“It is a little too early to tell, but at this point we know for sure the 2021 Hood River Cherry Company crop will not be overset,” said Brad Fowler of Hood River Cherry Co. “In fact, it looks exactly like last year’s crop, which produced about 6 tons per acre of large, high-quality fruit.” While the goal for most growers is 10 tons of fruit per acre, Hood River Cherry typically harvests about half that. Fowler and his wife, Katy Klein, report that their low tonnage per acre means their fruit receives more nutrients, resulting in larger, better-tasting, sweeter cherries.

“Even though the

The Southeast Produce Council awarded 53 SEPC Member Scholarships ($53,000) in 2021 thanks to the dedication of its members.

Scholarships are awarded to applicants who meet the application criteria of having a parent or grandparent who is a corporate member in good standing with the SEPC and has personally attended at least one SEPC event within the last 12 months. Additionally, applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 semester hours. Applicants are then able to submit the necessary paperwork, including an essay, to be reviewed by members of the SEPC Scholarship

Upward Farms, a revolutionary aquaponics vertical farming company, announced the opening of its new headquarters.

Located in Brooklyn, NY, the innovative new facility utilizes the company’s next-generation technology in both commercial production and research and development. The operation, powered by breakthrough end-to-end automation, is USDA Certified Organic, making Upward Farms a Certified Organic vertical farm. It includes a fishery that is Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch “Best Choice” rated, and it sustainably farms mercury-free, antibiotic-free and hormone-free striped bass

A common shopping day finds a customer standing in front of an empty strawberry display with a bewildered expression. The customer asked a nearby produce employee, “Are you bringing out more strawberries?” In a humbled voice, the worker replied, “Sorry, we are all out.”

If you were that customer how would you feel after being drawn to that store by the main produce feature in the ad flyer? Probably the same as the shoppers feel — disappointed… angry.. conned? Customers find out-of-stocks annoying, especially on advertised features.

According to a Harvard Business Review study, there is a 4

BJ’s Wholesale Club, a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the eastern United States, is expanding its footprint by opening six new clubs this fiscal year.

The company brings a fresh approach to the wholesale club experience by offering members incredible value and convenience. Its newest clubs will be located in Seabrook, NH, Port Charlotte, FL, Commack, NY, South Fayette, PA, Ross Township, PA, and Lansing, MI. The locations in the greater Pittsburgh area and in Lansing, MI, are both new markets for the retailer.

“We’ve made great progress accelerating the pace of our new

GLOBALG.A.P. has successfully achieved recognition against GFSI’s Benchmarking Requirements Version 2020.1. The recognition encompasses the Harmonized Produce Safety Standard, which first completed the GFSI benchmarking process in 2016.

HPSS was designed by and for producers in the United States or selling into the U.S. market.  HPSS includes verbatim the Produce GAP Harmonization Initiative’s Harmonized Standards. Facilitated by the United Fresh Produce Association, the Initiative’s Technical Working Group has aligned its Harmonized Standards to the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. The HPSS control