At the Southeast Produce Council’s 2023 Southern Exposure show actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley was one of the keynote speakers. During her address she discussed an endeavor that is near and dear to her heart: The Store.

The Store was founded in 2020 by Williams-Paisley and her husband, singer Brad Paisley, and offers free groceries to Nashville families in need. Four years later, The Store will be opening a second location on the campus of TriStar Medical Center. 

The new location will offer free groceries (including fresh produce), emergency clothing, a volunteer working area and

Year-round sweet onion grower and supplier G&R Farms is celebrating another successful season of its Growing America's Farmers program raising over $43,000 during the Vidalia onion season to provide scholarships and grants for agriculture students in the national FFA program.

This year’s success adds to a nine-year total of nearly $450,000 total raised with more than a dozen states receiving grant money. The program garnered support from and partnered with eight regional and national retailers to help raise awareness of the men and women who grow our food and the future ag leaders who will

Natus Foods, a Houston-based importer of vegetables from Mexico and Central America, announced the availability of premium Brussels sprouts from October to February.

The Brussels sprouts, which are grown by Born Farms, are available in a variety of pack styles to suit any retail or foodservice use, and will help fill the high demand that typically occurs during the holiday season.

“We grow these Brussels sprouts in a critical window when supply is always very low,” said Christopher Safieh, vice president of Natus Foods. “This is the time between the domestic crop finishing and the crop from

ALDI will hire more than 13,000 store and warehouse associates as it prepares for the upcoming holiday season and continues adding new stores across the U.S. At a time when unemployment has increased, ALDI is growing its team of more than 49,000 employees and raising its national average hourly pay.

“Whether it’s our in-store team filling shelves with fresh produce, warehouse staff managing logistics, or drivers delivering our trending ALDI Finds, our employees fuel the quicker, easier and more affordable shopping experience our shoppers know and love,” said Atty McGrath, president of ALDI.

Big Y supermarkets and the Student Farming Enterprise Program at UMass Amherst celebrated another year of supporting the next generation of farmers. This partnership began in 2012 with sales at the Big Y in Amherst. Over the years, the student farms’ programming has expanded to deliver fresh organic vegetables to Big Y stores in Northampton, Greenfield and South Hadley.

“Our relationship with local farmers is a key point of differentiation that truly sets us apart,” said Adam Hession, director of produce and floral for Big Y. “We are always looking for local farms to partner with, to

Babé Farms grows, packs and ships more than 70 varieties of specialty vegetables year-round out of California’s Santa Maria Valley.

“Our product line includes rainbow root vegetables, baby head-lettuces, our signature Blonde Frisée, Romanesco cauliflower, specialty greens and many more baby and specialty veg items,” said Matt Hiltner, marketing manager for the Santa Maria, CA-based company. “Our sales team keeps their finger to the pulse of the market, constantly keeping an eye out for what is trending in the culinary world. If we see an opportunity our production team will move quickly to