SIMI VALLEY, CA - A fast-moving wildfire in Ventura County forced evacuations Monday morning as warm, dry weather and Santa Ana wind conditions fueled rapid fire growth across parts of Southern California.

According to Fox News, the Sandy Fire broke out around 10:50 a.m. local time Monday near Simi Valley and quickly expanded to roughly 184 acres while threatening nearby structures. Evacuation orders were issued for parts of Simi Valley and surrounding areas near Thousand Oaks as crews worked to contain the blaze.

“We have a good number of air resources on hand,” a fire department spokesperson said during an interview with America Reports.

Approximately 200 personnel, along with helicopters and air tankers, were deployed to battle the fire as gusty northeast Santa Ana winds continued through the afternoon. Officials said conditions are expected to remain warm and dry through Tuesday, increasing concerns around fire behavior and containment efforts.

The fire activity comes as California continues navigating another challenging wildfire season, with regional agriculture and transportation corridors remaining highly sensitive to changing weather conditions and air quality impacts. Ventura County sits within a major produce distribution region serving both California and national supply chains, making wildfire developments closely watched throughout the industry.

Additional fires were also reported over the weekend in the Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles, though officials said those incidents have since been fully contained.

As conditions evolve, growers, shippers, and residents across the region will continue monitoring forecasts and fire activity closely. Be sure to check ANUK for the latest updates.

SALINAS, CA - Americans are eating salads very differently than they did a decade ago, and new search-data research from Taylor Farms, one of North America's leading producers of fresh salads and healthy meal solutions, shows exactly where the country's appetite for experimentation is concentrated.

The company's newly released Salad Curiosity Census maps state-by-state interest in five emerging salad trends, and has identified Hawaii as the most adventurous state in the nation, with a curiosity score of 27.48. Well ahead of Washington (22.54) and Oregon (21.91), which round out the top three.

The findings paint a picture of a country that has moved decisively past iceberg-and-vinaigrette territory. Consumers are now actively searching for bold global flavor mashups, functional ingredients that support gut health, protein-dense bowls built around macros, texture-forward toppings, and modernized takes on retro classics.

The five flavor profiles shaping American salads

The study identifies five distinct trends driving search behavior across the country:

• Powerhouse Protein — Bowls anchored around hard-boiled eggs, grilled steak, quinoa, lentils, and other high-protein ingredients designed to hit a 20-gram-per-meal target. Virginia, Illinois, and Hawaii show the strongest curiosity.
• Swicy & Swangy — A bolder evolution of the swicy (sweet + spicy) movement, layering in tangy notes from hot honey, lime, sriracha-miso, and chili. Hawaii leads with more than 6,000 monthly searches, followed by Oregon and Washington.
• Crunch Core — A texture-first trend that elevates toasted nuts, seeds, crispy shallots, jicama, and snap peas over the traditional crouton. Oregon takes the top spot with nearly 5,500 monthly searches, with Washington and Hawaii close behind.
• Gut Glory — Functional eating focused on probiotic and high-fiber additions like kimchi, sauerkraut, chickpeas, and kefir-based dressings. East Coast states dominate this category, with Maryland and New Jersey flanking Nevada in the top three.
• Newstalgia — Modernized versions of childhood classics, such as the Waldorf or Wedge, paired with clean-label dressings and premium ingredients like artisanal blue cheese or heirloom tomatoes. Hawaii, Washington, and Oregon again lead the search.

Why Hawaii tops the list

Hawaii's number-one ranking is fueled by roughly 40,000 monthly searches for viral ingredients, including hot honey dressings and crispy spicy chickpeas. The state ranks first in three of the five profiles studied and finishes near the top in the other two, a uniquely broad appetite for experimentation. The Pacific Northwest's prominence across Swicy & Swangy, Crunch Core, and Newstalgia points to a regional palate that favors complex, layered flavor combinations.

The East Coast's dominance of the Gut Glory category, meanwhile, suggests that microbiome and fiber-focused eating is a particularly strong driver in Maryland, New Jersey, and surrounding states.

A shift toward regional customization

Taken together, the data points to a national salad market that is no longer a one-size-fits-all. Flavor preferences are increasingly regional, ingredient curiosity is widening, and consumers are treating the salad bowl as an opportunity for both culinary exploration and functional nutrition.

For brands, retailers, and foodservice operators, the implication is clear: assortment strategies, recipe innovation, and marketing creative all benefit from a more granular, state-by-state read on what shoppers are searching for.

The full study, including the full U.S. map and complete top-10 ranking, is available here.

Methodology

According to the recent release, for each of the five salad flavor profiles, Taylor Farms compiled a list of keywords representing the defining flavors and ingredients of that profile, then pulled state-level Google search volume for every keyword using Google Keyword Planner data from February 2025 through January 2026. Search volumes for each profile were normalized against state population (using data from worldpopulationreview.com) to produce a representative popularity score per 1,000 residents. Scores across all five profiles were combined to generate each state's overall salad curiosity score.

DELANO, CA - If "early California grapes" were on your 2026 retail bingo card, prepare to mark the win as you plan your programs. Checking in with Stefanie Pandol, Marketing and Sustainability for Pandol Bros, the legacy grower reports a promising horizon for the category.

“Compared to last year, the Central California season is shaping up to begin nearly two weeks earlier than average. Fruit development in the vineyards is progressing well, and while it is still somewhat early, the crop is looking extremely promising,” Stefanie said. “We are optimistic about both the quality and timing of this year’s harvest and are encouraged by what we are seeing in the field.”

The Pandol family and team are committed to supporting retail partners in every way possible. Through continued innovation in grape varieties, a focus on quality, and strong long-term relationships, Stefanie shared how the supplier strives to deliver value to the buy-side year after year.

“This industry is built on trust and partnerships, and we remain dedicated to serving our customers to the best of our abilities. At Pandol, we are focused on our ability to support grape programs 52 weeks a year through a consistent supply sourced from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. However, we are especially excited about the California season,” she told me. “The Pandol family takes great pride in supplying premium grape varieties and delivering the high-quality fruit our customers have come to expect. Our goal is to provide retailers with reliable supply, strong eating quality, and varieties that resonate with consumers."

The Pandols have been farming in California’s Central Valley since 1941—a proud legacy that has been built over four generations.

“As members of the fourth generation, my brother Matt and I are honored to work alongside the third generation to continue the values and commitment established by those who came before us. Our long history, hands-on involvement, and dedication to quality make us a trusted and dependable partner for retailers around the world,” Stefanie concluded.

As we continue to follow the word through the grapevine and report back, keep an eye out for the latest from AndNowUKnow.