Most retail produce ads have already been developed for the rest of this year. Business usually slows its pace after the holidays. Hopefully, the current erratic markets will settle unless the weather fails to cooperate within the growing regions.

AI is exploding in growth, so, how can a person use AI effectively in floral businesses? Rio Roses provided the 10 best practices for using AI in floral business:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses — Planters Produce Corp., Fresh Produce Market and Real Value Sales Inc. — for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

A combination of factors contributed to a slow start to the winter veg season out of Mexico, but Fresh Farms was looking forward to an improvement in market conditions as the holidays approached.

David Watson, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said the slow start was due in part to the local deals running later than usual.

Kapi Kapi Growers, a leading grower-shipper of premium Costa Rican pineapples and bananas, announced Sofia Acon, who has served as director since 2020, has been appointed to the role of president.