On April 17, 2020, Fresh Kist Produce in Nipomo, CA, secured a truck for a Boston-bound load for $6,400. Almost exactly a year later, on Monday, April 19, 2021, the Santa Maria Valley shipper sent off another truck on the same route with a contracted freight rate of $10,600.

“Who knows what it will be when we start competing again the fruit guys in the (San Joaquin) Valley,” said Denny Donovan, Fresh Kist sales manager.

Idaho Falls, ID-based Eagle Eye Produce, a grower and shipper of potatoes, onions, watermelons and Nogales vegetables, has expanded its year-round onion programs with the addition of Central Produce Distribution Inc. of Payette, ID.

Mr. Lucky is greatly expanding its border warehouse services in Laredo, TX.  By this fall, a new cold warehouse and office complex will replace GAB’s current, out-grown facility.

Miguel Usabiaga, vice president of the company, said the move is being made "to meet and exceed customer needs.”

Mr. Lucky is the well-known brand name used by GAB, owner of fresh vegetable operations in Guanajuato, Mexico.  Covemex is GAB’s frozen vegetable brand.

The Organic Produce Network and Western Growers have formed a strategic partnership reflecting the importance of organic production and announced that WG will be the presenting sponsor of the Organic Grower Summit 2021.

Organic Grower Summit 2021 presented by Western Growers and OPN will be held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort in Monterey, CA, on Dec. 1-2.  Exhibitor registration will open in May with general registration slated to open in June.

Church Brothers Farms made additions to its sales team and promoted existing staff as part of a plan to grow the company’s retail and foodservice sales programs.

W. Galen Weston, who led the transformation of retail giant Loblaw from near-bankruptcy to one of Canada's leading retailers, died April 12 at home after a long illness. He was 80.