Nothing is better during the month of February than shoppers escaping cold, gloomy and dark wintry days. While temperatures are very chilly and snow is falling in many parts of the country, it’s an ideal time for shoppers to see a nice attractive berry display in the stores. It instills a feeling of spring in the air.

Members of the highbush blueberry industry are now seeking nominees to fill U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) state member and alternate positions for the 2026-28 term. The nomination period will begin on March 21, 2025.

Eight USHBC state member and alternate seats need to be filled for the term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Eligible producer nominees are those who produced 2,000 pounds or more of highbush blueberries in the United States during the period of Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2025.  

The days on the calendar approaching Valentine’s Day are being crossed off, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists will be ready to conduct inspections of flowers coming in through the ports of entry. Cut flower arrangements are a popular gift brought in from Mexico.

Blue Diamond Growers announced the creation of its latest innovation, The Nutty Cruiser set to officially launch on National Almond Day, Feb. 16. Blue Diamond’s almond vehicle will embark on the Bring Your Flavor National Tour, with the goal of distributing 1 million almond samples to consumers. This nationwide initiative was designed to showcase Blue Diamond’s bold and craveable flavors to provide the ultimate snacking experience for flavor fanatics all over the United States.

ALDI plans to open more than 225 new store locations in 2025 as part of the next phase of its five-year national growth strategy. This is the most stores ALDI will open in one year in its nearly 50-year U.S. history.

The new stores will open through a combination of organic growth and converting select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the ALDI format. In total, ALDI will convert approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to the ALDI format through 2027.

Todd Greiner Farms, a trusted name in Michigan agriculture, is expanding its sales and marketing programming to add much needed strength to the year-round asparagus category, while boosting Michigan asparagus and other locally grown products.