Author Archive
Food & Function has published a report that pure orange juice produces a slower, lower rise in blood sugar than sugar-sweetened beverages, according to a new clinical trial.
Researchers conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial with 25 healthy young men, comparing metabolic responses to four beverages: 100 percent pure orange juice, a 50 percent orange juice drink with added sugar, a sugar-sweetened water drink, and a pure glucose drink.
The findings show that, despite having similar total sugar content, 100 percent orange juice led to a more gradual increase in blood glucose.
The study attributes the difference to the “fruit matrix”—the natural composition of fiber fragments, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds present in juice—which appears to slow sugar absorption into the bloodstream.
The trial found that, while blood sugar levels evened out across all beverages after about two hours, the gradual rise in glucose triggered by 100 percent pure orange juice may help explain why some people experience a gradual feeling of energy after enjoying the beverage, compared with the sharper “spike and dip” sometimes associated with sugar-sweetened drinks.
“People often assume that because fruit juice contains natural sugars from the fruit, it must act in the same way as a sugary soft drink. Our study demonstrates that they do not produce the same metabolic response,” says lead researcher Francisco A. Tomás-Barberán of Spain’s National Research Council.
The results come as glucose monitoring and concerns about “sugar spikes” gain traction among consumers, potentially influencing purchasing behavior in retail beverage categories.
“Some are using wearable technologies, like glucose monitors, to test their reaction to different foods and drinks,” dietitian Carrie Ruxton notes. “While I don’t think this is helpful unless recommended by a doctor, it’s reassuring to know that 100 percent pure orange juice is better for blood glucose control than other types of sweet drinks”.
That could mean more sustained energy levels after your morning glass of juice, Ruxton explains, while there are also health benefits.
“The fruit matrix in 100 percent juices also delivers vitamin C for immune function and skin, potassium for blood pressure, and a range of fruit bioactives for mental function and cardiovascular health,” she adds.
Sunny Cal Farms of Reedley, CA expects a strong season for its organic Thomcord grapes, shipping in mid-July, according to a press release.
Conventional and organic Kyoho grapes are expected to begin shipping in early August, followed by Niabel grapes in mid-August. CJ will also be expanding his very popular text cards to the Organic Niabel Concord and Kyoho grape packs.
The grower of specialty heirloom and gourmet grapes, announces that organic Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes will be available for the first time during the summer 2026 season, adding to its already popular Organic Thomcords, known for their flavor, as well as grower CJ Buxman’s personal texts to end customers who want to reach out directly to the farmer.
“When we first introduced our conventional Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes, consumers responded extremely favorably to their fragrance and flavor,” said CJ Buxman, owner of Sunny Cal Farms and a third-generation San Joaquin Valley grower. “That demand encouraged us to plant for the organic market four years ago, and 2026 will mark our first organic harvest.”
Niabel Concord and Kyoho are heirloom seeded grape varieties known for their distinctive sweet flavor profiles balanced with pronounced tannins. Demand for the conventional versions has been driven by their intense aroma, rich flavor, and the growing consumer interest in polyphenol-rich foods.
“Every grape variety we grow is selected for flavor and fragrance,” Buxman said. “Many modern table grape varieties have been bred primarily for size, sweetness and shipping durability. Our Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes deliver the full, classic ‘grapey’ flavor profile that many consumers remember and increasingly seek out.”
Niabel Concord grapes offer a rich sweetness balanced with bright acidity and a flavor reminiscent of fresh grape juice. Kyoho grapes are intensely aromatic and sweet with a subtle tart edge.
Both varieties are traditional slip-skin grapes, allowing consumers to pop the pulp from the skin for a sweeter taste or eat the whole grape for a more complex flavor experience. The varieties also contai
Mexico’s main avocado crop is tightening; growers are delaying harvests to prolong the season until the Loca season begins in July. California and Peruvian stocks will be shipped to help fill orders, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Mexico
- Expect limited supplies of the main crop as the season winds down
- Dry matter in the main crop ranges from 35-38%, which is common towards the end of the season.
