FRESNO, CA - When it comes to succeeding in the fresh produce industry, having strategic minds at the head of the table is essential. Silo understands this well, and recently named a new team member to help lead its progress forward. It was announced that Misty Ysasi has joined the team as a Strategic Account Manager.

“I have dedicated over two decades of my career to produce and agriculture,” Misty tells me when I ask how she made her way to this new role. “I have built my career around efficiency and leadership. I've seen firsthand the critical need for robust, strategic solutions in the agriculture space, which is exactly what our software at Silo provides.”

In this new role, Misty’s main goal is to lean on her operational experience and bridge the gap between farm-level needs and the technological solutions Silo builds. Understanding how these businesses operate at a granular level will lead to valuable time savings for the customer, she says.

“With the most recent changes in leadership, Silo continues to deliver and show strength in innovation, integrity, and transparency. It is this perfect fit for me; I am a roll-up-my-sleeves, unconventional yet highly effective problem solver,” Misty elaborates. “I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity with Silo. I am looking forward to working with our legacy customers and guiding new teams, offering solutions that will not only lead to efficiencies but also create cost savings that are so integral in today's market.”

On a final note, Misty leaves me with some additional thoughts: “At the end of the day, the people in the agriculture industry are all a contributing group, who are working to make our food safe, reliable, and readily available. I have found a team at Silo that is a part of that mission.”

And in Misty, Silo has found a dedicated produce professional who will spearhead the company’s long-term growth. Congratulations, Misty! We can’t wait to see what you achieve in your new role.

YUMA, AZ - As Muslim shoppers begin preparing for Ramadan, Natural Delights® is encouraging retailers to begin merchandising dates the first week of February to meet rising demand ahead of the holiday, which begins February 17 this year. With dates playing a central role in Ramadan traditions, early, prominent displays ensure shoppers can stock up before the start of daily fasting, while also capturing incremental sales tied to Super Bowl entertaining, when shoppers are building baskets for gatherings and game-day spreads.

Based on the lunar calendar, Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon, and celebrators typically begin purchasing dates well in advance to ensure they have enough on hand for pre-dawn meals, daily fast-breaking, and family gatherings throughout the month. Natural Delights supports this demand with two-, five-, and eleven-pound bulk date boxes designed for high-traffic merchandising.

“Dates are traditionally enjoyed at the start of the day before sunrise and when breaking the fast in the evening, making them a staple throughout Ramadan,” said Alexandra Molumby, Senior Brand Manager at Natural Delights, in the recent release. “By merchandising early and pairing dates with complementary items, retailers can better support Muslim shoppers while driving incremental sales across the store.”

This creates a strong opportunity for cross-merchandising halal-friendly products such as Arabic coffee, nuts, nut butters, rice, and Middle Eastern spices. These combinations align with traditional Ramadan eating occasions and encourage expanded basket-building as shoppers prepare for a month of fasting and shared meals.

Natural Delights continues to see increased adoption of its mini- and full-size pallets, which help retailers create visually impactful Ramadan displays. The brand’s signature red bulk window boxes serve as a clear visual cue for Ramadan shoppers, helping retailers establish a dedicated destination for dates and related products.

Natural Delights’ average weekly dollar and volume sales increased 29%, according to Circana data. As the Muslim population in the U.S. continues to grow and Ramadan gains broader cultural visibility, demand for dates during this period continues to rise nationwide.

Retailers who begin featuring highly visible date displays in early February can maximize sales, enhance the shopping experience, and demonstrate cultural awareness during one of the most important seasons for date purchases.

FRESNO, CA - The Innovation in Teaching grant program is funded by California table grape growers to support creative and enriching educational projects, activities, and events for students in the table grape growing regions of California.

Twenty-five grants were awarded for $1,000 each to support projects related to math, science, agriculture, California history, art, and health. The 25 projects will reach over 3,500 students in grades TK through 12, as well as Special Education Adults, across Fresno, Kern, Madera, Riverside, and Tulare counties. Some project areas include school gardens where students will plant, grow, and harvest produce to learn about the lifecycle of agriculture; multi-media projects where students will tell the story of California’s table grape industry through art installations, photography, and videography; and technology where students will program a robotic arm to complete tasks beneficial to the agriculture industry.

“The Innovation in Teaching grant program reflects the commitment California table grape growers have to the communities where they live and work,” said Ian LeMay, president of the California Table Grape Commission, in the recent release. “By supporting creative classroom projects, these grants help teachers engage students of all ages in memorable experiences that extend learning beyond the traditional classroom.”

To learn more about the Innovation in Teaching grant program, please visit here.