Looking to revolutionize the stagnant in-shell sunflower seed category, South 40 Snacks is partnering with retailers to uniquely position its giant-sized, premium seeds in the produce aisle. The company seeks to emulate the success of pistachio category, driven in large part by innovation on the part of The Wonderful Co. In the not too distant past, the vast majority of in-shell pistachios were dyed red, often purchased in gas stations, and a mere semblance of today’s massive pistachio market.

“Our seeds are a game-changer,” said Josh Schroeter, company founder. “We’re excited to

Farm Fresh Produce considers itself an evolving company and not afraid of change.

Johnnie Herring, chief production officer of the Faison, NC-based company, said the company’s success comes from not saying “no” to customers and knowing how to adapt under any circumstance.

“We have learned to adapt under any circumstance,” he said. “So, COVID-19 was just a bump in the road for us. We followed all CDC guidelines and added a few ourselves to protect our employees, as well as implementing weekly testing to guarantee a safe working environment.”

As for the production and business side of the

AJ Trucco Inc., has been involved in chestnuts for most of its existence, with its product grown in the mountains of Campania, Italy.

Chestnuts naturally drop from trees when they’re ready, and are collected by the Contadini, the local farmers who use centuries-old methods to get them ready to ship to the  United States.

The Italian chestnuts season starts in fall and reaches its peak in mid-December, making them perfect for the holidays.

“It’s important for our company, and we’ve been distributing fresh chestnuts for a long time,” said Nick Pacia, CEO and president of Trucco. “It’s a

Hy-Vee, Inc. announced today that Casey Decker has been named the company’s chief information officer, where he will lead the IT strategy for the more than $11 billion company. Decker will oversee all of Hy-Vee’s information systems and staff and lead the company’s technology operations. He will also lead all innovations and initiatives for the retailer’s online and digital channels.

Decker comes to Hy-Vee after serving as the chief information officer for FBL Financial Group, Inc. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Drake University as well as a master's degree in Management of Information

Bill Brooks and Paul Villa are longtime friends in the Los Angeles produce industry, and they have had their respective heads in the clouds for a very long time. Recently, they were honored for that.

Both men grew up in Southern California with a produce broker as a father. They both started in other work but soon followed in their fathers’ footsteps and made very successful careers in the produce industry. Today, Villa is CEO of Great West Produce, while Brooks wears the same title for Westlake Produce Co. They have been colleagues, friendly competitors and occasional buyers of each other’s

A harvest shortfall late in the Red River Valley potato harvest has disappointed some growers, but overall the valley has a nice crop. Ted Kreis, marketing director of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, on Oct. 22 noted this status of his industry, which had likely completed its harvest.

In 2020, yellow potatoes now account for 28 percent of the valley’s fresh crop.  “Increasing production of yellow potatoes has been the trend for the last decade, or more,” Kreis said. Red potatoes still hold a predominant position as the core business for Red River Valley growers.

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