The New England Produce Council Leadership Class recently visited Stonefield Farm to volunteer with Boston Area Gleaners as part of its community service project.

The group was welcomed by Anna Strickhausen, operations coordinator, who led the volunteers through a morning of weeding leek beds while providing insight into the important work involved in growing and harvesting fresh produce. The hands-on experience gave participants a deeper appreciation for the dedication required to bring fresh food from the farm to communities throughout the region.

Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet announced that Andrea Montagna will become CEO of Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet, effective July 1. Montagna joined Mayda Sotomayor as co-CEO in July 2025.

Sotomayor will step back from her executive responsibilities and continue her involvement with the company as a board member of Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet and advisor to the business.

The transition reflects Greenyard's commitment to continuity and it’s future ambitions in the U.S., building on the strong foundation established by Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet over many decades.

As demand for convenient, healthy produce snacks continues to grow, Wholesum is expanding its Lil’ Ones brand with the official launch of Lil’ Ones Organic Baby Cucumbers at this year’s Organic Produce Summit.

The introduction marks the next chapter for the company’s snacking-focused line, which debuted with organic pearl tomatoes and was designed to make fresh organic produce more approachable, portable and fun for consumers.

Kroger will acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion, which comprises $1.25 billion in cash consideration and the assumption of approximately $400 million in outstanding liabilities. Giant Eagle is a leading retailer with approximately $9 billion in annual sales and 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. 

Today Pure Flavor marked the official opening of its new, state-of-the-art distribution center in Romulus, MI. The nearly 200,000-square-foot facility serves as a central hub for the distribution of the company’s fresh, greenhouse-grown produce and is designed to reduce food miles, improve shipping efficiency and strengthen service for retail and foodservice customers across the region.

Trucco Group, one of the foremost distributors of fresh produce in the United States, and Orsero Group, a European leader in the import and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables formed a strategic partnership that will position the businesses for growth in key markets and create significant operational efficiencies.

Orsero and Trucco have formalized the joint venture with Orsero investing into the share capital of Trucco, bringing together complementary strengths and a shared vision for long-term development in the North American fresh produce market.