MARLBOROUGH, MA & GRAND PRAIRIE, TX - BJ’s Wholesale Club announced that its club in Grand Prairie, Texas, will open on May 15.

In celebration of the new club at 1021 IKEA Way, BJ’s Gas in Grand Prairie will offer members $2 per gallon on gas for one day only on Wednesday, May 13, from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The promotional price applies to regular gas and has a 30-gallon limit.

Local shoppers can sign up now to become members at BJs.com/GrandPrairie. Limited-time membership offers start at just $20 for one year and include 10¢ off per gallon at BJ’s Gas for the first six months. Members can combine the 10¢-off-per-gallon offer with the one-day $2 gas promotion on May 13 for even deeper savings.

BJ’s offers unbeatable value on everyday essentials in a convenient one-stop shop. Members save on fresh foods, produce, full-service deli items, fresh bakery goods, household essentials, home décor, pet supplies, toys, consumer electronics and more. BJ’s members love the true treasure-hunt shopping experience, discovering new and exciting items with each visit.

“BJ’s Wholesale Club is driven by a powerful purpose: we take care of the families who depend on us,” said Brent Jacobs, Club Manager, Grand Prairie BJ’s Wholesale Club, in the recent release. “We’re looking forward to serving the community and the families of Grand Prairie.”

BJ’s has a long-standing commitment to nourishing its communities. For over 15 years, it has worked with Feeding America and its network of food banks, providing more than 165 million meals for those in need. In Grand Prairie, BJ’s is partnering with North Texas Food Bank to help local agency partners Grand Prairie United Charities and The Flanagan Foundation increase their food distribution capacity to serve more families.

BJ’s members can choose from several time-saving options, whether shopping online or in-club. Curbside pickup, in-club pickup, same-day delivery, and shipping are available on BJs.com. Members shopping in-club can use ExpressPay through the BJ’s mobile app to scan products as they shop and skip the checkout line.

Additional member perks include:

• Unbeatable grocery prices: Members can save up to 25% off grocery store prices every day
• A risk-free membership: Shoppers can try BJ’s risk-free with the company’s 100% money-back guarantee
• BJ’s coupons + manufacturers’ coupons: Members can combine BJ’s coupons with many manufacturers’ coupons to maximize savings
• BJ’s Gas: Members can fill up at any BJ’s Gas station at low prices. Plus, members can save even more through BJ’s Fuel Savers Program
  Learn more at BJs.com/GrandPrairie.

SACRAMENTO, CA - At the end of the most challenging day, the only demand I meet as I shift from professional to home life is from a couple of dogs who just want a walk and some food. Always, I think about the women in my life and our industry, who are raising or have raised the next generation. Who never stop, even when they close their eyes, ready to answer any need or nightmare.

Beyond such responsibilities, they join boards, committees, classes, and additional programs to advocate and grow, for themselves and others.

Moms are a wonder, and often the only thing they won’t do is take credit. It is why I love this time of year, calling to you, our wonderful industry, to share photos that celebrate the moms around you. Whether it was yesterday’s brunch or last year’s family photo, please consider submitting a snapshot to honor and celebrate them.

You can share photos with us to include in this year’s Mother’s Day Yearbook at [email protected]. To be featured, please include your name, a quick caption including those pictured, and your company.

We will be accepting submissions through tomorrow evening, Tuesday, May 12.

Looking forward to continuing to celebrate the wondrous moms around produce!

OXNARD, CA - Westfalia Fruit, a global leader in the avocado industry, is redefining avocados from a weekend treat to an everyday habit, with its ready-to-use portfolio developed for growth. At PLMA 2026 (Hall 1, booth B44), Westfalia Fruit will exhibit a full product range, including fresh and ready-to-eat solutions on 19 and 20 May. The company features the scale of the opportunity ahead and highlights why Westfalia Fruit is the natural supplier of choice.

The numbers tell the story. Avocado is one of the fastest-growing global fruit categories, with over 2.9 million tonnes traded internationally in 2024/2025, worth more than $9 billion. It is one of the most nutritious and versatile fruits on the shelf, and it sits precisely where today's consumer is heading: health, convenience, and premium.

