When someone mentions Pinterest, your mind probably recalls a mood-board type platform where home decor ideas, holiday crafts, and fashion inspiration abound — but Pinterest is so much more. 

Originally conceived as a virtual replacement for catalogues, the founders noted how users amassed collections of their favorite items and shared with their friends. This observation was the birth child of Pinterest. Since 2010, the platform has experienced tremendous growth, reaching 433 million global monthly active users this summer.

Over the years, Pinterest has evolved from a social network to a

The severe mix of heat, rain and Tropical Storm Kay were merciless to the California growing fields during the end of summer. The strawberry crop was especially impacted with flooding and wind damage.

The weather-delayed harvesting caused a supply shortage. This situation placed an interruption in ad promoting for retailers. The berry category is one of the top merchandising performers that generates huge sales and profit dollars in budget achievement for produce directors.

Strawberries: Still a demand-exceeds-supply level. Product has transitioned to the Santa Maria and Oxnard districts

Mann Packing Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce, is investing heavily in its leading snap pea program as it further commits to being a leader in the space. The vegetable division of Fresh Del Monte has upgraded its program by acquiring two optical sorters dedicated solely to snap peas, totaling a $2.5 million investment, and is also exploring additional sourcing options in Guatemala and Peru that are within Fresh Del Monte’s global network.

The investment in the snap pea program comes shortly after the two companies announced that Mann Packing has officially

Equitable Food Initiative announced a two-year, $2 million grant from the Walmart Foundation to support implementation of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. For this project, EFI is partnering with The Sustainability Consortium to help growers and suppliers strengthen the management systems they need to uphold the principles of the Ethical Charter.

The grant builds on a successful pilot program from 2019 to 2021 with four buyers, 20 suppliers and 40 growers that tested the use of a self-assessment questionnaire and supporting resources to help growers identify and improve the

On Monday, Oct. 10, veteran vegetables salesman Denny Donovan was unabashed in his prediction for the following day: “I think we will see a record breaker on carton lettuce in tomorrow’s Market News (USDA’s daily Market News report). Today, I heard quotes of $55 (per carton) to near $70, but there’s nothing around.”

Donovan, who is sales manager for Fresh Kist Produce in Guadalupe, CA, said the FOB price on many of the core veg items “are a little bit crazy.”

He notes Iceberg lettuce, Romaine, most of leaf lettuces and broccoli crowns are trading near, if not above, all-time records. “We are

HLB Specialties, a major importer of rambutan and large papaya, is dealing with the effects of Tropical Storm Julia and its aftermath, and is informing clients that orders will most likely be affected.

The rambutan- and papaya-growing regions in Guatemala and Mexico are dealing with two consecutive weather events that are causing issues with the supply. Tropical Storm Julia brought an excessive amount of rain to the region, including some destruction at the farms. Additionally, flights and ocean vessels that were scheduled to leave during the weekend were delayed or cancelled.

HLB