SALINAS, CA - Naturipe Farms is ready to talk all things strawberries! The supplier will be making its debut with a booth at the 38^th Annual California Strawberry Festival May 18 and 19. The festival highlights strawberries grown throughout California with vendors, booths, games, and all things strawberry, anchored by a special focus on charitable giving.

“California is the hub of our domestic strawberry program and the home of our company headquarters, so we couldn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate this staple berry alongside others in the industry,” said Ashley Finster, Vice President of Marketing. “We’re enthusiastic about our shared values with the festival—giving back, a sense of community, and of course, a love for fresh berries grown across the Golden State—and are looking forward to sharing our berries with participants at this year’s event.”

The strawberry is a real MVP in the produce section, and festival goers can’t wait to sink their teeth into mouth-watering dishes and beverages where the strawberry is the main attraction. At booth “C,” Naturipe Farms is preparing a berry special experience for visitors, a press release stated. From berry trivia questions with fun strawberry-themed prizes to locally made strawberry-flavored frozen concoctions, the booth is a must-visit for all strawberry enthusiasts. Naturipe will even have a unique photo opportunity, including customized Naturipe photo frames, for fans who would like to take a picture with Mighty Red, the jumbo strawberry mascot.

Naturipe Farms has been growing strawberries in California for more than 100 years and works with its network of farmers across the state to produce strawberries year-round. Sustainability is at the core of all its operations, from farming practices to packaging choices and transportation alternatives. Naturipe is proud to showcase this commitment during the festival and every day before and after it.

With more industry events on the calendar, keep coming back to ANUK.

WENATCHEE, WA - Retailers, have your promotional calendars ready to fill. It's nearly cherry season for the U.S. Pacific Northwest. CMI Orchards is bringing a host of retail solutions and insights as we map out the spring and summer months. As Rochelle Bohm, Vice President of Marketing, tells me, there is plenty to look forward to.

“If all goes as planned, we expect a healthy-sized crop starting a few days earlier than normal due to warm spring weather pushing up the timing. As the season kicks off come late May or early June, we will be offering our retail partners Red and Rainier cherries, SkylarRae®, and Strawberry cherries—which, together, deliver the largest portfolio of specialty cherry varieties on the market,” Rochelle details. “SkylarRae cherries are unique in and of themselves because they’re the only cherry that has its own assigned PLU, making sales and volume data easy to track. They’re the sweetest cherry you’ll ever eat, with a unique flavor and firmness that makes them highly anticipated every season.”

The lineup promises to bring innovation on many fronts. Take the Strawberry cherries, which are ruby-red on the outside, freckled, and creamy white on the inside. With a subtle berry flavor, CMI Orchards describes Strawberry cherries as “a very berry cherry™.” This distinction makes them an exciting, show-stopping offering.

As retailers look to key marketing opportunities like Fourth of July promotions and other summer spotlights, CMI will be bringing a host of support to customers across North America.

“CMI Orchards will have several high-impact two-box shippers and pop-up displays with eye-catching graphics that can be utilized in many ways and areas throughout the store,” Rochelle reveals. “Our programs are very customizable and when paired with our omnichannel marketing support, deliver a winning formula for capturing the magic of the high-velocity cherry sales season.”

In addition, CMI Orchards has a multitude of ways that shoppers can buy cherries—clamshells, pouch bags, top seal (which reduces plastic by 30 percent), or loose—all with conventional and organic options.

New to this season’s excitement is the groundbreaking partnership aptly named The Soil Center. This amazing endeavor between CMI Orchards and Royal Family Farming, spearheaded by the Allred family—who are owners of Double Diamond Fruit (co-owners of CMI Orchards) and sole proprietors of Royal Family Farming—marks a significant step forward in regenerative agriculture.

“The Soil Center is committed to revolutionizing the ag sector with innovative soil health solutions and delivering optimal ingredients for soil health,” Rochelle describes. “At its core, it is an advanced waste-processing system that upcycles byproducts from orchards, row crops, dairy, and beef operations into high-quality soil amendments. One aspect of this project includes chipping removed trees from our orchards and using those wood chips to feed the largest worm farm in the world. The worms convert liquid waste from cattle operations and those wood chips into valuable worm castings, which are then used across our orchards and field crops.”

With innovation top of mind for CMI Orchards, benefits abound for the entire category—and most importantly, for retail partners.

WASHINGTON, DC - The 2024 Retail Produce Managers Award Program from the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is shining a spotlight on industry leaders. The association recently recognized 20 produce managers, highlighting their commitment to fresh produce, innovative merchandising, community service, and customer satisfaction.

“On the front lines, produce managers work incredibly hard to keep the produce department stocked, creatively merchandised, and inviting to customers,” said Joe Watson, IFPA Vice President of Retail, Foodservice, and Wholesale Membership. “This year’s award winners are instrumental in connecting with consumers and influencing them to choose produce at the point of purchase.”

These 20 winners proudly represent the produce industry to the consumer and work to increase sales and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables for their banners and their communities. According to a press release, some of the individuals recognized include:

• Alvaro Renteria of Albertsons, Carson, CA
• Alexandria Mooney of Fred Meyer/Kroger, Monroe, WA
• Alicia Lewis of Harps, Ft. Smith, AR
• Mike Rollins of Hy-Vee, Council Bluffs, IA
• Elijah Pak of Meijer, Kettering, OH
• Sarah Lopath of New Seasons Market, Portland, OR
• Joshua Lesson of Price Chopper/Market32, Wilton, NY
• Sean Logan of Raley's, Reno, NV
• Jeff Shimek of Safeway, Bellingham, WA
• Matthew Fairbanks of The Fresh Market, Crystal Lake, IL

“These prestigious awards are a shining example of IFPA’s commitment to grow prosperity for companies in the global fresh produce supply chain while creating a vibrant future for all,” Watson added. “Our recognition of the pivotal role produce managers play for their companies and the produce industry wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of Robinson Fresh.”

Jose Rossignoli, President of program sponsor Robinson Fresh, also commented.

“This is our first year sponsoring this significant recognition program and we could not be more proud to honor outstanding produce managers who are dedicated to making a difference in our industry and the communities in which they live,” said Rossignoli.

The winners will be recognized at IFPA’s 2024 Global Produce and Floral Show, October 17–19, with five produce managers taking home the coveted Grand Prize Winner award. The IFPA awards program solicits nominations from anyone in the industry who knows a produce manager who is raising the bar on performance.

Congratulations to the honorees!