Produce industry veteran Larry Brown, VP of sales at FreshEdge, died April 30 in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by his family. Brown dedicated most of his professional career to the fresh produce business. He was a mentor, leader and friend to many across the industry and an always present face when the industry came together. His […]
Category: Produce News
Posted inProduce News, Association News, News, Southwest
Viva Fresh 2026 Shares Roadmap To Future-Proof Produce Industry
The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) delivered high-impact education at its 2026 Viva Fresh Expo, equipping produce leaders with real-time market insights and a forward-looking strategy to compete in an evolving global landscape. Headlining the education program, economist Richard Kottmeyer of FutureBridge challenged attendees to look beyond consumer-related volatility and rethink how fresh produce can […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
IFPA Names Second Cohort For Packaging Innovation Program
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and The Foundation for Fresh Produce have announced the second cohort of the Packaging Innovation Program, which includes seven companies developing packaging technologies for U.S. specialty crop exports. Powered by a $5 million investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, the program is being implemented in partnership […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Executive News, Featured News, Food City, News, Southeast
Food City’s Greene Named TGCSA Retailer Of The Year
The board of directors of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association has selected Joe Greene, VP of produce and floral operations for K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. (operating as Food City), as its 2026 Retailer of the Year. Greene will be recognized at the association’s annual Convention & Expo June 2-4 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, News, Southwest
Viva Fresh Expo 2026 Sets Attendance Record
The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) shared that the 2026 Viva Fresh Expo on April 22 in San Antonio drew a record 2,872 attendees, including 380 retail and foodservice buyers, and featured 199 exhibitors, marking the largest turnout in the show’s history. Since its debut in Austin in 2015, Viva Fresh has grown into a […]
Posted inProduce News, News, West
Charlie’s Produce Breaks Ground On New Facility In Spokane, WA
Employee-owned distributor Charlie’s Produce has broken ground on a new 66,000-square-foot facility in Spokane, Washington, designed to strengthen warehouse efficiency, support growth and enhance service across its regional distribution network. The new building will include 56,000 square feet of warehouse space, with the remaining 10,000 square feet to be used for offices. Construction is projected […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News
NWPB Marketing Guide Aims To Sustain Record Watermelon Growth
With the watermelon category surpassing 3.5 billion pounds at retail in 2025, the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) has released a new marketing guide to help the industry sustain that momentum. The guide equips retailers, marketers and category managers with fact-based insights to drive year-round watermelon sales. The research highlights how whole and cut watermelon […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Southwest
GrubMarket Acquires Schoenmann Produce, Boosts Gulf Coast Presence
GrubMarket has acquired Schoenmann Produce, a Houston-based distributor that has served the Gulf Coast region for more than 100 years. The move integrates one of Texas’s oldest produce houses into GrubMarket’s artificial intelligence-powered supply chain platform. Schoenmann Produce serves the foodservice, retail, wholesale, healthcare and education sectors in Texas and Louisiana. Under the leadership of […]