NASHVILLE, TN - Melon 1 is coming off of one of its largest production periods to date, with growers increasing production by extending acreage and broadening its supply time frame. Combined with increased distribution for existing and new retail partners alike, Marian Lapide, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, took some time to tell me how the company’s strategic stars are aligning for the supplier.

“At Melon 1, we pride ourselves on having strong relationships on both the retailer side as well as with our growers. The partnership and trust that we have built and continue to build on both ends is the reason we are able to continue to grow our business year over year,” she explained. “We practice and administer the highest of food safety standards. By going above and beyond what is expected and required of suppliers, retailers know they can depend on us to deliver a high-quality product year-round, and consumers know that when they see a Melon 1 sticker on a watermelon they can expect consistent delicious fruit.”

One example of increasing availability of this high-quality fruit is the company’s North Carolina crop, which extended into September this year.

“We have team members in all growing regions at all times. Our growers are not just our partners; they are like an extension of our families—watching a watermelon go from a tiny seed to a fruit in store and being involved in that entire process helps us to stand behind our product wholeheartedly,” Marian pointed out, explaining that it is crucial to the company’s commitment to quality that growers know they are fully supported. The promise of premium product is a team endeavor, working side-by-side to get to consumers.

That teamwork continues through the point of sale, ensuring retailers have what they need to maximize opportunities in the store. Specifically, Melon 1 is coming off of providing stand-out retail display bins to highlight summer sales.

“July 4th is always one of the most important holidays for the watermelon industry, so we wanted to do something extra special this year to help celebrate this important milestone in our country while promoting our product,” Marian said. “We created our bins to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country. The bins are festive, vibrant, and attract attention to not only the watermelon display but the entire produce department.”

Melon 1 delivered 300,000 45-count bins to retail partners through Labor Day, the perfect buoy into its next big event: Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Innovations in Nashville, Tennessee.

“We are looking forward to coming to Nashville, seeing our friends and colleagues in the industry, and talking about all things produce. It's always interesting and inspiring to see what other produce categories are doing to expand their businesses. We leave shows feeling motivated and recharged!” Marian shared.

As our industry of innovators gathers in Music City, be sure to shake hands with Melon 1 at booth #442 on Friday, September 11.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on Valvilla Produce LLC. The company, operating from Texas, failed to make prompt payment to three produce sellers in the amount of $1,493,960 for produce that it purchased, received, and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from Feb. 2020 to May 2020, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Valvilla Produce LLC has been barred from operating in the produce industry until May 6, 2028, and then only after it applies for and is issued a new PACA license by USDA and posts a USDA-approved surety bond. The company’s principal, Luis Villa, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until May 6, 2027, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant PACA violations and impose restrictions on those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval. By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.

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

LAKE MARY, FL - Village Fresh LLC, the pioneer of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in North America, announced the appointment of Gisela Saenz as Senior Director of Marketing. Saenz brings over 17 years of marketing experience leading some of the largest and most innovative brands within CPG and Produce. Saenz will oversee marketing strategy with a focus on reinvigorating the 37+ year old brand. As the lead of marketing, she will partner cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Product Development, and Executive Leadership to strengthen the Village Fresh brand, enhance messaging, and elevate customer and consumer engagement.

Krysten DeGiglio, Chief Revenue Officer, stated in the recent release, “Gisela is an accomplished marketing professional with more than 15 years of experience building iconic brands, leading high-performing teams, and driving business growth. Her unique background in CPG and Fresh Produce positions her exceptionally well to navigate the complexities of our industry by leveraging her experience leading larger, well-known brands while understanding the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation that drive our business.

She brings a fresh perspective that will help us reintroduce and strengthen the Village Fresh brand. Having spent her entire marketing career working in Food and Beverage, she understands the emotional and functional role food plays in consumers’ lives. We believe she can channel her passion for the industry by bringing renewed energy and purpose to how we tell our greenhouse-grown story.”

Gisela commented, "I am incredibly excited to join the team at this pivotal time, where we are setting the stage for a period of growth and transformation for Village Fresh. I’m inspired by the opportunity to build upon the foundation and legacy that has been cultivated over the past 37 years in Produce by this amazing team, who are pioneers in the Greenhouse Industry within the US. After visiting the greenhouses in both West Texas and Delta, BC, I am honored to continue to build on the equity and hard work of all our employees to deliver a sustainably grown product that is not only healthy for our people, but also for our planet. From the unique locations to the latest in greenhouse technology, there is such an exciting juxtaposition between using the best modern tools out there, combined with the best parts of nature that I am very excited to highlight for consumers as we share our brand story.”

Gisela Saenz earned her Bachelor of Science at Trinity University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Duke University. She began her marketing career at PepsiCo, where she remained for nearly fifteen years, gaining experience across Brand, Global, Innovation, and Shopper roles, in areas of increasing responsibility across the organization, with positions including Doritos®, Cheetos®, and SunChips®.

