United Fresh’s sixth annual BrandStorm event will take place online March 9-11. The event will feature a panel of marketing icons and past United Fresh Produce Marketing & Merchandising Council Chairs Roger Pepperl, Cindy Jewell and Mark Munger for a fireside chat where they’ll share their perspectives on the past, present and future of fresh produce marketing.

This is the time to go for the exotics, and SanLucar — a premium brand for fruit and vegetables — is putting exotic delicacies in a fruity light.

Kwik Lok Corp. has provided $48,000 to organizations as part of a twice-yearly allocation philanthropy program. Organizations chosen for gifts for this allocation are working on COVID-19 recovery or are striving to mitigate impacts of climate change. They demonstrate inspirational efforts that align with Kwik Lok’s ongoing commitment to unlocking opportunity, improving well-being, protecting resources and fostering innovation.

The employers at the Hunts Point Produce Market have reached an agreement with Teamsters Local 202 on a new three-year contract covering 1,400 workers at the Market.  The agreement represents an over 10 percent increase in wages and benefits over the course of the contract, with an average 3.4 percent increase in each year of the agreement.

Teamsters Local 202 members approved their new union contract with the largest raises in the history of its bargaining unit — more than 97 percent of workers voted in favor.

Instacart is terminating about 1,900 jobs. Those expected to lose their jobs complete consumers’ orders at stores and hand them over to others for delivery. The company also announced it has begun testing new pickup solutions with retailers.

According to multiple sources, many of the eliminated jobs belong to workers in Illinois who voted last year to join the United Foods and Commercial Workers union (UFCW). As part of the planned transition, Instacart said it “intends to offer” those affected a chance to apply for jobs with the retail store where they currently work.

Pear Bureau Northwest introduced a turn-key nationwide Aisle of Red Pears display challenge open to retailers of all sizes in the U.S. and Canada, coming just in time for the health-focused months in the new year.

The challenge is simple to enter, with all entries receiving a $25 gift card. To enter, retailers just upload a photo of an eye-catching, 12-square-foot display of red Anjou pears. In addition to all participants receiving a $25 gift card, a $500 gift card for every 50 qualified entries will be randomly selected, with up to 10 awarded.