The Kroger Co. launched its Verified Savings Program that provides a 20 percent discount on fruits and vegetables and half-off Boost by Kroger Plus memberships to customers who are recipients of various government assistance programs, including SNAP, WIC and Medicaid. 

"Making fresh food more affordable and equipping more customers with free grocery delivery is an incredible step in expanding food access," said Carlo Baldan, Kroger group vice president of fresh merchandising. "With the launch of the Verified Savings program, we are thrilled to make fruits and vegetables more affordable and

Washington State defeated Utah State 34-21 in the 29th Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the Idaho Potato Commission’s title-sponsored college football event, earning the program its first bowl victory since 2018. The win culminated in the fan-favorite French fry dump and presentation of the iconic potato trophy, as fans packed the stands and tuned in nationwide for one of college football’s most recognizable post-game moments.

The matchup featured two teams set to compete in the Pac-12 next season, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the game. Washington State controlled the game from start to

Vessels are starting to arrive with some nice early Chilean stone fruit. And based on reports from the Chilean Stone Fruit Committee, export volume is expected to be up 11 percent for the 2025-26 season.

Plums will lead the pack with a 15 percent export increase followed by peaches at 8 percent, cherries at 6 percent and nectarines at 5 percent. Apricots to follow in January.

This means a break for all those retailers looking for high sales volume items to promote this winter. So plan some large Chilean stone fruit displays with cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots in a good visual

Weather — a series of rain events and cooler temperatures — was back in focus last week, and the timing was less than ideal. None of these systems were extreme on their own, but with holiday schedules, lighter labor and already tight supply chains, even modest weather can create outsized disruptions.

Santa Maria and Oxnard saw several days of rain into the weekend. The desert was also on the radar, with scattered showers in Coachella, with lighter totals in Yuma. Muddy conditions will affect harvesting and loading, and rain-related issues such as mildew pressure, dirt in packs and shortened

Zespri has approved the commercialization of an additional red kiwifruit variety, Red80, to extend the commercial selling season for Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit.

The decision follows a doubling of Zespri RubyRed volumes this year, with more than 3 million trays sold across key markets, including New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States.

CEO Jason Te Brake said the move reflects Zespri’s commitment to developing new cultivars that strengthen its leadership in the kiwifruit category while maximizing value for New Zealand growers.

“We have a proud history

Consalo Family Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned grower-packer-shipper-importer-distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables, has added Morgan DiMartino and Jose N. Garcete to its leadership team as the company continues to expand its national footprint and diversify its operations.

DiMartino returns to Consalo Family Farms, where she began her career in logistics. For four years, DiMartino served as logistics manager for Consalo Family Farms, helping build the transportation department from a one-person operation into a fully structured, high-performing team. Her efforts were instrumental