The market remains under pressure as Florida continues to recover from freeze damage and Mexico struggles with extreme heat. The combination is limiting supply, impacting quality and keeping both pepper and tomato markets elevated as March winds down. 

California Crema GEM season is back. From April through June, California Crema GEM Avocados from Index Fresh will satisfy avocado cravings with a distinctive California-grown brand featuring the GEM variety, a sibling of the traditional Hass known for its golden flecks, dark skin, rich, nutty flavor and high-density nutritional value. California Cremas have quickly caught on with shoppers, and Index Fresh will continue to position this local brand for expansion among avocado lovers looking for a premium, seasonal variety.

As Farmworker Awareness Week begins, Stemilt is highlighting a new Equitable Food Initiative case study and the completion of 48 worker-driven production improvement projects made in the past year. What began as a partnership to strengthen the health, safety and wellbeing of farm workers has grown into a company-wide commitment to creating a better future for the people behind World Famous Fruit. Stemilt said it is proud to share the measurable results that have come from collaboration with EFI.

The Ethical Charter Implementation Program, overseen by a multistakeholder industry group to build alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices and facilitated by Equitable Food Initiative, launched a new platform for farm labor contractors.

Blooms Trade Inc., a financial technology company engineering a borderless future for produce, announced the appointment of Miguel Hernandez Storey as chief operating officer.

Harps Food Stores will deploy SmartMeals, AWG's AI-powered shopping assistant powered by Breez AI, across its network of more than 150 stores.

Harps is one of the largest operators in the AWG network, and this decision to deploy SmartMeals at scale sends a clear message to independent grocers everywhere: AI is already shaping where customers shop. The question is whether our stores are part of that conversation.