GRAND FORKS, ND - Ten Acre Marketing has strengthened its account services team with the addition of Megan McDonald as account manager and Lexi Kirkham as account coordinator. Both bring impressive experience growing brands through strategic marketing and storytelling.

“The businesses we serve need smart messaging and creative campaigns, but they also need a team that knows their business, sweats the details, and takes ownership of client success,” said Leah Halverson, founder and CEO of Ten Acre Marketing, in the recent release. “Megan and Lexi have demonstrated that they can listen, anticipate needs, provide solutions, and make lives easier with great service. I’m excited to see what they can achieve for Ten Acre’s clients.”

Account Manager, Megan McDonald

Megan has experienced agriculture from both sides of the fence, as a marketer and as a farmer. She grew up on a grain operation near Dike, Iowa, where she still helps today. From 4-H in grade school to graduating from Iowa State University in agricultural business, marketing, and agronomy, her upbringing gave her a passion for agriculture and a knack for communication. Megan has more than 10 years of experience in agriculture, working in equipment, seed, digital enablement, and dealer networks. Her specialties include building relationships, project management, content creation, and aligning vision with strategy.

Account Coordinator, Lexi Kirkham

Lexi’s public relations and agency experience helps brands earn attention and trust. Her work with clients on media relations, strategic planning, and pitches has earned coverage in top-tier media outlets. A Southern Methodist University graduate, Lexi uses creativity and strategy to make brands visible and memorable to the audiences that matter most.

Developing Deeper Relationships with Clients

“Megan and Lexi bring complementary strengths to an already outstanding account team,” said Brock Nemecek, vice president of client services. “They’re organized, curious and ready to jump in with ideas. Most importantly, they have instincts that make for great client service. They watch for client needs, keep work moving, and keep a close eye on the goals.”

The new hires expand Ten Acre’s account service depth as the agency continues to grow and work with agricultural brands across North America.

Megan and Lexi will work alongside Ten Acre’s strategy, creative, public relations, and media teams to help clients build stronger brands that ultimately advance agriculture.

YUMA, AR - Natural Delights® is entering the 2026-27 crop year with strong quality, ample volume, and an early harvest, giving the nation’s leading Medjool date brand a solid foundation to continue building on the significant growth the date category has experienced over the last five years.

Harvest began in early August in Bard Valley, where favorable weather throughout the growing season has produced strong fruit quality and volume expected to meet retail demand throughout the coming year. The conditions are a welcome change from the previous two seasons, when rain arrived early in the harvest window and created additional challenges for growers.

“We couldn’t ask for a better way to begin the new season,” said David Baxter, CEO of Natural Delights, in the recent release. “The fruit looks excellent, we feel very good about our volume, and the early harvest puts us in a strong position to support our retail partners throughout the year. Just as importantly, we’re entering the season with tremendous momentum behind the category and some exciting plans for how Natural Delights will continue driving that growth.”

Over the past five years, the date category has nearly doubled and grown to become the largest segment within dried fruit at retail, according to Circana data. Natural Delights has fueled that expansion through sustained investment in consumer education, product innovation, merchandising and marketing programs designed to introduce more shoppers to Medjool dates and expand the number of occasions that people enjoy them.

“We’ve spent years investing in the entire category because we believe the opportunity for Medjool dates extends far beyond a single holiday, recipe or consumer group,” Baxter said. “Every time we help someone discover dates as an everyday snack, a wellness ingredient or something they can incorporate into their normal routine, we create another reason for them to come back to the produce department. That commitment to growing consumption has been central to Natural Delights’ strategy.”

Natural Delights will continue that investment during the 2026-27 season with an expanded marketing program designed to drive awareness, trial and repeat purchase while supporting retailers in capturing the category’s continued momentum. This year’s efforts will include exciting new developments that Natural Delights plans to preview at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show in October.

The brand will also build on what has become a highly successful public relations program incorporating consumer and food media, influencer partnerships, registered dietitian support, and experiential events that showcase Medjool dates as both a convenient everyday snack and a versatile health and wellness ingredient.

Cross-promotional advertising and digital marketing efforts will further connect Natural Delights with consumers online, helping the brand introduce dates in new contexts and alongside complementary products and lifestyle occasions. Together, those programs are designed to keep Medjool dates and specialty date varieties visible throughout the year while creating more opportunities for retailers to merchandise the category beyond its traditional seasonal peaks.

