Offering Fair Trade Certified produce since 2004, Oppy has generated $4.4 million in premiums in the last half dozen years, and plans to make even greater impact by adding Peruvian blueberries packed under the iconic Ocean Spray brand to its program

The premier grower, marketer and distributor of fresh produce from around the world has an extensive and growing lineup of Fair Trade Certified produce, including Mexican Bell peppers and cucumbers, organic and conventional Peruvian grapes, as well as tomatoes, nectarines and mini peppers. This marks the first time Oppy has brought to market

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Social Enterprise LLC, operating out of New Castle, DE, for failing to pay a $100,255 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Rafael S. Goldberg and Diego Gonzalez-Carvajal were

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility thwarted a smuggling attempt of alleged cocaine and methamphetamine worth $4 million in a commercial shipment of fresh produce arriving from Mexico.

“Tenacity is the key in keeping dangerous drugs from crossing our borders,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. CBP officers are committed to upholding CBP’s ongoing border security mission, serving as the guardians of our country’s borders.”

On Sep. 22, 2020, a 28-year-old truck driver, a Mexican

Jimmy Panetta and Rodney Davis warned that they will not be seen together on national news networks.

Why not? After all, they respect each other, they are friends, and they cooperate to get things done for American agriculture.

Panetta is the U.S. Representative for the nation’s “Salad Bowl,” California District 20. He’s a Democrat. Davis, on the other hand, is a Republican from Illinois District 13.

They spoke together in a Sept. 24 Zoom presentation offered as part of the United Fresh Produce Washington Congress. This general session was titled “A Bipartisan Approach to Governing.”

Davis

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, IRI data has consistently shown weekly mushroom sales up by 20 percent or more compared to the same week in 2019. Mushroom demand is high, and a recent survey of mushroom consumers suggests it will continue at this pace after this crisis.

The Fresh Mushroom Attitudes & Behaviors During COVID-19 survey of 750 shoppers conducted in April revealed that 25 percent of consumers are planning to cook more with fresh mushrooms “after things get back to normal.” An additional 63 percent plan to cook “about the same.” The survey was developed and conducted

SUNSET and Brighter Bites are joining forces to do some good in the produce world and have some fun while doing so. The two organizations are partnering in a groundbreaking virtual event for the produce industry that will help raise funds to support the Brighter Bites mission of delivering fresh produce to families who need it most.

“With the produce world going virtual for this year’s PMA Fresh Summit, we didn’t want to compromise on the opportunity to get the industry together to have some fun and keep the SUNSET Rocks tradition going,” said Paul Mastronardi, president and CEO of