Empire and Second Harvest have formed a national partnership to implement the Second Harvest Food Rescue App at Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods and Voilà. Second Harvest's food rescue app will enable Empire’s banners to divert food waste and offer even more access to fresh, healthy food to Canadian families in need.

Harvest of the year’s first fresh cherries has begun in California’s southern-most growing areas and will soon be moving its way up the state.  

“We’re looking forward to 2021 being an excellent year for California cherries in terms of both volume and quality,”  said Chris Zanobini, executive director of the California Cherry Board.  “Statewide estimates are predicting a crop of 9.47 million 18-pound boxes, which is near the record produced in 2017.

The Kroger Co. announced the expansion of its Simple Truth Recycling Program — offering customers a free and easy way to recycle flexible plastic packaging — to include all private-label brands. The newly expanded Kroger Our Brands Recycling Program is the first program of its kind and advances the retailer's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan.

The Mexican Supreme Court ruled April 28 by a unanimous vote of five to zero in favor of overturning a 2017 lower court decision that prevented the Mexican federal government from implementing regulations to allow for the importation of fresh U.S. potatoes throughout the country. The ruling, cheered by the National Potato Council and Potatoes USA, marks the end of a decades-long legal process that began when Mexico’s potato industry sued its government to prevent competition from imports.

On your TV, in your email, on your favorite websites and social media, within your printed magazines, The Blend will reach more home cooks than ever this spring and summer thanks to a multifaceted marketing partnership the Mushroom Council has engaged in with Food Network.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the Eastern Produce Council hosted a night at the driving range at Top Golf in Edison, NJ, on April 27. The event marked the 50th year of the SCDA and EPC relationship. Prior to tee off, Hugh Weathers, the SCDA commissioner, promoted its Grown in SC branding and the crops the state offers, which include peaches, watermelon and specialty crops.