WENATCHEE, WA - The last two times I visited my local Sprouts Farmers Market store, Stemilt’s Artisan Organics® cherries were on display front and center—earning a quick add to my basket. I know many consumers have had the same experience with the grower’s organic fruit, which will also be on display at the upcoming Organic Produce Summit (OPS) this year.

“Stemilt’s booth at OPS this year will be all about its organic offerings,” Brianna Shales, Marketing Director, told me. “We’re excited to bring organic cherries before their season ends and chat about fall organics including apples and pears. We’ve had an increase in organic SweeTango® and Cosmic Crisp® apples, so you can expect to learn about timing for those two up-and-coming varieties. We also can’t forget about our mainline varieties like Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp.”

Stemilt will also be showcasing its Artisan Organics EZ Band sustainable package, which has come a long way. The grower’s Lil Snappers® 3 lb program and 5 lb organic Apple Lover apple bags are successful pouch bag options Stemilt has seen help encourage consumers to purchase organic apples. Organic apple varieties like Cosmic Crisp are going to be really important this fall when it comes to sharing with retailers and consumers, as Brianna noted.

“We’re looking forward to connecting with customers at the show, because it's always a great event for having conversations about growing the organic apple category for the next year to come,” Brianna continued. “Our goal for the show is to discuss the 2024 apple crop and what retailers can expect, because there’s been some shifts in varieties they should be aware of when they go to promote.”

Attendees who visit the Stemilt booth can get a good sense of the breadth and depth of the company’s Artisan Organics program. Stemilt is here to help them win at the point of sale with the brands and variety mixes that lead to category success.

Looking to the main stage, a distinguished Stemilt leader will also be spotlighted.

“Our President, West Mathison, will be a panelist on the topic of strategies and insights for expanding organic fruit sales,” Brianna explained. “We’re also looking forward to having EZ Band featured in the organic innovations showcase! Stemilt will also be a keynote sponsor this year, and we can’t wait to share a video with attendees and listen to the keynote speaker.”

With the show just around the corner, keep reading ANUK for the latest updates.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - When I graduated amid the Great Recession, my worldview quickly shrank from endless possibilities to an understanding of the privilege of secure work. I can’t imagine the strength it took Hendrik Meijer to open a grocery store with his family in 1934 during the depths of the Great Depression, making the 90^th anniversary the still family-owned retailer is now celebrating that much more wondrous.

"We have built an incredible team here at Meijer that is accomplishing great things and enjoys working together, and they are the reason we've been able to evolve and grow over 90 years from a little grocery store to a new concept in retailing to an agile company with multiple formats," Executive Chairman Hank Meijer stated. "We continue to look at how we can better serve customers in multiple ways to ensure our first 90 years is just our first chapter."

With over 500 Meijer supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets, express locations, and distribution and manufacturing facilities, a footprint spanning throughout six Midwest states, that is quite a chapter to kick off such a legacy.

"Fred Meijer often said that customers don't need us, we need them, so that focus on earning our customers' business every day has been central to how we've operated," said Rick Keyes, Meijer President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are constantly evaluating how we can further elevate the experience our customers have when they shop with us, and innovation paired with great prices and excellent customer service will be how we continue to earn customers' business."

Over the last 90 years, such innovations have included introducing now-familiar offerings such as shopping carts, automatic doors, conveyor belts, supercenters, and self-checkout lanes, to the more recent mPerks, curbside pickup, home delivery, and Shop & Scan.

Operated by more than 70,000 team members, you can dive deeper into the lengths the retailer has risen in a full release here.

"My family never wanted Meijer to just be another business," Hank Meijer reinforced. "We've always wanted to be a force for good by helping our communities address their most pressing needs, and we will continue to do that for the next 90 years."

Congratulations to the Meijer family, both those born and the extended professionals, on this incredible chapter bookmark!

BROOKLYN, NY - From new product lines to new locations, Gotham Greens is making a splash as it celebrates both its 13^th anniversary and its 13^th greenhouse.

“We've seen continued momentum in our business because we've always been focused, first and foremost, on farming high-quality produce,” the company said in a statement. “From the beginning, we've leveraged the expertise of our Chicago-based Chief Greenhouse Officer Jenn Frymark and her team of expert growers across the country to make sure that we're focused on growing the highest quality, safe, and delicious produce for our retail and foodservice customers in the most sustainable and responsible ways possible.”

