WISCONSIN, US - Tom Wild of Wild Seed Farms Inc., Antigo, Wisconsin, and Gary and Lynda Bula, owners of Gary Bula Farms Inc., Oxford, were inducted into the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Hall of Fame at the industry’s Annual Awards Banquet held February 4, 2026, in Stevens Point.

The WPVGA Hall of Fame honors lifetime achievement in the development of the state’s potato industry. It is the intention of the WPVGA to continue to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the potato industry in Wisconsin by making annual Hall of Fame inductions.

Tom Wild has been working on his family’s potato farm since graduating from Antigo High School in 1968. Tom’s father, Leonard, founded Wild Seed Farms in partnership with his father-in-law, Lukas Sikora, in 1948. At that time, the farm raised cows, chickens, pigs and about 20 acres of potatoes on Antigo’s north side.

The farm has expanded in acreage and technology over the years, with Leonard’s children becoming involved in the potato operation. His son, Robert, has been with the farm since 1982, and Leonard’s oldest son, Tom, and his wife, Caroline, took the helm of Wild Seed Farms in 1995. In 2012, Tom and Caroline’s oldest son, Dan, and his wife, Connie, became the fourth generation to own and live on the farm. Today, the farm raises 500 acres of certified Frito-Lay and Atlantic seed potatoes along with oats and clover.

Inspired by leaders in the industry who could see that higher production and declining potato consumption needed to be addressed, Tom got involved on committees and boards established to help keep potato production a viable profession. He believed communication and cooperation between growers within local and state organizations and then on a national level would be the most efficient way to accomplish these goals.

Tom served on the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association, for which he was chairman of the Seed Promotion Committee. He also served on the WPVGA Inspection Committee. He was elected to the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board in 1992 and has served on it ever since, including 11 years as president. He served on the WPVGA Promotions Committee for many years and continues to serve on the WPVGA Research Committee. He was honored with the WPVGA Volunteer of the Year Award in 1990.

Nationally, Tom was elected to the U.S. Potato Board (USPB) in 1988 and served two terms through 1994. He was on the USPB Executive Committee for four years and served as USPB chairman in 1992. Tom had a special interest in promoting seed potatoes internationally and served on the USPB’s Export Committee and Seed Task Force.

Tom says in the recent release, “I want to thank all my growers and customers for allowing me to work with them over the years. After my wife, Caroline, and family, the next most important thing in my life is the opportunity to be involved in farming.”

Gary and Lynda Bula of Gary Bula Farms, in Oxford, have been growing potatoes for a half-century. Today, they raise 4,500 acres of potatoes, sweet corn, green beans, peas, alfalfa, soybeans, and field corn. The vegetables they grow for canning companies, along with silage corn, grain crops and alfalfa, are part of their crop rotation plan. They also grow 2,500 acres of potatoes, corn, soybeans, milo and sunflowers on their farm in Benton, Missouri. In 1989, Gary and Lynda established the Benton potato farm in southeast Missouri, and later grew potatoes in Dixon, Illinois, for McCain Foods.

Staying diversified is part of their success, saying they see a necessity in diversifying the crops they grow while reducing their impact on the environment. In Wisconsin, they grow approximately 850 acres of potatoes, with about half being used for frozen products, a quarter for chips, and a quarter as table stock and for the restaurant market.

Gary grew up in Antigo and is a third-generation potato grower. Lynda also grew up in Antigo and says the sandy soil in Adams County, in addition to irrigation from the underground aquifer, makes for good potato growing. Gary and Lynda are community minded and have worked well together for more than 50 years.

In 1992, Lynda became the first woman to serve on the WPVGA Board of Directors, serving a total of 12 years. She served on the Government Affairs Committee, and as a representative on the Special Work Group on Producer Security. Gary continues to serve on the WPVGA Chip, SpudPro, and Research committees.

As long-time sponsors and volunteers, Lynda and Gary devote several weeks during the summer organizing and promoting Grand Marsh’s annual Corn ’N Tater Festival. They have been active Adams County Farm Bureau members for decades, with Lynda having served on the Adams County Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee. She also served on the American Farm Bureau Fruit, Vegetable and Nuts Committee, on the Adams County Women’s Committee, and as a volunteer for Ag in the Classroom. Gary served as president of the Adams County Farm Bureau.

Gary says, “We want to provide our children and grandchildren with the opportunity to care for our farms the way we have, and to have the tools and resources to make better choices. That requires working with growers, researchers and partners, and using new technologies and practices to grow food better and safer with a smaller footprint.”

Congratulations to Tom Wild, and Gary and Lynda Bula on their inductions into the WPVGA Hall of Fame! The recognition and honors are well deserved!

CHICAGO, IL - There is a precious gem in fresh produce in the Windy City, one that caught the eye of produce veteran and champion Shawn Peery as he continues to share the complexity and creativity of produce merchandising.

