Total organic fresh produce sales for the first quarter of 2022 increased by 4 percent from the same period last year, topping $2.3 billion for the quarter, according to the Q1 2022 Organic Produce Performance Report released exclusively by Organic Produce Network and Category Partners.

Bee Sweet Citrus is expanding its packinghouse to include a state-of-the-art Mandarin facility adjacent to California Highway 99.

Sprouts Farmers Market will host its first-ever Our Brands focused Sustainability Vendor Summit June 21-24 as part of the company’s commitment in bringing responsibly grown and sourced food to our customers.

The virtual event, hosted in partnership with ECRM and RangeMe, will allow Sprouts to discover new suppliers to support the continued expansion of Sprouts Branded items in departments including­ produce, grocery, frozen, deli, bulk foods, meat and seafood, and vitamins and supplements.

Boskovich Fresh Food Group subsidiary Fresh Prep LLC, the processing arm of the company, brings an exciting new retail line, Green Fork, to the industry this month with 11 SKUs. Green Fork offers playful prepackaged salad kits, tender leaves, salad blends and packaged vegetables.

Equitable Food Initiative, a workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups, welcomed produce industry veteran Michael Lacey to the position of business development manager. In the role, Lacey will be responsible for engaging produce growers in EFI’s certification program and helping ensure a seamless customer experience.

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. announced that Marty Gardner, senior vice president of merchandising, distribution, manufacturing, food safety and pharmacy, will retire in May, following a 40-year-career with the company.