“Growing a category requires consistency,” Baxter added. “It’s not one campaign or one innovation. It’s showing up year after year with great fruit, strong retail partnerships, consumer education and marketing that keeps finding new ways to make dates relevant. We’re incredibly proud of the role Natural Delights has played in growing this category over the past five years, but we believe there is still tremendous runway ahead.”

With strong new crop supply and an expanded marketing strategy in place, Natural Delights sees the upcoming season as another opportunity to build on the category’s momentum while continuing to broaden how and when consumers enjoy Medjool dates.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in a recent release that it approved an assessment increase under the Mushroom Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Program. On June 1, 2026, the Mushroom Council voted unanimously to recommend the assessment increase in a two-step phase.

The Mushroom Council sees the increased investment as a way to build demand and connect the category with a new generation of shoppers. Amy Wood, President of the Mushroom Council, pointed to the industry’s commitment behind that effort.

"The board voted unanimously to invest at the maximum allowable rate. Growers see the opportunity to grow this category, and they're backing it with a clear focus: reach the next generation of consumers, make mushrooms more relevant to how they eat and shop, and build demand that lasts," said Wood.

Effective Jan. 1, 2027, the assessment rate will increase from $0.0075 cents per pound to $0.00875 cents per pound of mushrooms marketed or imported for the fresh market in the U.S. Effective July 1, 2027, the assessment rate will increase from $0.00875 cents per pound to $0.01 cents per pound of mushrooms marketed or imported for the fresh market in the U.S. The increase will affect producers and importers who produce or import an average of more than 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually for fresh use.

The Mushroom Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Order, section 1209.51(b), limits the assessment rate to $0.01 per pound and allows the council to change the rate of assessments for a fiscal year at any time with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the Mushroom Council in accordance with the Mushroom Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1990 and the order. Under the order, domestic producers and importers pay an assessment to carry out an effective and continuous program of promotion, research, and consumer and industry information designed to help expand, maintain, and develop markets and uses for fresh mushrooms. The program is administered by council members who are selected by the Secretary of Agriculture.

More information about the council is available on the AMS Mushroom Council webpage or at www.mushroomcouncil.com, or contact USDA Marketing Specialist Kelly Robertson at (202) 720-8085 or [email protected].

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 21 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

PELION, SC - Leadership starts with a desire to improve the lives around you, transform the work you do, and elevate the industry you serve. Fresh produce is defined by that kind of leadership, and carrying it forward is the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) community and its Next Generation Leadership Academy (NGLA).

Celebrating another year-long program built on conscious leadership ideals, the Academy counts Christine Jackson, Director of Sales and Marketing at WP Rawl, among its 2026 class. She joins me to share her experience and where the program hits home.

"I believe the future of produce leadership is about being willing to adapt while staying true to the values our industry was built on. We need leaders who listen to their teams, embrace new ideas and technology, and are willing to work together to address challenges our industry faces like labor, changing consumer needs, and sustainability," Christine begins. "Being part of NGLA was such an amazing experience!"

Throughout the year, participants gain fresh insights, sharpen leadership skills, and learn to meet industry challenges with a growth mindset. The Academy runs on monthly two-hour virtual sessions and up to three in-person sessions, each built around content relevant to where participants are headed in their careers.

"One of the biggest lessons I learned is that we all have different strengths and weaknesses, and that's okay. Doing a deep dive into The Working Genius helped me better understand where I naturally thrive, where I may struggle, and how important it is to have people around you who help bridge those gaps," Christine reflects. "Good leadership isn't about being great at everything. It's about knowing what you bring to the table, recognizing what others bring, and working together to get the best result."

As Christine shares, the program opens space for reflection and, just as much, for connection with those chasing the same goals.

"I've learned a lot about myself, and I have grown as a leader, but it's the relationships I've made that have probably meant the most to me," she says. "I've formed lasting friendships and now have a special group of people I can call when something comes up, whether I need advice, a different perspective, or just someone to bounce ideas off of. Having that kind of support from people who understand the produce industry is truly invaluable."

Leadership is not a title you receive. It is a practice you choose, again and again. And in Christine and her fellow 2026 class members, fresh produce has a next generation choosing it now.

