The Fair Trade Certified program in produce is one of the most reliable ways to build sustainability into supply chains, which is especially relevant in times of uncertainty.

“The sector is really challenged right now with tariffs, among other factors,” said Leslie Simmons, senior director of business development, fresh goods for Fair Trade USA. “Programs that invest in workers and environmental stewardship like ours have proven over time to create resiliency that leads to reliable supply and increased worker retention.”

The program focuses on promoting Fair Trade Certification to producers

Happy Berry hydroponic strawberries, first launched in late 2021, are entering the spring season with a refreshed look that highlights their naturally sweet flavor and the sustainable way they are produced.

Grown in high tunnel facilities in Santa Maria, CA, Happy Berry strawberries receive precise nutrition while dramatically reducing water usage, thanks to a seamless trough system with optimized irrigation and water reclamation. Because they’re cultivated on raised tables that make planting, tending and harvesting more ergonomic for farmworkers, these berries don’t require intense

Looking for some great sales tonnage items to promote in ads? Well, grapes, melons and citrus will put you over the top with your customers.

Citrus: There is a good lemon and lime market, and the quality is excellent. California Navel oranges and mandarins remain in excellent supplies as well. Quality is also outstanding. Sizes on Navels are moving to larger oranges.

Melons: The volume is increasing on cantaloupes and honeydews with watermelons improving. The sizes are larger now on the cantaloupes and honeydews with jumbo dominating.

Grapes: There is a good production supply of red

Food Lion’s seventh annual Orange Bag campaign, in collaboration with Food Lion customers, provided the equivalent of more than 14.8 million meals to address food insecurity and nourish neighbors who are experiencing hunger. The campaign benefits Feeding America and local partner food banks throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. 

Through this customer-led initiative, neighbors help address food insecurity and nourish people experiencing hunger by supporting access to nutritious food.

Since 2019, this annual campaign has collectively supported 33 food bank locations across Food Lion

Thriving Leaders Circle, a leadership development program built specifically for new or up-skilling people managers, is now enrolling its fifth group.

With the first version launched in 2023, the program has been fine-tuned, tested and proven to work — especially for organizations in the fresh produce industry where managers are often promoted from within the ranks and training time and internal bandwidth are often in short supply.

Created by leadership coach Wendy McManus, Thriving Leaders Circle supports professionals who have stepped into management roles after being strong individual

The Big Bang Theory — the beginning of the universe, not the TV show — suggests the universe originated from a single point, expanded and stretched to grow larger. Amazingly, it is still growing, stretching and spreading out right at this exact moment.

The growing and stretching of the fresh-cut produce category is also amazing as the category consistently expands. In addition, the cleverness of processors in creating new fresh-cut, value-added items is likewise stretching and spreading out the space allocation of the cut produce display section.

Every time I enter a produce department I am