Viva Fresh has become one of the more important — and popular — events in the produce industry, drawing attendees from throughout the United States and Latin America that are seeking out new business opportunities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

The Fresh CrEd expanded its program to address the needs of today’s evolving produce industry, according to co-hosts Craig Slate and Ed Bertaud and their team. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed an administrative complaint against Safeway Fresh Foods LLC for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. The company, operating from New Jersey, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 13 produce sellers in the amount of $3.86 million from October 2021 through July 2023.

MyLand, a soil health company, honored World Water Day by releasing new data on water conservation benefits achieved through its Soil as a Service offering. The data demonstrates MyLand’s impact on water conservation in the critical states of Arizona and California.  

Meijer provided a $250,000 donation to Damar Services to enhance Damar Village, a high-quality, affordable living community in Indianapolis designed especially for adults living with behavioral, developmental and intellectual disabilities.