Produce industry headlines: April 29, 2026

Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Here’s what’s happening in produce and grocery today.

Links today include Frieda’s getting involved in a marriage proposal, tips to combatting fraud, Sprouts affordability challenge, a new tool to battle HLB, Chilean grape and Jersey peach crop updates, and more.

As always, have something to share? Send us your feedback at news@bluebookservices.com

Top Stories

Man Proposes to Girlfriend with Purple Sweet Potato as a Nod to How They Met in the Produce Aisle

A couple met next to Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes, so the groom-to-be contacted the produce company, Frieda’s LLC, for help popping the question.

A Closer Look: To Combat fraud, trust but verify

Fraud is rising in the fresh produce industry, and it’s getting more sophisticated every day thanks to artificial intelligence.

Sprouts’ Achilles’ heel is affordability. Can its new loyalty program mend that?

The specialty grocer hopes its newly launched Sprouts Rewards will improve its value messaging, but its payoff may take a while.

New Tool Seen as a Win in the Battle Against Citrus Greening

The EPA has approved “breakthrough citrus rootstock” CarriCea T1, which helps trees defend themselves against HLB or citrus greening disease.

H-2A program nearly tops 400,000 requested positions for the first time

From October 2024 to September 2025, the USDA certified 398,258 H-2A positions, a rise of 13,358 from the previous year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Weather-impacted Chilean season gives way to early Mexican grape harvest

Growers say Chilean green grapes should finish around May 8 while red grapes will finish a few days later, but Mexico’s main season in Sonora will start early, which leads a smooth transition from Chile to Mexico.

South Jersey loses peach crop after frost and heat swings

Peach growers in South Jersey face significant losses due to damage after periods of heat followed by frost.