TEXAS - The importance of fresh food has never been more prominent, and new retailers are taking this to heart. Radius Butcher & Grocery will soon open in Austin, Texas, to sell produce, meat, and dairy sourced exclusively from Texas.

Kevin Fishner, Founder, remarked on the company’s website that he is hoping to create a next-generation grocery experience that incorporates the benefits of a local farmers’ market with the convenience of everyday shopping.

This means that the store will not have “towering center aisles of processed foods” with “endless options in every subcategory,” he said, but instead will focus on the core, seasonal ingredients needed to create meals at home.

The store is a venture crafted by a former tech investor and a craft butcher and is expected to open later this year. According to a report from Austin Business Journal, there are plans to offer a tightly curated assortment of organic produce, local meats, grains, eggs, cheeses, and more—all with a focus on artisanal production and sustainability.

We’ll continue to report on the latest news occurring within retail, so stay tuned.

WASHINGTON, DC - Earlier this week, key industry members gathered in Washington, DC, for the Washington Conference hosted by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). Pivotal public policy priorities were on the table as attendees enlightened lawmakers and regulators about the industry's most significant opportunities and challenges.

“IFPA and its members show up in Washington, DC, each year to stand up for fresh. It is critical to take our message directly to Congress, to act on legislation that impacts the U.S. fresh produce supply chain, especially to address our labor crisis,” said Rebeckah Adcock, IFPA’s Vice President U.S. Government Relations.

Top takeaways from the public policy priorities include:

• Farm Bill and Agriculture Policy: The panel voiced consensus that they are working to pass a bi-partisan Farm Bill this year and not extend the timeline any further
• Labor and Workforce: The panel discussed the IFPA labor crisis report and how each sector on the panel will bring the results of this critical report to their Members of Congress
• Nutrition and Demand Creation: The panel discussed ways to support increased consumption of fruit and vegetables across life stages through policy intervention

The event also included powerful keynote speakers, vibrant celebrations showcasing the best of fresh produce and floral, the Advocate for Fresh on Capitol Hill Congressional Meetings, and much more:

• Congressional Meetings: Attendees met with representatives from 199 offices, spanning 33 states
• Joy of Fresh: The event welcomed DC influencers, key congressional and administration staff, consumer advocates, industry leaders, and more on June 11
• Dynamic Speaker Lineup: On June 11, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack headlined the State of the Fresh Nation Breakfast and the morning General Session; the founding members of the Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus addressed attendees on June 12; and the Focus on Food Safety with FDA interactive roundtable brought together top FDA Human Food Program (HFP) officials with the fresh produce supply chain

We applaud all of the attendees who continue to advocate for our industry on a daily basis.

FRESNO, CA - The California Table Grape Commission (CTGC) has made an announcement that could impact the future of agriculture. CTGC revealed that seven students from the table grape growing regions of California earned scholarships awarded by California table grape growers.

Growers awarded two $25,000 field worker scholarships to students attending a four-year college or university, a press release stated. Two $14,500 field worker bridge scholarships were also awarded to students attending two years of community college and transferring to a four-year college or university. In order to be eligible for a field worker scholarship, applicants or a parent or guardian must work in the California table grape harvest.

Three $25,000 agriculture scholarships were awarded to students attending a four-year California college or university and planning to pursue an undergraduate degree in a field of study pertinent to the table grape industry. Since 1985 California table grape growers have awarded more than 200 scholarships to help students in the grape growing regions of California attend college.

The $25,000 Field Worker Scholarships were awarded to:

• Leslie Aquino graduated from East Bakersfield High School with a 4.5 GPA and will attend the University of California, Merced to study computer science
• Marco Jimenez graduated from Delano High School with a 4.2 GPA and will attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo to major in civil engineering

The $14,500 Field Worker Bridge Scholarships were awarded to:

• Anali Alcantar graduated from Harmony Magnet Academy with a 3.3 GPA and will attend Porterville College to study education
• Lizbeth Ramirez Ramos graduated from Harmony Magnet Academy with a 4.0 GPA and will attend Porterville College to study nursing

The $25,000 Agriculture Scholarships were awarded to:

• Madison Jackson graduated from Liberty High School with a 4.1 GPA and will attend California State University, Chico to study agriculture education and environmental science
• Olivia Machado graduated from Tulare Western High School with a 4.3 GPA and will attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo to study agriculture business
• Brenda Monje graduated from Tulare Western High School with a 4.1 GPA and will attend California State University, Fresno to study food technology

Congratulations to the scholarship recipients!

WENATCHEE, WA - What better way to celebrate summer than with a mountainous display of cherries? I certainly can’t think of one, and neither can Stemilt! The grower talks how organic cherries are making a comeback with the 2024 crop and how retailers can use Stemilt Artisan Organics® dark-sweet cherries to promote, merchandise, and build sales.

“Organic dark-sweet cherries are up in volume compared to last year,” commented Brianna Shales, Marketing Director. “Cherry harvest is underway in Washington State, and we’ll see the volume of organic cherries increase into late June for promotional pulls. The perfect time for running promotions will be late June and early July when Washington has peak supply.”

Shales explained that organic cherries can be exclusive some seasons because of volume and availability fluctuations, but this year will be a different story as volume and timing align in a succinct promotional window.

“Organic cherries can be used to appeal to organic shoppers and as a sales builder for the category,” added Shales. “Creating shelf space for organic cherries and finding ways to merchandise them within your main cherry displays is a must. Packaging like 1 lb and 2 lb top seals, clamshells, or bags are great vehicles to call attention to the fact that the cherries are organic and encourage consumers to treat themselves with seasonal produce.”

According to a press release, the majority of Stemilt’s organic cherries are the Skeena variety which presents premium quality for size, firmness, and flavor.

“Organic cherries can be hard to grow, but Stemilt has growing locations and dedicated growers suited just right for growing them,” concluded Shales. “It’s not every year we get to promote organic dark-sweet cherries, so we’re especially excited to share opportunities with retailers and help them find success this season with Stemilt Artisan Organics.”

AndNowUKnow will be on the lookout for the latest cherry updates like this.