Lancaster Foods has been a staple in the Baltimore area for decades, operating out of a 220,000-square-foot state-of-the-art distribution and processing center in Jessup, MA, employing more than 700 employees.

“Lancaster Foods was started in 1986 by myself and my brother,” said John Gates, co-founder and president of the company. “We have enjoyed steady growth since inception, but particularly over the last few years.”

Online grocery sales dipped a bit in August compared to last year ($8.5 billion vs. $8.6 billion) according to the most recent Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey. Despite the small dip, ongoing shopper research conducted by Brick Meets Click over the last four years shows how eGrocery sales have remained at significantly elevated levels following the dramatic surge experienced at the onset of the pandemic.

There has been a shift in the way households shop online for groceries, however. 

Bryan Burkhalter has joined Sev-Rend as its new West Coast business development manager.

FirstFruits Farms is about to kick off its 10th year of growing and selling Sweetie apples, which it called Gala’s sweeter, crunchier cousin.

The Sweetie apple variety is unique in that it contains some of the best attributes from the Royal Gala and the Braeburn varieties. Originally discovered in France, the international flair sets Sweetie apart from other apples.

Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, WA, kicks off apple harvest with a 21-stop cross-country trek to promote early season club varietal Rave apples. The Produce News caught up with Brianna Shales, marketing director at Stemilt, on the road on the first leg of Stemilt’s Great American Rave Race. Shales said, “Rave  comes and goes in a flash –– it is a limited time offering, so get it while you can!”

Before we know it, the fall equinox will arrive Sept. 22 in the Northern Hemisphere, officially announcing it is autumn once again. Soon there will be displays of fall apples, pears, cider and pumpkins in the stores. And add hard squash, gourds, decorative corn, persimmons, pomegranates and cranberries to the list.