Equitable Food Initiative, a workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups, welcomed produce industry veteran Michael Lacey to the position of business development manager. In the role, Lacey will be responsible for engaging produce growers in EFI’s certification program and helping ensure a seamless customer experience.

Lacey brings 30 years of sales and marketing experience along with deep roots in agriculture and fresh produce to EFI. He started his career at Marriott Hotels International, then moved to selling

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. announced that Marty Gardner, senior vice president of merchandising, distribution, manufacturing, food safety and pharmacy, will retire in May, following a 40-year-career with the company.

“Marty has made a significant impact through his passion for excellence across every area of our company,” said Colleen Wegman, president and CEO of Wegmans Food Markets. “He cares deeply about helping all of us be our best and inspires a strong sense of responsibility, ensuring we’ve thought everything through and are doing the right thing.”

Gardner joined Wegmans as a night

For almost 30 years, Village Farms has been focused on the art of growing the freshest vegetables with the utmost reverence for the environment in the great state of Texas. The company is now happy to boast it is versed in the art of musical video production as well. Marfa, TX, resident and dual citizen Rámon Vega Navarro recently launched his first music video, which pays tribute to the company’s employees in his song “Doble Nacionalidad,” which translated to English means “Double Nationality.”

Navarro’s song lyrics and video imagery tell the story of a group of resolute Village Farms

The year 1972 was noteworthy for many reasons.

The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins to win Super Bowl VI. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Cincinnati Reds in seven games to win the World Series. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 1,000 for the first time. Eugene Cernan was the last person to walk on the Moon. Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson was born, and former President Harry S. Truman died.

Also in 1972, a young man by the name of Harold Roger Sbrocco joined the fresh produce industry, beginning what would become a long, successful and satisfying career. The Produce News s

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council 2022 Apprentice Class held its first meeting at the 2022 FPFC Expo last week with the International Fresh Produce Association Career Pathways students.

On April 5, the Apprentice and Career Pathways students and their mentors, attended a morning introductory breakfast that was led by Barbara Hochman of IFPA. There were apprentices and students from varying segments across the supply chain, including quality control, operations and sales/marketing. After breakfast, the group continued to Frieda’s Specialty Produce for a tour of the facility, marketing

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, members of New Jersey's agricultural industry recently came together to celebrate and honor some of their own.

The New Jersey Agricultural Society held its annual gala Saturday, March 19, at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, NJ, where the 2020 and 2022 awards were presented. (The 2020 gala was canceled the day before it was to be held, and no awards were presented in 2021.)

Medallion, is shown with two family members and Dave
Specca, past president of the New Jersey Agricultural
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John Formisano Sr. and Al Murray each received the Gold Medallion, the society's highest honor. Bullock Farms in Cream Ridge, Vannini Farms in Vineland, Norz