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    <title>Global Produce and Floral Show</title>
    <link>https://www.thepacker.com/topics/global-produce-and-floral-show</link>
    <description>Global Produce and Floral Show</description>
    <language>en-US</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:56:46 GMT</lastBuildDate>
    <atom:link href="https://www.thepacker.com/topics/global-produce-and-floral-show.rss" type="application/rss+xml" rel="self" />
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      <title>National Mango Board’s Director Reflects on 20 Years of Industry Growth</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/national-mango-boards-director-reflects-20-years-industry-growth</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        The National Mango Board celebrated its 20-year anniversary during the recent International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show in October.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Over those two decades, mango demand by U.S. consumers has grown considerably and the complex mango supply chain has united, according to NMB Executive Director Ramón Ojeda. But those successes haven’t come by waving magic wands, he adds.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It’s not an easy task, because you got to get people together under one vision and then row in one direction,” Ojeda tells The Packer, reflecting on NMB’s history. “That’s what these folks did 20 years ago. It’s been 20 years of hard work and dedication of over 90 board members along the way who have lent their time and talents to get us to where we are.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;h2&gt;Mangoes by the Numbers&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        According to USDA records, 20 years ago, just under 2 pounds of mango was available per person in the U.S. For context, that’s roughly where 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/markets/fruit/few-consumers-are-familiar-papayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;papaya is today&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        .&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“If you look 20 years ago, we weren’t even on the radar,” Ojeda says. “For example, today we ranked No. 10 in volume velocity in retailers nationwide. Twenty years ago, we weren’t even in the top 25.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Mangoes — if they were considered at all by U.S. consumers — were seen as an exotic treat only available for a few weeks in summer, he says. Getting consumer attention was one of the biggest challenge in those early years, he adds.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Things are different now.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;According to the NMB, there were 3.5 pounds of mango available per person in the U.S. in 2024, equating to 130 million boxes of mangoes delivered to the U.S. annually, valued at $929 million in 2024. And mangoes are available year-round.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/outlooks/113001/FTS-382.pdf?v=21640" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;According to the USDA&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , the first half of 2025 saw a 42% increase in fresh mango imports compared with the same time in 2024. This increase came in large part from record-setting import volumes from Peru during the first three months of 2025.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Ojeda adds that the board’s recent surveys show that roughly one in four U.S. households have a mango in the pantry today.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Imagine that; after 20 years, one in four,” he says. “Imagine the opportunity of the three other households.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;h2&gt;Education Then, Now, Into the Future&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        Tapping into that opportunity will take continued dedication to education, the perennial challenge that the NMB has tackled throughout its tenure.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Education efforts over the years have included a lot of promotion to capture consumer attention. According to the NMB, those efforts have been quite successful, showing a $16 return to the industry for every $1 spent over the past 10 years. Direct consumer education has focused on how to select, handle and use mangoes, these being areas that even interested newcomers to the fruit 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/retail/most-consumers-need-help-mastering-mango-ripeness" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;are often uncertain about&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        .&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;But it’s not just the need to educate consumers, Ojeda adds. The entire supply chain has important roles to play in driving mango demand by delivering good mango-eating experiences to consumers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Ojeda notes that there is a lot that can go wrong along the mango’s complex supply chain, which involves numerous producers across several different countries, not to mention distributors and retailers across the country. Anything from picking a mango at the wrong time down to a retailer putting unripe mangoes in cold storage can result in a bad eating experience for the consumer.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Educating the supply chain on everyone’s critical role in supporting consumer demand was one of the biggest barriers the NMB had to break “back in the day,” Ojeda says. Looking forward, however, he describes the need for 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/markets/marketing/organization-seeks-mangoes-every-shopping-cart-2030" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;a holistic focus on growing the industry&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         and educating consumers on how mangoes can fit into their lives and values.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Our biggest challenge is to grow a great, constant supply of good quality mangoes while at the same time educate consumers in all the good quality properties of mango regarding versatility and nutritional values and great flavor,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;h2&gt;Honor to the Mango and Its Pioneers&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        Ojeda calls the mango an “amazing, super delicious, ultra nutritious fruit” and invites U.S. consumers who have never tried it to pick one up next time they go to the grocery store.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It is called the king of fruits around the world,” he points out. “Along with bananas, it’s one of the most popular fruits in pretty much all of the rest of the world, but it’s not well known here in the U.S.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;That is why the NMB has been so critical to the mango industry, he adds. He calls himself just the messenger as the executive director who, together with his team, follow the vision of the NMB’s board members over the years.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“The pioneers — if I may call them that — who got together to put the work in to get the National Mango Board going and every board member between 2005 and now — all 90 of them — deserve our appreciation and recognition just because of the work they do,” Ojeda says. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The success that the NMB and the U.S. mango industry has seen over the past 20 years “takes hard work and dedication of so many people,” he adds. “We’re so glad that we are a part of it.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Your next read:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul class="rte2-style-ul"&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/markets/marketing/organization-seeks-mangoes-every-shopping-cart-2030" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Organization Seeks ‘Mangoes in Every Shopping Cart by 2030'&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/retail/most-consumers-need-help-mastering-mango-ripeness" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Most Consumers Need Help Mastering Mango Ripeness&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/markets/fruit/few-consumers-are-familiar-papayas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Few Consumers are Familiar with Papayas&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:56:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/national-mango-boards-director-reflects-20-years-industry-growth</guid>
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      <title>Little Leaf Farms Marks Decade of Transformation, Growth</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/little-leaf-farms-marks-decade-transformation-growth</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — With the opening of a fourth greenhouse at its campus in McAdoo, Pa., earlier this month, Devens, Mass.-based Little Leaf Farms is closing out the year on a high note and reflecting on a decade of continued growth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Packer sat down with Paul Sellew, founder and CEO of Little Leaf Farms, at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show to learn more about what’s ahead for the company.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Prior to Little Leaf it was primarily two valleys in California providing almost 100% of the leafy greens to the country,” Sellew says. “I don’t think that’s a healthy food system.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Sellew says while leafy greens used to travel some 3,300 miles from California to Massachusetts, where Little Leaf is headquartered, the greenhouse grower with facilities in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and soon Tennessee is servicing 54% of the country with leafy greens.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The McAdoo site now totals 40 acres and supports the company’s growth into the Southeast, Midwest and Canada, making it the largest controlled environment agriculture leafy greens facility in the world, Sellew says. The McAdoo greenhouse will support Little Leaf’s romaine leaf lettuce, which has doubled in national distribution since its launch in July.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“The market loves our romaine leaf lettuce,” says Sellew, adding that more than 8,000 grocery stores carry the company’s products.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Sellew says Little Leaf’s third campus in Manchester, Tenn., will be in production next and is expected to open in fall 2026 to support the Midwest, Southeast and Texas markets. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Eventually we’ll expand nationally,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;How has Little Leaf Farms succeeded where others in CEA have failed?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Billions of dollars have been vaporized, with vertical farms contributing to the vast majority of it,” Sellew says. “Greenhouse has been here before, it’s here now, and it will continue to be in the future.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Sellew adds that great teams across its ops, logistics, sales and marketing have also contributed to the company’s growth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Little Leaf Farms CEO adds that the company is strategic in its growth, looking for new markets with available infrastructure and adequate population density close to where the leafy greens will be grown.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We have catalyzed the growth of CEA,” Sellew says. “We’re a packaged salad company that can deliver a fresh eating experience to most markets within 24 to 36 hours of harvesting.”
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 19:00:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/little-leaf-farms-marks-decade-transformation-growth</guid>
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      <title>Fresh Produce Focuses on Growth, Health Amid Tariff and Trade Tensions</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/fresh-produce-focuses-growth-health-amid-tariff-and-trade-tensions</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — While tariffs and trade uncertainty persist, the fresh produce industry remains focused on growth and increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. This commitment to 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/fight-fresh-continues-says-ifpa-ceo-cathy-burns" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;“Fight for Fresh”&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         was evident in every aisle of the recent International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &gt;


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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;The Canadian Produce Marketing Association‘s Shannon Sommerauer and Jeff Hall pose with some uniquely Canadian treats at the IFPA Global Show.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;CPMA Talks Tariffs&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        At the Canadian Produce Marketing Association booth, Shannon Sommerauer, senior director, government relations, discussed the importance of free trade for fresh fruits and vegetables in North America.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re happy the Canadian government removed most of the retaliatory tariffs,” says Sommerauer, referring to the government’s move on Sept. 1. But she also says it feels a bit like the “calm before the storm.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re looking to work with the U.S., Mexico and Canada to put the message to all three governments that tariff-free produce is what we need,” she says. “We hope that by putting that collective voice to all three governments, we really mitigate any unintended consequences.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Sommerauer says the U.S. is a critically important export market for Canada, especially for highly perishable produce.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;While potatoes can travel to export markets with relative ease, cucumbers are another story, she says. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It’s a key reason the U.S. has been such an important market for us,” she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re hearing from everyone that they don’t want tariffs,” Sommerauer adds. “They’re no help in making fresh food more accessible.”&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &gt;


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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;The Equifruit team celebrates feeling good about paying banana farmers fairly.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;‘Banana Badasses’ Pose for Wellness&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        Known for its attention-grabbing marketing and dynamic trade show booth themes — all in the name of fairer wages and better conditions for banana farmers — Equifruit didn’t disappoint at the IFPA Global Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Montreal-based Fairtrade International-certified banana company promoted fair-trade bananas as the ultimate wellness product. It’s simple, says the Equifruit team: “Wellness is all about feeling good. And paying banana farmers fairly makes you feel good.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;In September, Equifruit was named one of Canada’s top growing companies by The Globe and Mail for a fourth consecutive year. Ranked No. 174 with a growth rate of 195%, it marked the company’s highest position on the list yet, up from No. 229 in 2024.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Even with the growth, Equifruit still has work to do in the U.S. market, where it continues to communicate its message that a switch to fair-trade bananas only costs $5 a year, says Jennie Coleman, president and co-owner of Equifruit.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Now tariffs are threatening to disrupt these efforts.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We finally got to a place where consumers have accepted [a modest price increase on fair-trade bananas] and then tariffs eat all that up on a product that can’t be grown in the U.S.,” Coleman says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;But Coleman is keeping her eye on the prize of better and fairer conditions for banana growers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re excited and amazed by our brand recognition,” she says. “Tariffs will pass, and our values will remain. And when people are ready, we’ll be there.”&lt;br&gt;
    
