More than five million trays of Zespri’s RubyRed kiwifruit will soon be available for consumers across 16 markets this season.

The increased volume, up from 3 million trays last year as more orchards produce commercial volumes of fruit, will see consumers in Australia, Vietnam and Canada able to enjoy the sweet berry-like taste of Zespri’s RubyRed kiwifruit for the first time.

Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co., part of the Perricone Farms family, launched its new carrot juice – a freshly handcrafted juice that joins the brand’s expanding lineup of premium, non-citrus offerings. The new carrot juice is now available at all Wakefern/ShopRite locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and will be coming to additional grocery partners in the weeks ahead.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses 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 businesses’ principal operators from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

Divine Flavor, based in Nogales, AZ, announced the promotion of Jeremy Giovannetti and David Reyes to key leadership roles within its expanding vegetable division, reinforcing the company’s commitment to strengthening its commercial operations and driving growth across North American retail.

In his new role as director of sales-vegetables, Giovannetti will lead the vegetable division’s commercial performance, overseeing sales and business development while managing the company’s farm-to-market strategy to drive revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

Mark your calendar for April 13. That’s when the celebrated Vidalia sweet onions start shipping. These famous onions will soon fill produce departments across the U.S., ushering in a season that runs from April through early September. I personally can’t wait to enjoy these premium Vidalias in my sandwiches and salads.

During spring, Vidalia onions represent roughly 40 percent of all onions grown in the U.S. This year’s crop promises outstanding quality and impressive sizes. With controlled-atmosphere storage, the harvest lasts all the way to Labor Day.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses 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 businesses’ principal operators from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry: