FRESNO, CA - The 2025-26 California table grape season is officially underway, with harvesting beginning in mid-May in the Coachella Valley in Southern California. Grapes will continue to be harvested in the Coachella Valley through mid-July before shifting north to the San Joaquin Valley, where grapes are harvested into December.

To support the season, the California Table Grape Commission launched a global marketing campaign strategically developed to motivate the trade to stock and promote California table grapes, while inspiring consumers in the U.S. and across 21 export markets to choose more California grapes more often.

To encourage retailer participation, the campaign offers a comprehensive suite of promotional tools and incentives. These include bonus opportunities, digital promotions, a registered dietitian (RD) retail program, contests, point-of-purchase materials, and in-store sampling. On the consumer side, the campaign features advertising on multi-retailer shopper apps, digital coupons and rewards, influencer and RD collaborations, and targeted social media advertising that highlights recipes, snacking ideas, and the health benefits of California-grown fresh grapes.

“Grapes from California enjoy a long season, with plenty of opportunity for promotion, from summer celebrations to fall gatherings,” said Ian LeMay, commission president, in a recent press release. “With a product that has global appeal, strong demand, and a strategic marketing campaign executed by a dedicated team, the commission is yet again ready to continue promoting California table grapes in markets around the world,” said LeMay.

Throughout the season, the commission marketing team attends trade shows and expos to connect with industry partners. This week, the team is exhibiting at the West Coast Produce Expo and can be found at booth B709 and welcomes anyone interested in learning more about California table grape promotions.

REEDLEY, CA - From peaches to nectarines and apricots, the arrival of the summer season sends consumers into a stonefruit craze, and Mountain View Fruit Sales is answering the call. The grower is currently shipping high-quality early-season fruit, with volume continuing to ramp up by the week.

“We just finished our Krista early-season variety peaches, and color and flavor were excellent. We’ll be moving into June Time Peaches soon,” shared Kevin Steiner, Director of Business Development. “Nectarines are starting a little smaller than peaches, but quality is excellent, and we’ll now be moving into our Crossfire, Red Ryan, and Honey Lite varieties.”

Apricots are also in full swing, and plums and plumcots will start to harvest in early June.

“Volume on our early varieties peaked a little short of estimate, but we are still expecting a high-quality promotable crop,” Kevin notes. “We had a wet March, but our growers were still able to thin within 2-3 days of bloom, and April provided ideal growing conditions with warm sunny days and cooler nights.”

With multiple categories showing good quality and volume, retailers have various opportunities to merchandise stonefruit over the next few months.

“There are so many varieties available as we pick and pack through the season, and we’ve worked diligently to have varieties that are flavorful all summer and into the fall,” Kevin explains. “We’ll start our Summeripe program in early June, which will kick off our premium conditioned fruit that provides a ready-to-eat, flavorful consumer experience. After Labor Day, we’ll transition to our eye-catching Autumnripe label to alert customers that flavorful fruit is still available and help with late-season sales opportunities. Our goal is to create repeat purchases and capitalize on impulse purchases.”

To support this goal, Mountain View offers a comprehensive suite of merchandising solutions to amplify the stonefruit section.

“Our team at Mountain View is here to provide value to our customers in addition to shipping high-quality fruit. We provide merchandising tools and recommendations to help increase stonefruit consumption,” Kevin adds. “Stonefruit is one of the top impulse categories in the produce department. Create a destination and keep displays rotated frequently. Utilize Mountain View merchandising materials to help highlight the fruit and create eye-catching displays. Our merchandising bins are an excellent tool to help create a destination or even a secondary display location.”

Make the most of the summer stonefruit season with this top-quality portfolio and merchandising tools to match! Visit the brand's all-new website to learn more. And keep reading ANUK as we bring you the latest category updates and insights.

FRESNO, CA - A celebration is in order as we tip our hats to an esteemed industry leader! Dennis Parnagian, Owner of Fowler Packing Co., was one of three individuals awarded an honorary doctorate from Fresno State University (FSU). The recent recognition is a reflection of Dennis’s dedication to California ag and continued support of the university.

“Receiving the Honorary Doctorate from FSU’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology was very special to me because of the love I have for agriculture in California and the role it plays in feeding our nation,” Dennis shares. “Receiving this recognition is both humbling and inspiring in my support of ag and Fresno State University.”

The honorary doctorate—awarded on behalf of the California State University system and Fresno State—recognizes Dennis Parnagian for his extraordinary achievement and excellence in significant areas of human endeavor that embody the CSU system’s objectives and ideals, GV Wire reported. A loyal philanthropic partner and volunteer of Fresno State, Parnagian has served on numerous Fresno State volunteer committees, such as the Fresno State Foundation Board of Governors, the President’s Campaign Leadership Council, the President’s Commission on the Future of Agriculture, the Jordan College’s Institute for Food and Agriculture Advisory Board, and the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute Board of Directors.

“My father was my biggest mentor and influencer, and although he passed away in 1980, his teachings are stronger than ever in me today,” Dennis says when I ask him about some of the influential people guiding his journey. “During my career, I’ve learned more lessons than I can recount, but a few of the most valuable are to stay true to yourself and your mission. Don't be sidetracked by the ‘quick buck’ that diverts you from your long-term goals. And, never, ever, compromise your ethics for anything; Your reputation and name are the only things of value you have.”

Overcoming the challenges that have led to these lessons, Dennis notes that his most significant accomplishment is the completion of Fowler Packing’s succession plan, governance, and estate planning. “This was completed long ago in preparation to usher in our next generation of leadership, which we did in 2017,” he explains.

With a successful career and flourishing company headlining his journey, Dennis continues to be a vocal advocate for California agriculture.

“The opportunities and challenges in ag are stronger today than ever before,” he shares. “As the Family Farm disappears, multi-national corporations are taking a bigger stake in ag, which erodes much of the values and morals embodied in family businesses. At the same time, opportunities exist for the younger generations to farm with much more sophistication and efficiency than in the past.”

Looking to the future, the industry will continue to turn to longstanding leaders like Dennis to set an example for true success and industry advocacy. 

Congratulations, Dennis, on this well-deserved recognition!