Latest News From Cristin Shepard

Texas citrus growers and researchers are taking action to avoid and prevent the spread of huanglongbing.

Consumers are making their way to the produce department to find beverages to serve a purpose — whether it’s to improve their health or just to enjoy.

When Amanda Keefer started working odd jobs at age 12, she likely never envisioned working in the produce industry.

Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms has been busy giving back the past few months with its “Berry Lover” e-mail campaign.

Marion Tabard was inspired to learn all she could about people at a young age, which has driven her passion for bettering the lives of others.

While one might associate tropical fruits with summer months, tropicals also shine well into the fall and winter.

Florida tomato volume remains steady, while quality is holding strong.

Hurricanes this year have not caused any major disruptions to Florida crops and actually provided some needed rain, said Mindy Lee, bureau chief at Tallahassee-based Fresh From Florida.

United Fresh is hosting a food media dialogue panel at this year’s BrandStorm, moderated by Chadwick Boyd, food and lifestyle expert and TV host.

Chiquita Brands International is the banana sponsor for the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon for the second year in a row.

Los Angeles-based Joolies, an organic medjool date company, won the award for best first-time exhibitor at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Equitable Food Initiative has created a free responsible recruitment scorecard, available in English and Spanish.

For the seventh consecutive year, Fyffes refueled runners of the Marine Corps Marathon with bananas as they crossed the finish line.

PA Veggies has launched four news directories as an enhancement to the available listing at paveggies.org to service farmers, consumers and wholesale buyers.

Ocean Mist Farms has announced the launch of its Friendsgiving Flavor campaign to promote the Season & Steam product line to shoppers during the holiday season.

Bard Valley, Calif.-based Natural Delights has announced a successful 2019 Medjool date harvest.

Fresh-cut jicama company Xica Brands is introducing a new product, jicama noodles.

Concluding the pear pizza campaign, USA Pears has named Veronica Callaghan the winner of the #pearpizza contest.

United Fresh is accepting nominations for the 2020 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program.

The Produce for Better Health Foundation is set to exhibit its consumer call to action, Have A Plant, at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Philadelphia.

Row 7 has begun a new partnership with the online grocery platform FreshDirect.

Eight years into the 10-year Eastern Broccoli Project, the broccoli industry in the eastern U.S. is valued at $90 million and the project is expected to meet a $100-million goal.

Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s is offering solutions for plant-based eating during the holiday season.

Easy-peel mandarins have risen in popularity for consumers looking for a healthy snack, and the Bee Sweet Citrus sales team is celebrating the beginning of the domestic season with its most popular varieties.

Arrowfarms along with Gold Bell, DiSilva Fruit and Morning Kiss Organic have detailed their charitable donations and sustainability initiatives in a new a report.

The Oppenheimer Group has joined more than 175 brand owners and retailers in the How2Recycle label program for their products.

Research conducted by New Zealand-based Forward Insight & Strategy revealed that Envy apple ranks No. 1 in a sensory test for flavor, texture, aroma and appearance among 142 people surveyed.

Grimmway Farms is celebrating its 50th anniversary on the road at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif.

The Grower-Shipper Association of Central California is hosting a pavilion at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif.

Nine Colombian companies are set to present products of innovation and sustainable practices at Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif.

Two-time NBA World Champion Danny “Green Ranger” Green of the Los Angeles Lakers has partnered with Blanc Vineyards, Delano Farms and Four Star Fruit to encourage children to live healthy lifestyles.

West Pak Avocado is off to Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit to feature the bagged avocado program, support retailers using Avo-Opportunities, and offer regional category reviews, aka Avo-Audits.

Tasteful Selections, in partnership with Bancroft, Wis.-based RPE Inc., is introducing Nibbles, a small bite in the potato category.

Costa Rica plans to bring a wide assortment of produce to the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Stemilt Growers is launching Promosaurus, a campaign to help retailers build large apple and pear displays, and celebrating 30 years of organic growing at Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Expect a wide variety of fruits and vegetables from the Guatemala Produce Trade Association at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Crunchies, a line of single-serve chocolate-covered freeze-dried fruit snacks will be on display at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

California Sun Dry is unveiling new branding for the first time since the company’s founding in 1991.

The California Walnut Board has launched the Life Isn’t Always Easy ad campaign to show how walnuts can be an easy way to add nutrition to snacks and meals.

Del Monte Fresh Produce has announced its projection of the top five fruit-themed Halloween costumes for 2019.

Through December 2019, Dole is celebrating Disney’s “Frozen 2” as part of its Empowering the Hero Within initiative to make it easier for parents to motivate families toward a healthy lifestyle.

Love Beets, a company specializing in ready-to-eat beets, has partnered with Genuine Coconut, creators of ready-to-drink coconut products.

Angel Mendez is now the new executive director for Plainville, Mass.-based Red Tomato, a nonprofit Northeast produce distributor.

Stemilt Growers is set to center its Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit booth around organics, launching Artisan Organics 5-pound resealable pouch bags of organic galas, fujis and granny smith apples.

Driscoll’s has launched Sweetest Batch Blueberries — the newest addition to its limited edition collection.

Executives from reusable plastic container company IFCO are attending the 2019 Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, where they will highlight efficiency, cost-savings and sustainable benefits of the RPCs.

GloriAnn Farms and partner company Five Crowns Marketing plan to display and sample the full line of GloriAnn and Majesty branded sweet corn at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit expo.

Pure Palm Produce is set to exhibit a full lineup of California dates at Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif.

The U.S. Apple Association has launched its 2019-20 Apples4Ed initiative.

Onions 52 has joined the Produce Marketing Association’s Gold Circle Campaign for Food Safety to emphasize a commitment to food safety.