DELTA, BC & CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - WINDSET FARMS® is showcasing continued expansion and innovation at this year’s Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show in Toronto, April 28–30, highlighting its integrated North American supply strategy, greenhouse innovation, and tri-country operating model spanning Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Amid a dynamic global produce environment, Windset continues to prioritize quality, consistency, and reliability through a resilient supply network designed to support stable year-round availability and consistent retail execution across North America.

Across its North American platform, the company operates 298 acres of owned greenhouse production in Canada and the United States, supported by an extensive partner grower network in British Columbia and Mexico. This coordinated structure enables flexible regional balancing and ensures continuity of supply.

In Delta, British Columbia, Windset is expanding its greenhouse operation in 2026 with an additional 38 acres of ultra-lit production, bringing the site to 130 acres and reinforcing its position as the largest lit vegetable greenhouse facility in Western North America.

The company also operates a 168-acre greenhouse facility in Santa Maria, California—the largest single-site vegetable greenhouse facility in the United States—supporting year-round production in a favorable climate without supplemental lighting.

Together, these assets form a fully integrated North American supply platform that enables production close to major markets across Canada and the United States. This proximity enhances freshness and consistency while enabling harvesting, packing, and shipping within 24–48 hours, supporting peak quality, strong shelf performance, and reliable retail execution.

“Through our strategically located greenhouse assets and fully integrated North American network, we operate at meaningful scale across Canada, the United States, and Mexico to ensure consistent, year-round supply and supply chain resilience,” said Steven Newell, President and CEO of Windset Farms, in the recent release. “This platform allows us to balance production across regions with precision and reliability, while our proximity to major markets enables efficient harvest-to-market movement that delivers exceptional freshness, consistent flavor, and dependable execution for our customers.”

Windset’s CPMA presence highlights its ongoing expansion, innovation strategy, and commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality greenhouse-grown produce across North America.

Visit the Windset team at Booth 410 at CPMA in Toronto.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - The clock we have been watching tick down on the home page of the 2026 Viva Fresh Expo is now at 00:00:00. 

2,800 attendees had turned out by the time I checked in with Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) the day of the expo, with more still collecting badges to join the floor of 199 exhibitors. With 380 buyers across foodservice and retail, from H-E-B, Albertsons, Sysco, Sobeys, and several more perusing the booths as well, it was quite a setting to behold after a culmination of two days of networking, educational, and entertaining activities. 

Rewinding to the first day of events, Thursday, April 16, pickleball and golf tournaments, a wine experience on the grounds of the JW Marriott, and glowing events across a welcoming San Antonio background made for a splash landing to the earliest arrivals. Energy hummed and noise levels soared at the evening's annual 19^th Hole Reception after a day of activities, meetings, and introductions. 

If Thursday was about settling in through fun networking, Friday was about education and further connection. Sessions like “Consumonics” of Fresh Produce, Market Mayhem, and Buzzer Beaters of Produce Policy coincided with expert panels like Clean Eating Challenge: Walking the Walk and—specially for the women gathered for In Bloom—an unplugged, candid conversation with Courtney Schuster-Moore from Rio Fresh, Kristi Novak from H-E-B, and Amanda Horney from Zano Fresh, moderated by Co-Chairs April Flowers and Shelly Cortez. 

"At Viva, it’s easy to feel at home here in Texas—spending time with our distributors, growers, and visiting our delis. One quote from an educational session really stayed with me: People need to eat, but they don’t have to eat what we’re growing. That’s on us. We also learned we can do a better job telling our own story—letting customers know we’re using fresh ingredients every day, prepared in the back of the house. The real opportunity is to partner with our growers and tell their story—so customers understand who’s behind their food and why it matters," Kim Andreason, Fresh Produce Program Director for Jason's Deli, shared. 

And if anyone could tell a story, it was keynote speaker Hunter Pinke. A former D1 college athlete with big dreams and a personality to match, Hunter shared how he came to his philosophy of "no bad days" after a life-altering accident left him paralized from the chest down at 22 years old. Bright and positive, Hunter connected with the room not just on the trials of life, but his own knowledge from being in a farming family.

"What you do is what brings us together, but who you do it with and who you do it for is what makes it special," he emphasized to us. 

The words landed even deeper when Dante Galeazzi, President and Chief Executive Officer of TIPA, discussed the importance of modeling our industry's importance through the Clean Eating Challenge. 

"What we do as an industry isn’t just a trend or a fad, it’s something you can do incrementally every day," Dante stated emphatically. 

