With consumers cooking at home more than ever, Progressive Produce is looking forward to working with its partners throughout the supply chain to bring fresh, nutritious asparagus to dinner tables around the country.

One of the key things the company plans to do encourage retailers to generate excitement around asparagus on their social media channels and highlight new, creative recipes for today's home chefs.

"Tying in asparagus with social media campaigns and in-store flyers will really help generate repeat customers," said Cory Stahl, vice president of dales for Progressive Produce.

Wi

The Wonderful Company, a global company dedicated to harvesting health and happiness around the world through its iconic consumer brands, announced the launch of the Wonderful Innovation Challenge. Offering up to $1 million in funding and development resources to innovators, the competition seeks to discover economic and environmentally friendly pilot ready solutions for the 50,000 tons of pomegranate husks generated each year by juicing POM Wonderful pomegranates. ReFED, a national nonprofit working to end food loss and waste across the food system, serves as strategic advisor and managing

Baja Son Growers has doubled its production for organic green onions — just in time to celebrate its 10-year anniversary.

“The Baja Son family is thankful for our customers and their patronage and trust over the past 10 years. As a vertically integrated company we are able to control all aspects of the growing process from seed to store 52 weeks per year,” said Robert Leonard, director of sales, Baja Son Growers.

The Salinas-based grower-shipper is experiencing good supply and quality. While supplies are picking up the company is encouraging customers to take advantage of various ad

The Kroger Co. and Ocado announced Romulus, MI, as the latest location for a Customer Fulfillment Center. The location confirms a previous announcement stating Kroger and Ocado would construct a CFC in the Great Lakes region.

This new 135,000-square-foot CFC will accelerate Kroger's ability to expand its products to a larger footprint. This facility will create 250 new jobs, benefitting the region, and it is expected to become operational 18 months after the site breaks ground and will support customers in several markets, including Michigan, northern Ohio, and Indiana.

"Kroger is incredibly

United Natural Foods Inc. announced that Steven L. Spinner will retire as chief executive officer after the conclusion of the term of his employment agreement on July 31, 2021, or earlier upon the appointment of a successor. Spinner has agreed to remain on the board to serve as executive chairman following his retirement as CEO.

In connection with Spinner’s upcoming retirement, the board has initiated a search to identify UNFI’s next CEO and, consistent with good governance practices, has engaged a leading executive search firm to assist in the process. The CEO search will include both

Exporters such as Southern Specialties in Pompano Beach, FL, are working hard to maintain the supply chain in the face of this year’s challenges.

“Like other countries around the world, Peru has been affected by COVID,” said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development. “Fortunately the Peruvian government included asparagus exports on its list of essential business, helping us maintain good supplies.”

In the coming season several trends may affect the deal, one of which, according to Eagle, is the majority of product reaching consumers through retail.

“As supplies pick up, we look