WASHINGTON, DC - Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it had filed an administrative complaint against CFG Produce for alleged Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) violations.

The Texas-based company allegedly failed to make prompt payment to six produce sellers in the amount of $505,218 from September 2022 through February 2023.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

CFG Produce will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

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

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The end of the first quarter of fiscal 2024 is here for many companies across the retail landscape, and SpartanNash is among those revealing its results for the 16-week first quarter ended April 20, 2024. In its latest update, the food solutions company noted that it is continuing its long-term strategy to achieve ambitious goals by the end of 2024.

"SpartanNash continues to prove that we can deliver despite the challenging market dynamics, and we remain on target to reach the $125 to $150 million of gross benefits set out in our strategic plan by the end of 2024—a year earlier than initially communicated. Thanks to the operational excellence and dedication of our Associates, along with our investments in supply chain and merchandising transformations, we continued to expand our adjusted EBITDA margin in the first quarter," said SpartanNash Chief Executive Officer Tony Sarsam.

The report highlighted several factors of the company’s Q1 performance, revealing that:

• Transformational programs are on track to deliver $50 million to $60 million of annual run rate savings from supply chain transformation, merchandising transformation, and go-to-market strategy
• Wholesale segment net sales decreased 3.4 percent to $2.01 billion due to reduced revenue in the national accounts customer channel
• Retail segment net sales decreased 3.6 percent to $792.2 million, with comparable store sales down 2.5 percent. This included a reduction in food assistance program benefits and lower fuel sales

Driven by its long-term strategic initiatives, including all transformational programs and tuck-in acquisitions, the retail operation plans to see a strong overall performance for 2024, according to the release. For more updates, you know where to click.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Advanced technology continues to drive the GrubMarket strategy. The wholesaler recently launched AI Orders, an AI-powered, automated order processing module designed to transform how food wholesalers and distributors receive orders. AI Orders will be offered as part of GrubAssist.

"AI Orders represent a significant leap forward in order management automation. By leveraging the power of AI, this new tool not only provides automatic, instantaneous, 24/7 order entry from voicemails, emails, and text messages, but also allows users to create sales orders efficiently without ever needing to touch their ERP system. Speed of entry is a major advantage in this industry. Instead of spending hours each day transcribing voicemail orders and deciphering text messages sprinkled with typos and vague product descriptions, AI Orders empowers food wholesalers and distributors to focus on what they do best—delivering exceptional products and services to their customers. We're incredibly excited to roll out AI Orders to the food supply chain industry and can't wait to help businesses save more time and money," said Mike Xu, Chief Executive Officer.

Key features and benefits of AI Orders include:

• Multi-Channel Integration
• Automated Order Processing
• Advanced AI and ML
• Real-Time Integration
• Enhanced Accuracy and Speed
• Scalability

Many businesses process a high volume of orders that arrive via traditional channels like phone, text message, and email, each with a large number of complex line items. The process of converting these into orders in the distributor's ERP system is invariably error-prone, labor-intensive, and tedious, often leading to costly errors and fulfillment delays, a press release stated.

AI Orders addresses these challenges by leveraging advanced artificial intelligence to seamlessly and instantaneously convert emails, text messages, and voicemails into integrated digital orders. AI Orders monitors these multi-channel sources 24/7, automatically extracts order details, validates and maps order items against a customer's unique purchasing history, and translates orders into a standardized digital format. It then pushes approved orders into the user's ERP system. AI Orders also allows sales representatives to conveniently engage with an AI assistant to create and enter new sales orders at any time, from anywhere, without having to log into their ERP system.

As GrubMarket continues to innovate, keep reading ANUK.

OXNARD, CA - Another year, another impressive effort by Bobalu to support the next generation. The company has celebrated its third year of the Bobalu Berry Farms Scholarship program, presenting 14 total scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

“With each student deserving a scholarship, we really have to focus on those that are uniquely positioned as ag majors, and those that may not be getting other scholarships to help with financial support,” says RC Jones, Managing Member. “We were very pleased this year to have multiple students pursuing a degree in ag, and to have a student that is a child of one of our long-time employees in Oxnard.”

The impactful program was established in 2022 in honor of the strawberry provider’s 60^th anniversary.

Since then, the program has expanded each year to include more students in Oxnard and Santa Maria, California, as well as its employees’ children.

This year, Bobalu converted the application process to an online format allowing students easier access to complete applications and submit qualifying documentation, a press release explained. The supplier also expanded the incentive for employee children to apply by increasing communication at the farm offices and adapting the online enrollment form to include employee documentation.

This year’s program saw over 40 applications.

“Members of our staff committee really enjoy the opportunity to be part of this process each year and select recipients as a team. Even more, we are truly honored to attend each high school award ceremony and personally present awards to very deserving students on stage,” adds Maria de la Cruz, Bobalu HR Director. “Selecting students on paper, based on qualifications, is one thing but meeting them and their families in person takes this program to a whole other level for us.”

Each of the students awarded a Bobalu scholarship are the first in their family to attend college. Students will be attending schools like Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, UC Davis, Berkeley, and UCLA, as well as some community colleges before transferring to a university.

The merit-based program focuses heavily on grades, but also considers philanthropic activities by students supporting their community, and those seeking agriculturally based majors, the release stated.

Congratulations to the 14 students awarded scholarships, and to Bobalu for upholding a 62-year-strong company legacy!

For more produce news, stick around.

RIDGE SPRING, SC - Titan Farms is making history. The supplier recently reported the shipment of its first load of peaches to Mexico. Signaling a revival of international trade, this marks the first export of eastern peaches to Mexico since 2014.

"This momentous occasion represents a culmination of our team's hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence," said Chalmers Carr, Chief Executive Officer and President. "We are thrilled to be pioneers in revitalizing the export of eastern peaches to Mexico and to introduce Reveam’s ECP as a benchmark for quality assurance in fruit trade. This achievement underscores Titan's role as a global leader in the fresh produce industry."

As Carr noted, this significant development is made possible through Reveam’s USDA-approved phytosanitary treatment known as Electronic Cold-Pasteurization® (ECP®). According to a press release, this technology employed at Reveam's Rio Grande Valley ECP Center in McAllen, Texas, is a post-harvest phytosanitary solution that sterilizes pests and eradicates bacteria and molds.

The export of eastern peaches to Mexico opens new avenues for collaboration and trade between Titan and Mexican markets. It not only expands Titan's reach but also showcases the company's dedication to innovation and compliance with international standards.

The ban on peach imports from the eastern United States to Mexico was originally implemented in 1994, citing concerns over pests and diseases. However, through rigorous collaboration between regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders, comprehensive protocols for ECP were developed, addressing these concerns while facilitating safe and sustainable trade practices.

Titan invites stakeholders, media outlets, and consumers alike to celebrate this achievement and looks forward to further collaborations.

Cheers to this exciting milestone!