FRESNO, CA - Famous Software understands how costly it can be to be misinformed. In fresh produce, the margin for error is essentially nonexistent, and companies needing to make a decision on the fly need the best data to do so. If they don’t, an operation could make a mistake that ends up costing them even more.

To counteract this problem, Famous Software has the tools to help. Read an excerpt from the company’s blog below to learn more.

In the fresh produce industry, speed is a competitive differentiator. When you have just 14 days to move a product from the field to a consumer’s table, the margin for error effectively vanishes. At this pace, there’s almost no margin for error.

Yet we regularly hear from produce companies that they don’t fully trust the data in their current ERP systems. When you can’t rely on your data, every decision takes longer and feels riskier.

In this blog, we explore how a single source of truth protects your margins, secures retail relationships, and provides the real-time data integrity your business needs to scale.

Key Takeaways

With an approximate 14-day window from field to fork, data speed is a logistical requirement. Even a one-day error in harvest dates can lead to expired products on retail shelves and damaged brand trust.

Generic ERPs that rely on periodic syncing create internal friction. Real-time data is essential to price with confidence and protect margins that can hinge on pennies per unit.

A single source of truth with perpetual inventory updates allows for a cleaner month-end close with significantly less manual reconciliation.

The Cost of Unreliable Data in the Fresh Produce Supply Chain

If your ERP isn’t built around how produce actually moves, the result is often incomplete or delayed information. That undermines confidence across the business when sales, operations, and accounting are all looking at numbers they’re not sure they can believe.

In an industry where margins can be astonishing or minuscule depending on the quality of a given harvest, unreliable data doesn’t just cause internal friction. It directly impacts the bottom line.

To see more, continue reading here.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint against IE AAA LLC, Citrus World. The company, operating from New York, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 17 produce sellers in the amount of $1,960,321 from March 2024 through March 2025, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

IE AAA LLC will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

For further information, contact the PACA Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873 or [email protected].

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO - At its February 11 meeting in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, the Mushroom Council welcomed one new board member and elected its officers for 2026. The nine-member Council is composed of eight domestic growers and one importer representing four regions. The program’s purpose is to maintain and expand existing mushroom markets and uses. The newly elected board member is Ed Wuensch (Region 2); Michael Stephan, Monterey Mushrooms (Region 1) was reappointed for a second term.

Newly elected officers are:

• Chairperson: Pat Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms
• Vice Chairperson: Laura Matar, Giorgio Mushrooms
• Secretary: Jack Guan, Terra Garden/Guan’s Mushroom
• Treasurer: Ed Wuensch, Basciani Foods

According to a press release, the officers’ responsibilities include supporting the Council’s development and implementation of an annual research, marketing, and promotions plan, and ensuring the Council manages and follows its annual budget.

The full board now consists of:

Region 1 (All states except CA and PA):

• Pat Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms
• Michael Stephan, Monterey Mushrooms
• Open

Region 2 (Pennsylvania):

• Tina Ellor, Phillips Mushroom Farms
• Laura Matar, Giorgio Mushrooms
• Chris Alonzo, Pietro Industries
• Ed Wuensch, Basciani Foods

Region 3 (California):

• Jack Guan, Terra Garden/Guan’s Mushroom

Region 4 (Importers):

• Open

Mushroom Council Calls for Nominations: 2027-2029 Term

A call for nominations for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2027, is now open. Completed nomination forms must be emailed or postmarked no later than May 1, 2026.

The regions with positions available are:

• Region 1 (All states except CA & PA): One 3-year term
• Region 2 (Pennsylvania): One 3-year term
• Region 4 (Importers): One 3-year term

Eligibility: All producers, who produce, on average, over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually for fresh use and are not exempt may nominate one or more candidates, provided that they produce within the specified region.

To qualify as a candidate or to nominate a candidate, an individual must be a producer. Producer means any person engaged in the production of mushrooms who owns or shares the ownership and risk of loss of such mushrooms and who produces, on average, over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms per year for the fresh market and not exempt from paying assessments.

For more information about the calls for nominations, please contact Amy Wood, Mushroom Council President at [email protected].

