Focused on the long-term viability of the industry it represents, the California Table Grape Commission is providing USDA with input on ways to enhance competitiveness through formal comments as well as testimony provided at the CDFA state board hearing, which opened the World Ag Expo this week in Tulare, CA.

Louis Paul Pizzo, who established the wholesale fruit and produce brokerage company Lou Pizzo Produce Inc., died Sunday, Feb. 11, surrounded by his family. He was 78.

Born in Bridgeton, NJ, on June 7, 1945 as the eldest son of Louis Pizzo Sr. and Josephine Pizzo (Traina), Mr. Pizzo attended Deerfield Township Schools alongside his three siblings and numerous cousins from his large Italian-American family.

Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. has agreed to acquire United Grocery Outlet, an extreme value, discount grocery retailer operating throughout the Southeast. With 40 stores and a distribution center, the acquisition of UGO will expand Grocery Outlet's presence into Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia.

Honeybear Brands is freshening up the apple supply chain with the introduction of Chilean imports. This aims to provide retailers nationwide with a continuous supply of freshly picked apples and pears year-round, beginning in March. By leveraging its Chilean operations, Honeybear Brands is poised to enhance the availability and freshness of fruits in the market, catering to evolving consumer preferences and retailer demands.

The U.S. Apple Association named the newest members of its leadership development program, the NextGen Apple Fellowship. Seven fellows from across the country have been selected to participate in the 2024 class.

The new members are Amanda VanBergen of Riveridge Produce Marketing Inc., Austin Benson of Chelan Fresh, Brannon Frankel of AgriMACS Inc., Joseph Strippoli of Geig's Orchard, Madison Schaefer of Storage Control Systems Inc., Max Farrell of Seso Labor and Shelby Miller of Applewood Fresh.

Charter Next Generation will feature Solar Shrink, a certified recyclable mulch film that is up to 50 percent lighter and four to six times stronger than traditional products, at the National Watermelon Association convention Feb. 21-24 at the We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center in Scottsdale, AZ.