The Produce News and the Fresh Produce & Floral Council have created a sponsor partnership agreement that will align two of the most prominent and respected institutions in the industry with the goal of further raising the profile of each.

Apples have always been king of the fall produce season, but over the last decade, winter apples have become much more in demand and apple growers have seen business grow substantially.

While there are always staples of the category, one of the reasons for the increased demand can be attributed to the myriad of new varieties entering the market.

Jessica Wells, executive director for Crunch Time Apple Growers, a Lockport, NY-based cooperative of apple growers, noted these are no longer your grandmother’s apples.

More than 6.6 million meals helped feed food-insecure neighbors thanks to the generosity of Food Lion customers who supported Food Lion Feeds’ “Holidays Without Hunger” campaign. Customers purchased and donated a specially marked, prepacked "Holidays Without Hunger" food box for $5 or made a cash donation at the register during the campaign.

Green Circle Growers has donated 300 Fiddle Leaf Fig plants to home-bound senior citizens this holiday season through an organization called Enrichment Centers for Huron County, which provides programs and services designed to enrich the quality of life for seniors. The Oberlin-based greenhouse delivered these plants to the Enrichment Center on Monday, Dec. 20. The Enrichment Center will coordinate drop-off to individuals throughout the week prior to the holiday.

Have you started thinking about color and design combinations for the upcoming year? PANTONE has recently announced their color of the year for 2022: “PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, A New Pantone Color Whose Courageous Presence Encourages Personal Inventiveness And Creativity.”

It’s not only the holiday season, but it’s engagement season! Did you know that around 40% of engagements happen between November and February? With the holidays, the New Year and Valentine’s Day, the timing for “engagement season” makes sense. Why not begin a new chapter with your significant other while you’re surrounded by love, celebrations and happiness? So, CONGRATULATIONS if you are newly engaged! Cheers to you and yours as you embark on this new journey together.