CORAL GABLES, FL -  Del Monte Corporation, previously known as Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., one of the world’s leading vertically integrated producers, distributors and marketers of fresh and shelf-stable food products, will return to the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 15-16, with its first unified showcase of fresh and shelf-stable offerings since its acquisition of select Del Monte Foods assets. Building on the company’s longstanding presence at the show, this year’s exhibit marks a new chapter for the Del Monte® brand, reunited under one global owner for the first time in nearly 40 years. Attendees can explore the expanded portfolio and get an exclusive first look and taste of six new products at booth #1642.

“The Global Produce & Floral Show has long been an important platform for showcasing the strength of our fresh portfolio and deepening our customer relationships,” said Danny Dumas, Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Product Management, North America, Fresh Division, Del Monte Corporation. “This year, we’re proud to build on that presence alongside our Foods colleagues, bringing customers a broader portfolio and a more coordinated approach to serving their needs. Our latest fresh innovations reflect that same customer focus, combining our expertise in premium fruit and fresh-cut products with convenient new ways for consumers to enjoy Del Monte throughout the day.”

“Our foods business brings longstanding retail relationships and products that generations of families have trusted in their kitchens,” said David Stis, Chief Commercial Officer, Foods Division, Del Monte Corporation. “Reuniting the Del Monte brand allows us to build on that foundation alongside our Fresh colleagues, giving customers a broader portfolio backed by a brand consumers already know and trust. At IFPA, we’re presenting that combined strength together and showing how our teams can help customers create new opportunities for growth by meeting consumers’ needs throughout the day, with convenient options that fit their lives at home and on the go.”

The company will debut six new products at the event:

• Del Monte Red & Green Chimichurri premium sauces are expertly crafted with fresh herbs and vegetables for a bright, authentic taste experience. Versatile and full of flavor, they can be used as marinades, toppings or dipping sauces to transform any meal.
• Del Monte Açaí Parfait is a vibrant blend of açaí, fresh fruit, creamy yogurt, and crunchy granola, conveniently packaged in a single-serve cup and packed with 6g of protein for satisfying, on-the-go snacking.
• Del Monte Fruit Kabobs are a fun, easy-to-eat kabob-style assortment of fresh-cut strawberries, pineapple, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and watermelon.
• Del Monte Watermelon Feta Salad includes juicy sliced watermelon and crisp cucumber paired with feta crumbles and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette for a refreshing, flavor-packed combo.
• Del Monte Premium Snack Fruit Trio Tray is designed for fruit lovers with chunks of our signature Honeyglow ® pineapple and premium Pinkglow ® pineapple, along with sweet cantaloupe in this ready-to-enjoy pack.
• Del Monte Medjool Dates are exceptionally large, soft, and naturally rich with a caramel-like sweetness. Hand-harvested at peak ripeness and grown in a premier region in the Jordan Valley, they’re designed to cultivate superior size, texture and flavor.

Beyond these fresh innovations, the company will highlight one of the first product collaborations between its Fresh and Foods teams: bringing its well-known Del Monte Gold Pineapple into convenient new formats. Building on a heritage of quality pineapple known for its consistent sweetness, taste, and freshness, the lineup features single-serve chunks and multi-serve chunks and spears in 100% juice, giving consumers more ways to enjoy the pineapple they know and trust at home, at work, and on the go.

Attendees of the Global Produce & Floral Show are invited to sample these retail-ready offerings at booth #1642. For product inquiries or additional information, please contact Ivan Brown at [email protected].

ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - Ahold Delhaize announces that shareholders appointed Thierry Garnier, Claire Peters, and Margaret Versteden-Van Duijn as members of the Management Board during the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Shareholders. During the Meeting, shareholders also appointed Edmond Mesrobian as a new member of the Supervisory Board.

With the appointment of Margaret and Claire, the Management Board of Ahold Delhaize now consists of President and CEO Frans Muller, CFO Jolanda Poots-Bijl, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA Claire Peters, and CEO of Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia Margaret Versteden-Van Duijn. Thierry will start at Ahold Delhaize and succeed Frans as President and CEO, and member of the Management Board, in 2027. The exact date in 2027 will be determined by the Supervisory Board.

