Bring on those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer under the boardwalk; then we’re on our way to Cape May so we don’t have to spend the summer in the city! How many of you remember all those fabulous summer tunes? Well, if you don’t, you have missed out on some truly great summer music. Look them all up on YouTube and enjoy!
Last month we said our farewell to Jeff Metzger as he entered retirement. This month we say farewell to Terri Maloney. Terri has truly been the backbone of Best-Met Publishing (BMP) for many years. She didn’t start out that way but grew into the role and kept us all, including Jeff, in line and on time (most of the time). I met Terri on my first day at BMP. It took me a little bit of time to figure out what we did, but she was always there, guiding me until everything clicked and I was on my own. Over the years, we all traveled together for different shows and conferences, attended each other’s family events, and learned to appreciate our differences. I consider Terri my dear friend and journalistic mentor and I thank her for investing her time and expertise in me. Terri, enjoy your well-earned retirement and I look forward to spending time together…away from work!
Wakefern Food Corporation held its second annual Local Produce Supplier Summit on July 15 at the New Jersey Expo Center in Edison, NJ. Building on the success of last year’s one-day event, the summit celebrated Wakefern’s current local grower partners and explored new ways to connect Wakefern co-op members with local and regional farmers and growers. It also reinforced Wakefern’s commitment to sourcing locally grown produce and supporting the communities served by its member-owned supermarkets. During the event, Ross Farnsworth, VP of produce and floral, reaffirmed Wakefern’s recently announced a five-year, $500 million commitment to source produce from local and regional farms throughout the Northeast.
This year’s panel discussions covered a range of timely topics. Quality assurance and food safety drew particular interest, including discussion of the current cyclospora issue and the FDA’s FSMA Rule 204 Traceability Rule. New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn also highlighted New Jersey’s local agricultural roots and the state’s work with Jersey Fresh, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s marketing program and the oldest produce program in the country. New for 2026 growing season are Jersey Fresh PLU’s featured on Jersey grown cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and blueberries. Also covered was agricultural innovation in the Northeast. The takeaways from this summit were appreciating the importance of local farmers; working together is a win for customers, local farmers and Wakefern co-op members and Wakefern’s commitment of $500 million in local produce purchases in the next few years. It’s a win-win for all and kudos to Wakefern for recognizing the need to support local businesses.
I have always said that folks in the retail food industry are by far the most generous, especially when it comes to feeding the food-insecure in our marketing area and even more pointedly feeding underserved children in the summer, when food can become scarce. Many of our key retailers have raised the bar when it comes to giving back. Customers of Wegmans raised a record $769,300 during the company’s two-week food drive in June to support local food banks’ increased summer needs. Known regionally as Fill the Bus or Fill the Backpack, shoppers donated at checkout, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to support each store’s local Feeding America food bank partner. Companywide, customers donated $43,000 more than in 2025.
“Each year, our customers step up in an incredible way to support their neighbors, and their generosity continues to inspire us,” said Deana Percassi, VP of community engagement and communications. “Our employees are also essential to the success of this program, helping raise awareness and drive donations that make a meaningful difference in the fight against hunger.”
The program began in 2013 as a traditional food drive, with customers donating more than 3.7 million pounds of food from 2013 to 2019. Post pandemic, Wegmans transitioned the effort into a scan campaign and expanded it companywide in 2023. The program has raised more than $3.5 million since 2021. Customers’ donations stay in their community, with all proceeds going to each store’s local food bank. Donations from the campaign support local food banks’ summer feeding and backpack programs, helping ensure school-aged children have access to food when free and reduced-price school meals are not available. Sharing the donations were Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Elizabeth McCarthy, president and CEO of Community FoodBank of New Jersey commented, “We at Community FoodBank of New Jersey are so pleased with the results of Wegmans’ Fill the Bus campaign this year, which raised enough funds for 57,000 nutritious meals – about 23,000 more than last year,” “With food insecurity on the rise, it’s heartening to see that support from the public is increasing, too. Thank you to Wegmans and their generous customers for helping advance our mission.”
