When it comes to supermarkets, biggest isn't always best. In Consumer Reports' latest survey, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, Publix, Costco and Sprouts earned the highest scores overall among 55 of the nation's major grocery stores; Walmart, the largest grocer in the United States, landed at the bottom of the ratings, based on a survey of 27,208 subscribers.

RIO RICO, AZ — As the Nogales vegetable deal winds down for the season, shippers who handle watermelons from south of the border are gearing up for good volume to meet Easter promotions.

Mike Smith, president of Sigma Sales Inc., based here, said the Mexican watermelon deal is "very early" for all shippers.

Beachside Produce LLC, a grower-shipper located in Guadalupe, CA, is gearing up for its much-anticipated Lyon artichoke season. The Lyon artichokes are grown primarily in California’s Lompoc and Santa Maria valleys, where there is a cool microclimate to grow the European-style Lyon artichoke, which has a French heritage.

Life is one sweet ride for Nick Pollack, a 28-year-old self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades at Coosemans Los Angeles Inc.

“I do whatever needs to be done,” he told The Produce News. “I’ll jump in.”

Excitement is building at Curry & Co. as the onset of the 2014 Vidalia onion season draws near. “We feel there will be strong demand for Vidalia onions and other sweet onions all season long,” President Matt Curry told The Produce News. “We have already had a lot of discussions on Vidalia onions with our retail partners, and we are hoping and expecting a strong pull for the entire season.”

Curry & Co. is headquartered in Brooks, OR, and is a year-round marketer of sweet onions. Product is sourced both domestically and abroad.

An industry leader in the area of urban agriculture, Lufa Farms opened its second rooftop greenhouse last fall in Montreal.

The greenhouse uses state-of-the-art agriculture technology and design, allowing Lufa to continue to make its model more sustainable, efficient and economically viable. The company currently has 3,000 Montreal subscribers and has plans to expand both in Montreal and other cities.