She directed marketing for multi-billion-dollar brands, launched highly successful product innovations, developed global brand strategies, and led award-winning campaigns that generated billions of consumer impressions and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. She later decided to focus on her passion for bringing fresh produce to consumers and joined Avocados From Mexico as Head of Marketing, where she led the strategic direction of a multi-billion-dollar brand spanning brand marketing, innovation, digital media, consumer engagement, sponsorships, and integrated communications. During her tenure, she significantly increased brand awareness, modernized digital platforms, and led award-winning campaigns that set new benchmarks for the organization.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Sun World International, a global leader in fruit genetics and licensing, celebrated its 50th anniversary during its 2026 Symposium and Field Days, marking five decades of innovation that have helped shape the fresh produce industry. The company also honored Board Chairman David Marguleas for his 40 years of leadership and contributions to Sun World, establishing the David Marguleas Endowed Research Fund in support of UC Davis Viticulture & Enology and dedicating the David Marguleas Tasting Room at the Sun World Center for Innovation.

Founded in 1976 by David’s father, Howard Marguleas, along with Carl Maggio and Domenick Bianco, Sun World began as a California produce marketing company with a belief that better fruit could create better outcomes for growers, retailers, and consumers. Over five decades, that belief has guided Sun World from introducing the first commercialized seedless watermelon, seedless table grapes, and lemons to becoming a global fruit genetics and licensing business with brands recognized in markets around the world.

Today, Sun World’s work spans variety development, global licensing, and brand development across table grapes, mangoes, cherries, stone fruit, citrus, and avocados. The company’s table grape portfolio includes AUTUMNCRISP®, the world’s first billion-dollar table grape brand whose global growth has helped demonstrate the opportunity for branded grapes to create value throughout the supply chain through a consistent consumer experience.

“Fifty years ago, Sun World was founded on a simple but ambitious idea: fruit can be better,” said David Marguleas in the recent release. “That idea has guided the company through every stage of its evolution, from early product introductions to the genetics, brands and global connections that define Sun World today. This anniversary is a celebration of the people who built that foundation and the opportunity we have to carry it forward.”

More than 450 growers, licensees, marketers, retailers, researchers and industry leaders gathered for the company’s Symposium and Field Days, where attendees explored the next generation of Sun World innovation and the future of fresh produce. The anniversary celebration also brought former breeders to the stage alongside Marguleas, recognizing the scientific talent, shared expertise, and long-standing relationships that have shaped Sun World’s programs across generations.

Marguleas joined Sun World in 1986 and held leadership roles across the company for four decades. He became president and CEO in 2019 and assumed the role of executive chair in January 2025. During his tenure, Sun World evolved from a diversified produce marketing company into a global fruit variety development and licensing business, expanding its presence in key growing regions and building a broader portfolio of proprietary fruit offerings.

The David Marguleas Endowed Research Fund will provide enduring support for UC Davis students, faculty, and researchers whose work advances California’s grape industry, while fostering stronger connections among research, education, and the industry. The David Marguleas Tasting Room dedication recognizes his vision, leadership, and lasting impact on Sun World’s culture of discovery, collaboration, and innovation. This will be a dedicated space where Sun World teams and guests can evaluate fruit, exchange perspectives, and continue developing new consumer experiences.

“David’s deep industry knowledge and commitment to discovery have helped shape who we are today,” said Bernardo Calvo, president and chief executive officer at Sun World International. “He has helped set a standard for how Sun World approaches innovation: stay curious, bring the right people together, and keep raising the bar for what fresh produce can deliver. The research fund and tasting room reflect that legacy while creating spaces and opportunities that will help inspire the next generation.”

Marguleas influence extends beyond the company’s business evolution. He has championed the relationships that link breeding and research with growers, licensees, marketers, and retailers, helping Sun World build programs around both commercial performance and the consumer experience.

“Sun World’s story has been written by people willing to ask what can be improved and then work together to make it happen,” said Marguleas. “I am deeply honored by these recognitions, and grateful to the many colleagues, growers, researchers, and industry leaders who have contributed to the company’s success over the past 50 years.”

The 50th anniversary celebration and David Marguleas' recognition took place during Sun World’s 2026 Symposium and Field Days, underscoring a shared commitment to honoring the company’s history while investing in the people, research, and relationships that will help shape its future.

RIDGE SPRING, SC - Titan Farms, the largest peach grower on the East Coast, has achieved SQF Quality certification, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to maintaining rigorous quality control and assurance practices throughout its operations.

The certification follows the successful completion of an independent audit conducted on July 16, 2026. The audit evaluated Titan Farms’ quality management systems, including the processes used to monitor product quality, manage potential risks, and support consistency across its operations.

Many of the programs required under the SQF Quality Code were already established at Titan Farms before the certification process began. Achieving certification represents the final step in formally validating the standards, procedures, and quality management practices the company has maintained across its farming and packing operations.

“Achieving SQF Quality certification was an important next step in our continued commitment to excellence,” said Ross Williams, President of Titan Farms, in the recent release. “We want our customers to know that quality is not simply something we evaluate at the end of the process. It is integrated into how we operate every day, from our fields and packing facilities to the products we deliver.”

The SQF Quality Program is designed for organizations that have established food safety systems and want to implement additional risk-based processes to identify, control, and continuously improve product quality. Certification provides third-party validation that these quality management practices have been effectively implemented and maintained.

