As global blueberry markets expand and consumer preferences evolve, Oregon Blueberry is stepping into a leadership role with a genetics program deeply rooted in its legacy as a grower-led operation. With more than five decades of experience in commercial production, the company’s breeding strategy is as much about practical solutions as it is about next-generation science. “Our breeding program was established to serve the practical needs of growers that we have observed and experienced firsthand over the past 50 years,” said Jon Horton, a director of genetics. “Of course, the marketing

With summer in full swing, people love to travel, go camping, grill and watch our national pastime — baseball. Many of us have a national pastime in the produce industry. We’re up early, first on the market and first in the stores. Like ball players, produce people eat, sleep, walk and talk produce. Retail produce people are also very anxious for spring to arrive. Spring is the door to the summer produce sales season. Spring brings us strawberries and asparagus. Summer follows with stone fruit, berries, cherries, melons, grapes and sweet corn. With summer right around the corner, so is the

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for unlawfully terminating Pennsylvania’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program agreement — a $13 million commitment that directly supports 189 Pennsylvania farms and supplies 14 food banks with fresh, locally grown food. Despite repeated efforts to appeal the decision through the USDA’s internal process, the USDA ignored Pennsylvania’s requests to reinstate the agreement to support farmers across the commonwealth. On Wednesday, Gov. Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russel Redding visited the

Cambridge Farms has close ties to eastern potato growers from Elizabeth City, NC, leading into the DelMarVa Peninsula’s Eastern Shore crop, finishing the with Dover, DE, reds, yellows and whites.

Dublin Farms, Horntown, VA, is firmly rooted to its past, tracing its origin to a 300-acre family farm that has grown potatoes every season since 1886. Mark Hickman, operations manager, represents the fifth generation at Dublin Farms, which grows in a 20-mile radius in the northeast corner of Accomack County on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Hickman, his brother Matt and cousin Phillip run the farm. Mark’s father, David Hickman, still has an active role in the management of the farm and focuses on sales during the harvest season. While honoring its past, Dublin Farms is preparing for the future

At a time when two-thirds of Americans are very concerned about the cost of groceries, ALDI is dropping prices across its aisles. With summer under way, the grocer is slashing prices on nearly 25 percent of its selection across all 2,400-plus stores, from organic produce to fresh meat for grilling, pantry staples and summer favorites. “Our customers count on ALDI for the lowest prices of any national grocer, every day, and we never take that trust for granted,” said Jason Hart, CEO of ALDI. “While customers may see higher prices at other retailers, we’re working hard to unlock even more value