With his thumb held high, Kyle Mathison and the rest of the Stemilt founding family celebrated the beginnings of a new apple crop in the Washington State Apple Blossom Parade.

On Saturday May 6, the Mathison family participated in the annual Stemilt Grand Parade riding in a 1926 Ford Model-T and the Stemilt Volkswagen Ladybug. Leading the family in this beloved spring event was matriarch Lorraine Mathison in the ladybug. She celebrated her 95th birthday last year.

California Giant Berry Farms announced nine semi-finalists of its fifth annual 2023 Chef Invitational. The chef semi-finalists and their recipes are:  

Mission Produce Inc., a world leader in sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados with additional offerings in mangos and blueberries, appointed Diana McClean as director of marketing and communications. McClean is responsible for leading Mission’s marketing strategy to strengthen customer engagement, drive business development and further market innovation as a leader in the avocado category.
 

Safety is of main concern for those working on the farms in New Jersey, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is committed to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and safely.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and the Department of Community Affairs oversee safety in farm labor housing. This includes inspections of housing facilities, worker conditions and potable water wells.

“The NJDA works with those agencies to communicate their messages with the industry,” said Joe Atchison III, assistant secretary and director of marketing for the NJDA.

Green bean prices are nearing a 10-year high as availability on both coasts is tight, according to ProduceIQ.

“In the West, supply is forecasted to tighten for the next two weeks,” said Mark Campbell, founder and CEO of ProduceIQ. “In the East, Florida’s acreage has been low, and the season is winding down production earlier than anticipated due to intense wet weather throughout the Southeast. Georgia is a couple of weeks out from filling the remaining Eastern supply gap.”

The Southeast Produce Council has waved the green flag to announce a powerful lineup of speakers for upcoming Southern Innovations, Sept. 14-16. Held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC, this year’s conference will continue to build upon SEPC’s “What’s New?” platform, as SEPC members race to discover the latest innovations within the fresh produce industry.