- This higher percentage of dry matter causes fruit to ripen at a faster pace than normal. Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
- New crop Loca crop supplies will not enter the market until July
- The Loca crop is known for its lower dry matter and smaller sizes
- Mexican avocados account for 83% of U.S. demand
- Size, grade, and Country of Origin substitutions may be requested to fill orders
- Expect elevated markets and tight supplies through June
California
- Expect lower volume as California helps fill the void from Mexico
- The California season is past its peak and will wind down in late July
- California avocados account for 10% of the U.S. demand
- Size and grade substitutions may be requested to fill orders
- Expect high prices and low yields through June
Peru
- Volume is low
- The Peruvian season will run through August
- Peruvian avocados account for 7% of the U.S. demand; most is program business
Importer and marketer Jac. Vanderberg’s Sunrays is expanding beyond grapes and mandarins and into the full citrus category. Beginning this summer, consumers and retailers in the United States will see Sunrays-branded lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges, cara caras, and tangelos joining the brand’s Mandarin lineup.
According to Vandenberg, of Tarrytown, NY, this expansion represents more than simply adding a new label to citrus shelves, as retailers will now be able to source a consistent, premium citrus offering under one recognizable brand throughout the year.
“For retailers, the expansion creates opportunities for stronger brand consistency, more impactful merchandising, and simplified category storytelling across the citrus aisle—all while delivering premium fruit backed by over a century of sourcing expertise,” said the company in a press release.
Sunrays was created with the belief that fresh produce brands can drive meaningful impact beyond the produce aisle. Since its launch, the brand has combined premium fruit with a strong social and environmental mission focused on building a brighter future for people and the planet.
Now, with the expansion into the broader citrus category, Jac. Vandenberg is also bringing some of its most innovative sustainability initiatives to a wider audience.
Georgia peach loadings from the Fort Valley area have been ongoing for several weeks, but heaviest volume is expected to start in mid June.
The harvest started about 10 days earlier than usual due to exceptionally dry weather in March and April. However, that has some growers saying this is the tastiest crop they have ever produced.
Genuine Georgia, a marketing arm for the state’s peach growers, reports shipments should continue through August.
Around June 10 – 12, the first Freestone peaches will come off the trees and that’s when volume really takes off, Genuine Georgia notes. From then on, availability of these varieties will be plentiful, signifying the peak of the Georgia season. The Freestone varieties are known for pits separating effortlessly from the flesh.
Georgia peaches are shipped as far west as Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. They are also shipped into the eastern half of Canada with Toronto and Montreal being important markets. Peaches are currently also in season in California and South Carolina.
Regular consumption of red raspberries may help protect and enhance brain function and metabolic processes.
A study conducted by researchers at Tufts University and the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), shows that eating 25 grams of freeze-dried red raspberries can improve post-meal blood sugar responses and benefit brain processes and digestion within hours.
Raspberries are rich in polyphenols, a plant compound known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, and promoting cellular homeostasis. The data show that, thanks to these nutrients, the fruit aids digestive and brain processes after a carb- and fat-heavy meal.
Published in January 2026 in the British Journal of Nutrition and funded by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission, the study looked into the effects of adding 25 grams of freeze-dried red raspberry powder to the diets of 36 adults aged 50 to 70. The goal was to see if a single serving could spark improvements in metabolism and brainpower after meals.
Blood tests confirmed that including red raspberries made a noticeable impact. The group that consumed the fruit experienced an eight percent reduction in peak glucose and a lower insulin response than the control group.
The cohort also performed better on standardized cognitive tests within hours of consuming the raspberry powder, and blood samples showed reduced neuroinflammatory responses. The latter suggests a potential protective effect on the brain, which could have a positive effect later in life as the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases increases.
Britt Burton-Freeman, the study’s lead researcher and Director of the Center for Nutrition Research at the IIT, says consuming these berries regularly may have a long-lasting positive effect in health and wellbeing.
