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Retail fresh produce sales totaled $17.8 billion in the first quarter of 2021, up 3.3% from the first quarter of 2020 and up 11.5% from the first quarter of 2019.

Seen on Social: We spotlight produce industry posts on the top five social media platforms that caught our attention this week.

Thumbs, at your mark (on your phone): The 2021 social media challenge, #JerseyFreshisCOOLER, has kicked off.

A major factor in the popularity of berries — besides their easy-to-love taste — is their much-touted health benefits.

From a vast array of plumcots and apriums, to a menagerie of melons, to a brigade of roots and radishes, there is no shortage of options in the world of specialty produce, and consumers are intrigued.

For U.S. shoppers who read their sticker labels, they’ll start to notice their hass avocados are more likely from Peru rather than Mexico now through September.

United Fresh recently held the first session in its new education track featuring retail and foodservice industry leaders, and the discussion covered labor, forecasting, rising costs, packaging and more.

The Packer’s editors discuss the big topics of the week, from USDA’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program to PLU stickers to Peruvian avocados — plus an industry conversation on labor, rising costs and forecasting.

Daren Van Dyke, director of marketing for Brawley, Calif.-based Five Crowns Marketing, reports great early acceptance of a new proprietary melon variety called the Picasso.

Mac Riggan, director of marketing for Chelan, Wash.-based Chelan Fresh Marketing, gives growers credit for their patience in cultivating specialty apple varieties like the red-flesh Lucy Rose and Lucy Glo.