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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Lipman Family Farms’ Morgan Stuckart discusses the benefits of being a vertically integrated company.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Jennifer Strailey)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Lipman Family Farms Focuses on Fresh Cut&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        Lipman Family Farms, a vertically integrated grower-packer-distributor, grows tomatoes in California, Florida, Canada and Mexico, giving it a unique perspective on both tariffs and the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We support the fairest trade and prices for all,” says Lipman Family Farms Marketing and Communications Manager Morgan Stuckart. “It affects everyone.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Lipman operates greenhouses in both Jalisco, Mexico, and in Canada, enabling year-round supply; while there may be tariff and trade turbulence, the company is focused on what it can control — including expanding the fresh cuts side of its business for both retail and restaurant foodservice.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Fresh cut has grown exponentially for us in the last 10 years,” Stuckart says. “We’ve grown from three facilities to now eight.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Stuckart says Lipman’s customers are looking for more convenience, labor-saving solutions and the highest food safety standards, which its custom, fresh cut program provides.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Labor is always an issue,” she says. “With our products our foodservice customers can make the most of their time in the back of the house. Restaurant staff can go home an hour earlier to their family because they’re not chopping after close.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Stuckart says this support on labor and consistency of food safety to support growth has been a “big ask” from Lipman’s customers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And as a vertically integrated company, Lipman has greater control over the entire field to table process.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Ninety-five percent of the seeds we grow were created in house by our genetic scientists,” says Stuckart, pointing to Lipman’s Crimson Tomatoes that are field-grown from a proprietary seed.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re continuing to improve our tomatoes with better disease resistance and stem strength,” she says. “Crimsons are great for slicing and have a stronger skin. They also have a deep red color, meatier center and great flavor.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We truly created the Crimson Tomato from the ground up,” she says.&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;h2&gt;&lt;b&gt;Zespri Marks Record Season&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        Despite economic headwinds and competition from other fruit categories this summer, Zespri says it fueled double-digit growth with an earlier start to the season, expanded distribution of Zespri green, organic and Zespri RubyRed and continued strong consumer demand for Zespri SunGold kiwifruit. Zespri says these efforts have made kiwifruit the fastest-growing category in the fruit department, according to Circana data.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Canada currently takes 1.5% of total global kiwifruit production, says Zespri CEO Jason Tebrake, who adds the goal is to reach 3% to 4% of global production with Canada in the next four to five years and then “see if it continues to grow from there.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;But the U.S. is a “growth market,” says Tebrake. “This was the biggest season we’ve ever had. We increased volume to the U.S. by 30%.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The brand says it’s investing in distribution and shopper programs that not only grow Zespri but the entire kiwifruit category.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Tebrake says that “even with tariffs concerns, [Zespri] is taking a long-term strategic” view. “We’re focused on giving the consumer a great experience,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Your next read: &lt;/b&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/heat-fresh-produce-weathers-tariffs

" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;The Heat Is on as Fresh Produce Weathers Tariffs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;br&gt;
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:27:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/fresh-produce-focuses-growth-health-amid-tariff-and-trade-tensions</guid>
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      <title>ECIP Hosts Leadership Circle Celebration at IFPA Show</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/sustainability/ecip-hosts-leadership-circle-celebration-ifpa-show</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Ethical Charter Implementation Program and its sponsors — Windset Farms, GoodFarms and Stemilt Growers — hosted the 2026 Leadership Circle Celebration during the International Fresh Produce Association’s recent Global Produce and Floral Show. The celebration recognized the 34 supplier companies that have earned all five stars in the online ECIP Learn, Assess, Benchmark platform since the new engagement criteria were introduced in July.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;During the event, representatives from Costco, Kroger, Sam’s Club and Walmart spoke about the program and celebrated the work of the companies in the ECIP Leadership Circle.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;ECIP’s Learn, Assess and Benchmark is an online platform designed by Equitable Food Initiative for growers, suppliers and buyers to create engagement with and alignment to the principles of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices throughout the produce supply chain. Suppliers and their growers are invited by their retail buyers to use this interactive tool to assess current practices and management systems, access resources and review information around best practices.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;An engagement profile tracks each grower’s and supplier’s ongoing interaction with the tool to encourage and support continuous improvement, according to ECIP. Suppliers and their retail customers see aggregated, anonymized data from their supply chain.&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &gt;


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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Shown in back, from left, are Windset Farms team members Jeff Madu, Johnny Newell, Julia Korolenko, Steven Newell, Amit Varma and Brent Ouwerkerk; in front, from left, are Juan Michelena, Akari Numajiri and Randi Church.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo courtesy of Equitable Food Initiative)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        Companies that have already earned a spot in the 2026 ECIP Leadership Circle include: AMFRESH North America, Bay Baby Produce, Bee Sweet, Blue River Legacy Farms, Bobalu Berry Farms, Bonipak, Bostock North America, Bridges Organic Produce, Del Monte Fresh Produce, Dole South Africa, Eagle Eye Produce, Equifruit, Favorita USA Corp., Five Crowns, Fresh Express, Fresh Flavor International, Freshway Produce, The Fruitist, Fyffes, GLC Cerritos, Gold Cup Fresh, GoodFarms, Homegrown Organic Farms, Kingsburg Orchards, Mastronardi, Miami Agro Import, Misionero, Naturipe, Oppy, Pacific Produce, Stemilt Growers, Sunridge Farms, Superfresh Growers, Titan Farms, Westmoreland Sales/Topline Farms, William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. and Windset Farms.&lt;br&gt;
    
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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Costco’s Amanda Kuhn is shown with the Mastronardi Produce team at the Leadership Circle Celebration.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo courtesy of Equitable Food Initiative)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        “Momentum is building around ECIP, and we are encouraged by the engagement and commitment we’re seeing from retailers, suppliers and growers,” says Kenton Harmer, director of market-based impact for Equitable Food Initiative. “With the changes in ECIP LAB this year — Engagement 2.0 and introduction of the Supplier Gold Star — we have raised the bar for what meaningful engagement looks like, and this year’s Leadership Circle demonstrates that suppliers are rising to the occasion.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Since the first Leadership Circle was announced in 2024, the number of participating supplier companies has grown steadily, even as qualification thresholds have increased,” Harmer continues.&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA EFI EditMikel Hancock with Superfresh Growers team" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/49bda8e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x534+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F60%2Fd5%2F57ac9b6c48a59e61e0529726d5e3%2Fifpa-efi-editmikel-hancock-with-superfresh-growers-team.jpg 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a9ac4b2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x534+0+0/resize/768x513!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F60%2Fd5%2F57ac9b6c48a59e61e0529726d5e3%2Fifpa-efi-editmikel-hancock-with-superfresh-growers-team.jpg 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/cafe65b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x534+0+0/resize/1024x683!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F60%2Fd5%2F57ac9b6c48a59e61e0529726d5e3%2Fifpa-efi-editmikel-hancock-with-superfresh-growers-team.jpg 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/76e00dc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x534+0+0/resize/1440x961!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F60%2Fd5%2F57ac9b6c48a59e61e0529726d5e3%2Fifpa-efi-editmikel-hancock-with-superfresh-growers-team.jpg 1440w" width="1440" height="961" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/76e00dc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/800x534+0+0/resize/1440x961!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F60%2Fd5%2F57ac9b6c48a59e61e0529726d5e3%2Fifpa-efi-editmikel-hancock-with-superfresh-growers-team.jpg" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Walmart’s Mikel Hancock is shown with the Superfresh Growers team at ECIP’s Leadership Circle Celebration.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo courtesy of Equitable Food Initiative)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        Created in alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices and facilitated by Equitable Food Initiative, ECIP is a collaboration among retailers, grower-shippers and implementing organizations to recognize and strengthen engagement around labor practices in the fresh produce industry, highlight existing best-practice efforts and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;ECIP, which marked its second anniversary at the IFPA show, says it has experienced continued growth in supplier and grower engagement and expanded buyer participation in the last two years.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The program is built around self-assessment that ECIP says avoids the burden of an additional audit. Through an assessment tool and capacity-building resources, it helps measure and strengthen alignment with the principles of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Launched with initial funding from the Walmart Foundation and administered by Equitable Food Initiative, the program is overseen by an advisory group composed of leading buyers and suppliers and key stakeholders, including representatives from AgSocio, Bonduelle Fresh Americas, Costco Wholesale, Kroger, McDonald’s USA, Naturipe, Sam’s Club, Tanimura &amp;amp; Antle, Target, Taylor Farms and Walmart.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;More information about the program can be found at 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://ethicalcharterprogram.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;ethicalcharterprogram.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
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&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 23:24:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/sustainability/ecip-hosts-leadership-circle-celebration-ifpa-show</guid>
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      <title>IFPA Announces Expo Award Winners</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/ifpa-announces-expo-award-winners</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — On the final day of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)’s Global Produce and Floral Show, the organization recognized winners of its Expo Awards. More than 1,100 companies exhibited on the show floor with attendees from more than 50 countries represented.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“The Global Show brought out the best in worldwide fresh fruit, vegetable and flower innovations this year,” says Cathy Burns, IFPA CEO. “United by our bold beliefs and relentless advocacy, we are driving innovation, efficiency and positive change for our members and industry. Together, we are building a brighter, healthier future, proving that our products matter to the world. This year’s show was an incredible three days of connections, insights and community.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The winners include:&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul class="rte2-style-ul"&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best First-Time Exhibitor: Plant Grow Harvest&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Island Booth in Business Solutions: IFCO Systems&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Inline Booth in Business Solutions: 48Forty&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Island Booth in Produce: Fowler Packing | Peelz Citrus&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Inline Booth in Produce: BrightFresh Micro Greens&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Island Booth in Complementary Items: Offshoot Brands&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Inline Booth in Complementary Items: Joolies Superfruit&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Island Booth in Floral: Del Alma&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Inline Booth in Floral: Kendall Farms&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;From the Fresh Ideas Showcase Participants:&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul class="rte2-style-ul"&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Sustainable Packaging: Dutchess Bouquets - IntegraVASE&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Best Product Promo: Dole - Colada Royale&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;
    
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    &gt;


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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Joolies took home the award for Best Inline Booth in Complementary Items. Pictured are Greg Willsey, Crystal Kent, Abby Genereaux and Amanda Sains-Harris.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo courtesy of Joolies)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        &lt;br&gt;Amanda Sains-Harris, vice president of marketing for Joolies, says she’s excited to see the creativity that booths have year in and year out.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“The Date-ing Booth has become a Joolies signature at shows, but for IFPA we wanted to take it to the next level: bright, bold and bursting with nostalgia,” Sains-Harris says. “Inspired by a classic kissing booth and the retro ‘Dating Game,’ our rainbow arch set the stage for something playful and full of heart. The booth embodied everything Joolies stands for: fun, vibrant and full of good energy, standing up and out from the pack. Just like eating our dates and date snacks, we wanted people to walk away feeling happy, energized and smiling.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Shelby Rodich, senior marketing manager with BrightFresh Microgreens, says the company was excited for the recognition, noting that the company has worked over the last 18 months to communicate what sets its products apart in the leafy greens category.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We showcased our products and people at the forefront, using the booth’s backdrop to illustrate the vibrant environment and bright culture that define our work,” she says. “The BrightFresh team combines experience with youthful energy — honoring traditional outdoor growing methods while embracing innovative marketing strategies that connect with today’s evolving consumers.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &gt;


