WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). Collectively, the companies failed to pay a total of $460,576.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Golden Valley Group Corp, operating out of Pembroke, Florida, for failing to pay a $16,461 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Aleksei Attara was listed as the sole officer, director, and stockholder of the business.
• Miami Growers Inc., operating out of Jersey City, New Jersey, for failing to pay a $16,426 award in favor of a Hawaii seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Bhavin Hajariwala and Kantibhai Patel were listed as the officers, directors, and major shareholders of the business.
• L&L Produce LLC, operating out of Houston, Texas, for failing to pay a $367,827 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Adrian Luna was listed as the sole member of the business.
• South Texas Broker LLC, operating out of Mission, Texas, for failing to pay a $12,882 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Samuel Arias Galdeano and Jesus Ovalle were listed as the members of the business.
• JR Produce and Food Service Inc., operating out of El Paso, Texas, for failing to pay a $46,980 award in favor of a Minnesota seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Marcos Enriquez Jr. and Daniel Enriquez were listed as the officers, directors, and major shareholders of the business.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it, as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.

For contact information, and to read the release in its entirety, click here.

WASHINGTON, DC - For those attending the 2024 Global Produce and Floral Show, let’s dive into the powerful lineup headlining this year. You will get a non-partisan peek into political trends, learn more about entrepreneurship, and discuss the impact of women’s leadership on our world. So, without further ado, let’s explore what’s on the schedule!

“The keynote sessions at the Global Show are a signature component of the convention offerings. Learn what’s just a flash in the pan and what’s here to stay,” said Nelia Alamo, Vice President of Marketing, Markon Cooperative, and International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Global Show Committee Chair. “It’s a time for members of our industry to gain new insights and find inspiration that will advance their careers, their companies, and our industry.”

According to a press release, “The State of the Industry” session on October 17 features Cathy Burns, Chief Executive Officer, IFPA. In this session, she will cover the future of tech, innovation, and the consumer, in the context of our industry; the interconnectedness of issues and trends; and insights that give you the edge to differentiate your business from the competition.

The afternoon keynote on October 17 features Marc Randolph, Co-Founder and first CEO of Netflix, on “That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea.”

Next, you can glean insights on retail and politics on October 18, at an enlightening two-act session, “Key Conversations: Insights on Challenges, Opportunities, and Change Ahead.”

Act One features a dynamic conversation and valuable insights from Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of Kroger. Act Two features a thoughtful discussion with A.B. Stoddard, columnist for The Bulwark and Contributor and guest host for Sirius XM's POTUS Channel, exploring how the election could impact policies, regulations, and trade, among other issues.

On October 19 at The Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast, attendees will hear from Reshma Saujami, a leading activist and Founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First. She will speak on “The Future of Women and Work (and Why It’s Different Than You Think)”.

“Only attendees with an all-access pass can attend these presentations. We are excited to include the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast and speaker in the All-Access Pass this year,” Alamo added. “I encourage everyone to maximize their Global Show experience by joining us at these sessions.”

For more information, click here.

We’re already gearing up for the show ourselves. See you there, folks!

CORAL GABLES, FL - With a portfolio spanning pineapples to avocados and many value-added categories in between, Fresh Del Monte continues to flex its prowess as a powerful produce player. The company recently shared its financial results for the second quarter that ended June 28, 2024, reporting the success of its growth strategies despite various industry challenges.

“We are pleased to see our growth strategy and company focus yielding positive results, in the fresh and value-added products segment, where we achieved strong margin improvement during the second quarter of 2024,” said Fresh Del Monte Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh. “We see pineapple, fresh-cut fruit, avocados, and value-added products as core strengths—with consumers appreciating the innovation, convenience, and taste.”

Among its financial results, Fresh Del Monte Produce reported net sales of $1.13 billion for the second quarter of 2023, a decrease from $1.18 billion in 2023. As a release explained, this decrease in net sales was primarily due to lower banana net sales, driven by lower sales volume and lower per-unit selling prices for bananas, and was partially offset by an increase in net sales in the fresh and value-added products segment driven by higher per-unit selling prices.

The company also noted a gross profit of $113.2 million compared to $116.8 million in the prior-year period. Fresh Del Monte shared that the decrease in gross profit was primarily due to lower net sales and higher per-unit production and procurement costs, which were partly driven by the negative impact of increased weather-related events in production areas in Central America and the Philippines. This decrease was also related to fluctuations in exchange rates partially offset by lower ocean freight costs and higher per-unit selling prices in the fresh and value-added products segment.

More details regarding the company’s second quarter can be found here.

Keep reading ANUK for the latest in fresh.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - How creative can one get with sweet potato? Building on the momentum and feedback from Organic Produce Summit and IFPA Foodservice, Bako Sweet® has a variety of merchandising, brand engagement, and yummy recipes to share. These innovative campaigns are built to captivate both retailers and consumers alike.

"We are incredibly proud of the positive feedback and engagement we’ve received from our recent trade shows," said Susan Noritake, Director of Sales. "Our commitment to providing innovative, seasonal merchandising options and supporting our retail partners is at the core of our mission. We look forward to continuing to grow and inspire with our value-added products."

The sweet potato brand introduced its grilling merchandising bins this summer, available through Labor Day, to highlight the versatility of sweet potatoes in grilling recipes. These eye-catching displays encourage customers, and as a press release mentioned, Bako Sweet is dedicated to continuously updating its merchandising options to reflect seasonal themes.

Rest assured retailers, there will always be something new and exciting to offer customers.

To keep consumers inspired, Bako Sweet is actively engaged in social media, sharing exciting recipes like Sweet Potato S'mores, Sweet Potato Burgers, and Sweet Potato Kabobs, showcasing exactly how “sweet” sweet potato grilling can be. Bako Sweet’s Instagram page is also an excellent resource for retailers to share content and engage their shoppers, a release continued.

The brand has been focused on supporting retailers with the right products, displays, and is excited about deepening partnerships with long-time customers.

One thing is for sure, no matter the season, Bako Sweet sweet potatoes have a place on all plates. And keep ANUK on your digital plate for more produce updates.

SANGER, CA - Today is a day of celebration for Kings River Packing, as the company announced a successful completion of its first season under the new corporate structure. Not only does the grower have this to celebrate, but it also enhanced efficiency along its supply chain by consolidating facilities.

"The families of Kings River are committed to seizing opportunities as they arise to provide the best returns to our grower partners and maintain high levels of customer service for our retail partners," remarked Bobby Hines, Chief Executive Officer of Kings River Packing. "This acquisition is a testament to our dedication to proactive growth and continuous improvement."

As a press release noted, these moves reflect the company’s dedication to excellence and strategic growth, positioning it for ongoing success in the agricultural industry.

With regard to the facility consolidation, Kings River Packing is consolidating facilities across its three family-owned packing companies. Jireh Packing Company, which previously operated out of two facilities in Orange Cove and Woodlake, California, identified the strategic advantage of consolidating these operations into a single facility for long-term efficiency.

Jireh also acquired a large packing facility in Cutler, California, which was previously owned by Prima Wawona.

"The purchase of the Prima Wawona packing facility in Cutler allows us to consolidate our operations and address some operational challenges from last season," said Brad Bishel, Owner of Jireh Packing Company. "We are excited to move operations to this state-of-the-art facility and better serve our growers and customers."

The release went on to note that Cobblestone Fruit and Kings River Packing Company remain fully operational with sufficient capacity to ensure a smooth transition. This proactive approach ensures the transition period can be managed effectively, maintaining high levels of service and customer satisfaction.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we continue to cover the latest across fresh produce.