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.

HOUSTON, TX - From flavor-forward innovations like EarthFresh Butter Potatoes to enhanced packaging developments like the company’s 2 lb organic bags, EarthFresh continues to bring new excitement to the potato category, increasing retailers’ opportunity to capitalize on the category’s popularity.

“EarthFresh is focused on bringing innovation to the fresh potato category through exclusive variety breeding, packing, distribution, and product and development,” shares Jessica Anderson (Hughes), Vice President of Marketing and Innovation. “Our company is known for combining deep category expertise with a commitment to innovation and premium quality, helping bring differentiated products and programs to the North American produce market.”

EarthFresh’s robust potato portfolio is backed by a unique set of strengths that drive value for retailers while delivering greater choice, convenience, and quality for consumers.

Exclusive Variety Breeding

EarthFresh specializes in breeding exclusive varieties that are resilient, high-yielding, and visually appealing, with strong storability, versatility across cooking applications, and ultimately great taste.

“Our team has spent years studying the genetic makeup and growth patterns of potato varieties,” Anderson shares. “This in-depth knowledge and understanding allows us to identify and cultivate the best varieties for different climates, soil types, and culinary uses.”

Innovation

“EarthFresh is committed to quality, innovation, and expanding access to premium produce,” Jessica continues. “Our dedicated food and packaging scientists work tirelessly to grow our advanced line of products that are unique, high-quality, and packaged in ways that preserve freshness, extend shelf-life, and include more sustainable packaging.”

Distribution

The company is able to execute national strategies regionally through its eight state of the art packing facilities strategically located across North America. The company's goal is to reduce lead time and increase freshness across the potato category through this strategy. The company’s broad distribution capabilities across North America allow EarthFresh to deliver seamlessly from coast to coast across the United States and Canada.

Packing Efficiencies

“Our flexible packing capabilities allow us to meet a range of customer needs, from pack sizes and sustainable packaging to organic, conventional, private label, and value-added products,” Jessica notes. “Our modern facilities feature advanced packing lines and robotics to help us deliver greater efficiency, flexibility, and consistency at scale.”

Grower Networks

The potato maven’s extensive grower network ensures EarthFresh provides a reliable source of premium-quality, fresh potatoes year-round, enabling the brand to meet the evolving needs of its customers and consumers.

Food Safety

EarthFresh maintains rigorous food safety standards across its facilities, with established protocols and dedicated quality-control measures designed to protect product safety, quality, and consistency.

Consumer Insights and Research

By using industry data and conducting robust research programs that generate valuable consumer insights, the team can develop better products and program solutions that reflect evolving retail and foodservice needs.

Brand Building

For retail partners, distinctive branding drives differentiation and loyalty.

“We work closely with buyers to create custom-branded programs that align with shopper needs and market trends,” Jessica shares. “These branded platforms don’t just move potatoes, they help differentiate the category, encourage repeat purchases, and create value throughout the supply chain.”

Each of these strengths pave the way for EarthFresh’s continuous path toward category innovation.

“Together, these capabilities allow us to take a long-term approach to innovation,” Jessica concludes. “From developing exclusive varieties to building differentiated consumer brands and bringing them to market, we’re focused on advancing the category and delivering meaningful value for our retail and foodservice partners.”

ATLANTA, GA - As retailers look for new ways to drive growth and strengthen performance across the produce department, Cox Farms is bringing the complementary strengths of BrightFarms and Mucci Farms to the Global Produce & Floral Show, Oct. 14–16 in Orlando, Fla. At booth #1243, the company will showcase how its greenhouse network and diverse portfolio of leafy greens and vine crops can help retailers meet evolving consumer needs with consistent quality, reliable supply, and year-round availability.

According to the newly released State of Greenhouse Agriculture report from Cox Farms, greenhouse-grown produce is gaining momentum across multiple key categories, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and packaged salads. NielsenIQ data cited in the report shows greenhouse-grown packaged salads increased 27.4% year over year, while greenhouse-grown tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers also outpaced their field-grown counterparts. This growth comes as overall produce category growth remains relatively modest, highlighting the role greenhouse agriculture can play in creating new opportunities across the produce department.

