Porcini, Oyster, Chanterelles, Morels, Matsutake, Enoki — What are they? They are the fleshy, spore-bearing bodies of a fungus simply known as mushrooms.

According to a recent study, the first mushroom on Earth grew between 715 and 810 million years ago. Edible mushrooms go far back in ancient times, dating 13,000 years ago — they were first cultivated in China.

With 119 years of providing outstanding service and now led by fourth-generation owners Jake and Drew Billmeyer, Ben B. Schwartz & Sons continues to be a go-to company for produce.

Working from the Michigan Produce Terminal in Detroit, the company’s distribution network reaches most of the United States and into Canada, with an increased presence in Toronto in recent years.

Soon, the company will be heading to the Viva Fresh show where it expects a lot of great things to happen.

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 Grant J. Hunt Co. has added Paul Divis, a seasoned produce industry professional, to its sales and marketing team.

Instacart introduced its Smart Shop, which leverages cutting-edge generative AI and machine learning to create a more personalized grocery shopping experience. With Smart Shop, Instacart is making online grocery shopping more intuitive by analyzing customer habits and dietary preferences to surface the most relevant products faster.

The Southeast Produce Council is introducing The Unseen Hero Award, a special recognition honoring the individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the produce industry moving forward. Whether in growing, shipping, packing, retail or foodservice, these unsung heroes make a lasting impact without seeking the spotlight.