SALINAS, CA - Retailers, get ready: Naturipe Farms, one of the largest berry growers and breeders in the world, is excited to announce promotable volumes of fresh, flavorful blackberries from the Southeast, led by Georgia-grown fruit and featuring our highly-sought after proprietary variety, Southern Grace. With Mexico’s crop winding down and domestic production ramping up, this year’s blackberry season is off to a strong start.

“Our Southern Grace variety delivers exceptional flavor and consistently high quality, and we’re excited to bring this delightful berry to our retail partners at just the right time,” said Fernando Aguiar, Director of Business Development at Naturipe Farms, in a recent press release. “It’s a unique opportunity to promote a regionally grown blackberry that really stands out on the shelf — and in the clamshell.”

Naturipe’s domestic blackberry peak is expected to begin in late May and run through most of June, with promotable volumes available in both 6 oz and 12 oz clamshells. This is a great time for retailers to capitalize on consumer demand for local and regionally-sourced foods, highlighting the Georgia origins of Naturipe Blackberries and driving purchases during a key window for berry sales.

Naturipe Raspberries are also headed into a peak in June, with crops boasting both strong quality as well as promotable volumes. All Naturipe’s Raspberries are 100% proprietary varieties, and are specially bred for flavor and appearance – they last longer on the shelves and taste sweeter than others on the market. They are available in the same convenient 6 oz and 12 oz. pack sizes.

“June is a great time to run a dual blackberry and raspberry promotion,“ Aguiar added. “It’s a one-two punch of flavor, quality, and value.”

With promotable volumes, proprietary varieties, and a focus on locally grown goodness, Naturipe’s late spring berry lineup is a win for retailers and consumers. For more information on Naturipe’s offerings, contact sales at [email protected].

WASHINGTON - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) issued the following statement after the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee voted to move forward its Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill on June 5. The bill reduces the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) cash value benefit (CVB) by 10 percent for fruits and vegetables in 2026 with the goal of an eventual slash in benefits from $54 per month for women and $27 per month for children, to a mere $13 and $10, respectively – a cut of almost 75 percent.

“The committee’s proposed bill would cut $100 million from WIC in 2026 and create a pathway to an eventual $1 billion reduction in fruit and vegetable benefits WIC provides for young children and pregnant and post-partum mothers. On the heels of the president’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission report that recognized the health effectiveness of WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefit, we are deeply troubled that the committee is choosing this path. These proposed cuts would have serious consequences for connecting farm-fresh produce to low-income women and children — populations already at increased risk for diet-related health disparities.

“The current benefit amount is consistent with the 2017 National Academy of Science’s recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. As a result, young children participating in WIC have consumed more fruits and vegetables daily, while growers have experienced a wider variety of fruits and vegetables being sold through the program than when the benefit was at lower amounts. At a time when nearly half of U.S. children do not eat a daily vegetable, reducing WIC benefits would undermine national nutrition initiatives and contradict bipartisan efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, improve dietary quality, and support farmers.”

BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart is taking convenience to new heights—and new speeds—with the expansion of its drone delivery service. Now, millions of customers in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa will enjoy the convenience of receiving their orders in just minutes—making Walmart the first retailer to scale drone delivery across five states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. This rapid expansion reinforces Walmart’s leadership in tech-enabled retail, bringing the future of shopping to even more customers—right from the sky, faster than ever before.

“As we look ahead, drone delivery will remain a key part of our commitment to redefining retail. We’re pushing the boundaries of convenience to better serve our customers, making shopping faster and easier than ever before,” said Greg Cathey, senior vice president of Walmart U.S. Transformation and Innovation, in the recent release. “This expansion of our drone delivery service marks a significant milestone in that journey. As the first retailer to scale drone delivery, Walmart is once again demonstrating its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance our delivery offerings with a focus on speed.”

Next-level convenience, delivered to more customers in minutes

The new drone service will launch at 100 stores, building on the existing operations in Northwest Arkansas and Dallas-Fort Worth. Through an agreement with established drone provider Wing, Walmart can deliver a faster, more efficient service to even more customers — ensuring they get what they need, when they need it, in a way that’s both safe and sustainable. Wing operates within FAA guidelines, flying their drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) up to a 6-mile aircraft range from the store.

“This is real drone delivery at scale,” said Adam Woodworth, CEO of Wing. “People all around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have made drone delivery part of their normal shopping habits over the past year. Now we’re excited to share this ultra-fast delivery experience with millions more people across many more U.S. cities.”

Customers in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa can sign up on Wing’s website to be notified when drone delivery becomes available in their area by visiting wing.com/walmart.

Dallas-Fort Worth customers can check their eligibility for service today at wing.com/dfw.

From first flight to full speed ahead

Since launching drone delivery in 2021, Walmart has completed more than 150,000 deliveries within minutes. With the expansion, the company is set to make shopping even more convenient for its shoppers — offering thousands of products delivered directly to their door, faster than ever — in 30 minutes or less.

