Foodservice sales in the fruit category are an important part of the portfolio for The Chuck Olsen Co., a century-old grower-shipper-packer of fruits in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

Westfalia Fruit is launching premium, 100-percent pure avocado oils, now available in three flavors: plain, garlic and lemon. Westfalia Fruit avocado oils are made from fresh avocados grown and carefully picked in South Africa.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses — Blue Light Produce, Otto Brehm Inc. and E&RRR LLC — 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.

Laura Croff, chief human resources officer of The Raley’s Cos., has retired after 22 years with the company.

Members of the International Fresh Produce Association traveled to McAllen, TX, as part of their Fresh Impact Tour program, hosted by Fox Packaging last May. This program allows IFPA to travel to member facilities, meeting them where they are, making connections and discussing the issues locally and regionally that impact their area.

The Michigan asparagus season concluded one week earlier than usual with ample volume available for summer festivities. To drive sales, the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board enacted marketing strategies, including retail promotions, influencer marketing and digital campaigns that further emphasized the importance of buying local and how that translates into supporting communities one spear at a time.