Sharing a visit at the Albertsons’ Jewel-Osco division with Scott Bennett, Produce Sales and Merchandising Manager, toward the end of 2025, the Albertsons National Vice President of Produce gave his experience inside store 3491.

“Look how clean the shelves are, you can have a salad right off of them,” Shawn observes, zooming in on a shelf where the shine clearly comes through the camera.

Picking up leafy greens and showing off the in-house cleaning and culling, as well as juices and snacking sets that cater to today’s shoppers, it is a perfect demonstration of the attention to detail that has made Jewel-Osco a fresh destination in the crowded Chicago market.

As Shawn gave shout-outs to the hands that organize each set and prepare fresh produce to be showcased in front of shoppers, it reminded me how one of the first to tell me about produce merchandising as an artform was, in fact, Scott Bennett.

Standing in a Chicago-based store, he shared at the time how he used to love scattering lemons across more than one area to spread the yellow and change up the color contrasts. “The art of produce,” Scott would say.

I can imagine he and Shawn, as well as Operations Specialist Mike and Produce Manager Marcin, who were also walking the floor, appreciating the visual story told by the displays in 3491’s fresh department.

“Crescent merchandising, waterfalls, color breaks, surrounded by produce department here Jewel-Osco-style!” Shawn says appreciatively in a follow-up video of the store, calling out to tomatoes, bananas, nut bars, fruits, tropicals, and melon displays as he shows off the variety and quality that make the banner such a produce stalwart.

Suddenly, I feel the need to peruse and appreciate a few more stores and the art form found in the fresh department.

ANAHEIM, CA - Shoppers are going coo-coo for coconuts. Fresh coconuts are growing four times faster than the entire tropical fruit category, with coconuts up over 17% in volume while the tropical category is up 5%. Despite the industry-wide focus on mango growth within the tropical category, coconuts are now outpacing mango volume growth year-over-year.

Coconuts are at the intersection of tropical growth and functional foods; two winning trends that have consumers spending more dollars. Coconuts provide consumers with hydration, healthy fats like medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) in addition to versatility. They provide retailers with performance growth across the board. The coconut category is ready to be prioritized, but the rising demand isn’t always apparent on shelves.

Coconuts remain undervalued despite retail performance. They are inconsistently merchandised, and education is lacking. Many varieties are available, all with different use cases and benefits. Suppliers who provide segmentation support to retailers will be the point of access for consumers who want more coconuts.

This category is misunderstood, and that’s why suppliers like Frieda’s have worked hard to turn this quiet commodity into a hot category.

According to the recent release, Frieda’s is the #1 brand of coconut in the U.S., with all of their coconut SKUs outperforming their competitors.

Frieda’s is the primary growth driver, showing 74%-unit growth year over year as the largest coconut brand in the U.S. They are delivering higher productivity at retail, increasing velocity over 30 percent, year over year.

What does this mean?

Frieda’s branded coconuts don’t need extensive merchandising support or ad promotions to drive sales. Their easy-to-recognize branding already cuts through the sensory clamor of a busy produce section, creating less thinking and more purchasing.

Frieda’s line of coconuts brings clarity to consumers based on their needs, and their amazing flavor transports them to a tropical destination:

• Alohas™ Ready-to-Break Coconuts are pre-scored brown coconuts with delicious meat, perfect for eating.
• Tikis® Drinking Coconuts are traditional young coconuts. Open to drink the water and scoop out the jelly-like flesh. The coconut itself makes a perfect serving vessel.
• Hulas™ Ready-to-Drink Coconuts are young coconuts with a popular easy-open mechanism for consumers who want the freshest coconut water on the go.
• Sillies™ Pop-top Party Coconuts are young drinking coconuts sold as a two-count party pack, designed for sharing fresh coconut water at celebrations, get-togethers, and group occasions.

Frieda’s makes coconuts easier to understand, easier to shop for and more likely to convert curious customers.

Make It Grow.

Frieda’s makes coconuts easier to understand, easier to shop for, and more likely to convert curious customers. For retailers looking to capitalize on this next phase of growth, contact Frieda’s to strengthen your coconut program and better serve your business and consumers.

^{Source: Circana, Total U.S. multi-outlet (MULO), latest 52 weeks ending Jan. 25, 2026}

IMMOKALEE, FL - Ark Foods, a modern-day farming company, highlights its Taco Truck Chopped Salad Kit as an example of the company’s approach to modern salad development: bold flavor, disciplined sourcing, playful branding, and thoughtful execution across the supply chain.

