The Packer

As consumers become more health-conscious and mindful of where their food comes from, grocers are adapting to meet new demands and preferences. Tom Cingari Jr., vice president of produce, floral and e-commerce for Cingari Family Markets, highlights emerging produce trends that retailers should know about: loom.ly/26mp-eU

Labor has been a critical issue for agriculture for decades, and it’s reaching an inflection point, according to some in the fresh produce business. Industry groups have pushed for immigration reform and changes to the H-2A temporary agricultural employment program, but nothing has come to fruition. Meanwhile, the U.S. domestic workforce is aging out as fewer citizens show interest for working in agriculture. “As the years have ticked by, and as Congress has been unable to craft the solution, the situation has gotten worse,” said Mark Powers, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council, a trade organization that represents growers, packers and shippers of apples, pears and sweet cherries in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. “Especially over the past couple of years, our growers have been increasingly struggling and, frankly, going out of business.” Read the first in our series on the state of the labor in the fresh produce industry: loom.ly/NLuKGmk

As the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to go head-to-head in New Orleans on Sunday, football fans will come together in a veritable snacking blitz. Whether it’s green avocados, red or green bell peppers or red cherry tomatoes, Eagles and Chiefs fans have plenty of opportunities to show off team colors with their favorite produce. Michael Swanson, the Chief Agricultural Economist with Wells Fargo's Agri-Food Institute said the Super Bowl is the second largest food-spending event annually for consumers after Thanksgiving. Swanson says consumers shouldn’t expect every snack food category to increase their budget for a traditional Super Bowl party: loom.ly/SPNa9Mg

In the latest episode of "Tip of the Iceberg," Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers, joins LeAnne Ruzzamenti, director of marketing and communication for the Equitable Food Initiative, to share ways to celebrate the vital role of farmworkers. loom.ly/ZKz5qxE

A USDA Economic Research Service report shows a growing share of adults in the U.S. consume less than a quarter of the amount of fruit recommended in the federal dietary guidelines. loom.ly/BGfHE8c

Whether it’s cherry tomatoes (up 11.9%) or vegetables for the snack tray (broccoli is down 7%), Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Economist Dr. Michael Swanson says consumers shouldn’t expect every snack food category to increase their budget for a traditional Super Bowl party. And he doesn’t think President Trump’s latest trade talks with Mexico, Canada and China will have a direct, immediate effect at the grocery store by Sunday’s big game. loom.ly/SPNa9Mg

San Francisco-based GrubMarket Inc. says its Sustainable California initiative will support the Los Angeles area with environmental restoration from the recent catastrophic wildfires and help California farmers improve the efficiency and sustainability of their farming practices. loom.ly/vMbMmVE

Meet Leslie Germain, Farm Journal's new Produce Account Manager. Leslie brings 15 years of fresh produce experience and boundless passion to her new role. Check out the vid below to meet Leslie, hear about her Bass Pro Shop obsession and much more! Leslie is excited to work with you and can be reached at lgermain@farmjournal.com.

A good produce manager knows success is all about give and take. Establishing rules, levying accountability and treating everyone fairly are keys to a well-run operation, says columnist Armand Lobato. loom.ly/RMh2hjU

University of Florida researchers have come up with a “promising” — albeit somewhat far off — solution to the citrus greening crisis that has threatened the state’s citrus industry for the past 20 years. Scientists have developed a genetically edited tree that kills baby Asian citrus psyllids, the vector that transmits citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing or HLB. loom.ly/DBLKtfA