's total exports.

What is Kurt Zuhlke’s objective at the New York Produce Show? It is to connect and even reconnect with retailers and repackers and get them more familiar with the idea of product reuse.

The president of Kurt Zuhlke & Associates, a nine-person Bangor, Pa.-based company that produces 44 different packaging molds, Zuhlke has been on what seems a lifelong mission to explain to everyone and anyone that benefits of recycled packaging.

After 27 years in the produce industry, Michael Muzyk, Baldor Specialty Foods’ longtime president, is saying goodbye.

Muzyk announced earlier this year he would be retiring at the end of 2023. Over the course of his career, he’s made a huge impact on the business. Baldor had just a handful of trucks when he first started, and today it has 2,400 employees with 420 routes, serving 13,000 customers, from Maine to Virginia — much of that success coming from his leadership.