Did you know that prehistoric grapes were discovered in fossils that reach back 66 million years ago — or that the actual domestication of grapes began 6,000 to 8,000 years ago between the Black Sea and Iran? The cultivated varieties were then initiated and spread by humans throughout the world.  

Fire Dragon Fruit season from Nicaragua has kicked off for Frieda's Branded Produce. This eagerly awaited season introduces a true superstar that’s bursting with flavor, nutrients and eye-catching color.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods launched its Summer of Sweetness Giveaway with a focus on sweet corn and savoring every moment of the season along with some friendly Pickleball competition.

Blueberries are Sonny Boy Produce’s biggest item, so they are of the utmost importance to the company. In fact, the company ships between 5 and 6 million pounds of blues throughout the year, and the New Jersey deal can account for up to 40 percent of its annual blueberry sales.  

Wegmans Food Markets kicked off its companywide Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack scan campaign to help ensure school-aged children continue to have access to adequate food during the summer months when they lose access to free and reduced-price school lunches.

The campaign raises money for the company’s 48 Feeding America food bank partners to help them stock their summer feeding and backpack programs. Customers can donate any amount at checkout, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to each store’s local food bank.

As mid-June arrives, the produce industry’s attention shifts to the Eastern Shore, where farmers are preparing crops such as cabbage, green beans, potatoes, sweet corn and more. Eastern Shore companies begin shipping produce at the end of June, continuing through July.

This period is crucial as it bridges the gap between the end of North Florida’s season and the start of harvesting in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and other regions, which doesn’t occur until late July.