The Kroger Co. launched Kroger Mercado, a Hispanic-inspired brand joining the retailer's Our Brands' roster of products exclusively sold at Kroger Family of Stores. Kroger Mercado's expansive assortment now offers more than 50 products.

For more than 50 years, O.C. Schulz & Sons has been meeting the needs of customers, growing, packing and shipping potatoes in the Red River Valley.

Operating out of Crystal, ND, the company specializes in red and yellow potatoes and utilizes sugar beets, wheat and soybeans for rotational purposes. Currently, it has 1,400 acres of potatoes, with 70 percent reds and 30 percent yellows.

In these inflationary times, consumers are constantly looking for good deals. However, the best way to draw shoppers into the store appears to be the same way it has long been — quality fresh food. At least according to a recent Deloitte survey, Fresh Food at the Intersection of Trust and Transparency.

For more than four decades, NoKota Packers, Inc., has been offering high quality service to the potato industry, storing, washing and packaging table stock potatoes for resale throughout the country.

“The Red River Valley is our home. We take pride in being able to work with growers from the best potato growing area around,” said Carissa Olsen, president and CEO of the Buxton, ND-based company. “Our livelihood is potatoes, being able to be a part of this category is imperative to our existence.”

The Project SEARCH program at Stemilt welcomed four new interns for the 2023-24 school year. After graduating seven interns last year, the Project SEARCH program at Stemilt will continue on helping young adults secure competitive employment by providing real-life work experience and training independent-living skills a second year. This year, members of the Project SEARCH’s Business Advisory Council will be a resource for interns to participate in mock interviews and job shadowing opportunities.  

Valentine’s Day 2024 may seem a bit far away to most, but not to those in the floral industry.

“Right now, we’re gearing up for Valentine’s Day quite a bit,” said Stacy McCoy, mass market director for Continental Flowers. “All of our offerings are set for next spring. We’re working on getting our offerings together for fall and winter 2024.”