With more shoppers opting to save time by ordering groceries online, Food Lion expanded its To Go grocery pick up service to 24 more stores in North Carolina and Kentucky, beginning Sept. 26. Food Lion is offering shoppers their first pickup for free. The launch of this service comes just in time to make fall and holiday shopping easier.

Customers can confirm availability and place orders through the Food Lion To Go website or the Food Lion To Go app. Shoppers can place an order, pick up their groceries on the same day and experience the same prices and fresh food items they have come to

The wrath of Hurricane Kay brought heavy rain up the West Coast in California last week, impacting several fruit and vegetable crops. Although the rain was needed, it delayed harvesting and shipping; growers are still assessing their damage.

The previous heat along with hurricane rain will eventually affect the supplies of several items, which could include critical damage to some product depending on the locations.

Lettuce: The defects already caused by the recent soil disease invasion and now the hurricane will see some shortages and pro rating of orders. There is still leaf burn from the

Wholesum Family Farms has a long history as a responsible grower and was an early proponent of organic produce. So in many ways, it is understandable that the company was also an early adopter of the Fair Trade movement, which shares some basic tenets with organic production.

“I think that responsible growing is one of the ingrained values we have at Wholesum and the path into Fair Trade certification was part of our evolution as a company,” said Joanna Jaramillo, marketing manager for the Amado, AZ-based grower.

Wholesum is now celebrating its 10th anniversary as a Fair Trade producer, and

St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets Inc. will acquire two Fricks Market stores in Missouri. One store will reopen as Schnucks, but the second location will remain a Fricks Market, operated by Schnucks, until a new, 23,000 square-foot “Schnucks Fresh” store is completed.

“We’re thrilled to be able to continue our mission to nourish people’s lives in both Union and Sullivan,” said Schnucks Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck. “I know Jennifer and Darren Newbanks have remained committed to strengthening their communities through their decades of ownership. We’re excited to build upon their strong customer

The U.S. fresh produce and floral industries support 2.2 million total jobs across all 50 states and $120.1 billion in labor income, nearly reaching pre-COVID levels, according to an economic impact study conducted on behalf of the International Fresh Produce Association. The report highlights the significant role the industry plays not only as an employer, but as being critical to the U.S. food system.
 
The Economic Impact of the U.S. Fresh Produce and Floral Supply Industry, compiled by Jack Kleinhenz of Kleinhenz & Associates marks the first time the trade organization representing the

Ahold Delhaize is testing a system that grows herbs and leafy vegetables in a hydroponic garden on the sales floor. Plants are grown under special conditions and in ideal light. As hydroponics allow cultivation anywhere and with the organic solution full of nutrients, no soil is necessary, and no sprays nor GMOs are needed.

During this month, the garden will grow herbs and salads such as basil varieties, mint, dill and red leaf lettuce. Customers can also purchase these items and see how it’s grown within the supermarket.

This innovation was introduced in cooperation with Czech start-up