MONTREAL, QC - Equifruit, North America's market leader in Fairtrade-certified bananas, has done its research, and it came out swinging. The company partnered with Execulytics to test new banana band messaging with more than 1,500 shoppers across Canada and the U.S. Equifruit is ready to share the result at this year's IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show (October 15-17, Orlando).

And because Equifruit has never once shipped a good idea quietly, the company built a video game around it. Obviously. Say hello to Endcaps of Destiny 2: Rise of the Banana Bands: a two-player retro arcade brawl where challengers (read: come to play at IFPA) fight against the produce aisle's greatest enemy: the Cheap Banana.

So, join the Banana Badasses at IFPA's booth #4083, where Endcaps of Destiny 2 turns research into a playable challenge. Only one walks away the champion, crowned with a prize so ridiculously glorious it's currently classified. All we'll say: it's bigger than a banana, and it's worthy of a true Banana Badass.

October is Fairtrade Month, the global celebration of the farmers and workers behind every Fairtrade product and the industry's collective fight for a fairer supply chain. Equifruit remains the undisputed leader of the Fairtrade banana category in North America, landing on The Globe and Mail's Canada's Top Growing Companies list for the fifth-year running.

Banana Badass mode is live. Booth #4083. The leaderboard awaits you. You in?

Find out why Equifruit is The Only Banana You Should Buy™.

NEWARK, NY - SnapDragon® apples are entering the 2026 season on the heels of last season’s 18 percent sales growth, one of the variety’s largest crops to date, nationwide availability, and an expanding grower network, giving Crunch Time Apple Growers more opportunity to build the variety at retail.

Harvest is in progress across New York, with fruit sizing well and showing excellent color. Favorable growing conditions, including rainfall and seasonal temperature changes, have helped develop the spicy-sweet flavor and signature Monster Crunch shoppers have come to expect from SnapDragon. Crunch Time has also improved its packing process to best preserve freshness and crispness.

“SnapDragon has become a fan favorite, and it’s exciting to see how much people have come to love this apple,” said Jessica Wells, Executive Director of Crunch Time Apple Growers. “SnapDragon has earned its place, and we believe it’s time to give it more room to grow, both on the retail shelf and in the conversations we’re having with our customers.”

That growth will also be on display at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show, where SnapDragon will have its own dedicated booth. At Booth 2065, Crunch Time Apple Growers will invite attendees to choose their own adventure with a space featuring a surfboard, bike, and hammock. Retailers and industry partners can sample the new crop with a selection of dipping sauces and keep an eye out for Snappy, the SnapDragon mascot, throughout the show.

“IFPA is an important opportunity to connect with retail partners, sales organizations and customers face-to-face,” Wells said in the recent release. “This year, we wanted to give SnapDragon the space it deserves. It’s an apple people recognize and come back to, and having more room to showcase it gives us a chance to tell its story and introduce it to even more people so they see what makes SnapDragon different. We know once they take a bite, they’ll understand why it belongs in their shoppers’ carts.”

SnapDragon is available now. Crunch Time continues to expand its grower network with emerging plantings in Pennsylvania and direct-market growers throughout the country, bringing the variety closer to key markets across the country.

“We know retailers want more than a great apple. They want confidence in the supply, consistency in the eating experience, and a brand that shoppers recognize and come back for,” Wells said. “That’s what we’re working to deliver with SnapDragon, and this season is a strong step forward.”

For more information, visit SnapDragonApple.com.

SAN RAMON, CA - JMB is putting Purely Pickled Veggies in the spotlight at this year’s Global Floral & Produce Show, bringing retailers a premium pickled asparagus with the fresh-packed texture and vibrant flavor consumers are looking for. Standout flavors include Zesty Garlic, Classic Dill, and Lemon Pepper.

This tasty asparagus is harvested just minutes away from JMB’s pickling headquarters, prepared with quality ingredients and completed with modern, minimal processing. The result is a crisp, flavorful product that offers something distinctly different to shoppers. Retailers are encouraged to stop by and learn about the variety of merchandising possibilities that go beyond the pouch.

At the show, attendees can get a taste of Purely Pickled Veggies at Booth #233, where JMB will be serving a Purely Pickled Veggies Chicken Salad featuring premium pickled asparagus along with their JMB celery. The product is a fresh take on a classic favorite, with plenty of texture, flavor, and color in every bite.

“IFPA is a great opportunity to connect with retailers, and Purely Pickled Veggies gives us something new and exciting to share this year,” said Craig Rolandelli of JMB in the recent release. “We’ve kept the fresh-packed character front and center while adding bold flavors that stand out. We’re excited for attendees to taste it and talk with us about the possibilities for their stores.”

