Color Orchids Inc., an indoor plant company that specializes in orchids, has acquired Floricultura Pacific Inc., a Salinas-based grower focused on pre-finished orchids for the North American market. Floricultura Pacific was previously owned by Floricultura Netherlands, one of the largest and oldest Dutch orchid breeders in the world, with operations in China, India, the Netherlands, Poland and Brazil.

Babé Farms grows, packs and ships a colorful assortment of baby and specialty vegetables in California’s Santa Maria Valley and things are looking strong at the company in 2025.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has filed an administrative complaint against JJD Produce LLC, Produce and More Enterprise LLC and Lucero Produce LLC for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. 

JJD Produce, operating from California, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to nine produce sellers in the amount of $458,339 from December 2021 through November 2022.

For retailers, wholesalers and consumers, the wait is almost over — everyone’s favorite sweet onion is just about ready to take root. Vidalia Sweet Onion season typically kicks off in mid-April and runs through Labor Day.

Jason Brown, a man of faith, a former professional athlete and a community advocate, spoke to more than 300 men at the Good Seeds MENtor session on Friday afternoon, March 7. The session was part of the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure 2025, held March 6-8 in Orlando, FL. The mission of the Good Seeds MENtor Program is to plant seeds that will encourage industry leaders with faith-based principles in the workplace, at home and in their communities.

Not every shopper is an organic customer. Some shoppers have to be lured to the organic product and persuaded to want it. That takes skillful education, marketing, merchandising and managing of the category. The more knowledgeable shoppers are about the benefits, the more they will step aboard.