After decades of shaping retail partnerships, mentoring teammates and bringing a little theater to the produce aisle, Tim Harrington is retiring from Stemilt Growers, closing a chapter defined by energy, integrity and an unwavering belief in the power of relationships.

Ask anyone who has worked with Harrington what set him apart, and the answer comes quickly: people. Customers, growers, colleagues — all mattered, and all were treated with the same intentional care.

Detroit-based Riggio Distribution Co. is starting 2026 with confidence, momentum and a steady market that reflects both the region’s resilience and the company’s decades-long reputation for reliability. 

For Dominic Riggio, the company’s leader and part of a family legacy that has supported the Midwest produce trade for generations, the tone of the year has been decidedly optimistic.

Move aside, analytics and experts — this year, the big game is being foretold by the one man who truly understands the mystical power of guacamole: Avocados From Mexico’s Guac Guru. Played by actor and comedian Rob Riggle, he’s bringing some avo-fueled foresight to football’s biggest night, including three bold predictions about the in-game action. And if he gets them all right? Well, prepare to have your world guac-ed.

The 78th annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show will take place March 20–22 at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, CA. The celebrated event features an international lineup of growers and elaborate floral displays. This year’s theme, Orchid Escape, invites visitors to explore the vibrant beauty of orchids and their natural habitats, with lush, tropical-inspired displays and cascading blooms.

Peter Napolitano, who learned about fruits and vegetables working at a family produce store in New Jersey and gained fame talking about fresh produce to millions of television viewers for the past 35 years, died Jan. 26, 2026, a month shy of his 81st birthday.

Forrence Orchards, one of the premier apple growers in New York’s Champlain Valley, started growing apples in 1833. The fourth-generation company grows approximately 500,000 to 600,000 bushels annually. 

As growers and packers, the company deals in McIntosh, Cortland, Empire, Paul Red, Delicious, Gala, Ginger Gold and Honeycrisp apples.