Constant increasing operating costs, lower revenue, staffing shortages, high inflation prices, consumer resistance and negative economic news have created a pessimistic attitude — for everybody.

Many business operators are becoming plagued with fear as to what lies ahead. That same feeling looms over the consumers as well. Families are feeling the pressure of escalating costs — specifically around food.

TUBAC, AZ – The Sonoran table grape crop for 2023 is projected to be 21.7 million boxes, an increase of 1.32 percent over 2022’s 21.4 million-box crop.

The estimate was presented by Marco Antonio Camou, president of the Mexican table grape importers association known as AALPUM, at the Mexico Table Grapes Spring Summit March 22, held at the Tubac Golf Resort, here.

Camou said the numbers are based on a survey sent to growers requesting information on varieties per area.

United Natural Foods Inc. promoted two senior leaders to better align leadership teams and resources to drive its customer-centric strategy and transformation agenda. This agenda is aimed at enhancing shareholder value creation by improving the company’s customer and supplier experience and increasing operating efficiency. Erin Horvath has been appointed to the position of chief operating officer and Louis Martin has been named president of wholesale.

Continental Fresh has been attending Viva Fresh for the past four years, but 2022 was the first time it exhibited at the show. Things went so well the Miami-based company will be back in 2023 at booth No. 100. The company specializes in tropical imports from Latin America — especially mangos — servicing retail, foodservice, wholesale and process customers throughout the United States.

Registration and hotel reservations are now open for IFPA's Foodservice Conference, which is set to take place July 27-28 event in Monterey, CA.

The conference, which attracts more than 1,800 members of the full foodservice supply chain, boasted a one-to-one buyer-supplier ratio in 2022, said IFPA’s Joe Watson, vice president of retail, foodservice, wholesale membership. “The energy at this event is off the charts," he said. "When we get buyers and sellers together, business happens.”

Trade between the United States and Mexico continues to grow, with fresh fruits and vegetables accounting for an increasing percentage of goods coming into the U.S. via the Pharr Bridge.

As such, officials from Pharr Bridge and the city of Pharr are working to keep infrastructure up to date at the point of crossing to accommodate the increased commercial traffic and better facilitate the import of perishables.