FOWLER, CA - The back-to-school season means back to prepping, planning, and shopping in a time crunch. As the summer season comes to a close, Bee Sweet Citrus has several top-quality citrus varieties on deck to not only simplify the shopping experience but elevate it.

"Citrus fruits are fantastic snacks to keep handy for the back-to-school season because they're nutritious and can help children stay alert and focused throughout the day," stated Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Communications Monique Mueller. "With health at the forefront for many families making meal decisions, citrus fruits, such as our Mandarins and oranges, are a great snack choice for school lunches, sports practices, snack time, and more."

With its robust summer citrus program, Bee Sweet has maintained a steady supply of oranges, Mandarins, and lemons. As shoppers prepare for the back-to-school season, the citrus maven is also sponsoring Healthy Family Project’s impactful annual Back to School campaign for the ninth consecutive year.

As a press release explained, Healthy Family Project's annual Back-to-School campaign provides families with resources highlighting the importance of produce in a healthy diet. This year, the company and its supporting sponsors also donated $12,000 to the International Fresh Produce Association's Foundation for Fresh Produce to increase children's accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables in schools.

"Giving back is at the very core of what we do, and we couldn't make the impact we do without incredible sponsors like Bee Sweet Citrus," stated Healthy Family Project Partnership Manager Tracy Shaw. "We are proud to create family-friendly recipes highlighting fresh produce and to share parenting tips to master the back-to-school season and beyond."

In addition, all sponsors of the campaign will also share helpful back-to-school tips on their social media platforms. With several citrus varieties to cater to current demand, Bee Sweet is helping consumers simplify the back-to-school season.

"Right now, families and caretakers are juggling chaotic work and school schedules, and the last thing they need to worry about is the availability of fresh produce," continued Mueller. "We're proud to provide families with fresh citrus year-round."

For more category insights and updates, you know where to click!

OXNARD, CA - Take just five minutes scrolling through the @avoexperts Instagram page and you will be left with a list of stunning, flavorful, and avo-centric recipes to try. Westfalia Fruit knows how to entice the consumer to add more avocados to their basket with the use of social media and the draw of a deliciously crafted dish. In fact, this sales-driving skill has earned the company a 2024 Besties Award for Best Social Media Culinary Artistry.

“We celebrate and commend our incredible team and our supportive community. This award is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and innovative mindsets. We are also excited about future projects that will push the boundaries of culinary artistry on social media,” shared Raina Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Westfalia Fruit North America. “Investing in culinary artistry allows us to continually innovate and educate consumers on how to incorporate Westfalia Fruit avocados into their dishes for a healthier lifestyle. We invite everyone to join us on this journey, share their culinary creations, and be part of our vibrant community.”

The brand’s social media pages are decorated with eye-catching culinary creations like Sweet and Spicy Guacamole-and-Corn Fritters and the delicious Chicken Burger with Avocado Aioli and Avocado Fries.

“We truly aim to inspire culinary exploration that is centered around health and wellness. A recent study shows that 72 percent of consumers are curious to try new foods, flavors, and dishes,” added Christina Ward, Director of Marketing and Product Brands. “As a leading global avocado company, our team looks to flavorful cuisines, seasonal ingredients, and culinary experts to bring this vision to life. We are humbled to work with exceptional chefs, wellness specialists, and others who contribute to the culinary artistry seen on our socials.”

Westfalia Fruit’s evolution has been driven by its desire to continuously improve and adapt, an element certainly seen in the company’s social media culinary artistry. The avocado maven’s social media efforts cater to the ever-changing needs of consumers, playing into current trends like healthspan, plant-based recipes, and mindful eating.

“We realize the reach we can achieve through our socials amplifies our reach to achieve our purpose ‘to do good,’” added Christina. “We have developed the tools to showcase the versatility and health benefits of avocados, while inspiring our digital guests to embrace nutritious and sustainable eating habits.”

A well-deserved recognition indeed!

For the awards process, our team handles the initial nominations to ensure each nominee meets our stringent standards. We then share our nominees with our Besties committee.

The committee is composed of experienced retail buyers or individuals with substantial experience and knowledge in their respective fields. Each committee member received a ballot with three nominations for each award category. Based on their votes, we determine the winners of the Bestie Awards.

Congratulations to Westfalia Fruit for all its success in the social media culinary artistry arena and beyond!

MONTRÉAL, CANADA - Third quarter results are in! As Canadian retail powerhouse METRO unveils its performance for Q3 of fiscal 2024, we are seeing the result of successful growth strategies and expansions. Backed by its newest fresh facilities, the retailer continues to deliver operational growth despite current industry pressures.

