Jan DeLyser, a longtime produce industry leader and trailblazer, has announced her plan to retire from the California Avocado Commission in early 2023 after 24 years of service. The commission is searching for a replacement, with DeLyser’s expected retirement date to be mid-February 2023.

Unique flavor and availability set Pazazz apart each year, and this year is no different. Even with the challenging apple supply from Washington, this is the best Pazazz crop on record. Customers and retailers who have come to enjoy the sweet/tangy flavor and explosive crunch, can expect consistent flavor throughout the winter and spring months and appreciate the fact that Pazazz apples are grown closer to home.

Four Star Fruit, a premier full-service grower and marketer of year-round table grapes, is finishing the California grape season strong and transitioning to the Peruvian and Chilean import season, beginning harvest this month.

Lettuce markets are declining, yet still in record-breaking territory as the USDA reported iceberg to be sold for at an average of $74.

Overall, prices are down about 10 percent versus last week, primarily due to increasing supply. “Much of the fall season has been marked by abnormally high prices, most notably for commodities such as lettuce and strawberries,” said Mark Campbell, founder and CEO of ProduceIQ. “Now, increased availability from domestic growers, as well as Mexican production, is reducing supply-based pressure.”

“Prime Time has had tremendous success with our existing product lines and the company is continuing on a positive track as a result,” said Katy Johnson, purchasing & marketing manager for Prime Time.      Johnson added, “Over the past few years, we have fine-tuned what works and what doesn’t. That involves making minor adjustments here and there, but no major overhauls.” 

In the produce business, everything starts with the weather. Farmers prefer warm temperatures, good sunlight and significant rainfall in order to grow the fresh produce we need in the stores for consumers. Sometimes the weather fails to cooperate and upsets the farming industry, especially during necessary stages of growth.