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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;For this year’s Global Produce and Floral Show theme, Offshoot Brands’ hosted a tattoo parlor, where visitors could “ink” their love of fresh produce.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo courtesy of Offshoot Brands)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        &lt;br&gt;Natasha Lichty, brand and marketing director for Offshoots Brands, says the team at Offshoots Brands had fun creating the tattoo parlor theme of its booth and are excited to take home the win.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“As a company driven to show that fruits and veggies can be fun and bold, we were thrilled to bring that spirit to life with our Offshoot Tattoo Parlor,” she says. “We’re so grateful to everyone who stopped by to connect with us — and especially those who left with a lasting mark (wink, wink). We hope you’re all still loving your tattoos as much as we loved creating the experience.”&lt;br&gt;
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 13:32:03 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/ifpa-announces-expo-award-winners</guid>
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      <title>How Generational Differences Drive Produce Purchasing Variability</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/retail/how-generational-differences-drive-produce-purchasing-variability</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — Rachel Blake, global insights manager for the International Fresh Produce Association, and Jonna Parker, vice president and team lead at Circana, took the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show stage to discuss the similarities and differences in global consumer trends and to dig a little deeper into trends in the U.S.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Blake began by introducing how IFPA tracks consumer trends in key markets in Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the U.S. These seven countries represent about 40% of global produce imports, which total more than $80 billion. IFPA tracks cross-generational trends among Gen Z, millennials, Gen X and baby boomers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;She stressed that while produce companies can use these findings to create a global strategy, it’s important to pay attention to the local differences in consumer preferences.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Blake looked at five big trends impacting consumer behavior: buy local, sustainability, price stress, packaging and organics — and how, depending on the country and generation, preferences vary.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;For example, she says that more than 80% of South Koreans are willing to pay more for local produce, with Gen Z leading in every country. But what she says is interesting is what “local” means for each country.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“In Asia, we’re talking about the same country, and Europe is the same region within a few 100 kilometers, and the United States what local means is very different,” she says. “What’s interesting is that it doesn’t necessarily translate into a supply chain reality in the U.S. We’re still seeing imports grow every year — $38 billion in imports last year, up 8% over the previous year. While local is a really strong positioning strategy from a marketing perspective, it’s not really playing out in the supply chain.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Sustainability is another broad topic that consumers focus on. But, again, Blake says what sustainability means varies by country. In China, 77% of consumers rank sustainability as of importance, compared with only 54% of U.S. consumers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“In Asia, we see this trend led by baby boomers. There’s a lot more money behind that. They’re able to pay more versus being pushed by younger demographics in the West,” she says. “And so, you see this regional shift based on the table stakes for entrance into the Asian market, but it’s still something that’s been rewarded with premium positioning.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;When it comes to the price of goods, Australians have a high price stress at 53% versus China at 28%, Blake says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“China’s able to accept more premium-positioned products,” she says. “They’re able to go in and order those higher-quality imports versus Australia, which kind of resists that premium positioning. What’s really interesting is that generational paradox. Younger consumers are more price-stressed overall, but they still drive every single premium trend that we track. So, what that tells us is that consumers might be stressed about prices, but they’re also willing to pay more for perceived value.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Globally, consumers’ views on packaging vary, Blake says. For example, 48% of consumers in China view packaging for safety and convenience, compared with only 28% of Germans.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“What’s really interesting is that, universally, Gen Z accepts packaging everywhere,” she says. “What that tells us is that while you might need a very different customer segmentation strategy based on regions, today, you’re going to see convergence over time as Gen Z grows up.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Organic purchases globally are high, Blake says, with 86% of Chinese consumers purchasing organic products, compared to the low end of the spectrum with about 70% of U.S. consumers reporting purchases of organic produce. While many produce marketers may think organics globally are driven by income, it’s actually generationally driven, she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“In China and Brazil, it’s Gen X. In Australia and in the U.S., we’re looking at the millennials,” she says. “Really interesting, in Germany and South Korea, you have this big split. Both Gen Z and baby boomers are leading the trend in those regions.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA-2025-Jonna Parker," srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/20f9c59/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F09%2F04%2Fcba3170a4e918c61ec703b254214%2Fifpa-jonna.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/f00ab8d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F09%2F04%2Fcba3170a4e918c61ec703b254214%2Fifpa-jonna.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/acd02c2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F09%2F04%2Fcba3170a4e918c61ec703b254214%2Fifpa-jonna.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/b4e039e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F09%2F04%2Fcba3170a4e918c61ec703b254214%2Fifpa-jonna.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/b4e039e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F09%2F04%2Fcba3170a4e918c61ec703b254214%2Fifpa-jonna.png" loading="lazy"
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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Jonna Parker, vice president and team lead at Circana, shared insights on the buying habits of U.S. consumers at the 2025 Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        &lt;h2&gt;Diving into U.S. Trends&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        Parker says what’s interesting about premium positioning is that while marketers might see premium positioning, consumers don’t view food in the same way. In looking at data from September, 95% of American consumers report concerns about food cost inflation. She says while the actual food and beverage price increase in September was only 2%, August and September were the first two months that food and beverage volumes contracted. Parker says 68% of consumers reported making changes to shopping habits.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“One trip to one different store does end up reshaping someone’s pattern,” she says. “Over the last five years, first with COVID, then with inflation and now with a sustained uncertainty in the economy, making a change is now a behavior, but we are seeing an acceleration of watch and spend more closely.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;But, she says, as with global trends, organic produce hit an all-time high in the share of pounds sold, so it’s not necessarily all bad news.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re not necessarily racing to the bottom; we’re solving our needs differently with new tools and new ideas,” she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Pricing concern is driven by millennials and Gen Z, where she says 93% of those shoppers indicate going to stores, they perceive to be cheaper. Parker says shelf life is also another area for marketers to tap into, with 71% of people reusing disposable plastics.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Best by dating and knowing how long a piece of fruit or a piece of veg is good is a motivator to consumers, especially given the advancements we made in the supply chain to extend that shelf life,” she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And along the lines of younger consumers shopping at stores that offer perceived value, hard discounters seem to drive purchases&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Supermarkets are now only 43% of all U.S. fresh food sales,” she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Parker says natural food retailers such as Sprouts, the Fresh Market and Whole Foods might only make up about 2.6% of the fresh food market but says it’s contributing both to dollar share and to growth, which is worth noting.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;While it would be easy to assume consumers would flock to food value stores, Parker says that category hasn’t shown a huge shift in sales.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Those chains are pretty much contributing what we’d expect them to contribute,” she says, nothing, though the produce departments of the food value stores have seen a major facelift and has become more experiential. “So do not discredit food value chains as not being formidable competitors in fresh produce, and even in organics.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Parker notes about half of U.S. shoppers pick Walmart as their favorite place to buy produce, and that figure is higher among younger generations.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Club continues to grow in market share, Parker says, with Costco, BJ’s and Sam’s Club all punching double their weight in terms of growth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“I think the club channel has done a nice job, not just in selling in bulk, but selling really specific pieces to the right consumers,” Parker says. “They watch very closely when something isn’t working and you trade out an item seasonally, especially in categories like salads or some of the fruit options.”&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;h2&gt;U.S. Shopper Habits&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        Parker says 49% of the dollars spent in the fresh food category come from high-income shoppers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“What’s interesting about the high income is they’re continuing to drive dollar sales about 5.7% — one of the highest increases on this chart,” she says. “But just like middle- and low-income shoppers, they’re watching how many items they’re putting in the basket overall, just in time.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;She says that while all three income brackets continue to spend more dollars, they are buying fewer units to keep the average basket size down. Parker says those in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have increased their spending on fresh produce, reducing spending on foodservice and nonfood groceries.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’ve seen SNAP beneficiaries have these sizable spending change forces in areas like limes, kiwis, avocados, mandarins and pears,” she says. “What’s interesting about that is most of those items are not necessarily the cheapest fruit or vegetable option in that list. We see that as they’re cooking at home more, they want to solve their needs more and go into places just like any other consumer, where they know they’re going to have a good experience that meets their snacking needs.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Parker says in Circana’s retail sales forecast, beverages look to be up double digits and set to grow in the next five years at faster rates than produce. While produce does look to grow, Circana projects some produce categories to decline.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Several categories are the growth drivers of this trend, and there are actually seven produce categories, including mega categories like salads and leafy greens, that are forecasted to see declines if we don’t change their trajectory now and get more relevant to more consumers more often,” she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Parker says one thing that stands out in her research, much like Blake discussed, is younger consumers shop in a fundamentally different way.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“One thing they all agree on is that they want produce to be on sale with deals and promotions,” she says. “The role of being able to source what you want, understanding easy-to-find pricing, is much more in demand for the younger generation because, to be honest, the average supermarket produce department looks very much like it did in the ’80s, even though we are fundamentally shopping it differently.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Parker says produce offers consumers a fantastic value. Consumers have many fresh produce package sizes to choose from.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We have to stop just thinking about the fob price that goes into a retailer and actually think like a consumer who’s deciding based on benefits and affordability,” she says. “Produce is a tremendous way to meet so many needs for such a huge value, and wellness overall is in demand for consumers.”
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:26:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/retail/how-generational-differences-drive-produce-purchasing-variability</guid>
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      <title>Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: Sustainability in the Spotlight</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-sustainability-spotl</link>
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        ANAHEIM, Calif. — CMI Orchards recently debuted its consumer-facing Planet Positive sustainability brand, which it showcased at the International Fresh Produce Association’s recent Global Produce and Floral Show. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company says this new brand is designed to highlight its sustainability goals, with consumers’ increasing interest in transparency when it comes to sustainability efforts.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It’s our way to communicate efficiencies, regenerative agriculture and climate-smart practices,” says Rochell Bohm, vice president of marketing at CMI Orchards.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Shown in front, from left, are Julio Parades, Bob Wymore, Rochelle Bohm, Brenda Calvillo, Raquel Briseno, Joe Denham, Ralph Briseno, Danielle Huber, Joel Hewitt, and in back, from left, Bob Mast, Steve Clement, AJ Jackson, Rob Lewis, Loren Foss, Rich Mendosa, Willam Gant and Ellie Tucker at CMI Orchards’ booth at the Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        &lt;br&gt;Sustainability is a low purchase driver, Bohm says, but nutrition is not. With Planet Positive, CMI Orchards wants to link regenerative ag to nutrition in the minds of consumers by using nutrient data analysis. Bohm says there are significant findings of zinc and more nutrients in the soil microbiome of regeneratively grown fruits.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Regeneratively grown fruit is healthier for you,” she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Bohm says CMI Orchards has set aggressive goals to sequester 2 million tons of carbon by 2030, which she says is a realistic goal as the company is set to sequester 335,000 tons of carbon this year.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA Naturipe" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/625227d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6d%2Fef%2F198bb52842d49fc1ef8dda758030%2Fifpa-2025-naturipe.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/4d2f433/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6d%2Fef%2F198bb52842d49fc1ef8dda758030%2Fifpa-2025-naturipe.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a36e15b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6d%2Fef%2F198bb52842d49fc1ef8dda758030%2Fifpa-2025-naturipe.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/9385642/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6d%2Fef%2F198bb52842d49fc1ef8dda758030%2Fifpa-2025-naturipe.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/9385642/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6d%2Fef%2F198bb52842d49fc1ef8dda758030%2Fifpa-2025-naturipe.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Glenn Daniels, Craig Merrill, Kasey Kelley, Fernando Aguilar, Ryan Reilly, Matthew Lyons, Joe Dugo, Jim Roberts, Peter Perez, Andres Vasquez, Andy Bruno and Joe Quiliada are shown at the Naturipe IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show booth. Photo: Christina Herrick&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        Naturipe showcased its new Berry Buddies snack bites, which offer 12 grams of protein and feature a yogurt coating over blueberries and peanut butter on the inside. Each pack comes with three bites. Naturipe says these have soft-launched and the probiotics in the yogurt survive better in the stomach tract.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;div class="Enhancement" data-align-center&gt;
        &lt;div class="Enhancement-item"&gt;
            
            
                
                    
                        
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    &lt;a class="AnchorLink" id="image-a10000" name="image-a10000"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;


    
        &lt;picture&gt;
    
    
        
            

        
    

    
    
        
    
            &lt;source type="image/webp"  width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/b48c2b3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/d27690c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3c65ea0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/acb0473/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png 1440w"/&gt;

    

