PHOENIX, AZ - Sprouts Farmers Market, recently named Progressive Grocer’s Retailer of the Year, announced plans for significant expansion in 2025, with a large focus on Florida. This strategic growth will bring more than seven new stores to the state, reinforcing Sprouts' commitment to providing fresh and healthy food options to communities across the Sunshine State.

The expansion is expected to have a substantial impact on local communities by creating more than 650 jobs across Florida, including positions like clerk-level roles, specialty positions, assistant department manager, and upper management roles. The new store openings highlight Sprouts’ mission to invest in local communities and make high-quality and natural foods accessible to families. The new locations will offer Sprouts’ selection of fresh and organic produce, responsibly sourced meat and seafood, and a wide assortment of innovative, and better-for-you products.

Additionally, the new locations will support job creation and partnerships with local farmers, suppliers, and community organizations. To learn more about open positions and team member benefits, or to apply, visit https://www.sprouts.com/careers/hiring-events/.

In preparation for the openings of its two newest Florida locations, Sprouts will host two upcoming hiring events. The first event is for the Coconut Creek store, scheduled to open on Friday, April 25. A virtual hiring event for management and specialty roles will be held on Wednesday, January 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In-person team member hiring events will take place at the Coconut Creek Community Center on Tuesday, March 11 from 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday, March 12 from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. The community center is located at 1100 Lyons Road.

The second hiring event is for its new store in East Boynton Beach, scheduled to open on Friday, April 4. A virtual hiring event for management and specialty roles will be held on Wednesday, February 5. Following the virtual event, in-person team member hiring events will take place at the Embassy Suites Boca Raton on Thursday, February 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday, February 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The hotel is located at 661 NW 53rd Street.

Visit https://www.sprouts.com/careers/hiring-events/ to learn more about date, time, or location changes.

To kick off the new year, Sprouts’ first location will open in St. Johns, FL, on January 31. Following this opening, Sprouts will open additional locations across Greater Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Palm Beach County. For a list of stores by region or to see other locations coming soon, visit sprouts.com/stores.

LOS ANGELES, CA - ProducePay, the agtech company transforming the global agricultural industry into a more predictable, connected, and sustainable supply chain, announced the appointment of Nathan Gilliland as Chief Financial Officer, Yuin Choe as Senior Vice President of Treasury, and Diana Simeonova as Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Controller. These strategic additions bring decades of leadership and expertise to ProducePay as the company continues to expand technology services on its platform and grow its sourcing programs for growers, marketers, and retailers across the entire global fresh produce supply chain.

Gilliland, with more than 30 years of experience in finance, technology, and energy, has raised more than $600 million in venture capital and led four pre-revenue companies from launch to rapid growth. He will drive ProducePay’s financial strategy, bringing insight and experience that position the company for further success in scaling its operations.

Choe, a veteran in corporate finance with more than 15 years of experience in debt capital markets, cash management, risk management, and corporate insurance, will focus on enhancing ProducePay’s financial operational capacity. Previously holding senior roles at J.D. Power, Belkin International, and Hyundai Capital America, he brings a depth of knowledge in financial optimization that is essential as ProducePay grows.

Simeonova brings nearly two decades of extensive experience in global corporate controllership and financial operations, with a focus on technology, SaaS, and manufacturing sectors. Before joining ProducePay, she held various financial leadership positions where she played a key role in overseeing financial operations, building high-performing accounting teams, and implementing industry-leading financial practices and systems to scale businesses and drive growth, including facilitating successful exits. Her leadership and financial expertise will be critical in strengthening ProducePay's financial infrastructure.

“Nathan’s expertise in capital markets, finance, and technology makes him the ideal leader to continue driving our mission of transforming the fresh produce industry with technology services that reduce food and economic waste,” said Patrick McCullough, CEO of ProducePay. “Yuin and Diana will be instrumental in helping us scale our growing portfolio and ensure best-in-class financial operations as we expand geographically along with our suite of products.”

These appointments come at a pivotal year for ProducePay as it continues to digitize the fresh produce sector, a press release explained. To date, the company has facilitated more than $10 billion worth of fresh produce transactions across 60 fresh produce commodities globally.

