As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet their contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the PACA.

Good Foods, a category leader of plant-based dips and good-for-you products, announced the hiring of Lionel Mendoza as vice president of business development and the promotion of Brittany Vetter to national director of sales – retail.

As vice president of business development, Mendoza will be focused on progressing and nurturing relationships with retailers, clubsand restaurant chains/foodservice providers. Previously, Mendoza was senior vice president of sales and business development at Ruprecht Co. During his time there, he was responsible for developing and implementing a market strategy

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. announced that Danny Dumas has decided to leave the company effective May 29, 2020. During his tenure of over 20 years with the company, Dumas has held several positions, including, vice president operations, Europe and Africa, vice president North America sales and product management (banana and pineapple programs), as well as district sales manager, Canada.

“We extend our appreciation and gratitude to Danny for all his many contributions over the years and wish him well in his next endeavor,” said Youssef Zakharia, president and chief operating officer.

At this time, Target made the decision to adjust store hours or close stores temporarily for the safety of its employees and guests.

"We are a community in pain," said Brian Cornell, Target's chairman and CEO. "That pain is not unique to the Twin Cities — it extends across America. The murder of George Floyd has unleashed the pent-up pain of years, as have the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. We say their names and hold a too-long list of others in our hearts. As a Target team, we’ve huddled, we’ve consoled, we’ve witnessed horrific scenes similar to what’s playing out now and

As summer approaches and the upcoming Washington blueberry season nears first pick, Rainier Fruit Co.'s 100 percent organic blueberry operation is on track to earn the title of Bee Better Certified in July of 2020. “Rainier Fruit has been family owned and operated for five generations and it goes without saying that we would like to last another five,” said Mark Zirkle, president of Zirkle Fruit Co. “The need to sustain our fields and pollinators is crucial to that goal, which makes involvement in programs like Bee Better Certified a natural choice, as well as an exciting one.”

In

The closures of restaurants, hotels and schools have left growers with heaps of fresh produce without a destination. With crops often grown exclusively for the foodservice industry, growers who produce crops with a large percentage of production destined for this vital market segment are faced with incredible challenges amidst COVID-19 closures.

Potato growers have been hit hard with French-fry sales plummeting. The best potatoes for French-fries in foodservice are variety specific, which does not always translate at retail into consumer expectations of what a fresh potato should look like