Climate change and how the produce industry is and should react to it were the central themes covered by the International Fresh Produce Association’s virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 2.

Rachel Blake, IFPA’s manager of global insights, took a step-by-step approach through climate change evidence, consumer attitudes on the subject, and some of the mitigating actions produce companies are doing and could be doing during the 35-minute session.

In January, Mother Earth Mushrooms introduced a new exotic retail blend of mushroom varieties and in July it began exploring the concept of producing organic dried mushrooms and powders for the organic community.

With a relatively new management team now firmly in place, Canada-based Highline Mushrooms is intent on being the No. 1 mushroom brand in the region with regard to growing practices, products and packaging.

“We want to be known for our innovation and quality and our sustainability efforts and be the top brand in North America,” said Jose Cambon, who was appointed as the new chief executive officer late last year after having been in the fresh mushroom business in Australia for a dozen years. “Our ownership structure is very supportive of these goals.”

With a total U.S. import volume just shy of 2.5 billion pounds for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023, Avocados From Mexico eclipsed its previous high-water mark by more than 2 percent.

“This is very exciting for us as we broke our historical record,” AFM President Alvaro Luque announced to The Produce News. “And we believe we will break the record again this year (fiscal 2024, running from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.)”

With a distinctive business approach that involves taking proactive measures to stay ahead of evolving trends and market demands by continuously adapting its practices and product range, Giorgio Fresh Co. of Temple, PA, believes it stands out in the realm of fresh mushrooms.

It was eight years ago that recruiters Stacey Rouse and Vanessa Garcia launched their executive search firm, Performant Scout, to connect premier talent to mid- to executive-level positions in produce, agribusiness, and food and beverage throughout North America.