Latest News From VEGETABLES

Arkansas is known for its tasty field-grown tomatoes, and grower-shippers say this year’s crop should put a smile on the faces of produce buyers and consumers alike.

The onion category has not escaped the perils of inflation that have challenged the produce industry as prices of inputs and other necessities have skyrocketed over the past couple of years.

How many shoppers go beyond spinach and artichoke dip — and actually buy the whole, fresh artichoke?

Onions will be shipped with co-branded packaging that highlights the foundation’s work in supporting the nation's defenders, veterans and first responders, and Herndon Farms will donate a portion of the gross sales.

Bulk onions account for the vast majority of onion sales in the U.S., but consumer packs continue to gain popularity.

Side Delights is starting grilling season with grill-ready potato products and recipes as consumers continue to value meals at home.

The company says Conscious Greens — field-grown greens that eat like lettuce — were developed with technology using CRISPR, a gene-editing technique used to make changes to the DNA of a plant.

The “Litehouse in the House” salad dressing and dip campaign by Sandpoint, Idaho-based Litehouse is calling on consumers to get the summertime salad party started.

The Glenville, Ga.-based Vidalia onion grower, which has been named the “official sweet onion” of the American Cornhole Organization, has released a summer cookbook.

With recent funding streams, the Montana-based indoor ag grower is completing facilities in Georgia, Texas and Washington and is set to continue expanding its distribution footprint across the U.S.

The spring/summer season got off to a rather slow start for the onion category, with strong demand triggering higher prices than usual.

Carter, a 25-year veteran in the potato industry and CEO and co-owner of Bushmans' Inc., has contributed his expertise to the Potatoes USA board of directors for a decade.

Check out the winning mushroom display in PMG's Winter 2023 contest of the Produce Artist Award Series, plus other mushroom display entries in the series.

The Netherlands-based Enza Zaden says its new tomato varieties provide growers another tool to combat Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV).

While a yellow onion and a red onion are obviously different, it’s not as easy to tell the difference among all the fresh onions with long green leaves and white tips that come in springtime.

Packaged salad brand Fresh Express is leaning into digital promotions and contests this May for National Salad Month, offering more than $25,000 in prizes.

Ben Wilson, Ocean Mist Farms artichoke commodity manager, said the company is seeing outstanding-quality artichokes, focused primarily on large sizes.

With summer on the horizon, so is the seasonal peak to salad consumption — and companies are ramping up efforts to bolster sales of crispy greens and related items.

Eagle River Seed Farm and Potatoes USA have donated more than 600 pounds of potatoes to the Vilas Food Pantry in Eagle River, Wis.

Michigan State University scientists have been awarded $750,000 by the USDA to develop new ways to manage potato early die disease, which can reduce potato yields by 50%.

The Devens, Mass.-based cultivator of packaged lettuce grown through controlled environment agriculture is thinking big this National Salad Month.

A greater percentage of higher-income consumers reported fresh artichoke purchases; 14% of consumers making more than $100,000 per year said they purchased fresh artichokes in the previous year.

If there was ever a short list for a city to host a pop-up produce dinner for 80 media and influencers, Manhattan would be near the top — if not No. 1, of course.

The USDA has announced a purchase of vegetable products for distribution to the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs for fiscal year 2023.

The greenhouse grower says Umami The Fifth Taste brings a new flavor profile to the Bombs product line with a sweet and savory taste.

Potatoes USA is seeking to fill 60 open seats, with each board member serving a three-year term.

California-based Side Delights is introducing Spuds, a reduced-cost imperfect potato line packaged in 10-pound bags.

The Glennville, Ga.-based grower says the new look enhances brand and product recognition, as well as highlights “the premium essence” of its Vidalia onions.

The Los Angeles-based grower-packer-shipper’s potato season is ramping up following weather-related delays for organic and conventional potatoes.

Supplies of produce from the Santa Maria region should be fairly steady this spring despite heavy rains earlier this year, says Matt Hiltner, marketing coordinator for Babé Farms, Inc., Santa Maria, Calif.

In 2022, U.S. potato exports reached a record $2.1 billion in sales, according to Denver-based Potatoes USA, citing Trade Data Monitor.

Established in June 1978, the Michigan Asparagus Industry Development Program was designed to improve the economic position of Michigan asparagus growers by supporting research and market development efforts.

The Michigan-based controlled environment agriculture lettuce grower has recalled all products and date codes sold under its Revolution Farms Brand in an expansion of an earlier recall on April 5, 2023.

Taylor Farms is reopening its first, original Salinas, Calif., facility, which closed in 2022 due to a devastating fire, in time for the start of the growing season.

The Mushroom Council’s April promotion for Earth Month features award-winning, seen-on-TV chefs livestreaming on Kittch.com. The 2022 event reached consumers more than 4 million times.

Wayne, Ark.-based Matthews Ridgeview Farms offers both bulk and value-added packaging for its considerable sweet potato volume, says Autumn Campbell, sales manager for the company.

Shuman Farms is wrapping up an extensive renovation of its packing facility in Cobbtown, Ga., says John Shuman, president and CEO of Shuman Farms.

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Country Sweet Produce’s Bako Sweet label has redesigned its conventional and organic mesh bags as well as its Single Sweet stickers. 

The Idaho Potato Commission and the American Diabetes Association have agreed to a partnership intended to help educate tens of millions of Americans on how to add Idaho potatoes to their meal plan.

The New York-based specialty mushroom company continues to grow westward, adding 192 Sprouts locations to its growing retailer presence.

After conducting trials to support commercialization, Verdant Technologies is now partnering with SunFed to use Verdant’s HarvestHold Fresh technology to deliver fresh and greener cucumbers.

Vidalia onion plants endured a cold snap around Christmas but the crop has looked good the past couple of months, said Vidalia Onion Committee Chairman Cliff Riner, the crop production manager for G&R Farms.

North Carolina sweet potatoes check all the boxes for today’s consumers, says Michelle Grainger, executive director of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission.

Virginia Tech scientists are further developing snackable pepper varieties to grow vertically and flourish in controlled environment agriculture systems.

Broccoli isn't the only cruciferous vegetables worth merchandising, broccoli's cousins — broccolini, romanesco, broccoli rabe and cauliflower — can enliven wet racks and provides shoppers an array of options.

The biggest highlight of the marketing campaign for Durham, N.C.-based Happy Dirt sweet potatoes this spring is education around the product and the growers, said Taylor Meadows, marketing coordinator.

California-based seed breeder Tozer continues to improve arugula varieties, introducing mildew-resistant wild types such as Aphrodite and Eros this spring.

The March 20-22 Associated Wholesale Grocers Innovation Showcase in Overland Park, Kan., was the perfect place for The Little Potato Co. to show off its refreshed brand.

Easter demand is expected to be strong for Grimmway Farms' Cal-Organic rainbow carrots, says Ally Nesci, East Coast regional sales manager.

Israel-based BDA/Dorot Farm recently began exporting fresh and sweet carrots and is reporting a strong crop.