For Titan Farms, the achievement reinforces a long-standing approach to quality that extends from the field through packing and delivery. Quality is managed throughout the operation rather than evaluated only at the end of the process.

“Our team takes tremendous pride in the products we grow and pack,” said Taylor Berry, Director of Packing Operations & Food Safety at Titan Farms. “This achievement reflects their attention to detail, discipline, and shared responsibility for delivering the quality and consistency our customers expect from Titan Farms.”

Titan Farms will continue building upon its quality management systems through ongoing evaluation, employee training, and continuous operational improvement.

SALINAS, CA - Church Brothers Farms announced two leadership appointments in its Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) department. Abraham Cardenas has joined the company as Director of Quality Control, and Victor Soto has been promoted to Director of Field Food Safety. Both will report to Megan Chedwick, Vice President of Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance.

Cardenas will own Quality across field, harvest, cooler, facility, and supplier operations. This includes product integrity, defects, shelf life, and customer claims. Cardenas joins Church Brothers from Taylor Fresh Foods, where he spent five years as Corporate Food Safety & Quality Manager, overseeing more than 30 manufacturing facilities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He previously served as Food Safety & Quality Manager at Taylor Farms Retail in Gonzales, California, and began his career as a microbiologist at Primus Labs.

Cardenas holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Northern Arizona University and is currently completing a Master of Science in Food Safety at Michigan State University. He is PCQI and HACCP certified, has completed SPC training through ASQ, and is a former site SQF Practitioner.

Soto, promoted from Field Food Safety Manager, has spent nearly a decade with Church Brothers, joining the company in November 2016 and stepping into the Food Safety Manager role in 2023. In his new position, he will lead field food safety from grower through harvest across the company’s full U.S. footprint, totaling roughly 900 harvest employees across five counties in two states.

Soto oversees the company's LGMA, PrimusGFS, and customer audit programs. He also holds nine industry certifications, including HACCP, PSA Grower Training, four LGMA harvest certificates, pre-harvest risk assessment, and CFS sanitation, and has studied Agricultural Production and Food Safety.

“As Church Brothers continues to grow, so does our commitment to food safety and quality,” said Megan Chedwick, Vice President of Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance at Church Brothers Farms, in the recent release. “Abraham and Victor each bring a distinct set of expertise, and together they strengthen a leadership bench that’s built to move this program forward.”

MISSION, TX - Seven days. That is how much time remains to apply for the 2026-2027 Viva Fresh Clean Eating Challenge. For produce industry members who have thought about making a change but haven't yet taken that first step, two past participants have a message: say yes to yourself and see where it can take you.

Applications will remain open through September 18, giving industry members seven more days to apply for a program that has helped participants make meaningful, sustainable changes in nutrition, movement, and overall well-being.

The Clean Eating Challenge isn't about a quick fix or simply reaching a number on the scale. Participants receive education, accountability, access to health and wellness experts, and perhaps most importantly, the support of an industry community working toward healthier lives together.

For longtime participant and now CEC mentor Beth Atkinson from Elephant House PR, saying yes has meant losing 120 pounds. But five years into her journey, she says what she has gained matters far more.

“I can hike long distances, take yoga and group fitness classes, run, play sports and travel without constantly wondering whether my body will be able to keep up,” Atkinson said in the recent release. “When you've spent years modifying your life around your size or physical discomfort, those things feel incredibly freeing.”

The transformation has gone well beyond the physical. Atkinson says she has learned to recognize patterns around food and stress, found healthier ways to take care of herself and discovered forms of movement she genuinely enjoys.

“There isn't really a finish line. You just keep learning how to take better care of yourself, one choice at a time,” she said. “There is something incredibly powerful about having a tribe of people who understand the process and genuinely have your back.”

Former two-time participant Tommy Wilkins from Horton Fruit found his own reasons to make a change. After starting his journey in the 270s, he has lost 50 pounds, improved his health markers, reduced his blood pressure medication, and gained significantly more energy. Today, however, one of his biggest motivations is looking ahead.

“What you do today will yield results 10, 20 and 30 years from now,” Wilkins said. “With three young grandchildren, I want to be around, active as long as I can.”

Wilkins says he has now “graduated off the couch,” sleeps better, joins his active wife in more activities and has incorporated strength, core and flexibility exercises into his routine.

His advice to others considering the Challenge is simple.

“You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to change everything overnight. Just make a commitment to eat a little cleaner, move a little more and encourage the person beside you to do the same,” Wilkins said. “I have learned that small changes can make a big difference.”

For an industry that spends every day putting fresh fruits and vegetables on people's tables, Wilkins believes there is an even bigger reason to participate.

“Let us show people what our produce industry is really about: helping people eat better and live better.”

The 2026-2027 Viva Fresh Clean Eating Challenge is looking for produce industry members who are ready to make a commitment to themselves – not to perfection or a quick fix, but to taking the first step toward better health.

Seven days. What could saying yes change for you?

Applications are now due September 18, 2026.

Apply here: www.vivacleaneating.com.