    
        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/f303b3e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA Stemilt" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a6a250f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/f14d4a5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/45b8088/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/f303b3e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/f303b3e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F5c%2Fd89ff77045afa5f4c89c4cc37d0f%2Fifpa-2025-stemilt.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Bella Evans, Auna Lundberg, Katie Harmon and Haylee Favor are shown at Stemilt Growers’ booth, which promoted its sanitation support member, Rafael Teran, as the 2025 Farmworker of the Year winner.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        Stemilt showcased 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/people/packer-efi-name-farmworker-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;2025 Farmworker of the Year Award winner Rafael Teran&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , who works in sanitation support for Stemilt, on signage throughout the company’s Global Produce and Floral Show booth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;div class="Enhancement" data-align-center&gt;
        &lt;div class="Enhancement-item"&gt;
            
            
                
                    
                        
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    &lt;a class="AnchorLink" id="image-470000" name="image-470000"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;


    
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            &lt;source type="image/webp"  width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/31b6150/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/f3c7412/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/cebb105/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/c6e5f35/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png 1440w"/&gt;

    

    
        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3903ae3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA-2025-Mariani" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/7034c56/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/bf703fe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a59313b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3903ae3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3903ae3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2F4c%2F94d9104b40d0b6bfdff03f72542d%2Fifpa-2025-mariani.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Rick Mulac, Darryl Bollack, Kristen Holden and Lacey De La Torre at the Mariani Nut Co. booth.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        It’s the middle of harvest for the growers at Mariani Nut Co., and while almonds might be a little short, walnuts look good. The team says that with the holiday season nearing, the company is excited by the retail programs and education that the California Walnut Commission is doing to help drive sales and highlight the benefits of a diet rich in walnuts.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;div class="Enhancement" data-align-center&gt;
        &lt;div class="Enhancement-item"&gt;
            
            
                
                    
                        
                            &lt;figure class="Figure"&gt;
    
    &lt;a class="AnchorLink" id="image-e30000" name="image-e30000"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;


    
        &lt;picture&gt;
    
    
        
            

        
    

    
    
        
    
            &lt;source type="image/webp"  width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/7d4745a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/acff23d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/ab5ccfb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/419c32d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png 1440w"/&gt;

    

    
        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/180fa15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA-2025-Honeybear" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/4319645/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a6c1c55/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/acc9414/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/180fa15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/180fa15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F89%2F7f%2F3ab099784fec91cb0758e1b32706%2Fifpa-2025-honeybear.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Don Roper, Craig Arneson, Kristi Harris, Fred Wescott and Ryan Callahan are shown at Honeybear Brands’ 2025 Global Produce and Floral Show booth.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        Honeybear Brands offered tastings of its Honeymoon apple, which has bright yellow skin, firm and dense flesh with a sweet and mellow flavor, as well as the Pazazz apple, which boasts a sweet-tart flavor with a juicy crunch.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Your next read:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul class="rte2-style-ul"&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-new-looks-and-new-of" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: New Looks and New Offerings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-industry-trend" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: An Industry On-Trend&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-innovation-explosion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: Innovation Explosion&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-expanded-lines-and-n" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: Expanded Lines and New Introductions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:10:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-sustainability-spotl</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/acbe66f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F36%2F5a%2F61b1f9de46a4b454831c3f57d996%2Fifpa-2025-equifruit-strength.png" />
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      <title>Tomato Suspension Renegotiation: Where It Stands and What’s Ahead</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/tomato-suspension-renegotiation-where-it-stands-and-whats-ahead</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — In July, the U.S. Department of Commerce terminated the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Duty Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, and with that termination, the Commerce Department issued an antidumping order that places a 17.09% duty on most imported tomatoes from Mexico.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, sat down with The Packer at the International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show to discuss the latest updates on efforts to bring forth a new tomato suspension agreement.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;While TIPA and other organizations have been working to bring back some reiteration of the tomato suspension agreement, Galeazzi says theirs is one of many conversations around trade happening in Washington, D.C. Adding to that, the Mexican government has also introduced its own rules for handling tomatoes to prevent a larger antidumping margin.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“So, now you’ve got now you’ve got almost two strategies for tomatoes from two different countries,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Things are moving fast, Galeazzi says, and TIPA and other organizations still have some questions about prices for certain commodities with these new rules.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Not only were we paying a 17.09% duty on all of our tomatoes and what does that look like in the bonds in the system, etc. Now we’re also having to adhere to this brand new set of rules out of the Mexican government,” he says. “How do you handle rejections? How do you handle quality concerns?”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Galeazzi says TIPA and other organizations, such as the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, have been collaborating to identify the best experts to guide importers navigating these new rules.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;While tomato prices didn’t rise significantly at the termination, many of the growers were under contract for those tomatoes, Galeazzi says. However, he suspects the fresh produce industry will see more impacts with the January crop.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“The next wave, which is probably going to be the January crop, is going to be the first time you will have Mexico make decisions about their volume as it relates to the influence of things like the duties,” he says. “Coming into 2026, we will feel the impacts of what the tomato suspension agreement has done to the tomato trade in the U.S.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;h3&gt;USMCA Renegotiation&lt;/h3&gt;
    
        &lt;br&gt;Galeazzi says TIPA is part of a larger group working together on a joint review ahead of the potential renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2026, adding that the organization is uniquely positioned with its position along the border.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We experience a lot of the impacts of USMCA differently than a lot of the other industries because we’re dealing with the trucks every day crossing back and forth,” he says. “We’re dealing with the lack of harmonization. We are dealing with documents and papers and phytosanitary disputes and all of these other kinds of challenges that continue to come through.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Galeazzi says while he sees an opportunity to improve the agreement, the renegotiations must be mindful not to cause additional burdens or impacts.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“One of our things has always been ‘do no harm,’” he says. “Because USMCA has done some great things. Now we do obviously want to change some things that can improve the trade relationships for both our importers and our domestic folks, but ‘do no harm’ should be the mantra for these renegotiations.”&lt;br&gt;
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2025 20:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/tomato-suspension-renegotiation-where-it-stands-and-whats-ahead</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/fa5a9a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffj-corp-pub.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fs3fs-public%2F2023-11%2Fflags.png" />
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      <title>Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: Expanded Lines and New Introductions</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-expanded-lines-and-n</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ocean Mist showcased its expanded Roastables line, now with seven items, at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show. The company will soon debut new packaging for the Roastables line.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It’s a breath of fresh air into this line,” says Lori Bigras, communications manager at Ocean Mist Farms. “We want them to jump off the shelves.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The new packaging features a vertical window and fun typography and Ocean Mist plans to launch the new packaging in the first quarter of 2026.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3143a73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2b%2Fb6%2Fccc01df94261a5a38bd974b74c99%2Fifpa-2025-ocean-mist.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA-2025-Ocean-Mist.png" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/b102d9b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2b%2Fb6%2Fccc01df94261a5a38bd974b74c99%2Fifpa-2025-ocean-mist.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3220e1b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2b%2Fb6%2Fccc01df94261a5a38bd974b74c99%2Fifpa-2025-ocean-mist.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/69f419f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2b%2Fb6%2Fccc01df94261a5a38bd974b74c99%2Fifpa-2025-ocean-mist.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3143a73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2b%2Fb6%2Fccc01df94261a5a38bd974b74c99%2Fifpa-2025-ocean-mist.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3143a73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2b%2Fb6%2Fccc01df94261a5a38bd974b74c99%2Fifpa-2025-ocean-mist.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Jeff Fulton, Chris Drew, Lori Bigras, Brian Hawes and Joe Angelo at Ocean Mist Farms’ Global Produce and Floral Show booth.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
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        &lt;br&gt;This new look is designed to meet customers where they are, with seasons and flavoring that is aligned with today’s shopper.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re focused on service, quality and innovation,” says Chris Drew, president and CEO of Ocean Mist Farms, noting Ocean Mist really focuses on educating consumers on the value of Rostables. “We want everyone to have access to flavorful and nutritious produce.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/fde66c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Fd0%2F520b6d07478798059f558904895d%2Fifpa-2025-fresh-farms.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA-2025-Fresh-Farms.png" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/ee1f5f8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Fd0%2F520b6d07478798059f558904895d%2Fifpa-2025-fresh-farms.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/7d97379/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Fd0%2F520b6d07478798059f558904895d%2Fifpa-2025-fresh-farms.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/689ca1e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Fd0%2F520b6d07478798059f558904895d%2Fifpa-2025-fresh-farms.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/fde66c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Fd0%2F520b6d07478798059f558904895d%2Fifpa-2025-fresh-farms.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/fde66c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Fd0%2F520b6d07478798059f558904895d%2Fifpa-2025-fresh-farms.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Robert Hernandez, Martha Noriega, Ana Romero Carbajal, Alan Voll and Daniel Heguertty at the Fresh Farms Global Produce and Floral Show booth.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        Fresh Farms showcased new Candy Hearts and Candy Snaps additions to its frozen grape line, joining the popular Cotton Candy frozen grapes.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA-2025-Unitec.png" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/16e0938/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F0f%2F558fdd024bf09a39b07f1c7545e5%2Fifpa-2025-unitec.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/afc8fd3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F0f%2F558fdd024bf09a39b07f1c7545e5%2Fifpa-2025-unitec.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/dbcce8a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F0f%2F558fdd024bf09a39b07f1c7545e5%2Fifpa-2025-unitec.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/998570f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F0f%2F558fdd024bf09a39b07f1c7545e5%2Fifpa-2025-unitec.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/998570f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F0f%2F558fdd024bf09a39b07f1c7545e5%2Fifpa-2025-unitec.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Frederico Albonetti, Gianluca Vignoli, Nour Abdrabbo at Unitec’s IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show booth.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        Unitec showcased its newest sorting and packing technology at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Justin Wright and Jeff Richardson at Great Lakes Greenhouses’ IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
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        Visitors to the Great Lakes Greenhouses booth talked about the upcoming winter season mini organic cucumbers program.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Ashley Filliol, Hailey Monson, Catherine Gipe-Stewart, Trisha Casper, Destiny Nash, Jeff Webb, Luis Gonzalez, Matthew Snider and Derek Tweedy at the Superfresh Growers IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show Booth.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
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        &lt;br&gt;Superfresh Growers highlighted its new packing line and a new pear grower added to the fold, which brings breath, volume and quality to the pear category. The company plans to open a new Rainier cherry packing line in the spring with new packaging and merchandising. Superfresh Growers have a dedicated Rainier line and offers the cherries in a 2- and 3-pound and polybagged options.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We continue to increase our quality and reduce scuffs,” says Catherine Gipe-Stewart, director of marketing for Superfresh Growers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Your next read:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul class="rte2-style-ul"&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-new-looks-and-new-of" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: New Looks and New Offerings&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-industry-trend" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: An Industry On-Trend&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-innovation-explosion" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: Innovation Explosion&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:50:03 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>How Global and Domestic Economics Will Shape Fresh Produce</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/how-global-and-domestic-economics-will-shape-fresh-produce</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — Arjun Chakravarti, managing partner of a Chicago-based consultancy Cogknition Analytics, offered a look at the current economic climate globally and in the U.S. to kick off his session at the International Fresh Produce Association’s 2025 Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;In the first quarter of the year, Chakravarti says businesses pulled back due to the uncertainty of trade policies, but by the second and third quarters, businesses began to adapt. He says what’s happening is almost a tale of three economies in the U.S. as the economies of Southern states in the U.S. are growing much more rapidly than the rest of the U.S. States, such as Pennsylvania, Indiana and Wisconsin, are also growing as well, but states such as California and New York are on the edge and could tip into a down cycle.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re really seeing that the economy is muddling along at 1.5%,” he says. “We had kind of a collapse at the beginning of the year, but we got some pull of growth back in the middle of the summer and people have started to get more clarity.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;But, with the 1.5% economic growth rate, it’s also important to consider inflation’s impact on the economy. While inflation sits at about 2.9% percent, the economy shows signs of slowing, Chakravarti says. He points out, however, that inflation doesn’t feel as high as it did in 2022 when the inflation rate peaked at 10%.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It’s quite high, given the lack of growth that we have right now,” he says. “You have to think of what or how much inflation we are getting, given the amount of growth that we have.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chakravarti says that while imports face inflation rates twice as high as domestic goods, consumer spending continues to show growth — but not all consumers are fueling that growth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’ve started to see, particularly since COVID, this compression towards who is spending,” he says. “The top 10% of spenders in the U.S. account for 50% of total spend. So, that’s why you’re seeing high spending still driving the economy, but it’s being driven by a narrower and narrower group of people.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chakravarti says this type of distribution hasn’t happened in the U.S. in around 100 years. These compressed spending habits and slowing wage growth in lower-income households have impacted the economic outlook for spending.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Ninety percent of households report changing grocery and restaurant behavior in response to inflation,” he says. “Ninety percent are deal-prone right now; 60% are saying they’re eating out less; 40% are switching to private label; 38% are making checklists to make sure that they’re really being mindful about what they spend at the store; and then waste mindfulness is even accounting for about 25% of behaviors as well.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chakravarti says produce industry businesses need to ensure that marketing efforts align with these shifting shopping habits.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“You’ve got to really track where the inflation is going,” he says. “So, if you’re finding that these folks are going to be fairly constrained in their spending and they tend to spend the dollars that they have once they get them in the pocket, that’s where you would see inflation, but those folks are going to be fairly depressed in spending.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;h2&gt;Global Perspective&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        In terms of the global economy, Spain is the most well-positioned in the aggregate with higher tourism, lower gas costs and higher consumer confidence, Chakravarti says, adding that this is a good opportunity for the country.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Germany, as an export-based economy, now competes with China rather than selling directly to the country, he says. Germany keeps its debts low, but if it decides to invest in infrastructure, it could boost the economy. The country has also faced some gas price increases due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;France and Italy face high debt and low investment. Italy also faces a rapidly aging population and higher oil and gas risks. The Netherlands, too, faces gas availability challenges and issues with competing with China instead of selling to China.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“When you net all of that out, I’d say Spain is the best sort of opportunity inside of the EU right now in terms of consumers’ ability to spend and people actually having money in their pocket, not being as worried about other expenses like gas,” Chakravarti says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Canada’s economy fares better than expected due to the majority of its trade being exempt under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“And that has helped not only in terms of mitigating some of the losses that were expected from the United States but also in allowing them to be more competitive in selling abroad as well,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;But Chakravarti says Canada still faces some structural issues that need to be worked out; it’s important to see if there are structural reforms that help consumers become less controlled by high housing prices.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“They need to improve their economies by actually trading between their provinces a bit better,” he says. “And they also need to make sure that people are putting their money into something other than real estate right now in Canada.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;h2&gt;Pulling It Together&lt;/h2&gt;
    
