CORONA, CA - What’s going on in the wonderful world of California avocados? Seeking to dive into the details of the category ahead of the upcoming Viva Fresh Expo, I recently gained some exclusive insights from Index Fresh’s Vice President of Sales Debbie Willmann.

“California avocado season was initially off to a slow start, but over the last three weeks, we have increased harvesting significantly,” shares Debbie. “Volume is increasing by about a million pounds a week. I expect that to level off a little bit over the next couple of weeks because growers are picking based on size right now. Overall, the summer is shaping up to be quite dynamic!”

Production is expected to peak in June and July; however, fruit will still be harvested in August, with the season rounding out in mid-to-late September.

As Debbie shared with me, the total California avocado crop is forecasted at about 206 to 208 million pounds. Size-wise, Index Fresh is peaking heavily on 48s, followed closely by 40s and an almost equal amount of 60s.

“Ideally, retailers should remain nimble or flexible in the sizes they’re offering,” Debbie advises. “This way, they can take advantage of varying market conditions and supply scenarios as the season progresses. I also recommend that our retail partners diversify their offerings by adding a bagged option. Value-added bags are trending positively with consumers and complement bulk programs.”

Another way retailers can diversify their category offerings is with the unique GEM variety. Index Fresh is offering the variety for its eighth season, giving consumers the chance to enjoy its striking appearance and exceptional, nutty flavor. Available for programs April through May, the coveted offering is supported by in-store display posters, educational material, and other signage.

Backed by its diverse portfolio, Index Fresh has made strategic developments to bolster its standing as a premium avocado supplier. The company recently installed new ripening rooms in Pharr, Texas, expanding from three to 10 rooms. This has dramatically strengthened the supplier’s ability to bring on new retail and foodservice customers and support their ripening programs.

Another key advancement is the introduction of its new cellulose value-added bags, offering an increased level of sustainability to its partners. Index Fresh’s latest offering is a plastic-free, recyclable, and home-compostable mesh bag, available in both conventional and organic SKUs. The cellulose product line utilizes direct print UPCs, further reducing waste by eliminating labels from the supply chain.

“We have built a strong positive reputation in the industry because when times are difficult, we stand by our customers and our contracts,” Debbie adds. “We believe in partnerships, which at Index means we have real conversations and try our best not to be emotionally reactive when the market gets super dynamic. We focus on the customer first and think long-term about growing both our relationships and businesses.”

Index Fresh will be showcasing its formidable portfolio during this year’s Viva Fresh Expo, at booth #117. Stick around for more insights from ANUK.

IMMOKALEE, FL - Last week, Lipman Family Farms hosted its 10^th Annual Lipman 5K Run for Backpacks—a family-friendly event aimed at supporting local students in need. The annual event raised over $115,000 in funds this year.

"As a family-owned business deeply rooted in Immokalee, we recognized the importance of education and the challenges many families face in providing essential school supplies for their children," said Elyse Lipman, Chief Executive Officer. "The Lipman 5K Run for Backpacks was not only a fun and healthy way to bring the community together but also an opportunity for participants to make a tangible difference in the lives of local students."

According to a press release, all proceeds from the race will directly fund the purchase of backpacks, bicycles, shoes, and other essential school supplies for Lipman's Annual Backpack Giveaway. This year marked the 10^th consecutive year of the 5k Run for Backpacks, with a record-breaking number of 780 runners and walkers.

The event welcomed participants of all levels, including serious runners, weekend joggers, and families with children. Trophies were awarded to the top male and female runners in various age categories, adding a competitive edge to the event while celebrating individual achievements.

“This event has become as much about the community coming together as anything. Everyone is so eager to support their local students that it’s helped make this 5K bigger than ever. They see the need here in Immokalee and want to do their part to help students get a leg up in school,” Jaime Weisinger, fourth-generation Lipman and Director of Community and Government Relations, explained.

Over the last 10 years, Lipman has successfully distributed a total of 15,000 backpacks full of school supplies thanks to the support of its generous donors. The Lipman 5K Run for Backpacks was a resounding success, bringing the community together to enjoy the scenic course around the lakes at Ave Maria, Florida, while supporting a worthy cause.

We applaud all who took part in this inspiring event!

HOUSTON, TX - In the state where much reference is usually made by “everything’s bigger” it seems like a necessary box to check while at Viva Fresh this week is to visit Big Al.

