Dole plc has reached an agreement to sell its 65 percent equity stake in Progressive Produce LLC to PTF Holdings LLC, the parent company of Pacific Trellis Fruit LLC and a portfolio company of Arable Capital Partners. Dole will receive gross cash proceeds of $120.25 million from this sale.

Progressive Produce, located in Los Angeles, is a grower, packer and distributor of conventional and organic produce to the retail, wholesale and foodservice sectors in the U.S. and Canada. The company is one of California’s premier produce companies with annual sales in excess of $400 million.

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Family Dollar Stores LLC pleaded guilty to holding food, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics under insanitary conditions, related to a rodent infestation at the company’s West Memphis, AR, distribution center, leading to the largest-ever monetary criminal penalty in a food-safety case.

A criminal information charged Family Dollar with one misdemeanor count of causing FDA-regulated products to become adulterated while being held under insanitary conditions. The company, a subsidiary of Dollar Tree Inc., entered into a plea agreement that includes a sentence of a fine and forfeiture amount

Fruit Logistica, which took place Feb. 7-9 in Berlin, saw significant growth in terms of visitors, exhibitors and exhibition space. The trade fair stood out for Salix Fruits due to its international character, bringing together professionals from around the world.

"It is a pleasure to be present at Fruit Logistica every year. It is the meeting place for people from all over the world, and this year was no exception," said Juan González Pita, chief operations officer of Salix Fruits, a leading company in the import and export of fresh fruits. "Despite some challenges, such as coinciding with

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility discovered over $3 million worth of hard narcotics hidden in a shipment of limes on Thursday.

A 42-year-old man was driving a commercial tractor-trailer with a shipment manifested as Persian limes. The driver was referred for further examination by CBP officers along with the tractor-trailer and shipment. In the secondary inspection area, a CBP K-9 unit screened the shipment and alerted officers to examine the trailer more closely.

Upon further examination, CBP officers discovered and extracted a total of 158

Light supply on both coasts, combined with strong demand, has average cucumber prices at $40, according to ProduceIQ Founder and CEO Mark Campbell.

“Like last year’s week eight supply situation, Mexican volume and East Coast imports from Honduras are significantly below the norm. With Florida’s producers still two weeks out, the sky is the limit for cucumber prices,” he said.

Following a spell of wet weather out west, the sun is shining again; however, the aforementioned rains have lettuce markets “visibly downtrodden,” said Campbell. Defects such as epidermal peel, blistering and

Santos International, a McAllen, TX-based family-owned business deeply rooted in the federally licensed U.S. Customs Brokerage industries, commemorates its 50th anniversary. Since its early inception, the Santos family has been at the forefront of delivering unparalleled customer-oriented services, establishing a legacy of excellence and innovation. 

For five decades, Santos International has been a stalwart partner to a great array of fresh produce companies. One notable demonstration of this leadership is in successfully advocating for the return of significant amounts of federal duties