Columbine Vineyards, a part of the AC Foods family, announced a partnership with Four Star Sales Inc. to meet the increasing demands of the fresh table grape industry. The collaboration will allow both companies to further the reach of their portfolio of table grape varieties, including their branded proprietary varieties.

Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables and nutrition education resources directly into families’ hands, has been named the official nonprofit partner of The Produce Moms.
 

Wonderful Pistachios launched a big game campaign to make game day snacking even easier, whether attending in person, or watching from home. For those traveling to the big game, or related viewing parties, a partnership with luxe rideshare service Alto will provide discounted transportation and delicious snacking around Los Angeles over the game day weekend.

Ralphs and Kitchen United MIX opened the first kitchen center in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Customers can build their freshly prepared, on-demand restaurant meals from any or all of the participating restaurants.

"When our customers think of food, they think of Kroger," said Dan De La Rosa, group vice president of fresh merchandising for Kroger. "The Kitchen United collaboration provides the fresh, on-demand meals our customers crave. It is one more innovative example of how Kroger is fulfilling its commitment to anything, anywhere, anytime."

The Tom Lange Family of Cos. announced that Greg Reinauer’s role has expanded to include CEO. Reinauer has served as president of Tom Lange Co. Inc. since joining the company in March of 2012 and will continue in that role. Phil Gumpert retired Dec. 31 and stepped down from his role as CEO. The move completes a succession planning process and provides continuity of leadership throughout the enterprise.

The California citrus industry is answering the call to strengthen fresh produce food-safety research. Citrus producers from across the Golden State are making a collective $500,000 contribution to Center for Produce Safety’s research capital campaign to fund produce-specific food-safety research.

Their funds will support CPS’s work to identify industry’s top produce safety questions, call on researchers to answer them, then transfer learnings to industry, government, public health and other stakeholders.