SANTA MONICA, CA - As consumer demand for organic produce continues to grow, berry suppliers are looking for ways to deliver both quality and consistency throughout the year. In a recent release, Gem-Pack Berries shares an update on its organic berry production, highlights key varieties driving its program, and explores the consumer trends influencing demand for organic and fiber-rich foods ahead of this year's Organic Produce Summit.

With summer underway, production in Gem-Pack Berries’ Central Coast and Baja California growing regions are in full swing. Fresh, organic strawberries and raspberries are now reaching their highest quality and volume of the season, and we’re excited to highlight the strength of our Organic Program at the Organic Produce Summit.

As demand for organic berries continues to grow, we remain focused on expanding our organic berries to provide retailers with a reliable supply of high-quality fruit, while offering consumers fresh, nutritious produce that supports healthy lifestyles.

We currently offer organic strawberries and raspberries and are working to expand our offerings and provide a more consistent supply of organic blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries year-round.

Raspberries and Strawberries

For organic strawberries, our Alturas variety takes center stage in Watsonville at this time of year, representing approximately 70% of our production. Developed by California Berry Cultivars, Alturas is known for its consistent yields and ability to maintain excellent size and quality throughout the season. This variety stands out for its exceptional sugar-acid balance, which has high Brix levels, complemented by a subtle, refreshing tartness that enhances its flavor complexity. Alturas also holds up well during shipping and maintains excellent shelf life, making it ideal for retailers and customers alike.

Available year-round in Baja California, Mexico, the Adelita variety consistently delivers high-quality fruit throughout the season. The fruit develops a bright red color and maintains excellent condition from harvest to retailer’s shelves. Adelita also stands out for its balanced flavor profile, combining sweetness and acidity, resulting in an eating experience that appeals to a wide range of consumers.

Demand and Health Trends

As health and wellness continue to be a priority for shoppers, we know that retailers are focused on providing a steady supply of organic fruits that align with consumers’ health-focused preferences.

Lucky for us, organic berries are a highly sought product in the fresh produce section of the grocery store, for both their delicious taste and nutritional value. Organic berries continue to be one of the strongest-performing items within the organic produce category, showing consistent growth in recent years.

Millennial and Gen Z shoppers are shaping grocery trends by prioritizing organic options, even if they typically cost more than conventional. This is influenced by social media, as consumers are seeking transparency and learning more about sustainable farming practices.

Beyond sustainability concerns, this same wave of social media-driven awareness is shaping how consumers think about nutrition, particularly on gut health and dietary fibers.

We know that consumers seek out all berries, in particular raspberries for their high fiber content. According to Data Essential’s 2026 Trends Preview Report, 54% of consumers are interested in products high in fiber, with that number being 60% for Generation Z consumers.

Together, these trends and social media influence are driving the demand for organic and fiber-rich foods among consumers today.

Excitement for OPS

As consumers continue to show strong demand for organic produce, we are working to expand our organic program to better meet their needs. The Organic Produce Summit provides a valuable opportunity to connect with retail partners and discuss the continued growth of the organic category. We look forward to attending the event and sharing more about our offerings. Visit us at booth #518.

FRESNO, CA - From changing customer demand to tight harvest windows, accurate forecasting plays a critical role in keeping fresh produce moving efficiently through the supply chain. In its latest blog, Famous Software explores how sales forecasting tools can help produce companies better align inventory, production, and customer orders while reducing waste, minimizing stockouts, and improving margins. The company also outlines key features produce businesses should look for when evaluating forecasting capabilities within an ERP system.

In fresh produce, it doesn’t take long for a bad forecast to become an expensive problem. Nothing will cut into margins like product sitting in the field, expiring in the warehouse, or being rejected on a customer dock. With effective sales forecasting, your produce operation can schedule, pick, pack, process, and ship the optimal product mix to maximize both customer orders and company revenue. And, with produce-specific variables like actuals or equivalents, and the need to use multiple variables to look at specific forecast lines, a Sales Forecasting tool built for the produce industry is a must-have.

Key Takeaways

Getting the best possible sales forecast in place helps produce operations to profitably plan for and profit from every crate or pallet sold. When integrated into a full MRP process, having the right Sales Forecasting functionality on hand positions your operation for field-to-shelf excellence. Here’s why effective sales forecasting matters:

• Keeps product moving through your supply chain by syncing production forecasts with customer demand
• Reduces over-supply
• Minimizes costly stockouts
• Helps to maximize margins by shipping the optimal mix to priority customers

How sales forecasting improves produce supply chain planning

Sales forecasting functionality in an ERP system allows you to help your cross-functional team to work toward a shared target. Accurate forecasting benefits a produce operation in many ways, from limiting labor downtime, whether in the field or on the line, to reducing out-of-spec or out-of-date product in the supply chain.

