The fully automated Sunsortai machine, a next-generation sorter from Sunkist Research and Technical Services, looks to make sorting and grading of citrus fruit just a lot easier. The new sorter uses Google AI technology to assess the inherent quality of each piece it processes, including any potential defects.

There’s a lot of energy and excitement this time of year as table grape season ramps up in California. In 2021 California grape growers harvested more than 97 million boxes of table grapes — an estimated crop value of $2.1 billion — per the California Table Grape Commission. Furthermore, those numbers represent 99 percent of all commercially grown grapes in the United States.

The Kroger Co. has launched a digital farmers market in Atlanta in partnership with Market Wagon. Developed as an e-commerce marketplace for local farmers and businesses, the service is a digital platform that offers customers a wide range of fresh, local products.

The delivery-only service offers a uniquely local assortment of over 1,150 local products by grouping local vendors together, including local farmers, bakeries and food artisans. All items found on Kroger Farmers Market are exclusive to the service and cannot yet be found at Kroger stores.

Elaine Louise D'Ottavio died Saturday, May 28, surrounded by her family. She was 80 years old and a longtime resident of Vineland.

Born Nov. 19, 1941, to William Consalo Sr. and Louise Consalo in Woodbury, NJ, she lived in Glassboro, NJ, for 22 years. She graduated from Glassboro High School in 1959, and later attended the Business School of Pennsylvania.

The Vineland Cooperative Produce Auction opened for the 2022 season on April 27, a typical and normal time, according to the auction’s Carol DeFoor.

“We had a cold snap last week,” she told The Produce News on Monday, May 2. “So the opening volume was a little less than might have been expected. “But we have plenty of stuff. Asparagus has come in well. We started with lettuces already, as well as cilantro, parsley, Romaine, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce and Boston. Everything’s coming in really good this year.”

Lineage Logistics LLC has acquired Turvo Inc., a leading provider of supply chain management, collaboration and visibility software. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.