While Purely Pickled Veggies may be stealing the spotlight, it won’t be the only JMB offering worth a stop. Attendees can also learn more about the rest of JMB’s versatile portfolio, including Side Dish Steamers, value-added sweet corn, fresh asparagus, and celery.

Going to be at the show? Be sure to stop by JMB’s Booth #233. Taste Purely Pickled Veggies for yourself, see how this unique asparagus can work across the store, and talk with our team about the opportunities it can bring to your shelves.

DELTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA - WINDSET FARMS® is celebrating 30 years of operations this month, marking the milestone with a new anniversary video that traces the company's path from a four-acre greenhouse in 1996 to one of North America's largest and most reliable greenhouse vegetable producers and marketers.

Founded by brothers John and Steven Newell, who continue to own and lead the company today, Windset Farms owns and operates 298 acres of greenhouse production across Canada and the United States. Together with trusted grower partners in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the company has continued to strengthen its North American platform to provide premium greenhouse-grown tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and specialty vegetables year-round.

Behind that growth are facilities that incorporate the latest greenhouse technologies to support efficient production, optimize crop performance, improve operational efficiency, and enhance product consistency.

Following the recent planting at its new 38-acre ultra-lit greenhouse, the Windset’s Delta operation now spans 130 acres, including 86 acres of ultra-lit greenhouse production, making it the largest lit greenhouse vegetable facility in Western North America. The company's Santa Maria, California, facility spans 168 acres of greenhouse production and is the largest single-site greenhouse vegetable facility in the United States.

These achievements reflect Windset Farms' continued investment in responsible growth and its commitment to quality, taste, and reliability of fresh produce year-round. Windset supplies tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and specialty vegetables to customers throughout North America and to international markets year-round.

As Windset marks the anniversary, the company is building on the same approach that has guided it for three decades.

“As demand for fresh, premium greenhouse-grown vegetables grows, we're continuing to invest in our people, our greenhouse platform and the latest technology to deliver the consistency, flavor and dependable supply our customers expect from Windset Farms," said Steven Newell in the recent release.

For John, the same long-term thinking that has shaped the business remains central to its future.

“This industry rewards patience and consistency, and you never stop seeking knowledge. That mindset has served us well since the beginning, and we don't see that changing," said John Newell.

To mark the anniversary, Windset Farms has released a video highlighting the company's successes over the years and what to expect in the years ahead. The video can be viewed at greenhousegrown.com.

To learn more about Windset Farms and its portfolio of products, visit the team at Booth No. 1552 at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, October 14–16.

FRESNO, CA - Peelz, one of the most notable and exciting citrus brands in the United States, is putting something unexpected on the agenda at the 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show, October 14–16 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. The Fowler Packing Company citrus brand will welcome retail buyers and industry partners to Booth #3543 with giveaways, branded merchandise, citrus-inspired cocktails and complimentary Peelz-inspired manicures, bringing a hands-on twist to “Nothing Peelz Better.”

Fresh off its award-winning booth at the 2025 GPFS in Anaheim, Peelz is going from one Orange County to another, ready to nail its encore performance in Orlando. The 1,200-square-foot experience will bring aisle-stopping energy to the show floor, giving attendees a chance to take a seat and put their citrus enthusiasm on display, a press release stated.

GPFS will also serve as the kickoff to Peelz’ upcoming experiential campaign, giving the produce industry a first look at how the brand will show up for consumers throughout the citrus season. The campaign will take Peelz beyond the produce aisle and into culture with consumer experiences across the country, including an activation at Stagecoach and a Peelz pop-up during Super Bowl week. Orlando gives retail partners the first chance to experience what Peelz will be bringing directly to consumers all season long.

“People have choices in the produce aisle and on the show floor. We want Peelz to be a name they look for in both,” said Kiah Ruvalcaba, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Fowler Packing Company. “That starts with great citrus and carries through to how we show up at every touchpoint. Whether that’s at our retailers as the citrus brand driving the most volume growth, or at GPFS with free manicures, we want to show up in ways that are meaningful and even a little unexpected.”

Nails do their share of the peeling. This time, they get a little love in return.

Peelz’ complimentary citrus-inspired manicures will feature a menu of Peelz-inspired designs and trends, with appointments available October 15 and 16 from 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Appointments are limited and expected to fill quickly, so attendees are encouraged to reserve their manicure before arriving in Orlando at peelzcitrus.com/BookNow. Walk away with a fresh set, courtesy of your favorite citrus obsession.

