Tops Friendly Markets has promoted Stanley Alexander to the position of grocery general manager. He previously held the title of grocery supervisor, a role he held for four-and-a-half years. In his new role, Alexander will be responsible for all grocery department functions to include shipping, receiving, auditing, safety, sanitation and KPI metrics. Alexander joined Tops in 2020 as a grocery supervisor. He resides in Batavia, NY, with his wife, Katie, and their five children. Headquartered in Williamsville, NY, Tops operates a robust network of 152 grocery stores spanning New York

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses — GJC Produce Depot, J&T Wholesale and Morales Produce — 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

The American Floral Endowment announced a new corporate sponsorship agreement with QR Zipper, an innovative technology company bridging physical gifts with digital messages, in support of AFE’s Sustainabloom initiative and other industry sustainability efforts. As part of this partnership, $0.01 from every QR Message sold by QR Zipper will be donated to AFE’s Sustainabloom initiative to further their mission of sustainability education, environmental responsibility and industry advancement in floriculture. “This partnership is an exciting step forward in combining technology with purpose,”

Eagle Eye Produce has acquired Baker & Murakami Produce Co., one of the largest and most advanced onion packing facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Baker & Murakami, located in Ontario, OR, is known locally as the “super shed,” with a state-of-the-art operation that features extensive automation, AI-powered grading and sorting systems, and a track record of delivering consistent quality in the heart of the Treasure Valley. Baker & Murakami traces its roots to Murakami Produce, founded in 1969 by Sig Murakami, and Baker Packing, which began in 1972 as part of DeBruyn Produce before becoming

Offshoot Brands has hired Brendan Haslam as director of category management and analytics. Haslam joins the team with over 20 years of experience across market research, consumer packaged goods and the produce industry. Throughout his career, Haslam has built a reputation for strategic leadership in business intelligence, category development and cross-functional collaboration. His global perspective and ability to translate insights into actionable strategies have helped drive sustainable growth for numerous food and beverage companies.

Members of the 2025 Eastern Produce Council Leadership Class received training on FSMA 204 prior to the general EPC membership meeting at Topgolf in Edison, NJ, on April 22. The general EPC membership was also invited to join the Leadership Class at this invaluable seminar. Erik Larsen with TransformIT, a fresh produce supply chain expert, spoke on behalf of IFPA to relate the fundamentals of FDA's new FSMA 204 Final Rule. “The goal of this rule is for the FDA to leverage technology to reduce the time it takes to conduct an investigation from five to six weeks to five to six days,” he said.