Flavor 1st Growers & Packers grows and packs more than 30 different varieties of produce, all of which are tracked from field-to-fork using state-of-the-art distribution programs, labeling and procedures.

As Flavor 1st enters the second quarter of 2022, its planning plantings, local programs for summer deals and getting ground ready on its summer farms as it looks forward to a successful summer after a promising 2021.

DNO Produce, a leading fresh-cut produce processor and wholesale produce distributor, broke ground on an expansion to its fresh-cut produce facility. The expansion will increase DNO’s production capacity by 33 percent through additional space, improved layout and process improvements.

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania and Vermont, promoted Jeff Cady to the role of vice president of produce and floral as part of Shared Services Center.

Shared Services Center supports both Tops Friendly Markets and Price Chopper/Market 32, which formally merged this past fall.

GrubMarket has completed the acquisition of Buenos Aires, Argentina-based Salix Fruits, a global fresh fruit importer and exporter with a wide portfolio of produce items ranging across apples, lemons, oranges, tangerines, pears, grapes and more. The company has hundreds of growers in more than 20 countries and serves over 450 customers across 50 countries worldwide, including Argentina, Chile, Brazil, South Africa, Spain, India and the U.S.

With all industries in a state of upheaval during this past year, BlueSkySearch LLC wants to connect young talent with corporate experts so that the agriculture and produce industries, as a whole, can prosper and move forward. The online agriculture job portal service has curated many internship programs with several long-standing members of the produce community. These opportunities cover the expanse of the country from California to Rhode Island.

Heat waves in the West and blizzards in the Northeast have been affecting crops.

Out West, the high temps reinforce drought concerns. The Coachella Valley is in the midst of pepper harvest and temps are expected to be in the mid-90s.

Most commodities were unaffected by the snowfall in upstate New York, “but domestic asparagus markets will endeavor to shrug off lingering chills for a couple more weeks,” said Mark Campbell, founder and CEO of ProduceIQ.