The International Fresh Produce Association recently hosted its annual School Foodservice Partner X-Change, a virtual "speed meeting" program designed to connect school menu planners with produce grower-shippers and solution providers.

Over two days, IFPA coordinated one-on-one virtual meetings between suppliers and K-12 school nutrition leaders. New this year, the program also included college and university foodservice leaders. The meetings created an opportunity for dialogue across sectors that rarely connect directly.

New analysis from Potatoes USA shows that consumers' online search behavior around potatoes is revealing opportunities for retailers in-store, from cross-merchandising to meal solutions and at-home snacking.

Potatoes are America’s most popular vegetable, with shoppers purchasing more than 15.3 billion pounds annually. By examining online search trends, Potatoes USA identified how shoppers are planning meals, entertaining and preparing snacks, and how retailers can meet that demand.

Starbucks-inspired dish

The Mushroom Council has unveiled the Mushroom Marketer’s Toolkit, a collection of resources designed to help grocery retailers boost mushroom sales and shopper engagement.

The toolkit, announced Feb. 24 from Lee’s Summit, MO, provides merchandising guidance, creative assets and in-store materials. The goal is to increase sales and repeat purchases, particularly among millennial and Gen Z shoppers.

BioWorks Inc., a biological products company for the horticulture industry, has named Chris Rose as interim general manager, effective immediately. The appointment marks a leadership transition aimed at accelerating sales and expansion.

Rose, a biologist, has been with the company since 2013. He has held leadership roles in operations, research and development, and marketing. He succeeds Bill Foster, who led the company for decades.

The International Fresh Produce Association has named Dr. Eric Stevens vice president of food safety and regulatory affairs, a role in which he will lead the group’s global efforts to shape policy in those areas.

Stevens, who starts March 18, will serve as a key liaison to U.S. regulatory and food safety agencies and strengthen engagement with global and regional standard-setting bodies. He will also support member needs through technical expertise and strategic collaboration with internal teams and external coalitions.

The Eastern Produce Council has selected 18 produce professionals for its 2026 Leadership Class.

The program provides industry and professional development opportunities throughout the year, including seminars, farm tours and networking events, Susan McAleavey Sarlund, the council's executive director, said in a statement.