SALINAS, CA - As part of its ongoing commitment to transparency, education, and customer connection, Markon is proud to host its upcoming Customer Tour series in California’s Salinas Valley—known as the “Salad Bowl of the World.”

Markon started off the year strong with a springtime Yuma, Arizona tour, and is now kicking off the Summer of Salinas, inviting restaurant owner-operators and Markon Cooperative’s member representatives to see the extraordinary care and expertise behind the fresh produce they sell and serve every day.

The first Customer Tour will take place on June 9, with a second scheduled for July, and the final in late August. Each tour offers a unique look into the heart of produce production. Guests typically visit active harvests of romaine or iceberg lettuce, strawberries, broccoli or cauliflower, artichokes, and a value-added fresh-cut processing facility. Walking through these fields alongside the farmers, participants gain a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship, food safety, and sustainability practices behind every carton of Markon produce.

“This experience leaves a lasting impression,” said John Galvez, Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance, in a recent press release. “There’s something powerful about seeing the passion and precision the field harvesting crews bring to their work. It helps our customers understand why we are so selective in choosing our supplier partners.”

As Markon celebrates 40 years of excellence in fresh produce, the Customer Tour program continues to be a cornerstone of its value to foodservice operators and cooperative member companies. These tours offer a rare opportunity to strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and reinforce the deep connections between farm, field, and fork.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about trust,” said Galvez. “These tours allow our customers to experience the Markon difference—not just in the quality of the product, but in the integrity of the people behind it.”

NOVI, MI - Lineage, Inc., the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, announces the planned retirement of its Chief Financial Officer, Rob Crisci. The Company has started the process of identifying a successor for the position with the assistance of a leading executive search firm. Crisci will continue as CFO until a successor is in place and will remain with Lineage through a subsequent transition period.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and Lineage’s executive leadership team, I want to recognize Rob for his important contributions to the Company, which include his leadership through last year’s highly successful initial public offering,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lineage, in the recent press release. “During his tenure, Rob and his team have recruited and developed several talented professionals across our finance organization, which will help to enable a smooth transition and set up our future CFO for success. We appreciate that Rob will continue to serve in his position and provide support during the transition process with his successor, once selected.”

Crisci joined Lineage in April 2023 in advance of the Company’s initial public offering, which launched in July 2024. Prior to joining Lineage, Crisci was a senior executive at Roper Technologies for a decade, including six years as their Chief Financial Officer.

“I’ve been honored to lead Lineage’s finance organization through our transition to the public market and look forward to continuing my service as CFO while we search for my successor,” said Crisci. “As the global market leader, Lineage is well-positioned to drive meaningful value for all our stakeholders. I’m proud of the team we’ve built and excited for the future of Lineage.”

DELTA, CANADA - WINDSET FARMS® is proud to celebrate the nomination of Franklin “Frankie” Rolando Carrillo Rodas as a finalist for the 2025 Farmworker of the Year Award, presented during the West Coast Produce Expo this past week.

Franklin’s nomination is a milestone not only for his personal journey but also for Windset Farms’ continued commitment to worker empowerment and ethical labor practices. As the first greenhouse operation in North America to earn its Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) certification, Windset is preparing to celebrate its 10-year anniversary with the program! EFI is a proud sponsor of the Farmworker of the Year award.

“Franklin embodies the values at the heart of our EFI certification,” said Tony Pacheco, Franklin’s manager, who nominated him for the award, in a recent press release. “He started with us nine years ago as one of our first temporary foreign workers, coming from Guatemala to our Canadian greenhouse. From the start he stood out, not just for his work ethic, but for his drive to grow, support others, and break down cultural barriers.”

Franklin began working in the greenhouse and quickly advanced to the grading and shipping department. Along the way, he taught himself English and began translating for both workers and managers. In his current role, where most of his coworkers speak Punjabi, Franklin has also started learning the language to better connect with the team. He is known for mentoring new workers and easing their transition into life and work in a new country.

“Franklin was the first of our temporary foreign workers to get a Canadian driver’s license and buy his own car,” said Pacheco. “That simple but powerful act encouraged others to believe they could do it too. His leadership goes far beyond his job title.”

LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing Communications at EFI, said Franklin’s story exemplifies the purpose behind the Farmworker of the Year Award: “Not only does the award celebrate Franklin's individual dedication and commitment, it underscores Windset Farms' dedication to a robust employee engagement program and reinforces their leadership in responsible sourcing.”

While many finalists of the Grow the Good award were noted for their openness and willingness to learn, Franklin’s nomination stood out for his leadership, multilingual efforts, and personal determination. He is also in the process of applying for permanent residency in Canada with Windset’s full support and a permanent role waiting for him.

As Windset approaches 10 years of EFI certification, Franklin’s story is a reflection of what’s possible when workers are empowered, heard, and supported. His nomination is not only a proud moment for him but a celebration of the values Windset has been championing for.

MONTEREY, CA - Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 California Educational Exchange Program (CA Exchange). Applicants should be individuals who have an influence over policy issues impacting California agriculture, including California Assembly and Senate members or staff as well as employees of regulatory agencies and nonprofits.

The CA Exchange, organized by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF), is an experiential learning and leadership development opportunity that brings together participants and those who work in California’s $59 billion agriculture industry. This year's program – to be held Sept. 9-12 – will visit numerous farms, ranches, and agriculture-related operations in select Northern California counties.

