CalFlowers, one of the leading associations dedicated to promoting flower enjoyment and supporting the floral industry nationwide, has appointed Julie Ortiz and John Louie to its board of directors. Both will serve three-year terms and bring extensive experience and a shared commitment to strengthening the floral community.

After weeks of talking transition, we’ve officially made it to Yuma. And while the weather seems to have followed us south, there’s finally a sense of relief in the lettuce patch. Early desert Romaine and leaf are coming in stronger and cleaner than the final Salinas lots. Yields are still light, and weights will take some time to normalize, but this product has legs.

Packaging is one of the most critical elements of the fresh produce supply chain. It plays a key role in protecting food quality and safety, extending shelf life and enabling efficient transportation. However, packaging comes with environmental impacts that growers, retailers, regulators and consumers are increasingly concerned about. Across North America, inconsistent policies, varied marketing claims and fragmented requirements have created a confusing and costly landscape for the fresh produce industry.

Titan Farms was named a member of The Ethical Charter Implementation Program 2026 Leadership Circle, alongside 36 other produce suppliers. The ECIP Leadership Circle recognizes companies that have earned all five stars in the online ECIP platform. Suppliers recognized on the Leadership Circle are credibly involved in ECIP LAB because they actively support their grower base, review workplace conditions and ensure continual development in their operations.

National Pear Month is right around the corner, and the opportunity for retailers to make category gains this pear season is here. With volumes bouncing back from last year’s down crop year, Stemilt Marketing Director Brianna Shales sees areas of growth in the early season and beyond.  

A first-of-its-kind analysis covering more than 200 billion grocery purchases and 70,000 U.S. households shows that the typical American grocery basket scores just 48.94 out of 100 on the FoodHealth Score, a new nutrition index developed by the FoodHealth Co.— 55 percent below an ideal score of 88, which indicates a basket aligned with positive long-term health outcomes.