LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA - Nature Fresh Farms’ beloved Hiiros Tomatoes continue to receive a well-deserved spotlight. The popular tomato variety recently ranked among the top snacks in the 2024 Good Housekeeping Best Snack Awards.

“We’re thrilled to be honored with this recognition by one of the most prestigious consumer snack awards in the U.S.,” added Krysta Markham, Communications and Content Manager for Nature Fresh Farms. “Hiiros truly have a depth of flavor unlike any other snacking tomato, and we’re glad to see that top taste testers agree.”

Nature Fresh Farms’ popular Hiiros tomatoes were named a winner under the “Powerhouse Produce” category. According to a press release, the Good Housekeeping Nutrition Lab taste testers shared that “most tomatoes now really lack flavor, especially in the winter months, but these were delicious.” The lab added that Hiiros were “as poppable as grapes.”

To determine the winners of Good Housekeeping’s Best Snack Awards, Good Housekeeping’s in-house Registered Dietitian and team of food and nutrition experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Nutrition Lab rigorously analyzed ingredient lists, nutrition fact labels, packaging claims, and flavor profiles of hundreds of snacks to find the best of the best.

Consumer testers weighed in on taste and provided additional real-life analysis, a press release explained, with the choices focusing on innovative snacks in the food space that meet its rigorous nutritional criteria (including caps on per-serving calories, sugar, and sodium).

“We were blown away by the rich and bold umami flavor on Hiiros tomatoes during our evaluation,” said Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CDN, Nutrition Director for the Good Housekeeping Institute. “Not only did the superior flavor and juicy texture stand out to our judges, but we appreciated that the snack is grown in optimal conditions year-round, giving shoppers access to fresh and flavorful produce at any time of the year.”

To take advantage of the growing notoriety surrounding Hiiros Tomatoes, the brand recommends that retailers utilize Nature Fresh Farms display bins, highlighting the characteristics that won Hiiros this distinguished award.

Congratulations to Nature Fresh on this exciting win!

COLOMBIA - Remaining dedicated to sustainability has earned the Corporation of Hass Avocado Producers and Exporters of Colombia (Corpohass) recognition, as the organization has been welcomed as an ally of CECODES.

"Being part of CECODES reaffirms our sector’s commitment to sustainability from a holistic approach across its three dimensions: social, economic, and environmental,” said Katheryn Mejia Vergel, Executive Director of Corpohass. “This alliance provides great support for positioning Colombian Hass Avocados as a beacon of quality and sustainability in more than 30 markets."

CECODES is recognized as the regional center of the Global Network of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a release explained. This integration into the network of sustainability leaders with a business focus represents recognition and support for the Colombian Hass Avocado agroindustry.

Joining the CECODES network will enable Corpohass to learn and engage with the foremost organizations in Colombia dedicated to sustainability. Through this collaboration, the sector can implement this knowledge into tangible actions, driving economic growth, environmental conservation, and social progress within the country.

"We recognize the leadership of Corpohass as an organization that unites the producers and exporters of Hass Avocado,” commented Sergio Rengifo Caicedo, Executive Director of CECODES. “We want to guide them with international business tools adapted to the local context in our Vision 2050 roadmap of Colombia."

Avocados play an important role in the Colombian economy. They are the third-most exported fruit by the country, generate the second-highest income, and hold the fourth position in Colombian agricultural trade with other markets.

Corpohass projects a 15 percent increase in Hass avocado exports this year, amounting to approximately 147,244 metric tons. After the conclusion of the Main Harvest season in February, the sector is now gearing up for the “La Traviesa” season, which is projected to yield high volumes and great quality with increasing shipments to United States markets.

To see how this alliance benefits Corpohass, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.

WASHINGTON, DC - After satisfying a $31,200 reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), the United States Department of Agriculture announced that it has lifted reparation sanctions for California-based Parimar, doing business as D. DeFranco & Sons.

Direct From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

The Los Angeles, California, company has met its obligations and is now free to operate in the produce industry. Gerald S. DeFranco, Paul F. DeFranco, and Richard J. DeFranco were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions. This may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals.

For contact information and to read the release in its entirety, click here.

NEW YORK - As Amazon gets its footing in the grocery space, it has trialed several different technologies and concepts. Now, the retail behemoth will be cutting its Just Walk Out technology from its Amazon Fresh stores as it looks to revamp the chain.

The innovative technology enables shoppers to pay for their products without standing in line and send a receipt afterward. According to ABC News, Amazon will replace Just Walk Out with smart carts that allow consumers to skip checkout and see their spending in real-time.

This change was inspired by consumer feedback, which indicated that shoppers enjoyed skipping the line, but also wanted to see their receipts and savings as they added to their baskets.

Currently, Amazon operates dozens of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores throughout the United States, the majority of which are located in California, Illinois, Virginia, and its home state of Washington. The company also operates cashier-free convenience stores under the Amazon Go brand.

Just Walk Out technology will continue to be offered in Amazon Go stores and some smaller Amazon Fresh stores in the United Kingdom. It will also continue to be offered to third-party retailers.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow to learn how Amazon will further revamp its grocery footprint.