Watermelon board unveils strategies for category growth
The watermelon category has added 7 million new purchasing households since 2021, with watermelon now in 75 percent of all U.S. households. These new buyers helped generate $782 million in incremental purchases, pushing total category purchases to $3.2 billion — a 33 percent increase over the period.
Fresh From Florida builds consumer trust through local branding
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is championing its Fresh From Florida retail program this fall, continuing its long-standing effort to connect consumers with the state’s agricultural bounty. The well-recognized blue and yellow label identifies food that is grown, raised, harvested or produced in Florida, and with that label comes the promise of fresher flavor, higher nutritional value and strong support for Florida’s farming community.
InBlume unveils the 2026 Poinsettia Collection
InBlume Indoor Blooming has debuted the 2026 Poinsettia Collection, a collaboration between leading breeders Beekenkamp, Graff, InBlume, Lazzeri, Rinehart Poinsettias and Suntory.
Target aims to drop food prices
Starting this month, Target is lowering prices on 3,000 food, beverage and essential items. The company said these price reductions are designed to make everyday shopping more affordable through the holiday season.
IFCO’s circular model delivers global impact
IFCO published its ESG Report 2025, marking the successful completion of its five-year sustainability strategy, Thriving in the Circular Economy.
EarthFresh launches Butter Potatoes nationwide, bringing premium taste to kitchens across America
America’s only Butter Potatoes are back with a major relaunch from EarthFresh, North America’s premier supplier of fresh produce. Now available from coast to coast, the full lineup, featuring Butter Golds, Butter Reds and Butter Russets, delivers premium flavor, bringing a new level of cooking versatility to kitchens across the country.
Akorn Technology focused on stemming post-harvest losses
Akorn Technology Inc., an innovator in sustainable post-harvest solutions, has been named as a finalist for the prestigious 2025 FoodTech Challenge — a United Arab Emirates-based competition that brings together pioneering food and agriculture startups — for proposals to help small growers combat significant post-harvest losses and cold chain problems.Currently in its final stages, the FoodTech Challenge focuses on identifying and scaling agri-food technologies capable of transforming arid, hot and increasingly challenging environments.
Unique Cold Storage adds custom bagging to service lineup
Unique Cold Storage announced it has expanded its menu of services to include custom bagging capabilities. The netted bagging equipment complements the company’s offerings of third-party services.“We have had requests from customers to add this service for avocados and limes,” said Wyatt Wickizer, vice president of operations for the company.
Colombia’s Arcadia Farms launches U.S. floral marketing effort
Arcadia Farms, a cut flower producer based in Bogota, Colombia, for almost two decades, has launched its own sales and marketing operation, with logistics being handled in Miami and sales headquartered in Texas.Texas-based fresh produce and floral industry veteran Rob Ybarra is co-owner of the reconfigured company along with grower Augusto Avila in Colombia and logistics expert Roly Martinez in Florida. All three partners share the title of co-owner with Avila being head of production, Martinez is chief operating officer and Ybarra is head of sales.