        Factoring in the current economic picture, Chakravarti says he sees a lot of opportunity for the produce industry for those who understand the needs of category managers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“A lot of produce really, really works in terms of marketing in the mid funnel, your ability to … move the needle in the middle of the funnel with great innovation is really offsetting a lot of these tariff effects,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chakravarti says there are opportunities on the demand side that, when married with the opportunities on the supply side, could be seen in tax benefits for investing in new technology. He says the 20% pass-through deduction for LLCs and S Corps, the increase in SALT (State and Local Tax) Cap can all help produce industry businesses through changes in demand, especially when a produce business focuses on promotions.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“There’s a lot of ability for you to be seen as major players in those systems to offset some of the demand costs,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chakravarti says he sees fertilizer and anything coming from China as a risk for inflated costs. He says import fees on produce such as bananas, grapes and tomatoes are also a challenge.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“I’m talking to a lot of importers who are telling me, ‘We have to make entry exit decisions right now from certain markets to manage cash flow,’” he says. “Where there’s opportunity for investment, maybe from a tax basis, is on the cold chain side because you’re seeing increases in compressor refrigeration replacement costs, holding costs are getting higher and spoilage costs are going up as well.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chakravarti says retailers have the most power in the market due to the high pass-through rate to consumers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Produce is historically moderately price sensitive and income level is really the bigger determinant here,” he says. “When you start to take all of this together and you start to think, what are the costs really going to be? We’re looking at an anticipated pass-through of about 6 cents to 8 cents per dollar.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chakravarti points to a Harvard study that tracks price changes. With a commodity such as avocados, which is embedded with high-income consumers, he says that the tariff pass-through goes directly to the consumer, who is willing to pay for the product.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“If you’re dealing with other parts of the produce chain, you’re seeing maybe about as low as 50% is actually hitting the consumer in terms of who ends up paying the incremental dollar for every tariff that we pay,” he says. “What we’re seeing is that retailers are able to pass through in the long run, the most both downstream and upstream to consumers.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Importers with weaker foreign currencies may pay a lot more of the trade impacts, Chakravarti says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Another thing to look at, he says, is that there will be a slowing of population growth, which will directly impact demand and supply in the future.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We actually expect that if this is going to be the trend moving forward, that we’ll get a population decline in the next 10 years,” he says. “So, this is something we really need to start tracking over the long run.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Chakravarti says that produce industry businesses need to balance consumer pressures with business upsides.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“That starts with an understanding of this wonderful product that you have, that’s an amazing complementary good inside of these retail media networks,” he says. “There’s major opportunities for figuring out how to partner with your category managers and retail to really move the needle there and help them be great and be great partners to them. We think that there’s major returns there that can help offset some of the tariff effects.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Understanding retail loyalty programs, Chakravarti says, can help produce industry businesses.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Truly understanding sort of how to become next level in customer acquisition and retail partnering is going to be critically important moving forward,” he says.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:24:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/how-global-and-domestic-economics-will-shape-fresh-produce</guid>
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      <title>Seen and Heard at IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show 2025: New Looks and New Offerings</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-new-looks-and-new-of</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, Calif. — The California Walnut Commission debuted a new look and messaging to help align younger consumers with the health benefits of walnuts during its time at the International Fresh Produce Association’s 2025 Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The “feel good” message is designed to reflect the healthy lifestyles for consumers aged 20 to 40. The commission says it plans to connect with these consumers through social media, digital content and utilizing influencers to highlight nutrition and the quality-of-life benefits from a diet rich in walnuts.&lt;br&gt;
    
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        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3284dc8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F44%2Ff923eed745f3837411d90a136072%2Fifpa-2025-ca-walnuts.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA 2025 California Walnut Commission" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/ea94ed5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F44%2Ff923eed745f3837411d90a136072%2Fifpa-2025-ca-walnuts.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/1c2742b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F44%2Ff923eed745f3837411d90a136072%2Fifpa-2025-ca-walnuts.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a496912/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F44%2Ff923eed745f3837411d90a136072%2Fifpa-2025-ca-walnuts.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3284dc8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F44%2Ff923eed745f3837411d90a136072%2Fifpa-2025-ca-walnuts.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/3284dc8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F44%2Ff923eed745f3837411d90a136072%2Fifpa-2025-ca-walnuts.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Robert Verloop, Carolyn Becker, Christine Lott and Jennifer Olmstead are shown at the California Walnut Commission’s booth at the Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        &lt;br&gt;The commission says its messaging will highlight nutrition and wellness research around the benefits of walnuts in brain, gut and sleep health.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re taking a fresher approach to how we present it,” says Robert Verloop, executive director of the California Walnut Commission. “We’re trying to energize California walnuts.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;div class="Enhancement" data-align-center&gt;
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    &lt;a class="AnchorLink" id="image-f70000" name="image-f70000"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;


    
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            &lt;source type="image/webp"  width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/ba9645d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/1dbefc0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/411943d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a16dd39/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png 1440w"/&gt;

    

    
        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/c490411/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA 2025 Muzzi Family Farms" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/da4b870/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a58bb67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/5d8684f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/c490411/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/c490411/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff0%2Fd5e8149245d28c6d5e50a21c0d99%2Fifpa-2025-muzzi-family-farms.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Paul Mocettini, Bryan Fregoso, Gloria Morales, Denise Takakjian-Thomas, Dominic Muzzi and Greg Heinz are shown at the Muzzi Family Farms booth at the Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        Muzzi Family Farms showcased its family-owned and -operated business, which offers spinach, spring mix, arugula, kale, Florentine mix, Brussels sprouts, romaine, green leaf lettuce, iceberg lettuce and green onions.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;div class="Enhancement" data-align-center&gt;
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    &lt;a class="AnchorLink" id="image-560000" name="image-560000"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;


    
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            &lt;source type="image/webp"  width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/5fdde2b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/1f28085/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/db4b9fd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/c24a822/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png 1440w"/&gt;

    

    
        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/1085b08/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA 2025 Highline Mushrooms" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/7200f68/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/5b9ec60/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/ef945bb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/1085b08/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/1085b08/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F27%2F85%2F6dd34d1f4119b98692036908f6fe%2Fifpa-2025-highline-mushroom.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Jose Cambon, Kelsey Coon, Janis Deschenes, Sabrina Pokomandy, Frank Wright, Paul Williamson and John Sheehan are shown at Highline Mushrooms’ Global Produce and Floral Show booth.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        Highline Mushrooms showcased its visual rebrand at its booth as well as some new ready-to-cook products sporting the new packaging designs.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;div class="Enhancement" data-align-center&gt;
        &lt;div class="Enhancement-item"&gt;
            
            
                
                    
                        
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    &lt;a class="AnchorLink" id="image-a90000" name="image-a90000"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;


    
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            &lt;source type="image/webp"  width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/d3bdda4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/89a068e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/c6b149b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/715c212/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png 1440w"/&gt;

    

    
        &lt;source width="1440" height="1028" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/dadeb47/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png"/&gt;

    


    
    
    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA 2025 Chelan Fresh" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/c748da3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/d8538bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/e2eea2a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/dadeb47/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/dadeb47/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb0%2F0f%2F9c32b9454fa3bc15771a411cbc37%2Fifpa-2025-chelan-fresh.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Darrin Carpenter, Casey Jackson, Amanda Cox, Stewart Lang and Eric Martinson are shown with the SugarBee at Chelan Fresh’s booth during the Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        Chelan Fresh showcased its new 4-count organic apples in an Eco-Tray. It also promoted the SugarBee apple with tastings, different pack sizes and, of course, the SugarBee itself.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
        &lt;div class="Enhancement" data-align-center&gt;
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    &lt;img class="Image" alt="IFPA 2025 Avocados from Peru" srcset="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/b05f293/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/568x405!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F13%2Fce%2F65023ee04a329ba6432125fc45bb%2Fifpa-2025-avocados-from-peru.png 568w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/ae96940/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/768x548!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F13%2Fce%2F65023ee04a329ba6432125fc45bb%2Fifpa-2025-avocados-from-peru.png 768w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/36c74d0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1024x731!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F13%2Fce%2F65023ee04a329ba6432125fc45bb%2Fifpa-2025-avocados-from-peru.png 1024w,https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/bb185c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F13%2Fce%2F65023ee04a329ba6432125fc45bb%2Fifpa-2025-avocados-from-peru.png 1440w" width="1440" height="1028" src="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/bb185c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F13%2Fce%2F65023ee04a329ba6432125fc45bb%2Fifpa-2025-avocados-from-peru.png" loading="lazy"
    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Hector Rojas and Natalie Murphy are shown at the Avocados from Peru booth during the Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
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        &lt;br&gt;Avocados from Peru served up vegan avocado ceviche, avocado quinoa salad, avocado toast on a baguette, and more during the Global Produce and Floral Show.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:28:58 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/seen-and-heard-ifpa-global-produce-and-floral-show-2025-new-looks-and-new-of</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>Boots &amp; Banter an Absolutely Electric Event</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/boots-banter-absolutely-electric-event</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Some parties you only hear about the next day. Others you wish you’d been invited to. Last night’s Boots &amp;amp; Banter Reception at The Ranch Restaurant &amp;amp; Saloon was very much the latter with cowboy hats, high spirits and a guest list tighter than a well-pulled lasso.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Fresh Gourmet Co., NatureSweet, Local Bounti and Litehouse co-hosted a country-western themed night of fun to kick off the start of the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It’s an absolutely electric networking opportunity,” says Darryl Bollack with Mariani Nut Co.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The idea of bringing the industry together ahead of the event is a special opportunity, says Baltazar Garcia, vice president of sales with Local Bounti.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“There’s nothing more meaningful than having our industry family gathered in one place before the days ahead,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &gt;


