The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has awarded a new contract to AmplifiedAg, an agricultural technology company focused on controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), to supply additional integrated vertical farming research labs to support the agency’s CEA research initiatives. The new labs effectively double the capacity of the USDA’s CEA Center of Excellence, where the agency is conducting its first project for the indoor-agriculture industry.

“We’re extremely proud that the USDA has once again selected AmplifiedAg’s technology to advance and expand its category-defining CEA research,” said Don Taylor, CEO of Charleston, S.C.-based AmplifiedAg, which provides fully integrated farms and multi-tenant software-as-service architecture. “This first-of-its-kind scientific research will lead to greater transparency, innovation, and adoption of indoor-agriculture technology and indoor-grown produce, while addressing the challenges that impact our global food and agricultural systems.” 

[Read more: "Grocers Focus More on Responsible Sourcing, Vertical Farms"]

The USDA-ARS first contracted AmplifiedAgin October 2021 to provide fully integrated container-farming research labs. This most recent contract marks the third time in the past 11 months that the agency has selected AmplifiedAg technology to support and scale the center’s work.

The public research will help standardize growing methods for indoor-farming operators across the country. Key areas of research include comprehensive CEA growing applications such as hydroponic and vertical farming, LED light-spectrum impact analysis on plant growth, renewable energy, nutrient optimization, plant pathology, plant breeding and selection, pollinator experiments, and new automation processes.

A new grocery store is providing relief to a food desert in Providence, R.I. Rory's Market and Kitchen recently opened in the city’s downtown district at 113 Washington Street.

This is the third location for the women-owned organic grocery business. The independent grocer operates two stores in the Cape Cod region, in Dennisport and Mashpee, Mass.

[Read more: "Female Store Owner Shatters Image of Indie Boys' Club"]

Following the Sept. 23 opening, the Providence store began offering Rory’s Kitchen prepared foods on Oct. 1. The menu includes breakfast items, smoothies, juices, avocado toast, salads and sandwiches, among other selections.

In addition to items ordered at a service counter, shoppers can pick up something from a grab-and-go cooler filled with products like overnight oats, salads and side dishes.

A wide variety of grocery products are available at the 6,000-square-foot store, including organic produce, meats, cheeses, everyday grocery staples and household essentials. A bulk foods area and beer, wine and spirits department also cater to customer needs and tastes.

Rory’s Market and Kitchen is run by second-generation owner and CEO Rory Eames, whose mother, Darby, opened her first store in 1978 in Dennisport. “This is our first urban location, which gives us the opportunity to grow together in such a special city like Providence,” said Eames. “We are so excited to serve and be part of the community.”

Open daily, the Providence location also offers online ordering, pickup and delivery service.

Cardenas Markets has revealed that grand-opening event planning is well underway for five of its recently acquired store locations in San Bernardino, Perris, Riverside, Fontana and Chino, Calif. Festivities for these locations that previously operated under the Rio Ranch Market banner will take place on the following dates: 

• Oct. 12: Cardenas Markets in San Bernardino, 25745 Base Line Street
• Oct. 19: Cardenas Markets in Perris, 460 East 4th Street
• Oct. 19 Cardenas Markets in Riverside, 9001 Mission Boulevard
• Oct. 26: Cardenas Markets in Fontana, 116747 Cherry Avenue
• Oct. 26: Cardenas Markets in Chino, 5832 Riverside Drive

Grand opening activities at each location will include live mariachi music, ballet folklorico dancers, radio remotes and prize giveaways.

Each store location has undergone an extensive remodel featuring such enhancements as an authentic Mexican Cocina (kitchen) where customers purchase Cardenas’ signature carnitas, tamales and taquería classics, and enjoy Daily Deal options; a Tortillería offering authentic corn and flour tortillas made from scratch, in addition to masa made using the traditional Nixtamal technique and a bakery filled with specialty pastries, desserts, cakes, pan dulce and bolillos baked fresh daily

The stores will be open daily 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

One of the largest Hispanic grocery chains in the country, with stores in California, Nevada and Arizona, Ontario, Calif.-based Cardenas will soon operate 57 stores under the Cardenas Markets banner, seven stores under the Los Altos Ranch Markets banner and one store under the Cardenas Ranch Markets banner.

