VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA - As the highly anticipated 2024 Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show quickly nears, many companies are fine-tuning their messaging as they build their best-in-class portfolios for excited attendees. Seeking innovation, supply-chain solutions, and buy-side opportunities, these attendees will be looking to exhibitors for the next wave in fresh produce ingenuity. Highline Mushrooms is one such innovator excelling on the stage. In the build-up to the event, the team sat down with me to discuss their platform and what guests can look forward to this year.

“At CPMA, we will be focusing on our mantra of Clean, Clear, and Climate Smart. This is in support of our journey to more sustainable packaging and food waste minimization,” Devon Kennedy, National Marketing Manager, shares with me. “Consumers shop with their eyes, and we want them to see the mushrooms they are about to purchase and have confidence in the quality they are taking home to their families. Once they enjoy the mushrooms, the till is 100 percent recyclable.”

With their sights trained on April 23-24 in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Highline will be featuring its new organic white flat mushrooms; promoting this item as a great addition to the spring and summer barbecue season due to how perfect they are for the grill.

“White flats are quite well known in Europe and Australia, and many enjoy them in breakfast dishes such as Breakfast Flats. Just think about a grilled white flat topped with a fried egg or a white flat substituted for bread in avocado toast,” Devon describes. “They are much more nutritious, add a wonderful umami flavor, and are a low-carb option. White flats are also great sliced in fajitas or used in hamburger sliders, which we will be featuring at our booth at the show!”

With such amazing opportunities, it's easy to see why retailers will be circling this booth come CPMA. Stay tuned for more from Highline Mushrooms as CPMA closes in. Mark your booth lists with #1715 to check out these mushroom marvels.

IRVINE, CA - Point me to the blueberries. With warmer months on the horizon, shoppers will be looking to the berry patch to satisfy their need for sweet and refreshing fruit. For GEM-Pack Berries, consistently good quality is carving out opportunities for the company’s supplier partners. My advice to you? Paint the produce department blue!

"Our blueberry crop has had consistently good quality and supply," Michelle Deleissegues, Vice President of Marketing, tells me as we discuss the current berry market. “In addition, the weather has been beautiful as of late in Central Mexico, which is great for blues right now. We are expecting a warmer than usual start to summer, which can affect quality of course.”

As the supplier reports, blueberry demand has been consistently strong, creating a tight, steady market with steady pricing as well. Overall, GEM-Pack’s growers have seen better pricing in 2024 than in 2023.

With quality remaining on the strong side, GEM-Pack’s retail partners have the opportunity to truly tap into the category over the coming months. One surefire way of achieving this is through creative cross-merchandising designed to inspire shoppers in the produce department.

“Blueberries’ mild flavor and rich hue pair beautifully with many other spring and summer fruits. Mixing them into displays with melons or tropicals, like papaya and mangos, can broaden shoppers’ perspectives and increase overall sales,” Michelle advises.

Don’t miss out on all the potential provided by this beloved berry category!

ANUK will continue to dig into the latest merchandising strategies for berries and beyond, so leave a tab open.

PORTLAND, OREGON - Recent reports from the Port of Portland have unveiled changes to a key service, as officials say the port’s shipping container service is no longer financially feasible.

“We know that this terminal is a critical statewide asset—it is worthy of further discussions to come up with a financially sustainable business model for container service that has significantly more state funding and investment,” Keith Leavitt, Chief Trade and Economic Development Officer at the port, recently wrote to industry stakeholders. “For now, we have run out of financial options and must take this step.”

According to reports from OBP, the Oregon port cannot afford to keep the state’s only shipping container terminal open past September after a deal with a third-party operator fell through. Costs have continued to go up, pushing the port’s container facility into the red despite increasing business.

Given the facility’s importance to the region, port officials said they took the step to terminate the service reluctantly, as Terminal 6 has served as a key lifeline for small businesses and farmers throughout the Northwest.

The port has reportedly seen a loss of over $30 million in the past three years, which includes a projected $14 million for this year. Portland’s Terminal 6 has become less competitive as a transit point for container goods over the last decade, according to the source, due to a labor feud coupled with the logistical challenges of navigating container ships some 100 miles upriver.

The Port of Portland stated that a decision by BNSF Railway in 2022 to end service between Terminal 6 and Seattle/Tacoma also led to “a decrease in revenues used to cover a majority of the costs to operate the container terminal gate.”

The port’s container service will end on October 1.

For more transportation and logistics updates, stay tuned.

WASHINGTON, DC - Another industry trade show is coming to life as the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) opens registration for its annual Global Produce and Floral Show. The event will take place October 17–19 in Atlanta, Georgia.

