Although curveballs came at the produce industry from almost every angle this year, weather in the Treasure Valley of Idaho-E. Oregon wasn’t one of the wild pitches, according to Baker & Murakami Produce COO Cameron Skeen.

Skeen said the region experienced a very good growing season, and Ontario, OR-based Baker & Murakami saw a “much more normal start” to the new crop.

There was a time when there was a lot of profit to be made within the produce industry. Executive leaders managed their companies with an impressive amount of energy, pride and passion.

From the 1950s through the 70s — known as the great supermarket era — conventional supermarkets grew to record numbers as newly constructed grocery stores were being developed extensively. A multitude of diverse grocery store chains were around during that period. Banner names like Alpha Beta, Pantry Pride, Kash n’ Karry, Grand Union, Fazio’s and many others are now defunct.

Moxxy Marketing has promoted Christina Fuentes to junior project manager, with a focus on delivering top-tier marketing services to Moxxy’s East Coast-based clients. Moxxy hired Miami-based Fuentes in April of this year— having been impressed with her successful food and cannabis marketing experience—and she quickly demonstrated remarkable skills and efficiencies, helping clients pivot, adapt and grow in the fresh food industry to grow their brands and attract new purchasers.

Nature Fresh Farms has expanded operations with a new distribution center in Laredo, TX, with future developments planned for next year.

The new 61,000-square-foot distribution center in Laredo provides a new major hub of fresh produce. Since the opening of the facility, the company has employed over 30 team members with more positions available for hire. The center will help service Nature Fresh Farms Mexican winter program and allow for direct shipping of product, shortening its supply chain.

As Stop & Shop continues to support its local communities, the supermarket company is looking to fill more than 5,000 positions across its stores, home delivery and distribution centers.

The available positions across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are permanent and include store roles in bakery, deli, grocery, seafood, produce, front end, night crew and online pickup. Stop & Shop is also hiring home delivery drivers and shoppers, as well as selectors at its distribution centers.

Over the past decade, CMI Orchards has continued to invest significantly in overall organic growth, bringing to market some of the very first club organics such as Ambrosia, KIKU, Kanzi, Jazz, Envy, Smitten and EverCrisp apples. CMI Orchards’ overall organic apple production is up 25.5 percent over last year, and organic pear production is up 73.2 percent.  Additional growth is expected in the new year.