ST. PETE BEACH, FL – The National Watermelon Association featured a women’s leadership session Feb. 20 at its 111th annual convention, here, which offered advice on how women can best advance their careers.

Harvest Master may be a young company, but its foundation is built on decades of combined experience, deep family ties to farming, and a clear vision for how today’s produce business needs to operate.

Formed in July 2024, Harvest Master is a business partnership between Daniel Zaragoza and Esteban Alvarez, who saw an opportunity to create something different in an increasingly complex produce landscape.

Every retailer in every industry is looking to increase profits, perhaps none more so than the grocery channel where margins are razor thin. For grocers, there may be a big opportunity in the produce (and other perishables) aisle.

Westfalia Fruit announced the opening of its newest Fresh Distribution and Ripening Center in Winston-Salem, NC. The strategic expansion, developed in partnership with Foster USA, strengthens Westfalia Fruit’s presence along the Eastern Seaboard while enhancing access to ripe-and-ready avocado programs across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Today’s consumers are looking for ingredients that simplify meal planning while delivering bold flavor and everyday versatility — and mushrooms are uniquely positioned to deliver. Highline Mushrooms is advancing the category with solutions designed to meet the needs of today’s modern meal assemblers. 

At SEPC’s Southern Exposure, the company will highlight a range of product and merchandising solutions aimed at elevating the mushroom set and expanding its role across the store. 

When it comes to Vidalia sweet onions, few names in Georgia carry the history and reputation of J. Cowart Inc., better known as Cowart Farms. Based in Lyons, GA, in the heart of Vidalia country, the multi-generational operation has built its Sugar Sweet brand on consistency, quality and a willingness to evolve with the times.