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Rainstorms disrupt planting and harvesting in Southern California and Arizona

A series of storms during the last week of December and the first week of January dumped abnormally high amounts of rainfall across Southern California and into Arizona, disrupting planting and harvesting operations in several strawberry- and vegetable-growing districts. The widespread storm systems drenched most of California and brought much-needed snow-pack to the Sierra Mountains, which will help fill reservoirs used for irrigation. But in Southern California, where the winter-spring strawberry season was just getting underway in Oxnard and Orange County, the rain caused harvest delays and

Northern Plains Potato Growers Assn. to boost recognition; new marketing plan in the works

The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, under the marketing direction of Ted Kreis, who started in August 2004 as marketing director, is looking to form a stronger brand identity. To attract consumers, the association has created two new store-level promotions to catch the consumer?s eye before the potato-buying decision has been made. The first of these two promotions is a shopping cart ad placed on the cart displaying the healthy potato message and specific Red River Valley branding. ?This idea will be tested in a local chain here to see the response,? said association President

Seald Sweet International: Name change highlights new global strategy

?We are turning the page in preparation for the future," stated David Mixon, senior vice president of Seald Sweet International LLC. "The addition of the word "International? to our name is to project to the trade and to the public what is now factual: we are a fully integrated and global organization." Seald Sweet?s name change was announced in late December. Although the company was recognized as an international rather than a regional company in past years, recent major changes within the firm have given it a steadfast foothold in its global strategies. In early December, the firm announced

"UglyRipe" tomato petition denied

The Florida Tomato Committee once again denied a petition that would have allowed interstate shipments of heirloom tomatoes that failed to meet the minimum quality standards established for Florida tomatoes. Santa Sweet Inc., headquartered in Philadelphia and a subsidiary of the well known Philadelphia wholesaler and tomato distributor Procacci Bros. Sales Corp., had filed a petition for a "certificate of privilege" from the FTC on Nov. 10. Santa Sweet developed and is the sole grower and shipper of its proprietary "UglyRipe tomatoes. In the petition, it asked the committee to basically

Growers Express reorganizes sales department

SALINAS, CA " To better facilitate fulfilling customers? needs, Growers Express has reorganized its sales organization into two departments: Sales & Marketing and Product Management. Reporting to Vice President of Sales & Marketing Woody Johnson will be Gary Andreasian, Merritt Bruce and Michele McNeece in the newly created positions of account managers, where they will work with current customers and identify and target potential customers. Mr. Bruce and Ms. McNeece will concentrate on domestic accounts, while Mr. Andreasian will focus on Asia-international customers. Debbie Schweiger will

Getting out the crystal ball: A glimpse into the future of floral

It's that time of the year when the fortune tellers of floriculture are asked to give their predictions for our industry's future. Surely, many of them must be scratching their heads about what to write about. Of course, accuracy is not normally a problem. Does anyone else save articles predicting what we will be like in five years? In fairness, with the dynamic and rapid economic changes happening, it's difficult to predict what floriculture will be like in one year, let alone five or 10 years. But suddenly my crystal ball has become quite clear and I can see the future with complete
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Stemilt’s 2025 apple harvest laid the foundation for a strong year for Cosmic Crisp apples, with vibrant color, ideal sizing and excellent quality. As the industry anticipates continued volume growth, Stemilt Marketing Director Brianna Shales said Cosmic Crisp is well positioned for promotions as it becomes a mainline apple variety.

“This year’s crop is absolutely stunning,” Shales said. “From color to firmness, every apple reflects the care and dedication our growers put into making Cosmic Crisp a premium choice for shoppers nationwide. It’s one of those apples that tastes great straight off the tree or enjoyed many months later. It stores incredibly well throughout the season and consistently delivers an out-of-this-world crunch. It’s no surprise that its swift rise in popularity has positioned Cosmic Crisp to be a regular part of the apple category.”

Cosmic Crisp continues to grow as a key player in the U.S. apple category. It is now recognized as the No. 1 club apple in the nation and the No. 7 variety overall. According to the latest report from the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, Washington produced about 13 million boxes of Cosmic Crisp this season, boosting availability on shelves year-round. Last year, Cosmic Crisp reached a peak store count of 21,157, an increase of 2,402 locations from the year prior.

Shales said conventional Cosmic Crisp apples offer a broad range of sizes, while organic fruit tends to be larger but less abundant. A recent Stemilt analysis of Nielsen scan data shows that 67.6 percent of Cosmic Crisp sales come from bulk apples, with 32.4 percent sold in bags, giving retailers flexibility for both volume and convenience.

“Cosmic Crisp is a key driver of dollars in the apple category because two-thirds of its volume is sold as bulk, which carries a 19-cent increase in price per pound compared to bags,” Shales said. “It’s now a mainline variety that opens tremendous opportunities for retailers to engage consumers all year long. Whether through bulk bins, five-pound bags or programs like Lil Snappers and EZ Band packs, there are so many ways to highlight this apple and make it a household favorite.”

Retailers can align promotions with seasonal opportunities to maximize engagement. Healthy eating themes in January and red-focused Valentine’s Day promotions in February offer ideal moments to spotlight Cosmic Crisp. Promotional activity from January forward helps maintain momentum, with February and March representing peak sales months. Display bins, boxes and in-store events can help capture shopper attention across regions. While peak timing varies—such as in the Northeast, where sales often peak in March—well-timed promotions can still drive incremental growth.

“The key to success is combining beautiful crop quality with thoughtful in-store promotions,” Shales said. “With the right displays, ads and events, retailers can showcase Cosmic Crisp this apple season in a way that drives both excitement and sales.”

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