The Organic Trade Association, based in Brattleboro, VT, has named Kyle Mathison, Stemilt Growers co-owner and grower, as its Organic Farmer of the Year for 2013.

Mathison, 60, farms apples, pears and cherries on Stemilt Hill in Wenatchee, WA, and also has cherry farms in Bakersfield, CA, and Chile. He has been farming fruit organically since the late 1980s and was one of the first organic growers to use an integrated organic program in his orchards. He also deploys innovative farming techniques, such as the use of fish oil and compost, in order to grow his fruit.

The Fresh Grocer, an eight-store chain owned and operated by Patrick J. Burns, will be joining Wakefern Food Corp. as its 50th cooperative member.

The Fresh Grocer has six stores in Pennsylvania, one in Wilmington, DE, and one in New Brunswick, NJ. Burns brings with him 25 years of experience in the supermarket industry and 17 years serving as the president and chief executive officer of The Fresh Grocer.

Weather is always the caveat in agriculture, and that is particularly true on the shoulders of the strawberry season, either early or late. This year, according to Carolyn O'Donnell, marketing director for the California Strawberry Commission in Watsonville, CA, weather took its toll on the early season in Southern California. Since then, “the weather has been really great." Coastal growing areas have escaped the extreme heat felt farther inland this summer.

WASHINGTON — Importers along with food companies will have to share the responsibility of food safety for the first time under far-reaching food import regulations proposed July 26 by the Food & Drug Administration.

The FDA released two long-awaited proposals to implement FDA Food Safety Modernization Act that will change the importation of foods.

Shaw’s announced it will be closing six stores throughout New Hampshire no later than Sept. 2, 2013. The company stated that it does not have any current plans to close additional stores, but this news comes a few weeks after Shaw's announced six other store closings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Murrieta, CA-based West Pak Avocado welcomed LEE DANESHAVSKE as its first intern for a new summer program launched this year.