As Walmart grows its footprint in these new cities, customers can utilize one of the retailer’s fastest delivery options for everything from groceries to health and wellness products to household essentials, all powered by drone technology. Customers are using drone delivery for key ingredients they may have forgotten during their weekly grocery trip or for urgent care items, such as OTC cold/flu medicine, baby formula, and COVID tests. Among the most frequently delivered products:

• Fresh fruit, including bananas, lemons, and limes
• Great Value eggs
• Ice cream
• Pet food

Customers and communities continue to welcome Walmart’s expanding drone delivery operations in Dallas-Fort Worth. Earlier this year, Zipline launched its first-ever P2 drone site at Walmart stores in Mesquite and Waxahachie, Texas, offering a delivery experience that’s quieter than the average delivery truck.

Drone delivery is just one of the many ways Walmart is accelerating convenience by offering faster, more efficient delivery options. With choices like Express Delivery (as soon as 30 minutes), Late-Night Delivery, and InHome Delivery (right to the refrigerator), Walmart is setting a new standard for speed and flexibility in retail. This milestone marks a major leap for the retail industry and underscores our commitment to innovative, time-saving solutions that make customers' lives easier, faster, and more convenient.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - Apeel Sciences has been named one of Food & Wine’s 2025 Game Changers, a prestigious annual list honoring trailblazers that are transforming how we eat and drink. This honor comes on the heels of Apeel being recognized by TIME as the No. 3 Top GreenTech company in the world and No. 2 in America, as well as by Forward Fooding as the No. 1 FoodTech 500 company.

Featured in the July Innovators Issue, Food & Wine celebrates Apeel’s leadership in advancing food system transformation and sustainability through its pioneering technology, a plant-based, edible coating that extends the freshness of produce without the need for refrigeration or synthetic preservatives. Tasteless, odorless, and made from ingredients found in plants we already commonly eat, it helps extend freshness and reduce spoilage for retailers, suppliers, and consumers at every step of the supply chain.

Apeel’s innovations have also driven significant environmental benefits, including saving 166 million pieces of fruit from going to waste, conserving 1.8 billion gallons of water, and preventing more than 64 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. These outcomes directly support creating abundance for all by protecting the resources and systems that make fresh, healthy food more available and sustainable for all.

“Apeel was founded on the idea that nature has the answers we need to build a more healthful and sustainable food system,” said Jenny Du, Co-Founder and SVP of Operations at Apeel Sciences, in a recent press release. “Being named a Food & Wine Game Changer is a tremendous honor that reflects the dedication and innovation our team brings to addressing food waste, one of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Read about all of the Food & Wine 2025 game changers here: Meet the 2025 Food & Wine Game Changers Transforming How We Eat and Drink.

IMMOKALEE, FL - As we reported last month, Lipman Family Farms is strengthening its supply chain capabilities and expanding its product portfolio. With peak summer season approaching fast, I touched base with Chief Executive Officer Elyse Lipman to learn more about the ways in which the company is growing.

Lipman has been very strategic in its regional expansion planning. How does this benefit your customers during the summer?

Elyse Lipman, Chief Executive Officer, Lipman Family Farms: "This secures domestic supply even during the transitional months, which provides surety of supply and accessibility of supply. It provides local opportunities for our customers and consumers, offering promotional opportunities and an opportunity to tell the farmer’s story, bringing consumers closer to where their food comes from. We have the opportunity to support local growers in their respective regions. This provides ample opportunities to tell the farmer’s story, as well as support small, family-owned businesses and share thorough practices, such as food safety standards, packing capabilities, and marketing support."

Can you provide more details regarding the quality and availability of the listed programs?

EL: "Our newest farms in Tennessee will be supplying Lipman round tomatoes and Roma tomatoes during the summer season. We are optimistic of great quality and availability, even as we faced months of clean up and repairing from the fall season hurricanes that struck the area. We have come back stronger than ever and have great people at the TN farms dedicated to harvesting a strong crop this summer."

What efforts went into rebuilding after the hurricane?

EL: "There was an amazing dedication from our team to overcome the devastation caused by the hurricanes back in the fall. First and foremost, we supported our people and dedicated time to ensure our teams were safe and secure. Our facilities outside of Tennessee and North Carolina sent truckloads of perishables and other essentials to those affected communities.

We cleaned up what had been laid and prepared for the season ahead, which the storm had blown away. We then replanted and relaid for the season ahead."

Are there additional plans for expansion we can tease to our readership?

EL: "We are launching a fresh-cut division at our California repack facility, and there’s room to expand in all divisions of our supply chain, including value-added."

We’ll be keeping tabs on this new facility, as well as any other exciting plans Lipman Family Farms has in the works!

CENTRAL CA - When a wide-reaching menu makes choices a challenge, there are few sadder lines to deliver and receive than being out of an item a guest has selected. In my case, very recently, a side of promisingly prepped carrots.

