North Carolina’s 2015 produce season looks very promising. The state has just emerged from a long, unseasonably cold and wet winter, but it has not dampened the spirits of growers. Spring has started to bring on flowers and some early fruits, although most crops are about two weeks behind the normal schedule.

Whole Foods Market Inc. plans to launch a new affordable organic store concept to appeal to millennial shoppers as well as those looking for high-quality fresh food. The announcement was made when the company reported its Q2 results, which included a total sales increase of 10 percent to a record $3.6 billion.

It was May 4 and the California fig crop was just starting to hit the top upscale retail operations and restaurants across the country. At around $45 for a four-pound pack, the fruit was high priced and in short supply.

Almost all of that fruit came to those customers via the traditional wholesale produce market. “Right now we are selling almost all our figs through the terminal markets,” said Kurt Cappelluti, sales manager for Stellar Distributing Inc. in Madera, CA. “The terminal markets play such a very important role in the produce industry.”

Like everyone in California, California Giant Berry Farms is concerned about the drought and the effects it will continue to have on both personal life and in produce production.

“Currently we are able to conserve water in our berry-growing regions and use only drip irrigation,” said Cindy Jewell, vice president of marketing. “We have installed micro-sprinklers to further save on water usage. We monitor our wells, and continually monitor all irrigation systems to make sure we don’t have any leaks or waste.”

Naturipe Berry Growers Inc., headquartered in Salinas, CA, continues with innovations that drive berry sales for its customers. The company is known as a national leader in supplying blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries through its year-round programs to all market sectors.

With Mother's Day, graduation and grilling season just ahead, Josie's Organics, a leading organic vegetable brand, has added fresh, seasonal recipes on www.josiesorganics.com/recipes.