RIVERSIDE, CA - Goody’s selling season begins strong as nationwide wellness trends spotlight grapefruit for consumers. Current consumption of grapefruit remains robust, with 2026 estimated US sales expected to meet the 2024 high of over $400 million. While data for 2025 is still being finalized, consumption in the US for 2024 exceeded 330,000 tons, an approximate increase of 9.5% from recent years, according to Index Box.

Grapefruit has become a dynamic part of 2026 wellness trends as it is complementary to several significant shifts happening in health culture surrounding clean eating, functional foods, mood-boosting ingredients, and low-sugar beverages. It’s not just the fruit itself—grapefruit juice, extracts, powders, and oils are showing up in drinks, skincare, and supplements. 

Consumers in 2026 are doubling down on the “functional food” movement - increasingly choosing foods that do something for the body beyond addressing their calorie intake (energy, immunity, gut health boosting). Grapefruit checks many of those boxes as it is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, provides potassium and fiber that support heart and metabolic health, and the plant compounds (like flavonoids) can be linked to reduced inflammation and improved cholesterol levels. Because of this, Grapefruit is often included in detox drinks, immunity blends, and functional juices.

Grapefruit also works well in the booming “functional beverage” market. A market-moving trend in 2025–2026 that dominates headlines centers on drinks that combine hydration, flavor, and wellness benefits. Grapefruit has been a natural fit and top choice for this as it features a bright, refreshing citrus taste, adds flavor without excess sugar, and blends well in sparkling waters, kombucha, botanical sodas, and detox beverages. From sparkling wellness drinks to electrolyte beverages and no-sugar citrus tonics, Grapefruit has become a staple of this trend.

With over 75 years of excellence in packing and shipping California grapefruit, Blue Banner, and now Goody have seen a resurgence in this “miracle fruit.” Vince Mazzetti, Vice President of Goody shared, “They say what is old always has a way of becoming new again. We’ve seen grapefruit as a constant throughout the decades, but this latest surge has been inspiring to see as wellness takes shape in different ways.” 

As California’s grapefruit experts, Goody by Blue Banner Company is proud to support growers with their trusted services. Gotta-Be-Goody!

FRESNO, CA - Trinity Fruit Company is proud to announce the launch of Peaches for Pink, a 2026 summer peach campaign developed in partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF). The initiative will debut during the 2026 California stone fruit season and feature pink ribbon-inspired promotional packaging on Trinity’s Farm2You 2 lb. peach pouch bags, combining peak-season flavor with meaningful impact.

As part of the campaign, Sun Valley Farming—Trinity’s primary stone fruit grower—and Trinity Fruit Company together will donate $100,000 to BCRF, regardless of peach program sales. As a majority women-owned, family-run company, Sun Valley Farming is honored to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by helping raise critical funds and awareness through this collaborative effort.

Each Peaches for Pink 2 lb. peach pouch bag will also feature a QR code, allowing consumers to make additional direct donations to BCRF online and further support life-saving breast cancer research.

“As a breast cancer survivor, awareness is something I carry with me 365 days a year—not just in October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” says Angela Hernandez, Vice President of Marketing, in the release. “This campaign is incredibly dear to my heart. Sun Valley Farming and my family share longstanding ties, and it brings me so much joy to partner with them, along with Trinity Fruit, in support of this initiative. Leading with purpose and giving with heart has been my foundation since completing active treatment—and my heart couldn’t be pinker!”

“At Trinity we believe business should be a force for good,” explains Gunner White, Vice President of Trinity Fruit. “Through our summer peach cause marketing campaign, we’re proud to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to help fund the research that brings us closer to a cure.”

Trinity Fruit Company is a family-owned grower, packer, and shipper of fresh, dried, and frozen fruits, as well as premium refrigerated juices, delivering “Fruit for Every Season™. The company is renowned for its dedication to quality, innovation, and sustainability, ensuring its customers enjoy the best nature has to offer. For more information about Trinity Fruit Company and its full commodity portfolio, visit www.trinityfruit.com.

MIAMI, FL - World Water Day 2026 is coming up. UN-Water, the coordinating body of the United Nations’ water and sanitation efforts, sets an official theme and campaign each year. In 2026, the theme is “Water and Gender,” and the accompanying campaign is Where water flows, equality grows.

