After 24 years of work and negotiation between Chile and the U.S., the launch of the Systems Approach for Chilean table grapes has been confirmed. Industry stakeholders held a ceremony in Copiapó on June 28 to celebrate its approval.

Wakefern Food Corp. has added more Caper Carts at its supermarket banners, expanding to four ShopRite stores in the Philadelphia area. The carts are also planned for a new ShopRite store expected to open in Mount Kisco, NY, later this year.

In May 2024, the AI-powered shopping carts arrived at the ShopRite in Hoboken, NJ, and customers there have embraced the technology. To date, 11 ShopRite stores have added the smart shopping carts as another option for customers, and Wakefern expects more of its members to adopt the technology over the next year.

Kim Chackal, the woman behind Equifruit’s genius marketing and phenomenal sales growth, has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for the Montreal-based company.

Chackal joined Equifruit in December 2014 on a five-hour per week contract, a “let’s see if this is a fit” agreement. Subsequently, she moved from sales rep to sales manager, and in 2019, took on responsibility for Equifruit’s marketing as well in her new role as director of sales and marketing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture imposed sanctions on four produce businesses — Global Import With MK LLC, Marlon Abarca, J. Mendez Produce Inc. and Bonimex Produce NYC Corp. — for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

Company officials call it “The Parker Promise.”

It is their commitment to creating solutions for their customer’s produce and logistic needs, while, at the same time, generating extraordinary value for its growers and a rewarding and exciting workplace for its employees.

Just as the Olympic Games in Paris are getting under way, this summer also marks the start of the 2025 season.