Greenhouse growing can also offer more predictable quality, appearance, and availability, helping retailers navigate weather volatility and supply-chain pressures while meeting shoppers’ expectations for fresh produce year-round. As greenhouse-grown products continue to gain traction, clear consumer education and a focus on consistent product quality will be important to translating category momentum into sustained sales.

“Greenhouse-grown produce is delivering meaningful momentum across the category, but there is still an opportunity to help consumers understand why growing methods matter,” said Jessica Soare, Assistant Vice President of Marketing at Cox Farms, in the recent release. “By bringing BrightFarms and Mucci Farms together, we can offer retail partners a broad greenhouse-grown portfolio while helping tell a clearer story about freshness, quality, consistency and the people and practices behind their produce.”

Through BrightFarms, Cox Farms offers greenhouse-grown leafy greens and ready-to-eat salads, including its signature Crunch Kits™. Mucci Farms complements the portfolio with greenhouse-grown tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries and other vine crops. Together, the brands give retailers access to a broad assortment spanning everyday staples and differentiated offerings from a single greenhouse partner.

Beyond offering a broad portfolio of greenhouse-grown products, Cox Farms is focused on helping people understand the care and expertise behind them. Following IFPA, the company will introduce It Matters, an educational campaign designed to build awareness and trust in greenhouse-grown produce. The campaign will highlight produce protection, food safety practices, freshness, the people behind each harvest, and responsible resource use.

Visit Cox Farms at Booth #1243

The show will also offer an opportunity to experience the complementary portfolios of BrightFarms and Mucci Farms firsthand. Attendees are invited to visit booth #1243 to explore showcase offerings and new innovations from BrightFarms and Mucci Farms. Attendees can also sample greenhouse-fresh salads at the booth’s salad bar on both show days from 12–2 p.m., featuring BrightFarms Ultimate Caesar, BrightFarms Sweet Onion, and Mucci Farms Greek Salad.

Cox Farms brings together the scale, expertise and complementary capabilities of BrightFarms and Mucci Farms to serve retail partners across the produce department. Cox Farms is the complete greenhouse solution.

WENATCHEE, WA - CMI Orchards was honored with the Environmental Stewardship Award at the North Star Awards hosted by The Northwest Seaport Alliance on October 7, recognizing the company’s leadership in regenerative agriculture and environmental sustainability.

The North Star Awards celebrate outstanding companies utilizing the Seattle-Tacoma gateway. Among 29 nominations across seven categories, CMI was selected for its sustainability initiatives.

“This award is a tribute to our growers, who are dedicated to leaving the planet healthier with every piece of fruit we grow,” said Rochelle Bohm, Vice President of Marketing at CMI Orchards. “Every apple, pear, and cherry we ship through Seattle and Tacoma carries their work to rebuild soil health and build a better food system. We’re proud the Northwest Seaport Alliance recognized that commitment, and we’re determined to keep raising the bar for sustainable fruit production.”

The Northwest Seaport Alliance, a partnership between the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, serves as a key export gateway for CMI’s apples, pears, and cherries destined for international markets. CMI was recognized for its innovative approach to environmental stewardship and its ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of fruit production.

Central to those efforts is The Soil Center™, CMI’s regenerative agriculture hub, which helps growers adopt practices that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and remove carbon from the atmosphere. Since 2022, The Soil Center™ project has sequestered more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide, with a goal of reaching 2 million tons by 2030. The work has also led to Planet Positive™, CMI’s consumer-facing program highlighting carbon-negative fruit production.

The award adds to a growing list of sustainability recognitions for CMI, including being named among the world’s 50 most sustainable companies by the 2026 SEAL Business Awards, earning Silver at the 2026 Global Good Awards, and being named a finalist for the 2026 Sustainable Food Awards Sustainability Pioneer Award.