Michael Aucoin has taken the helm as the new CEO for Courchesne Larose Ltd., a leading player in the Canadian fruit and vegetable industry for over 100 years.

Grapeco Farms LLC, a new venture that was formed this year by industry vets Robert Cadena and Jared Lane, is working to offer a year-round supply of high-flavor tri-color varieties to retailers.

“We set out to have the best quality fruit for the correct customers,” said Jared Lane, CEO for the Delano, CA-based company.

Together, Lane and Cadena offer a combined 50 years of experience and a united philosophy of providing the highest quality grapes to customers while maximizing the return to the grower. 

The Ugly Co., a farmer-led producer of upcycled dried fruit snacks, opened a new fruit processing plant in Farmersville, CA. The facility represents a significant milestone in the company's mission of providing nutritious snacks sourced from funny-looking but perfectly edible fruit that would otherwise be thrown out.

Furthering its growth momentum and solidifying its mission, The Ugly Co. also unveiled new packaging that will better illustrate its brand story and clearly define its products.

BJ's Wholesale Club will open its newest club in La Vergne, TN, on Wednesday, June 14. The club, located 20 miles outside of downtown Nashville, marks the first BJ’s Wholesale Club in the state of Tennessee. The retailer will now have a total of 238 U.S. clubs, expanding the company’s footprint to its 19th state.

After a cool spring spent lounging in the breeze, the Northwest cherry crop has sprung to life with quality and volume.

“There is great potential relative to crop volume and fruit size,” said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherries, based in Yakima, WA. Northwest cherry growers round 1 estimate, projects 19 million 20 pound boxes for the 2023 crop size, a 50 percent increase over last year.

Potato retail sales increased 16 percent in sales but decreased in volume by 4.4 percent from January through March 2023 compared to the same time frame a year ago. Despite a decrease, volume sales remain above pre-pandemic levels.