Heat waves in the West and blizzards in the Northeast have been affecting crops.

Out West, the high temps reinforce drought concerns. The Coachella Valley is in the midst of pepper harvest and temps are expected to be in the mid-90s.

Most commodities were unaffected by the snowfall in upstate New York, “but domestic asparagus markets will endeavor to shrug off lingering chills for a couple more weeks,” said Mark Campbell, founder and CEO of ProduceIQ.

Top-selling fruit brands — Sunkist Growers, Naturipe Farms and T&G Global's Envy Apples — launched a new "Fruitastic" promotion for WildBrain’s new animated Strawberry Shortcake series Berry in the Big City, now available on YouTube and Netflix.

DMA Solutions, a marketing agency serving the fresh produce, better-for-you foods, restaurant and floral industries, officially launched the Self Smarter podcast.

California Giant Berry Farms anticipates giant volumes of organic and conventionally grown strawberries ahead, just in time for National Strawberry Month. The company reports its grower partners are on track to deliver peak promotable volumes of California strawberries led by its Santa Maria, Watsonville and Salinas growing regions.

Fruit and floral industry executive John-Campbell Barmmer, age 76, died April 18 at home in Glen Mills, PA.

Mr. Barmmer worked as a senior-level executive for Chiquita Brands Inc. for 20-plus years. He was passionate and quickly moved up the banana marketing side of the business until the mid-1980s, when he was tapped to lead the newly organized Chiquita Tropical Products group in a demanding role as its inaugural president.

SpartanNash has expanded its specialty and local food selection for independent grocers and customers across the U.S. through a strategic partnership with Specialty Food Partners and a new online platform called SpartanNash SpecialtyDirect.