Stemilt said retailers ready to build up their pear categories better turn to the company's Rushing Rivers d’Anjou pears, which can turn heads and move volumes this upcoming spring. Stemilt’s marketing director, Brianna Shales, said retailers can effectively merchandise d’Anjou pears to boost category numbers and delight pear-loving consumers around the nation.

“Our d’Anjou pears are high-quality, full of flavor and a staple item for your upcoming advertising mix during for spring and early summer months,” said Shales. “The Northwest is wrapping up a very successful Bartlett pear season, and

Gelson’s Markets, a premier Southern California-based supermarket chain, announced that Pan Pacific International Holdings and TPG Capital have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which PPIH will acquire Gelson’s from TPG Capital. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

“We have long appreciated TPG’s understanding of the Gelson’s brand and its strong support over the past seven years, from financing newly built and acquired stores to investing in our Santa Fe Springs distribution center,” said Rob McDougall

USA Pears said it is excited to launch its #WhatsInYourFruitBowl initiative at a time when consumers are more focused than ever on developing healthy eating habits at home. Taking place during the month of March, this year is set to be the most wide-reaching initiative yet with powerful industry partnerships and engagement.

Sharing striking, colorful visuals on social media can encourage positive eating habits, with one study finding that people are more likely to eat additional portions of fruits and vegetables when they believe their social peers are doing the same. With the recent 2020-25

Beachside Produce, based in Guadalupe, CA, and Total Quality Logistics Transportation, based in Cincinnati, are partnering to donate and deliver 40,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to the Central Texas Food Bank in Austin, TX.

Both companies felt compelled to assist the hundreds of thousands of Texans devastated by a series of historically frigid winter storms that slammed through the state last week, according to an industry spokesperson. The fresh produce will be harvested and shipped from the Central California coastal community of Guadalupe to the Central Texas Food Bank by Friday, Feb. 26

After weeks of waiting, Tom Vilsack has officially been confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. During his confirmation hearing in early February, Secretary Vilsack noted his priorities included tackling the COVID-19 recovery and addressing climate change.

"Clearly, COVID is on the minds of everyone, as it should be, and the Department of Agriculture has responsibility to aggressively promote the nutrition assistance that you all have provided, and they have begun to do that in the last week, 10 days," Secretary Vilsack told the Senate Ag Committee. "We also have to review the

Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility discovered that a produce shipment from Mexico also contained $11.5 million worth of alleged methamphetamine hidden within the trailer.

“This is a substantial amount of hard narcotics seized from drug trafficking organizations attempting to smuggle drugs across our border,” said Carlos Rodriguez, port director, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas port of entry. “This significant interception will keep the drugs from reaching our communities.”

On Feb. 21, a tractor-trailer hauling