ATLANTA, GA - For the first time at CPMA, Mucci Farms and BrightFarms will be on display under one roof. Showcased at parent company Cox Farms’ booth 921, both brands highlight excellence in controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

“Cox Farms is leveraging its portfolio by bringing together the complementary strengths of BrightFarms and Mucci Farms to deliver a complete greenhouse-grown offering that meets both retailer and consumer needs. By spanning leafy greens and vine crops, our portfolio allows us to serve as a one-stop partner for retailers, with year-round availability, consistent quality, and a mix of both staple and premium products,” began Abby Prior, Chief Commercial Officer, Cox Farms.

At the booth, features from both brands will highlight Cox Farms’ continued emphasis on aligning product development with retail trends, while using packaging and variety to maintain differentiation in a crowded marketplace.

On display for the first time at CPMA will be BrightFarms’ product portfolio, including a variety of leafy greens such as crunchy green leaf, baby butter, spring mix, and more, along with signature Crunch Kit™ salads designed to meet the growing consumer need for convenient, on-the-go, healthy meals.

Another product being highlighted is Mucci Farms’ Cherto™ Cherry Tomatoes On-The-Vine, now presented with a fresh look and an expanded color and variety mix. This offering reflects a broader emphasis on diversity within tomato categories, both in appearance and flavor profile.

Mucci Farms is also showcasing an assortment of award-winning snacking varieties, now redesigned with striking graphics that ‘pop’ on store shelves.

“The refresh aligns with continued growth in demand for convenient, ready-to-eat produce, as well as the need for stronger shelf presence in a competitive category,” added Jessica Soare, Assistant Vice President of Marketing, Cox Farms.

Rounding out the lineup is a new take on the already popular CuteCumber™ Poppers, which are debuting at CPMA. These crisp, one-bite mini cucumbers offer a refreshing, versatile option for effortless, on-the-go enjoyment. Stay tuned for a new way to snack, the team says!

Driving demand is not all about rolling out new products. It means differentiation across product portfolios, from convenient, ready-to-eat solutions like BrightFarms’ Crunch Kits™ to high-flavor, visually distinctive offerings like Mucci Farms’ Cherto™ tomatoes.

“This combination of convenience, flavor, and quality helps us meet evolving consumer preferences while creating incremental opportunities for retailers,” Jessica noted. “We are also focused on education on the value of greenhouse-grown produce through storytelling, in-store engagement, and regional investments to help educate consumers on the benefits of year-round freshness, resource efficiency, and consistent supply.”

At the show, Cox Farms is proud to sponsor CPMA’s relaxation lounge, which will be known this year as the Fresh Forward Lounge.

“It’s a vibrant space designed to energize and educate attendees just outside the excitement of the show floor. Blending innovation with fresh produce storytelling, the lounge offers a welcoming place to recharge, connect, and experience what’s next in the category,” Jessica said.

Visitors to the Fresh Forward Relaxation Lounge can also booth can also enter to win an exclusive giveaway!

Stop by booth #921 to make sure you don’t miss out.

FRESNO, CA - Starfish, a leading supply chain connectivity platform enabling secure data exchange across the food ecosystem, announced a strategic partnership with Silo, a cloud-native operating platform built specifically for produce companies — including shippers, distributors, packers, and growers.

Together, Starfish and Silo are bridging the gap between operational systems and trading partners — enabling data to move across the supply chain without manual processes, portals, or custom integrations. According to a press release, this includes the automation of both traceability data and EDI transactions, creating a more unified and efficient flow of information across trading partners.

By connecting Starfish’s interoperability network with Silo’s all-in-one platform which unifies inventory, ordering, payments, traceability, and analytics the partnership creates a digital backbone for standardized data exchange, integrated EDI workflows, coordinated operations, and accelerated traceability readiness.

“The food supply chain is still operating on fragmented systems that were never designed to communicate with one another,” said Wiggs Civitillo, CEO of Starfish. “This partnership with Silo is about changing that. Their innovative approach delivers a more automated experience that helps customers better manage and strengthen trading partner relationships. By enabling standardized data exchange across workflows including EDI and traceability — we’re helping companies modernize without disruption while improving coordination and data accuracy.”