Incorporating financing, program management, payments, and quality visibility, the company’s Predictable Commerce Platform helps its customers across the fresh produce supply chain grow while capturing value in the form of reduced economic inefficiencies and food waste. When bundling these services in the form of its Predictable Commerce Programs, ProducePay has also been able to secure a supply of high-quality fresh produce for the world’s largest marketers and retailers. These programs are having real results for growers, marketers, and the world’s most respected retailers.

In 2024, ProducePay’s Predictable Commerce Program procured three million cases of Mexican table grapes for over a dozen top U.S. retailers—a sevenfold increase in volume compared to 2023—with a 90 percent reduction in retail rejections, bringing them to nearly one percent. This achievement was accompanied by predictable pricing, enhanced quality, and robust traceability enabled by the company’s Visibility solution and a network of more than 100 agronomists on the ground.

This year, the company plans to expand its programs to additional commodities and regions. Recently, ProducePay launched pilot programs for avocados and berries, with full-scale rollouts expected later this year.

“We have proven the impact of bundling our suite of technology products within our Predictable Commerce Programs and the positive outcomes they bring to the industry. It’s time for us to evolve, go even further, and prove that we can scale these benefits to our customers, capturing value while reducing waste and inefficiencies.

MEXICO - Recent reports show a cold front blanketing northern parts of Mexico, resulting in plummeting temperatures, rain, and snowfall. The winter phenomenon—known as Cold Front 25—is currently in its peak and is expected to last through January 31.

The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) predicted temperatures will plunge as low as -15°C as a result of the cold front, driven by complex weather systems such as cyclonic patterns and polar jet streams, which are interacting to create winter conditions across multiple states.

The Pinnacle Gazette reported that temperatures are forecasted to drop substantially, with certain mountainous areas expected to experience freezing conditions. The cold front also threatens icy conditions, prompting the SMN to advise avoiding travel if possible and remaining alert to local advisories.

The following temperature ranges are predicted: Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Durango will see lows of -10 to -15 degrees Celsius during the coldest period. Meanwhile, areas including Baja California Sur and Michoacán may register temperatures between -5 and 0 degrees Celsius.

Tomorrow, January 31, is expected to see continued cold snaps, with temperatures sustaining lows of -10 to -5°C.

For more weather updates and industry news, leave a tab open to ANUK.

DALLAS, TX - Elephant House Public Relations is excited to announce the expansion of its team with the addition of Amy Davis, RDN, as Consumer Media Specialist. This strategic hire highlights the agency's dedication to providing top-tier support for brands in the fresh produce industry. With the addition of Amy, Elephant House PR now boasts a team of five dedicated PR experts, each contributing unique expertise to help clients achieve their public relations goals.

Amy’s extensive background as a media dietitian, spokesperson, writer, recipe developer, and business strategist positions her as a trusted expert in nutrition communication. Her work has been featured in leading publications such as Shape, Women’s Health, Well+Good, RealSimple, and Parade, as well as on TV and digital media platforms.

“I’ve always envisioned a team that brings together diverse expertise to help elevate fresh produce brands and add immense value to our clients, and Amy is the perfect addition to help us achieve that,” said Beth Keeton, Owner and President of Elephant House PR. “Her unique blend of health and media expertise enhances our ability to meet the growing demand for RD knowledge in consumer media while solidifying our role as a trusted resource for the brands we serve.”

The addition of Amy Davis not only strengthens the agency’s consumer media efforts but also reinforces its commitment to growth and client success, a press release stated. By combining deep expertise in public relations, media strategy, and evidence-based nutrition communication, Elephant House PR is uniquely equipped to support brands in creating meaningful connections with their audiences.

“I’m thrilled to join Elephant House PR and bring my passion for health and storytelling to this incredible team,” said Amy Davis. “The agency’s vision for excellence and its impact-driven approach are inspiring, and I’m excited to create innovative opportunities for our clients that are committed to wellness and high-quality products.”

As Consumer Media Specialist, Amy will focus on generating strategic media opportunities, developing educational content, and amplifying brand messaging for Elephant House PR’s clients. Her addition reflects the agency’s dedication to delivering exceptional results and fostering authentic connections between brands and consumers.