With a larger crop, ideal growing conditions and added operational firepower, CMI Orchards is entering the 2025 cherry season with high expectations and a plan to help retailers capture every opportunity. From early-season promotions to late-summer supply, the company is well-positioned to meet consumer demand with premium quality and seamless execution. “Barring any unforeseen weather events, this year’s Northwest cherry crop is shaping up to be a strong one,” said Joel Hewitt, vice president of sales at CMI Orchards. “We’re seeing a great fruit set across every growing district — from The

Violet Bifulco is in her second year of working full time with her three cousins, Umberto IV, Gennaro and Umberto Joseph. “It just feels so right,” Violet said as she reminisced about her childhood. “Some of my best memories are being with my older cousins as we ‘worked,’ but I thought we were just having fun. From working on the farm picking beans and packing vegetables to my favorite thing, driving the forklift in the cold storage, I could not wait to go to work with dad. "As I got older and saw my cousins taking on more responsibilities I wondered where I would fit in," she said. "During my

Rocket Farms has introduced its latest innovation: Organic Living Herbs, a new line of rooted culinary herbs that offer unbeatable freshness and extended shelf life. Each Living Herb comes with a two-inch root ball and is packaged in recyclable container, helping preserve its natural flavor far beyond traditional cut herbs. This format extends shelf life while maintaining the bold taste and aroma that home cooks expect from fresh herbs. Launching in summer of 2025, the USDA Certified Organic Living Herbs assortment includes basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and

With 10 different options during the peak of its summer season, Dulcinea-branded melons will offer many promotional opportunities for retailers over the next several months. Jeff Nichols, senior manager of supply operations and a sales executive for Los Angeles-based Pacific Trellis Fruit, which markets the Dulcinea Farms products, told The Produce News in mid-May that the plethora of melons would be on retailers’ shelves soon. “Right now, we are in the middle of Hermosillo (Mexico) production of our PureHeart mini seedless watermelon program as well as our full-sized watermelons,” Nichols

The domestic grape season has kicked off with favorable early season conditions in California’s Coachella Valley, and as the supply swings north to the San Joaquin Valley in July, early expectations are also optimistic. “Early season conditions have been good in both the Coachella and San Joaquin valleys, allowing table grape growers to begin harvesting the week of May 12 in Coachella,” said Ian LeMay, president of the California Table Grape Commission. The San Joaquin Valley historically starts around July, and growers in mid-May said they were expecting to get a jump on harvest a few days

Willie Itule Produce Inc. announced Gabe Flores as chief people officer and executive director. With over 37 years of leadership experience and deep roots in the grocery retail industry, Flores’ background in fresh produce operations, team development and cultivating people-first cultures adds expertise well-suited to Willie Itule Produce’s business values and growth trajectory. Flores joins Willie Itule Produce after a decades-long career with Bashas' Family of Stores. He most recently served as director of fresh produce and floral, overseeing 115 locations across multiple banner stores