Rice Fruit off to a sweet start: Pennsylvania’s orchards kick off North America’s apple season
In the heart of Pennsylvania’s apple country, Rice Fruit Co. is welcoming a new harvest season with the same quiet commitment that has guided its work for generations. Early apples are beginning to come off the trees, and all signs point to a strong, sweet and steady crop.
USDA restricts PACA violators in California, New Jersey and Puerto Rico
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 for 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 USDA approval.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
Colombia becoming bigger player on global avocado stage
Colombia is a relative newcomer on the global avocado stage, but its rapid ascension as a key year-round supplier to the U.S. market is commanding attention in the industry.
Manuel Michel, managing director of the Colombia Avocado Board, said the organization developed a strategic plan in 2024 that projects volume shipped to the U.S. market will reach 330 million pounds by the 2029-30 season — more than double the 160 million pounds expected this year.
A great day on the greens at the NEPC 2025 golf tournament
NEPC hosted its 2025 golf tournament on Tuesday, July 22, at the picturesque Indian Pond Country Club. Under sunny skies and perfect summer conditions, the annual event drew a full course of 146 enthusiastic golfers.
In the Trenches: The psychology of produce merchandising
The moment a customer enters a grocery store and approaches the produce department they either get excited or they get turned off. The instant visual view is psychologically supposed to draw shoppers toward the displays and influence them to buy the product. If the department environment fails to send that spending message, customers will walk right past those displays.
Trendspotting: Online loyalty hard to come by for food retailers
It has long been a roadblock for online grocery shopping, “can I trust the fresh produce they are sending me?”
Kapi Kapi Growers sees opportunity in expanding foodservice
Kapi Kapi Growers has been growing tropical fruit for more than three decades and its products can be found in more than 25 countries around the world.
Bayer-DNO collaboration makes veggies fun for kids
Vegetables by Bayer and DNO Produce have teamed up to promote healthy eating habits among school-aged children. This unique and exciting collaboration empowers schools to offer fresh vegetables, while reducing food waste through maximizing the full production potential of the crop. The collaboration also addresses the needs of processors and consumers while creating opportunities for vegetable growers.
D’Arrigo New York is set for the Eastern apples crop
Everyone loves apples, says Gabriela D’Arrigo, vice president of communications and marketing for D’Arrigo New York. Therefore, it is vital that the Bronx-based wholesaler operation carries as many varieties from as many sources as possible.
IFPA Foodservice kicks off in Monterey
The 2025 IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, CA, kicked off in style with an the opening reception Thursday evening, July 31, at the scenic Custom House Plaza in Monterey State Historic Park. The event offered the perfect mix of coastal ambiance and networking energy as attendees from across the industry — from operators, chefs and distributors to grower‑shippers — mingled in the mild Monterey climate, forging new connections and reuniting with old ones.