CALIFORNIA - Our industry continues to fight the good fight, focusing on resilience while building on both lessons and successes. Here are a few that, as we looked back on a year of Produce “Wrapped,” contributed professional and personal achievements propelling them toward a better 2025.

Ella Peterson, Marketing Director, Famous Software

“This year I was so excited to join the amazing team at Famous Software as Marketing Director. And now, we have a full team with our new Marketing Coordinator, Julianna Foglio Oldfield. Together, we helped increase our social following 7–12 percent, with our impressions/posting frequency up 200 to 300 percent. We achieved above-industry average open and click-through rates on our email campaigns and brought back our Famous Forum virtual conference for our customer users.

Among my personal accomplishments, I was thrilled to spend two weeks in Portugal with my husband and a group of friends, and now we are almost finished with a bathroom addition in our house!”

Rachelle Schulken, Marketing and Sustainability Manager, F&S Fresh Foods

“Professionally, I am so happy and proud to have joined the F&S Fresh Foods team with the sale of the former RFG business back in August. We were able to debut a brand new trade show booth at the IFPA show in Atlanta, Georgia, where we also introduced the company as a nationwide fresh-cut solutions provider!

Personally, I ran my 18^th marathon on December 8, and it was my 11^th consecutive running of this particular race (the California International Marathon). More than anything, I am excited at the outset of marathon training to see the process through to the literal finish—creating a goal, training to meet the goal, and getting out there on race day to achieve it! I think it speaks to well to how we operate as produce professionals on a daily basis. Happy holidays!”

Anneka Jenkins, Marketing Manager, EarthFresh

“2024 has been a beautiful blend of personal growth and professional achievements. On a personal level, I’ve found more balance between work and play—whether it was spending intentional time with friends and family, learning how to curate music, attending memorable concerts, exploring newfound passions or exploring new countries, it all has kept me grounded in what truly matters.

Professionally, it’s been exciting to strengthen my skills, see the expansion of EarthFresh’s marketing department, and witness the growth of the company by acquiring MountainKing. It serves as a constant reminder of the power of collaboration and pursuing and achieving the vision. The progress we’ve made as a collective has been rewarding and motivates me to continue building on this momentum into the new year.

Looking back, I’m grateful for the opportunities, challenges, and memories this year has brought, and I’m excited to see what 2025 holds!”

Beth Keeton, Owner and President, Elephant House PR

“This year, the Elephant House PR team secured over 2,000 consumer media placements for fresh produce brands in some of the biggest publications like Good Housekeeping, Martha Stewart, TODAY, Southern Living, Women's Health, Eating Well, and more. I'm incredibly proud of our team for driving greater awareness of our industry and the brands within it, helping shoppers feel more informed and excited to choose fresh produce.”

Tyler Weinbender, Director of Sustainability, and the Superfresh® Team

“We recycled 5,958,005 pounds of cardboard this year! This gets reused into new boxes and trays. PCR for the win. That’s 150 percent more than the 3,922,761 lb in 2023!”

These tangible results of hard work and personal growth propel forward the individual, the business, and then the industry. With a common thread of the potential for overcoming challenges, seizing opportunities, and reaching new heights, I can’t think of a better way to sum up the people of produce as another year gets underway.

NEW YORK, NY - Sensei, a global leader in autonomous retail technology, is proud to announce the official debut of its groundbreaking autonomous supermarket at NRF 2025: Retail's Big Show, taking place in New York City from January 12-14. Sensei introduces real-time basket technology and an autonomous experience with assisted sales; transforming customer convenience and operational efficiency.

"Sensei's technology goes beyond eliminating checkout lines - it enhances the entire shopping journey while providing retailers with invaluable real-time data to optimize their operations," said Vasco Portugal, CEO and Co-Founder of Sensei. "We're excited to bring this transformative solution to larger scale supermarkets and challenge the retail industry with what's possible."

At NRF 2025, Sensei will showcase a live demo of its autonomous store concept at Booth 117 in the FoodService Innovation Zone. Attendees will experience firsthand how Sensei's technology creates a seamless shopping experience, combining:

• Autonomous Grocery Solutions: Consumers grab items like cereal, milk, or pasta, and their virtual basket updates in real-time
• Assisted Sales Integration: Retailers can redeploy staff from checkout lines to high-value roles, such as supporting bakery or deli operations
• Smart Integration: Automated systems like coffee machines can be seamlessly incorporated into the autonomous ecosystem

Pioneering Retail Innovation

Sensei's proprietary AI technology combines computer vision, machine learning and sensors to achieve 99% accuracy in tracking consumer interactions with products, a significant improvement over existing autonomous solutions. Shoppers enjoy transparency, as purchases are displayed in real-time, eliminating the friction of scanning and lines.

