Launched in 2016 as the first fresh produce trade show devotes entirely to the organic sector, the Organic Produce Summit is still blazing the trail as it will host its ninth annual event in Monterey, CA, July 9-10. Though this year could have marked its tenth show, the 2020 OPS had to be cancelled because of the COVID pandemic. It hardly missed a beat coming back strongly as ever in 2021 and continuing to set attendance and exhibitor records every year since. It will not surprise anyone if more than 1,800 attendees and 200 exhibitors participate in this year’s event. More than 300 retailers

C&S Wholesale Grocers LLC and SpartanNash Co. have entered into a definitive merger agreement in which C&S will acquire SpartanNash for a purchase price of $26.90 per share of SpartanNash common stock in cash, representing total consideration of $1.77 billion, including assumed net debt. The transaction price represents a 52.5 percent premium over SpartanNash’s closing price on June 20, of $17.64, and a premium of 42 percent to its 30-day volume-weighted average stock price as of June 20. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. SpartanNash’s

Morning Kiss Organic is comprised of DiSilva Fruit, Gold Bell and Arrowfarms, a family of companies headquartered in New England and proudly supplying high quality organic fruits and vegetables over the last 50 years. Utilizing state-of-the-art production facilities located within the heart of New England’s major food hub, Morning Kiss Organic is committed to providing solutions and value for its retail partners and consumers. These facilities are used for packaging all varieties of potatoes, onions, citrus, vegetables and other commodities. “We are proud to be your Northeast connection for

The International Fresh Produce Association is partnering with leading industry insights firm Technomic to spotlight key findings at the upcoming Foodservice Conference. This session and panel will offer an in-depth look at how emerging health-focused trends are shaping menus, consumer demand and the growing role of fresh produce in today’s foodservice landscape. Technomic’s report reveals a shift in consumer expectations, particularly among members of Gen Z, who are increasingly driven by cravings and seeking foods that feel “real” and “wholesome” rather than traditionally “healthy.” This is

Equitable Food Initiative celebrated Pollinator Week by launching a free toolkit with educational resources, downloadable graphics and actionable tips to raise awareness and assist with supporting pollinator populations. A toolkit focused specifically on pollinators is a first for EFI, adding to its robust library of materials designed to support safer, healthier and more sustainable food systems. The toolkit, which highlights not only honeybees and butterflies but also lesser-known pollinators like bats, beetles, birds, moths and flies, is available at equitablefood.org/pollinator-week. One

Do you realize how much of a difference it would make if produce department employees fully understood merchandising strategies for organic produce? Those employees could probably sell extreme volumes of organic products without batting an eye. What’s trending in the fresh organic produce trade? Where has this category been and where is it headed? How do we progress further? Organic produce sales grew in 2024 to $9.5 billion, which was a 5.7 percent increase over the prior year and is 12 percent of the total overall produce sales. Organic sales have been stable at 12 percent for the past few