The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) shared that its 2026 Viva Fresh Expo, held April 22, broke its attendance record with a total of 2,872 attendees, including 380 retail and foodservice buyers, and featured 199 exhibitors, marking the largest turnout in the show’s history. Since its inaugural event in Austin in 2015, Viva Fresh has […]
Category: Produce News
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Sun World International, Mission Produce Partner To Advance Mango Category
Sun World International and Mission Produce have announced a collaboration to identify and commercialize innovative mango varieties, addressing historical inconsistencies in quality and variety differentiation within the global market. The collaboration pairs Bakersfield, California-based Sun World’s fruit genetics and licensing experience with Mission Produce’s global supply chain and ripening infrastructure. The companies will focus on […]
EmpowerFresh Deploys AI Produce Ordering Platform At Kowalski’s Markets
EmpowerFresh has deployed its artificial intelligence-powered produce inventory and ordering platform at Kowalski’s Markets, a family-owned grocery chain in Minnesota known for its produce departments and commitment to quality. Founded in 1983 by Jim and Mary Anne Kowalski, Kowalski’s Markets has built a reputation as one of the Midwest’s most respected upscale grocery retailers. With […]
IFPA Members Bring Fresh Produce, Florals To White House Easter Egg Roll
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and its member companies participated in the 148th White House Easter Egg Roll, bringing fresh produce and floral displays to one of the nation’s most recognized traditions. Held on the South Lawn and dating back to 1878, the public event is the largest hosted each year at the White […]
CBP Building Centralized Refund System for IEEPA Tariff Duties
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is developing a centralized system to refund duties collected under tariffs imposed through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which the Supreme Court struck down in February. The agency expects the refund mechanism to be operational later this spring. The refund process is being built within CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment, […]