Exclusive Launch Announcement

Sensei's presence at NRF coincides with the launch of its 1,200+ square-meter autonomous supermarket in Portugal, in partnership with MC (Sonae Group), the country's leading grocery retailer. This groundbreaking achievement sets a new benchmark for large-scale autonomous retail environments.

According to a press release, this innovative retail environment integrates AI-powered computer vision, shelf sensors, and real-time inventory tracking to provide unparalleled accuracy and convenience for consumers while delivering valuable behavioral insights and operational efficiencies for retailers.

For more from the press release, click here. And stick with ANUK for more retail news.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, today announced new partnerships with two leading point-of-sale (POS) providers: DUMAC Business Systems, a leading POS solutions provider for independent grocery and convenience stores, and TRUNO Retail Technology Solutions, a leading provider powering over 13,000 retail locations across North America. Through these new partnerships, DUMAC and TRUNO will offer Caper Carts—Instacart's AI-powered smart carts—to their grocer networks, providing end-to-end POS integration from sales through implementation.

According to a press release, Caper Carts transform the in-store shopping experience by letting customers automatically scan items as they shop, track spending for budget management, and easily access discounts directly on the cart.

DUMAC and TRUNO provide a turnkey service, including Caper Cart referrals, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing technical support—creating a streamlined path for grocers to bring smart carts to their stores.

"Grocers are the backbone of communities across the U.S., and we're committed to getting them the tools and technology they need to succeed," said Nick Nickitas, General Manager of Local Independent Grocery at Instacart. "By teaming up with established POS leaders like DUMAC and TRUNO, we're making it easier than ever for grocers of all sizes to partner with Instacart, unlocking a modern shopping experience with Caper Carts while serving their communities."

"As a company committed to empowering independent retailers, DUMAC is excited to partner with Instacart to deliver Caper to our network of grocers," said Rory McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer of DUMAC. "With our successful implementation at Geissler's Supermarket, we've seen firsthand how this partnership allows us to offer our customers innovative in-store tech that not only grows baskets and increases affordability, but also delivers the personalized shopping experience that today's customers demand. By offering Caper Carts as part of our retail technology portfolio, we're helping grocers enhance their stores and compete effectively in the evolving retail landscape."

"TRUNO has long been at the forefront of retail technology solutions, and we're proud to now offer Instacart's Caper Carts to our retail partners," said Steven Watters, President at TRUNO." As we actively roll out this technology across our network, we're making it possible for independent retailers to provide seamless, AI-powered shopping experiences that drive customer loyalty and business growth. Our deep implementation expertise combined with Instacart's innovation creates an exciting new offering for the retailers we serve."

This partnership also opens up opportunities to bring additional Instacart Connected Stores technologies to independent retailers—including FoodStorm and Carrot Tags—continuing to power innovation and growth opportunities for retailers across the grocery ecosystem.

Keep reading ANUK for updates on the world of retail!

WASHINGTON, DC - The Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) enters 2025 with a new leadership team including its executive committee and additions to its Board of Directors, following the association’s annual election.

After serving a two-year term as Chairman of the Board, Kevin Mazula, CEO of RM2, is pleased to pass the gavel to RPA’s 2024 Vice Chairperson, Samantha Goetz, Director of Marketing Communications for ORBIS Corporation. Goetz will begin her chairperson term at the annual board of directors meeting in Washington, DC, this January.

“RPA and its members deeply appreciate Kevin Mazula’s outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing the reusable packaging industry,” states Goetz. “During Kevin’s term, we saw remarkable progress in markets and governments worldwide viewing reusable packaging systems as an essential development for supply chain resiliency and circularity. His direction was instrumental in RPA’s work to drive growth and collaboration among our members in our education and advocacy programs, ensuring reusable packaging is top-of-mind as a critical solution for driving efficiencies, eliminating solid waste, and advancing a circular economy. Thanks to Kevin’s and our Board’s leadership, RPA continues to champion reusable transport packaging systems' economic and environmental benefits, paving the way for a more sustainable future.”

Looking forward, Chairperson Goetz is eager to continue the momentum by harnessing the knowledge and expertise of RPA staff and members to make meaningful changes in the industry and accelerate the full potential of reusable packaging solutions, a press release stated.