Manicures not your thing? There’s still plenty to experience. Visit Peelz at Booth #3543 for a look at the brand’s full citrus lineup, alongside citrus-inspired cocktails, giveaways, branded merchandise and more. Because while Peelz may be having a little fun with the show experience, great citrus is always at the center of it.

AMADO, AX - Wholesum is taking a fresh approach to one of the snacking cucumber category’s most frustrating quality challenges: condensation.

As demand for convenient, healthy snacking options continues to grow, Wholesum is helping retailers deliver a better organic cucumber experience with a freshness solution designed to address one of the challenges that can compromise quality and presentation along the supply chain.

The innovation lies in the packaging.

In partnership with StePacPPC, Wholesum has introduced its organic snacking cucumber assortment in new advanced moisture-management and modified-humidity bags designed to absorb excess condensation. The new Xgo™ PAZ pouch helps maintain optimal product conditions despite the temperature and environmental fluctuations that can occur throughout the supply chain. The packaging innovation was designed for organic mini cucumbers and organic baby (2-bite) cucumbers.

A Difference You Can See

Freshness starts with what consumers see. Consumers shop with their eyes, and visual freshness often shapes first impressions long before a product is tasted. For consumers, the experience is familiar. Open a package of cucumbers and you may find cucumbers that feel wet with excess condensation. Even when the product remains perfectly edible, that first impression can make a consumer think twice about purchasing and eating it.

By helping manage moisture inside the package, Wholesum's new bags maintain a cleaner, clearer presentation that better showcases the cucumbers consumers came to buy. The result is a noticeably fresher first impression, allowing the product to remain the hero. Cucumbers retain the crisp, vibrant appearance consumers expect, without the moisture-heavy look that can develop in traditional packaging.

“A cucumber that looks crisp and fresh invites you to reach in and grab it. For snacking cucumbers in particular, where convenience and immediate consumption are central to the product experience, that difference is especially important,” states Ricardo Crisantes, Chief Commercial Officer of Wholesum.

Supported Through Extensive Testing

Before expanding the solution commercially, Wholesum conducted extensive testing comparing the new packaging format with existing cucumber packaging options. Multiple pack types were evaluated under postharvest conditions designed to simulate temperature and environmental challenges commonly encountered throughout the supply chain.

Results demonstrated improved quality retention, reduced visible deterioration, and lower moisture accumulation across both mini and baby cucumber formats when compared with conventional packaging alternatives. Testing showed stronger quality performance at the end of 16-day shelf-life evaluations, along with reductions in issues such as excess moisture, decay, and mold development. The results demonstrate the value of addressing condensation as part of the overall cucumber experience, helping support product presentation, quality retention, and stronger shelf performance.

Retail Experience

The new packaging launched through a pilot program with Sprouts Farmers Market during Spring 2026, making Sprouts one of the first retailers to test this new approach in stores. As an early partner in the initiative, Sprouts recognized the opportunity to improve the cucumber shopping experience by addressing a longstanding challenge within the category.

Early real-world performance has shown improved sell-through alongside reduced product loss associated with deterioration. This is particularly important as food waste remains one of the biggest challenges facing the produce industry, and shelf-life limitations are a significant contributor. When fresh produce deteriorates before reaching consumers, the resources invested in growing, packing, transporting, and merchandising that food are lost.

Available Now in Wholesum’s Organic Cucumber Portfolio

Wholesum's organic snacking cucumber assortment is now available in pouches featuring StePacPPC's Xgo™ PAZ moisture-management packaging technology, including:

• Wholesum Organic Mini Cucumbers in a 1 lb package
• Lil’ Ones Organic Baby Cucumbers in an 8 oz package

Both formats deliver the convenience consumers expect from snack-sized cucumbers while helping maintain quality and freshness. Lil’ Ones Organic Baby Cucumbers take that convenience one step further with an exceptionally small, seedless, two-bite format that is easy to grab, pack, dip, and enjoy.

“Bringing more joy to the cucumber set starts with solving the challenges that stand in the way of a better experience. Moisture-management packaging is another step in our ongoing effort to nourish a healthy world through healthy, flavorful organic produce,” states Crisantes. “By reducing condensation, we can help cucumbers look fresher, stay attractive longer, and deliver the quality consumers expect every time they open the bag.”

“The PAZ pouch was developed to solve moisture control challenges associated with sensitive produce like cucumbers. It has been a pleasure working side by side with the Wholesum team to bring this to market and to see how it preserves quality, enhances the consumer experience, and sets their brand apart on the shelf,” said Daniel Peña, Sales Manager Mexico at StePacPPC.

Wholesum will feature their snacking cucumber assortment in its innovative packaging at the Global Produce and Floral Show 2026 in Orlando at booth #1791.