During the program, fellows will develop a better understanding of how public policy affects complex and diverse agricultural systems. They will also gain tools for collaboration that may lead to more opportunities for multibenefit policy development and execution. California agriculture producers are provided an equally important opportunity to better understand the perspectives of regulatory agency representatives and the unique constraints, pressures, and concerns influencing their decision-making processes.

“The California Exchange is an invaluable program that cultivates an awareness for the innovation and resilience of California's agricultural industry,” said CALF President and CEO Lesa Eidman (49), in a recent press release. “By participating in this program, individuals gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the industry, providing them with knowledge from the field that will drive positive change and ensure the continued success of California agriculture.” More information and the application are available at https://www.agleaders.org/programs/exchange-programs/. Applications are due July 11, 2025. Virtual interviews will be conducted July 29-30. For additional questions, call the CALF office at 831-585-1030.

DANVILLE, VA - AeroFarms, an indoor vertical farming company and the leading supplier of microgreens to the U.S. retail market, celebrates eight years of partnership with Whole Foods Market (WFM), working closely together to pioneer a new microgreens segment within the leafy greens category. The two companies share a common vision of ensuring access to nutrient-dense food options nationwide by offering AeroFarms microgreens in all Whole Foods stores across the country. AeroFarms currently offers seven microgreen products, celebrated among consumers for their robust taste, versatility of use, and nutritional benefits, with 4-to-40x more vitamins and phytonutrients than that of their mature vegetable counterparts.1

Since 2017, WFM has partnered with AeroFarms to conduct market research and testing in the natural channel. Together, they created a new segment within the leafy greens category, changing the way shoppers buy and use microgreens by positioning the AeroFarms portfolio of microgreen products in the packaged salad set. This merchandising strategy has shifted how shoppers use microgreens, moving them from a garnish to center-of-the-plate salads.

"From the beginning, WFM has been a fantastic partner, prioritizing innovation and recognizing the opportunity for microgreens to make a significant contribution to a healthy consumer diet,” said Dane Almassy, SVP of Sales & Marketing at AeroFarms, in a recent press release. “Whole Foods’ in-store merchandising and execution of AeroFarms in the salad section has transformed the way consumers think about and use microgreens. The wide variety of flavors that AeroFarms offers can elevate a broad array of food occasions as the primary ingredient in salads, power bowls, sandwiches, and more.”

Initially, WFM took a risk in devoting valuable real estate to microgreens in their salad set, realizing the market growth opportunity and the consumer appetite for sustainable foods that don’t sacrifice taste, texture, and nutrition.2,3 With the longest shelf-life on the market and a FlavorSpectrumTM of versatile flavors that pack exceptional nutrition value, AeroFarms microgreens have exceeded expectations and delivered sales velocity that exceed or are on par with that of branded packaged salad sets.

“Partnering with AeroFarms, who is laser-focused on accessibility of nutrient-dense food options, was a no-brainer,” said Whole Foods Market Global Produce Category Manager, Eric Cusimano. “AeroFarms delivers microgreens with the longest shelf life on the market, which enables us to deliver their microgreens to shoppers across the nation. Our ethos is to nourish people and our planet, and AeroFarms shares that – making nutrition-packed microgreens accessible to U.S. shoppers while using less resources, like water and land, to do so.”

Today, AeroFarms is the leading supplier in the U.S. microgreens category, with over 70% share of the U.S. retail market. AeroFarms’ portfolio of seven microgreen products, including the company’s new and first-to-market in the U.S., Micro Bok Choy, are available nationwide in Whole Foods Market stores.

To find AeroFarms microgreens at a Whole Foods Market store near you, visit www.aerofarms.com.

MIDWEST, UNITED STATES - A busy weather pattern is setting up across the Midwest United States this week, bringing daily opportunities for showers and thunderstorms, some of which could turn severe. From the southern Plains to the Northeast, changing conditions are expected to keep things active through the weekend, but also offer much-needed rainfall in some areas.

According to AccuWeather’s Guy Pearson, “We’re tracking a prolonged stretch of severe weather potential, but with good forecasting and awareness, folks will have time to prepare.” He explained that the setup involves warm, moist air from the Gulf meeting cooler air from the west, with an overhead jet stream providing the lift needed to spark storms.

The Weeks Breakdown

• Thursday into Friday: A fresh round of storms will likely pop up across the southern Plains, including parts of West Texas, Oklahoma, and eastern New Mexico. There’s a small chance for tornadoes, but the primary concern will be strong winds and localized flooding in areas that see repeated storms. Meanwhile, the Northeast may see passing downpours and small hail.

• 

• Friday: Storm chances stretch from Texas to the Appalachians, with Oklahoma, northern Texas, and southwestern Arkansas likely to see more concentrated activity. Storms may also develop across Georgia, the Carolinas, and southern Virginia, offering cooler air and brief rain relief during the day.
• Saturday: The storm track lifts north again, targeting parts of the Northeast with more quick-moving storms. These could bring brief gusts and moderate rain, but not everyone will be affected.

Looking ahead, parts of the Gulf Coast could also see storm activity by Sunday, keeping conditions dynamic but manageable for those staying weather-aware.

Storms may be frequent, but they’ll also bring important rainfall and opportunities to cool off. For full regional breakdowns and alerts, check ANUK.