OXNARD, CA - Westfalia Fruit, a global leader in the avocado industry, will present its GEM® Gourmet Avocado at Fruit Logistica 2026, reinforcing its continued focus on premium quality, innovation, and category growth in the global avocado market.

At the Westfalia Fruit stand in Hall 5.2, Stand D-21, visitors will be invited to discover the GEM experience through live tastings and dedicated displays that highlight the variety’s superior taste, texture and eating quality. Retailers interested in experiencing GEM and exploring ranging opportunities are encouraged to meet with the Westfalia Fruit team during the show.

As avocado consumption continues to grow, shoppers are placing increasing importance on eating quality and reliability. More than 80 percent of consumers actively seek consistent quality, while over 60 percent indicate a willingness to pay more for better taste. This creates strong conditions for premium varieties such as GEM to develop within retail assortments.

GEM is Westfalia Fruit’s proprietary gourmet avocado, developed to deliver a richer and creamier eating experience. Compared with standard Hass-type avocados, GEM offers a naturally smoother texture, fuller flavour and more consistent performance, positioning it as a premium choice for consumers seeking higher-quality fruit and special occasion products.

Retail performance data confirms GEM’s ability to drive incremental value within the avocado category. 40 percent of GEM shoppers are new to the category, while approximately 80 percent of sales are incremental rather than substitutive. In addition, 30 percent of existing shoppers trade up to premium, with GEM supporting a price premium of 50 to 60 percent.

Over the coming seasons, Westfalia Fruit plans to expand GEM into additional markets by introducing the variety to new customers, harmonizing branded packaging and aligning specifications across origins and regions to further strengthen consistency and eating quality.

“GEM is more than an avocado, it is a premium experience that elevates the category,” said Wim Destoop, Global Chief Customer Officer at Westfalia Fruit, in the recent release. “By combining superior eating quality with harmonized packaging and a clear visual identity, we are helping retailers unlock growth and offer shoppers something genuinely distinctive.”

UNITED STATES - The power of an impressive produce display is absolutely unmatched. Serving as the primary opportunity to draw shoppers into a category with sensory cues, fresh displays allow retailers to flex their creativity while creating a sales-driving disruption in the produce department. Stemilt and Four Seasons Produce recently teamed up to host a retail display contest for Stemilt’s World Famous Fruit, resulting in an abundance of eye-catching strategies for showcasing apples and pears.

The grand prize was presented to Henning’s Supermarket in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, for its large, colorful display of Lil Snappers® apples and pears.

“There is nothing more exciting as a produce supplier than to see large, eye-catching displays of your branded products at the place where shoppers will get to purchase them,” shared Brianna Shales, Stemilt’s Marketing Director. “We are always humbled by the creativity and design during display contests with Four Seasons and the great stores they serve. It's our job to help our customers sell more fruit, and bringing theater like this to the produce department certainly did just that for Lil Snappers, SweeTango Apples, organics, and more. Congrats to Hennings Supermarket on their grand prize win, and each store that participated with such passion for making produce sales fun.”

Other retailers who stood out in the contest include:

Largest Display

• First Place: Common Market 7th St - Frederick, MD
• Second Place: Kimberton Whole Foods - Collegeville, PA
• Third Place: Kimberton Whole Foods - Douglasville, PA

Most Creative Display

• First Place: Soulberry Natural Market - New Hope, PA
• Second Place: Common Market Route 85 - Frederick, MD
• Third Place: Miller’s Food Market - Manchester, MD

Best Pear Display

• First Place: Weavers Way Co-Op Germantown - Philadelphia, PA
• Second Place: Kimberton Whole Foods - Wyomissing, PA
• Third Place: Weavers Way Co-Op - Ambler, PA

Best Lil Snappers Display

• First Place: Mother Earth Storehouse - Kingston, NY
• Second Place: Weavers Market - Adamstown, PA
• Third Place: Roots Market - Clarksville, MD

“These display contests are designed to help create a shopping experience for the customer as well as boost category sales for the stores, and this one did not disappoint,” said Brian Dey, Retail and Merchandising Innovation Manager, Four Seasons. “We saw SO many super creative displays that added an atmosphere of fun selling, driving sales and tonnage, and having some fun competing against each other to win some cool prizes. The real prize, however, is the sales, profits, and growth generated by these contest events. Creative displays set the tone for the shopping experience and entice customers to buy, and there is no better place in the world to be creative than the produce department. They also offer the opportunity to try new varieties or SKUs that can be introduced to customers for exposure. Although we did see some pretty large displays coming out of stores, a display does not have to be large to be successful. All it needs to do is create impact and leave an impression on the customer. Impressions lead to loyalty, and loyalty leads to long-term sales. A huge shout-out to our friends and partners at Stemilt for the opportunity to showcase their amazing fruit!”

Congratulations to all of the winners of this fun contest! For more updates directly from the fresh produce department, leave a tab open to AndNowUKnow.

WATSONVILLE, CA - Following the momentum of its successful debut at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim last fall, California Giant Berry Farms is proud to announce its lineup for the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Exposure event in Orlando this month. The showcase will feature Belli Berries™ alongside the premium GIANT ™ jumbo blueberry label, and the brand’s full line of conventional and organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Belli Berries are the same fresh blueberries consumers know and love from California Giant—now boosted with live probiotic cultures. This innovative new fresh berry product gives shoppers even more reasons to love blueberries. With Belli Berries, you get the same blueberry goodness, now with probiotics.

Quick Facts about Belli Berries:

• Fresh Blueberries, Boosted with Probiotics: A simple way to add functional benefits to your daily diet.
• Dairy-Free: Plant-based and vegan-friendly.
• Nothing Artificial: Non-GMO and free of artificial flavors.
• Rinse & Enjoy: Snack, bake, freeze—probiotics stay inside.

Complementing the wellness-focused Belli Berries is the GIANT label. These jumbo blueberries, characterized by an impressive size of 20mm or larger, are a result of California Giant’s investment in its state-of-the-art blueberry pack house in Santa Maria.

“We are more than just a supplier; we are a strategic partner invested in our customers' success,” says Tim Youmans, Vice President of Sales at California Giant Berry Farms, in the recent release. “Whether it’s the scale and crunch of our GIANT label or the functional innovation of Belli Berries, our goal is to provide retailers with products that drive category growth and meet the evolving needs of the modern shopper.”

The California Giant team invites attendees to visit Booth #728 at SEPC Southern Exposure to discuss customized programs, sustainable farming practices, and the upcoming spring availability of their full berry line.

“SEPC offers a concentrated and productive environment to network with key players,” added Youmans. “We look forward to demonstrating how our commitment to innovation—first sparked in Anaheim—is now ready to hit retail shelves and kitchen tables.”