“We recorded solid comparable sales growth in the third quarter, on top of a very strong quarter last year, reflecting effective merchandising and good execution in our food and pharmacy banners,” Eric La Flèche, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our new automated fresh and frozen facility in Terrebonne is now fully operational with productivity levels ramping up in line with our plans, and the transfer to the last phase of our automated fresh facility in Toronto has begun. While food inflation continues to decline, we know the environment remains difficult for many of our customers, and our teams are focused on offering them the best value possible.”

As METRO revealed in its financial report, sales for the third quarter period ending July 24, 2024, reached CDN $6.6 billion (USD 4.8 billion). This demonstrates a rise of 3.5 percent versus the third quarter of the prior year, mainly driven by higher sales across the grocer’s retail network. The company also saw growth in food same-store sales, which were up 2.4 percent in the third quarter of 2024.

With its new Terrebonne facility fully in operation and its transition to its new automated fresh facility in Toronto currently underway, how will METRO continue to drive growth through its fresh operations?

ANUK will be here to provide the latest insights.

RICHMOND, VA - With a $2.1 billion transaction in the works, our eyes are on the foodservice sector this morning. Performance Food Group Company (PFG) recently announced a definitive agreement to acquire Florida-based Cheney Brothers for $2.1 billion in cash. The strategic deal will bolster the companies’ presence in the Southeast, providing PFG with additional distribution capacity.

“Cheney Brothers will be an outstanding addition to our Foodservice segment, and we are excited to welcome their many talented associates to the PFG family of companies”, said George Holm, PFG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “This acquisition will expand and enhance our offerings to a high-quality and diverse customer base. We have long admired the success of Cheney Brothers in the Southeastern U.S. and believe that the combination of our organizations will push the business to new heights. We are excited for what the future holds for the newest addition to PFG.”

As the companies noted in a recent release, this move spurs a host of compelling strategic and financial benefits for the operation. This includes:

• Expanded Geographic Reach: With the transaction, PFG will add an additional five state-of-the-art broadline distribution facilities with excess capacity for additional growth across four Southeastern states
• Complementary Customer-Centric Operating Models: Cheney Brothers provides food and foodservice to a diverse range of customers including independent restaurants, restaurant chains, hotels, country clubs, institutional groups, and other foodservice operators
• Compelling Private Brand Opportunity: Cheney Brothers has a high mix of sales to independent restaurants but a low mix of private brand penetration to independent restaurants; PFG has a meaningful opportunity to expand the sale of private brands to Cheney Brothers independent restaurant customers by leveraging PFG’s broad portfolio of private brands
• Sizable Synergy Opportunities: PFG expects to achieve approximately $50 million of annual run-rate synergies by the third full fiscal year following closing. Identified cost synergies are primarily in the areas of procurement, operations, and logistics
• Compelling Financial Impact: The transaction is expected to be accretive to PFG’s Foodservice and total company top-line revenue growth rate and adjusted EBITDA margins

The transaction, which has been approved by the Board of Directors of PFG, is subject to U.S. federal antitrust clearance and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in calendar 2025, the release stated.

“On behalf of the 3,600 Cheney Brothers associates, allow me to express our excitement at the prospect of being part of PFG’s organization”, said Byron Russell, Cheney Brothers CEO. “I have watched PFG grow into one of the country’s largest foodservice distributors by fostering new business relationships and maintaining a strong company culture. I believe this transaction will bring together two winning organizations and create a significant platform for growth. Together, the companies will build upon each other’s strengths and achieve outstanding success in the years ahead.”

Read more about the transaction here, and leave a tab open to ANUK for the latest industry updates.

YAKIMA, WA - Increasing blueberry and cherry consumption is on the agenda for Superfresh Growers. The supplier was recently joined in its orchards and fields by Team Nosh, a group of online creators, to see where their favorite fruits come from and learn about farming, ultimately educating their collective 300,000-plus followers.

"Since my first trip to Yakima in 2017 until now, Superfresh continues to impress me with their innovations in farming, employee retention and support, and product quality. The best part for me on this particular trip was seeing my Team Nosh gals fall in love with Superfresh Growers just like I did all those years ago" says Kelly Pfeiffer, Team Nosh captain.

Pfeiffer selected this group of influencers who share the same values and vision for feeding their families and eating the rainbow. Team members included Eat the Rainbow Kids, The Carda Mom, Kid Food Explorers, Food Kids Love, Eat Pretty Darling, Hello Little Foodies, and Pure Mom Blog.

