SPRINGDALE, AR - Harps Food Stores announced it is moving forward with HarvestHold Fresh®, the postharvest solution from Verdant Technologies, following a successful broccoli pilot conducted in collaboration with grower partner Ocean Mist Farms that delivered measurable gains in broccoli quality and retail sell-through across its iceless broccoli supply chain.

"We care deeply about feeding families, not landfills," said Mike Roberts, Vice President of Produce Operations at Harps, in the recent release. "This HarvestHold pilot demonstrates that investing in produce freshness delivers real value for the business. We saw better-looking broccoli and higher sell-through in stores. This is exactly the kind of innovation we look for."

This Harps announcement, alongside recent HarvestHold adoption in foodservice, signals a broader industry shift: To consistently deliver a great customer experience with iceless broccoli, temperature control isn't enough. HarvestHold Fresh helps iceless broccoli stay fresher longer, so quality holds up and shrink goes down.

"Harps continues to set the bar for how retailers can use innovation to improve freshness, reduce food waste, and drive stronger performance in the produce department," said Matthew Aronson, Chief Revenue Officer at Verdant Technologies. "Iceless broccoli itself isn't new, but the tradeoffs in quality have become clearer over time."

Following the success of this broccoli pilot, Harps is exploring additional produce items with HarvestHold where extended freshness could deliver similar benefits. In parallel, Associated Wholesale Grocers (Harps' distribution partner) is working to introduce HarvestHold across its retail network.

The announcement comes ahead of the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure trade show, where retailers, growers, and solution providers will gather to explore how innovation across the supply chain – from fields to families – can help expand access to fresher produce.

MONTEREY, CA - Organic Produce Summit returns to the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California July 14-16 for its 10^th anniversary year! Now boasting a 3^rd day of organic excellence!

For 10 years, visionaries and forward-thinkers have gathered in Monterey, California to nurture not just crops, but to cultivate relationships within the organic produce industry.

This isn't just an event—it's a movement where seeds of innovation blossom into industry transformation, handshake agreements grow into life-changing partnerships, and the future of fresh, organic abundance takes root.

As we celebrate this remarkable 10^th anniversary milestone, join a community united by the belief that fresh, organic produce can heal our planet and nourish our souls. Experience enhanced education that ignites inspiration, an expanded trade show floor dedicated to the best of the entire organic produce industry, and connections that will flourish long after the event ends.

Retailer and General Attendee Registration is Open! Register to attend here.

NEW opportunity to exhibit at OPS 2026:

For the first time ever, we will also have a dedicated zone for allied service providers, supply chain partners, and commodity boards/associations of the organic produce industry to exhibit at OPS, upstairs in our Steinbeck ballroom. Exhibitor registration is open! To register or for more information, please reach out to Keigan Roos [email protected].

New and Returning Favorites! What can attendees expect at OPS 2026:

• Third day devoted to networking!
  • Includes: Golf tournament, Women’s Event, and partner event with CCOF.
• OPS Event App for seamless pre-show planning, wayfinding on site, making connections with other attendees, and on-demand content.

Information Classification: General

• Expanded Trade Show Floor showcasing the best in organic produce, and for the first time ever inclusion of the entire organic produce industry from growers, to allied service providers and supply chain partners.
• Special Events like Yoga on the Beach, Seed to Service volunteer program, Welcome Reception and Organic Roots Pre-Reception for buyers and those new to OPS or the industry, Keynotes and educational sessions, and Retailer and Buyer Field Tours.

This milestone event is your opportunity to connect with the organic community, discover innovative solutions, and grow your business.

MEDFORD, NJ - Jay Schneider has come full circle. He tells me this as he and I discuss his return to Albertsons over an early morning phone call in February. What a beautiful journey to understand the business holistically. So much has changed for him, and his breadth and depth of knowledge and wisdom sit like a warm blanket around our conversation. Rejoining Albertsons as Produce Sales Manager, Acme/Safeway Mid-Atlantic Region, Jay has seen much of the landscape change, but one thing remains the same.

"Our industry was built on handshakes, personal conversations, and close interactions. They became the glue that held us together in the tough times and what we celebrated in the wins,” Jay tells me. “I am so excited to be back at Albertsons Companies. While I will be back in a similar role I held when I was last with the company, so much has changed, from the growth of the business to the new faces who are helping to change the way we manage produce.”

Jay’s produce journey began on the night crew at ACME Markets in the mid-1980s, where a part-time job quickly became a lifelong calling. He rose through roles including Produce Manager, Field Buying Inspector, Produce and Floral Operations Specialist, and Assistant Sales Director before serving as Produce Director and later Director of Merchandising for Albertsons. 

Jay took a new path in 2021, expanding his leadership across the industry, heading buying at Gorillas, leading East Coast sales at Pacific Trellis Fruit, and serving in executive sales roles at F&S Fresh Foods and Consalo Family Farms, before returning to Albertsons in December 2025, bringing four decades of fresh perspective full circle.

Jay, we are so excited to welcome you back to your role, and we look forward to all the wisdom you will continue to impart!

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Fresh produce industry members are preparing to make their way to Orlando, Florida, for the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Exposure 2026, taking place February 26 to March 1. I had the chance to connect with Drew Callaghan, Senior Vice President, National and Regional Retail Sales for Grimmway Produce Group (GPG), to hear what the company has in store.