Wiebe Draijer, Chair of the Supervisory Board of Ahold Delhaize, said in the recent release: “The Supervisory Board is pleased that shareholders have approved Thierry’s appointment as President and CEO. Thierry is a seasoned leader with a strong track record in retail and digital transformation, deep international experience, and a clear focus on customers, associates, and the future of grocery retail. We are confident that he will build on Ahold Delhaize’s strong foundations and work closely with our brands and leadership teams. We look forward to welcoming Thierry.

We would like to thank Frans for his strong leadership and dedicated service to Ahold Delhaize. He played an instrumental role in the successful merger of Ahold and Delhaize Group. During his tenure, the company has strengthened its position as a leading international food retailer while maintaining its focus on customers, associates, and communities. We appreciate his continued leadership through the transition as the company progresses on its Growing Together trajectory.

We are also delighted that Claire and Margaret, who have already started in their new roles leading Ahold Delhaize USA and Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia, respectively, have been appointed to the Management Board. Furthermore, we warmly welcome experienced technology and digital leader Edmond to the Supervisory Board.”

Frans added: “I am pleased to welcome Claire and Margaret to the Management Board. Claire brings deep experience in omnichannel grocery and business transformation, combined with strong operational, customer-focused and people-first leadership. Margaret’s appointment marks the next step in her leadership journey at Ahold Delhaize, during which she has built a strong track record leading customer-focused, purpose-led businesses since joining the company more than ten years ago. I also warmly welcome Thierry, who will build on Ahold Delhaize's strengths and help shape our company’s next chapter.”

During the EGM, Thierry said: “I have spent most of my 30-year career in this industry. I love retail, the spirit of the teams in stores and serving customers on a daily basis. I have long admired Ahold Delhaize and have a lot of respect for what the teams have achieved so far. I look forward to joining the team.“

During the EGM, Claire said: “It is a distinct honor and privilege to be nominated as CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA. I have long admired the company for the strength of its local brands and the important role they play in customers’ everyday lives. Since joining in September, that admiration has only grown. Our teams across the U.S. are at the heart of what makes our brands special, together with their strong heritages, deep community roots and unwavering focus on serving customers with excellence. Together, we will build on our strong foundation and continue to deliver sustainable value for associates, customers, communities and shareholders.”

During the EGM, Margaret said: “I am deeply honored to be nominated for this role. Having spent more than 10 years at the company at bol, Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Gall, I have seen firsthand what makes Ahold Delhaize unique: great local brands, talented associates, combined with the scale and capabilities of the Ahold Delhaize Group. I look forward to building on the strong foundation and continuing to create value for our customers, associates, communities, and our shareholders.”

Growing Together 

The appointments support the continued execution of Ahold Delhaize's Growing Together strategy. This strategy is anchored in strong local brands, customer-centric innovation, digital transformation, operational excellence, and disciplined capital allocation. With a deep bench of leadership talent and a clear strategic direction, Ahold Delhaize remains well positioned to continue delivering sustainable growth and long-term value creation.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - A deep passion for understanding the world of fresh produce, being part of its legacy, and contributing to its continued success drives many industry professionals to experience multiple sides of the value chain—from the retailer or foodservice operator to the grower, packer, and shipper. Having a foot in both worlds can cultivate a unique perspective on the needs, challenges, and opportunities that connect the supply chain, including for Brian Porter, the new Business Development Manager for Bako Sweet®.

Prior to joining Bako Sweet, Brian was an Assistant Sales Manager for Safeway NorCal, a position he held for 10 years. In this role, the industry veteran generated double-digit annual sales and volume growth in many of the categories he managed.

“I have really enjoyed the change to the grower side of the business. Learning the different aspects of growing sweet potatoes and managing customer programs has been exciting and interesting,” Brian begins, drawing on the fresh experience for his next reflection. “I believe my understanding of retail has been a big win for our entire Bako Team, as I am able to share the different aspects of merchandising and the challenges around shrink that our retailer partners face.”

