As floral professionals, the Fourth of July is a great chance to boost sales and attract new customers. Rio Roses has some tips to help both flower shops and flower wholesalers make the most of this festive occasion.

Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel offered a glimpse into the future of food trends and quality standards when sourcing new products. During his Savoring the Future keynote at the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show, Buechel shared his perspective on industry trends and Whole Foods Market’s role in shaping what’s ahead.

Wada Farms, a family-owned provider of fresh potatoes, onions and sweet potatoes, has established long-standing partnerships across the U.S. and globally. Organic products have been included in the Wada portfolio for nearly a decade.

Jeff Correa has been appointed manager of the Fresh Pear Committee of Federal Marketing Order 927.

Correa will continue in his current role as director of international marketing at Pear Bureau Northwest as he takes over the duties as manager of the FPC from Kevin Moffitt, who has held the position since 2001. Moffitt will be moving into a mentoring role at PBNW for the upcoming year, which begins July 1.

Little Leaf Farms expanded in McAdoo, PA, with a new greenhouse set to open this fall. The new 10-acre greenhouse is the third greenhouse for Little Leaf Farms in the state and will make Little Leaf Farms' Pennsylvania campus the largest leafy greens CEA campus in North America.

The company also closed a new credit facility with capacity of $250 million so it is well-positioned to expand its production capacity, enhance distribution channels and further establish itself as a leading provider of CEA lettuce.

Markon established a new regional buyer position on the East Coast with the addition of Anthony Easterling. The company said this strategic move underscores its commitment to providing unparalleled support to its five independent member-distributor companies through enhanced purchasing expertise.