FPFC plans immersive tours, talks AI at Pacific Northwest luncheon
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council’s 2026 Pacific Northwest regional meeting will host industry members in Snoqualmie, WA, on March 19 and 20. Both days feature tours, with a luncheon and educational sessions on day two. The discussion will focus on the future of the produce and floral supply chain.
Shanley Farms extends California avocado season with Morro Bay program
For more than a decade, Shanley Farms has carved out a unique niche within the California avocado category by focusing on flavor, timing and regional identity. Based along the Central Coast near Morro Bay, the company has built a reputation around its Morro Bay avocado program, which supplies premium fruit late in the California season when domestic availability typically becomes scarce.
Fareway partners with Instacart
Instacart has a new partnership with Fareway, a longstanding Midwest grocer with more than 140 stores. Together, the two companies are bringing customers the same service and value they expect in store, now paired with an updated, seamless e-commerce experience.As part of this partnership, Fareway is launching an enhanced, online shopping experience powered by Storefront Pro, Instacart’s enterprise commerce platform. Fareway orders are also now available for pickup through the Instacart Marketplace with no markups, giving customers more convenient ways to shop.
Catalytic Generators and Exp. Group scale the art of ripening
Ripening more than 75,000 boxes of bananas and 100,000 boxes of plantains per week requires precision, predictability and partners that can scale. For Exp. Group, one of the largest ripening operations in the United States, its multi-decade partnership with Catalytic Generators has provided the reliable ethylene foundation needed to support growth while delivering consistent quality across its expanding U.S. footprint.
CFFA to honor David Marguleas with its Lifetime Achievement Award
The California Fresh Fruit Association will present fresh fruit industry leader David Marguleas with the Lifetime Achievement Award at CFFA’s 90th Annual Meeting on March 16.This recognition will honor Marguleas’ lifetime of service to the California fresh fruit industry. The Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon an individual whose pioneering spirit and inventiveness throughout his or her career has inspired others and influenced the industry in a positive way.
CAC highlights origin, seasonality in 2026 avocado season
With the 2026 California avocado season nearly upon us, the California Avocado Commission is gearing up for the harvest, anticipating a very promotable crop and a consumer-relevant campaign focusing on sustainable farming, ethical practices and local sourcing of the fruit.
PRO*ACT Crop Update: Onion deal rolls on
The onion market is now entering its seasonal transition as Northwest storage supplies begin winding down and fresh-run onions start moving out of Mexico and south Texas. Markets are currently soft on yellow and red onions as new crop volume competes with remaining Northwest inventories. White onions remain the exception, where supplies are tighter and pricing is beginning to firm.
EFI champions farmworker recognition nationwide
Equitable Food Initiative, the workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups, encourages the agricultural community to recognize and celebrate National Farmworker Awareness Week with free and impactful tools offered in its communications toolkit.
Viva Fresh to examine the 'Consumomics' of fresh produce
The future of fresh produce opportunity takes center stage at Viva Fresh 2026 as the Texas International Produce Association will have internationally recognized futurist economist Richard Kottmeyer as this year’s education session keynote speaker. Kottmeyer will kick off Viva Fresh’s Friday education programming on April 17 with a dynamic 90-minute session designed to challenge and equip produce industry leaders to think about not just opportunities for today, but for the decade ahead.
Kroger brings back customer appreciation week
The Kroger Co. announced the return of its mega-sales event honoring customers with the retailer's hottest deals and exclusive savings during Kroger's Customer Appreciation Week running through March 17.