Chedraui USA, the fourth-largest grocery retailer in California and parent company for El Super, Smart & Final and Fiesta Mart stores, announced the retirement of Smart & Final President Scott Drew, effective Friday, Sept. 29.

Drew began his career in the industry more than four decades ago as a grocery clerk. He joined Smart & Final in 2010, leading the organization with a steadfast commitment to Smart & Final’s core values and a profound dedication to the personal and professional growth of the company’s associates.

Sollum Technologies announced that Les Serres Bertrand, a leader in the greenhouse industry, has chosen to install its dynamic LED lighting solution for its tomato greenhouse located in Lanoraie, QC, which it acquired in 2017.

Though imported asparagus sales in the United States dropped off by 13 percent in 2022, asparagus from Peru only declined 5 percent, effectively increasing its import market share by a few percentage points.

CarbAmericas President Jeff Friedman pulls no punches as he characterizes the current Peruvian asparagus deal. “It is pretty bleak right now,” he said, during the last few days of August.

So far, the Peruvian asparagus deal has been a challenge with much less volume than a year ago, but that hasn’t stopped U.S. importer Ayco Farms from moving forward on one of its key initiatives: value-added options.

“Ayco is focusing on more packaging for retailers especially with our asparagus,” said Shani Nir, who handles marketing for the Pompano Beach, FL-based company. “We offer anything from bulk packaging to private label packaging. Our packaging includes tray packs, pouch bags, and flow pack bags.”

For the past five years, Cruz Carrera has been a part of the Five Crowns team and its expansion of its asparagus program.

“As a year-round shipper our supply is sourced from Mexico, Peru, Canada and domestically” he said. “Our domestic production comes from Washington, Idaho and Michigan.”

Carrera, who wears the director of asparagus sales title, said that despite industry projections being down from both Peru and Mexico, total asparagus volume for the Brawley, CA-based company will once again be greater than the year before.