Reduce product over-supply

Product over-supply can force your FOB prices down. By syncing your harvest curves with planned customer orders and accurate produce demand planning, your company will be better able to know when to harvest, when to process, and to plan for the timely sale of quality product, without having to add a deep discount to your product to move it.

Minimize stockouts and protect customer relationships

Nothing erodes customer relationships with foodservice and retail customers alike more than being unable to fill orders. With Sales Forecasting functionality, your firm can plan to get the right amount of quality product packed and shipped to customers in sync with incoming orders, driving volume, and helping you to avoid leaving money on the table.

Maximize margins with the right product mix

When your best quality product is at its peak, ensuring that it gets to priority customers at a strong price is essential. Effective sales forecasting enables producers to ship an optimal mix to their priority customers, boosting margins in the process. In addition, shipping an efficient assortment to customers who carry multiple items both drives volume and limits markdowns.

What C-suite and IT leaders should look for in produce ERP sales forecasting

When selecting an ERP partner for your produce operation, ensuring the chosen system offers both the flexibility that your team needs to operate in the modern produce industry and accurate visibility to both sales forecast data and real-time inventory is vital. And the question isn’t whether a system can forecast—it’s whether it can forecast the way your business actually works.

A produce-specific partner like Famous ERP:

• Let’s you forecast for the realities of produce, in actuals or equivalents
• Allows for manual data entry when historical data is poor or non-existent
• Syncs with sales and inventory management to give a complete view of what’s in your supply chain

This will help you to over-deliver for customers and outperform your competitors.

Sales forecasting in Famous ERP: Frequently asked questions

What is a typical sales forecast built on?

With Famous ERP, sales forecasts are calculated based on criteria selected by the user, which in turn determines which invoice product information is included in each sales forecast run. But for new customers, or those operations that don’t have any historical information for a product to accurately forecast sales, a user can manually enter information to populate a sales forecast for a future period. Each sales forecast run includes a breakdown of quantity, cost, FOB, and profit by item. This, in turn, rolls up to an overall forecast for the targeted period.

How would sales forecasting functionality from Famous ERP help me to compare sales forecast to actuals?

With Famous ERP, the Sales Forecast vs. Actuals report has the following features:

• Compares the forecasted values for a single sales forecast run to the actual values for the same forecasting range.
• Provides a comparison of the following values for each forecasting period within the forecasting range across quantity, cost, FOB, and profit by item.

What mobile tools would help to better connect my sales team, customer delivery, and the overall sales forecast?

The Famous Sales App now offers the ability to create new sales orders, whether from scratch, using a standard order, or from an existing order. And, with a few quick taps, your sales reps can easily adjust sales orders or sales loads on the fly from a customer’s DC or in response to an urgent buyer email, right from their phone – no laptop required.

RHOME, TX - ¡Yo Quiero! is proud to announce that its Black Bean Dip has been named a winner in the 2026 Good Housekeeping Best Snack Awards under the Dips & Spreads category.

The annual awards from Good Housekeeping recognize standout snacks that deliver on taste, nutrition, convenience, and innovation. This year, the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab reviewed hundreds of snack options, evaluating ingredient lists, nutrition labels, packaging claims, and flavor profiles. Real-life testers also weighed in on taste and overall snacking appeal, helping determine the final list of winners.

“We’re honored to once again be recognized by one of the most trusted names in consumer media,” said Tara Murray, Vice President of Marketing for ¡Yo Quiero!, in the recent release. “Our Black Bean Dip is a great example of what we strive to bring to the category: bold flavor, approachable ingredients, and versatile dips that make everyday snacking more exciting. As shoppers continue looking for snacks that deliver more, Black Bean Dip offers a craveable way to bring plant-based protein and quality snacking together.”

¡Yo Quiero!’s Black Bean Dip offers a flavorful, plant-forward option for shoppers looking for easy snacks, entertaining solutions, and better-for-you ways to enjoy fresh vegetables, chips, wraps, bowls, and more. Made with black beans, tomatillos, jalapeño peppers, and seasonings, the dip gives retailers a timely option for shoppers seeking snacks that feel both satisfying and convenient.

Testers of this year’s Snack Awards praised the product for its approachable texture and versatility, calling attention to its ability to shine as a classic chip dip or as a warm, flavorful addition to tortillas.

This award showcases the brand’s growing position as the Ultimate Dip Destination™ across the produce department, with a robust lineup of award-winning dips that includes guacamole, bean dips, queso, salsas, white dips, and Grab&Go! options.

For more information about ¡Yo Quiero!’s award-winning products, contact Jay Alley at [email protected].