After a successful import season and an unusually early start in Mexico, GrapeCo Farms is ready for what could be one of the earliest California grape seasons the company has seen in years.

“The import season performed better than expected overall,” said Jared Lane, co-owner of GrapeCo Farms. “While there was some heavier supply in the middle of the season, the market remained active with solid movement and stable pricing overall.”

FirstFruits Farms is excited to begin the 2026 cherry season, and strong returns the past few years have positioned it well within its buyer network. The company is entering the season with a sharp focus on fruit quality, and with minimal overlap during the California season, Washington cherries are set to enter the market in an advantageous position. Chuck Zeutenhorst, president of FirstFruits Marketing, said the team is ready to hit the ground running. 

Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. announced the addition of Andrew Jhawar to its board of directors.

“We are excited to welcome Andy Jhawar to our board of directors,” said Joseph Fortunato, chairman of the board of Sprouts. “Andy’s unparalleled depth of experience in the consumer and retail industry will be invaluable to the company as we continue to execute on our long-term growth strategy.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on four 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 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:

As we move through the back half of May, the market remains active across several high-volume categories. Cooler coastal weather continues to limit strawberry harvest yields, while avocados and small lemons are facing tightening supply and rising costs. Row crop markets are mixed, with some items improving and others still under pressure from disease and reduced yields.

Stemilt is beginning the 2026 Northwest cherry season with forecasts of a slightly smaller crop than last year, which was a strong harvest that gave retailers solid volume options. Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers said that this season could shape up to have, “more demand than supply at several points, which makes it all the more important to align promotions when volume arises and make quick adjustments so that there aren’t opportunities, or dollars, left on the table.”