Latest News From Arizona

Brighter Bites, a nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, is expanding its offerings to six Phoenix-area schools.

The company won the five-year contract over one other competing firm.

The medjool date grower has focused on consumer education in recent months to amplify its presence in Canadian markets.

State Attorney General Kris Mayes has launched an antitrust investigation of the proposed merger, and listening sessions are scheduled for participants to hear directly from those who will be affected by this move.

The 2023 Spring Policy Summit is next up for the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.

The goal of Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Fresh Farms is to create “one-stop shopping” for buyers, company officials say.

The state’s farmers grow about 25% of the annual U.S. lettuce supply, according to USDA statistics.

Organic and fair trade grower has harvested its first crop of greenhouse grown organic heirloom tomatoes in Arizona and will debut at the Global Produce and Floral Show.

To celebrate its 90th anniversary, the Chandler, Ariz.-based supermarket chain will try to break a Guinness World Records title, hold a Community Choice Charity Challenge, host grocery gift-card giveaways and more.

Census Bureau data shows that Texas experienced double-digit value gains in 2021 imports of tomatoes, onions, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, bananas, citrus and melons.

The Arizona LGMA  is pleased to introduce its new public relations liaison April Ward.

The 2021 Southwest Ag Summit is offering two additional dates for SWAG attendees to sign in and view breakout sessions that offer continuing education unit opportunities.

Western Growers, Irvine, Calif., has hired Robert Medler as Arizona government affairs manager.

Replicating its Salinas Valley program, the Grower Shipper Association of Central California has established a COVID-19 training prevention program in Yuma, Ariz.

November marks the start of the harvest season for leafy greens in Arizona.

As leafy greens growers prepare to move from California’s Central Coast regaion to the desert regions of California and Yuma, Ariz., to start fall/winter production, they’re taking extra precautions.

Bolthouse Farms, Bakersfield, Calif., has entered into an agreement to purchase the carrot operations of Rousseau Farming Co., Tolleson, Ariz.

Vegetable grower Mellon Farms, Yuma, Ariz., is celebrating 75 years of family farming.

Arizona Customs and Border Protection officers made a record methamphetamine seizure when a commercial truckload of tomatoes and peppers attempted to cross into the U.S.

Inspections of California and Arizona leafy greens, as outlined in the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements for those crops, continue despite the spread of COVID-19.

The Food and Drug Administration has released its game plan for the year on resolving repeated E. coli outbreaks from romaine lettuce

Boise has the Idaho Potato Drop, Vincennes, Ind., has a watermelon drop, Kennett Square, Pa., drops a giant mushroom and now Yuma, Ariz., has a unique way to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

The Food and Drug Administration will be collecting romaine samples in California and Arizona for a year to test for salmonella and E. coli following several foodborne outbreaks linked to the lettuce.

The Center for Produce Safety is funding its first research project to study the effectiveness of water treatments used for irrigation and other uses in agriculture.

Dave Puglia is succeeding Tom Nassif, who is retiring after 18 years as the president and CEO of Western Growers.

Fresh Farms, Rio Rico Aziz., has hired Scott Rossi as director of sales and marketing.

The Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement has adopted more stringent water quality metrics in preparation for the coming season.

Wholesome has promoted Tina Federico to business development representative.

The relief of reaching a new  tomato suspension agreement between Mexican tomato growers and the Department of Commerce has come with misgivings about the effect of mandatory inspections at the border.

A Food and Drug Administration program that tested numerous romaine samples from Yuma, Ariz., found just one E. coli sample, which was non-pathogenic.

Wholesum, an Amado, Ariz.-based fair trade, organic grower-shipper, published its Conscientious Company report for the 2018 fiscal year, highlighting social and environmental responsibility efforts.

Joyce Brown, who established Brownie Brokerage with her husband, Lavern “Brownie” Brown in 1967 In Nogales, Ariz., died recently.

A new six-acre greenhouse expansion by Wholesum in Arizona will produce an estimate of 3.5 million pounds of organic beefsteak tomatoes.

Nogales, Ariz.-based Wilson Produce is adding a consumer package program for organic mini cucumbers as one of the steps in the fourth-generation family farm’s growth plans.

A partnership between growers and restaurants in Yuma, Ariz., highlights the area as the Winter Vegetable Capital of the World.

Natural Delights Medjool dates brand has a new snack offering, Chopped Medjool dates.

Wholesum, Amado, Ariz., reached a milestone at the start of 2019, by raising more than $3 million in the past five years to reinvest in its farms and workers.

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas is lauding the state of Arizona’s investment in a cold inspection facility at the Mariposa Port of Entry at Nogales, Ariz.

As the Yuma, Ariz., lettuce season begins, growers there will be following new food safety standards after an industry-led massive effort dug into the possible causes of an E. coli outbreak linked to Yuma romaine.

Transporting produce through Nogales, Ariz., should get easier in the coming years.

A pilot program in Nogales, Ariz., at the Mariposa Port of Entry, should speed up some inspections of Mexico grapes this season.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has sanctioned six produce companies that have failed to pay Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act reparation awards.

Alv Farms LLC satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.

Nogales, Ariz.-based Fresh-Link Produce LLC has hired Adrian Gonzalez as general manager.

A lighter lemon crop is expected this year out of California and Arizona, according to growers and industry officials.