Did you know the watermelon was portrayed in Egyptian hieroglyphics? They actually originated in southern Africa well over 5,000 years ago before being cultivated in Egypt. Then they started their spread into China and Europe by trade route explorers. Water can comprise up to 90 percent of watermelons — and the heaviest watermelon on record was grown in Tennessee weighing in at 350 pounds in 2013. Watermelons are now a 52-week item in the produce department. When summer temperatures start to rise, there is a bigger demand for them by shoppers. So, now is the time to place those bins of melons

Kyle’s Pick cherries will return during Stemilt’s Washington cherry season and are backed by a new selective quality control process. Developed through a multi-stage research and development and quality control program, Kyle’s Pick represents the peak of cherry excellence, delivering fruit that meets ultra-premium standards for size, firmness, color and flavor. Each cherry pack is designed to captivate high-end shoppers and drive sales with a top-tier eating experience. Kyle’s Pick is named after fourth-generation cherry grower Kyle Mathison and honors the high standards he has for cherries

BrightFarms and its parent company Cox Farms recently celebrated the opening of its newest greenhouse in Macon, GA. The facility is among the most advanced in the state. The grand opening event featured interactive tours of the new Cox Farms Discovery Center, an expert-led panel discussion on the future of food and an inside look at how BrightFarms is redefining freshness, innovation and accessibility. "Georgia has been home to Cox since 1939, and we're proud to deepen our roots in the state through this significant investment," said Steve Bradley, president of Cox Farms. "This greenhouse is

Instacart is expanding its work with Partnership for a Healthier America to bring the Good Food at Home program, powered by Instacart Health Fresh Funds, to nearly 1,000 additional families across the country. Starting this month, Instacart expanded the Good Food at Home program with PHA and new local partners to Detroit; Sacramento, CA; and Washington, DC. These cities join the growing list of communities where the partnership is making produce more accessible — and helping families build healthy habits that last. This next iteration of the Good Food at Home program will extend from three

Classic Fruit has earned new Fair Trade USA Authorization for its offshore melon operations at Classic Guatemala. Aligning with its commitment to social responsibility, environmental stewardship and integrity, the company said it is excited to further enhance its mission of providing high-quality melons to consumers. “For many years, Classic Guatemala has utilized Rainforest Alliance and SMETA certifications to measure our social, environmental and sustainability efforts and objectives,” said Paul Raggio, president of Classic Fruit. “Fair Trade USA allows Classic Guatemala to operate more

The Ethical Charter Implementation Program has released its first annual industry report, showcasing significant strides in supplier and grower engagement across the fresh produce supply chain. Since the program’s launch by an industry advisory group and Equitable Food Initiative in November 2023, ECIP has enrolled more than 280 suppliers and nearly 1,100 farms on its platform, representing an unprecedented effort to build awareness, assess management systems and foster continuous improvement in alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. Through ECIP’s Learn, Assess and