Tops Friendly Market, a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania and Vermont, and Convergent Energy + Power have partnered to deliver more renewable energy to upstate New Yorkers in the form of community solar paired with battery storage.

As a result of this partnership, over 75 Tops stores will be powered by the solar farms, which will reduce the stores’ carbon footprint. The solar-plus-storage projects developed by Convergent provide Tops and upstate New Yorkers access to solar energy whether or not the sun is shining and reduce the state’s reliance on power

While local tree fruit growers work in their fields with eager anticipation of this year’s crop, BC Tree Fruits growers have an added assurance of stability with the extension of the cooperative’s CEO contract.

“The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Warren Sarafinchan has accepted the cooperative’s offer to continue in his current capacity as CEO for another five years," said Steve Brown, president of BC Tree Fruits Cooperative Board of Directors. "As Warren has already demonstrated, he is fully committed to working with the growers, board members and employees at the Cooperative

Oppy has added to its extensive team in North America with the hiring of Sergio Ruiz, who will focus on building the supply of key items for the leading grower, marketer and distributor of fresh produce from around the world.

Based in Guadalajara, Ruiz offers a decade of experience in the produce industry in retail and imports as well as various other roles. He also brings to the table a wealth of knowledge of the greenhouse industry in Mexico. In his new role, Ruiz will work on further growing Oppy’s robust offerings across the berry, citrus, avocados and grape categories in addition to the

On April 17, 2020, Fresh Kist Produce in Nipomo, CA, secured a truck for a Boston-bound load for $6,400. Almost exactly a year later, on Monday, April 19, 2021, the Santa Maria Valley shipper sent off another truck on the same route with a contracted freight rate of $10,600.

“Who knows what it will be when we start competing again the fruit guys in the (San Joaquin) Valley,” said Denny Donovan, Fresh Kist sales manager.

He noted that the cross-country freight rates occasionally flirt with $10,000 but never this early in the year. “We’ve been told the rates could be 35 to 50 percent higher

Idaho Falls, ID-based Eagle Eye Produce, a grower and shipper of potatoes, onions, watermelons and Nogales vegetables, has expanded its year-round onion programs with the addition of Central Produce Distribution Inc. of Payette, ID.

“This expansion will allow us to strengthen our onion growing, packing, and shipping capabilities immensely," said Lance Poole, executive vice president of Eagle Eye Produce. "This move aligns with our overall mission to be the partner of choice to our customers with smart, controlled growth by diversifying to key geographical locations, bolstering our supply, and

Mr. Lucky is greatly expanding its border warehouse services in Laredo, TX.  By this fall, a new cold warehouse and office complex will replace GAB’s current, out-grown facility.

Miguel Usabiaga, vice president of the company, said the move is being made "to meet and exceed customer needs.”

Mr. Lucky is the well-known brand name used by GAB, owner of fresh vegetable operations in Guanajuato, Mexico.  Covemex is GAB’s frozen vegetable brand.

Usabiaga emphasized that Mr. Lucky will continue to operate from a third-party warehouse in Pharr, TX.  Those crossings are mostly mixed or LTL fresh