Prior to joining Bako Sweet, Brian was an Assistant Sales Manager for Safeway NorCal, a position he held for 10 years. In this role, the industry veteran generated double-digit annual sales and volume growth.

At Safeway, Brian substantially increased department sales and profits by collaborating with senior management to develop and execute innovative programs and improve policies.

“Sharing my extensive retail knowledge with our entire team has been very rewarding,” Brian shares with me. “Since I joined Bako Sweet in early spring 2026, I have been surprised and so impressed by the cross-functional effort it takes to bring programs to life. The planning, management, and precision required to make sure we have the right quality, sizing, and quantities to meet all of our retail partners' needs—this is where the magic happens.”

This is so true; consumers take for granted that products showed up as ordered and still don’t fully appreciate what grower teams do to execute such a feat. The best programs come when customers joint business plan with Bako Sweet as a partner and are willing to try new things, whether it be new SKUs, unique promotions, changes to merchandising schematics, or other new ideas to reach shoppers and inspire consumers.

“Growth in the category is coming from convenience packs, and Bako Sweet is taking the lead to evolve in ways to grow the category by bringing in new shoppers and showing them how sweet potatoes can fit into their everyday lives,” Brian continues. “Our motto is Sweeten Your Everyday™, which fits in with our customer partnerships as well as the growing love consumers have for sweet potatoes across the country.”

As a top-growing vegetable in the U.S. in 2025, with no sign of a slowdown, this is one category that has earned the love.

Heading into the fall, Bako Sweet is doing what it does best, bringing unique, turnkey, and tailored programs to retail partners. With a great-looking 2026 crop being harvested right now, the team prides itself on growing best-in-class sweet potatoes for customers to bring to consumers.

“Our ultimate goal is for every consumer of Bako Sweet sweet potatoes to have an outstanding at-home eating experience with our products,” Brian describes. “That gets me up in the morning, every day.”

With Brian’s retail expertise now on the grower side, Bako Sweet is strengthening the connection between field-level execution and retail success.

THERMAL, CA - North Shore Greenhouses, LLC announces the appointment of Alex Sanchez as President, bringing more than three decades of agricultural and operational leadership to the grower of the nation’s top-selling Living Herb brand, North Shore Living Herbs & Greens.

Sanchez joins North Shore after more than 20 years with Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic Farms. Most recently serving as Ranch Unit Director, he led large-scale organic farming operations across the Desert Southwest, overseeing a program of 65 vegetable crops.

“Alex brings an incredible combination of agricultural knowledge, operational expertise, and leadership,” said Leo Overgaag, CEO of North Shore Greenhouses, in the recent release. “As North Shore enters its next chapter, his experience and perspective will help us build on what our family and team have created over the past 40 years.”

Coachella Valley agricultural community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Coachella Valley Water District and in leadership roles with regional agricultural organizations.

“We’re excited to have Alex join our team because of who he is behind all that experience,” said Suzette Overgaag, Co-Founder and Vice President. “He shares the values that have shaped North Shore for nearly 40 years: a passion for growing, doing things the right way, and believing in our people. We’re excited to continue our mission of category innovation and see what we can all build together!”

Sanchez joins North Shore at an important moment in the company’s evolution, as it continues to invest in its people, advance innovation, steward the earth’s resources responsibly, build on its leadership, and shape the future of fresh at North Shore.

WENATCHEE, WA - T&G Global’s premium apple brand ENVY™ has expanded its United States sales partnerships, with Stemilt taking on a new role as a sales partner.

An ENVY™ apple grower and packer since 2023, Stemilt will now sell ENVY™ apples to retailers across the United States, joining the brand’s established sales partner network alongside CMI Orchards, Rainier Fruit Company and Oppenheimer Group.

The announcement comes as premium apples continue to drive growth across the category. Earlier this year, ENVY™ became New Zealand’s first billion-dollar apple brand. In the United States, ENVY™ has continued to strengthen its position in the premium apple
segment by setting new brand records in both households that purchase ENVY™ and those consumers who buy the apple again.

Shane Kingston, T&G Managing Director of Apples, said Stemilt’s new role reflects confidence in the ENVY™ program and the significant opportunity for the brand in the United States.

