Alexis Taylor will become the International Fresh Produce Association’s chief global policy officer, effective Feb. 18. Taylor, who has most recently served as the under secretary of trade and foreign agricultural affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will join the organization after nearly two decades of public service in trade and agriculture policy.

Gabriela D’Arrigo is confident D’Arrigo NY, can play a role helping retailers and shippers navigate the robust, but complicated, apple market.

As vice president of marketing and communications for the Hunt’s Point-based wholesaler, D’Arrigo is adamant they have the tools and experience to help everyone involved in the apple industry sell more product and generate as much profit as possible.

Divine Flavor has added Jeremy Giovannetti to the company’s sales team; he will be overseeing category management for the firm’s melon program.

As the melon category manager, his role will be to strengthen the company’s well-established programs out of Sonora, Mexico, in the fall and spring time frame — with an aim to focus on fostering responsible growth, with an emphasis on quality, consistency and exceptional customer service.

Apples have long been the royalty of autumn’s harvest, but in the past decade, winter apples have surged in popularity, leading to significant growth for apple growers. While traditional varieties remain essential, the increasing demand can be largely credited to the introduction of numerous new varieties that are reshaping the market.

For example, Next Big Thing, a cooperative of dedicated growers at premier orchards from Nova Scotia to Washington, introduced the SweeTango, in 2019 — a premium apple variety that combines the Honeycrisp and Zestar! Varieties.

Florida strawberries are notably first in season in the U.S., available to shoppers from December through March. During winter months, Florida’s climate includes warm days and cool nights. This type of weather helps ensure that strawberries grown in Florida are a vibrant red, flavorful and juicy.

What lies ahead for 2025, and beyond?