SnapDragon apples are entering their second season as the official apple of the Buffalo Bills. The first year of this partnership was successful, with sales of SnapDragon apples up 60 percent in the Buffalo market.

The partnership has helped spread brand awareness of the apples as well as get SnapDragon apples in the hands of fans at tailgate activations and throughout the stadium on game day. SnapDragon has also partnered with a number of Buffalo Bills players and participated in community events to help give back.

There are plenty of Rave apples to go around this apple season — and outrageously juicy flavors yet to be shared with consumers. Stemilt Marketing Director Brianna Shales encourages retailers to get behind Rave with the four Ps of marketing and position it as the start of school snacking apple with branded packaging and prominent placement.

Navigating hurricane season can be tricky for growers as Mother Nature continues to have her way with the nation's crops. Hurricane Hilary was “devastating and heartbreaking,” according to Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission, which expects California to produce fewer than 75 million 19-pound boxes for the first time since 1994.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has imposed sanctions on US Fresh Corp. in Bronx, NY, for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. These sanctions include barring the business and the principal operators of the business from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.

Sterman Masser Potato Farms will showcase its premium, newly redesigned Side Delights Petite Potatoes line at both the show and in the New Product Showcase at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Innovations trade show. This year’s event is an opportunity to highlight innovative products that resonate with the post-COVID, return to normal shopping behaviors we see at retail today.

Sierra Produce, an importer, marketer and shipper of fresh fruit from around the world, will market its upcoming imported grape crop under a new label, SunLink.