SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA - From zesty culinary in-house offerings to turning displays inside out, Gelson’s Markets immediately jumps to mind among banners ensuring shopping for holidays like Cinco de Mayo is an experience.

“We want to make celebrating all holidays fun with food!” Paul Kneeland, Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising, shared. “Our valued vendor partners help us by providing knowledge support; food trends, cutting-edge ideas now in the restaurant scene, and what is hot for this holiday. They also provide merchandising support, such as how to best position product on a display, and product support—what are the ‘must-haves’ and how do we get the best quality products available.”

This knowledge is especially critical as Gelson’s “unpacks” the produce department in the spirit of Cinco promos. Displays of veggies near the meat case, fresh guacamole and salsa near foodservice areas and near the check stands—as Paul puts it, it’s pull-out-all-the-stops as far as merchandising goes.

“When we plan our displays we are thinking about what the customer needs and—as importantly—what they don’t know they need. Adding all the produce items together in one spot for Cinco de Mayo will be our merchandising approach, as well as cross-merchandising center store items to add to the shopping experience. For us it’s thinking about our customer profile and putting together a section of culinary produce items that will fulfill those needs is essential,” Paul reflected.

This is done so expertly that it’s easy to forget there is a function behind the fashionable lengths Gelson’s goes to in ensuring fresh produce really shines. This, Paul emphasized, is thanks in no small part to the support both of the team and the vendors collaborating to bring such events to life.

As we continue to cover exciting strategies for Cinco de Mayo opportunities and beyond, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

DELTA, BC, CANADA - WINDSET FARMS® continues to bring the heat at CPMA! The greenhouse grower has hit the show floor with a bounty of its latest innovations following a significant expansion at its Delta, British Columbia, location.

"Our Delta greenhouse expansion reflects our unwavering commitment to providing consumers with high-quality, greenhouse-grown produce year-round,” remarks Ryan Cherry, Director of Sales. “With our newest Delta facility expansion utilizing modern LED lighting, we’re not only expanding our footprint and year-round capabilities but also expanding our product lines. We aim to continue to meet the growing demand for new flavor profiles and unique offerings that resonate with consumers."

Let’s dive into some of the products you should go out and see on the show floor!

• YUM YUMS™ Cherry Tomatoes: Grown in state-of-the-art greenhouses, these vibrant gems boast a unique balance of flavor, and promise a wholesome indulgence
• SWEETIES™ Seedless Mini Peppers: These seedless, colorful peppers offer a burst of natural sweetness and convenience
• AMORE™ Sweet Tomatoes on the Vine: Handpicked on the vine, these plump, heart-shaped tomatoes deliver irresistibly fresh flavor in every bite

Be sure to visit the team at booth #231 to try these delicious offerings for yourself.

AndNowUKnow will continue its coverage of the CPMA Convention and Trade Show, so stay tuned.

WATSONVILLE, CA - As the conversation on eliminating plastic in produce packaging continues to build in Canada, Sambrailo Packaging and its ReadyCycle® packaging were welcome partners to the Canadian produce sector. With its continued dedication to innovation, Sambrailo is ready to light up the show floor at the upcoming CPMA Convention and Trade Show.

“We’ll be spotlighting our new ReadyCycle 6 oz mushroom basket packed with California-grown mushrooms from Far Wes Fungi,” Sara Lozano, Marketing and Product Development, shared with me. “It’s been so exciting to see it in retail at grocers like Raley’s and Whole Foods.”

As the growing interest in mushrooms continues, the fit between a natural product and a natural packaging goes hand in hand.

“We have been so excited to see ReadyCycle received by retailers for categories we never thought would take off, like the mushrooms and organic ginger. Sambrailo is more than ready to expand into more categories, and we’ve been looking into exotic and tropical fruits like Dragon Fruit and Rambutans,” Sara said excitedly.

Part of her excitement stems from the company’s culture of doing right by its partners.

“The more we know about where the product is set to land, understanding the supply chain, shelf-life, and ultimate goal for the shopper experience is all helpful in our concept and design phase,” she emphasized. “There is where having the packaging supplier, grower/shopper, and retailer in conversation helps everyone involved understand the goal of the packaging concept, especially when changing from conventional plastic clamshells to a non-plaster/paper solution.”

You won’t want to miss out on the chance to speak with the Sambrailo team this year! As it continues to double its ReadyCycle sales year over year, the company is a force to be reckoned with.

Stop by booth #1543 to learn more!

KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA - At Mastronardi Produce®, innovation never sleeps, and the greenhouse supplier is showcasing the fruits of its labor at this year’s Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) Annual Convention and Trade Show. This includes its newly launched Bahama Bombs™ snacking tomatoes.

