Jim Leimkuhler, CEO of Progressive Produce LLC, announced his retirement, effective March 31, after 35 years in the produce industry. The last 25 years have been spent with Progressive Produce in Los Angeles where he was instrumental in building it into a well-respected produce company that serves national and regional grocery chains, and foodservice companies throughout the United States.

"My life and career at Progressive Produce have meant so very much to me," said Leimkuhler. "I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to come here in 1995 as the chief financial officer, to be

U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa commercial facility discovered over $1.3 million worth of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of fresh spinach, wrapped in paper with pictures of spinach on Wednesday, March 10.

CBP officers encountered a 49-year-old driver of a tractor pulling a trailer with a shipment manifested as fresh spinach. During the inspection, the CBP officer referred the driver along with the conveyance to the port’s X-ray imaging system.

During the X-ray exam, CBP officers identified anomalies within the shipment and referred the truck and trailer

Five Crowns, a family-owned third-generation grower, packer, shipper and processor of fresh produce, announces the opening of its new facility in Tracy, CA with partner GloriAnn Farms. The new facility will expand the value-added corn program and offer regional distribution of other core products.

Scheduled to open in April 2021, GloriAnn Farm’s new state-of-the-art processing facility will more than double capacity to produce their value-added line of products. It also provides much greater flexibility to manage unforeseen issues that may arise.

“If 2020 taught us anything, it’s to expect

ProSource Produce LLC’s new, branded sweet onion carton is available to ship later this week. The new box is the first in a series of new packaging introductions that the Idaho-based grower-shipper of fresh onions and potatoes has planned for 2021. 

“Our growing and packing operations across the U.S. and Mexico have experienced exceptional growth over the past decade, and increased our capacity to provide a consistent year-round sweet onion program to our valued customers," said CEO Corey Griswold. "The addition of a sweet onion carton to our existing brand is an exciting step forward in

After 27 years as Peak of the Market’s president and CEO, Larry McIntosh announced his retirement. He will continue to be with Peak of the Market until at least June.

“Larry’s commitment, dedication and extreme passion to the produce industry and to Peak of the Market will not be forgotten," said Peter Loewen, chair of Peak of the Market. "We are grateful for his contributions and wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

Beth Connery, vice chair of Peak of the Market, said, “Today, we are celebrating Larry’s many years and accomplishments with Peak of the Market.  The board of directors

The South Texas Onion Committee was dumbstruck at 3:30 p.m. on March 9.  A USDA Agricultural Marketing Service representative in Florida, the liaison to the South Texas Onion Committee, called Dante Galeazzi with sudden news that the marketing order was immediately being suspended.

Galeazzi, who is the executive manager of the South Texas Onion Committee, told The Produce News on March 10 that he and other Texas onion leaders met with the AMS via Zoom in January.  The Texans were told that their onion marketing order would remain in place at least through this season.  The future of the