Tom Hughes Sr., the founder of EarthFresh (formerly known as Mackay and Hughes) died Feb. 28. He was 89. Mr. Hughes' lifelong passion for the produce industry began in 1963 when he and his business partner, Dave MacKay, established a potato brokerage office at the Ontario Food Terminal. They distributed potatoes shipped primarily by rail from Prince Edward Island, laying the foundation for what would become a thriving business.

Del Fresco Pure added organic seedless English cucumbers to its line of organic produce.

Verdant Technologies and Indianapolis Fruit have partnered to elevate the broccoli experience with Verdant’s innovative HarvestHold Fresh technology. By working alongside premier growers Ippolito International and Dole Fresh Vegetables, this collaboration enhances shelf life and freshness, delivering a consistently high-quality product that benefits the entire supply chain — from grower to consumer.

Lifeway Foods will showcase two new product lines at Natural Products Expo West 2025: innovative probiotic salad dressings and a new line of conventional whole milk kefir flavors. These additions complement the brand’s existing organic whole milk kefir line, offering consumers expanded ways to incorporate probiotics into their daily routines through Lifeway’s products.

The innovation team at Dole Fresh Vegetables continues to shake-up the packaged salad kit segment with three bold new Dole Salad Kit varieties debuting at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure Show at booth No. 928, March 6-8, in Orlando, FL.

Shuman Farms is proud to be participating and exhibiting in this year’s Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure, showcasing its premium sweet onions and giving retail partners a sneak peek at its upcoming promotions and discussing how the company is committed to increasing produce consumption and overall department incremental sales.