Home and Hardware by Buehler’s has officially opened in Buehler’s Fresh Foods store in Orrville, Ohio. The Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on Oct. 4 to commemorate the opening of Buehler’s newest addition. 

The new section of Buehler’s offers plumbing, electrical and painting supplies. It also has an expanded pet section, gifts and seasonal décor. 

[Read more: “Food City Going Into Hardware Business”]

“As always, we are very glad to see a new business open its doors in Orrville,” said Mayor Dave Handwerk. “It’s great to see that Buehler’s has used this space to give Orrville shoppers another choice for hardware needs, from a hammer and nails to Red Rider gear and Christmas lights.”

The Home and Hardware area has convenience parking and an entrance on Maple Street that’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Purchases from the Home and Hardware can also be made at the front registers. 

A grand-opening sale runs through the month of October, with giveaways every week and a free gift with any purchase.

Wooster, Ohio-based Buehler’s Fresh Foods was founded in 1929 by E.L. Buehler and his wife, Helen. The Buehler family started in the hardware business in 1965 as part of Buehler’s Fresh Foods. 

In 2017, Buehler’s went through a management buyout while forming an employee stock ownership plan. The company now operates 14 supermarkets, eight liquor agencies, outside catering, coffee shops and a food truck named Ferris.

While online prices decreased year-over-year in September, grocery prices continued a steady march upward, according to the latest Adobe Digital Price Index. Overall e-commerce prices have been up and down throughout the summer, and did experience a 0.8% increase compared to prices in August.

Adobe’s index tracks online prices across 18 categories, and saw e-commerce enter deflation for the second time since July, following 25 months of rising prices. According to Adobe, the year-over-year decrease in September has been driven by price declines for computers and electronics.

[Read more: "Is Grocery Poised to Gain More E-Comm Share This Holiday Season?"]

Meanwhile, prices for food have remained high, with grocery prices rising 14.3% year-over-year, or 0.8% for the month. This represents the largest increase of any category tracked, and another record year-over-year high.

September also brought price increases for 11 of the 18 categories tracked, including pet products, home improvement and apparel. Price drops were seen in seven categories, including electronics, jewelry, books, toys, flowers/related gifts, computers and sporting goods.

To mark Non-GMO Month in October, Natural Grocers, is inviting customers to stock up on autumn favorites with super savings, doorbuster deals, free samples and more. 

Through Oct. 29, shoppers can save up to 60% off prices on select products in every department. Additionally, all month long, Natural Grocers will provide education on GMOs. Customers can expect weekly non-GMO recipes, statistics and information in support of non-GMO products, plus a social media giveaway. Natural Grocers will also offer three days of super savings, Oct. 13-15.

As part of these super savings, the first 150 shoppers on Oct. 13 at each store will receive a free snack-size bag of Natural Grocers Brand Organic Popcorn; customers can enter for a chance to win a $500 Natural Grocers gift card; and shoppers will receive discounts of up to 40% on popular products.

Further, members of {N}power, Natural Grocers’ free loyalty program, will receive exclusive discounts, rewards, benefits and other members-only features on Oct. 13-15and beyond. These include one free Natural Grocers Brand Organic Snack Pack, per customer, while supplies last; daily doorbuster deals on select customer- favorite products, which will be autoloaded to their {N}power account;10% off in-store alcohol purchases at participating locations; and the ability to feed a family of four a stir-fry meal for less than $14 through a Natural Grocers good4u Meal Deal.

During its recently reported third quarter, Natural Grocer’s net sales increased $7.7 million, or 3.0%, to $266.3 million, compared with the year-ago, due to a $6.4 million increase in comparable-store sales and a $2.1 million increase in new-store sales. The company attributed the increase primarily to retail price inflation, customers’ response to pandemic trends, marketing initiatives, promotional campaigns and increased{N}power engagements. 

With 164 stores in 21 states, Lakewood, Colo.-based Natural Grocers is No. 95 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.