With Valentine’s Day behind us, the berry category is working through its reset. Strawberries are mixed depending on origin. With holiday demand behind us, pricing is adjusting region by region, but West Coast weather will keep supplies from getting loose.

California is dealing with meaningful rain in Santa Maria and Oxnard, which will limit field access and trim yields in the short term. Growers packed ahead of the storm, but disruptions are expected through the week. Central Mexico is moving down its seasonal curve with fewer crossings into Texas. Baja is gradually increasing production

With the winter crop currently coming out of its Florida farms, plus a growing fresh-cut lineup that scales nationwide, Lipman Family Farms is sharing what is possible when innovation is a family tradition that spans more than 75 years. The company will be in booth No. 638 at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure Feb. 26-March 1 at Orlando World Center.

Visitors will discover a variety of Lipman solutions that are designed for the challenges of produce buyers, merchandisers and foodservice operators. A highlight is Lipman’s ready-to-use fresh-cut line that offers year-round, freshly

Harps Food Stores is moving forward with HarvestHold Fresh, the postharvest solution from Verdant Technologies, following a successful broccoli pilot conducted in collaboration with grower partner Ocean Mist Farms that delivered measurable gains in broccoli quality and retail sell-through across its iceless broccoli supply chain.

"We care deeply about feeding families, not landfills," said Mike Roberts, vice president of produce operations at Harps. "This HarvestHold pilot demonstrates that investing in produce freshness delivers real value for the business. We saw better-looking broccoli and

Pure Flavor has been recognized at the 2026 PAC Global Awards for excellence in brand and packaging design by receiving the Best In Class (Gold) award. This recognition celebrates the recent Pure Flavor brand refresh, introducing a modernized visual identity and cohesive packaging system that we are incredibly excited to share, enhancing recognition and delivering a more unified experience at retail.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from PAC Global,” said Julia Weber, vice president of marketing at Pure Flavor. “This award reflects the dedication of our internal teams who work hard

Exp. Group, a multinational leader in the production, importation and distribution of fruits and vegetables from Central and South America, has been recognized as a Best Place to Work. This distinction underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to excellence, rooted in its strongest pillar: culture.

For more than 40 years, Exp. Group and its affiliated companies have built one of the most efficient networks for sourcing and distributing fresh produce across the United States. While the organization’s pillars — quality, service, brand and culture — have guided its growth and reputation

Relationships drive the produce industry. Bruce Letchworth, a member of the Continental Fresh sales team, builds them the old-fashioned way: by telling the truth early, doing what you say you’ll do and treating people right.

Letchworth’s big personality and refreshing honesty have made him a natural ambassador for Water For All, Continental Fresh’s initiative supporting clean water and sanitation projects in Latin America.

“People don’t mind bad news,” Letchworth said. “They mind surprises. I try to communicate clearly and do what I say I’m going to do.”

Raised on old-school courtesy and a love