“Stemilt has seen the strength of the ENVY™ program first-hand as an apple grower and packer. Its decision to now take on a sales role reflects its confidence in the future of the brand.”

“For T&G, ENVY™ apples show what’s possible when a premium brand is supported by the right investment, strong partnerships and an end-to-end value chain - from IP and growing through to packing, brand building and sales.

“Adding Stemilt to the sales network gives ENVY™ apples greater reach across the United States and further supports retailers, growers and consumers,” added Mr. Kingston in the recent release.

Stemilt is a fifth-generation family-owned fruit company and one of North America's leading growers and packers of fresh fruit, with long-standing retail relationships across the United States. Already a trusted ENVY™ partner, Stemilt brings retail expertise and packaging innovation, including the sustainable EZ Band packaging format.

West Mathison, President of Stemilt, said: “We're excited to market ENVY™ apples because of the brand's proven track record and strong position as a premium apple brand. As we take on this role, our focus will be delivering freshness that drives repeat purchases,
strengthening supply chain performance and partnering with retailers to grow distribution and consumer demand.”

“We've long believed in the strength of the ENVY™ brand, and becoming a distributor reflects our confidence in its future and our commitment to unlocking growth.”

Stemilt’s addition gives retailers another trusted way to access ENVY™ apples as the brand expands across the United States.

LUBBOCK, TX - Texas Tech University’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources has received a $28.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish the Food Science, Safety, and Workforce Development Complex in what will be the new Davis College Flagship Building. The grant was awarded through USDA’s Research Facilities Act Program, which helps universities build and modernize agricultural research facilities.

“Agriculture has been central to Texas Tech’s mission since the university was founded, and it remains essential to our future,” said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec. “We are grateful to USDA for recognizing the significance of the work done by Davis College and the role Texas Tech can play in advancing food security and agricultural innovation.”

The complex will house food innovation and sensory evaluation laboratories, pilot-processing facilities, and spaces for industry collaboration. By bringing every stage of development under one roof, it will place food safety research and product development alongside pilot-scale processing, quality testing, consumer evaluation and workforce training — giving new products a direct path from the lab to industry.

With a focus on science-based solutions to the food system’s newest challenges, the complex will expand Davis College’s research capacity and competitiveness while preparing the next generation of food scientists and industry leaders. That work will reach well beyond Lubbock, strengthening U.S. food security and positioning Texas Tech to contribute to food-system advances nationwide.

“Our continued growth as a founding college is a testament to the role we play in our university’s mission and underscores the reality that we have outgrown our current infrastructure,” said Clint Krehbiel, dean of Davis College. “By centralizing food safety research, product development and workforce training under one roof, our students are gaining hands-on experience with commercial-scale technology that will prepare them to be the agricultural leaders of tomorrow. We are profoundly grateful to USDA and the visionary donors who have already stepped forward to make this possible, turning this ambitious vision into reality for our students, our faculty and national food security.”

Plans call for flexible research space that can adapt to new technologies and evolving industry needs without major renovation, allowing researchers to respond quickly to challenges in food safety, manufacturing and innovation for decades to come.

Students, industry professionals and entrepreneurs will gain hands-on experience with commercial-scale technology through professional certificates, continuing education, workforce microcredentials and applied training programs.

Darren Hudson, associate dean for strategic initiatives and assessment and the Larry Combest Endowed Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness, led the grant proposal and will serve as project director and the primary liaison with USDA. He has also been one of the core faculty leaders in planning the new building.

“We are humbled and honored by USDA’s investment in Texas Tech and Davis College with this award,” Hudson said. “The research and teaching spaces created by this project will have national impacts on the science of food innovation, safety and production, as well as create the next-generation workforce in the food industry. At the same time, it allows us to directly impact our regional stakeholders through increased product development and value that support our farm and ranch profitability.”

The new building, which will house the complex, is a centralized, three-story facility the college will build on 15th Street. The grant, combined with philanthropic gifts from ON&ON: The Campaign for Texas Tech University, is propelling the project forward.

