CHARLOTTE, NC — About 75 industry professionals from various stops along the supply chain gathered here Feb. 4 for a one-day Tech Talks sponsored by the Produce Marketing Association to embrace change and banish fear of failure, and to learn about emerging technology, as the moderator put it, “that can change the face of the industry.”

Giant Food Stores — in partnership with its sister company Peapod, a leading internet grocer — launched online shopping and grocery delivery service to more than 60 communities in Pennsylvania. A new fulfillment facility in Camp Hill services Peapod by Giant’s home and workplace grocery delivery to these communities.

Jim Mulcahy, sales manager for New World Farming Trade, headquartered in New York, NY, said that the company is excited about the launch of its trademark “Muscatel from Grandma” grape packaging.

“The pink seedless Muscatel grape is a specialty product which is exotic in nature and has a brief window from March to approximately the first week of May,” explained Mulcahy.

“It isn’t a typical year-round on the shelf type of grape, and so we developed a highly distinctive packaging bag for instant customer recognition,” he added.

A year ago, Dana Summers joined Market Fresh Produce, LLC, based in Nixa, MO, as senior director of global operations.

Summers has 24 years of experience serving the foodservice market. Thus, she has a great deal of insight into the operations of Market Fresh’s vine-ripe tomato packing facility, West Central Florida Produce, based in Tampa, FL. Market Fresh acquired West Central Florida in August 2013.

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday that $30 million is being rolled out in research grants to respond to citrus greening, which continues to threaten the $9 billion citrus industry in Florida.

CHARLOTTE, NC — About 75 industry professionals from 10 states gathered here Feb. 4 for PMA Tech Talks to learn about emerging technology. “Food production needs to go up 70 percent in the next 10 years, and change is already upon us,” said Cathy Burns, PMA president.