Walmart Inc. appointed Laura Himes — former senior director for produce merchandising — to vice president sourcing – fresh.

Himes started working for Walmart in 2013, where she led produce merchandising and sustainability efforts around packaging, pollinators, vertical farming, block chain implementation and ethical treatment of farm workers. She has more than three decades of experience in the produce industry, in all areas encompassing farm to fork.

The Vena family’s roots in the Philadelphia produce industry date back more than 100 years. It’s a legacy that those at John Vena Inc. are committed to keep going strong, and there’s a great buzz around the company in 2023.

The Southeast Produce Council's 2023 STEP-UPP class toured five farms in South Carolina in mid-April to learn more about the farming aspect of fresh produce while helping to build and strengthen relationships between buyers and sellers.

The Chefs’ Warehouse Inc. has expanded and focused on produce with its latest acquisitions of Hardie’s Fresh Foods and Greenleaf Produce & Specialty Foods.

The Center for Produce Safety will hold its 2023 Research Symposium June 20-21 in Atlanta, with a focus on making its research learnings relatable to industry.

SpartanNash is expanding the use of an autonomous inventory robot named Tally in grocery stores in Michigan and Indiana. Developed by retail technology company Simbe, Tally represents SpartanNash's continued investment in technology to enhance the store guest and Associate experience.