Coronavirus has changed the world and one of the most notable changes can be seen in the food industry. Regular grocery trips have been replaced by online ordering, trips to the food bank and restaurant takeout. How and where we eat has been changed for the foreseeable future and likely forever.

When the United Fresh Produce Association announced earlier this spring that it would convert its convention and trade show to a virtual format due to the coronavirus pandemic, many wondered just how that would work and whether or not it would provide a good return on investment.

While most polled by The Produce News said they missed the face-to-face element of the show, they were impressed with United Fresh’s ability to quickly pivot to the virtual platform and praised the association for putting on a show that was, by and large, considered a success.

Ready-to-eat beet brand Love Beets USA has brought on BJ McCormick as director of foodservice and emerging channel sales. With the new addition of McCormick, Love Beets USA will pursue its vision of making value-added beets more accessible to consumers across the country through expansion into foodservice channels.

A seasoned member of the foodservice industry since 2007 and produce industry since 1998, McCormick’s scope of the space will prove to be a valuable asset to the brand and its growth. McCormick spent 12-plus years with Pero Family Farms prior to joining Love Beets.

In devising strategies to get people to eat more fruits and vegetables, the Produce for Better Health Foundation has tapped into science to determine what can trigger people to choose produce over less-healthy alternatives.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the pioneering agricultural company behind the nonbrowning Arctic apple, honored Barbara Ortega, a security guard in California who has been working on the frontlines to protect produce and people during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the winner of the Arctic apples Mother’s Day giveaway, Ortega received a 12-month subscription to a monthly beauty box tailored to her preferences.

The closing general session of United Fresh LIVE! featured a bevy of association executives discussing the worldwide produce industry’s herculean effort during the pandemic and predicting that that the future is very bright for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, though they also saw plenty of challenges on the road ahead.