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🌱 Good afternoon, and welcome to today's fresh newsletter!
In today's email:
IFPA Reimagines Fresh Produce Supply Chains
Secretary Rollins Salutes Farmers & Ranchers on National Agriculture Day
Trivia: Which Crop Can Be Grown at Elevations of Up to 15,000 feet?
Fresh Picks: Our Handpicked Produce Content from the Web
Bolthouse Fresh Foods Named Among 2025’s Most Innovative Companies
SEPC Introduces “Unseen Hero Award”
Pacific Trellis Fruit: Masters of Year-Round Premium Produce
Tip of the Day: Match Customers with Their Ideal Fruits & Veggies
IFPA
IFPA Reimagines Fresh Produce Supply Chains
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has introduced its initiative to transform the fresh produce supply chain, promoting efficiency, equity, and global collaboration.
Its White Paper, “Supply Chain of the Future”, proposes harmonized standards, secure data sharing, and predictive analytics to reduce waste and improve product quality.
The strategy aims to overcome mistrust and outdated structures through value-based incentives and reciprocal transparency.
Through “Collabathons” workshops, IFPA has brought together producers, retailers, and technologists to co-create solutions.
In June 2025, pilot programs will begin in Washington, D.C., with a broader rollout expected in the fall.
According to IFPA, the key lies not just in technology, but in cooperation among all actors in the sector.
AGRICULTURE
Secretary Rollins Salutes Farmers & Ranchers on National Agriculture Day
On National Agriculture Day, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins paid tribute to farmers, ranchers, and producers for their vital role in feeding, clothing, and supplying the world.
She emphasized that agriculture is more than an industry it is a way of life that demands innovation, resilience, and a deep respect for the land.
She shared how her experience in 4H and FFA shaped her view of the agricultural world.
Rollins acknowledged the work of everyone involved in the agricultural chain, from small family farms to large-scale producers.
She highlighted their ability to adapt to challenges such as weather and market shifts and expressed gratitude for their ongoing commitment to both current and future generations.
TRIVIA
The _____ is native to Peru and was one of the first crops domesticated in the Americas about 10,000 years ago.
It has over 4,000 varieties and can be grown at different altitudes, with some varieties thriving at elevations of up to 15,000 feet.
Which crop can be grown at elevations of up to 15,000 feet? |
🌐 92% of Ag Economists Say the U.S. is Already in the Middle of Another Trade War | Ninety-two percent of U.S. agricultural economists agree that the country is already in the midst of a new trade war driven by Trump’s tariff policies, which are harming domestic agriculture and benefiting competitors like Brazil. (ThePacker.com | March 21, 2025)
📉 California Almond Industry Faces Challenges as China Raises Tariffs to 35% | California's almond industry is facing a new round of tariffs from China, raising the total to 35%, severely impacting exports and causing concern among producers as they work to diversify markets and adapt to an uncertain global trade environment. (FreshPlaza.com | March 21, 2025)
🥑 Avocado Market to Rise Due to Lower Supplies, Tariff Uncertainty | The avocado market will face high prices and limited supply in the coming weeks due to reduced production in Mexico caused by the Benito Juarez holiday and tariff uncertainty, while California and Colombia attempt to offset the shortage partially. (ProduceBlueBlook.com | March 21, 2025)
🐞 What Good Bugs Are Best? The Most Valuable Insect Predators for Your Orchard | A study conducted in U.S. pear orchards identified Deraeocoris and certain spiders as the most effective predators against pests like two-spotted spider mites and pear psylla, while other popular insects such as ladybugs proved less effective than expected. (GrowingProduce.com | March 20, 2025)
🥕 Bolthouse Fresh Foods Earns Honors for Innovation | Bolthouse Fresh Foods was recognized as one of the most innovative companies of 2025 for its disruptive approach to sustainable packaging, fresh product formats, and digital strategies that modernize carrot consumption and revitalize the fresh produce aisle experience. (TheProduceNews.com | March 20, 2025)
INNOVATION
Bolthouse Fresh Foods Named Among 2025’s Most Innovative Companies
Bolthouse Fresh Foods™ earned a top-10 spot on Fast Company’s 2025 Most Innovative Companies list for its leadership in sustainable packaging, consumer-friendly products, and digital innovation.
Since relaunching in 2023, the company has focused on making fresh carrots more convenient and appealing through products like Carrot Shakers and Side Dish Sizzlers.
