Envy apples remain the best-selling premium apple brand — according to Nielsen data — in part due to the brand’s significant investment in driving sales with massive marketing campaigns that increase awareness and preference, motivate consumer trial, and stimulate repeat purchase.

In Q4 2021, the apple’s promotions got a running start to the holiday season as Envy renewed its high-impact promotions. The brand is also engaging consumers in a nationwide omnichannel holiday campaign that recognizes this favorite premium apple variety as “The Ultimate Holiday Apple.”

Square Roots, a leader in indoor farming, now sells local, Michigan-grown produce to almost 50 SpartanNash corporate-owned retail stores across the state, including D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare, VG’s Grocery and Forest Hills Foods.

"Our expanded distribution with SpartanNash showcases the rising interest from consumers and retailers in locally grown food that is delicious, nutritious and responsibly farmed," said John Kell, Square Roots' director of communications.

Eberhard Muller and Paulette Satur sometimes feel they are the underdogs in the farming world, as hi-tech urban ag facilities sprout up faster than the weeds they try to control in their fields.

According to multiple sources, including news stories in both the United States and Mexico, the state of Jalisco in Mexico has won approval to ship fresh avocados into the United States. 

The approval has been held up for more than five years with little news on the progress of negotiations between Mexico and U.S. agricultural officials, with the popular belief that the delay was related to other trade issues between the two countries, including the shipping of U.S. potatoes into Mexico.

Nature Fresh Farms Director of Business Development Ray Wowryk is the recipient of this year’s Ontario Produce Marketing Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award is given to an individual that has over many years demonstrated untiring efforts to improve the quality and distribution of fruits and vegetables marketed within or outside the province of Ontario through innovation, cooperation and hard work.

Suppliers are reporting good quality on a new crop California navel oranges. The eating flavor is good and getting better as the season heightens. Beginning sizes will be 72, 88 and 113 count. Sizing will get better when 56 count and larger are harvested.

Even though this year's crop is lighter than last year, there will still be a good supply starting out. There should be aggressive deals on smaller fruit with value pricing on size 88s and 113s from now through January. Those are the sizes that will peak.