“As we age, maintaining healthy blood sugar and cognitive function becomes increasingly important,” she explains. “These results show that adding red raspberries into your daily diet may have some metabolic and cognitive benefits that are important to all of us as we age.”
Remarkably, the study also shows that benefits are immediate, kicking in only after one raspberry-infused meal.
In a press release announcing the findings, the Washington Red Raspberry Commission recognized that, given the size of the studied cohort, further research and longer-term trials are needed to confirm these results. However, the organization celebrated the results, as they add to growing knowledge on raspberry benefits and how incorporating the fruit can help support consumers’ health.
Less than a month after its first season estimate, Northwest Cherries has revised its forecast for the 2026 season down. The latest figure points to up to 19.2 million 20-pound boxes, representing a 12 percent decrease compared to initial projections.
In a press release, the industry body cited unusual weather conditions as the cause of the revision.
“The early spring frost events across the growing region required additional time to fully evaluate fruit set and assess the extent of any damage,” the statement reads. “Growers and field teams have spent the past several weeks monitoring orchards closely to determine what was held on the trees and where the crop estimate would come out.”
Changing weather patterns have also thrown the region’s usual timeline off balance. Harvest is expected to begin slightly earlier than normal in the last week of May, with a slower ramp-up that will make promotable volumes available by mid-June. The first major volume peak should arrive around June 25, followed by another strong one during the second week of July.
Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the region’s weather woes, as high temperatures over the last few weeks have accelerated crop development and pushed later-season fruit forward. This, the association explains, is creating expectations for an early harvest window across all districts.
But despite the weather and the lower crop estimate, local growers remain optimistic.
“The crop outlook continues to improve, the fruit sizing is excellent, and this is shaping up to be a high-quality, promotable crop,” reads the document.
Northwest Cherries emphasized that the latest forecast coincides with the region’s five-year average, and the season’s rhythm is shaping up as usual, with shipments tapering by early August.
California Cherries
According to the California Cherry Board, as of May 13, the state has shipped 3,501,758 (18lb equivalent) boxes.
Challenging weather conditions, including unseasonal rains and early warm temperatures at the beginning of the spring, have significantly impacted the crop. The industry is now expecting a shorter season than originally anticipated, with total shipments finishing between four and five million boxes.
Applewood Fresh, a Sparta, Michigan-based apple grower, packer, and shipper operating under parent company FirstFruits Farms, announced a new strategic sales partnership with Belding Fruit Storage, Inc. of Belding, Michigan. Through the partnership, Applewood Fresh will serve as the sales and marketing function for Belding Fruit’s apple program, further strengthening supply capabilities and customer support throughout the Midwest and East Coast.
Belding Fruit Storage, Inc. operates one of the largest apple storage facilities in the eastern United States, with storage capacity exceeding one-half million bushels. The partnership brings together two long-standing Michigan apple organizations with shared commitments to quality, service, and strategic partnerships.
“This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our presence in the marketplace as a multi-regional supply entity,” said Lon Hudson, national sales director of FirstFruits.
The expanded program will offer customers access to a robust lineup of conventional, core, and high-flavor apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, EverCrisp, SweeTango, Fuji, Gala, and Red Delicious, among others. The partnership also enhances the companies’ ability to offer stronger volumes and an extended shipping season.
“We are excited about this partnership and the opportunity to serve as the sales function for Belding’s group of generational growers and experienced staff,” said Scott Morrison, general manager of Applewood Fresh. “Partnering with them strengthens our supply chain with additional supply, capacity, storage, and cross-docking opportunities. Additionally, access to fruit grown in other regions of the state will help mitigate seasonal weather fluctuations.”
“This partnership represents an important step forward for Belding Fruit Storage and our growers. By aligning our storage and packing capabilities with Applewood Fresh’s sales expertise, we are creating a stronger, more focused path to market for Michigan apples.” said Curt Norberg, president Belding Fruit Storage.
