An executive at one of the leading tropical produce suppliers believes the tropical category is on an upswing, in large part due to the exposure consumers have via supermarkets, cooking shows and food publications.

Kingston Fresh is experiencing strong early sales of its Costa Rican MD2 variety golden pineapple program — the Kingston “Sugar Pine” — which has increased significantly over 2014 amid strong customer demand.

In mid-March, strawberry growers in California’s Watsonville district were just beginning to pick fruit and join their brethren from Southern and Central California in the business of providing strawberries to all corners of the United States.

Mexico and Florida have increased their respective production in the winter months and are very important producers during the November to February time frame, but once California growers start sniffing spring, the berries load up on the plants and California production is off to the races.

Opal apple is experiencing a record-breaking fifth season, reaching record highs in volume as well as the number of retailers and consumer reach. Opal made its first appearance this season in November and is expected to run through April.

TUCSON, AZ — By late summer, a new 240,000-square-foot cold storage cross dock facility will be operational at the port of Tucson, here.

Edward William Silva Jr., a third-generation vegetable grower in Santa Maria, CA, died March 8 after a heroic battle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. He was 61.