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Ostrom Mushroom Farms hopes to ship mushrooms from its new 39,000-square-foot growing facility in Sunnyside, Wash., in May.

This once rough-around-the-edges industry was, for centuries, a man’s world. It would take a particularly tenacious individual to change the status quo.

Produce companies and grocery retailers continued to look for more ways to reduce food waste in 2019 as federal government agencies announced a major initiative around that same goal.

For the first time in years, two weather events have created a significant challenge to marketers of potatoes over the winter and spring months.

Plant-based diets seemed to be all the rage in 2019, making it a hot topic among industry professionals trying to determine the best ways to market, sell and promote fruits and vegetables to consumers.

As consumer interest in topics like locally grown food, sustainability, food deserts and urban agriculture continues to grow, innovative produce companies continue to meet demand.

Citrus volume out of Texas as of mid-January was on pace with last year, and growers were not reporting any major quality problems.

Sales of organic mushrooms increased from 2017 to 2018, up nearly $13.5 million from 2017 to 2018.

Organic citrus growers in California and Texas are reporting ample supplies of good-quality fruit this season, with demand continuing to expand.

Santa Paula, Calif.-based Calavo Growers, through its Renaissance Food Group subsidiary, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SFFI Co. Inc., also known as Simply Fresh Fruit.