Together, the companies aim to strengthen partnerships through expanded regional supply, increased flexibility, and collaborative planning designed to drive long-term category growth.
PUNTA GORDA, FL — Melon 1 officially launches its 2026 domestic watermelon season with strong early harvests underway in Florida and an expanded growing program that will continue moving up the East Coast and into key Midwest regions throughout the summer, according to a press release by the company, based on the Brooklyn (NY) Terminal Market.
This season, Melon 1 is growing a diverse mix of watermelon varieties including seedless, seeded, yellow watermelons, and specialty Black Jacks. Harvesting began in Florida in May and will continue through June, with Georgia harvests expected to begin in early June and run through the end of July.
Additional regional production will then follow along the East Coast throughout the summer season across South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Indiana, supporting consistent summer supply and ongoing distribution.
The company reports strong early yields and high-quality fruit coming out of the fields as retailers prepare for peak summer watermelon demand heading into Memorial Day and the broader summer selling season. Florida-grown watermelons are already arriving at retail locations across the East Coast, Midwest, and Canada as consumer demand continues to build.
“The crop looks excellent, and we’re seeing strong yields coming out of the fields,” said Trey Miller, Chief Operating Officer of Melon 1.
California and blueberry shipments are now in peak volume following the start of the season in early May.
Gourmet Trading Company of Redondo Beach, CA reports the West Coast is now the primary supplier of blues as Georgia and the Southeast are also loading, but experienced weather problems affecting volume.
Strong movement should continue through Father’s Day (June 21) with the strongest shipping window lasting for about a month. Then the season will continue through July, but supply will depend on variety and growing district.
The importer/exporter/shipper notes California is in a good position to provide a strong bridge into the Pacific Northwest blueberry season.
California fruit is producing excellent quality, with firmness, shelf-life and flavor.
Gourmet Trading company ships both conventional and organic blueberries to major retail, wholesale, and foodservice channels throughout North America.
Food & Function has published a report that pure orange juice produces a slower, lower rise in blood sugar than sugar-sweetened beverages, according to a new clinical trial.
Researchers conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial with 25 healthy young men, comparing metabolic responses to four beverages: 100 percent pure orange juice, a 50 percent orange juice drink with added sugar, a sugar-sweetened water drink, and a pure glucose drink.
The findings show that, despite having similar total sugar content, 100 percent orange juice led to a more gradual increase in blood glucose.
The study attributes the difference to the “fruit matrix”—the natural composition of fiber fragments, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds present in juice—which appears to slow sugar absorption into the bloodstream.
The trial found that, while blood sugar levels evened out across all beverages after about two hours, the gradual rise in glucose triggered by 100 percent pure orange juice may help explain why some people experience a gradual feeling of energy after enjoying the beverage, compared with the sharper “spike and dip” sometimes associated with sugar-sweetened drinks.
“People often assume that because fruit juice contains natural sugars from the fruit, it must act in the same way as a sugary soft drink. Our study demonstrates that they do not produce the same metabolic response,” says lead researcher Francisco A. Tomás-Barberán of Spain’s National Research Council.
The results come as glucose monitoring and concerns about “sugar spikes” gain traction among consumers, potentially influencing purchasing behavior in retail beverage categories.
“Some are using wearable technologies, like glucose monitors, to test their reaction to different foods and drinks,” dietitian Carrie Ruxton notes. “While I don’t think this is helpful unless recommended by a doctor, it’s reassuring to know that 100 percent pure orange juice is better for blood glucose control than other types of sweet drinks”.
That could mean more sustained energy levels after your morning glass of juice, Ruxton explains, while there are also health benefits.
“The fruit matrix in 100 percent juices also delivers vitamin C for immune function and skin, potassium for blood pressure, and a range of fruit bioactives for mental function and cardiovascular health,” she adds.
Sunny Cal Farms of Reedley, CA expects a strong season for its organic Thomcord grapes, shipping in mid-July, according to a press release.
