As generative artificial intelligence is integrated into nearly all aspects of business, its presence is also likely to influence diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Fast Company reported that job listings for DEI roles were down 19 percent in 2022 compared to those in legal or human resources. A Harris poll also found 80 percent of employees said their employer has not made meaningful progress on building a more equitable environment for employees of color, while 81 percent of HR professionals reported that their companies have not increased recruiting efforts toward racially

Food Lion has a history of supporting communities and has helped to provide more than 18.3 million meals with the support of its customers through its sixth annual Food Lion Feeds orange bag campaign. By providing access to nutritious food through this initiative, the collective effort helps address food insecurity and nourish neighbors who are experiencing hunger.

The orange bag campaign benefits Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, and local partner food banks throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. Since the Food Lion Feeds orange bag campaign

International Fresh Produce Association President and CEO Cathy Burns has had a career of breaking through the glass ceiling, but she faced biases along the way and believes headwinds still exist for women.

Burns grew up in Bangor, ME, graduating from Bangor High School and moving on to the University of Maine at Orono, where she achieved a double major in marketing and management. While in high school, she took a job as a bagger with Shop n’ Save that ultimately led to a 30-year career in retail. Upon graduation from college, Burns was recruited by Hannaford, Shop n’ Save’s parent company

The Fresh CrEd expanded its program to address the needs of today’s evolving produce industry, according to co-hosts Craig Slate and Ed Bertaud and their team. 

“It’s been an exciting ride over the last three years. We have grown The Fresh CrEd from two friends with a passion project to share our experiences in fresh produce into a real platform exploring fresh produce leaders while pushing relevant industry information to the masses. It’s a journey that has exceeded both my and Ed’s expectations,” said Slate, who is also the CEO of SunFed.   

The Fresh CrEd show has evolved into interviews

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has 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. 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:

• West Central

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed an administrative complaint against Safeway Fresh Foods LLC for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. The company, operating from New Jersey, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 13 produce sellers in the amount of $3.86 million from October 2021 through July 2023.

Safeway Fresh Foods LLC will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the