U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry intercepted 3.52 million fentanyl pills weighing 776 pounds concealed within a shipment of green beans, worth an estimated street value of $21.12 million.

On Monday, at approximately 7:21 p.m., CBP officers encountered a 48-year-old male driver of a tractor trailer, with a shipment manifested as green beans. During initial inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver and cargo load for an intensive agriculture inspection.

For retailers, nothing is more important than having ripe fruit on display each and every day. But is it enough to justify the investment in ripening rooms? Few know the answer to this question better than Gary Campisi, former head of quality control for produce, floral, meat and seafood at Walmart and Sam’s Club.

What’s the importance of having ripe bananas on display for retailers?

The 2023 Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Convention & Trade Show will take place next week at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The exhibit space is sold out, but there is still time to register to attend the event, connect with key industry leaders, and hear from awards recipients.

Here is a snapshot by the numbers:

Wakefern Food Corp., with member companies that own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market banners, announced that Elena Kabasinskas has joined as group vice president, strategy, planning and transformation.

Responsible for leading transformation planning, strengthening business processes and Wakefern’s strategic deployment of new technologies, Kabasinskas will report to Michael Day, who has been promoted to senior vice president, strategy, business development and architecture.

With the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Show back in Toronto, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture will be headed up north to exhibit, as it does each time the CPMA is in Eastern Canada.