Never have there been so many choices in the produce aisle. New pack sizes, new varieties and fresh cuts have multiplied. With many available in both conventional and organic labels, it’s a good time to sort through what “organic” and “natural” mean, and their continuing marketing implications.

River Ranch Fresh Foods, a grower-shipper-processor of fresh vegetables based in Salinas, CA, will cease operations, effective Nov. 8.

With its second season winding down, Peppadew Gold peppers, produced by Peppadew Fresh LLC in Morganville, NJ, are poised to see an increase in production in the Garden State, with a future goal of expanding to other growing districts.

Pierre Crawley, managing director of the company, said the affiliation with the "Jersey Fresh" program and the Shop Rite supermarket chain, owned by Wakefern Food Corp. in Elizabeth, NJ, has been a great boost to the product this year.

Harris Teeter Supermarkets announced that Harris Teeter's shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the previously announced agreement and plan of merger, dated July 8, among Harris Teeter, Hornet Acquisition Inc. and The Kroger Co.

Approximately 98.6 percent of the votes cast were in favor of the merger agreement, representing approximately 82.5 percent of Harris Teeter's outstanding common stock as of Aug. 22, 2013, the record date for the special meeting.

The California Avocado Commission is putting the finishing touches on its plans for the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit Oct. 18-20 in New Orleans. CAC communications will focus on California avocado proximity to the U.S. market and the commission's marketing programs to support retail sales growth.

Philip George Boskovich, co-founder of Boskovich Farms, died Sept. 30 at his home in Westlake Village, CA. He was two days shy of his 98th birthday.