Two transportation brokers report that truck rates are extremely low without a lot of hope of overall improvement on the horizon. On the other hand, a San Joaquin Valley grape shipper said his rates have been climbing as he recently secured a load to Texas that was about 15 percent higher in mid-August than it was earlier in the month.

“Trucking is not a way to get rich right now,” said Mark Durfee, general manager of Giltner Logistics, based in Twin Falls, ID. “There are no earth-shattering rates out there. Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah are soft. The Southeast is soft. The Midwest is

BJ's Wholesale Club will open its third club in Tennessee in early 2024. The club will mark the retailer’s 244th club in the U.S.

The company previously welcomed its very first Tennessee club in La Vergne this past spring, with its second club in the state coming soon to the Mt. Juliet community this fall.

“We’ve seen tremendous demand in Tennessee for the unbeatable value and member benefits our BJ’s model delivers and are thrilled to continue to bring BJ’s incredible savings to more families within the state,” said Bill Werner, executive vice president, strategy and development. “We’re

Most of the U.S. tomato volume is supplied out of Florida, California and Mexico all year long. But there are other local tomatoes available during the summer months that compete with those districts. There are also the many backyard tomato gardeners who add to the rivalry. Depending on the weather and the first killing frost, those variables could last through September.

The tomato market could remain higher at this time as the heat has been the primary offender in some of the growing areas, notably Mexico.

Eastern Tennessee and Virginia: Round supply is light, demand moderate, market about

Big Y Foods made some key changes to its sales and marketing leadership team. Guy W. McFarlane, senior vice president of sales and marketing, will be retiring Sept. 1. Michael R. Cormier will succeed McFarlane, Steven M. Nordstrom will assume the role of senior director of center store, David M. Placzek will move to director of grocery and Scott P. Brackney has been named director of Big Y brands and retail pricing.

McFarlane has been in the supermarket industry for 46 years. He’s been with Big Y for 27 years and has made significant contributions to the company’s growth.

“We are thankful

Superfresh Growers launched its latest endeavor — a podcast transcending global boundaries, delivering an immersive auditory experience worldwide. Superfresh Growers is now the title sponsor of a fresh new podcast called In The Bin, which takes listeners on a journey from orchard to table, revealing the ins and outs of the produce industry.

At the helm of the podcast is Tyler Weinbender, director of sustainability and packaging for Superfresh Growers. With a background deeply rooted in a multi-generational farming family in the lower Yakima Valley, Weinbender's passion for agriculture has

United Natural Foods Inc. is breaking ground on a new state-of-the-art distribution center just north of Sarasota, FL. The new center replaces an aging facility and will incorporate the latest in leading warehouse technology to increase efficiency in selecting, packing, and loading processes.

The new warehouse will be more than 1 million square feet of capacity and incorporate some of the latest technology and automation, including KNAPP re-pack automation, which is expected to improve service levels to customers while simultaneously reducing the cost to fill orders.

Additionally, it will be