The California Fresh Fruit Association officially began its new fiscal year on Monday, March 16, during the Annual Membership Breakfast held as part of its 90th Annual Meeting at the Estate Yountville in Napa Valley. The event featured the election of the board of directors and chairman, along with key industry and committee updates.

Needler’s Fresh Market celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Anderson, IN, expanding access to fresh, affordable groceries on the city’s west side. The store is the newest Needler’s Fresh Market serving Ohio and Indiana.

“Our goal is to be more than just a grocery store — we want to be a trusted neighborhood partner,” Store Director Kenny Smith said. “This grand opening represents an important step in serving Anderson residents with fresh food, everyday essentials and a welcoming place to shop close to home.”

World Water Day 2026 is coming up. UN-Water, the coordinating body of the United Nations’ water and sanitation efforts, sets an official theme and campaign each year. In 2026, the theme is “Water and Gender,” and the accompanying campaign is “Where water flows, equality grows.”

These messages accurately frame water and sanitation as a human rights issue that affects health, education, dignity and opportunity. For Continental Fresh, a grower, shipper and importer of fresh fruits and vegetables from Latin America, the message is deeply personal.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Alvarez Farms LLC, operating from Everett, WA, has satisfied a $39,004 reparation order resulting from unpaid produce transactions under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. The company is now free to operate in the produce industry. Ruben Alvarez was listed as the member/manager of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

Sunkist Growers is continuing to invest in operational strength and global growth with the addition of two new leadership roles: Joshua Carr, director of procurement, and Stephen Sheldon, director of global business development. Both roles report to Christian Harris, chief operating officer, and reflect Sunkist’s continued investment in top talent to strengthen its operations, expand global opportunities and deliver long-term value for its grower-members.

Prime Time Produce, Grimmway Farms, Cal-Organic Farms and Tasteful Selections have partnered to launch #NourishTheMoment, a spring campaign celebrating nutritious produce as the centerpiece of spring gatherings.

Rolling out across social media today, the collaborative campaign will feature seasonal recipes, influencer-driven content and entertaining inspiration designed to encourage consumers to bring vibrant, fresh produce to the center of their spring tables. A giveaway inviting followers to join the conversation and celebrate the season will be announced on March 23.