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        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Brad Johnson &amp;amp; The Killin’ Time Band, a country and rock band from Southern California, took the stage at Boots &amp;amp; Banter.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
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        The night kicked off with electric slide line dancing lessons. Then, Brad and The Killin’ Time Band took the stage. But the real star of the event was the conversations and connections, says Joe Bowers of Peri &amp;amp; Sons.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It’s great that companies put on an event that brings so many retail customers under one roof where they can come together and collaborate and at the same time relax and have fun,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Bowers says with the produce industry being built on relationships, the casual and relaxed atmosphere of Boots &amp;amp; Banter helps forge business connections.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Alexis Barrett, vice president of sales in national accounts for Local Bounti, says that’s exactly what Boots &amp;amp; Banter is built for.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“This is exactly the kind of gathering the produce industry thrives on — great conversations, real relationship-building and time with our amazing customers,” she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“This has been a nice way to kick off what is sure to be an eventful week,” Kim Chackal of Equifruit says. “We needed country music and colorful produce to get us to the finish line.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;
    
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    &gt;


&lt;/picture&gt;

    

    
        &lt;div class="Figure-content"&gt;&lt;figcaption class="Figure-caption"&gt;Boots &amp;amp; Banter guests took a crack at the Electric Slide during line dance lessons, proving it’s harder than it looks.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;div class="Figure-credit"&gt;(Photo: Christina Herrick)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
    
&lt;/figure&gt;

                        
                    
                
            
        &lt;/div&gt;
    &lt;/div&gt;
    