With recent greenhouse openings in Colorado, Georgia, and Texas, as well as completed expansions at facilities in Providence, RI, and Chicago, IL, Gotham Greens now spans over 40 acres (1.8 million square feet) across 13 greenhouses in nine states. It’s annual production capacity, the company stated, has now reached approximately 100 million heads of lettuce per year with products available in 6,500-plus retail stores across 50 states.

Additionally, the company is still coming off the exciting launch of a new line of salad kits late last year and a well-rounded greens portfolio. It is a marked achievement for just over a decade of operation.

“To celebrate 13 years since we opened our first greenhouse in Brooklyn, NY, we’re offering a special sweepstakes for a limited time! One ‘Green Prize’ Winner will receive a weekend getaway to our original hometown: NYC. We are partnering with 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge to curate our ideal Brooklyn weekend, including a behind-the-scenes tour of Gotham Greens. Additionally, 12 ‘Sprout Prize’ Winners will receive a year’s supply of Gotham Greens,” the company said. 

Details of the event can be found here.

With all this in just 13 years, it will certainly be exciting to see what the company has in store for the future. AndNowUKnow will continue to report.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - As we reported earlier in June, industry ally ReposiTrak welcomed a host of retailers and suppliers to its ReposiTrak Traceability Network® (RTN). The company is back with more news, recently announcing that it added 25 new produce suppliers to this network.

“Our solution stands out as the easiest in the market for meeting FSMA 204 food traceability requirements, requiring no additional hardware or software,” stated Randy Fields, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “It seamlessly adapts to any existing systems, ensuring our members address regulatory demands effortlessly and are prepared for future challenges."

According to a press release, these new members will efficiently exchange intricate, FDA-required Key Data Elements (KDEs) for each Critical Tracking Event (CTE) in their supply chains.

This helps ensure proactive compliance well before the January 2026 deadline.

Among the 25 produce suppliers that have recently joined RTN are three distinguished growers, each with a deep-rooted legacy in agriculture. Although we did not receive names in the release, one is known for its high-quality citrus fruits and juices, another for its diverse product line of innovative beverages and dressings, and another with a heritage that spans over 130 years.

The beauty of the ReposiTrak Traceability Network is that it requires no additional hardware or software. The ReposiTrak team assists in making the connections needed under the new regulation, and suppliers can connect to an unlimited number of trading partners and share data for a low fee.

Keep reading ANUK as we continue to keep you in the loop regarding all things industry.

UNITED STATES - Category trends are always on our mind here at AndNowUKnow, especially when we hear from companies like Fresh Del Monte Produce. Paving the way for new consumer favorites, the company did a deep dive into the preferences of pineapple shoppers.

“Fresh Del Monte has revolutionized pineapple consumption with our continuous flow of innovative varietals, including the game-changing Del Monte Gold® Extra Sweet pineapple, the pink-fleshed Pinkglow® pineapple, the carbon-neutral certified Del Monte Zero pineapple, the extra sweet Honeyglow®, and most recently, the luxurious Rubyglow® pineapple,” remarked Jesus A. Rodriguez, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing, and Product Management, North America.

According to a press release, Fresh Del Monte Produce conducted a survey coinciding with National Pineapple Day.

In this survey, they discovered the following:

• Nature’s Golden Super Fruit Has Surprising Benefits - Approximately 80 percent of pineapple fans didn’t know the skin is edible and packed with essential vitamins and minerals
• Don’t Know How to Select A Perfectly Ripe Pineapple? You’re Not Alone - Nearly 60 percent of shoppers don’t know how to select a ripe pineapple
• Consumers are specific about their pineapple consumption - More people prefer to buy whole pineapples than pre-cut

“As the top-selling pineapple company in the United States, Fresh Del Monte recognizes this annual food holiday as an opportunity to celebrate our achievements and promote the enjoyment of our high-quality pineapples in all their forms and however you wish to consume them—whether you like them in chunks, spears, slices, in your smoothies or even on your pizza,” added Rodriguez.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we continue to uncover the depths of fresh produce consumption.