For retailers, wholesalers and consumers, the wait is almost over — everyone’s favorite sweet onion is just about ready to take root. Vidalia Sweet Onion season typically kicks off in mid-April and runs through Labor Day.

Jason Brown, a man of faith, a former professional athlete and a community advocate, spoke to more than 300 men at the Good Seeds MENtor session on Friday afternoon, March 7. The session was part of the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure 2025, held March 6-8 in Orlando, FL. The mission of the Good Seeds MENtor Program is to plant seeds that will encourage industry leaders with faith-based principles in the workplace, at home and in their communities.

Not every shopper is an organic customer. Some shoppers have to be lured to the organic product and persuaded to want it. That takes skillful education, marketing, merchandising and managing of the category. The more knowledgeable shoppers are about the benefits, the more they will step aboard.

At Shuman Farms, the company is always looking ahead to how it can grow and evolve, and 2025 is shaping up to be a big year.

Brighter Bites is growing its network of strategic partnerships in the southwest Florida market. These collaborations with local produce and logistics partners, community foundations and generous donors are central to the nonprofit’s mission of fostering healthier communities and providing access to fresh, nutritious food and nutrition education to under-resourced families in Lee and Collier County.
 

The opening up of a new dam in northern Mexico has led to more irrigated mango orchards in that area, which has helped Nogales, AZ-based Ciruli Bros. extend the season for the yellow mangos it has been marketing for two decades under the Champagne moniker.