The North American date industry is gearing up for the 2023 season, with a focus on quality, sustainability and innovation. Key players in this sector are leading the charge with their commitment to these common themes.

Weather has been on everyone’s mind, with particular focus on the impact of Hurricane Hillary, and a second, surprise rain event which followed.

The Alexandra Farms has been awarded several ribbons in the 2023 Outstanding Varieties Competition. The contest was part of the 138th annual Society of American Florists' Convention in Phoenix, held earlier in September.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa port of entry’s cargo facility seized approximately $3.6 million worth of cocaine concealed in a shipment of cucumbers.

On Sept. 15, CBP officers encountered a 33-year-old male Mexican citizen driving a tractor trailer, with a shipment manifest for cucumbers. During initial inspection, a CBP officer referred the driver and tractor trailer for further examination.

No later than next month, the Caputo & Guest brand of exotic mushrooms will be featured in many retail produce departments for the first time, though neither the name nor the mushrooms are new to the industry.

One of the mainstays of the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx is A.J. Trucco, which first opened its doors 56 years ago.

The company’s retailers and partners are serviced by its sister company, Trucco Inc., out in Vineland, NJ, where there is a dedicated 75,000-square-foot state-of-the-art refrigeration and packaging facility. Trucco also offers 2,500 pallet positions, superior environmental, high-efficiency tech and brand-new advanced packing machinery, making the facility one of the most advanced on the East Coast.

Spring and summer produce usually takes the lion’s share of the accolades in the department and it’s not hard to understand why. However, as the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, the fall and winter months present a unique opportunity for produce managers to innovate and increase sales.