Food Lion celebrates 2026 FEEDYS Awards honorees
Food Lion celebrated five honorees during The FEEDYS, an annual surprise awards series honoring those helping nourish neighbors across its 10-state operating area. Food Lion Feeds was founded in 2014 by the omnichannel grocery retailer to address food insecurity in the towns and cities it serves.
California avocado harvest on track for 330M pound crop
The California Avocado Commission’s mid-season forecast confirmed that the projected harvest still aligns with its original estimate of 330 million pounds of avocados. California’s volume ramped up significantly in May and June to satisfy consumer demand, bolstered by the commission’s increased focus on customized support for retailers who merchandise fresh, in-season California avocados.
Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology selects Sami Robotics for sponsored residency
The Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology selected Sami Robotics, a startup developing a multifunctional robotic platform capable of performing a variety of field tasks to receive the first WGCIT-sponsored residency slot at Reservoir Farms. The startup's initial focus will be on harvesting.The residency will allow Sami to refine and test its technology alongside growers in real-world conditions at Reservoir’s Salinas location.
Catalytic Generators supports ready-to-eat avocado trend
Consumer demand for ready-to-eat avocados has transformed the way the fresh produce industry approaches ripening. What was once considered a specialist service has become an essential part of the supply chain, helping growers, importers, ripeners and retailers deliver fruit with consistent quality, predictable ripeness and reduced waste.
Courtney Hernandez joins Moonlight's sales team
Moonlight Cos. has added Courtney Hernandez to its sales team, bringing an experienced retail sales leader to support the company’s stone fruit and winter citrus programs while strengthening retail customer relationships.
Lipman celebrates 10 years of Grown True Organics
Lipman is celebrating 10 years of its Grown True Organics brand at Organic Produce Summit in Monterey, CA, July 14-16. When Grown True and the Organic Produce Summit launched in 2016, organic produce was emerging as a mainstream, mass-market grocery category. Sales were roughly half the $22.7 billion reported in 2025 by the Organic Trade Association. Today, organic produce is a retail mainstay that leads the entire organic category in sales.
OGVG wins Platinum Hermes Creative Awards
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers' Greenhouse Goodness campaign has received two Platinum Hermes Creative Awards, the highest level of recognition in this international competition.The awards were presented for the Greenhouse Goodness Strategic & Integrated Campaign – Branding Refresh and the Greenhouse Goodness Website Refresh – Creative Design.
Raley’s makes key leadership changes
The Raley's Cos. has made a series of leadership appointments designed to strengthen customer engagement, enhance operational excellence and position the company for continued growth across its family of brands: Carol Barsotti has been appointed chief marketing officer; Natalie Slater has been promoted to senior vice president, enterprise operations; and Levi Wingo has been promoted to senior vice president, sales and merchandising strategy.
Westerlay Orchids expands farm-direct access through Box of Orchids online ordering
Westerlay Orchids, a third-generation, family-owned company based in Carpinteria, CA, is expanding farm-direct access to premium Phalaenopsis orchids through its Box of Orchids online ordering program. Designed for florists, event planners, venues, interior designers and other wholesale buyers, the program offers a convenient way to order premium orchids shipped fresh from the farm directly to a home, business or event location.
Market Minute: Raspberries are ideal to promote right now
In those early years of long-distance produce shipping, freshness was almost unattainable. Without refrigerated trucks or rail cars, fragile fruits and vegetables simply couldn’t survive the trip from growing regions like California to markets in the East. As a result, many delicate produce items never appeared in regional grocery stores because they broke down long before they could reach the shelf. Fresh raspberries were one of those items.