SunDate, a leading player in the date industry, is riding high on a wave of both growth and opportunity. The company’s sales and operations manager, DJ Ryan, said that near perfect growing conditions this season have helped pave the way for the company to meet the increasing demand for dates, both domestically and globally.

Baldor Specialty Foods is set to expand its restaurant and foodservice capabilities with the opening of a brand new facility in the Washington, DC, area. The new 100,000-square-foot Lanham, MD, warehouse is only 12 miles away from metropolitan Washington, DC, and in close proximity to major highways.

With a recent change in leadership, the Northland Potato Growers Association (NPGA)’s new executive director, Gary Shields, is dedicated to building a strong collaborative relationship with all grower members.

The Fresh Produce & Floral Council has hired Matthew Hayes to serve as its new program and events director, replacing the recently departed Emma McBride Taylor, who served as the event and communications specialist for the California-based trade association.

With harvest under way throughout the four growing regions, Pear Bureau Northwest announced the first estimate of the 2024-25 fresh pear crop for Washington and Oregon. The industry’s fresh pear estimate is 10.6 million standard box equivalents, which is down 31 percent from the five-year average.

In the coastal regions of Central and Southern California cooler weather and a little rain will hinder growth rates and add a little moisture to the region this week. The cool temperatures will be short lived, however, as high pressure returns over the weekend bringing above-average temperatures once again next week.