As a third-generation family business — and one of the original companies to take occupancy on the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market — Pinto Bros. Inc. is a company customers flock to in fulfilling their produce needs.

Pinto Bros.’ storage space has increased over time, which has helped it increase the number of items it can offer to customers. That’s a good thing, because in 2022 the company has been plenty busy.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa cargo crossing in San Diego found more than 550 pounds of methamphetamine and almost three pounds of cocaine worth $1.25 million hidden in a shipment of squash.

CBP officers began inspecting within the boxes of squash and discovered 259 packages of methamphetamine and one package of cocaine comingled within the produce. The total amount of narcotics that was extracted from the boxes of squash was 552.65 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.78 pounds of cocaine.

It's time to switch over to summer fruit merchandising displays.

California is starting to ship the finest quality stone fruit to kick off the early season. Apricots are available and are already being promoted in store ads.

The Vena family’s roots in the Philadelphia produce industry date back more than a century. It’s a legacy that John Vena, president of John Vena Inc., is committed to keep going strong.

Legend Produce, a leading grower and marketer of melons, has been working diligently with its partners for the past few months to expand its exclusive Origami cantaloupe melon program. The multi-generation grower-shipper expects volume to increase by roughly 30 percent compared to last season, as it continues to promote the Origami cantaloupe across new and existing markets.

On Saturday, May 14, the California Avocado Commission hosted an open house — or rather open grove — at Rancho Santo Thomas, owned and farmed by Mike Sanders and his son-in-law Chris Ambuul in Valley Center, CA. Attendees were educated on various aspects of avocado farming, including the grafting of avocado cultivars on various rootstocks, sustainable cultural practices, canopy management and avocado picking, as well as tips and tricks for avocado preparation.