Based on our internal research, there are approximately 3 billion eating occasions in Europe each day, of which only 2% currently include avocado. Breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner: the opportunity is clear. From a weekend brunch item to an everyday ingredient, is the prize that Westfalia Fruit is putting on the table at PLMA.

Under the banner ‘Westfalia Fruit Convenience’, the company will present its full ready-to-use portfolio meeting all eating occasions. Featuring our guacamole in a variety of flavours and textures, avocado cubes for smoothies, smashed for toast, slices for bowls, wraps, and oils for cooking and salads. Alongside a new generation of avocado spreads as a source of fibre and protein, designed to support a healthy lifestyle.

PLMA 2026 also marks an important milestone for the business. Westfalia Fruit Convenience now fully integrates Syros, bringing the Belgian specialist's processing capability together with Westfalia Fruit's global sourcing and category expertise. The result is a single convenience platform: one trusted partner to maximize opportunities from farm to fork.

"Avocado consumption is growing fast, but we are only scratching the surface in terms of usage occasions," says Geoffroy Beaujean, Convenience Director for Europe at Westfalia Fruit, in the recent release. "We see a clear opportunity to integrate avocado into everyday eating moments, from breakfast to dinner, through convenient, high-quality solutions. With our expertise and integrated supply chain, we are uniquely positioned to help our partners grow the category."

At PLMA, the team will be available at the Westfalia Fruit booth, Hall 1, B44 to discuss new product development, private label partnerships, and the 2026 to 2027 pipeline with retailers across Europe.

FRESNO, CA - In a previous conversation with Famous Software’s President, Heather Hammack, we explored the company’s ability to support its partners through the dynamic merger and acquisition process. With a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of fresh produce, Famous Software offers its partners a streamlined, stress-free approach to combining their business operations. In our latest discussion, Heather shared more insight into how the company helps boost operational efficiency throughout the transition.

Why is it important for produce businesses to maintain and/or enhance their operational efficiency amid mergers and acquisitions? What role does Famous Software play in this advancement?

“Market conditions in fresh produce continue to be extremely dynamic, whether caused by changing weather conditions, shifts in political priorities, or the unique challenges of short shelf-life commodities. An unquenchable thirst for efficiency will always be a strategic advantage in this industry. Consolidation only makes that more pronounced as the industry evolves. Famous Software has always been razor-focused on ensuring that our customers are as efficient as possible.

Our development process is 100 percent customer driven. There’s nothing we love more than working alongside our customers and helping them find efficiencies powered by our technological development. A perfect example of this is how our WMS product came to be and has evolved over the years. As we were talking with some of our longest-standing customers, we were finding that the existing Warehouse Management Systems simply were not providing the right solutions for them and the industry at large. We made the strategic decision to develop our own tool and have refined it over time to meet the evolving needs of the industry. We partnered with customers like Ocean Mist Farms and Church Brothers Farms to develop this solution, and we continue to add functionality to it over time.”

What short- and long-term benefits does the company help its partners achieve?

“In the short term, Famous can provide customers with process consulting, training opportunities, and implementation support that can make the transition go much more smoothly. In the long term, Famous operates as a true partner with customers and works side by side to ensure M&A activities go smoothly and can help uncover technological solutions that can create efficiency across different operations today and in the future.”

Looking ahead, how will Famous continue to help its partners grow alongside our rapidly evolving industry?

“Looking forward, Famous Software will continue to focus on the priorities that have been instrumental to our success for the last 50 years. That includes being humble, driving toward successful outcomes for our customers, continuing to develop our expertise, being committed to this industry, being focused on providing immense value to our customers, and working from a place of integrity. In practice, that means that Famous Software is not merely a service or product provider; we partner with our customers day in and day out to ensure they are successful and maintain a competitive advantage.”

With over 50 years of focused experience in the fresh produce sector, Famous Software’s depth and breadth of industry knowledge allow it to provide strategic advantages to industry partners evaluating a potential merger or acquisition.

