If a person went in there and destroyed $35,000 worth of property by swinging a hammer, that would be criminal. If intent can be proven, this stunt is just as criminal.
A little time in the Graybar Hotel might convince these morons that this is not a good idea.
They caught the person, right?
Remove them to the city square, erect hanging platform, string her up!
Leave body exposed for a week. Parade all prisoners in lock up past her. Inform them that this is there one and only warning.
I get the impression from the excerpt that this is not a huge chain but small maybe family run store. So the cost of tossing the produce will be harder for them to absorb.
She better be in no bail jail.
And one year in the funny farm with bars.