Sunny Valley International, a shipper and full-service marketing company, specializes in imported and domestic fruit, with particular expertise in stone fruit from South Carolina and New Jersey and East Coast blueberries. The company’s prominent South Carolina peach program is a cornerstone of its operations, with peaches directly supplied to retailers serving customers throughout the East Coast and into the Midwest.

Todd Greiner Farms Packing LLC has hired Blake Hansen as national sales manager. He brings nearly two decades of retail and customer relationship experience to the team. A lifelong Oceana County, MI, resident, his impressive career includes 19 years with Frito-Lay as a route sales representative, where he cultivated strong client partnerships and developed customized sales strategies across more than 25 accounts weekly. His background also includes early hands-on experience in agriculture, having worked on Tubbs Orchards in his youth and developed a deep-rooted appreciation for farming and

Instacart CEO and Chair Fidji Simo is leaving the company in the coming months to become CEO of OpenAI Applications, reporting to founder and CEO Sam Altman. Instacart expects to announce which current senior executive will succeed Simo as CEO in the near future. Simo will work closely with the management team to ensure a smooth transition over the next few months. She will also remain chair of the Instacart board to support the company’s new CEO. The company said this announcement is not a reflection of any changes in its business or operations. "We’re off to a strong start in 2025 as we

The Foundation for Fresh Produce and the International Fresh Produce Association announced the newest cohort of companies selected to participate in the 2025 Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator, a flagship program designed to connect promising technology innovators with leaders from the fresh produce and floral industries. This groundbreaking initiative is presented in partnership with Clemson University, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is part of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s $10 million Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab

Longtime Driscoll’s board member Neil P. DeFeo has retired after 27 years of distinguished service. In his place, the company welcomed Berry Marttin, a globally respected agricultural finance leader, to its board of directors. DeFeo joined the Board in 1998 and served as a trusted strategic partner to leadership during a pivotal era of growth. His tenure aligned with Driscoll’s global expansion under J. Miles Reiter, who became chairman in 1988 and served as CEO 2000–15 and again 2018–24. Now executive chairman, Reiter has helped guide Driscoll’s transformation from a regional business to a

Few things are as emblematic of summer as a big juicy watermelon on a hot day. As the watermelon industry prepares for its high season, the National Watermelon Promotion Board is set to launch a bevy of promotions to make sure America’s favorite summer fruit is top of mind with consumers. National Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest returns This summer, retailers across the country have a juicy opportunity to win a share of over $10,000 in cash and prizes by entering the 2025 National Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest. The contest challenges retail chains, independents and