These messages accurately frame water and sanitation as a human rights issue that affects health, education, dignity, and opportunity. For Continental Fresh, a grower, shipper, and importer of fresh fruits and vegetables from Latin America, the message is deeply personal.

While lack of clean water and sanitation affects entire communities, the United Nations notes that women and girls can carry a significant burden, resulting in lost time and reduced opportunity, along with strain to health and safety.

Simple actions can bring lasting solutions.

Part of the answer is as simple as buying produce. Just look for the blue Water For All label on mangos, cucumbers, or butternut squash.

Continental Fresh believes that simple actions can create major change when they’re taken together with others. It doesn’t get any simpler than buying the fruits and vegetables you use every day. Proceeds from every Water For All produce sale fund gravity-driven aqueducts, filtration systems, ventilated-improved pit latrines, and other clean water and sanitation initiatives. These projects, carried out with Continental Fresh’s partner, BLUE Missions, bring reliable water access and sanitation to communities in need. These projects are a catalyst for life-changing improvements, including better community health, increased school attendance and more economic opportunity.

So far, Water For All sales and fundraising has helped bring clean water access to almost 37,000 people, along with improved sanitation access to over 12,400. The purpose-driven produce brand earned national recognition in 2025, receiving First Place in the Brand Citizenship category at the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Best of NAMA Awards.

“Water is a foundation of community health and opportunity,” said Albert Perez, CEO of Continental Fresh and founder of Water For All, in the recent release. “World Water Day reminds us that access to safe water changes everything. It helps children stay in school, supports healthier families and opens the door to greater opportunity.”

An urgent need for clean water work remains. According to the latest WHO and UNICEF reporting, 1 in 4 people around the globe lack access to safe drinking water. That’s 2.1 billion people.

“This World Water Day, we invite retailers, partners and shoppers to choose produce that stands for more,” Perez added. “When you choose Water For All produce, you are not only choosing premium fruit and vegetables, but you are also making clean water possible in communities that deserve to thrive.”

To learn more about Continental Fresh’s Water For All program, visit continentalfresh.com/purpose. To learn more about World Water Day 2026, visit unwater.org.

MISSION, TX - Get ready to hit the courts! The second annual Viva Fresh Pickleball Tournament is officially returning to San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, April 16th. Hosted by the Texas International Produce Association and sponsored by SunFed and Perlag Imports, the Viva Fresh Pickleball Tournament is a signature social and networking event held in conjunction with the Viva Fresh Expo, focused on building industry relationships through healthy, active competition. Following last year’s incredibly successful tournament and the tremendous amount of positive feedback from participants and attendees, this high-energy event was a must for the 2026 show.

New Venue, More Play

This year’s tournament moves to the Texas Pickle Hall. According to the recent release, the indoor venue ensures that the event will proceed rain or shine, with the added comfort of air-conditioning, according to the recent release. With 12 courts available, the event has expanded its capacity to offer both increased tournament brackets and more space for open play.

Tournament Details & Registration

The tournament is designed to be inclusive and balanced, catering to everyone from novices to professionals:

• Format: To keep competition fair, players will be paired with a different partner for every game.
• Schedule: There will be a morning tournament and an afternoon tournament, each hosting 32 players.
• Waitlist: Once the 64 tournament slots are filled, a waitlist will be established.
• Player Capacity: Total number of players is capped at 112: 64 tournament players and 48 open court players.

Early registration is highly encouraged, especially for those interested in tournament play, as space is limited. Currently, we are over 50% for tournament players. Spectators – come early to guarantee entrance! Transportation will be available from the JW Marriott to Texas Pickle Hall for players and spectators starting at 8 am.

An Inclusive Experience

Participants do not need prior pickleball experience or their own equipment to join the fun. Registered players will receive a complimentary Viva Fresh Pickleball Bag and towels! Beyond the matches, attendees can enjoy:

• Networking: Several hours of interaction with new and familiar industry peers.
• Atmosphere: music, food, and beverages will be provided to keep the energy high throughout the day.

"You don’t have to know pickleball to enjoy pickleball," is the mantra for this year's event. If you enjoy meeting people and competing in a "banging" environment, this is a must-attend on the Viva Fresh 2026 schedule.