A happy shopper is a returning shopper. So, how do grocery retailers keep their customers happy? Well, according to the eighth annual dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index in these tough times it is no surprise that saving customers money — through price, promotions and rewards — is the most important predictor for retailers to have stronger, long-term market success in the United States.

This pillar has been increasing in importance over the last eight years, with 38 percent of a retailer’s long-term success now based on their price, promotions and rewards proposition, the highest percentage

AeroFarms is celebrating the first anniversary of its partnership with Costco, and its microgreens are now available in approximately 250 Costco warehouses nationwide. Building on the success of the AeroFarms six-ounce Micro Rainbow Mix with Costco, AeroFarms recently launched a seasonal Micro Broccoli product to be featured in select Costco locations during January's Healthy Habits month.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Costco to bring our innovative, flavorful, and highly nutritious microgreens to Costco members as a new staple for a healthy eating lifestyle," said Dane Almassy, senior

Honeybear Brands, a leading grower, marketer and developer of premium conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries, and its exclusive brand Pazazz apple, have delivered more than 3,600 pounds of apples to Second Harvest Heartland since Dec. 1, the start of the professional women’s hockey season. Pazazz teamed up with hockey star Taylor Heise to “Assist Second Harvest Heartland” this winter to help put hunger on ice.

Honeybear Brands donates 600 pounds of apples each time Heise feeds a teammate an assist — otherwise known as an “apple” in hockey — during her hockey games in the 2024-25

The International Fresh Produce Association kicked off 2025 by jumping into the newly announced 2025-27 strategic plan, which also included new leadership roles to best position IFPA and The Foundation in support of the upcoming work.

The strategic plan was first announced at the Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta during Tammy DeBoer’s 2025 Chair Remarks. DeBoer, president of Harris Teeter, will serve as the 2025 chair of the board of directors and will focus much of her tenure on supporting the execution of year one of the new plan which includes three main pillars:

• Worldwide

An arctic blast has brought ice, snow and wind to most of the U.S. and freezing temperatures to the Southeast. Wildfires in Los Angeles County, driven by intense Santa Ana winds, have caused intermittent electricity outages at packing facilities and disrupted Los Angeles operations. Toward the end of the month, melons and avocados face supply disruptions.

Central American melons continue to face persistent challenges. Tropical Storm Sara's impact weighs heavily on cantaloupe and honeydew supplies. Offshore shipments remain extremely limited due to flooding and crop losses. Replanted fields

Economists, mainstream journalists and news commentators, anonymous Republican sources, hopeful Democrat legislators and casual observers are expressing doubt that incoming President Donald Trump will truly impose widespread tariffs on his first day in office as he claims he will.

Trump himself tells people not to believe the doubters. Tariffs are coming, he said. Still the doubts persist. Day one is less than two weeks away and surely time will tell.

Jose Luis Obregon, president of IPR Fresh, a Nogales, AZ-based distributor of Mexican produce, said he is concerned about the tariffs on