FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - As it grows its presence in the Canadian market, Chiquita Brands International will be bringing a vibrant showcase to this year’s Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Annual Convention and Trade Show.

“We’re looking forward to being a part of the CPMA 2024 trade show once again, as it provides a platform to showcase our innovative approaches to produce and sustainability initiatives," said Jamie Postell, Vice President of Sales North America at Chiquita. "This event is a fantastic opportunity for us to connect directly with industry leaders and consumers, sharing our passion for quality and sustainability, and demonstrating our continued commitment to the Canadian market.”

Setting out to highlight the Chiquita Difference, the beloved banana brand will be connecting with industry leaders, valued customers, and attendees from across the globe by engaging in strategic discussions about Chiquita’s Yelloway initiative and other industry advancements, a press release explained.

Attendees will also get a unique taste of the tropics by sampling delicious recipes using Chiquita’s bananas and pineapples—a key way to highlight the brand’s farm-to-table approach and commitment to quality products stamped with the Blue Sticker promise. Booth #1215 will also feature an engaging photo booth, swag giveaways, and a chance for attendees to meet and interact with Chiquita’s very own First Lady of Fruit, Miss Chiquita.

As part of the event, Vancouver will be painted yellow with a series of vibrant, cheerful digital billboards, extending the brand's warm, tropical vibes to the surrounding show area. An accompanying media theme specifically tailored to industry professionals will also emphasize these themes.

Since the event falls during Earth Month, Chiquita sees a prime opportunity to spotlight its sustainability commitment, highlighting its Yelloway initiative—a sustainability program to develop disease-resistant banana varieties and reduce carbon emissions associated with banana production. The company will be sharing important updates regarding this initiative with a video at the booth.

With the expansion of its distribution network, Chiquita has significantly grown its presence in the Canadian market, enabling the company to meet rising demand for fresh produce while strengthening its market position at retail. These broadened distribution capabilities have also facilitated quicker and more efficient delivery routes, ensuring that customers receive the freshest bananas possible.

Be sure to stop by booth #1215 during the CPMA show this week! For more show updates, leave a tab open to ANUK.

WASHINGTON, DC - The “best of the best” is a coveted title in any industry, and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is shining a spotlight on the best of the best in foodservice through its Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards program.

“We are honored to offer this platform that recognizes these foodservice professionals for their produce prowess,” said IFPA Vice President Joe Watson. “Nominated by their peers, these honorees drive produce consumption by offering unique, delicious, produce-forward dishes.”

The Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards program, sponsored by FreshEdge®, pays tribute to chefs and foodservice operations for produce innovation, creativity, and all-around excellence in the use of fresh produce in the culinary arts. Winners receive global recognition and a trip to The Foodservice Conference in Monterey, California on July 25–26.

According to a press release, a panel of produce foodservice experts evaluated nominees on the following criteria:

• Creativity in using fresh produce in concept development and menu design, including the ability to incorporate produce into culinary trends
• Knowledge and use of proper fresh produce handling procedures
• Produce-related outreach or special events, such as community service projects, local educational outreach, etc.
• Recognition among peers and/or by their company, such as awards, additional responsibilities, and training

Standing out in each of these segments, this year’s winners include:

• Business and industry: Estavan Jimenez Martinez, Executive Chef/Chef instructor, Rancho Cielo Youth Campus
• Casual and family dining restaurants: Grace Goudie, Executive Chef, Scratch Board Kitchen
• Colleges and universities: Jonathan Guitierrez Santiago, Executive Sous Chef, University of California Merced/Yablokoff Wallace Dining Center
• Fine dining restaurants: David Ruiz, Executive Chef, Scalo Restaurant
• Hospitals and healthcare: Roel Mesta, Executive Chef, The Village at Germantown
• Hotel and resort: Manfred Lassahn, Executive Chef, Hyatt Regency Hotels — Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa
• K-12 Foodservice: Julie Raway, Registered Dietitian, Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
• Supermarket and retail operators: Dorene Mills, Hannaford Chef, Hannaford Supermarkets
• Quick-serve restaurants: Chris Mayo, Development Manager, Wildflower

“We are pleased to announce these winners and grateful for their skills and imagination as they increase access to and the appeal of produce in all types of foodservice operations. We look forward to honoring them at The Foodservice Conference in July,” Watson said.

