United Natural Foods Inc. unveiled a selection of new, innovative products and solutions designed to help food retailers drive growth and profitability during the upcoming winter holiday selling season.

Nearly 1,400 customers visited more than 850 exhibitors at the company's Winter & Holiday Selling Show at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville, CT. The two-day event featured UNFI’s full breadth of fresh, natural, organic and conventional products as well as its complement of retail services, technology, insights and solutions.

Catania Worldwide is continuing to grow.

“We are consistently expanding our reach and product line,” said Mario Masellis, vice president of sales and marketing for the company. “We are always looking to improve ourselves — reaching new customers, expanding product lines and continuing to strive for vertical integration. It has been an exciting new era for growth at Catania Worldwide.”

Over the past year, the company has seen a great deal of challenges due to El Niño, climate change and economic factors, things that have kept the entire produce industry on its toes.

The Texas International Produce Association and the Houston Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association announced a strategic partnership aimed at fortifying and enhancing the produce industry in Texas.

This collaboration brings together two influential organizations with the objective of unifying the voice of fruit and vegetable businesses in Texas, while supporting the advancement of those businesses specifically in the Houston-region.

Michigan farmers cultivate a plentiful array of fruits and vegetables, with the summer season marking a significant uptick in harvest. June ushers in favorites such as strawberries, asparagus and peas. By July, cherries and blueberries are abundant, accompanied by popular vegetables like carrots and celery and a month later, the state is flush with raspberries, apples, cabbage and cucumbers.

As a floral professional, knowing how couples spend their money on weddings can help make the best marketing decisions for a floral business. Rio Roses compiled some valuable insights into wedding spending trends, with a particular focus on flowers.

Advertising is all about selling product — it’s an attitude really.

Advertising promotions are used primarily to draw consumers into stores. This strategy is meant as a fishhook with various items and prices used as bait to persuade customers into making additional purchases other than just advertised specials. That’s the name of the game.

Advertising is relied upon for success in business. Whether on television, radio, social media or print publications — it is what fuels consumer spending, which stimulates economic growth.