Packaging is one of the most critical elements of the fresh produce supply chain. It plays a key role in protecting food quality and safety, extending shelf life and enabling efficient transportation. However, packaging comes with environmental impacts that growers, retailers, regulators and consumers are increasingly concerned about. Across North America, inconsistent policies, varied marketing claims and fragmented requirements have created a confusing and costly landscape for the fresh produce industry. To address these challenges, Western Growers, in partnership with the Canadian Produce

Titan Farms was named a member of The Ethical Charter Implementation Program 2026 Leadership Circle, alongside 36 other produce suppliers. The ECIP Leadership Circle recognizes companies that have earned all five stars in the online ECIP platform. Suppliers recognized on the Leadership Circle are credibly involved in ECIP LAB because they actively support their grower base, review workplace conditions and ensure continual development in their operations. This recognition reflects Titan Farms’ ongoing commitment to social responsibility, strong labor management practices and alignment with

National Pear Month is right around the corner, and the opportunity for retailers to make category gains this pear season is here. With volumes bouncing back from last year’s down crop year, Stemilt Marketing Director Brianna Shales sees areas of growth in the early season and beyond. “This year’s pear crop is on a positive trajectory in comparison to last season, but with the volume that the industry has now, we should be seeing double-digit sales gains in the U.S.,” said Shales. “Bag retail is what’s going to drive volumes, but we’re not capitalizing on it as well as we could. The price per

A first-of-its-kind analysis covering more than 200 billion grocery purchases and 70,000 U.S. households shows that the typical American grocery basket scores just 48.94 out of 100 on the FoodHealth Score, a new nutrition index developed by the FoodHealth Co.— 55 percent below an ideal score of 88, which indicates a basket aligned with positive long-term health outcomes. These and other findings, developed in partnership with NielsenIQ, are unveiled in the inaugural Health of America’s Grocery Carts report, painting the clearest picture yet of American nutrition and how our food choices vary

Winn-Dixie is expanding its popular in-store Amazon return kiosks to 68 additional locations across 23 Florida counties, giving even more customers a convenient, hassle-free way to return Amazon packages while they shop for groceries. The expansion builds on the successful pilot launch of Amazon return kiosks at 20 Winn-Dixie stores across the greater Jacksonville area, including in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. It also reinforces Winn-Dixie’s ongoing commitment to delivering convenience and value while strengthening its collaboration with Amazon.

Lineage Inc. recently broke ground on its newest automated cold storage facility in the Dallas Metroplex. The project is part of Lineage’s previous announcement to design, build and operate two next-generation cold storage warehouses that expand automation capabilities in key U.S. markets for a long-time customer. Lineage’s facility is strategically located in Hutchins, TX, to support the needs of food and beverage producers, retailers and distributors. With its central position in the continental U.S. and combination of major highways, airports and rail lines, the Dallas area can reach a