Ark Foods has observed a discernible shift toward conscious consumerism. From sustainability initiatives to ethical farm practices, consumers have paid close attention to how brands intersect with society, the economy and the environment.

Additionally, Ark Foods has seen that despite a sharper consumer lens toward affordability, convenience remains a key driver of sales, powering demand for pre-cut and easy-to-prep packaged vegetables.

“Convenience has long been a core feature of our retail products, and this past year, we have expanded our innovative and convenient vegetable-based meal

The holiday season is about spreading joy, and Midwest retailer Meijer recently embodied that spirit by surprising hundreds of customers and team members with thousands of dollars in shopping sprees during its 10th annual Very Merry Meijer event. Meijer leaders surprised one in-store customer with a $1,000 shopping spree and two Meijer team members with $200 gift cards in each of its 267 stores across the Midwest.    

"Celebrating the 10th anniversary of this special tradition is so important to us because it embodies the values of the company," said Executive Chairman Hank Meijer. "Very

The International Fresh Produce Association released a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Toolkit specifically for the produce and floral industry to be a free, off-the-shelf resource for members seeking to boost talent recruitment and retention, boost ideation and innovation and drive business performance.

The DEI toolkit is a resource developed by IFPA, with volunteer member input and guidance from its DEI Committee and support from global organizational consulting firm, Korn Ferry.

“Whether you are just getting started or seeking to enhance your diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, IFPA

This holiday season, Healthy Family Project and Lowes Foods partnered with 21 health-conscious brands for the first-ever Season of Sharing, providing 525,000 meals to local Feeding America food banks.

The campaign, focused on giving back while providing shoppers with healthy recipe inspiration, featured signs in more than 81 Lowes Foods stores near partner food brands. The signs featured QR codes leading shoppers to a free bi-lingual eCookbook with holiday inspired recipes, and nutrition tips highlighting campaign partners. Products were prominently featured in Season of Sharing-themed weekly

FirstFruits Farms has acquired Applewood Orchards and Applewood Fresh Growers, marking a significant milestone in the company's continuous pursuit of excellence and expansion.

Working jointly, FirstFruits Farms and Applewood Orchards aim to provide customers with even more remarkable and diverse product offerings, including apples, cherries and pears. This collaboration not only bolsters volume capabilities, but also enhances the ability to serve customers in the Midwest and East Coast with certain freight advantages, supply chain efficiencies and transit time reductions.

"We are excited to

From organizing food drives and making donations of fresh healthy produce, to funding pet adoptions and distributing Thanksgiving meals to neighbors in need, Grimmway Farms donated more than 1,000 tons of fresh produce and provided vital financial and in-kind support to more than 100 organizations this year — totaling more than $250,000 in direct charitable contributions through sponsorship and philanthropic initiatives.

Among the highlights:

• In 2023, Grimmway donated over 2 million pounds of fresh produce to nonprofits and food banks throughout California.
• Grimmway’s Annual Holiday Food