This past year Kroger invested $71 million in the Cincinnati area, opening three new stores, performing major remodels at four locations and opening six new fuel centers. The company anticipates investing significantly more money in the area for 2014.

At this point the only two projects that have been approved are a new store in Florence, OH, expected to open in the spring and a major remodel at its Mt. Zion, OH, location.

Market Fresh Produce hired Windsor (Windy) Hall as general manager for Market Fresh Produce-Florida.

Owners at River Point Farms, America’s largest onion producer headquartered in Hermiston, OR, are moving forward with a new business plan including major improvements at the company’s facilities. “We are currently focused on substantial equipment and facility upgrades to be completed over the next 18 to 24 months,” President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Hale told The Produce News.

Located just outside Kearney, NE, M&J Farms provides retailers and foodservice operators locally grown Spanish sweet onions that are hand-sorted and shipped either by bulk or in 50-pound bags.

There could be some major benefits for southern receivers of fresh produce from offshore countries resulting from a new six-month pilot program that kicked off Oct. 1.

The program allows for the clearance of cold-treatment perishables, such as blueberries and grapes from Peru and Uruguay, through south Florida.

The National Weather Service in Hanford, CA, has issued a hard freeze watch for the central and southern San Joaquin Valley of California effective Wednesday night, Dec. 4, through Friday Morning, Dec. 6. Low temperatures are expected to range from 22 to 27 degrees Fahrenheit in most rural areas, which is cold enough to cause damage to citrus crops.