The Eastern Produce Council announced the members of its 2024 leadership class. A select class of 17 qualified produce professionals will gain experience and knowledge from a wide variety of industry and professional development opportunities. 
 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture imposed sanctions on Heyvel Produce LLC in Pharr, TX, for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include barring the business and the principal operators of the business from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

GrubMarket has completed the acquisition of Salisbury, NC-based Performance Produce. In addition to wholesale distribution, Performance Produce also provides comprehensive 4PL services, including inbound and outbound logistics, warehousing and cold storage, as well as packing and repacking solutions.

Southern Exposure Produce: The Unseen Heroes kicked off March 7 and ran through March 9 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL. On Friday, March 8, after a day of educational sessions, produce industry members gathered at SEPC’s opening gala for an evening filled with music, dancing and entertainment.

With 2023 worldwide revenues of $611 billion, Walmart is still the largest retailer in the world, though Amazon is moving up quickly. Walmart officials report the company employs approximately 2.1 million associates in 10,500 stores in 19 countries. Walmart is also the largest retailer in the United States, with about $500 billion in domestic retail sales across more than 5,200 locations.

The Southeast Produce Council delivered once again as its Southern Exposure show received rave reviews. Record numbers poured onto the expo floor at the Tampa Convention Center, which ran a little longer than previous years. At the keynote address, prior to the opening of the expo, Hall of Fame National Football League quarterback Kurt Warner discussed his journey from stocking grocery store shelves to winning the Super Bowl.