The Kroger Co. announced July 9 that it has agreed to acquire Harris Teeter Supermarkets for about $2.5 billion, which has led some to speculate that a round of supermarket acquisitions may be in the offing.

Retail mergers seem to be cyclical, and in the past, one merger often seemed to beget another.

FoodLink, a leader in supply chain and commerce solutions for the fresh food industry, announced a series of new customers that have selected its FoodLink PTI supply chain traceability solution for fresh produce.

Retail grocers are requiring new levels information about the origin and history of the fresh food they sell. As a result, growers and shippers of fresh produce are turning to solutions such as FoodLink to simplify compliance with new industry standards for labeling and tracking the food they grow and transport.

On May 14, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed Executive Order D2013-005, directing the Colorado Water Conservation Board to begin work on Colorado’s first water plan “written by Coloradans, for Coloradans.” Under the executive order, the board will submit a draft plan to the governor’s office no later than Dec. 10, 2014. A final plan is to be submitted no later than Dec. 10, 2015.

Jason Turek, partner at Turek Farms in Kings Ferry, NY, said things are a bit damp in upstate New York. “It’s rainy and blah here,” he said. “We had a tropical storm that dumped a lot of rain. Some of the crops have wet feet right now.”

Turek Farms, a multi-generational grower and shipper of fresh vegetables, is located in New York’s Finger Lakes region. Grower operations are also situated in Delaware and Florida. “The vegetable business started with my father, grandfather and uncle in the late ‘60s,” said Turek, who is a member of the family’s fourth generation in the business.

Westmoreland Sales/TopLine, headquartered in Leamington, Ontario, recently announced that Jimmy Coppola has joined the firm as key account manager.

“I will be helping with our current portfolio of partners as well as seeking out that ‘next great partnership,’” Coppola said. “My tasks also include working on our marketing endeavors with input from our entire organization.”

TopLine is one of the largest greenhouse producers, packers and shippers in North America. It is completely grower owned and therefore, Coppola noted, dealing direct with the grower cannot get any easier.

On June 28, Pegi Adam, communication consulting director for the New Jersey Peach Promotion Council in Clayton, NJ, told The Produce News that as soon as New Jersey peaches hit the market in late June and early July, the demand shoots up immediately.

Adam added that this spring has seen large new plantings, especially in Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland Counties.