From smoothie bowls to seafood tacos, mangos are gaining visibility across menus — and their culinary potential is just beginning to be tapped.

Avocados originated in Mexico, Guatemala, and the West Indies around 10,000 years ago. They were first cultivated over 7,000 years ago in central Mexico. The flavorful guacamole dip and spread was created by the Aztecs and originated in Mexico. It was known as avocado sauce. The avocado was also called alligator pear.

Retailers offered fewer sales this past week as they took a break before the upcoming Fourth of July promotion period. Peaches, nectarines, cherries and grapes had some of the sweetest deals for shoppers looking for freshness on a budget, and watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydews and specialty melons were plentiful.

The bounty of new crop offerings didn't stop with fruit, as sweet corn, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, asparagus and cucumbers were available from local and regional farms across the country. Many flyers featured Fourth of July party supplies and fireworks.

The Southeast Produce Council launched its 2025 Next Generation Leadership Academy with an inspiring and immersive retreat at the historic Stone Mountain, GA. This retreat marked the official beginning of the academy’s learning year, gathering a dynamic group of rising stars from across the fresh produce industry.

Avocados are among the most popular commodities in the produce department, yet for all their popularity the category has remained essentially flat for the last five years despite tens of millions of dollars invested in promoting the fruit.

Why? For many, the feeling is that category growth is largely dependent on the diversification of supply to meet rising demand.

Wada Farms is looking forward to participating in this year’s Organic Produce Summit and is excited to showcase its expanded organic program, which is a key growth area for