CASTROVILLE, CA - In a world where busy schedules rule our lives, consumers need all the help they can get in the kitchen. Convenience in food prep can make a real difference, especially when it doesn’t come at the expense of flavor or nutrition. Ocean Mist® Farms understands the reality families face and the need for options that deliver on all fronts: fresh, nutritious, flavorful, and easy to prepare.

“With this in mind, the company is focused on developing value-added innovations that bring together the exceptional quality of our premium fresh vegetables with bold and unique flavor options, along with the promise of easy prep,” Jeff Hutterer, Director Value-Added Sales, began telling me. “Two such innovations are the newly developed Roastables and Heartichokes.”

Roastables prep-ready kits feature washed-and-trimmed vegetables, including halved Brussels sprouts, broccoli florets, and cauliflower florets—each paired with a chef-crafted seasoning packet and a crispy topping for added texture. Ready in just 15–20 minutes, they offer a simple path to a fresh, flavorful dish. The line now includes seven different SKUs, each with its own seasoning developed especially to complement the vegetables.

Heartichokes—Ocean Mist Farms’ latest, and first-to-market, innovation—feature trimmed and quartered tender artichokes, ready to use right out of the package.

“While artichokes can feel intimidating to some consumers, and prep time often puts them out of reach for weeknight meals, Heartichokes remove those barriers entirely,” Lori Bigras, Communications Manager, pointed out. “Available in two chef-crafted flavors—Lemon Butter and Savory Parm—along with an Unseasoned option for those who prefer to use their own signature spices, the line makes it simple to create a quick, flavorful side or serve as a versatile base for a wide range of dishes.”

These latest innovations from Ocean Mist take care of much of the prep work required to bring these dishes to life, delivering meaningful value for today’s time-pressed consumers. But convenience only goes so far; flavor and freshness have to deliver for the win. That’s where Ocean Mist Farms stands apart, with a commitment to providing both, without compromise.

“Since launching the first phase of our Roastables line at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in 2024, the feedback has been consistent: Consumers love the variety of flavors and, of course, the quick and easy preparation necessary with our new innovations. But what stands out most is what families are discovering at the dinner table. Kids are actually enjoying vegetables,” Jeff continued. “We’ve also heard several comments along the lines of ‘My husband and I can’t believe our kids actually love Brussels sprouts!’”

Value-added, convenience-driven foods—especially those that are fresh, healthful, and minimally processed—are more than just on trend; they’re here to stay. That’s why Ocean Mist remains focused on developing products that showcase its premium fresh vegetables while delivering flavor profiles that appeal to every palate at the table.

For a deep dive on more produce innovations, keep coming back to ANUK.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Bonduelle Americas is establishing Philadelphia as its digital-forward Growth Hub — a move designed to accelerate growth and transform how the company competes in today's rapidly evolving food landscape.

The announcement, made alongside Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, and Mayor of Philadelphia, Cherelle Parker, reflects a deliberate choice to locate in one of the country's strongest food and retail corridors.

"We want to win within the U.S. with innovative, chef-crafted healthy choices, meal solutions, and fresh services," said Bobby Chacko, Chief Executive Officer of Bonduelle Americas, in the recent release. "That means competing across the store and digital shelf, moving faster, and surrounding ourselves with the right talent and partners to do it. Philadelphia brings the kind of energy, grit, and food heritage that fuels how we build — and how we win."

Bonduelle Americas is the U.S. subsidiary of Groupe Bonduelle, a 170+ year family-owned B Corp. In the U.S., the business is evolving beyond its fresh-cut roots to build a modern plant-rich food portfolio across the store — from produce to center aisle — designed for how people actually eat today.

The Growth Hub anchors that strategy. Phase 1 operations are now active at the 4th Floor of 2400 Market Street. A permanent Phase 2 location is targeted for 2028 as the company continues to scale its presence in the region. The company expects to create over 100 roles locally over time.

Bonduelle Americas is working in partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia, which have provided support for the project as part of their continued investment in economic growth and job creation.

"Pennsylvania is winning deals over other states because we're focused on what matters — building a strong workforce, cutting unnecessary red tape, and making strategic investments that attract businesses and help our existing companies grow here," said Governor Shapiro. "We're going to keep pushing aggressively to secure more projects, create quality jobs, and drive lasting economic growth across our Commonwealth."