        &lt;br&gt;Bartenders served up specialty cocktails with a western flair. But Stan Edwards of John Greene Logistics Company says Boots &amp;amp; Banter was a chance to stir up connections across the industry.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“It’s been a great time,” he says. “It’s great to see so many knowledgeable people and lots of good networking with good drinks and great friends.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Samantha McCaul, senior marketing manager with Sugar Foods, says the goal of the Boots &amp;amp; Banter Reception was to capture the spirit and connection that make the industry unique.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We hope that this becomes the event everyone marks on their calendar year after year,” she says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Barry Bounds, vice president of retail business development for Sugar Foods, says the event served as a meaningful way to recognize the company’s retail partners.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re especially excited to welcome our retail partners for an evening that’s all about celebrating relationships and saying thanks to those who help move our industry forward,” he says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Jenny Halpin, senior manager of corporate external communications for Naturesweet, agrees, noting: “Our industry runs on relationships, and Boots &amp;amp; Banter is a chance to celebrate the people behind the produce. It’s our way of thanking partners and reconnecting with friends from across the country — all with a little extra flair.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Kristine Gatlin of Litehouse says she wants to use the Boots &amp;amp; Banter Reception as a springboard to keep the momentum going at the show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Let the fun and great conversations continue at IFPA tomorrow,” she says.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:51:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/boots-banter-absolutely-electric-event</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/7328e0c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd6%2F38%2Fb26b2a48405580acd2b849bd495f%2Fboots-and-banter-photo-booth.png" />
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      <title>Oppy, Blue Diamond Growers Preview Snack Rebrand at IFPA</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/oppy-blue-diamond-growers-preview-snack-rebrand-ifpa</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Oppy announced Oct. 15 that it is teaming up with Blue Diamond Growers to showcase their line of almonds and almond-fruit blends at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;In the partnership, which started a year ago, the two companies have introduced a lineup of almond product snacks. These include oven roasted honey, lightly salted, and toasted almonds and cherries. Each variety is packaged in resealable stand-up bags. The produce line will debut its new look in spring 2026.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“When Blue Diamond enters the basket, the results speak for themselves — the average basket ring doubles,” says Oppy’s executive vice president of sales Brett Libke. “Retailers are seeing strong momentum, and the excitement continues to build as shoppers reach for better-for-you snacks that truly deliver.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;To further boost engagement, participating retailers can take part in a national sweepstakes campaign offering shoppers the chance to win fitness trackers and athletic gift cards through Nov. 15 at 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://bdfitnesssweeps.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;bdfitnesssweeps.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        .&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Our packaging puts protein and heart health front and center — exactly what today’s snacker is looking for,” says Carmen Bourgaize, Blue Diamond Growers’ chief commercial officer. “Retailers can leverage this along with our robust trade and marketing support to drive incremental sales and shopper loyalty within the produce section.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;At IFPA, attendees are invited to stop by Oppy’s booth, No. 1039, to sample almonds, get a sneak peek of Blue Diamond’s refreshed branding, and enter an exclusive on-site giveaway for an Apple Watch.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:53:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/oppy-blue-diamond-growers-preview-snack-rebrand-ifpa</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/93124f6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1000x666+0+0/resize/1440x959!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb4%2F7b%2Fe8064e5146beb4fb910cb91c8272%2Foppybluediamond-snackalmonds-repaired-1000x666-72dpi.jpg" />
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      <title>Wonderful Pistachios to Expand No Shells Dill Pickle Product Line, Introduce at IFPA Global</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/wonderful-pistachios-expand-no-shells-dill-pickle-product-line-introduce-ifp</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Wonderful Pistachios will introduce a new 5.5-ounce bag size of its No Shells Dill Pickle flavor at the IFPA 2025 Global Produce and Floral Show at The Wonderful Company Booth No. 1839, before its official release to supermarkets nationwide in January 2026.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Originally 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/wonderful-pistachios-unveils-trendy-dill-pickle-flavor" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;launched earlier this year in 2.25-ounce bags&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         for the convenience channel, No Shells Dill Pickle quickly became a top performer, resonating with snackers who crave bold and adventurous flavors, according to a news release. Its expansion into the supermarket channel ensures more consumers nationwide will be able to enjoy the perfect blend of tangy, savory and satisfying crunch — now in a resealable, larger size.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;As one of the standout “nostalgic” flavors driving consumer excitement in 2025, the company says dill pickle taps into a growing trend of craveable, bold snacks. Taste test results placed dill pickle on par with Wonderful Pistachios’ most popular No Shells flavors, demonstrating its wide appeal among both pistachio enthusiasts and pickle lovers alike.&lt;br&gt;
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:33:29 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/wonderful-pistachios-expand-no-shells-dill-pickle-product-line-introduce-ifp</guid>
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      <title>Bee Sweet Citrus Introduces New Packaging</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/bee-sweet-citrus-intros-new-packaging</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.producemarketguide.com/company/118129/bee-sweet-citrus-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Bee Sweet Citrus&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , a grower, packer and shipper, says it will kick off its new season by debuting a new booth, packaging and more at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Bee Sweet Citrus says its California-grown grapefruit, Meyer lemons, lemons, Golden Gem grapefruit and pummelos are available as it transitions from summer imports to its domestic program.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Last year, our team debuted our premium citrus line at IFPA’s fall show and received positive feedback from customers,” says Monique Mueller, director of communications for Bee Sweet Citrus. “This year, we’re pleased to announce that we’ve expanded our line to include Heirloom Navels, and its packaging will be on display at our booth.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company says its sales and upper management team will attend this year and will be available to discuss variety availability, seasonal marketing opportunities and more at its booth No. 1293.&lt;br&gt;
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:17:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/bee-sweet-citrus-intros-new-packaging</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/671b958/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb2%2F53%2F037c55b44ce880efa1960dd2b290%2Fbee-sweet-citrus-ifpa-graphic.png" />
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      <title>Phillips Mushroom Farms Partners With Bandit To Launch Vegan Stuffed Mushroom</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/phillips-mushroom-farms-partners-bandit-launch-vegan-stuffed-mushroom</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Phillips Mushroom Farms is partnering with Philadelphia-based plant-based cheese innovator Bandit to release its first vegan stuffed mushroom.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;For decades, stuffed mushrooms have been a staple at gatherings, most often filled with a cream cheese or cheese blend, the company says. Mushrooms and cheese naturally complement one another — savory umami paired with rich, gooey cheese — but Phillips and Bandit say they are taking this classic to the next level with a bold, plant-based twist.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The new Buffalo Dip Baby Bella Stuffed Mushrooms feature Bandit’s clean-label, cashew-based cheese blended with buffalo sauce and an unexpected ingredient: oyster mushrooms. That’s right, mushrooms stuffed with more mushrooms, creating a unique umami-packed “buffalo chicken” flavor and texture without any dairy or meat, the company says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“True innovation means moving beyond the old playbook,” says Sean Steller, director of business development for Phillips Mushroom Farms. “For many years, cheese-stuffed mushrooms with crab, garlic and even bacon bits were the go-to. Today’s consumer is looking for bold flavor, clean ingredients and plant-based options that don’t compromise on taste. This product delivers all three. We are very excited to launch this collaboration.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Bandit, founded by Bo Babaki, has quickly become a leader in the next wave of plant-based dairy alternatives, the company says. Its cashew-based cheeses have earned national attention for their short ingredient lists, bold flavors and artisanal approach. Through this partnership, Phillips Mushroom Farms and Bandit are bringing together the best of two local Pennsylvania food innovators, heritage mushroom farming and plant-based cheese-making.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re excited to partner with Phillips Mushroom Farms, a company that shares our commitment to quality and innovation,” Babaki says. “This collab is about showing people that plant-based food can be seamlessly fun, delicious and nostalgic all at once.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The product launch reflects Phillips Mushroom Farms’ ongoing mission to bring mushrooms to the center of the plate through fresh, sustainable and creative applications, the company says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Buffalo Dip Baby Bella Stuffed Mushrooms will be available at retailers in 2026. Visitors can stop by booth No. 4152 at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show, Oct 17-18, for a sneak peek.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:25:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/phillips-mushroom-farms-partners-bandit-launch-vegan-stuffed-mushroom</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/4c44109/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x800+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fab%2Ff8%2Fe136d35b42c2b4c164696b411825%2Fstuffed-mushrooms-on-tray.png" />
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      <title>Wish Farms Wraps Successful Pick-A-Berry, Pick-A-Cause Giveaway and Charity Campaign</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/social-responsibility/wish-farms-wraps-successful-pick-berry-pick-cause-giveaway-and-charity</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Wish Farms, a Plant City, Fla.-based international grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries, concluded its annual $10,000 charitable consumer campaign, 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://wishfarms.com/pick-a-berry-pick-a-cause-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Pick-A-Berry, Pick-A-Cause&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        .&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Now in its fourth year, the initiative continues to grow organically, engaging consumers while supporting meaningful causes aligned with the Wish Farms Family Foundation’s pillars of giving: food security, youth education and community, according to the company. This year’s donations were distributed among three nonprofit organizations:&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://feedingtampabay.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Feeding Tampa Bay&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         — A member of the Feeding America network, the organization connects nearly 1 million people with resources that foster long-term stability.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://rcma.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Redlands Christian Migrant Association&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         — Serving Florida’s migrant farmworker and rural low-income communities since 1965, RCMA supports over 6,500 children across 66 centers and provides adult education programs.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://bgctampa.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Boys &amp;amp; Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         — Florida’s oldest and one of the nation’s largest Boys &amp;amp; Girls Club organizations, BGCGTB operates 65 locations across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, serving over 24,000 youth annually.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;The campaign ran from Aug. 27 to Sept. 30, generating 259,027 entries and 517,348 impressions — a 27% increase in participation over the previous year, the company says. Five lucky entrants received cash prizes totaling $2,000. Participants were invited to select their preferred cause upon entry at WishFarms.com, with donations allocated based on vote percentages: Feeding Tampa Bay 49%; RCMA 26%; Boys &amp;amp; Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay 25%.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“This campaign has been a resounding success four years running and continues to build momentum,” says Nick Wishnatzki, public relations director for Wish Farms. “It’s a win-win: we grow our audience, spotlight impactful organizations, reward our consumers and spread the ‘Feel Good’ message that defines our brand. We look forward to many more years of giving back in this special way.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Visit Wish Farms at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Floral and Produce Show in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 17-19, at booth No. 1239.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 20:24:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/social-responsibility/wish-farms-wraps-successful-pick-berry-pick-cause-giveaway-and-charity</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/26becf2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x800+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F06%2F1089d76e42ebb7f47b7435fb8256%2Fbgcgtb.jpg" />
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      <title>Del Fresco Pure to Bring Flavor, Sustainability, Innovation to IFPA</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/del-fresco-pure-bring-flavor-sustainability-innovation-ifpa</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Fresh, flavorful and a little unexpected — Del Fresco Pure is ready to make a splash at the 2025 Global Floral and Produce Show in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 17–19. The annual event brings together produce and floral pros from around the world to spot trends, spark innovation and celebrate the future of fresh food.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;At Booth No. 3993, attendees can explore Del Fresco Pure’s world of flavor, sustainability and creativity, with exciting product launches, interactive activations and tastings designed to delight every sense, according to a news release.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Spotlight Event: Logan Moffitt Live&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Del Fresco Pure is shaking things up this year with Logan Moffitt, the viral “cucumber guy,” on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Booth No. 3993.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We’re beyond thrilled to have Logan as our brand ambassador,” says Sonia Klinger, marketing manager for Del Fresco Pure. “He has a gift for turning everyday moments into something extraordinary. His playful, authentic style reflects our own spirit of innovation — and shows that even a cucumber can shine in the spotlight.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;From humble cucumber to internet superstar, Moffitt’s playful yet elevated salad series has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of fans everywhere, proving that even the simplest veggie can spark creativity, ignite conversation and, yes, achieve viral fame, the release says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“His innovative approach transforms everyday ingredients into eye-catching, flavorful creations that are as fun to make as they are to eat. Attendees at the event will get an exclusive chance to watch Logan in action, learn a few of his signature cucumber hacks and take home inspiration to elevate their own kitchen adventures,” the company says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“What excites me most about working with Del Fresco Pure is how much they value creativity with produce,” Moffit says. “At the Global Produce and Floral Show, I’m looking forward to sharing how everyday veggies — like cucumbers — can become the star of the show when you add a little imagination.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Join Logan at the booth and explore fresh, creative ways to enjoy produce, whether it’s adding a little flair to everyday meals or turning simple ingredients into something unexpectedly delicious.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Product Innovations on Display&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Del Fresco Pure is rolling out two major highlights this year:&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul class="rte2-style-ul"&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sustainable heirloom tomato packaging — gorgeous heirloom tomatoes in recyclable cardboard trays, cutting single-use plastics while keeping produce fresh and protected.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Organic English seedless cucumbers — a premium organic cucumber line, combining greenhouse expertise with certified organic practices for flavor that consumers can feel good about.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;The Del Fresco Pure booth is more than just a display, the company says — it’s an experience:&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul class="rte2-style-ul"&gt;&lt;li&gt;Custom heat-press bag station to design a personalized tote to take home.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Swag plus recharge station — fuel up your devices and grab some giveaways.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Delicious tastings — sample the vibrant flavor of greenhouse grown produce prepared on-site.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;“Today’s consumers want more than just fresh produce; they want to know it’s grown with care for both people and the planet,” says Ray Mastronardi, vice president of sales for Del Fresco Pure. “Our sustainable packaging and organic line reflect that commitment. We’re proud to showcase these innovations at the Global Floral and Produce Show, where creativity and collaboration shape the future of our industry.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;From sustainable packaging to premium organic cucumbers, plus interactive activations and tasty bites, Del Fresco Pure invites attendees to see how the company is turning fresh produce into flavorful experiences. Visit Del Fresco Pure at Booth No. 3993.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:43:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/del-fresco-pure-bring-flavor-sustainability-innovation-ifpa</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/02f9038/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x800+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2F4f%2F30fe841b4ad8bdd3da65eda960e6%2Flogan-moffitt.jpg" />
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      <title>Bda/Dorot Farm Yellow Carrot Program To Bring a Burst of Color to IFPA Show</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/bda-dorot-farm-yellow-carrot-program-bring-burst-color-ifpa-show</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        BDA/Dorot Farm is launching a new yellow carrot program, supplied directly from its farms, according to a news release.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Yellow carrots have become trendy, and we’ve received many requests for a program that ensures year-round availability,” says Ami Ben-Dror, CEO of BDA/Dorot Farm. “Yellow carrots offer a unique flavor and are highly demanded by high-end restaurants and chefs specializing in diverse cuisines.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The new yellow carrots will be available in 25-pound and 50-pound packs for foodservice and fresh-cut use, as well as 5-pound and 2-pound retail bags for supermarket chains.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This new line joins Dorot Farm’s rainbow carrot program and jumbo and cello carrot programs, already featured in many restaurants and gourmet kitchens.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Our vision is to stay ahead of market trends and continuously meet the needs of BDA/Dorot Farm’s customers,” Ben-Dror says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Dorot Farm team will be at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 16-18, where they’ll meet with customers, colleagues and industry partners to highlight upcoming innovations and emerging produce trends.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:38:59 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/bda-dorot-farm-yellow-carrot-program-bring-burst-color-ifpa-show</guid>
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      <title>California Giant Promotes First-Of-Its-Kind Berries at IFPA</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/california-giant-promotes-first-its-kind-berries-ifpa</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.producemarketguide.com/company/117055/california-giant-berry-farms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;California Giant Berry Farms&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         says it will debut a new product designed to meet the growing consumer demand for functional foods at the upcoming International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show: Belli Berries.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company says these berries, boosted with live probiotics, are the first-of-its-kind in the category. The company says it’s a straightforward way to incorporate functional benefits into consumers’ diets.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Blueberries’ natural fibers create an ideal probiotic carrier, the company says, as the fruit shields live cultures as they journey through the digestive system.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;California Giant also says the probiotic benefits stay in the fruit when frozen or baked.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“We are thrilled to introduce Belli Berries at the IFPA Global Show,” says Kyla Oberman, director of marketing of California Giant Berry Farms. “This product directly addresses the increasing consumer interest in functional foods that offer convenient gut-health solutions. Belli Berries combine the great taste of our California Giant blueberries with the added benefit of probiotics, providing a new and exciting way for people to support their gut-health and overall wellness.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;California Giant will showcase Belli Berries at its IFPA Global Show booth, No. 3947.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:33:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/california-giant-promotes-first-its-kind-berries-ifpa</guid>
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      <title>Mission Produce to Unveil Avocado Bag Rebrand, Showcase Mango Leadership at IFPA</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/mission-produce-unveil-avocado-bag-rebrand-showcase-mango-leadership-ifpa</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Mission Produce Inc. will debut the ‘World’s Finest Glow-Up’ of its avocado bags at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim, Calif., from Oct. 16–18.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Mission will also highlight its position as the mango category leader with a full portfolio of consumer-friendly products designed to drive growth at retail, according to a news release. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“’The World’s Finest Avocados’ deserve packaging that resonates with today’s shopper, and that’s why we’re giving them the ‘World’s Finest Glow-Up,’” says Diana McClean, director of marketing and communications for Mission Produce. “Our new bag design elevates shelf appeal with bold graphics, clear labeling and recipe inspiration — all while keeping the premium fruit inside consistent with the quality Mission is known for. This rebrand brings confidence and clarity to the avocado category while aligning with the modern retail environment.” &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Mission’s avocado bag redesign — coming in 2026 — puts shoppers first with a clean, modern look that’s easier to spot and easier to love, the company says. The new look underscores Mission’s commitment to innovation and category leadership by connecting with evolving consumer expectations. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Alongside its avocado innovation, Mission will spotlight its mango portfolio, which continues to outperform the category with custom ripe programs and versatile consumer packaging. Mangoes are gaining momentum across the U.S., now appearing on 44% of menus and ranking as the 9&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; most-sold fruit at retail, the release says. Mission’s retail-ready mango bag has delivered proven success in boosting volume and dollar sales without cannibalizing bulk purchases, further positioning the company as the leader in mango merchandising, the company says.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Mission Produce will be at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Hall A, Booth No. 4269.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:10:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/mission-produce-unveil-avocado-bag-rebrand-showcase-mango-leadership-ifpa</guid>
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      <title>Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle to Make IFPA Debut as part of og Companies</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/dole-fresh-vegetables-bud-antle-make-ifpa-debut-part-og-companies</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle, manufacturer of Dole-branded packaged salads, has announced plans to exhibit at the International Fresh Produce Association’s 2025 Global Produce and Floral Show, Oct. 16-18, in Anaheim, Calif.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The salad leader will be making its debut with organicgirl and Braga Fresh as part of og Companies at Booth No. 1067 in the Grower Shipper Pavilion, Hall D, as a result of the recent 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://arablecp.com/2025/08/05/arable-capital-partners-announces-strategic-combination-of-organicgirl-braga-fresh-and-dole-fresh-vegetables-bud-antle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Arable Capital acquisition and merger&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        .&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;According to David Austin, vice president of marketing and innovation at Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle, the brand’s first-ever appearance as part of og Companies with organicgirl and Braga Fresh is consistent with Arable Capital’s vision of creating a diversified produce portfolio that strengthens each brand’s legacy of innovation and commitment to exceptional customer service.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Austin says Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle will use the occasion to display its three latest Dole Salad kits introduced in August — Dole Caprese Chopped Salad Kit, Dole Pesto Ranch Chopped Salad Kit and Dole Apple Harvest Salad Kit — at IFPA’s 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshproduce.com/events/the-global-produce-and-floral-show/exhibit-sponsor/fresh-ideas-showcase/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Fresh Ideas Showcase&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         throughout the show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Designed by the Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle R&amp;amp;D team to bring the bold, satisfying flavors of Italian mozzarella-based richness in caprese, the unexpected blend of classic ranch and pesto, and tangy and sweet apple cider flavors in minutes-to-make salad kit featuring farm-fresh lettuces, vegetables, toppings and original dressings.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;In honor of IFPA, Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle has launched a new Instacart offer on its latest Dole Salads kits. Starting Oct. 13, salad-loving Instacart shoppers can save $1 for every $8 they spend on Dole brand’s new Caprese, Pesto Ranch and Apple Harvest kits, as well as other favorites, according to a news release.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Dole Fresh Vegetables introduced its first packaged salad in 1993. The company’s salad business, now through Bud Antle, LLC and part of the og Companies, was instrumental in the launch and growth of new salad varieties, such as its Dole Chopped Salad Kits line, and the overall salad segment.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company recently completed 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/doles-fresh-new-look-packaging-designed-millennial-and-gen-z-salad-lovers" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;a bold new packaging refresh&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         of its Dole Salad Kit line to make it easier for salad lovers to choose, shop and enjoy their favorite all-inclusive salad experiences. The new look includes compelling new colors, photography, ingredient iconography and callouts and represents an intentional nod to the growing number of millennial and Gen Z shoppers buying packaged salads for the first time.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The refresh was unveiled in August on the company’s 31 salad kits at supermarkets throughout North America.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:57:33 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/dole-fresh-vegetables-bud-antle-make-ifpa-debut-part-og-companies</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/fd648c6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x800+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F11%2F4fac0d264883a165eed0d68a7930%2Fdole-premium-appleharvest-071430002186-front-1.jpg" />
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      <title>Taylor Farms to Showcase Salad Kits at IFPA</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/taylor-farms-showcase-salad-kits-ifpa</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.taylorfarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Taylor Farms&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , producer of ready-to-eat salads and healthy fresh foods, will return to the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This year in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 16-18, Taylor Farms will feature its Jalapeño Popper Chopped Kit and its Taco Ranch Mini Chopped Kit. Attendees should plan to visit Taylor Farms at Booth No. 4139, according to a news release.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“The IFPA show annually showcases the best of the best in fresh produce,” says Charis Neves, vice president, product and innovation for Taylor Farms. “Our Jalapeño Popper Chopped Kit and Taco Ranch Mini Chopped Kit are standout examples of how we’re bringing bold, craveable flavors to the produce aisle. These products reflect Taylor Farms’ commitment to innovation and delivering fresh, exciting options for our customers.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;On Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18, Taylor Farms says it will host a happy hour with beer and wine from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Booth No. 4139.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:59:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/taylor-farms-showcase-salad-kits-ifpa</guid>
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      <title>Giumarra to Launch SugarWild Blackberry Program at Global Produce and Floral Show</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/giumarra-launch-sugarwild-blackberry-program-global-produce-and-floral-show</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.producemarketguide.com/company/572896/giumarra-companies" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;The Giumarra Companies&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         says it will debut its SugarWild berry program, a new generation of premium blackberries, during the International Frehs Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company says SugarWild offers consumers an exeptional eating experience.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;SugarWild is shipping in limited volumes, in conventional, Jumbo SugarWild and Organic SugarWild pack styles.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“In collaboration with our grower partners in Mexico, our berry team is thrilled to introduce our most exciting berry yet at the industry’s most prominent event,” said Alfredo “Freddy” Peña, vice president for Giumarra International Berry Sales. “SugarWild’s combination of outstanding flavor and eye-catching branding invites consumers to discover a boldly sweet new berry experience. We look forward to supporting our retail customers with promotions to engage shoppers with SugarWild both in store and online.”&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company says its SugarWild blackberries will be available at its International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show booth, Mercado Giumarra. Booth No. 3373, will pay homage to the Giumarra Companies’ Southern California roots with a Hispanic market-themed booth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Booth visitors can sample beverages and street tacos with traditional and inventive toppings that feature fresh produce items offered across Giumarra’s sales divisions.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;SugarWild will also be spotlighted at IFPA’s Fresh Ideas Showcase at the show, too.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Our company roots were established at the historic downtown Los Angeles produce market in 1922, and we continue to be inspired by the colorful, diverse market experiences Southern California has to offer,” said Megan Gorgisheli, vice president of marketing administration and brand for the Giumarra Companies. “This year’s booth brings that inspiration to life in a vibrant, welcoming space where we can connect with our customers, growers and fellow industry members.”
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:55:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/giumarra-launch-sugarwild-blackberry-program-global-produce-and-floral-show</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/8eed98c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6c%2F67%2F4d6a7ae443c0a0c2098ea8c8e566%2Fsugarwild-jumbo-clamshell.png" />
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      <title>Fresh Solutions Network to Exhibit Potato, Onion Portfolio</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/fresh-solutions-network-exhibit-potato-onion-portfolio</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Fresh Solutions Network, LLC will exhibit again this year at the International Fresh Produce Association 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshproduce.com/events/the-global-produce-and-floral-show/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Global Produce and Floral Show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        &lt;u&gt; &lt;/u&gt;at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 16-18, at Booth No. 1632.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt;FSN will exhibit the full Side Delights portfolio of inspired potato and onion products from FSN exhibiting partners, including Basin Gold Cooperative (Washington and Oregon), NoKota Packers (North Dakota), Michael Family Farms (Ohio), Masser Family of Companies (Pennsylvania) and Mack Farms (Florida), according to a news release.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;FSN farmers are independent, family-owned farms that grow, pack, sell and deliver fresh potatoes and onions to customers across the U.S. and Canada. The farms “grow where it matters,” spanning more than 65,000 acres in the U.S. and Canada across all major growing regions, seasons and varieties. &lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt;The annual IFPA event is the world’s largest fresh produce and floral expo, which includes educational sessions, networking and two days of exhibits in the expo hall highlighting the industry’s newest products and innovations. According to recent market trends from the Institute of Food Technologists, innovative, produce-based convenience products are capturing consumers’ attention,&lt;sup&gt;, &lt;/sup&gt;the release says.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt;“IFPA Global offers Fresh Solutions Network unparalleled opportunities to highlight our regional relevance alongside our national distribution scope and showcase our product innovation from convenience to sustainability,” says Kathleen Triou, president and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “Our consumer, category, industry and trend insights help us identify and introduce innovations designed to increase consumer satisfaction, stimulate incremental purchases, drive supply chain efficiencies and improve overall category vitality and performance.”&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt;The popularity of potatoes continues with U.S. retail sales volume increasing (+2.6% July 2024 to June 2025), including all sizes of fresh potatoes sold in bags (87% of fresh potato volume sales). Side Delights offers russet, Idaho russet, red, yellow and white potatoes in 5-pound, 8-pound and 10-pound clear poly, light-blocker, combo mesh bags. FSN’s complete potato portfolio includes 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshsolutionsnet.com/our-brands/potato-kits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Potato Kits&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshsolutionsnet.com/our-brands/popular-potatoes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Popular Potatoes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshsolutionsnet.com/our-brands/convenience-potatoes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Convenience Potatoes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshsolutionsnet.com/our-brands/foodservice/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Foodservice&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshsolutionsnet.com/our-brands/organic-potatoes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Organic Potatoes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshsolutionsnet.com/our-brands/fresh-cut-potatoes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Fresh-Cut Potatoes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         and 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshsolutionsnet.com/our-brands/gourmet-potatoes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Petite Potatoes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        . 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.sidedelights.com/our-potatoes/popular-potatoes/spuds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;SPUDS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         less-than-perfect potatoes were added to the potato portfolio in 2023 as part of FSN’s commitment to improving sustainable food management practices and reducing food waste.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt;FSN exhibiting partners will also showcase a robust product assortment of 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.freshsolutionsnet.comproducts/onions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;onions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , the third-largest fresh vegetable industry in the U.S.&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt;For more information on Fresh Solutions Network and its network of farms, visit 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="http://www.freshsolutionsnet.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;FreshSolutionsNet.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        , 
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.sidedelights.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;b&gt;SideDelights.com &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        and&lt;b&gt; &lt;/b&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://grownwhereitmatters.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;&lt;b&gt;GrownWhereItMatters.com&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
        .
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:44:23 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry-events/fresh-solutions-network-exhibit-potato-onion-portfolio</guid>
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      <title>Village Fresh Adds Premium Beefsteak Tomatoes</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/village-fresh-adds-premium-beefsteak-tomatoes</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        Honoring the Big Bend region of Texas, Village Fresh Greenhouse Grown says it has introduced Big Bend Beefs, a premium beefsteak tomato grown in the West Texas region.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company says the Big Bend Beefs offer bold flavor and beautiful appearance and bring the taste of the Lone Star State to consumers.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Known for its wide-open skies, rugged landscapes and resilient spirit, Village Fresh says the Big Bend region is more than a geographic location. Since 1996, Village Fresh has grown tomatoes in the Big Bend region due to its high number of clear-sky days. The region is also home to the largest International Dark Sky Reserve in the world, the McDonald Observatory.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Big Bend Beefs will be available in a range of pack sizes for consumers, retailers and foodservice operators, the company says. This includes bulk loose tomatoes, 2-count and 3-count trays, and club store family packs.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Village Fresh will officially debut the Big Bend Beefs at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show, set for Oct. 16-18 in Anaheim, Calif. The company says it plans to showcase its Big Bend Beefs packaging lineup and a virtual experience of the West Texas night sky that inspired the brand at its booth No. 881.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Village Fresh says it has been recognized by the McDonald Observatory for adopting night-sky friendly lighting across its operations. These include shielding bulbs using amber hues, reducing intensity and limiting unnecessary nighttime lighting.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company says this recognition by the McDonald Observatory also reflects its broader sustainable growing practices.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“Our presence in West Texas has always been about more than growing produce,” says Helen Aquino, director of brand marketing and communications for Village Fresh. “It’s about honoring the land, supporting the community, and practicing sustainability in ways that protect not only our crops but also the environment. Partnering with McDonald Observatory’s Dark Sky initiative is part of that commitment, ensuring that what makes this region special will remain for generations to come.”
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:15:11 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/products/village-fresh-adds-premium-beefsteak-tomatoes</guid>
      <media:content medium="img" lang="en-US" url="https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/07ecd84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x857+0+0/resize/1440x1028!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc5%2F0f%2Fffb7912340748dd33e2b8c6e1dbf%2Fvf-big-bend-beef-2ct-clam.png" />
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      <title>Altar Produce to Debut New Corporate Image at IFPA Show</title>
      <link>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/altar-produce-debut-new-corporate-image-ifpa-show</link>
      <description>&lt;div class="RichTextArticleBody RichTextBody"&gt;
    
