North Bay Produce, a powerful cooperative of 31 grower-owners representing more than 1,000 farms from around the world, markets and distributes fresh fruits and vegetables 52 weeks a year.

Some produce managers inform me that by expanding organic displays and placing some of the more popular items on an end cap, they are moving more of the category tonnage. That’s great news.

Most think the unsung heroes of the produce industry are farmers. While that is true, they also include those who deliver our food — and I’m not talking about Instacart or Grubhub.

Very few of us pay attention to the truckers on our highways who transport our food from point A to point B, much less what it cost to do so.  While the below figures don’t account only for the transportation of produce, they do provide a glimpse into the going volume and rates of transporting our produce across the nation.  

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. recently won Overall Food Innovation of the Year in the 2024 Mindful Awards for the company’s new Del Monte Precious Honeyglow, an innovative personal-size fresh pineapple that weighs less than two pounds and offers an extra sweet taste and radiant golden hue.

At Wada Farms, there has been a lot of focus recently toward sustainability and having its initiatives line up with other retailer and foodservice leaders.

“Our use of innovative farming practices to produce high-quality produce remains at the forefront of our priorities,” said Eric Beck, director of marketing for the company. “We focus on environmentally friendly agricultural practices while maintaining the highest standards of quality. We want to ensure that potatoes will be a mainstay on everyone’s table for generations to come.”

The Center for Produce Safety’s recent two-day annual Research Symposium was a resounding success, featuring a powerhouse audience and groundbreaking produce-safety news.

Held June 18-19 in Denver, CPS’s 15th symposium drew a full house of industry producers and processors, domestic and international regulators, public health officials, and other produce-safety leaders.