“The Global Produce and Floral Show is the industry’s biggest moment of the year,” said IFPA Chief Executive Officer Cathy Burns. “Whether our members and exhibitors are unveiling their latest innovations and freshest products or identifying new connections, insights, or opportunities to strengthen their businesses and our supply chain, it all happens at the Global Show. This is a show for everyone in fresh, from senior executives to marketing and sales professionals to those with oversight of operations and technology implementation. If you’re a part of the global food and floral system, you belong at the Global Show.”

The Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast, which features a general session speaker and recognition of the Frieda Rapoport Caplan Women’s Catalyst Award winner, will no longer require additional registration and will be included in the All-Access Pass.

“I’m always excited to see how this show evolves to meet the needs of our members and our industry,” said Global Show Co-Chair Nelia Alamo, Vice President of Marketing at Markon Cooperative. “Just one example is that this year we are including the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast in the all-access registration option, making it a central part of the education and networking lineup—no extra ticket needed! Upgrades like this plus the connections to people, insights, products, and solutions is what makes the global show a can’t-miss event.”

The show features opportunities for anyone across the supply chain to network, learn, and share. The schedule of events includes networking receptions, Keynote speakers, and more learning experiences. The Expo itself will feature more than 1,000 exhibitors.

Co-Chair Paul Kneeland, Senior Vice President of Gelson’s Markets, also commented in a press release.

“As a buyer, I really enjoy seeing the new products and services I find at the expo,” said Kneeland. “This is the place everyone finds solutions to problems and new ideas to drive strategy and action for a more powerful future. I’d encourage everyone to register for the global show, and I look forward to meeting them!”

 Exhibitor registration will open on June 25, but individual and group registration is available now.

Stay tuned to ANUK as we cover trade shows throughout the year.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Sun World International recently announced it successfully stopped fraudulent activity on TikTok. The company was made aware that unauthorized individuals were attempting to misrepresent the company on TikTok, falsely claiming association with Sun World and promoting fraudulent services under the guise of providing technical support for AUTUMNCRISP®.

"Sun World maintains a zero-tolerance policy against infringement," Michael Stimson, General Counsel and Vice President of Intellectual Property, stated. "We will vigorously pursue legal action against any entity that attempts to unlawfully exploit our intellectual property."

According to a press release, the company was made aware that unauthorized individuals were attempting to misrepresent the company on TikTok, falsely claiming association with Sun World and promoting fraudulent services under the guise of providing technical support for AUTUMNCRISP®.

Sun World’s legal team was quick to act and filed a complaint with TikTok to address the fraudulent content. As a result, TikTok removed the misleading advertisements, ensuring users are protected from deceptive practices.

The company went on to note that any party seeking to grow Sun World table grape varieties, marketed under renowned consumer brands including RUBY RUSH(TM), AUTUMNCRISP®, MIDNIGHT BEAUTY®, SABLE SEEDLESS®, ADORA SEEDLESS®, and SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS® must obtain a valid license from Sun World.

To safeguard its intellectual property rights and maintain the integrity of its varieties and brands, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to innovation, quality, and ethical business practices.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest in industry news.

SAN JOSE, CA - Knowledge is power. ZAG Technical Services knows this well and is working to empower agricultural businesses with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect their digital infrastructure against increasing cyber threats. To accomplish this goal, the company has launched a new webinar series.

"Our mission is to not only provide top-tier cybersecurity solutions but also to educate and enable the agribusinesses that are at the heart of our economy,” shared Albert Brown, Director of Strategic Initiatives. “We have seen that there is little, if any, business continuity without the technology we rely on so heavily today.”

Recognizing the critical challenge of defending against cyber threats while dealing with resource shortages, ZAG is committed to offering its expertise through a specially curated series of webinars, aimed at elevating the cybersecurity posture and efficiencies of agricultural entities.

“Through these webinars, we aim to equip ag businesses with the knowledge and tools they need to safeguard their operations against cyber threats and ensure certainty of supply for their partners and clients," Brown added.

With the first two webinars scheduled for April 24 and May 1, the series will feature a range of topics pertinent to cybersecurity and data utilization to protect, cut costs, and optimize business functions in agriculture. According to a press release, sessions will be led by seasoned professionals and subject matter experts at ZAG, including featured guests in several sessions, who will share insights on the latest threats, defensive strategies, and trends.

Topics will include but are not limited to:

• Cybersecurity in today’s ag digital ecosystem
• Technology disruption risk mitigation
• The wide-reaching effects of a cyber attack
• Cyber incident preparedness, response, and recovery
• Data protection and utilization

Each webinar will include 20 minutes of valuable information and guidance with a 10-minute live Q&A session following.

“To better protect the industry, we need to foster a community where experiences, challenges, and solutions are shared,” Brown concluded.

Keep reading ANUK as we keep you up to date on the industry’s latest.