While Sprouts Farmers Market was not launched officially until 2002, its roots date back to 1943 when Henry Boney opened a fruit stand in San Diego. Today’s modern iteration of that humble beginning includes 470-plus stores in half the United States with a stated growth rate of close to 10 percent annually, which would double that number over the next decade.  

We know the age-old sentiment: fruits and vegetables are key to good health. Yet despite this understanding, most consumers still fall short of the recommended intake. The release of the 2025–30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourages fruits and vegetables to be eaten throughout the day, shifting focus from one-off goals to everyday habits. This underscores why the message Every Time You Eat, Have A Plant remains both relevant and grounded in science.

The International Mango Organization has announced that the esteemed agricultural leader Sergio Cedeño Amador will be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming IMO Global Mango Conference in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Scheduled for March 18-20 at the Ponce Plaza Hotel and Casino, the summit will celebrate Cedeño’s five decades of pioneering leadership in the tropical fruit sector. 

The Super Bowl, which takes place on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, CA, is the single largest avocado consumption event of the year. In fact, the seven days leading up to the big game in 2025 ranked among the strongest avocado sales weeks on record, with retail volume reaching 34.5 million pounds.

Needless to say, Mission Produce, a year-round supply of the World’s Finest Avocados, is ready for this year’s matchup. 

As Muslim shoppers begin preparing for Ramadan, Natural Delights is encouraging retailers to begin merchandising dates the first week of February to meet rising demand ahead of the holiday, which begins Feb. 17 this year. With dates playing a central role in Ramadan traditions, early, prominent displays ensure shoppers can stock up before the start of daily fasting, while also capturing incremental sales tied to Super Bowl entertaining, when shoppers are building baskets for gatherings and game-day spreads.

A few months ago, we at The Produce News named Sprouts Farmers Market as our 2026 Retailer of Year. At long last, the wait to read about the Phoenix-based retailer is over. Our Retailer of the Year issue drops online today and will be in print Monday.

This is the seventh year The Produce News has taken a deep dive into a retailer that is doing an exemplary job selling and promoting produce. Previous winners range from regional chains (Harps, Gelsons, Roche Bros. and Food Lion) to national giants (Walmart and Costco).