Coming around the bend to the final quarter of this year and looking into the halfway point of the decade in 2025, produce growers and sellers are balancing tried-and-true assortments and merchandising tactics with innovative approaches to get more fruits and vegetables in the basket and end the year on a positive note. Looking back and ahead, that mix of proven tactics and new strategies keeps produce top of mind among increasingly-choosy shoppers who browse the in-store perimeter, fresh and frozen aisles and digital screens.

Like a ready-to-use salad kit that blends traditional lettuce

Major restaurant chains across the country are pulling onions “out of an abundance of caution” in light of the recent E.coli outbreak tied to McDonald's. Included in that list are Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King. The outbreak, which has reportedly killed at least one person in Colorado, is tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. At present time, the CDC reports that about 50 people spanning 10 states have been infected.

In response to the outbreak, Taylor Farms, a supplier to McDonald’s, is recalling batches of yellow onions produced in a Colorado facility. According to a report by

Bolthouse Fresh Foods, an entity recently established with the split of Bolthouse Farms’ fresh and beverage lines, is unveiling a new look, new brand and new products.

Bolthouse Fresh Foods is rolling out the new Bolthouse Fresh brand, packaging and products this fall at produce industry events and directly to retailers and foodservice customers, expanding value-added options and flavors in the carrot category.

The new offerings are:

• • Bolthouse Fresh Carrot Shakers: Baby carrots with a seasoning pack, with dill pickle, chili lime and ranch options. Bolthouse Fresh offers them in multi

Tops has expanded its Instacart services to encompass pickup to round out its New York state offerings. This added convenience will allow shoppers to have their weekly groceries available for pickup at their local Tops store in addition to its home delivery option.

“We’re excited to bring even more convenience to the shoppers across our footprint,” said Jocelyn O’Steen, ecommerce specialist for Northeast Shared Services, who supports Tops main operating company, Northeast Grocery Inc. “This expansion marks our 15th expansion since Tops launched Instacart services in 2017 allowing us to

The U.S. Department of Agriculture imposed sanctions on four 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.

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

• Fruteria El Campesino LLC, operating out of Aloha, OR, for failing to pay a $57,643 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Carlos Garcia, Maria L. Garcia Pineda and Salvadore G

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three 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:

• Ultra Orange LLC