“Innovation is at the heart of what we do, and in all of our innovation, we put flavor at the forefront. This means ensuring that our new items offer exceptional, unbeatable flavor while meeting other consumer needs and trends,” says Julia Shreve, Director of Marketing – Brand and Innovation. “We always have new items in the works with hundreds of new tomato varieties trialing in our R&D center at any given time. Watch for more lettuce innovation as we continue to grow the Backyard Farms® lettuce line and drive expansion in that category. We’re also exploring new categories that may be ripe for a shake-up!”

One of those newly unveiled items is its Bahama Bombs, which will join Mastronardi Produce’s cult-favorite Bombs lineup. The snacking tomatoes are bright orange with a super sweet flavor and a fragrant aroma.

Additionally, the company will showcase three other newly launched products: Peppy’s™ Peppers, WOW® Organic strawberries, and Backyard Farms® lettuce.

“Peppy’s Peppers are all about convenience and fun! Joining our ‘Teeny Tiny’ lineup, these one-bite peppers are perfect for snacking and for little hands,” details Julia. “With our WOW Organic strawberries, we’re proud to offer an award-winning variety, now grown in a proprietary growing system designed specifically for organic production. Our organically grown strawberries never sacrifice flavor for the organic shopper.”

As Julia mentioned, Mastronardi Produce is also innovating in the lettuce category, as shown by its Backyard Farms lettuce, which brings added quality to the produce department.

“Backyard Farms lettuce offers a full line-up of local greenhouse-grown lettuce, including premium varieties, blends of cut leafy greens, head lettuce, and our newest full-head romaine,” Julia adds.

To see these exciting offerings up close, visit booth #1130 on the CPMA show floor, where the Mastronardi Produce team will be bringing the fun and energy!

VALENCIA, CA - Family is the most important thing in my life, and my mom is the central piece of our little unit. Mother’s Day gives me an excuse to celebrate her even more, and what better way to celebrate than with fresh produce? I got in touch with Sunkist Growers’ Cassie Howard, Senior Director of Category Management and Marketing, to hear how the supplier is promoting citrus for Mother’s Day.

“During Mother's Day, Sunkist has an array of in-season citrus varieties ready for shoppers, including Navel oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Blood oranges, lemons, and California Mandarins. Spring is also when we see the emergence of California Star Ruby grapefruit, a fruit that offers delicious flavors and vital nutrients that enhance overall well-being,” Cassie told me.

Citrus overall is an important part of the consumers’ shopping basket this time of year—it's when Sunkist sees the highest household penetration for lemons. Lemons also drive recipe inspiration, with two-thirds of lemon shoppers using lemons to flavor water and more than two-thirds purchasing lemons for recipes.

“Whether they’re the main player or mom’s secret ingredient, the flavor of Sunkist’s lemons brightens and brings a twist to any trending dish. Add our zest, peel, and juice to a start-your-day right loaf, or get baking with your new favorite focaccia recipe to end the night right with this Instagrammable sweet,” Cassie continued.

Additionally, California Star Ruby grapefruits have heart-healthy benefits and antioxidants that promote glowing skin. This Mother’s Day, consumers might try Sunkist’s fresh honey and thyme grapefruit cocktail, these no-bake grapefruit white chocolate oat cookies, or grain salad.

“We have learned a lot about grapefruit shoppers over the years, and according to a new Sunkist-commissioned study, grapefruit buyers are loyal to the variety, with 50 percent purchasing the nutrient-packed A-lister multiple times per month,” Cassie explained. “When speaking with shoppers, we also know that pricing/promotions and a strengthened focus on health are the key ways to encourage more grapefruit purchases.”

Sunkist’s shoppable recipe programs and merchandising toolkit feature interactive point-of-sale materials with scannable QR codes, providing shoppers with real-time recipe inspiration and utilization tips. With bigger sizes this season, Sunkist has expanded offerings to fit the needs of its retail partners, providing multiple bag options and customizable merchandising to not negatively impact bulk purchases.

“At Sunkist, we aim to be our shoppers' go-to resource for innovation in citrus and instilling healthy habits at home. Currently, Sunkist is collaborating with trending food and lifestyle experts and mom-influencers on behalf of its Sunkist Matchmakers campaign, sharing delectable adventures and citrus-infused activities fit for the whole family,” Cassie relayed. “Sunkist has enhanced its recipe page by installing a random ingredient pairing generator to encourage citrus fans to think outside the box and help inflation-pinched shoppers get creative in the kitchen with groceries they already have on hand.”

As Mother’s Day approaches, stick with us at ANUK for more merchandising tips.