FRESNO, CA - Blueberries just make everything better, in my opinion. So, when a new item enters the marketplace, you know my interest is piqued. Enter betterful®, a line of Regenerative Organic Certified® blueberries from AC Foods; grown in California and Oregon’s rich growing regions.

“As betterful blueberries continue to hit the shelves of leading retailers this spring, we are excited to bring a new level of flavor and sustainability to consumers,” said Sunnia Gull, Vice President of Marketing. “Our regenerative organic approach not only delivers exceptional taste but also reflects our dedication to nurturing the planet for future generations.”

These blueberries debuted in April and are available through September. The betterful berries can be found in displays at select Whole Foods, Sprouts, Bi-Rite, NewLeaf, Berkeley Bowl Marketplace, and Oliver’s locations.

The driving mission behind the betterful brand is to enhance each stage of the growing, harvesting, and delivery process. This mission results in berries that are not just tastier and fresher, but also healthier for the planet. These little blues are packed with antioxidants, essential vitamins, and a naturally sweet flavor that's sure to delight taste buds.

This new brand debut was not without effort and dedication. In 2024, after a rigorous certification process, betterful’s Oregon farms will officially become Regenerative Organic Certified. For a little background, being Regenerative Organic Certified brings a revolutionary certification that meets the highest standards in the world for soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness.

Blueberries that taste good and do good. Sounds like a win-win to me.

SACRAMENTO, CA - As new rulings take shape and clarity on their potential impact emerges, the California Fresh Fruit Association is aiming to deliver both information and support for growers. The latest update in question is a finalized rule from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revising certain pre-harvest ag water requirements.

“One of the main drivers for this new rule was the determination that existing pre-harvest water microbial quality criteria alone, particularly as they relate to surface water, were not a reliable indicator of food safety risk, and therefore, an emphasis has been placed on hazard identification and risk assessment to inform management decisions,” the association said in an emailed newsletter.

Compliance dates for the new rule are:

• Two years and nine months after the effective date of the final rule for very small businesses
• One year and nine months after the effective date of the final rule for small businesses
• Nine months after the effective date of a final rule for all other businesses

As part of the assessment, farms are required to evaluate several factors to identify conditions that “are reasonably likely to introduce food safety hazards into or onto produce or food contact surfaces.” Under the rule, requirements are established for systems-based pre-harvest ag water assessments that farms use for hazard identification and risk management decision-making purposes. Further details about the final rule, including overview, requirements, and outcomes, are available here.

Exemptions from the assessments are listed in the rule’s details, such as a number of demonstrations for pre-harvest agricultural water for covered produce (other than sprouts).

We thank the CFFA and associations like it, which continue to take steps to ensure growers are both informed and supported throughout the process of providing fresh produce.

CORONA, CA - Timing is everything and planning is essential, especially when it comes to fresh produce categories such as the Hass avocado. Just in time for summer grilling, events, and more, Index Fresh is bringing customers Hass avocados from Peru throughout the summer, with fixed pricing available on fruit secured now.

“We anticipate opportunities for an abundance of Peruvian avocados entering the U.S. supply chain late this spring and throughout summer,” Dalila Rivera, Vice President of Sourcing, stated. “The timing of Peruvian avocado arrivals is slightly earlier this year and perfect both for filling in a rare supply gap on Mexican avocado imports and for the Peruvian harvest to add an important and competitive fruit source for our customers throughout the season.”

Kicking off the last week of May, Peruvian fruit will hit its primary harvest with promotable volumes anticipated in the U.S. throughout the season and into September.

This offering is a counterpart of pre-booked, season-long programs for retail and foodservice customers. Engaged in bringing the best value to its partners, Index Fresh procurement and sales teams are actively building programs that meet upcoming demand. According to a press release, locking in prices now adds predictability to costs and secures volumes at competitive rates that are stable throughout the summer.

“A consistent, reliable harvest of quality fruit from Peru in this window is important this year and will continue to be a significant piece of the U.S. avocado supply puzzle during the summer months,” Rivera continued. “It’s guacamole season, and the Peruvian program brings another attractive option into the market to expand consumer choices. Ordering now incentivizes steady shipments into U.S. ports at the best pricing available.”

Supplying from its three main sourcing destinations during the summer months—California, Mexico, and Peru—Index Fresh is bringing consistency and balance to its customer base this summer.

ANAHEIM, CA - It was a busy start to May as the industry welcomed not just the sprint into Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day preparations, but also the gathering in Southern California for the Fresh Produce and Floral Council’s (FPFC) 2024 Expo.

Kicking off at the Anaheim Convention Center on May 1, just over 100 exhibitors from fresh produce, logistics, packaging solutions, floral, technology, and more met with an assortment of buyers, including Albertsons, Gelson’s Market, Grocery Outlet, and Vallarta Markets, to name a few.

Among the showcased individuals was Patrick Kelly, representing both Golden Star Citrus and The Produce Industry Podcast, which Patrick founded in 2020.

“I feel the show had a good presence from all aspects of the produce and supply chain community. There were two shows happening at the same time, so the industry had to send their best people to the respective conference this week!” Patrick shared. “I was excited to meet new people that I traditionally do not meet at other shows across the country. We had the corner booth on the first row and had great traffic the entire show. Golden Star Citrus and The Produce Industry Podcast shared a magnificent two booths with a ‘red carpet experience.’”

Joining together was a strategy supporting both companies on the dynamic show floor.

"Having a hybrid booth featuring The Produce Industry Podcast alongside Golden Star Citrus was truly an amazing experience—from the Citrocasa juicer, fresh oranges, and merchandise to a red carpet experience. It was an honor to support my friend and colleague, Patrick Kelly, whose insightful session on bridging the generational gap and embracing your awesome left us all feeling proud and inspired,” Michael Chavez, Director of Golden Star Citrus, said.

As stated, Patrick was not just an exhibitor on the FPFC show floor. One of the highlights for both him and attendees was his leading a discussion with panelists Bryan Presley of Albertsons, Javier Bautista of Northgate Markets, and Andy Hamilton of Markon Cooperative. The speakers shared how they wake up and start their days, their feelings and observations about the work, and their thoughts on encouraging others through a positive mindset.

“Let's not forget, too, the generational gap, including new research on upcoming generations. These topics are more important than ever in our industry,” Patrick said. “As we grow together we truly need to know that we are all humans working in this industry together! Being a speaker is truly amazing at any event, but this one was really special to me as I have changed parts of my engagements to include how to embrace ‘you’re awesome,’ self-love, positive thinking, purposeful discussions in a digital world, and how to stay ugly.”

In addition to the buyer panel, Chef Jeff Henderson, an award-winning celebrity chef and best-selling author from South Central Los Angeles, inspired the industry with insights, passion, and his culinary journey. And among the educational offerings was an employment law segment from June Monroe of of Fennemore Law Patrick himself said was particularly insightful.

“I love that we are educating our industry on items that are true at hand, day in and day out. It was great to see the progression of these subjects at the show,” he reflected. “Overall, I was extremely happy with the outcome. I believe we gave members of the FPFC show a true experience with the red carpet. It significantly enhanced the event’s atmosphere, making attendees feel special and valued. We gave them a sense of exclusivity and community, leaving a lasting, positive impression.”

Community, value, and positive impressions—the trifecta of a produce gathering done right. Thank you to the Fresh Produce and Floral Council for working to do just that!