Conventional and organic Kyoho grapes are expected to begin shipping in early August, followed by Niabel grapes in mid-August. CJ will also be expanding his very popular text cards to the Organic Niabel Concord and Kyoho grape packs.
The grower of specialty heirloom and gourmet grapes, announces that organic Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes will be available for the first time during the summer 2026 season, adding to its already popular Organic Thomcords, known for their flavor, as well as grower CJ Buxman’s personal texts to end customers who want to reach out directly to the farmer.
“When we first introduced our conventional Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes, consumers responded extremely favorably to their fragrance and flavor,” said CJ Buxman, owner of Sunny Cal Farms and a third-generation San Joaquin Valley grower. “That demand encouraged us to plant for the organic market four years ago, and 2026 will mark our first organic harvest.”
Niabel Concord and Kyoho are heirloom seeded grape varieties known for their distinctive sweet flavor profiles balanced with pronounced tannins. Demand for the conventional versions has been driven by their intense aroma, rich flavor, and the growing consumer interest in polyphenol-rich foods.
“Every grape variety we grow is selected for flavor and fragrance,” Buxman said. “Many modern table grape varieties have been bred primarily for size, sweetness and shipping durability. Our Niabel Concord and Kyoho grapes deliver the full, classic ‘grapey’ flavor profile that many consumers remember and increasingly seek out.”
Niabel Concord grapes offer a rich sweetness balanced with bright acidity and a flavor reminiscent of fresh grape juice. Kyoho grapes are intensely aromatic and sweet with a subtle tart edge.
Both varieties are traditional slip-skin grapes, allowing consumers to pop the pulp from the skin for a sweeter taste or eat the whole grape for a more complex flavor experience. The varieties also contai
Mexico’s main avocado crop is tightening; growers are delaying harvests to prolong the season until the Loca season begins in July. California and Peruvian stocks will be shipped to help fill orders, according to a press release from Markon Cooperative of Salinas, CA.
Mexico
- Expect limited supplies of the main crop as the season winds down
- Dry matter in the main crop ranges from 35-38%, which is common towards the end of the season.
- This higher percentage of dry matter causes fruit to ripen at a faster pace than normal. Markon recommends ordering for quick turns
- New crop Loca crop supplies will not enter the market until July
- The Loca crop is known for its lower dry matter and smaller sizes
- Mexican avocados account for 83% of U.S. demand
- Size, grade, and Country of Origin substitutions may be requested to fill orders
- Expect elevated markets and tight supplies through June
California
- Expect lower volume as California helps fill the void from Mexico
- The California season is past its peak and will wind down in late July
- California avocados account for 10% of the U.S. demand
- Size and grade substitutions may be requested to fill orders
- Expect high prices and low yields through June
Peru
- Volume is low
- The Peruvian season will run through August
- Peruvian avocados account for 7% of the U.S. demand; most is program business
Importer and marketer Jac. Vanderberg’s Sunrays is expanding beyond grapes and mandarins and into the full citrus category. Beginning this summer, consumers and retailers in the United States will see Sunrays-branded lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges, cara caras, and tangelos joining the brand’s Mandarin lineup.
According to Vandenberg, of Tarrytown, NY, this expansion represents more than simply adding a new label to citrus shelves, as retailers will now be able to source a consistent, premium citrus offering under one recognizable brand throughout the year.
“For retailers, the expansion creates opportunities for stronger brand consistency, more impactful merchandising, and simplified category storytelling across the citrus aisle—all while delivering premium fruit backed by over a century of sourcing expertise,” said the company in a press release.
Sunrays was created with the belief that fresh produce brands can drive meaningful impact beyond the produce aisle. Since its launch, the brand has combined premium fruit with a strong social and environmental mission focused on building a brighter future for people and the planet.
Now, with the expansion into the broader citrus category, Jac. Vandenberg is also bringing some of its most innovative sustainability initiatives to a wider audience.
