Stemilt recently welcomed a crew from CBS Sunday Morning for a behind-the-scenes look at a method one might not expect to be used for protecting cherry trees from rain during the summer. The segment featured Kyle Mathison, Stemilt owner and fourth-generation cherry grower, who explained how cherries can become waterlogged and prone to splitting if rain falls during the fruit’s maturation. CBS also spoke with Ryan McDonald, owner of North Wind Aviation, who is on standby for Stemilt, to hear how the process is done. The effort to protect cherry quality involves flying a helicopter low over

Green waste is an inevitable byproduct of floral design. Stem trimmings, petals and blooms that don’t make it into arrangements accumulate daily as shop owners craft beautiful designs for their customers. Fortunately, composting offers a practical, environmentally responsible way to manage this organic waste and reduce harmful emissions. For many mid-sized floral shops, however, implementing a composting program can be challenging. Concerns about space, costs, time and odor often deter business owners from getting started. To address these hurdles, Sustainabloom’s Industry Guide on Composting

Naturipe Farms announced a banner year for domestically grown blueberries, driven by exceptional volume, premium quality and record-setting demand — especially for its proprietary varieties Envoy and Keepsake. These mature, flavor-forward varieties are now being harvested at scale, marking the first year of substantial domestic volume and offering retailers and consumers some of the best blueberries to ever hit the market. “Thanks to years of investment in breeding, we’re seeing a bumper crop of our jumbo blueberries, Mighty Blues and premium Sweet Selections — and they’re selling out fast,”

Sparky’s Transportation Corp., a Clarks Summit, PA-based transportation provider for fresh produce, has named Anika Sehne as its chief financial officer. Sehne, who began her new role in May, first joined the company three years ago as an intern. She also served as assistant to the CFO of Race-West and Philip G. Ball, sister companies of Sparky’s. A graduate of the University of Scranton who was the recipient of the university’s 2025 Excellence in International Business Award, Sehne earned her bachelor’s degree while working, gaining real-world and classroom knowledge together. She is

Fresh Solutions Network kicked off National Picnic Month in July, showcasing its portion-friendly potato packaging for on-the-go lifestyles during the summer or outdoor entertaining at any time of the year. According to the Smithsonian, “picnics are back”, especially among Gen Z. The conclusion is based on searches for picnics, which are up 385 percent since last year on Pinterest and are trending on TikTok and Instagram for dating ideas.

The National Mango Board is partnering with Instacart to give away free mangos to customers nationwide on July 22 in celebration of National Mango Day. The one-day promotion will highlight the peak of mango season and aims to drive trial and awareness by making it easier than ever for consumers to enjoy the tropical superfruit at home. Through the partnership, select fresh mangos will be available free of charge on Instacart for one day only. The campaign celebrates summer flavor and aligns with NMB's mission to get more mangos into more hands, especially during the height of the summer season