“Who doesn’t love sunflowers?” asked Alice Grazziani, director of floral at Gelson’s in Commerce, CA. “As a kid, I remember always drawing sunflowers with a big smiley face in the center. I personally associate a sunflower with a happy flower.”

Grazziani said that sunflowers can add texture to any floral arrangement and when sunflowers are mass-merchandised attractively they will welcome impulse sales throughout the day.

“Our sunflower displays and our sunflower sales speak volumes,” said Grazziani. “They are simply irresistible and, most of all, make people smile.”

It’s official — autumn is here, yet that is only a meteorological phenomenon. As the harvest moon wanes, and the leaves continue changing colors, millions enter into the addictive season of football. Watching the clash of gridiron titans is ubiquitous this time of year. From high schools to colleges to the NFL, competitive games are being played seemingly every day of the week to the delight of enthusiastic fans.

In just five years, Tasteful Selections, a specialty potato brand from Bakersfield, CA-based RPE, has grown so much that it is now expanding from its original location to a bigger facility.

RALEIGH, NC — North Carolina produce crops brought in $608 million last year for fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries. And sweet potatoes led the way, Kevin D. Hardison is quick to point out. Hardison is a marketing specialist with a 14-year career in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services in Raleigh that brings a working knowledge of the 60 kinds of produce grown in the Tarheel State.

For decades, Bland Farms LLC in Glennville, GA, has been known for its famous sweet onions and Vidalia has been the king of the crop. With demand for sweet potatoes ever increasing, the company believes consumers are ready for another sweet Vidalia treat that’s a perfect complement to Bland’s year-round onion program.

Autumn means brisk fall weather and the return of Sunkist citrus season. In Booth No. 2038 at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit expo in Anaheim, CA, Sunkist Growers will be encouraging trade customers to celebrate the season with the vibrant colors and tastes of citrus.