UNITED STATES - As Tropical Storm Francine formed in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, meteorologists warned that it could be a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds as it approaches landfall.

"Francine is expected to bring heavy rainfall and the risk of considerable flash flooding along the coast of northeast Mexico, the far lower and far upper Texas coasts, southern Louisiana, and southern Mississippi into Thursday morning," the National Hurricane Center said.

As the report from USA Today noted, there is a forecast of heavy rain and damaging wind gusts that could lead to downed trees, power outages, and structural damage. This could occur from portions of northeastern Mexico to the southern U.S., AccuWeather warned.

There is a hurricane watch in effect for a part of the Louisiana coast that stretches from Cameron to Grand Isle. This means possible hurricane conditions could occur there within the next 48 hours.

A tropical storm watch is in effect along the Texas coast as well, which means tropical storm winds are possible along the coast by Tuesday evening. A tropical storm watch also is in effect southward along the Mexican coast to Barra del Tordo.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we keep an eye on the weather!

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - As students return to school, Chiquita has sweetened the back-to-school season with a range of nutritious and delicious snack options for families. This year, the leading banana brand has introduced fun and healthy recipes that plan to delight both parents and kids and provide retailers with back-to-school promotions.

"Parents want the very best nutrition for their kids, and kids want foods that taste delicious, so Chiquita bananas are a win-win because not only are they fresh and sweet, but they’re also a great source of vitamins and energy that kids need at school and beyond," said Juliana Furlan, Chief Marketing Officer. "We are absolutely bananas about this promotion, which aims to combine the nutritional benefits of Chiquita bananas with the excitement and fun of the back-to-school season."

Families can now enjoy specially crafted recipes including After-School Chiquita Banana Bread, Chiquita Banana Peanut Butter Pancake Rolls, and Chiquita Banana Carrot Cake Muffins.

These recipes provide an enjoyable way for families to incorporate Chiquita bananas into meals while discovering new and exciting ways to use the popular fruit. According to a press release, Chiquita’s focus on nutritious and delightful snacks aligns with its commitment to enhancing the back-to-school experience for families.

Chiquita bananas offer a fresh, healthy snack option for busy school days, providing essential nutrients such as fiber, potassium, and vitamin B6. These benefits help children stay focused and energized throughout their school day.

With these new recipes and the nutritional benefits of Chiquita bananas, retailers have an opportunity to offer families healthier and more enjoyable snack options this school year.

SANTA PAULA, CA - Successful quarterly results were recently released by Limoneira Company. For the third quarter ended July 31, 2024, the supplier reported a total net revenue was $63.3 million, compared to total net revenue of $52.5 million in the third quarter of the previous fiscal year.

“We are extremely pleased with the overall performance of our business this quarter, in particular our avocados experienced robust demand and favorable pricing dynamics,” stated Harold Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This strong market response positions us to achieve record avocado revenue this fiscal year. Further, we anticipate reaching a milestone as our avocado segment is expected to contribute approximately four million to five million pounds in our seasonably softer fourth quarter for the first time in our company’s history. These results validate our strategic decision to significantly expand our avocado production by 1,000 acres over the next three years.”

According to a press release, agribusiness revenue was $61.8 million, compared to $51.1 million in the third quarter of last fiscal year. Other operations revenue was $1.5 million, compared to $1.4 million in the same quarter of last fiscal year.

“In addition to our agricultural success, our real estate development joint venture, Harvest at Limoneira (Harvest), has seen increased momentum in the current lower interest rate environment with steady home sales,” Edwards continued. “The expansion of avocado production, coupled with the ongoing expected earnings from Harvest, reinforces our confidence in achieving strong EBITDA growth into the future. The success across multiple segments of our business underscores our commitment to sustainable growth and value creation for our stockholders.”

For more from the report, click here.

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