Cox Enterprises announced the acquisition of BrightFarms, an indoor farming company and provider of locally grown packaged salads. Cox said the move solidifies BrightFarms' leadership in the indoor agriculture space and provides a strong, stable foundation committed to accelerating growth with partner retailers.

Every member of the Southeast Produce Council puts in extra time on the job because of the satisfaction that a better yield in crops, businesses and relationships brings them. But there are a select few who stand out among them who unite the region through tireless effort, extraordinary instinct and a genuine love for the produce industry.

The Southeast Produce Council is pleased to recognize several outstanding individuals who have been nominated for this year's Next Generation Award.

Driscoll’s has installed 3,384 solar panels on its 155,000-square-foot cooling facility in Santa Maria, CA, which is estimated to generate 1.4 million kilowatt-hours of power annually.

In addition to solar power, Driscoll’s has installed a battery storage system that can hold up to 700 kilowatt-hours. Together, both systems will allow the company to offset about 92% of the facility’s energy usage, generating a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing more than 7,750 cars from the road over the course of 25 years.

On Aug. 16, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced a significant reduction in Colorado River water to Arizona because of severe drought conditions and the impact they have had on the level of water behind Hoover Dam in Lake Mead. Nevada and Mexico will also feel the pinch, though California will receive its regular allotment at least through 2022.

Traditionally, Friday afternoons in mid-August are reserved for early starts to the weekend. This past Friday, those that vacated their desks missed an important message from Cathy Burns, CEO of the Produce Marketing Association, as she filled industry inboxes with a short video regarding the upcoming Fresh Summit.

March 2020, the world was shaken in a way that most of us have never endured or thought we would ever live to see. I remember spending my January 2020 in a different state each week, then hustling through February with a few more business trips. I was dreading the fact that I had to finish a week of hustle to go spend Friday evenings at my parents’ house for my mother’s request of Friday night dinners in hopes to keep her kids close and family strong. The last thing I thought I had time or energy for was dinner on a Friday night: it just was not a priority for me.