As one of Texas Tech’s four founding colleges, Davis College has educated students since the university opened in 1925. Enrollment has grown from about 2,800 students in fall 2020 to nearly 3,300 in fall 2025, mirroring growth across Texas Tech, which set a record this fall with 46,296 students. While its buildings have been renovated over the years, the college has outgrown its current space.

The new building will replace the current Davis College Annex and the former Fisheries & Wildlife Research Building. In addition to the food complex, it will include the Student Success Center, state-of-the-art classrooms, research and teaching laboratories, the Raider Red Meats Café, the Dean’s Suite, the Alumni & Development Center, central faculty and staff offices, and collaborative and multipurpose spaces.

Modern, collaborative spaces and equipment will help Davis College continue to recruit top faculty and students and keep its research responsive to the changing needs of agricultural systems. Groundbreaking is anticipated in the 2026-27 academic year.

Donors have already made several significant gifts to the new Davis College Flagship Building. Those interested in giving can visit go.ttu.edu/future-of-davis for more information.

MIAMI, FL - Ahead of National Mushroom Day on October 15 — Mastermind Mushrooms has taken the reins of Florida's largest gourmet mushroom facility, located in Miami, and now operates the site as Mastermind Mushrooms at Lion Farms under a strategic partnership with Lion Farms. Lion Farms is an organic regenerative agriculture farm. From a single Miami production base, the operation supplies freshly harvested gourmet mushrooms to Foodservice, Retail Grocery, Cruise Line, and Caribbean export buyers across Florida. Value-add, functional ingredients such as dried fruiting bodies and powders are available now for sampling, with scaled production to follow. Mastermind Mushrooms is currently on the shelves of a leading grocery retailers including Whole Foods Market (in select Florida locations) and is available through premier South Florida foodservice distributors.

Mastermind Mushrooms is Family-Owned and Operated. The team behind the transition are multi-decade leaders in the indoor agriculture sector and built and operated Florida's first large-scale indoor food production facility, through the indoor agriculture group, Seed2Source, founded by Jennifer Waxman, Adam Wright, and Jaime Giroux. That background is uncommon in specialty gourmet mushrooms, where most operations are built by small cultivators rather than by operators who have carried a large-scale facility through commercialization, third-party audits, and food safety certifications.

Scale is the second part of the story. With a 2-story production growing space in Phase 1 coupled with production volume available to supply and service the state of Florida (and beyond), the Miami facility is sized for demand that no single channel can absorb on its own. Foodservice draws on chef-driven specialty varieties at the freshness a kitchen needs; Retail Grocery draws on the consistent weekly case count a produce buyer can commit to; and Cruise Line and Export opportunities are supported by the quality and shelf life needed for specialty items not typically available in these distribution channels. Most gourmet mushroom growers in the Southeast are built to serve a single channel — this facility is built to serve all of them, simultaneously, with logistics and distribution support to distribution centers, direct store delivery, and the like.

"Florida has been importing gourmet mushroom product from out of the state of which loses its best days in a truck. Our Miami facility fixes that at scale, with year-round production (no seasons), and now it has an operating team that has done this before. The quality growing SOPs, succession schedules, food safety program, and the complete traceability — that is what lets a buyer count on the same case, the same week, every week. That is the difference between a farm and a supplier." — Jennifer Waxman, Co-Founder & CEO, Mastermind Mushrooms, Miami, FL

For Lion Farms, the partnership puts cultivation specialists in the grow rooms while the farm continues its regenerative land practices and education across the wider property. For Mastermind Mushrooms, it means starting from a facility already at commercial scale rather than from a construction schedule.

"We wanted this operation run by people who do this for a living, so that we could focus on agritourism, community education and outreach, as well as our regenerative agriculture, tropical fruit, and worm composting farm. Bringing in a team that we know and trust that has built and certified controlled environment production before was the right move for the farm and for our customers." — Peter Fedele, Founder, Lion Farms Regenerative Agriculture Farm, Miami, FL

Alongside its own production program, the facility offers contract growing for specific varieties, giving distributors, chefs, and retail buyers a route to unique varieties outside the standard lineup without carrying the cultivation risk themselves.

To learn more, read the full release here.