Topics covered during the two-day tour included the importance of skilled labor, farming sustainably, and what it takes to ensure quality while maximizing the crop. Countless stories were shared on the influencers’ social media pages throughout the trip as well as recipe content in the weeks following. A brief trip recap can be seen here thanks to The Carda Mom.

Kicking off the trip was a tour of the Superfresh Clemens Mountain Orchard led by Director of Farm Operations, Quincy Menning. The group enjoyed breathtaking views, cherries fresh off the tree, and talks on bees and sustainability. The group was awed by the levels of decision-making in farming, leading them to have a new appreciation for their fruit. From the orchard, Team Nosh got to see the Superfresh Growers Zillah cherry line in action.

The next day, Team Nosh got to pick their own blueberries and learn about farming in the Umpqua Valley from berry experts Paul Norris and Gage Thompson. Here, they learned what makes Superfresh blueberries such high quality, how they reduce waste in the field, and how they preserve freshness post-harvest. The tour continued on to a voyage through the chilly packing line. Ellie Norris led the group through the technology and process of bringing blueberries to market.

Superfresh Growers looks forward to hosting Team Nosh again for apple and pear harvest this fall. We will be sure to follow along!

MAITLAND, FL - A Florida native and long-time industry vet, Robert Guenther is well-known in the produce world for his impact through various distinguished associations. The ag industry advocate is now taking on a crucial new role, stepping in as Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange and Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, in addition to his new title as Manager of the Florida Tomato Committee.

“I am deeply honored to join the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, and the Florida Tomato Committee,” stated Guenther. “It is an exciting opportunity to work closely with such a dedicated and resilient industry that plays a crucial role in the agricultural landscape of Florida and the nation. I look forward to applying my experience in public policy and fresh produce to further our collective goals and strengthen the future of Florida's tomato industry."

Guenther has already begun onboarding work for the industry and will officially start in September, a press release stated.

Previously, Guenther worked with the United Fresh Produce Association, where he served as Vice President of Public Policy, and at the International Fresh Produce Association, where he served as Chief Public Policy Officer. Prior to that, he served as a policy aide in the House of Representatives, including for the House Agricultural Committee. Early in his career, the produce vet worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Sugar Cane League.

“We’re very pleased to have found such an experienced leader in U.S. agriculture to take the helm of our associations,” stated J.M. Procacci, current Chairman of the Florida Tomato Exchange. “Robert’s policy experience is second to none in the national fresh produce business. He’ll be able to make an immediate impact for the U.S. tomato industry.”

In his EVP role, Guenther will lead efforts relating to international trade disputes, agricultural workforce, crop protection, the Farm Bill, and food safety in conjunction with the FTE’s Board of Directors. As the release added, his work for the FTE is separate from the work he will do for the Florida Tomato Committee, which is a federal marketing order.

Congrats to Robert Guenther on this next step in his career, and to each of these Florida tomato associations for tapping into a wealth of industry knowledge!

Stay tuned as ANUK continues to bring you the latest produce news.

IMMOKALEE, FL - As students begin making their way back to the classroom, Lipman Family Farms announced an initiative to support local education and empower the next generation. The supplier hosted its 14^th annual Backpack Giveaway, handing out 1,800 backpacks to eager Immokalee, Florida, students.

“This annual event has become a cornerstone of our commitment to the Immokalee community, empowering students on their educational journey,” says Maria Munguia, Community and Programs Manager. “As a company deeply rooted in this community, it’s inspiring to see everyone come together to make such a positive impact. Our partnerships with local organizations play a vital role in this success, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

The event, which was held on Saturday, August 10, at Immokalee High School, not only featured the backpack giveaway, but also gave away 350 bikes, over 2,000 pairs of shoes, and $20,000 in gift cards to attendees. According to a press release, Lipman partnered with area community resources to help make this event successful as Immokalee students head back to school this fall.

Lipman’s support stems from the journey of Lipman’s founder, Max Lipman, who was unable to read or write, and emphasized to his children the importance of continuing their education. Today, Lipman is operating in its fourth generation of family leadership, continuing to emphasize education as part of its core company values and commitment to the community.

Healthcare Network and DSD Homes were additional major supporters of the event, giving a boost with resources Lipman was able to offer to attendees. CC’s Wish List donated over 2,000 pairs of shoes and the Rotary Club of Naples Bay donated over 200 pairs of shoes as well. Additionally, over 50 community businesses and organizations came together as exhibitors to showcase all of the resources available to families in the area.

Lipman’s Backpack Giveaway demonstrates its commitment to building a brighter future through education. With over 18,000 backpacks distributed to date, the ripple effect of these efforts continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of local students, empowering them for success both in and out of the classroom.

We applaud Lipman on this impactful initiative!