“Now a recognizable member of the Allen Lund Company's team, we absolutely have to have Big Al with us,” Nora Trueblood, Marketing and Communications Director for Allen Lund Company (ALC), shared with me as she prepared to take off for the show. “We are excited to be a Gold Sponsor of the 2024 Viva Fresh Expo and look forward to an amazing show.”

It will be a great time to get to know the reach of the logistics company, which will have teams both from the local state of Texas and out from Boston to meet attendees. Experts in moving produce loads (the company touts that it has been moving even the most complicated for over 48 years!), the year has kicked off with key accolades for ALC.

No sooner was Kenny Lund, Executive Vice President, Allen Lund Company and ALC Logistics, named among the 2024 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain than was the company designated a 2023 "Warehouse Delivered Carrier of the Year" for PepsiCo's Central and North Divisions.

It all spells out the perfect time to connect with the Allen Lund Company and its ambassador on wheels, Big Al. Be sure to swing by booth #806 while in Houston, Texas, April 11–13.

CHICAGO, IL - It’s time for some friendly competition! The Mushroom Council, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, National Peanut Board, and Lentils.org have teamed up with FOODWORKS, a national restaurant incubator under Compass Group USA, to launch the First Annual Global Street Food Competition.

“This collaboration allows us to champion plant-forward cuisine and showcase the incredible versatility of peanuts in culinary innovation. As we embark on this journey, we are celebrating the diversity of street food and highlighting the importance of sustainable, plant-based ingredients in shaping the future of dining. I encourage our culinary partners to join us in embracing this exciting opportunity to elevate street food culture and inspire healthier, more flavorful menus nationwide," said John Coker, President of FOODWORKS.

The National Recipe Contest spans throughout the year and is exclusively available to FOODWORKS partners, a press release explained. Participating partners will have the unique opportunity to craft and present plant-forward recipes showcasing the delicious versatility of ingredients such as peanuts, lentils, blueberries, and mushrooms.

The competition for blueberries will take place from September 1 through November 30, while the mushrooms competition will be held from December 1 through February 28.

The competitive event highlights FOODWORKS’ overall mission to celebrate the importance of fruit and veggie-forward cuisine, demonstrated by its vast partner list of plant-forward chefs and restaurateurs across the country.

The FOODWORKS recipe panel will internally recreate and evaluate each submitted recipe based on creativity, taste, and presentation, and the top four recipes will be selected as the winners and announced on May 31, 2024.

For more details on this culinary contest, click here. With popular categories like blueberries and mushrooms being featured, we can only hope to see an increase in demand in these already popular sectors.

How will competitors wield the versatile application of blueberries and mushrooms to bring new life to the culinary space? ANUK will continue to report.

HOUSTON, TX - Brighter Bites continues to achieve success in its goal to bring increased fresh produce access to communities in need. The nonprofit organization recently reflected on this impact and the partnerships that make it possible during its second annual gala.

“We are so very thankful to all of the sponsors, donors, volunteers, partners, and employees who make our program possible,” said Lisa Helfman, Founder and Board Chair of Brighter Bites. “With the generosity we received not only at the gala but throughout the year, we will continue to push and expand the work we do to help create communities of health and wellness across the nation.”

The gala, which took place on March 27 in Houston, Texas, featured expert guest speakers such as Daniel Goetz, Founder of GoodPop; Becca Dittrich, Vice President of Impact at Chobani; and Chris Shepherd, Chef and Founding Director of the Southern Smoke Foundation. These guests spoke to 400 attendees about how their organizations work to support local food systems, encourage community wellness, and responsibly use fresh, wholesome ingredients.

As part of the celebration, the nonprofit raised over $450,000 through table sponsorships as well as from the silent auction held during the event, a press release explained. Proceeds will go toward continuing to expand Brighter Bites’ reach to under-resourced communities throughout the United States.

“From that first year when we were sifting through produce bins for ingredients to 12 years and 12 cities later with over 65 million pounds of product donated—we could not have made it this far without all the support,” added Dr. Shreela Sharma, Co-Founder of Brighter Bites.

Through its Produce Rx Program in partnership with the University of Texas Physicians, Brighter Bites plans to reach even more families with its “food is medicine” message. Alongside produce box programming that takes place at schools, Produce Rx also accesses families at the physician level with reloadable vouchers to purchase fresh produce at local grocery stores.

Cheers to this impactful organization for increasing fresh produce consumption!