Since its launch, the Taco Truck Chopped Salad Kit has become one of Ark Foods’ fastest-adopted salad kits, demonstrating strong early velocity and repeat purchase within its first year on shelf. The SKU has resonated particularly with younger, flavor-forward shoppers while continuing to perform well with core natural-channel consumers. From a distribution standpoint, the product was developed with scale and shelf performance in mind, allowing Ark Foods to support strong early adoption across retail partners.

“At Ark Foods, our work is guided by a flavor-driven mindset: crafting a new generation of salad kits rooted in simple, clean ingredients, thoughtful combinations and inspiration from emerging, global flavor trends,” said Noah Robbins, Founder and CEO of Ark Foods, in the recent release.

Inspired by the nostalgic flavors of street food, the Taco Truck Salad translates familiar taco-inspired elements into an everyday, accessible, and high-quality format. Crunchy vegetables are paired with shredded cheese, chipotle dressing, and corn chips to deliver a craveable, veggie-forward salad that prioritizes flavor and texture without compromising ingredient standards.

“In a category as established as salad kits, progress doesn’t come from adding more options; it comes from giving shoppers clearer reasons to choose,” said Eduardo Mestre, Chief Operating Officer at Ark Foods. “The Taco Truck Chopped Salad Kit is a reflection of how we think about product development across our lineup and our commitment to sourcing integrity: familiar flavors people already love, brought to life through engaging branding and operational rigor.”

Branding has played a central role in the Taco Truck Salad Kit’s success. While a “Taco Truck” flavor is not a traditional salad option, Ark Foods intentionally created and named this concept that feels playful and intuitive, allowing shoppers to quickly understand the flavor profile while standing out on the shelf. The name signals familiarity without being prescriptive, tapping into recognizable comfort-food cues while still leaving room for discovery, an approach the Ark Foods team designed to invite trial and make the product feel approachable rather than niche.

The Taco Truck Chopped Salad Kit exemplifies Ark Foods’ broader value-added innovation strategy, combining bold flavor inspiration, produce-first thinking, and operational discipline to help retailers refresh the salad wall with differentiated offerings that still align with natural and specialty retail expectations. As consumer preferences continue to shift toward foods that feel comforting, craveable, and engaging, Ark Foods remains focused on reshaping what everyday salads can be, framing them less as an obligation and more as a want.

Ark Foods will exhibit at the upcoming SEPC Southern Innovations in February at Booth #600 and looks forward to connecting with retail and industry partners to discuss opportunities and innovation across the fresh and value-added produce space.

To learn more about Ark Foods’ salad kits and other offerings, visit www.arkfoods.com.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - As a kickoff to National Cherry Month, the U.S. tart cherry industry is launching a bold new effort to capitalize on the growing demand for U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries.

Over the past year, the tart cherry industry has accelerated efforts to modernize how U.S.-grown tart cherries show up in the marketplace — from how it communicates value to how it protects identity and return on promotion. That forward motion is now translating into a series of new initiatives designed to increase consumer awareness, strengthen grower returns, and sharpen how U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries are represented in the marketplace.

From Strategy to Action

One of the most visible initiatives underway is the development of True Tart, a new industry-owned certification mark planned for availability this summer. Announced now as part of a broader momentum story, the program reflects how the industry is translating strategy into action.

“Our industry is moving with intention,” said Amy Cohn, president, U.S. Tart Cherry Industry, in the recent release. “When buyers and consumers see the True Tart mark on packaging, they’ll know the product contains authentic U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries. It makes authenticity unmistakable in the marketplace.”

The True Tart certification mark will appear directly on product packaging, giving buyers and consumers a clear signal that the product contains authentic U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries. Products with True Tart on the label will help consumers, buyers, registered dietitians, etc., differentiate U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries products from imports and non-Montmorency cherry products.

A Specialty Crop Building for the Future

While True Tart will be available for use later this summer, its announcement signals something larger: an industry investing in coordinated tools, fresh thinking and long-term value creation. The certification program represents one tactic within a broader strategy focused on strengthening grower returns and sharpening how this specialty crop shows up in the marketplace.

“We believe programs like this can become meaningful drivers of growth and profitability,” said Cohn. “More importantly, they reflect an industry that is aligned, proactive and committed to shaping its future.”

The U.S. tart cherry industry has long invested in building demand. Today, the industry is reaffirming that commitment with greater focus and sharper tools — pairing demand generation with initiatives designed to reinforce cultural relevance and credibility. Through consumer education, partnerships with dietitians, sustained earned media and national marketing campaigns, the industry will lean into tart cherries’ bold flavor and reinforce the growing body of research supporting U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries.

The industry knows that investing in demand works. A third-party economic review commissioned by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB) evaluated domestic marketing and promotion efforts from 2020 to 2024 and found that every $1 invested in promotion returned approximately $3 in net grower revenue, delivering a measurable benefit-cost ratio of 2.98. In a marketplace shaped by rising costs, supply shifts, and continued import pressure, those results underscore the role of promotion as a strategic tool that delivers tangible value.

