A creative Idaho potato display and a passion for innovative produce merchandising earned Garrett Fowden, produce manager at Kamas Food Town in Kamas, UT, the Western Region Grand Prize in the Idaho Potato Commission’s 2026 Idaho Potato Lovers Month Retail Display Contest.

Fowden’s display met all contest requirements, earning him a place in the grand prize drawing, where his entry was randomly selected from thousands of qualifying displays submitted by retailers across North America.

Melons remain in focus as the industry works through a rough handoff from the desert to the San Joaquin Valley. The Arizona-California desert season has wrapped up after insect pressure, worsened by a warm winter, reduced yields and forced an early finish. San Joaquin Valley production is under way, but the crop is not building fast enough yet to fully cover demand. Cooler weather this week may slow growth and stretch the supply gap a little longer, keeping markets elevated until new fields gain momentum.

Field Fresh Farms has expanded its lineup to include chopped Romaine, as well as one- and two-pound clamshells of conventional and organic Spinach, Spring Mix, Arugula and Kale.

With its chopped Romaine, the vertically integrated grower-shipper offers the triple-washed, ready-to-serve pre-cut lettuce directly to the foodservice market. Already a favorite ingredient in salads, wraps, bowls and more, chopped Romaine provides a significant cost-savings to busy customers who need a flavorful no-waste ingredient that won’t slow them down with a lot of prep time.

As companies finalize their late-summer marketing and retail event calendars, the Fresh Produce and Floral Council is urging produce and floral suppliers to reserve sponsor and exhibitor space now for its 2026 Produce and Floral Holiday Showcase before remaining opportunities are filled. The event takes place Aug. 26–27 at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Sustainabloom, a supplier of sustainable floral packaging, is putting an industry spotlight on The Giant Co. for the grocer's efforts to reduce plastic waste. By rethinking its floral plastic sleeves, The Giant Co. reduced six tons of plastic annually — a seemingly small change with outsized results.

Vick Family Farms has a compelling message to buyers and menu developers at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference: sweetpotatoes are a top trending menu item.

Charlotte Vick, partner/sales and marketing manager at Vick Family Farms, based in Wilson, NC, said influencers promoting healthy lifestyles have helped the category grow.