Stemilt prepares for ‘world famous’ California cherry season
The 2026 California cherry season is shaping up to offer an early and potentially strong start. Stemilt Growers expressed optimism about the timing, volume and quality of this season’s fruit. While harvest potential is still developing, the indication points to a crop that slightly surpasses last year, due to favorable weather and strong bloom conditions.
California Dates creates memorable moments at Palm Desert Food & Wine
California Dates created memorable moments throughout Palm Desert Food & Wine 2026, beginning with an immersive farm tour on March 19 that brought media and guests into the heart of date country.
Shuman Farms kicking off Vidalia season with fresh energy and next-gen focus
The 2026 Vidalia onion season is set to start on the official pack date of April 13, and Shuman Farms expects to have favorable quality and availability of both conventional and organic Vidalias, with onions expected to ship through Labor Day.
Whole Foods Market recognizes supplier all-stars
Whole Foods Market announced the recipients of its 14th annual Supplier All-Star Awards, recognizing outstanding supplier partners whose products, innovation and collaboration helped shape the retailer’s assortment over the past year. Among this year's honorees is Oppy. Hand-selected by Whole Foods Market category experts, sourcing leaders and foragers, the awards honor suppliers that delivered standout performances in 2025 across key areas including product excellence, creativity, operational reliability and collaboration.
Bee Sweet Citrus launches digital check-in system for drivers
Bee Sweet Citrus’ shipping department has launched an online check-in platform for drivers picking up fruit at its facility. This custom digital portal enables seamless two-way communication between drivers and shipping clerks, ensuring a hassle-free pickup experience.
Greg Beach discusses new role as GSA chair
Agriculture wasn’t an industry Greg Beach had in mind when he majored in international relations at UC Davis. A SoCal kid, working for farmers wasn’t in his plans. Yet, three decades later, he still loves what he does at Huntington Farms and now expands his work on behalf of farmers, shippers and processors as the newly elected chair at the Grower Shipper Association of Central California.
AI and human intelligence: The real advantage at work
A recent roundup of headlines about artificial intelligence shows tales of AI gone rogue, from the AI assistant that almost deleted the entire inbox of a Meta SuperIntelligence AI executive to the AI agent who applied for almost 300 jobs (in addition to signing up for Hotmail and a LinkedIn account) all on its own. These stories are great fodder for late-night talk show hosts and underscore the reality that AI still needs a human handler in how the technology is used in business.
PRO*ACT Crop Update: Florida freeze fallout meets Mexican heat
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.
Stemilt highlights Farmworker Awareness Week
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.
California Crema GEM avocados deliver flavor of the Golden State
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.