The Southeast Produce Council's 2026 STEP-UPP Retail Class launched its annual summer tour last week, providing participants with hands-on experiences designed to bridge the gap between retail operations and field production.

STEP-UPP — the Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals — is SEPC's flagship initiative. The program is structured to cultivate the next generation of retail and foodservice leaders through classroom education, leadership development and immersive, in-the-field learning.

Despite spring freeze events that impacted growers throughout New Jersey and other East Coast growing regions, Variety Farms remains optimistic about the upcoming season and the long-term outlook for the blueberry category.

California and Arizona cantaloupe growers in the southern desert production region report that current short-supply conditions are significant but temporary.

Pure Flavor, known for driving innovation in the fresh produce space, announced June 16 that Uno Bites Nano Cucumbers was named a winner in Good Housekeeping’s 2026 Snack Awards. The full list of awards is available at goodhousekeeping.com/snacks2026.

Beekenkamp Group has entered into a long-term, multi-year agreement with Selecta One for the exclusive production of propagation material in Uganda for its Deliflor Chrysanthemums and Beekenkamp Plants Ornamentals. The agreement reflects both parties' shared ambition for a sustainable, long-lasting partnership built on stability, continuity and security. The agreement was signed at the Beekenkamp location during Flower Trials 2026.

For more than four decades, Edward L. Myrick Produce has built its business around providing customers with a dependable year-round supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, supported by a network that spans major growing regions across the country.

The family-owned company operates facilities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan, giving it the ability to source and distribute produce throughout the year while adapting to changing seasonal demands.