For produce packaging suppliers and shippers, inflation is a fact of life in 2021. “Due to resin increases and transportation increases, we have seen some packaging costs rise upwards of 30%,” said Steve Greenfield, director of sales and marketing for NNZ Inc., Lawrenceville, Ga. “I don’t think this trend will reverse until the middle of 2022.”

Read the full article from The Packer here.

​As the world reaches the two-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, more items are becoming scarce because of a supply chain shortage across the globe. Supply chain concerns are due to “record-level congestion at the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach that has spread to the East Coast, the widespread power outages across China, shortages of truck drivers and service workers, and COVID-19-fueled infections and restrictions,” Tinglong Dai, a business professor at Johns Hopkins University, told USA TODAY in an email. Read the full article from USA Today. 

Pork, much like everything else these days, has gotten more expensive due in part to the supply chain issues and inflationary pressures spurred by the pandemic. And now comes another wildcard: The pork industry's ability — and desire — to adapt to a new animal welfare law in California, its largest US market. Read the full article from CNN Business here. 

Heinz Soups are frozen at the peak of freshness, preserving flavor integrity and nutrition ingredients. Heinz soups present menu solutions that specifically meet the demands of the foodservice kitchen and consumers. With a vast range of classic and on-trend varieties, our portfolio makes it possible to serve up a quality culinary experience in every bowl. With Heinz ​frozen soups, you have more time to focus on presentation and customization. Ingredients are frozen at the peak of freshness. These frozen soups also deliver significant quality benefits over both scratch-prepared and refrigerated soups. 

Click the links below for more information on Heinz Soups:
​A Soup for Every Occasion That Satisfies Every Taste
​The Fresh Advantage of Frozen 

Source: www.kraftheinz-foodservice.com/resources

The National Restaurant Association has released the 2021 Mid-Year update. The report indicate key industry trends as of June/July and is based on the National Restaurant Association's annual State of the Restaurant Industry Report. It incorporates analysis of the latest economic data and extensive surveys of restaurant operators and consumers. Click here to view the mid-year update. 

Last year, American school districts pivoted to accommodate pandemic challenges. The USDA is leaping in with a new round of funding to help schools. Read Washington Post's full article on the supply chain crisis here: ​https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/09/29/schools-supply-chain-crisis/