Melissa De leon chavez

FRESNO, CA - An exciting partnership is taking shape, and we secured an exclusive video interview to get the inside scoop. Hear more from Greg Asta, Global Sales Manager for AC Foods based in Australia.

FRESNO, CA - Ours is an industry where the constant dance of supply and demand must be met with precision. Miss a single step, and a valuable product could spoil, deadlines could falter, and partnerships could be strained.No transition highlights this quite like an acquisition or a merger of properties and assets, a fact Famous Software recently highlighted.

SACRAMENTO, CA - Few can champion fresh produce like those who live and breathe our industry, so when experienced voices like Alex Jackson jump into public forums to champion access to fresh food and battle food insecurity, it is a rare opportunity to blend the consumer-facing with the wisdom behind the curtain.

MIAMI, FL - For years, I've heard a reference or a memory stemming from the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) STEP-UPP. I've seen the glowing classes cross the stage as they graduate at Southern Innovations, and heard of the impact the program has had. Last week, I had an amazing opportunity to glimpse through the window as the 2026 STEP-UPP Retail Class completed their hands-on summer tour with industry leaders, this time in Florida.

YERINGTON, NV - Peri & Sons is returning to the Organic Produce Summit (OPS) this year, ready for what its team notes as one of the best industry events for connection, perfect for diving into rapidly evolving trade topics like packaging, sustainability, and product visibility.

DALLAS, TX - The produce industry is often caught between a rock and a hard place, knowing that if you’re handling a crisis in the moment, it is too late, yet often being spread too thin to get ahead of a challenge before it becomes an issue. But gone are the days when outbreaks were the only time fresh produce companies needed to address consumer-facing channels.

MIAMI, FL - In tagging along with the final leg of the Southeast Produce Council's (SEPC) Southern Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals (STEP-UPP) 2026 Retail Class’ in-person meetups, I expected to be a quiet observer. Thankfully, the first thing I did within minutes of joining the troop was sit next to Autumn Marrale.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Buzzwords certainly have their place in gaining traction, but it is crucial that the practices defining the terms carry their weight. In the case of Top Brass Produce, vertical integration is much more than a turn of phrase.

SEATTLE, WA - I was wandering the Seattle Underground when I learned that the city’s first metropolitan area was almost completely leveled by fire in 1889. A story below: the streets and buildings of that chapter still stand, but above was the start of many new stories. For Erika Frayser and her family, it was the start of a business that has shaped and reshaped itself with the times.

SPRINGDALE, AR - If we all see fresh produce the way Tamra Barnes does, work will hold true joy and inspiration for years to come. That love of the industry is exactly what drew the Produce Manager for Harps Food Stores to Southeast Produce Council's 2026 STEP-UPP retail roster.