Georgia peach loadings from the Fort Valley area have been ongoing for several weeks, but heaviest volume is expected to start in mid June.
The harvest started about 10 days earlier than usual due to exceptionally dry weather in March and April. However, that has some growers saying this is the tastiest crop they have ever produced.
Genuine Georgia, a marketing arm for the state’s peach growers, reports shipments should continue through August.
Around June 10 – 12, the first Freestone peaches will come off the trees and that’s when volume really takes off, Genuine Georgia notes. From then on, availability of these varieties will be plentiful, signifying the peak of the Georgia season. The Freestone varieties are known for pits separating effortlessly from the flesh.
Georgia peaches are shipped as far west as Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. They are also shipped into the eastern half of Canada with Toronto and Montreal being important markets. Peaches are currently also in season in California and South Carolina.
Regular consumption of red raspberries may help protect and enhance brain function and metabolic processes.
A study conducted by researchers at Tufts University and the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), shows that eating 25 grams of freeze-dried red raspberries can improve post-meal blood sugar responses and benefit brain processes and digestion within hours.
Raspberries are rich in polyphenols, a plant compound known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, and promoting cellular homeostasis. The data show that, thanks to these nutrients, the fruit aids digestive and brain processes after a carb- and fat-heavy meal.
Published in January 2026 in the British Journal of Nutrition and funded by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission, the study looked into the effects of adding 25 grams of freeze-dried red raspberry powder to the diets of 36 adults aged 50 to 70. The goal was to see if a single serving could spark improvements in metabolism and brainpower after meals.
Blood tests confirmed that including red raspberries made a noticeable impact. The group that consumed the fruit experienced an eight percent reduction in peak glucose and a lower insulin response than the control group.
The cohort also performed better on standardized cognitive tests within hours of consuming the raspberry powder, and blood samples showed reduced neuroinflammatory responses. The latter suggests a potential protective effect on the brain, which could have a positive effect later in life as the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases increases.
Britt Burton-Freeman, the study’s lead researcher and Director of the Center for Nutrition Research at the IIT, says consuming these berries regularly may have a long-lasting positive effect in health and wellbeing.
“As we age, maintaining healthy blood sugar and cognitive function becomes increasingly important,” she explains. “These results show that adding red raspberries into your daily diet may have some metabolic and cognitive benefits that are important to all of us as we age.”
Remarkably, the study also shows that benefits are immediate, kicking in only after one raspberry-infused meal.
In a press release announcing the findings, the Washington Red Raspberry Commission recognized that, given the size of the studied cohort, further research and longer-term trials are needed to confirm these results. However, the organization celebrated the results, as they add to growing knowledge on raspberry benefits and how incorporating the fruit can help support consumers’ health.
Less than a month after its first season estimate, Northwest Cherries has revised its forecast for the 2026 season down. The latest figure points to up to 19.2 million 20-pound boxes, representing a 12 percent decrease compared to initial projections.
In a press release, the industry body cited unusual weather conditions as the cause of the revision.
“The early spring frost events across the growing region required additional time to fully evaluate fruit set and assess the extent of any damage,” the statement reads. “Growers and field teams have spent the past several weeks monitoring orchards closely to determine what was held on the trees and where the crop estimate would come out.”
Changing weather patterns have also thrown the region’s usual timeline off balance. Harvest is expected to begin slightly earlier than normal in the last week of May, with a slower ramp-up that will make promotable volumes available by mid-June. The first major volume peak should arrive around June 25, followed by another strong one during the second week of July.
Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the region’s weather woes, as high temperatures over the last few weeks have accelerated crop development and pushed later-season fruit forward. This, the association explains, is creating expectations for an early harvest window across all districts.
But despite the weather and the lower crop estimate, local growers remain optimistic.
“The crop outlook continues to improve, the fruit sizing is excellent, and this is shaping up to be a high-quality, promotable crop,” reads the document.
Northwest Cherries emphasized that the latest forecast coincides with the region’s five-year average, and the season’s rhythm is shaping up as usual, with shipments tapering by early August.
