Last year, food inflation at retail and foodservice exceeded levels reached during the Great Recession. Even with inflation currently moderating, higher food prices will continue influencing consumers’ spending and eating behaviors this year, according to Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group.

At the company’s Growth Summit, held in Las Vegas, March 20-22, Circana food and beverage and foodservice industry analysts said, “When faced with higher prices, consumers will use multiple tactics to reduce or reallocate at- and away-from-home food spending, like trading down to private label

Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association, recently discussed food as medicine and produce prescriptions.

“Eighty percent of healthcare dollars in this country are allocated to preventable chronic disease, yet nine out of 10 Americans don’t meet the government’s own recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption,” said Burns. “There is a clear and significant role for food interventions in the healthcare system. The time to act is now because if we don’t change the trajectory of how this next generation eats, they will be the first generation that doesn’t live as

Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. has acquired two independently owned stores in Chula Vista, CA, operating under the Sprouts Farmers Market name pursuant to a legacy trademark license arrangement.

Acquiring these stores will allow complete control of the Sprouts brand and open further expansion possibilities in Southern California.

Sprouts licensed the Sprouts Farmers Market trademark to a third-party operator many years ago in a one-of-a-kind operating structure. No other licensed Sprouts stores exist.

“We are pleased to bring these two high-volume stores into the Sprouts fold, allowing us to

Even though more rain is scheduled to pass over California this week, the storms are beginning to weaken and hopefully dissipate. The temperature in the Arizona desert growing area is getting a lot warmer, which will mature growth and result in plenty of product being available at an immediate rate.

The transition from the Yuma, AZ, area to Salinas, CA, will take place soon. Crops out of Yuma will be harvested up to the second week in April.

Cucumbers: Demand moderate. Market about steady. Supplies out of the east is better with Mexico shipments lowering the pricing. Looks like the market

The International Fresh Produce Association will kick off a women’s mentoring program at its Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference, April 16-18 in Orlando, FL. The program will pair volunteer executives with women seeking to become the next generation of strong, inspiring leaders.

“Successful, powerful women have so much wisdom and experience to share, and we want our aspiring leaders to experience the power of mentoring,” said IFPA’s Megan Nash, director of talent and development. “A key part of the Women’s Fresh Perspectives mission to cultivate women’s potential is to foster valuable

U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers at the Calexico East Cargo Facility intercepted over $1.5 million worth of cocaine concealed within a shipment of watermelons.

On March 15 CBP officers encountered the driver of a truck and trailer. The driver presented a valid border crossing card to the CBP officer along with manifest declaring watermelons. During the initial inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver along with the shipment to the dock for an intensive examination.

During the exam, a CBP canine team screened the tractor trailer and alerted to the shipment of watermelons. CBP