If the fresh produce industry and the stock market have anything in common, it’s Drew Billmeyer, part of the third generation of family members spearheading operations at Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc. in Detroit.

This year’s rivalry between Oregon State University and Washington State University will extend beyond the football field with the real winner being the local food banks. The Oregon Potato Commission and the Washington State Potato Commission are teaming up to tackle hunger via a friendly wager on the outcome of the Nov. 8 matchup in Corvallis, OR, between the Beavers and Cougars.

C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. has agreed to acquire the wholesale distribution and supply business of the Grocers Supply Co. Inc. This news comes less than a week after its bid to purchase Associated Wholesalers Inc. was approved.

The new acquisition will include Grocers Supply’s warehouse and distribution operations in the Houston, Dallas and Rio Grande Valley areas along with its approximately 1,800 employees, but will not include any of Grocers Supply’s retail operations. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year.

The New England Produce Council will hold its annual expo in 2015 at a brand new location: the picturesque Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, MA, a beachfront resort on the "elbow" of beautiful Cape Cod.

Stemilt is giving consumers a look at its world renowned pear locales in a new video that highlights the company’s heritage and its position growing and packing pears in Washington state’s Wenatchee and Entiat river valleys.

The Mushroom Council has promoted Kathleen Preis to the role of marketing manager. In this new position, she will be taking on additional management responsibilities for key Mushroom Council program areas, while continuing to lead the school meals marketing initiative.