In addition to this worthy program, Wegmans also provides daily donations to local food banks, pantries and soup kitchens across its market areas. In 2025, the company donated more than 36.8 million pounds of food, and customers raised more than $4.7 million through its annual scan campaigns. Nice!
The Albertsons Companies Foundation recently announced the results of its inaugural “Nourish the American Dream,” a first-of-its-kind one-week nationwide campaign to help end childhood hunger across the United States. Together with more than 300 nonprofit partners, customers and communities, the campaign generated more than $12.2 million in support for childhood hunger relief nationwide, surpassing its original $5 million fundraising goal.
TV personality and cultural icon Mario Lopez serves as the campaign’s national spokesperson to amplify awareness for the initiative and drive participation nationwide. “Growing up, I saw how difficult it can be for families when food isn’t always guaranteed, which is why this cause is so important to me,” said Lopez. “‘Nourish the American Dream’ is about bringing people together to end childhood hunger, and I wanted to rally as many Americans as possible to join in.”
At the heart of the campaign is a powerful truth: for millions of children, hunger remains a barrier to learning, confidence, belonging and opportunity, especially in the summer months when consistent access to school meals falls away. Today, only about one in six children who rely on school lunches continue to receive meals over the summer.
A key component of “Nourish the American Dream” is a national PSA campaign titled “Feed This,” highlighting the hunger challenges families face during the summer months and year-round to inspire action during the July 1-7 giving window. The PSA, which shows that childhood hunger is not only a humanitarian issue, but a barrier to participation in everyday life, appears nationally across media platforms including TV, radio, digital, print and out-of-home marketing.
For more information, go to www.nourishtheamericandream.org.
I don’t usually note obits for people in the food industry who I don’t know. This month, I am making an exception because I feel like I know Andy D’Arrigo as part of my family. Andrew (Andy) D’Arrigo, former president of D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, passed away earlier this month at the age of 102. D’Arrigo served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, graduated from UC Davis, and returned to join the family business in 1949. He served as president of D’Arrigo California from 1965 until 1992. He leaves behind a legacy of innovation, leadership and passion for the produce industry. Andy was “Andy Boy” a name synonymous with the best broccoli rabe in the world. Accept no other. It’s Andy’s 2-year-old face that adorns each magenta and white wrapper around huge bunches of broccoli rabe. From what I have come to learn, Andy was responsible for introducing the company’s own seed development program for broccoli rabe and fennel. Thank you, “Andy Boy” for bringing so much joy to dinner tables and restaurants across the USA.
Heaven gained another food industry angel on July 7 when Christopher (Chris) Michael Kramer of Brown’s ShopRites passed away suddenly at the young age of 43. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Chris earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Philadelphia University before building a successful career as senior manager of merchandising for Brown’s. He found joy in many things, especially golfing, cooking, going to the gym, and lifting weights. Extremely smart and blessed with a remarkable sense of humor, Chris had an effortless ability to make those around him smile. He also cherished Brutus, the beloved puppy he and his wife adored. Above all, Chris was the unwavering rock of his family, a loyal and devoted husband, a child of God, and a treasured friend to all. Chris is survived by his loving wife Brittney N. (Lyons) Kramer; his father Harry R. Kramer and his wife Lisa; his mother Diane M. Kernitz and her husband Andy; his brother Bryan Kramer (Erika); brothers-in-law Cliff Lyons (Crystal), Lee Lyons (Kim), and Erick Lyons (Rochelle); 21 nieces and nephews; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Memorial contributions may be made in Chris’s name to the Women’s Animal Center in Bensalem, PA by going to womensanimalcenter.org/make-difference. May you rest in peace, Chris.
Celebrating another trip around the sun this patriotic month of July are: Jim McCaffrey III, McCaffrey’s Markets; Ron S. Murphy, Murphy’s Fresh Markets; Maurice Christino, Cento Foods; Joe Fantozzi, Allegiance Retail Services; Dr. Joe D’Angelo, SJU; Wayne Couts, Advantage; Mike Rothwell, Pennington Market retired; and special birthday wishes to my son Gino Marfuggi. Buon compleanno a tutti!
Quote of the month: “Summertime is always the best of what might be.” Charles Bowden
Maria can be reached at: maria@foodtradenews.com or 443-631-0172