California Cherries
According to the California Cherry Board, as of May 13, the state has shipped 3,501,758 (18lb equivalent) boxes.
Challenging weather conditions, including unseasonal rains and early warm temperatures at the beginning of the spring, have significantly impacted the crop. The industry is now expecting a shorter season than originally anticipated, with total shipments finishing between four and five million boxes.
Applewood Fresh, a Sparta, Michigan-based apple grower, packer, and shipper operating under parent company FirstFruits Farms, announced a new strategic sales partnership with Belding Fruit Storage, Inc. of Belding, Michigan. Through the partnership, Applewood Fresh will serve as the sales and marketing function for Belding Fruit’s apple program, further strengthening supply capabilities and customer support throughout the Midwest and East Coast.
Belding Fruit Storage, Inc. operates one of the largest apple storage facilities in the eastern United States, with storage capacity exceeding one-half million bushels. The partnership brings together two long-standing Michigan apple organizations with shared commitments to quality, service, and strategic partnerships.
“This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our presence in the marketplace as a multi-regional supply entity,” said Lon Hudson, national sales director of FirstFruits.
The expanded program will offer customers access to a robust lineup of conventional, core, and high-flavor apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, EverCrisp, SweeTango, Fuji, Gala, and Red Delicious, among others. The partnership also enhances the companies’ ability to offer stronger volumes and an extended shipping season.
“We are excited about this partnership and the opportunity to serve as the sales function for Belding’s group of generational growers and experienced staff,” said Scott Morrison, general manager of Applewood Fresh. “Partnering with them strengthens our supply chain with additional supply, capacity, storage, and cross-docking opportunities. Additionally, access to fruit grown in other regions of the state will help mitigate seasonal weather fluctuations.”
“This partnership represents an important step forward for Belding Fruit Storage and our growers. By aligning our storage and packing capabilities with Applewood Fresh’s sales expertise, we are creating a stronger, more focused path to market for Michigan apples.” said Curt Norberg, president Belding Fruit Storage.
Together, the companies aim to strengthen partnerships through expanded regional supply, increased flexibility, and collaborative planning designed to drive long-term category growth.
PUNTA GORDA, FL — Melon 1 officially launches its 2026 domestic watermelon season with strong early harvests underway in Florida and an expanded growing program that will continue moving up the East Coast and into key Midwest regions throughout the summer, according to a press release by the company, based on the Brooklyn (NY) Terminal Market.
This season, Melon 1 is growing a diverse mix of watermelon varieties including seedless, seeded, yellow watermelons, and specialty Black Jacks. Harvesting began in Florida in May and will continue through June, with Georgia harvests expected to begin in early June and run through the end of July.
Additional regional production will then follow along the East Coast throughout the summer season across South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Indiana, supporting consistent summer supply and ongoing distribution.
The company reports strong early yields and high-quality fruit coming out of the fields as retailers prepare for peak summer watermelon demand heading into Memorial Day and the broader summer selling season. Florida-grown watermelons are already arriving at retail locations across the East Coast, Midwest, and Canada as consumer demand continues to build.
“The crop looks excellent, and we’re seeing strong yields coming out of the fields,” said Trey Miller, Chief Operating Officer of Melon 1.
California and blueberry shipments are now in peak volume following the start of the season in early May.
Gourmet Trading Company of Redondo Beach, CA reports the West Coast is now the primary supplier of blues as Georgia and the Southeast are also loading, but experienced weather problems affecting volume.
Strong movement should continue through Father’s Day (June 21) with the strongest shipping window lasting for about a month. Then the season will continue through July, but supply will depend on variety and growing district.
The importer/exporter/shipper notes California is in a good position to provide a strong bridge into the Pacific Northwest blueberry season.
California fruit is producing excellent quality, with firmness, shelf-life and flavor.
Gourmet Trading company ships both conventional and organic blueberries to major retail, wholesale, and foodservice channels throughout North America.