The International Fresh Produce Association continues to release details of The Washington Conference to take place in Washington, DC, Sept. 26-28 and has announced that in addition to speakers and meetings with congresspeople, IFPA will host a Joy of Fresh activation at the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill.

The event will be open to IFPA Washington Conference attendees but will also invite DC influencers, including key congressional and administrative staff, and consumer advocates to take part in the Joy of Fresh event.

A quarter of businesses in the energy-intensive sectors expect to make serious losses already this year due to the extreme rise in energy prices. An increasing percentage expect this for next year. A third of businesses are now paying 3 to 8 times as much for electricity compared to last year. For more than a quarter, gas prices have gone up 3 to 8 times.

Jerry Nelson Hines, a Colorado onion grower and owner of Hines Farm, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Hope West Hospice in Grand Junction, CO. He was 82 years old.

Mr. Hines was, among many things, a farmer and business owner. He served on several boards, including the Farm Service Agency, National Onion Association, Colorado Co-op Exchange and the Delta Co-op.

Mr. Hines was born May 16, 1940, in Bertram County, TX. His parents were George Penn and Verda Virginia (Johnson) Hines.

Easy Rider, The Wild One, The Produce News? Sturgis is over — now the real motorcycle rally can begin. Bikes elicit the passion that those in the produce industry are known for, so TPN asked you to show us your rides and you responded. The Produce News' bike rally got Hog Wild, so get a look at what some of your fellow industry friends and colleagues ride when they take to the open road.

The Tony Vitrano Co. has long relied on its trusted team members to keep the business successful, and many employees are like family. So, it was bittersweet to see two of its long-time employees retire in 2022.

Mark Evans, a salesperson who had been part of the company for more than four decades, and Rose Fischer, a bookkeeper, who had called the office her second home since 1952.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation released its latest research report: Hacks To Habits: A Behavioral Research Study To Bolster Fruit & Vegetable Consumption. As part of PBH’s commitment to research across three platforms — food, nutrition and behavioral science; policy analyses; and consumer consumption trends — this new report reinforces the organization’s mission to improve fruit and vegetable consumption in America for better health and happiness.