Bako Sweet is a large, sweet potato grower/shipper/packer/marketer out of California and is the only producer of sweet potatoes in southern California.  

“Our Bako Sweet brand is ranked No. 1 according to Nielsen’s most recent 52 weeks report ending Dec. 27, 2025, and is driving category growth,” said Susan Noritake, vice president of sales and marketing for the Bakersfield, CA-based company.

This year, the Tropical Plant International Expo attracted almost 7,500 nursery and landscape industry professionals from more than 40 countries, 46 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico to explore emerging trends, discover new products and build meaningful connections. Held at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, the show reaffirmed its status as the premier global event for the foliage, floral and tropical plant industry. 

With eight out of 10 healthcare dollars in the U.S. spent on preventable chronic diseases and as the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans emphasize fruits and vegetables as a foundational part of a healthful diet, the International Fresh Produce Association applauded the introduction of the bipartisan Produce Prescription for Veterans Act by Sen. Richard Durbin, D-IL, and Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-FL, and Chellie Pingree, D-ME.

The U.S. is on track to import 300 million pounds of avocados in the four weeks leading up to this Sunday's big game, according to Avocados From Mexico. That's the highest volume ever, 20 percent above average for the period and 20 million more than initially projected.

Cold weather remains the dominant theme across most growing regions as we move deeper into February. Florida and parts of Mexico continue to experience below-normal temperatures, while California’s coastal regions have stayed relatively dry. Driving through the Salinas Valley this week, you can start to see the next season taking shape. Fields are being prepped, beds are going in and early signs of the spring transition are beginning to show, even as winter conditions linger elsewhere.

After several turbulent years for the foodservice-driven sweet potato industry, Doreva Produce Co. Inc. is entering 2026 with renewed strength and a sharpened focus on retail growth, specialty varieties and next-generation automation.

For Benjaman J. Silva, the company’s longtime leader, the story of the past year has been about resilience meeting opportunity.