Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. announced that Nicholas Konat has been appointed as president and chief operating officer of the company, effective March 21. Konat has most recently served as chief merchandising officer at Petco Health and Wellness Co. Inc., a leading brand in the U.S. pet care industry and will oversee the company’s operations, marketing, merchandising and innovation functions and report to CEO Jack Sinclair.

“We are diversified, we are flexible, we are forward-thinking” said Jim Provost, president of I Love Produce LLC. “All those attributes enable us to stay ahead of many of the issues related to supply-chain.”

I Love Produce, based in West Grove, PA, specializes in the sales and logistics of garlic, shallots, and ginger, with service areas up and down the Eastern Seaboard, the South and Midwest. As a year-round supplier, the I Love Produce team knows its commodities and the challenges associated with the import business.

Vick Family Farms is headed to the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure show and is elated that 2022 looks to be the year the company can regularly meet face-to-face with its customers again.

The impact of the pandemic on consumption habits increased global demand for mandarins and lemons. Now Salix Fruits will introduce its new brand, Mundos, launching bags of Peruvian and Moroccan mandarins, as well as lemons from Argentina, Mexico, Turkey and Spain.

DMA Solutions, a marketing agency serving the food and floral industries, announced the company’s succession and expansion plan that includes Megan Zweig’s promotion to president of the company and Mackenzie McLeod as executive director of brand management. Dan’l Mackey Almy will serve as the founder and CEO.

As a result, the company officially announced the decision to expand serving industries adjacent to fresh produce, including restaurants, better-for-you food products, floral, nonprofits and associations.

As we head into the college basketball bracket season, Avocados From Mexico and Mission Foods are inviting shoppers to celebrate game day with the return of Taco Tip Off. The two companies have partnered to encourage shoppers to make avocados and tacos the star of their gameday plans.