Produce for Better Health Foundation’s Consumer Connection Conference, scheduled for April 18-22, in Scottsdale, AZ, promises to be something special.

“Much has changed in consumer shopping behavior and their relationship with fruits and vegetables since the last time we were able to gather in-person for the annual conference,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, president and CEO of PBH. “Consumers found a renewed interest in fruits and vegetables during the pandemic when they were forced to eat at home, yet the overall consumption level of fruits and vegetables has not grown. There is still work

A fire that started last night at a Taylor Farms facility in Salinas, CA, is currently contained, according to multiple reports. 

"On April 13th, our primary Taylor Farms California Foodservice production facility at 1207 Abbott Street, Salinas, CA, was severely damaged by a structure fire," the company said in a statement. "Any onsite personnel were evacuated and there have been no reported injuries."

The facility had been closed for the winter season and the team was not producing onsite.

"This is an active situation and we’re working closely with our team, first responders and the

Western staple items such as Iceberg, Romaine, broccoli, cauliflower and celery are seeing price decreases due to new California production, according to Mark Campbell, founder and CEO of ProduceIQ.

Other items, like strawberries and avocados, are on the rise. Strawberries are up 12 percent over the previous week. At $15, prices are at the second highest in 10 years. “Last week, rain impacted fruit and reduced Santa Maria and Oxnard production,” said Campbell. “Additionally, Easter typically prompts an increase in demand for the fruit, mainly at the retail level. Fortunately, markets should

GrubMarket has completed the acquisition of Ontario-based WaudWare, an award-winning and long-standing enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider that specializes in building software solutions for businesses operating in the North American fresh produce industry.

Founded more than 33 years ago by owner F. Charles Waud, WaudWare excels at delivering comprehensive software that improves productivity and performance for its extensive customer base. The company's flagship product is its web-based Produce Inventory Control System, a supply chain management software that helps customers

Wegmans Food Markets and Instacart announced the that they will accept Electronic Benefits Transfer and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments across the retailer's 106 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia and North Carolina. EBT SNAP will be available for purchases made at Wegmans via the Instacart website and mobile app.  

With this launch, Wegmans — known for being an industry-leading, family grocer — is making same-day delivery and pickup available to more customers. Wegmans and Instacart partnered to gain approval from the United

After a challenging winter with weather complications that induced quality issues, the lettuce category appears brighter as it moves from the Yuma, AZ,  winter deal to California. The market is softening on prices and shippers are saying the quality is looking good. Lettuce is starting to ship out of diverse California areas such as Salinas-Watsonville, the Imperial and Coachella valleys, and Central San Joaquin Valley.

Transitions have a gradual start but will pick up as the new crop enhances the supply.

• Iceberg Lettuce: Demand is moderate on a steady market with good quality.
• Green and