Mark your calendar for April 13. That’s when the celebrated Vidalia sweet onions start shipping. These famous onions will soon fill produce departments across the U.S., ushering in a season that runs from April through early September. I personally can’t wait to enjoy these premium Vidalias in my sandwiches and salads.

During spring, Vidalia onions represent roughly 40 percent of all onions grown in the U.S. This year’s crop promises outstanding quality and impressive sizes. With controlled-atmosphere storage, the harvest lasts all the way to Labor Day.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the businesses’ principal operators from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

During his presidency, Dwight D. Eisenhower warned the American people about the dangers of what he termed the Military-Industrial Complex: the increasingly tight relationship between a segment of the government and a sector of the economy, each able to serve the other’s interests at the expense of the greater public interest.

Last month, members of the American Floral Endowment’s Board of Trustees and staff visited the University of California, Davis, to see firsthand how AFE-funded research is advancing innovation for the floriculture industry.

UC Davis, ranked among the top universities globally for agriculture and forestry, has long been a hub for cutting-edge agricultural research. During the visit, faculty and graduate students shared updates on their AFE-funded research and related collaborative efforts aimed at addressing key industry challenges.

Winn-Dixie and Amazon have expanded their grocery delivery collaboration on Amazon.com to additional communities across Florida — including the greater Tampa Bay area — giving even more customers access to high-quality groceries and household essentials through a shared commitment to providing choice, value and convenience.

The second annual Viva Fresh Pickleball Tournament is officially returning to San Antonio on Thursday, April 16. Hosted by the Texas International Produce Association and sponsored by SunFed and Perlag Imports, the Viva Fresh Pickleball Tournament is a signature social and networking event held in conjunction with the Viva Fresh Expo, focused on building industry relationships through healthy, active competition.