REIDSVILLE, GA - Shuman Farms University is returning in 2026, and classes begin soon! With enrollment set to open at Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure in Orlando, Florida, President and Chief Executive Officer John Shuman took some time to highlight why this offering gives a special edge to the growers' buy-side partners.

“This year’s curriculum will equip retail and foodservice teams with the information needed to create excitement with their shoppers and operators around Vidalia onions. Enrollees will gain a stronger understanding of Vidalia onions’ product attributes, origin story, and the farm-to-table process, plus valuable consumer insights and merchandising tips to help produce teams drive sales and inspire consumption,” John tells me.

In response to evolving consumer trends, John explains that new content will focus on helping retail partners create value and meal solutions for their shoppers.

“It is important to showcase Vidalia onions as a seasonal ingredient that adds exceptional flavor to everyday meals and merchandise them alongside high-affinity items like peppers, squash, and potatoes,” John says.

Classes start back in April, and the Shuman Farms team is excited to share more at Southern Exposure come February 26. There, attendees can learn more about what’s new for the educational initiative in 2026 and how Shuman’s retail and foodservice partners can get enrolled.

Visit with the Shuman Farms team at booth #101 to learn more about Shuman Farms University and snap your very own first day of class photo.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - What does it mean to be a part of your community? Declaring values for companies is not a longstanding necessity, yet the Allen Lund Company (ALC) has stood by several pillars built by Allen and Kathleen Lund for half a century.

What it means, I learned as I stood in the conference room of the building the logistics giant has grown into, is that those who represent, speak for, and shape the area you call home come to a gathering on a Wednesday afternoon in January to acknowledge what your business means to them.

"Allen Lund Company was started so that our mom and dad could feed their kids. 50 years later, it is a billion-dollar company that still has that family feel. It's a great accomplishment, and we are so proud of our people who have taken mom and dad's dream and made it a reality," Eddie Lund, President of ALC, said in a statement. With me stood key local dignitaries, including Mayor Kim Bowman and Pat Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce, who once worked in the very building now bearing the Allen Lund Company name on the side. All were there to extend appreciation and accolades to ALC for what it has become to the community.

"We are so blessed to be celebrating our 50^th anniversary, and we are grateful to the city of La Cañada (our home for 47 of the 50 years), Los Angeles County, and all of the vendors and friends we have in the area who have offered their support," Eddie said of the event. Later, in discussing the commitment that has helped the ALC brand get to where it is, he shared, “If we do a great job performance-wise in five areas—growing offices, helping our people, IT initiatives, our support departments, and acts of kindness—then the results will happen. Because we're not bigger than the market, we're not going to control the margin. We're going to control our service offering, and how well we treat our customers, our carriers, and our people.”

Wandering the office of Allen Lund himself, Mrs. Lund treated me to stories from the ranch where our now widespread image—cover of The Snack Magazine in 2015—was taken. Warmly, she remembered the laughter and the lighting of an image that would help tell the story so many times of the man whose name would become synonymous with logistics and TMS innovation.

Sitting with her and Eddie later in his office, shifting back and forth between business and family experiences, it is easy to see how, even as it has grown, ALC still makes each person feel they are the sole focus of the moment. As Eddie shared with the team at the onset of a company-wide livestream, “This is no small accomplishment. Our mom and dad valued our employees so greatly, and their motto was always, ‘our employees are our greatest assets.’ So thank you to all our past and current employees.”

As ALC enters the second half of its century in business, it is doing so in a way that has contributed significantly to its success thus far. To commemorate the milestone, Kenny Lund, Executive Vice President, announced the launch of a charity initiative, "50 Acts of Warmth," as the team marked the occasion with a celebratory lunch at headquarters.

Mrs. Lund elaborated more on this with me. 

“The fifth pillar of the company is Acts of Kindness, so it carries an equal weight in our company's mind as the other four,” she shared with me. “When we started the Acts of Kindness, that was our 40^th year, and we had 40 divisions. We asked each division to do something, and we ended up with about 70. And then, it was Allen’s last address to the managers in 2018, he said, ‘Keep that going. Keep. That. Going. That this is an important part of who we are.' He didn't talk about growing to a billion dollars; he talked about taking care of your customers and being involved in your community.”

This is what it means to live your values. To truly contribute to the area you call home, at your headquarters, and at every office that sports your brand. This is the cup that nourishes a legacy.

Congratulations to the Allen Lund family and team on this incredible milestone!

UNITED STATES - With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we’re in a berry-forward promotional window. Demand is high, and growers are working hard to meet it.

The Source, reporting on January 28, 2026, noted that demand is ”outpacing supply heading into the Valentine’s Day pull. California and Mexico are harvesting steadily but lightly, while Florida remains very limited due to overnight freezes. With demand shifting to the West Coast and Texas, pressure is increasing on those regions.”

The publication went on to recommend early orders to secure product for the holiday pull. Markon Cooperative offered an update regarding strawberries to its partners on January 28, 2026. Quality is good in both Oxnard and Santa Maria, California, but supplies are listed as tight, with prices climbing.

In Florida, the company acknowledged that cold weather continues to affect berry fields, with temperatures in the high 20s expected through February 2. In Mexico, crossing into South Texas, quality is good, but Markon warned to expect prices to increase as growers transfer product to California and Florida.

The National FOB Review from January 28, 2026, lists a range of prices coming through Mexico. Prices from shipping points in California and Florida show pricing for flats 8 1-lb containers with lids medium sitting between 14.00 and 20.00, with most prices at 16.00.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we continue to cover categories across the fresh industry.