It is a message the association lives well at Viva Fresh. I speak, of course, of the warm Welcome Reception officially kicking off the event with food not only showcasing fresh, but delighting in it with delicious options that highlighted a colorful palette of flavors that merged our industry and the culture of the Southwest. It was something attendees enjoyed further during the luncheon break provided a couple of hours after cutting the ribbon on the Viva Fresh Expo trade floor Saturday morning. 

As an energetic crowd spilled through the doors to populate every aisle of the show floor, Tony Incaviglia shared his experience.

"A truly exceptional show where quality, innovation and partnerships come together to move the industry forward," the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GR Fresh said about the event. 

Perhaps the biggest surprise of this show was how quickly the finish line came. After days together basking in the culture of the city hosting us, and of fresh produce itself, the hours on the showfloor seemed to fly. 

But as I reset that countdown clock for 2027, I look forward to seeing how much sprouts from the seeds planted from the past few days in San Antonio. Cheers to next year! 

CINCINNATI, OH - The Kroger Co. announced the launch of Pearl Street Academy, a comprehensive career development and training platform designed to provide high-quality learning opportunities to associates across the Kroger Family of Companies.

"Pearl Street Academy represents our commitment to investing in the growth and development of our people," said Tim Massa, Kroger's executive vice president and chief experience officer, in the recent release. "By creating a single, connected home for development opportunities, we're ensuring that associates across our stores, supply chain and more, have access to the tools and experiences they need to advance and thrive in their careers."

Pearl Street Academy centralizes leadership development, training courses and professional growth experiences, making it easier for associates to access consistent, intentional development aligned with the company's leadership goals. Pearl Street Academy will enable associates to:

• Enhance their skills and capabilities in their current role and prepare to take their career to the next level
• Explore new skills and opportunities for growth across the business
• Drive impact and results to reach business and career goals

The academy is named in honor of Barney Kroger, who opened his first store on Pearl Street in Cincinnati with a passion for fresh products, innovation and care for communities and customers. Pearl Street Academy embraces Kroger's legacy by inspiring the next generation of talent across the company to discover their potential, take steps toward growth and confidently lead with purpose.

Associates can also benefit from Kroger's tuition reimbursement program, offering up to $21,000 for both part-time and full-time associates, covers GED courses to Ph.D. programs. Since its inception, this program has contributed more than $64 million to empower associates at the Kroger Family of Companies further their education with 89% of the recipients being hourly associates.

Kroger is Hiring for Roles that Enhance the Customer Experience

Those seeking a fresh opportunity are invited to apply using the mobile-friendly candidate experience, which makes it easier than ever to find the perfect role, seamlessly apply using profile import capabilities from LinkedIn or Indeed and join our team – quickly. Associates have immediate access to Pearl Street Academy's comprehensive development programs to support their success at Kroger.

Visit krogerfamilycareers.com to learn more about pursuing a career at Kroger.

The Kroger Co. has been honored by Handshake for excellence in early career hiring, earned recognition as One of America's Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek and ranked among Computerworld's Top 100 best places to work in IT for eight years.

FRESNO, CA - The California Table Grape Commission announced it has been awarded $2.2 million through the America First Trade Promotion Program to support expanding international marketing efforts to strengthen demand for California table grapes in key global markets.

California table grapes are exported to more than 60 countries each year, with international markets representing a critical component of industry stability and long-term growth. Funding from this award will support retail and consumer promotion initiatives in Australia, Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and reinforce California’s position as a global supplier of high-quality, delicious, and healthy table grapes, while supporting growers, shippers, and rural communities throughout the Coachella and San Joaquin valleys.

The commission expressed its appreciation to the Trump Administration for its continued commitment to strengthening U.S. agricultural exports and investing in programs that enhance global competitiveness for American producers.

“This award through the America First Trade Promotion Program represents a meaningful investment in the continued success of the California table grape industry and the communities the industry supports,” said Ian LeMay, commission president, in the recent release. “We are grateful to the Trump Administration for recognizing the importance of export market development and for providing tools that help American agriculture compete and thrive in global markets. These resources will allow us to expand strategic promotions in key partner countries and ensure consumers around the world continue to choose Grapes from California,” said LeMay.

The California Table Grape Commission remains committed to working with federal partners and international trade members, including retailers, importers, and wholesalers, to expand market opportunities and ensure California growers continue to compete successfully worldwide.

CHARLOTTE, NC - One of Dole’s most iconic and downloaded recipes is getting a makeover in honor of National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day on April 20 and the company’s 125th anniversary of DOLE® Pineapples throughout 2026.

