Red Sun Farms' Sweet North strawberries received both the Best Berry and Overall Best Strawberry awards in the 2026 Greenhouse Competition in Leamington, ON. This annual industry competition brings together some of the largest greenhouse growers in North America, celebrating top-performing produce across a variety of categories. Red Sun Farms also earned recognition for the Hottest Tomato in the Roma category.

In June, the California Avocado Commission celebrates the 14th year of its California Avocado Month program. While California avocado season generally runs from spring through summer, the start and end dates vary each year. June is predictably part of the heart of peak availability of the crop, so more than a decade ago CAC established it as California Avocado Month.

With more than a century of farming history in New Jersey, Russo Farms continues evolving its operation through expanded production, infrastructure investments and a strong focus on quality as the company heads into the heart of the 2026 season.

Russo Farms, based in Vineland, NJ, operates nearly 350 acres and handles more than 50 categories of vegetables, while also maintaining its own trucking fleet and direct grower relationships throughout the region. 

Frank Donio Inc. has expanded the Top Crop brand with Straight Up Berries, a 100 percent blueberry juice.

JOH has promoted Brian LaMarche to vice president of produce, north central region. Since joining JOH in early 2025, LaMarche has quickly made a meaningful impact, helping strengthen the company’s growing presence in produce across the North Central market.

The Kroger Co.'s Valerie Jabbar, senior vice president of retail divisions, retired in May after 38 years of service.

Jabbar began her career with Kroger's Fry's division in 1987 as a clerk and rose through a series of progressive leadership roles across multiple divisions, including district manager, vice president of merchandising, division president of Ralphs and group vice president of center store merchandising before assuming her current role in 2021.