Silo’s platform enables food supply chain businesses to manage core workflows from purchasing and inventory to payments, reconciliation, compliance and EDI within a single system. Through integration with Starfish’s neutral connectivity network, Silo customers can seamlessly share data with trading partners, automate traceability workflows,exchange EDI documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and ASNs, and meet evolving regulatory and customer requirements with greater speed and accuracy and meet evolving regulatory and customer requirements with greater speed and accuracy.

“At Silo, our mission has always been to empower the food supply chain with modern technology that drives clarity, efficiency, and growth,” said Amy Gates, CEO of Silo. “Partnering with Starfish extends that mission by enabling data to move beyond the four walls of a business — helping our customers collaborate more effectively, respond quickly to traceability requirements, and make better decisions with real-time visibility.”

This partnership reflects a shared vision for a more connected food ecosystem — where traceability and EDI data flows freely, systems work together, and businesses can operate with greater confidence, transparency, and resilience.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Flashfood, the leading surplus grocery platform, is now available in all 26 Gelson’s Markets locations, offering Flashfood’s signature and popular Produce Box – a mix of affordable, fresh and high-quality produce – to anyone in Southern California looking for a great deal on fruits and vegetables.

Since launching in a handful of Gelson’s stores just a few months ago, Flashfood shoppers in Southern California have purchased more than 1,000 Produce Boxes, each with fresh assortments of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Shoppers love them – most stores sell out of their Flashfood boxes every day. It’s a great deal on Gelson’s famously high-quality produce, and keeps perfectly good food from going to waste.

“As a beloved institution of the community, Gelson’s is an outstanding partner for Flashfood. Reaching their full footprint means more families get a great deal on great food,” said Jordan Schenck, CEO of Flashfood, in a press release. “Fresh, high-quality produce should be accessible to everyone. In one of the most influential food markets in the country, our mission is to make sure no one misses out on the beauty of California fruits and vegetables.”

“We are encouraged by how quickly customers have responded to and embraced this program, and with California's peak produce season upon us, the timing is right to expand Flashfood to all of our locations," said Rick Williams, Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer for Gelson's Markets. "They have been a great partner, and we’re proud to extend access to high-quality produce at a great value to more of our communities while furthering our commitment to sustainability."

Flashfood helps shoppers find great deals on fresh groceries through partnerships with grocery stores. Retailers list their surplus food at a reduced price on the Flashfood app, increasing access to food and keeping good food out of landfills.

The company continues to grow with both national and regional partners as retailers look for more consistent ways to manage surplus inventory while improving affordability for shoppers.

For more information, including a list of participating locations and to download the app, visit www.flashfood.com.

LONGWOOD, FL - Fresh Pro, one of the nation’s leading year‑round watermelon shippers, announces the launch of its refreshed Honey Watermelons brand. Designed to support shopper marketing and increase consumer engagement, the updated brand introduces an integrated marketing platform that helps simplify watermelon selection and drive demand at the shelf.

The refresh includes a new consumer landing page, original video content, point‑of‑sale materials, and an enhanced PLU system—delivering retail‑ready tools that guide shopper decision‑making and promote engagement at point of purchase.

At the center of the brand refresh is Beezy, a new character mascot that brings the “Honey” in Honey Watermelons to life as a friendly, farm‑inspired bee. Recognizing that shoppers often hesitate when choosing a watermelon, Beezy was created to support that final decision moment, offering simple, practical tips that make selection easy and approachable.

The brand’s new website, HoneyWatermelons.com, serves as a central hub for discovery, education, and engagement—extending the in‑store experience beyond the shelf. The platform features original video content including Meet Beezy[SW1] , a campaign video that shows the field the table process—along with recipes, kid‑friendly activities, an interactive scavenger hunt, and a music supported playlist designed to encourage engagement, loyalty, and repeat purchase.

While consumer demand for watermelon remains steady, Fresh Pro recognizes that effective shopper marketing—particularly kid‑friendly mascots and clear point‑of‑purchase cues—can drive impulse sales and conversion. The Honey Watermelons refresh is designed to remove friction at retail and unlock year‑round category growth.

“Watermelon is a fruit that brings people together and represents joy in both celebrations and everyday moments,” said Josh Williams, Sales and Marketing Director at Fresh Pro, in a press release. “We wanted our brand to carry the same warmth and energy as the occasions our watermelons are part of, and Honey Watermelons – with Beezy at the center – bring that feeling to life.”

To learn more, visit honeywatermelons.com or follow along on Instagram and Facebook. Retailers can contact the Fresh Pro team at [email protected] to access turnkey marketing assets.