Luckily for that restaurant's latest patrons, reports of the category are on the rise with harvest having returned to Bakersfield, California, following the winding down of the Imperial Valley. While the latter is still seeing excellent quality, its volumes are waning as Kern County’s own supply picks up to steady offerings. Good quality is reported here, according to The Source, with pricing trending slightly higher and sizing remaining strong.

“We just recently transitioned back into to the Central Valley/Bakersfield region and the carrot crop looks great!” Lisa McNeece, Vice President of Foodservice and Industrial Sales for Grimmway Farms, confirmed. “We have optimal growing conditions at this time with warmer days and cooler nights. Supplies are plentiful and the market is steady.”

For future menu recommendations, upon hearing my experience Lisa said Grimmway is introducing Carrot Crinkled fries, available in a 5 lb foodservice pack as well in retail in a 13 oz Air Fryer kit.

The USDA concurred that the overall market stands steady. For more granular details, the following is reported for Kern County out of the L.A. Terminal Market:

• Cartons 30 1-lb film bags baby peeled carrots, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 10 5-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 24 2-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 48 1-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• 25 lb sacks (loose), medium 15.00-15.50; jumbo 18.00-18.50
• 50 lb sacks (loose), jumbo 32.00-32.50

Weather Mission shows the North-Central Coast of California highs strengthening over the weekend, with near to slightly above normal temps before a break in heat. A slow-moving low-pressure system passing to the north around next weekend will deepen the marine layer to “June Gloom” levels and cool temps down closer to normal by the week of 6/16, hopefully spelling little potential for harvest disruption.

AndNowUKnow will continue to monitor this and other key categories throughout the industry.

LAKEWOOD, CO - It's almost summertime, which means it's officially time to fire things up. Whether it's a backyard BBQ, a Father's Day feast, or a simple dinner on the deck, Natural Grocers®, the largest family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer in the U.S., has everything needed to grill in good taste—and with good conscience. From 100% organic produce to regeneratively raised meats and delicious plant-based picks, the Art of Grilling: Sizzling Savings event, June 6–8, makes it easy to eat well and feel great about what's on the plate. Customers can also enjoy seasonal, good4uSM grilling recipes, give back to local food banks, and enter to win a sleek new Blackstone griddle and grilling kit (a $450 value).

Sizzling Savings with Natural Grocers

Throughout the month, Natural Grocers will be showcasing all the grilling accoutrements needed to kick off summer by the pool, the patio, the park, or the tent. June 6-8th is the perfect time to load up on deals for all those summer outings and cookouts! Save, enter to win, grill and give back with Natural Grocers.

• June 6–8: Enjoy sizzling savings with up to 44% off items like Charcutnuvo Organic Chicken Sausages ($6.25/10 oz.), Grillo's Pickles® Pickle Spears ($4.65/32.oz.), Nixie® Organic Sparkling Waters, and Organic Zero-Sugar Sodas ($1.29/ea.), plus Repurpose® 10-inch Compostable Plates ($7.39/44 ct.).
• June 6–8: {N}power® members will receive a free limited-edition 'Art of Grilling' reusable bag with purchase.
  June 6–8: {N}power® members can buy one, get one 50% off on select customer favorites.
• Through June 21: Art of Grilling Giveaway – Natural Grocers customers can enter to win a Blackstone 28" XL Omnivore Griddle with hood and Grilling Kit ($450 value). The company offers four ways to win: Count the Burgers in the June 2025 good4uSM Health Hotline® Magazine, {N}power Spend & Win, enter for a chance to win on Instagram, or shop and download the Natural Grocers Mobile App.

See the full release here.

SOUTH & MIDWEST, US - A stretch of warm, humid weather is keeping conditions active across much of the country, with daily thunderstorms expected east of the Rockies through the start of the week. While the pattern brings much-needed rainfall to many regions, AccuWeather meteorologists note that it could also lead to travel delays and brief interruptions to outdoor plans.

“A series of low-pressure areas moving into and then out of the Midwest through early this week will be the impetus for the successive severe weather risks from the Plains to the Southeast,” explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill in the news release.

So far this month, storms have delivered a mix of gusty winds, hail, and localized downpours. Areas like eastern Oklahoma and southern Kansas, already seeing above-average rainfall, could still experience additional showers in the coming days. Merrill added, “Besides the severe weather threat, repeated downpours will move over already-saturated soil. Motorists will have to watch out for ponding of water on roads, and smaller creeks and streams will be susceptible to overflowing their banks.”

Storms over the weekend affected several major metro areas, including Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and St. Louis, while Merrill noted that a few brief tornadoes may have occurred in the High Plains on Friday, with storm activity moving into the mid-South by Saturday.

Looking ahead, forecast models suggest the pattern will remain unsettled into midweek, particularly across the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley. While these storms may bring minor disruptions, they continue to support soil moisture during a critical part of the growing season.

With many graduations and summer vacations now underway, staying up to date on the forecast can help make the most of each day, rain or shine. For localized updates, keep checking ANUK.