Its packaging innovations feature compostable materials and clear, intuitive messaging to enhance usability and sustainability.
Bolthouse has also strengthened its digital presence with a redesigned website and engaging social media content offering recipes and sustainability tips.
Rooted in over 110 years of farming, the company combines regenerative agriculture with modern innovation to drive meaningful change in the produce industry.
SEPC
SEPC Introduces “Unseen Hero Award” to Recognize Industry’s Unsung Contributors
The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) has launched a new initiative called “The Unseen Hero Award” to recognize behind-the-scenes contributors in the produce industry, such as growers, packers, shippers, and foodservice workers.
This award honors individuals who demonstrate integrity, dedication, leadership, and significant industry impact without typically receiving public recognition.
Nominations are open until June 13, 2025, and can be submitted online, with supporting testimonials encouraged.
Winners will be publicly recognized at the 2025 Southern Innovations event, highlighting their vital role in the supply chain.
SEPC hopes the award will foster appreciation and morale across the industry.
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Pacific Trellis Fruit: Masters of Year-Round Premium Produce
Pacific Trellis Fruit, based in Los Angeles, California, has built a reputation as both a grower and importer of premium produce since its establishment in 1999.
Over the years, it has steadily expanded its reach and offerings, evolving from its initial focus on grapes and stone fruit into a multi-category supplier of melons, citrus, cherries, and even specialty varieties.
One of the company’s pivotal moments was in 2014, when it acquired Dulcinea® Farms, a premier grower of high-flavor melon varieties such as the PureHeart® Mini Seedless Watermelon and the Tuscan-Style® Extra Sweet Cantaloupe.
By 2004, the company had purchased La Costa Grape Farm in Mexico, and two years later, it formed a joint venture with a grape farm in Chile’s Southwest region.
In 2008, it was among the earlier importers of Peruvian grapes, which remains a key area of growth for the company.
The 2014 acquisition of Dulcinea Farms heralded a deeper push into melons, with the introduction of prized varieties like the Sugar Daddy® Full Size Watermelon.
Soon afterward, in 2016, the Dulcinea Branded Grapes line was introduced in Mexico, followed by branded import citrus in 2018, grapes from Peru in 2019, and the addition of Dulcinea Cherries in 2021.
A significant part of Pacific Trellis Fruit’s operations now centers on fulfilling consumer demand for specialty fruit.
Pacific Trellis Fruit's team shone at the SEPC Southern Exposure fair in Orlando, consolidating connections and demonstrating the excellence of its products | Image: Courtesy of Pacific Trellis Fruit
Its melon program includes well-known offerings such as the vine-ripened Sugar Daddy® Full Size Watermelon, the ever-popular PureHeart® Mini Seedless Watermelon, the Tuscan-Style® Extra Sweet Cantaloupe, and the striking SunnyGold® Yellow Mini Seedless Watermelon.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with growers has been essential to the success of Pacific Trellis Fruit.
This level of transparency reflects a commitment to building trust and ensuring that the quality of the fruit can be tracked from field to store shelf.
Today, the company’s portfolio stretches across multiple categories stone fruit, grapes, citrus, melons, and specialty varieties and it remains attuned to the importance of flavor, nutritional value, and customer satisfaction.
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TIP OF THE DAY
Match Customers with Their Ideal Fruits & Veggies
Create a fun and engaging “Produce Personality Test” that helps customers discover which fruits or vegetables match their personality and lifestyle then recommend products and recipes accordingly.
Turn shopping into an entertaining experience with a short quiz that matches customers with a produce “personality.”
Are they bold like a beet? Mellow like a mango? Zesty like a lemon?
After a few playful questions like “What’s your perfect weekend?” or “How do you handle stress?” the quiz reveals their fruit or veggie match, along with fun facts, nutritional benefits, and recipe ideas.
For example:
"You’re a Sweet Potato!" – Comforting, versatile, and down-to-earth. Try these three cozy dinner recipes.
"You’re a Pineapple!" – Bright, bold, and a little unexpected. Here’s a tropical salsa recipe you’ll love.
Share the quiz on your website, social media, and through QR codes in-store.
This way you can encourage people to post their results with #MyProducePersonality for a chance to win weekly prizes or coupons.
This campaign blends entertainment, personalization, and education sparking curiosity and helping customers explore produce in a fun, relatable way that increases both discovery and sales.
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