Dole’s Original Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe, the winner of a 1925 recipe contest sponsored by Dole Food Company, was updated by Dole years ago to include fresh DOLE® Pineapple, Bananas, and Berries plus healthier replacements for the sour cream and butter. This fresh version, Dole Fresh Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, has been one of the company’s most-downloaded dishes for years along with recipes for Loaded Banana Bread and the original DIY Dole Whip®.

For Dole’s 125th Pineapple Crowning Anniversary, a five-month celebration which kicked off earlier this month, Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole’s manager of nutrition, wellness, and communications, envisioned a new version of the classic dessert with more protein that can be frozen. “Consumers today are searching for more protein in their diets. Traditionally, desserts lack that; however, this frozen version of pineapple upside-down cake challenges that reality,” said Marcus. With 9 grams, 18% of total calories, this dessert is a good source of protein.”

Dole’s Protein-Packed Pineapple Upside-Down Icebox Cake features low-fat cottage cheese, honey, vanilla, Greek yogurt, graham crackers, fresh pineapple, and dark cherries. The recipe will be introduced this summer.

“For many Americans, pineapple upside-down cake is the ultimate pineapple dessert so we thought it would be fun to reimagine this classic for a new generation,” she said in the recent release. “This frozen version becomes Dole’s third pineapple upside-down recipe, along with the fresh version and our Pineapple Upside-Down Overnight Oats that you can enjoy for breakfast.”

The two current pineapple upside-down options are among ten classic and new recipes being featured during Dole’s 125th Pineapple Crowning Anniversary, which includes special events, serving suggestions, digital downloads, social content, partner promotions, and commemorations marking the Quasquicentennial of Dole’s pineapple contribution to the world.

Dole started rolling out 125th anniversary activities this month in Charlotte and across the country leading up to an extended celebration in June coinciding with International Pineapple Day on June 27.

Other celebratory pineapple recipes featured during the Dole 125th Pineapple Crowning Anniversary include Tropical Ahi Poke Salad and Hawaiian Style Fried Cauliflower Rice.

Visit www.dole.com/125 for continually updated information on Dole 125th Pineapple Crowning Anniversary events and activities in Charlotte and nationally. Use hashtags #DolePineapples, #DolePineapples125, #PineapplesForTheFuture and #Fresh4Future to join in on the conversation.

NOVI, MI - Lineage, Inc., the world’s largest global temperature-controlled warehouse REIT, announced the planned retirement of its Chief Information Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, Sudarsan Thattai. The Company will implement a phased transition to maintain momentum across mission-critical initiatives and provide a smooth and well-supported leadership handoff.

Thattai will continue his role as Chief Transformation Officer (CTO) and remain with Lineage through the subsequent transition period until his planned retirement in April 2027.

As part of this transition, day-to-day leadership of Lineage’s global IT and Technology organization will transition to Chris Johnson (“CJ”), Vice President of Technology Projects, while Thattai focuses on high-impact, future-oriented IT priorities.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and Lineage’s executive leadership team, I want to thank Sudarsan for his leadership and contributions over the last 13 years in spearheading Lineage’s innovation and technology strategy,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lineage. “Throughout his tenure, Sudarsan has brought deep expertise and invaluable experience in leading high-impact teams across our organization. We are deeply grateful that he will continue in his CTO role and support CJ during the transition.”

Thattai joined Lineage in 2013 and created the foundation for its IT and innovation capabilities, leading the development and implementation of pivotal technology, such as LinOS, Lineage’s proprietary warehouse execution technology. Prior to joining Lineage, Thattai served as a senior technology leader at UTi Worldwide.

“It has been a great privilege to be a part of Lineage and to lead its technology enterprise,” said Thattai. “The Company is well positioned for sustained growth and innovation in the years ahead. I am deeply proud of what our team has accomplished, and I’m confident Lineage will continue to build on this strong foundation and achieve even greater success while advancing the cold chain category into its next era of innovation and global impact.”

ROCHESTER, NY - Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. has released its 2025 Impact Report, sharing the various ways the company makes a difference for its customers, communities, and employees. The report is available at https://www.wegmans.com/impact-report.