"From day one, my administration has made clear that Philadelphia is open for business and ready for investment," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "This decision sends a strong message that companies have confidence in our city and confidence in our future. This investment means good jobs, strong benefits, and more opportunity for our residents. Philadelphia offers the talent, location, affordability, and workforce businesses need to grow and succeed, and we are proud to welcome this new Growth Hub to our city."

"Bonduelle's decision to establish their U.S. Growth Hub here is a testament to what Greater Philadelphia has to offer, and to what a coordinated regional effort looks like when it works," said Chellie Cameron, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia (the Chamber). "Our region is driven by a collaborative business community, world-class talent, and a thriving innovation economy. Bonduelle saw that potential, and we are proud to have helped bring them here. We look forward to watching them grow alongside our members and partners."

The Philadelphia Growth Hub joins Bonduelle Americas' existing U.S. footprint — operations in California, New Jersey, and Georgia — and positions the company to scale its plant-rich food business across the store and beyond.

SAN MARCOS, CA - Fresh Origins®, the nation’s leading grower of microgreens and edible flowers, is heading to the National Restaurant Association Show (NRA) in Chicago with a wide assortment of culinary specialties built for summer menus and designed to drive meaningful impact.

Recent findings from Datassential show that the addition of microgreens increases the median price of a dish by $3 to $5 across all menu segments.

This data highlights a shift in how ingredients can influence menu strategy. Rather than functioning solely as garnishes, microgreens contribute to perceived quality, presentation, and innovation across both food and beverage programs. This allows operators to command higher prices without fundamentally changing core dishes.

At the show, Fresh Origins® will feature items selected with seasonal menus and summer LTOs in mind, alongside live sampling designed to demonstrate how chefs can put the catalog to work immediately. Highlights include:

• Seasonal fruit cups dusted with Mini Flower and Herb Crystals and finished with Micro Huacatay™, which was recently named a "flavor of the future" by Datassential.
• Whipped ricotta crostini topped with Micro Citrus Mix™, a versatile blend of bright microgreens perfect for toasts, grain bowls, and sandwiches.

Visitors to the booth will see firsthand what decades of outdoor growing produce: fuller leaves, brighter color and more concentrated flavor than indoor-grown microgreens. Fresh Origins®' Southern California farm is shaped around the region's natural climate, letting each crop develop in full sunlight and reach the chef at peak freshness.

“This year, we are bringing the Southern California sunshine to Chicago,” said Shelby Rodich, Director of Marketing, in the recent release. “With so many microgreen growers utilizing artificial light and high-energy environmental controls, we are showcasing what makes Fresh Origins so special. Our microgreens are grown outdoors, under the sun, and we look forward to welcoming attendees to taste the difference.”

See Fresh Origins at the National Restaurant Association Show May 16 – 19, 2026, at Booth #12344.

SALINAS, CA - Breeding berries is not for the faint of heart. To find one viable variety, breeders might start with as many as 10,000 seedlings and wait five to seven years for their hard work to bear fruit. But when it does? The results speak for themselves.

MBG Marketing, the grower-owned cooperative and founding partner of Naturipe Farms, recently hosted an event highlighting blueberry breeding and the importance of creating proprietary varieties. Naturipe continues to showcase its strategy to turn consumers into lifelong berry eaters by pulling back the curtain on how innovation is making better blueberry varieties.

The event centered around Berry Blue Plant Genetics’ test plot in Alma, Georgia. Berry Blue, MGB’s blueberry breeding program, has been focusing on developing premium blueberry genetics for the past 25 years.

“Today, consumption is about two and a half to three and a half pounds per person per year, which is really a drop in the bucket,” said Derrin Wheeler, Chief Operating Officer, MGB Marketing, on the tour. “What we’re doing at Berry Blue is enhancing that consistent flavor and mouthfeel for the consumer so they come back and it becomes an everyday staple of their diet.”

The 20-acre trial site in Alma, Georgia, was established in 2021 to supplement the primary site in Grand Junction, Michigan, which has been in operation since 2002. At both sites, the company explicitly breeds for consistency, larger size, better color, longer shelf-life, and superior taste.

Research and development are central to Naturipe Farms’ growth. Beloved for its domestic berries, the company’s proprietary offerings like Mighty Blues and Color Rush have added vigor to the category.

MGB and Berry Blue also continue to collaborate across the blueberry industry, developing varieties to meet the needs of growers in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and beyond.

To learn more about the ways companies are driving the industry forward, stick with ANUK.