When you have more than 4,700 stores in the United States and thousands of produce SKUs needed on a daily basis, a well-functioning supply chain is clearly the life blood of the world’s No. 1 retailer.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture wants everyone to know that the state’s produce industry is alive and well and even registering an uptick in fruit and vegetable production.

Overall, North Carolina is losing some farm acreage to housing and urban sprawl as the population continues to increase. In raw numbers, the state registered the third highest increase in population (140,000) in the United State in 2023. In percentages, its 1.3 percent growth rate over the past two years is fifth highest among the 50 states.

I consider myself the perfect produce department shopper. The produce manager should roll out the red carpet when he or she sees me approach with my reusable shopping bags in hand.

I buy a lot of produce, and I go shopping at least three days a week, which is a function of working from home for the past 25 years. Grocery shopping is a nice break. Fresh produce is typically about 50 percent of my food buy for what is now a family of three.

David Weinstein arrived in Los Angeles when he was six months old and except for college has spent his 75 years working and living in the town with organic produce being his chief calling card.

An overflow crowd of well over 200 industry members listened to a dynamic panel of women retail leaders trace their unique paths and leadership philosophies in their specific careers at the Jan. 24 Northern California luncheon meeting of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council.

While rain has recently fallen in all three significant North America strawberry-producing regions, enough volume is expected for the always-popular Valentine’s Day promotions.