ORLANDO, FL - The Colombia Avocado Board (CAB) reports that the country’s avocado production and export operations remain largely unaffected following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10.

CAB Managing Director Manuel Michel has contacted CAB exporter association members and spoken with avocado growers operating in several of the affected regions to assess conditions across the industry. Based on those conversations, reports indicate that avocado orchards, packing facilities, infrastructure systems and principal transportation routes are operating without limitations attributable to the earthquake.

The earthquake was centered near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó in western Colombia. Effects were reported across the coffee- and avocado-producing region departments of Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda, as well as Valle del Cauca. Most serious damage reports were from older buildings and areas in cities including Pereira, Cali, Quibdó, Armenia, and Manizales.

Landslides temporarily affected roads in avocado-producing areas, but major routes have been cleared, and smaller roads are expected to return to normal operations shortly.  Antioquia, Colombia’s largest avocado-producing department, reported little to no disruption to avocado orchards, infrastructure, or agroindustry operations.

“CAB’s assessment indicates that Colombia’s Hass avocado industry remains capable of supplying the U.S. market during the upcoming season without any expected changes,” Michel said in the recent release. “Although the industry’s infrastructure was spared, we understand that some employees, their families, and their communities have experienced personal losses, and the industry is supporting them. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected as recovery efforts continue.”

Colombia’s main-season harvest has begun in some areas and is expected to build gradually as we move toward October and November, with the peak harvest period anticipated around January.

One report from Colombia stated, “We did not experience significant damage to our operations in the departments of Quindío and Caldas or at our packing facility in Antioquia,” said Sergio Plata, country manager for Baika Fruits in Colombia. “Our employees are safe, and we are actively supporting affected communities in their recovery efforts. Our main-season harvest began in August, and we expect to have fruit available for shipment to the United States beginning around week 38.”

Ricardo Mejia, general manager of Fruty Green, which has operations in Risaralda, also reported that the company is operating normally after the earthquake. “We began harvesting during week 33, and the main-season crop is showing encouraging quality and volume. El Niño and the possibility of below-normal rainfall remain a concern, but growers are preparing and taking the steps available to manage those conditions.”

While avocado orchards and packing facilities generally avoided damage, the full extent of personal losses is still being assessed. Industry support efforts are being coordinated with Corpohass, Colombia’s association of Hass avocado growers and exporters. Those interested in additional information on how to contribute may contact Katheryn Mejia, executive director of Corpohass at [email protected]

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers from whom they purchased produce and for failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

The following business and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

Sorbatto Fresh LLC, operating out of Wapato, Wash., for failing to pay a $121,650 award in favor of an Oregon seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jeff Weijohn and Terrilee Weijohn were listed as members/managers of the business.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables.

USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. 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 Penny Robinson-Landrigan, PACA Dispute Resolution Branch, at (202) 720-2890 or [email protected].

BENSON, NC - The North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission Foundation has been awarded a $138,173 grant from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission (NCTTFC) to support a new project, “Unified Approach in Eradicating GRKN,” focused on the threat of Guava Root-Knot Nematode (GRKN).

The funding will advance a comprehensive, coordinated strategy designed to protect the integrity of North Carolina’s agricultural economy and strengthen safeguards for the state’s sweetpotato industry. The grant agreement began Nov. 1, 2025, and provides resources for the Foundation to develop and carry out a specialized Scope of Services focused on addressing GRKN and supporting long-term industry sustainability.

“This partnership with the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission allows us to take a proactive stance against a pest that threatens our agricultural heritage,” said Michelle Grainger, executive director of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission Foundation, in the recent release.

The project reflects a shared commitment to protecting North Carolina agriculture through coordinated action, responsible stewardship, and industry collaboration. The Foundation will work closely with the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to fulfill project goals through Oct. 31, 2027, and will provide regular semiannual programmatic and financial reports to the state.

Since receiving the grant, the Foundation has engaged retired North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services plant pest specialist Ann Gallagher to support the project. Gallagher brings more than 20 years of service with the department, along with extensive hands-on knowledge of sweetpotato production and plant pest management. Her experience and strong reputation within the industry will be valuable in advancing the Foundation’s efforts to address GRKN. We are fortunate to have Ann and her expertise leading this charge.