The Foundation for Fresh Produce and Produce for Better Health Foundation will combine to further advance fruit and vegetable consumption in America and create the largest global community of advocates for produce.

The Southeast Produce Council highlighted the latest innovations in the fresh produce industry at its Southern Innovations conference and trade show, which took place Sept. 22-24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN. The event drew a sizeable number of attendees and a record number of exhibitors.

Eagle Eye Produce had been harvesting new crop potatoes for several weeks before beginning harvest for its storage supplies the week after Labor Day. While it is still too early to know the overall projection for the crop, early indications are for high-quality spuds with smaller overall sizing and a bit lower yield.

Crunch Time Apple Growers, a cooperative of 152 growers throughout New York state, is a leader in the efforts to grow and market two popular apples, SnapDragon and RubyFrost, which are marketed in bulk and various pack styles.

What’s on shoppers’ minds in these not-quite-yet-normal times?

If you think of it like a shopping cart or basket, there’s a lot in there. There are the staples, like sustenance and nutrition. There are probably some novel things, based on a sense of food exploration or discovery. These days, there’s likely to be more items bought on sale, driven by the need or desire to cut costs during inflationary times.

Mark S. Hanks, a long-time executive formerly with DNE World Fruit, died surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, June 29, just shy of his 72nd birthday.

Mr. Hanks was born on July 2, 1950 in Kilgore, TX, and grew up in Southern California.  He attended UC-Santa Barbara before pursuing his acting and dance career in New York City and Los Angeles. His love for the performing arts took him from being a high school gymnast to dancing with the Joffrey Ballet and acting and performing in the theatre.