Technology, labor, water and affordability emerged as some of the biggest themes at this year’s Viva Fresh Expo, as produce industry leaders gathered in April to discuss how the business can adapt to rapidly changing conditions while continuing to meet consumer demand.   Held in Texas and focused heavily on the fresh produce supply chain, […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is tightening stocking requirements for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a move that could significantly expand access to fresh produce in smaller stores across the country.   Under new rules finalized this month by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP-authorized retailers will now be required to […]

There’s some positive news in the produce industry. Although we’ve faced tight markets, rising trucking costs driven by higher diesel prices and weather challenges that cut crop yields, things are beginning to stabilize. As May transitions into summer, warmer temperatures are helping crops return to normal growth patterns. In several regions, supply volumes are slowly […]

Anyone who has worked in a grocery store knows how demanding and unpredictable each day can be. The pace never slows, and there is always another problem to solve: late deliveries, missing carts, difficult customers, equipment failures, out-of-stocks, employee call-ins, and unexpected supervisor walk-throughs.   Not long ago, an independent grocer asked me to evaluate […]

Sustainability continues to gain momentum in the produce industry, and a growing number of organizations are positioning regenerative agriculture as more than just an environmental initiative. Increasingly, it is being viewed as a long-term business strategy.   The International Fresh Produce Association recently announced an expanded USDA-supported initiative focused on helping specialty crop growers adopt […]