Thanksgiving is a few days away, and current economic factors will likely mean this is will be the most expensive for consumers — perhaps ever.

How are popular Thanksgiving produce items trending? According to ProduceIQ, the green bean supply is tightening. Annual green bean prices typically peak around Thanksgiving before beginning a steady decline. This week, prices are up 5 percent on a lean supply and strong demand. “Damage from East Coast hurricanes and the annual transition from Georgia to Florida are mostly responsible; however, lighter than usual Mexican volume isn’t helping,” said

The eighth annual Kayla Bernardi Bee Positive 5K Fun Run/Walk will be held Jan. 28, 2023 in Turlock, CA, to honor the late daughter of Joe Bernardi, president and CEO of Bernardi & Associations. Registration is now open at beepositivefoundation.org.

Kayla Bernardi was born on Jan. 31, 1995, with Down Syndrome and had to overcome multiple open heart surgeries before her first birthday. She did survive her childhood, though she had multiple health issues and did succumb to leukemia at the age of 20 in 2015.  Her mother, Cathie Bernardi, recently told The Produce News that in honoring their

"What's with the strawberry market?" That's a question many produce directors and their buyers have been asking me these days. This has been a very challenging time for California strawberry supplies. Usually, retailers are well stocked and still promoting the fall crop. But this year is different and there is a strawberry shortage caused by extreme weather conditions. Hurricanes, heavy rain and colder temperatures have set back the strawberry crop in California.

Strawberries are the backbone of all berries, generating 45 percent of the category volume. Therefore, it is one of the top items

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council will hold its annual Holiday Luncheon & Charity Auction Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Sheraton in Cerritos, CA.

In the spirit of giving, each year the FPFC Luncheon committee selects two charities that receive membership donations from this luncheon. This year’s selected charities — Brighter Bites and Second Harvest Food Bank — are both aligned with the FPFC’s mission of connecting people that impact the produce industry and increasing produce consumption in the communities where it is needed most.

“Brighter Bites and Second Harvest Food Bank have worked hard to

Ahead of the upcoming World Cup, Fresh Del Monte’s operations in the Middle East completed a new fresh-cut facility to meet the expected heightened demand — as needed volumes on its products are expected to double during upcoming tourist events.

The facility in Doha, Qatar, is a joint venture between Fresh Del Monte and Doha National Food Industries W.L.L. It will supply a global quick service restaurant with ultra-fresh juice, fresh-cut fruits, fresh-cut veggies, freshly prepared sandwiches and freshly prepared salad bowls.

The typical volume for the region is 15,000 tons per month, which

The updated food package for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which was released by U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday, up to quadruples the amount of fruits of vegetables for program participants and aligns with current nutrition science, including the 2017 recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and the 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Since 2017, the industry has been advocating for an updated WIC food package to permanently increase the Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables to the