The Canadian Parliament passed legislation last week granting priority status to produce growers and shippers for unpaid product in the event that a buyer of their fruits and vegetables files for bankruptcy.

The new law, Bill C-280, is similar to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act trust amendment that was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1984. For the past 40 years, agricultural advocacy groups in Canada, as well as the United States, have been pushing for similar legislation with no success. In fact, in 2014 the U.S. Department of Agriculture eliminated Canada’s preferred access to

Brighter Bites held its second annual Monterey Holiday Event on Dec. 11 for a larger conversation on creating communities of health through fresh food.

This event highlighted the importance and need of local and national collaboration to help Brighter Bites reach success in changing behavior among children and families through their model of fresh produce and nutrition education. The event welcomed 100 guests and community leaders who attended the event, including Vic Smith of JV Smith and Cos., Steve Church of Church Bros., Bruce Taylor of Taylor Farms, Jim Loewer of Wonderful Citrus and

Workforce development is undergoing a transformation as ethical labor practices, technological advancements and consumer expectations reshape industries worldwide. Agriculture, a sector central to global food systems, is embracing these changes to address historical challenges and improve worker conditions.

The Growing Focus on Ethical Labor Practices
We’ve seen a growing emphasis on ethical labor standards, prioritizing fairness, equity and workers’ well-being. Ethical labor standards are no longer simply a goal, but an expectation shared by consumers, retailers, and businesses alike. The

The U.S. Department of Agriculture imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and 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 approval from USDA.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Lakeside Produce Inc

I Love Produce held its annual trip to Argentina to review the new garlic crop. Company officials, including new CEO Adrian Almeida, were greeted by perfect weather and conditions for an outstanding crop.

“We arrived in the middle of the harvest,” Almeida said. “The weather conditions were perfect for the harvest, and it is a vintage year for garlic quality from Argentina this season. I Love Produce will be marketing new-crop Argentina garlic by the New Year holiday.”

However, the relationships that I Love Produce has built in that South American nation go beyond garlic. With its Argentina

As the winter holidays approach, a demand for fresh produce often peaks, reflecting seasonal cooking traditions and festive gatherings.

For instance, cranberries, squash, and pumpkin are all big staples for a Thanksgiving-day meal, and all saw a rise in sales last month. Though there may be less demand for other winter holidays, these items are still being used for holiday meals.

Over the last few years, produce items that have seen large increases in sales are sweet potatoes and yams, which saw a notable 6 percent increase in dollar sales and a 4 percent rise in volume last year according