For more exclusive industry insights, leave a tab open to ANUK.

DURHAM, NC - With spring underway and summer hovering at the edges of produce departments, Happy Dirt is gearing up for an advantageous organic sweet corn season for retailers all along the U.S. East Coast.

“Happy Dirt’s organic sweet corn program usually starts up around the first week of June out of Eastern North Carolina, and then moves to western North Carolina in July, extending the season into mid-August,” Pat Bayor, Vice President of Sales and Purchasing, shared with me as he highlighted their approach. “This creates a continuous supply window and provides buyers with greater surety of supply during a time when availability can be inconsistent.”

As Pat shares, organic sweet corn is typically volatile due to insect pressure, but Happy Dirt’s program stands out for maintaining strong, reliable quality year after year. This consistency positions it as a dependable option in a category where quality can often fluctuate.

“The program delivers consistent, high-volume with truckload capacity, supporting retailers across the East Coast from Florida through the Northeast,” Pat explains. “In addition, Happy Dirt continues to expand its grower base and invest in the program, strengthening its ability to scale in response to demand. In a category where only certain regions can produce organic corn reliably, this growth reinforces its role as a stable supply partner.”

Along with a promising outlook on the season and great quality expected for the crop, Happy Dirt is introducing a four-count tray pack that addresses a key retail barrier, where bulk organic corn can create confusion at checkout alongside conventional product.

“This packaging format is designed to improve merchandising clarity and open the door to increased placement with larger retailers,” Pat says. “We recently invested in a repack machine, a strategic move designed to expand retail access for organic sweet corn. This investment allows us to offer packaged formats that better align with retail operational needs.”

Happy Dirt supports retailers with tailored merchandising tools, including in-store signage, recipe content, and QR code-enabled storytelling that connects consumers to the farms behind the product. This allows retailers to differentiate through regional sourcing and transparency at the point of sale.

The best way to end on a sweet note is to start on one! And Happy Dirt’s organic sweet corn is bringing it in rows.

LEAMINGTON, ON - National Mushroom Month has officially moved to June, and Highline Mushrooms is celebrating with a bold omnichannel digital campaign designed to drive mushroom consumption during peak summer meal and grilling season.

The shift to June strategically aligns mushrooms with larger grocery baskets, planned meals, grilling occasions, and increased consumer engagement during the summer months, while avoiding the crowded back-to-school season traditionally seen in September.

Highline Mushrooms has prepared a robust digital support menu for the month, offering multiple ways for consumers and retailers to engage:

• Social Media & Video Content — High-energy creative built to drive awareness and position mushrooms as a must-have summer ingredient, where cooking inspiration happens.
• Influencer Partnerships — Food creators showcasing Highline Mushrooms in real meals, recipe content, and in-store retail shopping moments designed to inspire discovery and purchase directly from retailer shelves.
• Pinterest Advertising — Seasonal recipe and meal-planning content targeting consumers during the consideration phase.
• Meta Advertising — Geo-targeted Facebook, Threads and Instagram campaigns designed to drive brand awareness around retail partner store locations.
• Instacart Retail Media — Sponsored and Display placements capturing high-intent shoppers directly at the digital shelf and converting inspiration into purchase.

“June offers a prime opportunity to showcase mushrooms in meal solutions while capturing both planning and buying moments,” said Sabrina Pokomandy, Director of Business Development & Marketing at Highline Mushrooms, in the recent release. “We were thrilled when the Mushroom Council announced that National Mushroom Month was moving to June. When it was in September the month was crowded with Back to-School promotions and took the spotlight from left little room for promoting Mushrooms. Our campaigns in support of National Mushroom Month are designed to connect with consumers digitally and in-store, ensuring mushrooms remain top-of-mind during high-usage moments.”

Retailers and consumers alike are encouraged to participate in National Mushroom Month through a variety of integrated digital support strategies designed to drive visibility, engagement, and sales throughout the summer season.

National Mushroom Month activations will run throughout June as Highline Mushrooms continues investing in innovative marketing strategies designed to modernize the category, increase purchase frequency, and inspire the next generation of mushroom consumers.