FLORIDA - We reported earlier this week that Hurricane Helene was forecast to make landfall along the Florida Panhandle today, Thursday, September 26. As of yesterday, we learned that the storm had intensified rapidly, now likely to impact much of the Southeast United States.

According to a report from CNN, Hurricane Helene is expected to be the strongest hurricane in the U.S. in more than a year. Thousands of residents living in Florida have evacuated, while the entire state is under storm alerts. Helene brings threats of flooding rainfall and extreme winds to much of the region.

The storm will reportedly make landfall initially on Florida’s Gulf Coast later today. By then, it may have reached Category 3 major hurricane status. Conditions will be intensified due to the high temperature of the water in the Gulf of Mexico.

Yesterday, the hurricane impacted parts of Mexico’s Yucátan Peninsula and Cuba, bringing flooding rainfall and winds that knocked out power for more than 50,000 people in Pinar del Río.

As the storm officially makes landfall later today, we will be sure to keep you informed of its impact.

LONDON - I will be honest. I am one of the more than eight in 10 consumers who will admit that they don’t know the correct way to store pineapples. This research from Fyffes coincides with the strategic launch of its new crownless pineapples in Europe.

“We’re pleased to see retailer uptake of crownless pineapples here in the U.K.,” John Hopkins, Managing Director at Fyffes UK, commented. “The crownless pineapples mean we can help retailers meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets and reduce compostable waste. An unexpected benefit is the reaction from consumers who value the space saving in the shopping basket and storage at home. We hope to see pineapples become a staple in households across Europe and beyond.”

Fyffes assessed the consumption habits, awareness, and knowledge surrounding pineapples among over 1,000 U.K. and Ireland consumers, to reveal that only 19 percent know the best way to store a pineapple is to chop it up and put it in the fridge, with almost a third leaving a pineapple to ‘ripen’ in a fruit bowl.

A press release stated that Fyffes is already firmly committed to responsible production, as illustrated by its greenhouse gas target and its work on human rights due diligence. The launch of Fyffes’ crownless pineapples to the European market presents further sustainability benefits for retailers and consumers.

“We are pleased and encouraged to see the growing demand and importance of sustainability among consumers, with 64 percent willing to pay more for ethically sourced produce,” Ciarán Sweeney, Managing Director at Fyffes Ireland, commented. “At Fyffes, we have been delivering on our sustainability targets since we set our baseline in 2020, and we are keen to support retailers to meet this growing demand while reducing waste and carbon emissions through innovations like the launch of our new crownless pineapple.”

For retailers, crownless pineapples present the opportunity for reducing carbon emissions significantly, as more than 30 percent more crownless pineapples can be transported as they take up significantly less space. The removed crowns are replanted in the pineapple fields or shredded and given to local farmers to be used for animal feed. For consumers, crownless pineapples minimize organic waste and reduce time and effort involved in preparation.

Consumers can learn something new every day! And they certainly will, with suppliers like Fyffes taking charge.

WATSONVILLE, CA - We’re back with another look at the California Giant Berry Farms Chef Invitational Academy, this time with a view of the event through the lens of 2022 Chef Invitational winner Derek Seigfried. The Gordon Foodservice Food Expert took to the academy to dive deeper into the creativity of blueberry-inspired culinary.

"Seeing the passion behind every blueberry has deepened my respect for this versatile fruit and the work that goes into delivering a quality product," Seigfried remarked. "California Giant Berry Farms is undoubtedly providing the foodservice industry with exceptional ingredients that inspire creativity and elevate culinary experiences."

The academy featured insightful field tours, where Seigfried gained a profound appreciation for the hard work and dedication involved in cultivating blueberries, a press release explained. Seigfried witnessed the entire blueberry production process firsthand, from small, family-owned farms to large-scale commercial operations.

In addition to the field tours, Seigfried—along with the other past Top Chef winners—participated in a workshop led by Chef Rosalyn Darling, which dove into food styling, food photography, and crafting a compelling personal mission statement.

Seigfried showcased his culinary artistry during the workshop by styling his Blueberry Duck Laab, which features sautéed minced duck breast, fresh blueberries, toasted rice powder, chilies, and aromatics with a blueberry and green peppercorn sauce, served with lettuce cups and cucumber. Sparking more berry delight, Seigfried paired the dish with a refreshing lemongrass, kaffir lime, and galangal-infused frozen blueberry margarita.

By adding fresh blueberries to his menu, Seigfried aims to provide his diners with a unique and memorable culinary experience, recognizing the importance of offering high-quality ingredients.

Read more about Seigfried’s experience at the Chef Invitational Academy here.

