Star Roses and Plants presented its new 2026 plant varieties at Cultivate ’25, July 12-15 in Columbus, OH. The nine new varieties are as follows: Bellini Cherry Lagerstroemia : This Crape Myrtle offers a unique, small shrub form, perfect for tight garden spaces. Super compact and deer resistant with an abundance of beautiful red blooms. It’s a bright addition to any garden. Pink Pearl Rhaphiolepis : This drought-tolerant shrub produces an abundance of pink blooms that attract pollinators to the garden. Its disease resistance and versatile size make it an excellent choice for use as a hedge

Get ready to bloom out loud! 1-800-Flowers.com is collaborating with internationally celebrated artist Romero Britto to launch an exclusive collection that transforms floral gifting into a lasting art experience. The 1-800-Flowers.com X Britto collection marks Britto’s first floral collaboration and brings together fresh flowers and Britto's signature Happy Art aesthetic. The collection includes two farm fresh arrangements – BRITTO Heartburst Bouquet which features vibrant red roses in a ceramic vase adorned with Britto’s The New Day Design, and BRITTO Hello, Joy! Bouquet which arrives with

Wakefern Food Corp. held its Local Produce Supplier Summit July 9 in an effort to find local farmers to join its network of suppliers. As part of its long commitment to sourcing locally grown produce, Wakefern is expanding its network of local and regional farmers and producers. The latest supplier summit provided farmers and growers with a unique opportunity to showcase their produce and products, connect with Wakefern and ShopRite produce procurement teams and explore other potential retail partnerships with summit attendees. The one-day event included special presentations by Wakefern

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. has named Mark Gagnon vice president of sales – South region to accelerate growth across the Southern United States. Gagnon, who rejoined Fresh Del Monte effective June 2, will oversee commercial strategy and customer engagement across the region. He reports directly to Danny Dumas, senior vice president of sales, product management and marketing for North America. With more than 30 years of senior-level experience in sales strategy, business development and customer management, Gagnon has held leadership roles at Dole, Chiquita, Chobani, Kalera and Seald Sweet. He

A grocery store visit turned into a celebration last week when Superior Grocers Store Director Erick Velasquez was surprised in front of cheering shoppers and coworkers with a full-size jukebox and Idaho Potato swag. Velasquez was named the West Region Grand Prize Winner in the 2025 Idaho Potato Lovers Month Retail Display Contest, a national competition that recognizes stores for going above and beyond in showcasing Idaho potatoes during one of the busiest times of the year. “I had no idea this was coming,” said Velasquez, who has led the Pico Rivera, CA, store for over four years. “This isn

Barnwood Valley Farms, a potato grower based in the heart of the Pioneer Valley in scenic Hadley, MA, has tripled its planting acreage this year due to a heavy increase in customer demand for its premium Massachusetts-grown potatoes. This year the farm has increased plantings from 300 to just over 1,000 acres. Additionally, Barnwood now grows a full assortment of varietals, including White Chefs, Russets, Norwis frying potatoes, yellow, red and mini potatoes. “This is a big summer for us," said Colin Szawlowski, vice president of sales and operations. “Between our expanded acreage and new