I spent last week in Orlando, FL, for SEPC, and it was nice connecting with many of you out there. While I was in Florida, I got a firsthand look at what the late January freeze did to crops in the region and the impact is more significant than the reports suggested.

Bell peppers took a serious hit. Fields that should be loaded are thin, and what's coming out is inconsistent. Strawberry plants looked structurally sound, but the ratio of flowers to fruit told the real story. There's more bloom than berry right now, which means volume is still weeks away. 

That freeze is still echoing across the

Side Delights announced the launch of Flavorables, a new value-added petite potato line designed to meet growing consumer demand for quick, convenient and flavorful side dishes. Flavorables pairs one-pound of petite potatoes with premium dry seasoning blends from Spiceology, creating a complete, microwave-ready side dish in just five minutes.

“Flavorables was created to make potatoes quicker to prepare while delivering the bold flavors consumers are seeking on restaurant menus,” said Kathleen Triou, president and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “Consumer research consistently shows that potato

Early bird registration for the 2026 CPMA Convention and Trade Show ends this week.

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s annual event, scheduled for April 28-30 in Toronto, is Canada’s largest gathering dedicated to the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. It attracts attendees from across the international fresh produce supply chain.

Industry members who register as full delegates by Friday, March 6, will receive reduced rates. Registration includes access to a sold-out trade show floor with more than 700 booths; a keynote session featuring futurist and innovation expert Jim Carroll

Field Fresh Farms has launched a redesigned website aimed at highlighting the grower-shipper's four generations of family heritage, sustainability efforts and customer service.

The company, which grows, processes, packs and ships greens for foodservice and retail customers, unveiled the site Feb. 20. The updates are meant to showcase the Dobler family’s approach to farming on California's Central Coast.

The family's farming legacy began more than 75 years ago as a small strawberry patch before evolving into the vertically integrated grower-shipper it is today. Field Fresh Farms was formed in

A partnership between Stemilt Growers and the Equitable Food Initiative has led to measurable gains in safety, worker engagement and workforce retention, according to a new case study from the workforce development and certification organization.

EFI, which partners with growers, farmworkers and retailers, highlighted the results of Stemilt's six-year implementation of its Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured certification program in a study released Feb. 25. The findings show how structured worker engagement can drive operational performance, the group said.

Since earning its first EFI

ALDI will open its first store in Maine on March 26, marking the company's entry into its 40th state.

"We are thrilled to be expanding into the state of Maine as a part of our expansion in the Northeast," said Chris Daniels, regional vice president for ALDI. "At our new Portland ALDI store, shoppers will notice a smaller, easy-to-shop store layout filled with a carefully selected range of products to provide them with exactly what they need."

The store will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Features include a quarter-operated cart system, self-bagging and a focus on ALDI-exclusive brands