With working and learning from home a new reality for many consumers across the nation, now more than ever the need for fresh, convenient, ready-to-eat meals is surging. FiveStar Gourmet Foods knew they could help and developed Simply Fresh 2Go, their first product line targeted concurrently to both retail and school foodservice channels. With 12 new SKU’s, each meal is nutritionally compliant to meet strict national school lunch dietary standards. Each item in the line is a ready-to-eat balanced complete meal including protein, grains, fresh vegetables and fruits -- even a healthy fruit and veggies drink.

Del Monte Fresh Produce launched its new ‘Can Do Done Daily’ campaign, which aims to highlight its dedicated workforce, who have been going above and beyond during these trying times. The new campaign, which features stories from Del Monte Fresh Produce employees in all sectors, from warehouse operations to merchandising and more, showcases the exemplary work Del Monte Fresh Produce’s staff has remained committed to executing throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, despite the challenges they have faced.

Working with the Feeding America food bank network, FiveStar, the maker of Simply Fresh branded products, is now on the frontlines distributing fresh and wholesome foods directly to the community as part of a massive USDA-funded program known as “Farmers to Families.” FiveStar committed to providing hundreds of thousands of boxes filled with high quality, fresh, healthy products through the end of June. FiveStar’s Farmers to Families boxes include generous portions of Caesar Salad, Coleslaw Salad, Sweet Onion Broccoli Sauté Kit, Asian Stir-fry Kit, Almond Cranberry Salad, and Crisp Sliced Apples.

Del Monte Fresh Produce has promoted Annunciata (Nucci) Cerioli to Senior Vice President, North America, from Senior Vice President, Operations, North America. In her new role, Cerioli will lead the Company’s North American region in the development and execution of regional sales, operations and product management strategies and programs to deliver long-term and sustainable business growth for the region.

Bowery Farming (Bowery), the modern indoor farming company, announced its newest leafy greens launch, Bowery Crispy Leaf Lettuce (Crispy Leaf). A reinvigorated version of iceberg lettuce that is refreshing and simple, Crispy Leaf boasts a bold color and satisfying crunch. The much-anticipated product, which goes from harvest to shelf in just a few days, will be available in the produce aisle at over 250 grocery stores and specialty markets in the Tri-State area and Mid-Atlantic region beginning in June 2020. Crispy Leaf will also be available through Bowery’s online partners, including Amazon Fresh, Peapod, and Hungryroot.

Robinson Fresh, a leader in fresh produce sourcing and supply chain solutions, announced the donation of more than 50,000 mangos to families in need. Totaling roughly 6,000 pounds, the mango supply was distributed at seven different Hy-Vee locations in Iowa earlier this month, including in Chariton, Cherokee, Denison, Marshalltown, Muscatine, Perry and Storm Lake.

The closures of restaurants, hotels, and schools have left growers with heaps of fresh produce without a destination. With crops often grown exclusively for the foodservice industry, growers who produce crops with a large percentage of production destined for this vital market segment are faced with incredible challenges amidst COVID-19 closures. 

The impacts of COVID-19 on the fresh produce industry are fast-moving. Unfortunately, this virus is spreading quickly around the entire globe. A regional issue has become a global one quite quickly, and most countries across the globe are responding with closed borders, complete lockdowns, and transportation limitations. With so much uncertainty at the pinnacle of this pandemic, we are bound to see impacts on our food system, and both supply and demand of fresh produce.