A federal grand jury last week indicted a Mansfield, TX, man for submitting false inspection reports in exchange for bribe payments, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Timothy Peppel, 68 years old, was a federal produce inspector with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. Peppel was responsible for conducting produce inspections and providing inspection reports to companies buying and selling produce.

According to prosecutors, a wholesale produce company, American Fresh Produce, began requesting produce inspections from

Schnucks customers and the company donated a total of $230,000 to The Salvation Army’s annual Tree of Lights campaign through the most recent Round Up at the Register. Schnucks customers had the option to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with 100 percent of donations from the 15-day campaign benefiting The Salvation Army. Customers donated $212,281, and Schnucks added $17,719.

“As they do each holiday season without fail, Schnucks customers once again showed their appreciation toward The Salvation Army through their generous round ups as well as their donations to the red

During its annual Holidays Without Hunger campaign, Food Lion Feeds has helped provide more than 4.8 million meals to help families access the nutritious food that everyone deserves. The initiative benefits Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, and 33 local Feeding America partner food banks as well as hundreds of partner agencies throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating area. Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by Food Lion to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves.

During the Holidays Without Hunger campaign, which spanned from Nov. 8

Weis Markets announced it donated more than $1 million to 18 food banks and pantries as part of the company’s 16th annual Fight Hunger program. The donation includes customer contributions made at checkout in Weis stores throughout 2023 and a substantial corporate donation.

“Year after year we’re wowed by how supportive our customers and associates are of our Fight Hunger campaign,” said Weis Markets Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing, Bob Gleeson. “We know how important it is to help our local food banks and pantries, particularly during this time of year when we see an

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge seized hard narcotics that totaled over $10.2 million in street value in a commercial shipment of cut flowers.

“CBP is proud of the work our frontline officers do to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our communities,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo port of entry. “This significant seizure is an example of ongoing operational efforts conducted daily to protect our borders.”

The seizure occurred last week at the World Trade Bridge, when a CBP officer referred a 2001

Did you ever think we would have to encounter so many farming obstacles as we’ve experienced the past couple years? Now old man winter returns and is already harassing California, Florida and Mexico with unfavorable cooler weather accompanied by rain.

Currently the berry markets are volatile due to storms in growing areas. Rain could continue on and off in the strawberry fields. If so, it could delay harvesting and limit product temporarily.

The rains damaged some strawberries in Florida and California causing low volume and higher markets. Mexico has lower estimates on strawberries from