The days of supermarkets treating tropical fruits like a second-class citizen are gone. Tropical produce is taking up a greater percentage of the produce aisle than ever before.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods, a leading grower of fresh vegetables and citrus, launched its Sustainable Packaging Program to assess the overall sustainability of current packaging, identify improvement opportunities, and implement packaging changes to reduce its impact on the environment.

In an effort to provide one more option for customers to shop for their groceries, Big Y has launched its newest ecommerce platform, myPicks online ordering. myPicks is an innovative online shopping experience that provides an easy, contactless way for Big Y customers to get their food by clicking through their order online for curbside pickup. In partnership with a state-of-the-art software provider, Big Y now has the technology in place to manage the nuances and complexity of both food safety and quality for their online shopping service.

Sal Giumarra, who for 50 years led the Giumarra family grape-growing operation, died at age 95 in Bakersfield, CA, on March 25. He began a life of farming at age 13, working in the fields beside his father after school hours and every summer. During his tenure as president of Giumarra Vineyards, Mr. Giumarra oversaw the company's expansion to become known as a premier grower of table grapes and established the "GrapeKing" label as an industry-standard of quality throughout the world.

RipeLocker, a leader in extending the post-harvest life of perishables, has raised $5 million in series B capital from angel investors. The investment round is all from previous investors in the company, many of whom are renowned in the agriculture industry, including academics, agriculture executives and growers/packers/shippers.

With California’s continued limitation on conventions and expos of its size, United Fresh is launching Reimagine Connections, a new program bringing members together in-person at smaller regional events, and online for education, networking and innovation events.  Reimagine Connections will deliver: