UNITED STATES - Much of the country is in for a stretch of warm weather, with updated forecasts reported from CNN highlighting regions where higher-than-usual temperatures are expected.

Much of the southern Plains, parts of the Midwest, and areas of the Southeast are expected to see above-average temperatures over the next three days. These areas may experience conditions that feel hotter than the actual temperature due to added humidity and low wind speeds.

While much of the West is expected to remain warm but stable, some cities across the central and eastern U.S. may experience short periods of heightened heat risk, especially during afternoon hours. Most Americans will simply be adjusting to typical summer warmth, but a few hot spots could see brief surges.

Check back with ANUK for ongoing updates as this seasonal heat shapes summer routines across key growing and distribution regions.

AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Watermelon Association (TWA), the leading voice for watermelon growers and shippers across the Lone Star State, proudly announces the launch of its refreshed brand identity, including a bold new logo and redesigned website at www.texaswatermelons.com.

As a top-five watermelon-producing state in the U.S., Texas plays a major role in feeding the nation’s appetite for this iconic summertime fruit. The new look and online experience reflect TWA’s mission to support the state’s vibrant watermelon industry while connecting with consumers, retailers, and partners in fresh and engaging ways.

“Texas watermelons are big, bold, and rooted in tradition—and our new brand reflects that,” said Kristin Story, President of the Texas Watermelon Association, in the recent release. “This update brings new energy to our mission and helps share the pride, hard work, and community behind every watermelon grown in Texas.”

The redesigned website provides an easy-to-navigate platform for industry members and consumers alike. Visitors will find tools and information that highlight the value of Texas-grown watermelons, including:

• Grower and shipper spotlights
• Industry and retailer resources
• Nutrition facts and educational materials
• News on events, promotions, and the annual Texas Watermelon Queen program

The launch of the new brand marks a strategic step forward as TWA continues its commitment to grow awareness and appreciation for Texas-grown watermelons, from the field to the fork.

“We’re not just modernizing our brand—we’re amplifying the voices of Texas watermelon producers,” added Story. “This is about celebrating the generations of farming families who make Texas a leader in the watermelon industry.”

For more information on this and other Texas Watermelon Association matters, please reach out to [email protected].

WENATCHEE, WA - Retailers looking to kickstart the apple category this fall can look no further than Rave®. Grown by Stemilt in Washington state, by YES! Apples in New York, and Applewood Fresh in Michigan, Rave apples offer an advantage as the first apple to harvest of the season, with dwindling old crop apple volumes, and influencer engagement to spread the word of the apple’s outrageously juicy, refreshing, snappy zing with consumers.

“Rave is naturally positioned as the early-season, back-to-school apple,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt’s Marketing Director, in the recent release. “Available starting in early August, Rave can help you bring a fresh-from-the-tree apple eating experience to consumers before other varieties are back in stock. This year, there is a shortage of the top-selling Honeycrisp apples, so Rave can help capture early-season sales with a fresh eating experience.”

Rave is a natural blend of the popular Honeycrisp and the MonArk apple, a variety from Arkansas. The MonArk matures early with a bright, fuchsia red color, making it ready for harvest in August, a few weeks before other apples. Rave’s season is brief, running through October, fitting perfectly for back-to-school and fall apple promotions. To encourage fresh ways to enjoy Rave, whether in a lunchbox or as a snack, Stemilt is teaming up with handpicked influencers to generate excitement about the apple’s flavor qualities.

“As we inch closer to harvest, we’re seeing great size development on Rave apples to hit the desired mix of bulk and bags,” Shales added. “The weather conditions in Washington have been phenomenal for apple growth from bloom to today. July is typically a warm month, and that brings on vibrant colors in this apple.”

Rave apples will be available in bulk and bags, with 2lb. pouch bags and poly options. Stemilt also has a paper-based package that sells Rave in a 4-count scannable unit. Rave apple marketers are excited to collaborate with retailers this season to help the apple be “all the rave” in the apple category. With multiple merchandising materials to choose from, Stemilt, Applewood Fresh, and YES! Apples strive to win at the point of sale with the first apple of the season together.

“Growing Rave apples in Michigan allows us to bring a fresh, early-season option to our local retailers and consumers,” said Shelby Miller, Marketing and Business Development at Applewood Fresh. “We’re proud to offer a crisp, juicy apple that perfectly complements the back-to-school season and just might make homework taste better.”

As retailers prepare for the upcoming apple season, they can look to Rave’s regional partners. Each growing region plays a vital role in delivering fresh apples to stores early, to kick off the apple category strong.

“Rave is the apple that stops shoppers in their tracks,” said Tenley Fitzgerald, Head of Marketing at YES! Apples. “We love growing it because it helps people discover something different. That first bold bite wakes up their taste buds and shows there’s more to explore in the apple aisle. With so many snacks vying for space in shoppers’ carts, Rave kicks off apple season early with a fresh, exciting flavor that gets people ready, and hungry, for the wave of apples to come.”

SANTA MONICA, CA - Gem-Pack Berries has been featured in Bringing It To the Table, a farm-to-table docuseries produced by Reighn World Entertainment. The show offers an inside look into the agricultural industry, connecting viewers to the farmers and lands that grow their food.

The second episode of the docuseries, featuring Gem-Pack Berries, premiered Aug. 3 on Cox’s Cable YurView Channel.

In the episode, viewers join the host and executive producer of the show, Dan Reighn, and the Gem-Pack team on a journey from the strawberry fields through every step of the supply chain. The episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how fresh berries reach the market, while also showing Gem-Pack's commitment to sustainable farming practices and its support for the local community.

WASHINGTON, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) launched a bold new campaign spotlighting fruits and vegetables as nature’s original prescription for better health, lower healthcare costs, and longer lives. With headlines like “Before there were pharmacies, there were farms” and “Before there were co-pays, there were carrots,” the campaign delivers a direct message to U.S. policymakers: you can’t make America healthy again without fruits and vegetables.

“For too long, fruits and vegetables have been the quiet, essential workhorses of public health,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns in the recent press release. “This campaign reminds us of a truth we’ve always known: nutrition is the foundation of prevention, and produce is an undeniable cornerstone to any wellness plan. It’s not about replacing technology, medications, or wearables; it’s about ensuring that real, whole food is recognized as the foundation on which to build a healthier nation.”

The Fresh Produce for a Healthier America campaign, running across D.C.-focused digital outlets, directly appeals to those shaping healthcare policy to remind them that produce is a proven, essential ally in the fight against chronic disease.

It also highlights IFPA’s policy recommendations submitted to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, which include proven, actionable steps that support greater access to fresh produce and demonstrate measurable benefits for public health and healthcare savings. Among these recommendations, IFPA strongly advocates embedding produce prescriptions as a covered benefit within federal healthcare programs and expanding the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program so all students can develop healthy eating habits early. IFPA also urged the commission to support fruit and vegetable production by ensuring access to safe crop protection tools and incentivizing regenerative agriculture practices that strengthen long-term food security.

“Fruits and vegetables come with centuries of science, lived experience, and demonstrated benefits,” Burns added. “This is a call to action to invest in the farmers, programs, and policies that make fresh produce accessible and affordable for every American—because you can’t make America healthy again without fruits and vegetables.”

As the national conversation around chronic disease and healthy living continues, IFPA’s campaign urges policymakers to remember the most fundamental, effective health solution: real food as a partner to every wellness strategy.