California cantaloupe farmers are overjoyed with the amount of rainfall received this winter and for the welcome relief to severe drought conditions that have impacted growing areas for the past several years.

Although rainfall was heavy throughout the winter, cantaloupe-producing districts have not experienced flooding that has impacted other parts of the state. Additionally, California cantaloupe fields had not yet been planted at the time of the state’s heaviest rainfall.

A new report examining where and how shoppers choose to buy groceries online found that while the overall base of average monthly users in the U.S. has increased by nearly 3 percent, the online penetration of supermarkets declined by 2 percent in 2022 compared to 2021 levels.

The International Fresh Produce Association will celebrate nine of the country's leading chefs and foodservice professionals during IFPA's Foodservice Conference, July 27-28 in Monterey, CA, as part of the Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program, sponsored by FreshEdge.

The program honors chefs and foodservice operations for their produce innovation, creativity and all-around excellence in the use of fresh produce in the culinary arts.

With the spring season and warmer weather now the norm, Divine Flavor will be in full swing with its melon program for the next 50 days.

With offerings of watermelon (regular seedless and mini seedless), cantaloupe and honeydew grown both organically and conventionally, the Nogales, AZ-based grower-shipper anticipates a strong month of May in terms of volume and promotion for its expanded melon program in Mexico.

FreshEdge acquired Testa Produce, a produce and specialty food company headquartered in Chicago. For more than 110 years, Testa Produce and the Testa family have been serving customers in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, distributing fresh fruits and vegetables, including an array of fresh-cut offerings, dairy, meats, seafoods and specialty foods.