Despite a tightening of the overall apple market, several key varieties are continuing to show strong sales gains, according to officials at CMI Orchards, and that could make it more complex for retailers to ensure they have the right mix of product to satisfy consumer demand.

Joel Hewitt, the vice president of sales for the fifth-generation, family-owned grower, packer and shipper based in Wenatchee, WA, noted that sales for the 2025 crop came in about 8.4 percent lower than original forecasts. Yet, he said that several key varieties showed strong gains.

Finding new products for its curious customers is one of the pillars that drive the various procurement teams at Sprouts Farmers Market. While this pursuit might seem more suited for the consumer packaged goods sections of the store, the retailer does have a group of produce buyers devoted to the task.

ARIA tomatoes are now available in stores bringing elevated flavor to the stage with an inviting glow and showstopping taste. Their radiant sheen and luminous, red finish compliment a refined sweetness within. Every crisp bite is bursting with refreshing flavor, offering pure sweet brilliance, nature perfected.

As consumers continue to focus on home cooking, demand is growing for produce that inspires creativity and transforms everyday meals using high quality ingredients.

While Sprouts Farmers Market was not launched officially until 2002, its roots date back to 1943 when Henry Boney opened a fruit stand in San Diego. Today’s modern iteration of that humble beginning includes 470-plus stores in half the United States with a stated growth rate of close to 10 percent annually, which would double that number over the next decade.  

We know the age-old sentiment: fruits and vegetables are key to good health. Yet despite this understanding, most consumers still fall short of the recommended intake. The release of the 2025–30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourages fruits and vegetables to be eaten throughout the day, shifting focus from one-off goals to everyday habits. This underscores why the message Every Time You Eat, Have A Plant remains both relevant and grounded in science.

The International Mango Organization has announced that the esteemed agricultural leader Sergio Cedeño Amador will be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming IMO Global Mango Conference in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Scheduled for March 18-20 at the Ponce Plaza Hotel and Casino, the summit will celebrate Cedeño’s five decades of pioneering leadership in the tropical fruit sector.