Simple changes on a produce packaging label can drastically influence consumer purchases of that product. Tony Cook, chief executive officer of Great Lakes Label LLC, said his customers have seen this immediately build retail sales by as much as 30 percent. Cook, who in 1994 started the company in Comstock, MI, credits the fresh produce industry’s recent heightened sophistication to more effectively use produce labeling to boost sales. Great Lakes Label serves other sectors, including pre-cut products, private grocery labels, food and beverage companies, and quick-serve restaurants. He noted

As a part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on CKF Produce Corp. of Brooklyn, NY, for failing to meet its contractual obligations to the sellers of produce it purchased. CKF failed to pay $596,354 to 17 sellers for produce that was purchased, received and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from March 2017 to November 2018. This is in violation of the PACA. CKF cannot operate in the produce industry until May 15, 2022, and then

As fourth-generation mushroom farmers, Basciani Foods has cemented itself as an expert in the category and have established great relationships with its retailer and foodservice clients through the years. The Avondale, PA-based company is also known for its giving nature, so it was no surprise when Basciani Foods announced it would be supplying immunity-boosting mushrooms for the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Fred Recchiuti, the company’s general manager, explained that in this COVID-19 stimulus program, the USDA is buying farmers’ crops to be donated and distributed to food

Mission Produce Inc. has broken ground on a mega distribution center in Laredo, TX, which will initially create approximately 75 jobs. The 262,000-square-foot capital project will serve as a major distribution hub for Mexican avocados to the United States and is one of many key global investments Mission has made in recent years. “The Laredo, TX, facility will shorten our replenishment time to our network and add flexibility in managing inventory,” said Mission Produce’s President and CEO Steve Barnard. “The city of Laredo is strategically positioned on the border of Texas and Mexico, making

Demand exceeded supply for several vegetable commodities during the first week of June, but the protests and national unrest around the country could impact that by creating supply chain issues. At least that is the view of veteran Denny Donovan, sales manager of Fresh Kist Produce LLC, based in Santa Maria, CA. “We could tell in the middle of May that we were going to run into some shortage situations this week,” he said. “Broccoli and cauliflower were short the week of June 1 and should remain short the week of June 8. There was enough iceberg lettuce for June 1, but we should be very short

Volm Cos. Inc. is enabling fresh produce growers and packers to meet retail demand for displaying products in sustainable packaging. Marsha Verwiebe, director of marketing and communications for Volm, said a couple of new technologies are being used in trials, or are on their way to the marketplace. These sustainable packaging materials are derived from sugarcane and can be disposed by the consumer in recycle bins with recyclable plastics. Currently in trials is a new sustainable mesh product created by JX Nippon ANCI Inc. The product is CLAF-brand, with the trademark Bio Fabric, and is a USDA