Farm Fresh Direct, a leading conventional and organic potato organization, has named Mike Hulett as the company’s new CEO. Hulett joins Farm Fresh Direct from Walmart, where he was most recently merchandising director for apples, pears and cherries.

With only about three months to go until the Texas International Produce Association holds its annual Viva Fresh, that signature event is commanding much of the staff’s attention. But it has plenty of competition as TIPA has many different irons in the fire.

President/CEO Dante Galeazzi recently outlined the many initiatives that are occupying his time but agreed that Viva Fresh is top of mind.

A Texas-based customs brokerage firm is celebrating its 15th year in business and is seeing tremendous growth at its location in the Rio Grande Valley.

Apple dollars are up across the country due to inflation effects and a shorter crop nationally, offering promotion opportunities for Granny Smith, Cosmic Crisp, Pink Lady and Fuji apple varieties.  

Wakefern Food Corp. will pilot an autonomous supermarket making use of AI-based frictionless checkout technology from Israel-based Trigo.

Supply chain woes are making headlines once again. The continuing high truck rates and the lack of available drivers, along with winter weather, consumer stockpiling, and the spike in virus rates caused by the Omicron variant, are all being cited as contributing factors in empty store shelves being seen across the country. In addition, port backlogs are at an all-time high, with a record 105 ships reported to be awaiting berthing spots for unloading at Southern California ports and a total of 146 ships waiting outside all major U.S.