The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• PHP Group LLC, operating out of Saddle River, NJ, for failing to pay a $37,841 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Pedro H. Perez was listed as a member of the business.
• LR

While at our local supermarket I complimented the produce manager on his very fresh, clean and attractive department. He thanked me and began stocking the onion section.

I mentioned seeing his onion section much larger in the past and questioned why it was cut back so much. He replied that it was because of an onion shortage. I immediately pointed out that his nearby competitor has an end cap fully stocked with bagged onions as well as a large 15-foot bulk onion section.

He looked at me, scorned, and said, “Oh well.” I think he was annoyed by my mentioning his competition.

It boggles my

Arcadio’s Produce recently signed a 10-year lease to expand its business space footprint at The SF Market. What began in 2010 as a small business operating out of a single truck, Arcadio’s Produce has now outgrown its current merchant space within The SF Market campus and has moved its operations to a location with triple the space within The SF Market.

“The Arcadio’s Produce story is so inspiring and a reminder of many other merchants that began their dream of starting a produce company at The SF Market,” said Michael Janis, general manager of The SF Market. “We hope that our role in

On Wednesday, Sept. 29, about 20,000 pounds of colored Bell peppers arrived at the port of Miami from Colombia, marking the first time fresh Bell peppers were shipped to the United States from that South American country.

Juliana Villegas, exports vice president of ProColombia, which is the entity that promotes non-traditional exports from that country, said the successful shipment is the result of five years of negotiations between the agricultural agencies of both the U.S. and Colombia. While the time frame to get this accomplished seems long, Villegas said it took 10 years of negotiations

It will be more tasty treats — without the tricks — this Halloween as Jazz apples ramps up its successful "it’s Boo Time!" campaign.

Audrey Desnoyers, Oppy’s director of business development and key account management, said Halloween is the perfect time to get the family together and enjoy Jazz apples.

“Halloween is a fun, colourful holiday, to tie into promotions at a time that coincides with our fresh Washington Jazz harvest — it’s a fantastic time to enjoy Jazz apples," said Desnoyers.

“It’s Boo Time! campaign returns for its third season, due to its massive popularity," said Desnoyers.

Three new appointments within Bashas’ Family of Stores are bolstering talent among the leadership teams at two of their brands, AJ’s Fine Foods and Food City.

After nearly three decades of service, Jayson Mead has been named vice president of AJ’s Fine Foods, while Gabe Flores brings 36 years of in-house knowledge to his new role as director of produce for AJ’s. At Food City, Jorge Alvarez will oversee the store’s made-from-scratch tortilla operations as director of Tortilleria.

“Jayson, Gabe and Jorge have each demonstrated decades of tenacity, growth and commitment to their respective