Homegrown Organic Farms is introducing a flavorful new addition to its specialty fruit lineup: fresh, California-grown figs. Cultivated on a 350-acre ranch in Madera, CA — an ideal microclimate for fig production — these figs are transitioning to organic certification, making them a natural fit for the Homegrown Farms label.

Fueled by growing demand from both national and local retailers, Altar Cross Farms, a family-run organic blueberry farm in eastern North Carolina, has expanded its production by 63 percent this year, now harvesting from 65 certified organic acres.

Tropical activity continues in the Eastern Pacific following hurricane Erick last week as another tropical system is expected to form off the coast of southern Mexico later this week.

“Environmental conditions are conducive for gradual development and a tropical depression is likely to form over the weekend,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Things are peachy for Sunny Valley International.

On June 23-24, the Horticultural Trades Association and Union Fleurs represented United Kingdom and European Union horticulture at joint meetings of their respective Domestic Advisory Groups and Civil Society Forums. These groups play a key role in advising on the impacts and opportunities of the U.K.-E.U. Trade and Cooperation Agreement across various sectors and will be crucial in shaping the upcoming Sanitary and Phytosanitary negotiations.

Jason Wilson, a recognized retail and finance executive in the grocery industry and longtime leader at Ahold Delhaize USA companies, has been named chief financial officer. In his new position, Wilson oversees financial strategy and operations, playing an instrumental role in supporting the omnichannel growth of the U.S. businesses, delivering the company’s Growing Together strategy and 2028 commitments and ensuring strong financial controls and governance.