IFPA’s annual Foodservice Conference provides a hub for industry connection, innovation, and insights specifically tailored to the produce in foodservice. For more information, and to register for the conference, click here.

Congratulations to each of these stand-out foodservice aces!

REIDSVILLE, GA - The highly anticipated Vidalia® onion shipping season is finally here, and Shuman Farms is looking forward to a strong Vidalia season that will last until September. The onion provider celebrated the official kickoff of the season on April 17 with the first shipment from its Cobbtown, Georgia, facility.

“When April comes around, consumers are looking forward to seeing Vidalia onions in stores,” said John Shuman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “They are as excited as we are to start the season and it was really great to see everyone’s anticipation as the Vidalias hit the shelves.”

The supplier’s first shipment of Vidalia onions were shipped to grocery stores and wholesalers throughout the United States and Canada during the first day of availability. As the company noted in a press release, Food Lion locations in Vidalia, Statesboro, Metter, and Reidsville, Georgia, were among the first to receive their shipments as customers eagerly awaited their arrival.

Ideal weather conditions during the growing period—along with the completed acquisition of Generation Farms in the fall of 2023—have positioned Shuman Farms for a strong Vidalia season now through September.

“With the addition of Generation Farms' assets, we have expanded our Vidalia onion program by 30 percent,” said Shuman. “Furthermore, our packing capabilities have been bolstered, and capital improvements to our existing facilities have increased our storage capacity by nearly 25 percent. These enhancements enable us to continue distributing Vidalia onions through Labor Day, ensuring a steady supply for our partners.”

In celebration of the start of the awaited Vidalia season, Shuman Farms took part in a series of events with partners Food Lion and Royal Food Service. The supplier partnered with Georgia Southern University (GSU) Athletics to host a season kickoff event at the Food Lion location in Statesboro, which featured an array of festivities, including appearances by GSU cheerleaders and the university's mascot, Gus, as well as an exciting giveaway with Food Lion gift cards, Shuman Farms swag, and more.

In Atlanta, the festivities continued on April 18, with Royal Food Service unloading the first truck of Shuman Farms’ Vidalia onions destined for foodservice.

“Being a family farm based in Georgia, it is important to us to share our farm-to-table story with consumers in the Southeast U.S.,” Shuman continued. “The event with Royal Food Service showcased our partnership and dedication to delivering excellence at every stage of the supply chain.”

Opportunities are abundant following the kickoff of this exciting season, so be on the lookout for more updates from ANUK.

SOLEDAD, CA - We are celebrating a powerful woman in produce today as Braga Fresh’s Colby Pereira gains distinctive recognition. The company’s Chief Operating Officer was recently presented with the Grower-Shipper Foundation Ag Woman of the Year award.

“What you invest in your community, you get back 10-fold,” Pereira stated in her acceptance speech, attributing her passion for ag to her grandfather Anthony Costa, a pioneer in the Salinas valley.

With a rich background in family farming, Pereira is active in various organizations, including the Salinas Valley Chapter of California Women for Agriculture, the Monterey County Farm Bureau, and the Grower Shipper Association of Central California. She participates on the Food Safety, Land Use, and Water Use Committees for the Monterey County Farm Bureau and Grower Shipper Association, as well as the Leafy Green Marketing Agreement Technical Committee.

In addition, she serves on the California Leafy Greens Research Board, is an elected director of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, and is elected to the Mission Union School District Board of Trustees.

Ag Against Hunger, a program of the Grower-Shipper Foundation, honored Pereira at its annual Agricultural Woman of the Year Recognition Luncheon.

The coveted Agricultural Woman of the Year award honors unique leadership qualities held by women in the ag industry in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties. As a press release explained, the winner of the award demonstrates a significant contribution to agriculture, is a leader in the community, and is an “Ag-Vocate” for agriculture.

Pereira obtained a bachelor of science degree in agricultural business with a minor in crop science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She was born and raised in Soledad, California—also home of Braga Fresh and Josie’s Organics.

A huge congratulations goes out to Colby Pereira for this well-deserved recognition!