The Southeast Produce Council’s STEP-UPP Foodservice Class embarked on its summer tour in June, taking participants into the field and on plant tours to gain hands-on experience in how to partner with growers more effectively.

Now in its ninth year of celebration, July marks the annual celebration of American Grown Flower and Foliage Month. This monthlong celebration of U.S. cut flower and foliage farms throughout the country marks the coming together to honor the beauty and significance of flower and foliage farmers.

Food Lion  launched its Summers Without Hunger initiative, aimed at addressing childhood food insecurity and increasing access to nutritious food during the summer. The annual campaign encourages customers to be catalysts for change and join the fight to tackle food insecurity by purchasing specially designed reusable bags for three dollars at any Food Lion store. Since the campaign began in 2019, customers have helped provide more than 57 million meals.

California’s citrus domestic season is coming to an end and the Bee Sweet Citrus sales team has shifted its focus to its summer citrus line.

Taylor Farms announced more than $600,000 is being awarded to recipients of this year’s annual scholarship program. With a new format, including the addition of an employee scholarship, the program is now divided into three categories: The Extraordinary Scholarship, the Innovative Scholarship and the Employee Scholarship.

Cherry season is well underway and the quality of fruit this year is exceptional, according to Dan Davis, director of business development for Washington Fruit Growers. Despite cool weather slowing down harvest, supply through the latter half of June and the first half of July is expected to support robust retail movement.