KANSAS CITY, MO - The Fresh Industry is igniting over the “Fresh Takes Blog” by Empower Fresh and it’s at the center of conversations across the industry. Weekly content from some of the industry’s leading subject matter experts with powerful data stories, sharp retail analytics and innovating focused commentary.

"Although I started very young at the age of 12 or 13 working in a Produce warehouse and then ultimately an IGA Produce Department, in the 90s, I have been working primarily in my own Saas/Cloud Technologies until 2022. One thing that I saw stepping back into the produce department was the same, dilapidated technologies, if any. Still a clipboard, pen, and scan gun. Today’s technologies, especially Operational AI tools are poised to bolster their operations, solve some of their most difficult challenges, and increase their advantages in fresh." – Rob Austin, CEO, Empower Fresh

“Fresh Takes Blog” explores challenges and opportunities facing the fresh departments today, offering the fresh supply chain practical guidance rooted in real-time market intelligence.

With top stories such as “Do Independent Retailers Deserve to Survive?” by Jesse Himango and "What Retailers Get Wrong About Bringing AI Into Fresh" by Matt White. The Fresh Produce Supply Chain is evolving, Empower Fresh continues to push boundaries, helping independents and major chains alike navigate the future with confidence, clarity, and actionable intelligence.

During my years in retail, I couldn’t relate most articles as they didn’t pertain to fresh or weren’t written by people with a realistic understanding of retail. Fresh takes has both. Created by retailers with fresh in mind. No “Duckies and Bunnies” just real topics and insights. – Jesse Himango, CFO Empower Fresh

“Since bringing on Empower Fresh in produce over the last year, we’ve seen a real drop in shrink and far fewer out-of-stocks on the floor. The results have been strong enough that we’re rolling out the other departments as quick as we can.” — Jordan White, Whites Foodliner

If you would like to take advantage and join the fresh Revolution either visit our website or join our newsletter today! It will be the best decision you make this year! Sign up for our Fresh Takes Blog Newsletter or check out https://empowerfresh.com/fresh-takes to get caught up on all the Fresh Stories that are hot right now in our industry.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Grimmway Produce Group® is bringing some of today’s leading food and consumer trends into the fresh produce aisle with new offerings across carrots, organic vegetables, and potatoes at the International Fresh Produce Association’s 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando.

From functional snacking and convenient meal solutions to the growing demand for crispy, air-fryer-ready foods, Grimmway Produce Group® is translating how consumers eat, snack, and cook into new opportunities across the produce department.

“Our focus is on staying ahead of how consumers are changing the way they eat, snack, and cook, and translating those shifts into meaningful innovation across our categories. The Global Produce & Floral Show gives us the opportunity to bring that thinking to life and share how we’re shaping what’s next in fresh.” — Ken Silveira, CEO, Grimmway Produce Group®

Fresh Snacking for Every Lifestyle

Grimmway Produce Group® is bringing more flavor, functionality and convenience to carrot snacking with a lineup built around crisp carrot chips, flavorful dips and easy-to-enjoy formats. Leading the lineup is Grimmway Farms® Protein Snackers™, with select offerings delivering up to 10 grams of protein per serving. Grimmway Farms® Carrot Dunkables™ pairs crisp carrot chips with flavors kids love in a convenient, lunchbox-ready format featuring playful character graphics, while Cal-Organic Farms® extends the platform into organic with an organic carrot chip and dip tray.

Together, the lineup brings more variety to the way consumers snack on carrots, with options spanning protein and functionality, kid-friendly snacking and organic choices.

“Snacking has become an integral part of how consumers eat throughout the day, increasingly serving as a mini-meal occasion and creating demand for options that deliver more than convenience alone. From protein and functionality to kid-friendly and organic choices, our focus is on delivering fresh snacking for every lifestyle.” — Eric Proffitt, Chief Commercial Officer, Grimmway Produce Group®

Bringing Global Flavors Home and New Possibilities to Everyday Meals

Beyond snacking, Cal-Organic Farms® will showcase new offerings that bring global flavors home and create new possibilities for everyday meals. Featured innovations include Veggie Crunch, Coleslaw and Shredded Watermelon Radish, giving consumers versatile new ways to bring texture, color and variety to everyday meals.

The lineup builds on Cal-Organic Farms®’ leadership in organic vegetables while making it easier for consumers to explore new preparations, flavors and meal occasions at home.

Bringing the Air Fryer Occasion to Fresh Produce

In potatoes, Tasteful Selections® will showcase Crispy Potato Bites, an air-fryer-ready offering that brings the crispy potato experience into the fresh produce department. Featured flavors include Garlic Herb, Buffalo Ranch and Sweet Onion Asiago.
Combining fresh potatoes, bold flavors and air fryer convenience, the platform brings the crispiness and craveability consumers associate with fries and other crispy potato favorites into a fresh format for today’s cooking habits.