According to the recent release, highlights include:

• Economic Impact: Wegmans operates 114 stores across nine states and the District of Columbia, impacting communities from Rochester, New York to Raleigh, North Carolina.
  • Local Jobs and Partnerships: Wegmans employs over 55,000 people companywide and opened three new stores in 2025, creating approximately 1,400 permanent jobs and hundreds of temporary construction positions. The company sources products from 400 family farms and local suppliers to provide customers with a variety of local goods, including produce, meat, and cheeses.
  • Significant reinvestment in stores: The company invests approximately $100 million annually in roughly 700 store upgrade projects.
  • Hometown Support: In Rochester, NY, Wegmans employs over 11,000 people and has invested over $160 million in education, development, and workforce training programs since 1982. Wegmans Work Scholarship program boasts a nearly 100% graduation rate with over 5,000 participants since 1987.
• Community Giving: Wegmans contributed $96.3 million to its communities in 2025 through corporate gifts and 36.8 million pounds of food donations, employee donations, and customer scan campaigns.
  • Feeding it Forward: Through customer support and in-store donations, Wegmans donates over 30 million meals to local neighbors each year. In 2025, the annual Check Out Hunger campaign raised nearly $3.1 million.
  • Employee Volunteerism: In 2025, Wegmans employees responded to more than 30,500 donation requests and volunteered over 10,500 hours to support food banks and community organizations.

• Sustainability: Wegmans is committed to “Do More Good” for people, the planet, and the long-term prosperity of every community.
  • 10 Years of Zero Waste Progress: Wegmans’ Zero Waste initiative began in 2016 as a single store pilot with a goal of diverting waste from landfills through food donations, composting, and recycling. The program rolled out companywide by 2021 and achieved an average companywide recycling rate of nearly 89% in 2025.
  • Progress Through Partnerships: Wegmans collaborates with partners like Natural Upcycling to convert food waste into valuable resources and with CRDC Materials to recycle agricultural plastics into concrete block ingredients, enhancing waste diversion efforts.
• Our People: Wegmans employee-first approach fosters a supportive and inclusive workplace that encourages learning, growth, and belonging.
  • Helping Employees to Learn and Grow: In 2025, more than 2,300 Wegmans employees advanced through the company’s development programs. Annually, approximately 25% of employees participate in one of Wegmans various growth programs including work mentorship, internships, leadership training, and scholarships.
  • Employee engagement and recognition: In 2025, the company hosted over 400 employee focus groups, engaging over 4,800 participants across the company. Wegmans was ranked #1 on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Retail list for the 10th consecutive year and was ranked as a top workplace by Great Place To Work® and Fortune.

From supporting hometown initiatives and feeding local families to fostering an inclusive workplace and advancing zero waste efforts, Wegmans continued to make a difference in 2025.

PORTERVILLE, CA - Nothing signals springtime like berries and stonefruit. The popularity of these categories demands care, a quality on which Homegrown Organic Farms can deliver. Recently adding blueberries to its Regenerative Organic Certified® programs, the company continues to expand its portfolio, which already includes a well-established ROC® stonefruit program. I turned to Stephen Paul, Deciduous Category Director, to learn more.

“Our Regenerative Organic Certified programs go beyond traditional organic standards by focusing on soil health, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem resilience. They also include rigorous requirements around social responsibility, creating a more holistic approach to farming,” Stephen explained to me. “For retailers and consumers, this means fruit that not only delivers on quality but is also grown with a deeper commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible practices, which is becoming an increasingly important point of differentiation at retail.”

The company heads into the sixth season of offering a full Regenerative Organic Certified stonefruit program, which includes apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and pluots.

“This program represents 20 family farmers, many of whom have spent generations farming with a deep commitment to caring for both the land and their people. That sense of passion and purpose is evident in their approach, with certifications like ROC helping to validate and recognize those long-standing practices,” Stephen added.

Across both categories, growers within the Homegrown Organic Farms network maintain the third-party certifications that reflect their commitment to responsible farming practices, including Equitable Food Initiative, Bee Better Certified®, and Regenerative Organic Certified. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the company’s GROWN By Series, which spotlights the farmers who implement these programs.

“The GROWN By Series brings our growers’ stories to life, helping create a meaningful connection between the people behind the fruit and the consumer. By highlighting the individuals and practices behind our products, we build trust and transparency that resonates at retail while also providing an opportunity to educate shoppers on how their food is grown,” Stephen said. “This storytelling and educational approach supports stronger engagement both digitally and in-store, giving shoppers a clearer understanding of the value behind the product and ultimately helping drive interest and sales at the shelf.”

Stephen noted that every season, the company’s berry and stonefruit programs increase in volume.

“We are still early in the blueberry season, but we are seeing smooth regional transitions that support consistent availability and strong quality,” she said. “For stonefruit, a stretch of warm spring days has naturally accelerated the season, putting us about 10 days ahead of last year. We are focused on proactive farming practices to deliver optimal size, color, and sugar levels during peak promotions. Overall, quality is looking strong and is expected to meet or exceed last year’s crop.”

AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop for spring and summer programs, so stay tuned!