For more industry news, be on the lookout for our little apple logo.

ATLANTA, GA - Two powerful players from the root vegetable arena are joining forces to forge an even stronger operation. EarthFresh Farms recently announced its purchase of Mountain King Potatoes, made effective yesterday, September 25.

“We believe that there are great synergies between our two companies that include exclusive varietal potatoes, innovative packaging and products, expanded organic offerings, customer analytics, and an expanded supply of fresh potatoes,” says Tom Hughes, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our combined team will consist of over 400 employees dedicated to servicing our customers.”

Through this transaction, EarthFresh has expanded its network to include nine state-of-the-art packing facilities in Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island.
With these expanded packing locations, the supplier will be able to service the North American market within 24 hours of its packing facilities.

EarthFresh is a North American producer specializing in potatoes, carrots, and onions. Following the deal, the company will maintain the proven Mountain King brands that include premium products like Steakhouse Russets, Butter Golds, Butter Reds, and Butter Russets, a release stated.

For those looking to learn more about these expanded capabilities and offerings, be sure to check in with EarthFresh during the upcoming Global Produce & Floral Show in October!

And keep reading ANUK for the latest and greatest industry news.

VALENCIA, CA - As the California citrus season approaches, Sunkist Growers has launched innovative merchandising solutions designed to enhance retailers' in-store displays.

“Our new merchandising solutions were designed with the evolving needs of our retailers in mind,” said Cassie Howard, Senior Director of Category Management and Marketing. “We’ve created displays and point-of-sale (POS) materials with the ability to fit with any space while offering flexibility and aesthetic appeal, making it easier to highlight the quality and variety of our citrus offerings in a way that resonates with their shoppers.”

In response to the demand for sustainable and organized retail environments, Sunkist’s new offerings include sleek, functional, and adaptable display solutions. These buildable displays optimize shelf space and create structured, visually appealing citrus destinations featuring Sunkist Navels, Caras, Bloods, lemons, Mandarins, grapefruit, and multi-variety packs. According to a press release, these merchandising options reflect Sunkist's commitment to driving sales while providing an exceptional shopping experience.

As consumer interest in fresh citrus continues to rise, Sunkist's marketing team collaborated with sales representatives to gather customer feedback and refine their merchandising toolkit. Recognizing that limited floor space is a primary challenge, the new space-efficient displays fit seamlessly into any store layout. Retailers can customize displays based on available space and inventory, ensuring citrus remains prominent during key shopping periods without cluttering the sales floor.

“We know retailers are very interested in going big for peak season and holidays,” added Howard. “From our variety-specific lineup to our multi-varietal toolkit, we now have interchangeable messaging options throughout the season. From bins, stackable towers, and display wraps to clip cards, wobblers, channel rails, bin headers, and posters, Sunkist has something in-store all season long to help drive sales and reach your store goals.”

Sunkist’s merchandising units aim to present a comprehensive view of citrus offerings in a cohesive manner. Available nationwide, retailers can contact their local Sunkist sales representative to learn more about these latest merchandising solutions and drive sales in their stores.

Stay tuned for more news from ANUK!

IRVINE, CA - The California Avocado Commission (CAC) recently reported that the current fruit on California avocado trees across multiple growing regions is considerably higher this year than in previous years. This has led to many growers projecting that the 2025 crop harvest may yield an increase in crop size compared to recent seasons.

“The Commission is very enthusiastic about the possibility of larger crops in the near future,” said Terry Splane, Vice President of Marketing. “However, we’re tempering that enthusiasm with caution, as many factors could positively or negatively affect the size of the 2025 California avocado crop, such as excessive heat, wind, or frost. It’s just simply too early to know for sure.”

The optimistic outlook for the 2025 California avocado crop is due in part to significant grower investment into new plantings over the last decade, which are now coming into prime production. Some growers have planted additional trees to increase their avocado acreage or because they are moving to a higher density planting model on existing acreage, explained a press release.

This investment by California avocado growers is illustrated by the roughly 3 million new avocado trees in California from 2013 to 2023, averaging about 265,000 trees per year. In addition to planting new trees, California avocado farmers have invested in various avocado rootstocks and varieties.

“Our team is looking forward to meeting with both loyal and prospective California avocado customers at the show to discuss next season’s increased crop and to get them energized for the customized retailer programs we can partner on with them,” added Splane. “Merchandising responsibly grown, premium California avocados in season benefits retailers and their shoppers.”

To kick off planning with retailers, California Avocado Commission representatives will welcome customers and colleagues to its booth #B2538 at the upcoming International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow to prepare for the upcoming showcase!