"Reusable packaging is a key driver of supply chain sustainability and optimization, and our focus is on educating and advocating for its usage. Additionally, technology and automation play a significant role in the supply chain to drive repeatable performance when moving goods. So, reusable transport packaging is a building block to achieve more resilient, data-driven, and eco-friendly supply chains," said Goetz.

"As Chairperson, my focus will be on expanding RPA's reach and impact, ensuring we continue to be on the leading edge in educating markets and policymakers on how today’s reusable packaging is shaping the future of technology-enabled supply chains. We are committed to helping businesses adopt these smart solutions for long-term sustainability and success."

Other changes to the RPA executive committee include the appointment of Brandon D’Emidio, Senior Director of Global Product Development at CHEP, as Vice Chairman and Chair-Elect and Ben Waterman, Director of Business Development at Monoflo International, as Secretary-Treasurer. 

The annual RPA election also resulted in four new board members and three returning directors starting a two-year term (2025-2026).

Cheers to the new leaders!

MISSION, TX - In Bloom, Texas International Produce Association (TIPA)’s Women in Produce, is thrilled to announce its first annual awards program celebrating women in the produce industry. The awards will be presented at the inaugural ceremony, In Bloom: TIPA Women Honoring Their Own on February 27, 2025, in McAllen, Texas. 

Nominations are now open for two prestigious awards, in addition to a posthumous award that has already been selected by the committee:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Recognizing an individual with 20+ years of service in the produce industry who has left a lasting legacy
• Rising Star Award: Highlighting a professional who has demonstrated exceptional promise with at least two years in the produce industry

Nominees must be members of TIPA, and submissions can be made using this nomination form by January 31st .

“This inaugural awards program is a wonderful opportunity to bring TIPA members together to celebrate the incredible women in our industry,” said In Bloom Chair Michelle Cortez. “We’re excited to honor their achievements and contributions leading up to our annual Viva Fresh event.”

At this year’s Viva Fresh Produce Expo, taking place April 10-12, 2025, in Houston, In Bloom will host A League of Our Own networking event designed to foster collaboration and leadership development among women in produce. 

Scheduled for April 11 from 9:30-11:30 a.m., the gathering promises to be a dynamic and engaging experience for both seasoned and new industry professionals.

“This year’s event, A League of Our Own, is sure to knock it out of the park,” said In Bloom Co-chair April Flowers. “It’s a great opportunity for women in the industry to connect, learn from each other, and have a little fun while celebrating our shared passion for the produce industry.”

In Bloom continues to support and empower women in produce by creating spaces for recognition, collaboration, and growth. For more information about nominations, or to get involved with In Bloom, contact Michelle Cortez at [email protected] or April Flowers at [email protected].

AndNowUKnow will keep you in tune with all industry news, so keep clicking on that apple logo.

WENATCHEE, WA - Though a historically low 2024/2025 pear crop has led retailers to put the brakes on pears, there’s promotional opportunity within Stemilt’s supply of winter pears. Stemilt Marketing Director, Brianna Shales, shares that January and February are still key promotional months for pears and are relevant for organic winter varieties including organic Bosc, and organic Red and Green D’Anjou. Retailers can bring in a higher retail per transaction with organic winter pears to help boost the category.

“The first part of the year can still be leveraged for promoting pears and bringing dollars back into the category,” says Shales. “Pear volumes are down 20 percent, and sales are down 12 percent from last year between September 1, 2024, and November 23, 2024, and this can be expected with a smaller crop, but this is where organic winter pears like Bosc, Red D’Anjou and Green D’Anjou can shine where other varieties are down.”

Historically, January and February are key promotion months for organic Red Anjou’s Green D’Anjou’s, and organic Bosc. Running a multi-variety ad on red, brown, and green pears can help boost volume at elevated retails over last year to help close the gap. Organic pear retail prices are $2.68/lb. compared to $2.45/lb. a year ago, the release stated.

“Stemilt Lil Snappers® 2 lb pouch bags make for a convenient vehicle for selling organics,” says Shales. “Opting for a 3 lb bag on conventional pears or bulk are other great options. We also have a new recyclable four-pack for pears that can be appealing to the organic shopper looking for sustainability and convenience. In light of the New Year, consumers are shopping for healthier options and looking to the produce department for fruits to incorporate into their diets.”

“It’s been difficult to keep pears top of mind when volume is less overall,” says Shales. “Taking advantage of this timely promotion window with Bosc, Red and Green D’Anjou can help retailers capture consumer impulse purchases of freshly packed pears at a higher retail price to lift the category.”

Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in winter produce!