Building on that proven foundation, initiatives like True Tart represent the next step — ensuring that as demand continues to grow, the value created remains clearly connected to authentic U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherries. As planning continues, CIAB will share additional details about True Tart and other initiatives as they roll out in the months ahead.

WENATCHEE, WA - CMI Orchards continues to lead the pear category with a disciplined, grower-first approach that delivers seamless seasonal transitions, consistent eating quality, and year-round confidence for retail partners. Central to that strategy is a carefully managed import program that extends the Bartlett (William) pear season beyond the domestic window while keeping domestic growers and long-term category health at the forefront.

As the U.S. Bartlett season comes to a close in early spring, CMI will transition to imports to maintain shelf presence and consumer engagement. This continuity allows retailers to avoid gaps, protect shelf space, and deliver a consistent pear experience to shoppers.
 

“A well-timed import program is essential to maintaining momentum in the pear category,” said William Gant, Pear Manager at CMI Orchards, in the recent release. “Without it, retailers risk losing visibility and consumer confidence. Our goal is to ensure a smooth handoff that keeps pears front and center while protecting the value of domestic production.”

CMI works closely with the Kleppe Family from the Southern Hemisphere to bring Gaucho pears to the U.S. Market. The Kleppe Family shares CMI’s commitment to precision growing, disciplined harvest practices, and exceptional quality standards. This relationship ensures that imported Bartlett pears deliver the same flavor, texture, and eating experience consumers expect—without compromise.
 

“Our Southern Hemisphere partners grow pears with an incredible level of care and expertise,” Gant said. “Consumers are not trading down on flavor or quality when they purchase imported Bartletts. The eating experience remains consistent, which is critical to keeping shoppers engaged and loyal to the category.”

Imports are positioned as a complement—not a replacement—to domestic programs. This balanced approach allows CMI to support retailers year-round while maintaining a strong focus on domestic pear production, particularly Anjou and Bosc varieties. This season’s domestic Anjou and Bosc crop is significant, supported by strong yields and favorable sizing, and CMI remains committed to promoting these varieties throughout the year.

“Our domestic growers are the foundation of our pear business,” Gant added. “With Anjou and Bosc, we’re focused on year-round promotion and consistency, making sure our growers are prioritized and our retail partners have dependable programs they can build around.”

Across all pear programs, domestic and imported alike, CMI applies the same rigorous standards for quality, conditioning, and program discipline. This consistency enables retailers to plan confidently through seasonal transitions and reinforces trust in pears as a reliable, high-performing category.

“Strategic imports allow us to stabilize the category, not just fill a short-term gap,” said Gant. “By taking a long-term view and aligning closely with our growers and retail partners, we’re helping ensure pears remain relevant, exciting, and dependable for consumers all year long.”

MILLEN, GA - The Southeast Produce Council is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Vorhees Vision Scholarship.

Established in honor of the late Terry L. Vorhees, founder and first Executive Director of SEPC, this scholarship recognizes outstanding young leaders who embody an entrepreneurial spirit while pursuing their educational goals. Terry’s vision helped shape SEPC into one of the most trusted and impactful organizations in the produce industry, and this scholarship continues his legacy by investing in the next generation.

SEPC scholarships are awarded to students who meet the eligibility requirement of having a parent or grandparent who is a corporate member in good standing with SEPC. “Member in good standing” means the company has been on the SEPC membership roster for at least 12 months and has personally attended at least one SEPC event within the past year.

Applicants must be graduating high school seniors or currently enrolled college students (freshman through senior year) and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Selection is based on academic performance, letters of recommendation, leadership and community involvement, standardized test scores, and the strength and originality of the student essay.

SEPC’s Vorhees Vision Scholarship recipients will receive a one-time scholarship to their enrolling college or university.

• 1st place - $10,000
• 2nd place - $1,500
• 3rd place - $1,000

Congratulations to the 2026 Vorhees Vision Scholarship Recipients

• 1st Place - Carter Schwalls, Daughter of Jon Schwalls, Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable
• 2nd Place - Johnathon Rocendo, Son of Mayra Arvizu, Mack Farms
• 3rd Place - Maxwell Masser, Son of David & Jamie Masser, Sterman Masser Inc.

For this year’s scholarship, students explored the future of agriculture and its vital role in feeding families across the nation. Applicants were asked to consider how farmers can continue to nourish communities while navigating modern challenges such as climate change, labor shortages, and market volatility. According to the recent release, essays highlighted the importance of innovation, sustainability, and strong community support systems in ensuring our food supply remains resilient and secure for generations to come.

To learn more about SEPC scholarship programs, upcoming events, and ways to get involved, visit www.seproducecouncil.com.