“Air fryers continue to change how consumers prepare potatoes at home and raise expectations for crispy texture. Tasteful Selections® is bringing that experience into the produce department with fresh solutions that deliver convenience, bold flavor and satisfying crispiness.” — Ross Verner, President, RPE LLC

A Broader View of What Fresh Can Be

Across carrots, organic vegetables and potatoes, the innovations on display at the Global Produce & Floral Show demonstrate how Grimmway Produce Group® is looking beyond individual products to build platforms around where consumers are headed. From functional snacking and kid-friendly solutions to global flavors, meal convenience and air fryer preparation, the portfolio reflects new possibilities for how fresh can fit into everyday life.

The featured concepts are part of a broader innovation pipeline focused on expanding usage occasions and creating new opportunities across the produce department.

Attendees can explore the full Grimmway Produce Group® innovation portfolio at Booth 1229 during the 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, Florida.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Chiquita Brands International, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS), is unveiling the next chapter of its Small Change, Big Difference campaign by bringing its beloved icon, Miss Chiquita, to life for the first time as an advocate for breast cancer awareness.

After more than 80 years on the iconic Blue Sticker, Miss Chiquita is stepping into a new role—using her familiar face to inspire conversations about breast health, self-care, and the importance of early detection.

The message is especially important given the widespread impact of breast cancer. According to the ACS's Cancer Facts & Figures 2026 report, approximately 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection.

Continuing its longstanding commitment to breast cancer awareness, Chiquita will once again replace its iconic Blue Sticker with its annual Pink Sticker on bananas worldwide throughout October. More than a symbol of support, the Pink Sticker transforms one of the world's most recognizable produce labels into a daily reminder of the importance of breast health awareness.

"For nearly a decade, Chiquita has been a valued partner in helping the American Cancer Society bring breast cancer awareness into everyday conversations," said Kerri Whetzel, Vice President. Corporate Relations, ACS. "This year's campaign demonstrates the incredible impact a trusted global brand can have by encouraging women to prioritize their health. By transforming an iconic symbol into a powerful advocate for breast cancer awareness, Chiquita is helping remind people that small actions, like knowing what's normal for your body, talking with your doctor, and staying up to date on recommended screenings, can make a meaningful difference."

The campaign launches with a hero video introducing Miss Chiquita in human form as she has never been seen before. As she reflects on her decades as a beloved icon, she shares a deeply personal message about the importance of breast cancer awareness. The video concludes with her signature pose, placing a hand over her chest as a powerful reminder for women to become familiar with their bodies, stay informed about their health, and recognize the importance of recommended screenings and early detection. This small but meaningful gesture has become a symbol of the campaign, encouraging women to prioritize their well-being and dedicate small moments in everyday life to focus on their health and self-care. The pose will also appear on a special edition of Chiquita's iconic Blue Sticker, extending the campaign's message to consumers around the world.

"Millions of Chiquita® bananas carrying a special Pink Sticker travel around the world each October, but meaningful change goes far beyond what's on the table," said Andre Quadra, Head of Marketing for North America. "For years, we've used the reach of the Chiquita brand to encourage conversations around breast cancer awareness and support education and community engagement initiatives around the world. Reimagining Miss Chiquita in human form is the next evolution of that mission—transforming a familiar icon into a relatable advocate who can connect with women in a more personal way."

At the heart of the Small Change, Big Difference campaign is a simple belief: small actions can lead to meaningful change. Whether it's scheduling a recommended screening, choosing healthier habits, or encouraging a loved one to stay informed about their health, every action has the power to make a difference.

Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Chiquita will activate the campaign globally through select market activations, including:

• The return of its Pink Sticker on bananas worldwide
• A global and digital social media campaign featuring Miss Chiquita's message
• Educational content, including new recipes developed with nutrition experts
• Retail activations and in-store displays
• Community events and collaborations, promoting healthy living and wellbeing
• Continued collaboration with nonprofit organizations around the world, led in the U.S. by the American Cancer Society.

Building on nearly a decade of support for breast cancer awareness, Chiquita has expanded its efforts globally through collaborations with leading health organizations, educational resources, community events, awareness walks and runs, employee engagement initiatives, and support for scientific research, helping make conversations around breast health, screening, and early detection more visible, accessible, and actionable.

Learn more about Chiquita Brands International, the Small Change, Big Difference campaign, and similar initiatives at www.chiquita.com.