        &lt;span class="LinkEnhancement"&gt;&lt;a class="Link" href="https://www.producemarketguide.com/company/172984/altar-produce-llc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Altar Produce&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
    
         says it plans to unveil a new corporate image during the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show, set for Oct. 16-18 in Anaheim, Calif.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The company says it will strengthen its core message with the slogan “We Are The Grower,” which it says reaffirms its commitment to quality, innovation and trust it has built with clients worldwide.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The grower-marketer of fresh asparagus and vegetables plans to showcase its full portfolio and highlight its growth across North America, Canada, Europe and Asia.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Altar Produce says it plans three activations at its booth No. C-1873:&lt;br&gt;&lt;ul class="rte2-style-ul"&gt;&lt;li&gt;Altar Coffee Bar, a hospitality experience that the company says has become a tradition.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mobile charging stations, an exclusive service for visitors and buyers.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The launch of new Altar Produce mascots, with claw machines and plush figures that Altar Produce says will reinforce its renewed identity.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;The company says it will also be present in the Mexico Pavilion in Hall D-575, which reinforces Mexico’s role as a strategic supplier for the international market.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;“With this new image, we want to convey what has always defined us: we are integrated growers, close to the land and to our customers,” says Manuel Ochoa, marketing manager for Altar Produce.
    
&lt;/div&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:30:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.thepacker.com/news/industry/altar-produce-debut-new-corporate-image-ifpa-show</guid>
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