“The team at Grimmway Produce Group is excited for the first major show of the year! SEPC brings in customers and vendors from all over the country, and to be in sunny Florida in February is exactly what is needed and where we all want to be,” Drew began telling me. “GPG is thrilled to be at this event as long-time sponsors under a new combined organization. Our business entities, RPE and Grimmway Farms, will proudly display our portfolio of carrot, organic vegetable, and potato products. We are especially excited to be featuring our new lineup of organic bite-sized potatoes from our Cal-Organic Farms label.”

Under the newly combined organization, Grimmway Produce Group has continued to garner industry expertise that will allow the company to compete in an increasingly crowded market.

“As a combined organization, GPG will be able to demonstrate a very distinct value proposition to our retail partners. We are now able to centralize shipping opportunities out of California and have a diversity of supply unlike any in the industry,” Drew stated. “With a scale of 100K+ acres, 55K of which are organic, we will be able to provide an unparalleled partnership opportunity for retailers looking to drive growth in their produce categories.”

The Grimmway Produce Group team is excited to get to Florida in a few weeks to see everyone and kick off 2026 the right way. We hope to see you all at the show!

REEDLEY, CA - Family Tree Farms is proud to announce the promotion of Doug LaCroix to Vice President of Sales & Marketing, effective January 1, 2026.

LaCroix has been a foundational member of the Family Tree Farms leadership team for more than 20 years, guiding sales and marketing strategy that has supported the company’s growth across domestic and international markets. In his expanded role, LaCroix will continue to lead sales strategy and help shape the company’s brand direction as Family Tree Farms builds on its reputation for quality and innovation.

“After more than two decades with Family Tree Farms, I remain deeply committed to the people and the vision behind this business,” said LaCroix in the recent release. “I’m excited to continue leading our teams, strengthening customer relationships, and building on the foundation that has made this company successful.”

David Jackson, Owner of Family Tree Farms, shared: “Doug has been a trusted leader for many years. His ability to understand our customers, execute strategic plans, and inspire his team sets him apart. We’re confident his leadership as VP Sales and Marketing will continue to elevate Family Tree Farms in the global marketplace.”

Daniel Jackson concluded: “Doug’s long-standing commitment, leadership, and strategic insight have been instrumental to our success. His balanced approach to sales and marketing uniquely equips him to guide our teams and support future growth across all channels.”

SANTA MONICA, CA - Targeted growth within the export channel is a key pillar of Gem-Pack Berries’ long-term sales and growth strategy. Thomas Smith, Vice President of Sales, Foodservice and Export, and Chaz Yamamoto, Director of Export Sales, shared an update on Gem-Pack’s expanding export program.

While Gem-Pack has maintained a strong presence as a berry exporter for many years, the company is now accelerating its investment in this channel by expanding both its export grade product assortment and its reach across international markets.

Gem-Pack is broadening its line of export-quality berries to include strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries, each carefully selected and packed to meet the high standards of global customers. This expanded assortment allows Gem-Pack to serve a wider range of international partners while reinforcing its position as a trusted, full-line supplier.

One of Gem-Pack’s greatest strengths in the export space is its reputation as a preferred year round supplier. Consistency of supply is critical for international customers, and Gem-Pack’s integrated growing, packing, and logistics capabilities enable reliable delivery across multiple seasons and origins.

We maintain crop redundancy by growing in multiple regions across the United States and Mexico, allowing overlapping harvests and the flexibility to shift operations between regions. This strategy minimizes the impact of adverse weather conditions and ensures a continuous, high quality supply for our customers.

This reliability has been built over years of experience serving export markets and continues to differentiate Gem-Pack from many domestic-focused shippers. Export packing presents a unique set of challenges that not every grower or shipper is equipped or willing to take on. Export fruit is not simply an extension of the domestic program; it is a completely separate harvested item. Often, dedicated fields, specialized harvest crews, and export-focused facilities are required to ensure fruit meets the demands of extended transit times and international quality expectations. Gem-Pack’s long-standing expertise in this area allows the company to consistently execute at a high level.

Adding to the complexity, each international market and often each customer maintains its own specifications for color, sizing, ripeness, labeling, and packaging. Successfully navigating these nuances requires coordination and expertise across every level of the organization, from field management and quality assurance to packing, sales, and logistics.

Gem-Pack’s experienced teams understand these requirements and are adept at delivering customized solutions that meet diverse global standards.

“A lot of teamwork and communication goes into getting our product exported, from the growers and food safety to cooler employees, receiving and shipping, and our freight forwarders. Every step involves a high level of detail and precision to ensure successful delivery,” shared Yamamoto in a press release.

One of Gem-Pack’s biggest export markets is Japan, which has been our longest standing partnership with exports. This partnership began with Tim Miyasaka and Well-Pict, as he led the Japan Export Program. Today, the company continues to honor his legacy and is working to expand the export program.

Gem-Pack’s biggest growth opportunities include Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Because of the added labor, infrastructure, and expertise required, export berries are a premium offering and must command a premium price to execute properly. Gem-Pack views this not as a barrier, but as a reflection of the value delivered to customers of exceptional quality, consistency, and reliability in some of the world’s most demanding markets.

As Gem-Pack Berries continues to expand its export program, the company remains focused on strategic, sustainable growth partnering with customers around the world who value quality, expertise, and a supplier built for the long haul.