Markon celebrates milestone anniversaries in 2025
Markon Cooperative marked a milestone year in 2025, celebrating the 40th anniversary of its founding, the 20th anniversary of the Markon Summit and the 10th anniversary of its Chef Summit, underscoring the company’s long-standing commitment to quality, education and industry collaboration.
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance applauds bipartisan Specialty Crops Caucus, urges immediate action on farm aid
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance applauded the bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus for calling for immediate and equitable economic relief for specialty crop producers and urged Congress and the administration to act without delay.More than 100 members of Congress sent a letter to the House and Senate agriculture committees addressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. The effort was led by caucus co-chairs Reps. Jim Costa, D-Calif.; David Rouzer, R-N.C.; Sanford Bishop, D-Ga.; and David Valadao, R-Calif.
Honesty and reliability guide Peter Condakes Co.
Peter Condakes Co. is a longstanding presence at the New England Produce Center, providing a full range of fresh fruits and vegetables to major supermarket chains, regional wholesalers, foodservice operators and neighborhood independent stores.
Market Minute: Strawberries ramping up for great ad promotions
The new strawberry crop is starting to increase in production. Currently, California, Florida and Mexico are showing a light demand with a steady market. Retailers are being a bit discreet as they anticipate the market declining.
SpartanNash Foundation, shoppers donate record $780,000 to local food pantries
Shoppers and the SpartanNash Foundation donated a record $780,000 this holiday season to support more than 100 local food pantries across the Midwest, providing the equivalent of an estimated 285,000 meals.SpartanNash, a food solutions company and member of the C&S Wholesale Grocers family of companies, said $690,000 was raised during the SpartanNash Foundation’s fifth in-store fundraiser of 2025. Store guests and associates contributed funds to help fight food insecurity throughout the company’s retail footprint.
Oppy launches DOLE-branded Florida strawberry program
Oppy has launched a Florida strawberry program under the DOLE brand, marking its first project since integrating with Dole Diversified North America in October.
Tierra Suelta enters peak dragon fruit season with promotable volumes
Tropical fruit grower and importer Tierra Suelta reports ample supplies of premium dragon fruit are now available for retail promotions.
Continuity of supply drives Divine Flavor
As Nogales, AZ-based Divine Flavor Inc. kicks off its 2025-26 winter vegetable season from Mexico, its main goal is to have a seamless transition from its fall production on the front end and to its spring supply on the back end. In fact, that is the same philosophy that cuts across all of its fruit and vegetable production.
Mission Produce announces leadership succession
Mission Produce Inc., a global leader in sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, announced a planned leadership transition. Co-founder and CEO Steve Barnard will assume the role of executive chairman of the board, and President and Chief Operating Officer John Pawlowski will become CEO, effective at the close of the company’s annual meeting of shareholders in April 2026.The transition reflects Mission’s long-term succession planning and the depth of its leadership team across retail, wholesale and foodservice channels for avocados and mangos.
Duncan Family Farms Founder Arnott Duncan named Grower of the Year
Duncan Family Farms announced that its founder, Arnott Duncan, has been named the 2025 Grower of the Year by the Organic Growers Summit.The honor was presented last week at the organization’s annual event in Monterey, CA, where Duncan was selected from four finalists and announced as the winner during the summit.