BLANDON, PA - If quality, flavor, or convenience is what you (and your shoppers) seek, booth #310 at Southern Exposure will deliver all of that and more. Giorgio Fresh is bringing its core mushroom lineup and several high-demand, value-added offerings to the upcoming event, highlighting how these items make fresh entertaining easier, more exciting, and more flavorful.

“Now is a great time to showcase these offerings because the market is asking for reliability, consistency, and easy-to-execute solutions that perform at retail,” says Bryan Shelton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, noting how the company’s lineup satisfies a variety of rising consumer demands.

Giorgio Fresh will be displaying some of its fan-favorite products, including white, baby bella, and portabella mushrooms. The mushroom maven is also spotlighting multiple value-added innovations available in flavor-forward varieties, including:

• Grill Packs (Steak Seasoning, Smokey Honey Habanero, and Brown Sugar Bourbon)
• Stuffed Jalapeños (Bacon and Cheddar and Triple Cheese with Diced Jalapeños)
• Hot n Spicy Stuffed Mushrooms (Fiery Sriracha, Nashville Hot, Jalapeño, and Hatch Chile)

As Bryan tells me, what elevates Giorgio Fresh in the produce department is a combination of scale, experience, and discipline, paired with a customer-first mindset.

“We have built our reputation on being the kind of partner customers can count on week in and week out,” Bryan explains. “We are focused on quality, food safety, and consistency, and we pair that with strong operational execution and a deep understanding of the mushroom category. Equally important, we collaborate. We work closely with retailers and foodservice partners to solve real problems, whether that is ensuring the right pack style for a specific shopper base, planning promotions with confidence, or maintaining consistency through seasonal shifts.”

Looking to the rest of 2026, the company has set its focus on several key areas of growth. This includes:

• Deepening customer partnerships through dependable supply and high service levels
• Growing the category by supporting stronger merchandising, promotion, and consumer engagement
• Continuing to refine operational excellence to stay responsive as the market shifts
• Expanding into value-added and specialty segments, aligned with customer demand
• Optimizing its programs to deliver on customer and consumer expectations

“We are placing increased emphasis on marketing initiatives that help grow the mushroom category and connect with today’s consumers,” Bryan shares. “This includes expanding digital and social marketing efforts, working with influencers, and targeting younger generations through relevant meal occasions that highlight convenience, flavor, and versatility.

By meeting younger shoppers where they are and showing how mushrooms fit seamlessly into everyday meals and entertaining moments, Giorgio aims to build long-term engagement with the category while supporting its retail and foodservice partners with programs that resonate at shelf and online.

“One thing we are especially proud to highlight is the recognition our Grill Packs received with the Joe Nucci Innovation Award,” Bryan adds. “This honor reflects the innovation, quality, and consumer appeal behind the program, and it reinforces our commitment to bringing fresh, flavor-forward solutions to the produce department.”

To learn more about Giorgio Fresh’s approach to category innovation, don’t forget to stop by booth #310 as you explore the show floor!

IRVING, TX - One of the produce industry’s key kick-offs to trade show season sets the pieces for yet another enormous event: the world’s biggest soccer stage.

“This year at Southern Exposure, Avocados From Mexico (AFM) will showcase several of our resources to support a big upcoming consumption occasion tied to the world’s biggest soccer event, including solutions for bags and bulk avocados,” Stephanie Bazan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Strategy and Execution at Avocados From Mexico, shares with me.

The FIFA World Cup kicks off this summer and, at a global scale, Sports Illustrated assures that it is “the most-watched sporting event on the planet—nothing else comes close.” And AFM wants to make guac front and center in viewing parties across North America, a strategy that starts at the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) expo in Orlando, Florida, February 26–March 1.

“The World Cup will be one of the biggest consumption occasions this year, and several of the top avocado markets are host cities, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Miami, and New York/New Jersey,” Stephanie explains, adding that the Southern Expo is the ideal starting point for this dynamic marketing move.

“After the Pacific region, the South Atlantic remains the largest one of the avocado category. The South Atlantic has exploded in avocado consumption, growing 21 percent in pounds between 2022 and 2025, per Circana,” Stephanie said, adding that that number is poised to continue a growth trajectory as the share of projected population growth by 2030 is expected to be 38 percent. “This region is growing as it has experienced record net gains in domestic migration as well as international immigration. There is tremendous opportunity for retailers to capitalize on this growth, especially during football season, as there are major college football markets representing SEC fan culture.”

With additional details still in the works, I’m told there is much to anticipate, and attendees should definitely be sure to swing by booth #113 while walking the Southern Exposure show floor at the end of this month!

OVIEDO, FL - A. Duda & Sons and G’s Group are pleased to announce the joint venture acquisition of Tozer Seeds Ltd, one of the UK’s most respected independent vegetable seed companies.

Founded in West London in 1944 by Arthur Tozer and owned by the Dawson family since 1950, Tozer Seeds has earned a global reputation for innovation in vegetable breeding and the production of premium-quality seed crops. Over the past 80 years, Tozer has introduced industry-first breakthroughs, including the world’s first commercial F1 hybrid parsnip and celery varieties.

Under the new ownership, Tozer Seeds will continue to operate as an independent seed business, retaining its name, leadership team, and long-standing commitment to excellence. The company will remain focused on breeding, multiplication, and global sales of specialty horticultural crops such as celery, parsnip, kale, coriander, rocket, squash, legumes, and leeks.

This acquisition builds on a decade-long partnership between A. Duda & Sons and G’s Group, during which G’s has enjoyed exclusive access to Duda Generations proprietary celery genetics and seed varieties in Europe. G’s has collaborated with Tozer for more than 30 years across its growing regions. By combining Tozer’s global breeding strategy with Duda’s advanced celery genetics program, this joint venture creates a powerful platform for future innovation—benefiting growers and customers worldwide.

The transaction includes Tozer’s operations in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States.

What this means for our partners and customers

• Continuity and Stability: Tozer will maintain its independence and continue serving existing customers without disruption.
• Enhanced Innovation: The collaboration strengthens research and development capabilities, ensuring access to cutting-edge varieties.
• Commitment to Growers: Our goal is to support the success of growers and customers by delivering superior genetics and seed quality.

Leadership Commentary

Steven J Winterbottom, Managing Director, Tozer Seeds, said in the recent release: “The executive team of Tozer Seeds and the Dawson family are delighted to see the continuation of the Tozer name and legacy after stewarding it for over 75 years. By joining forces with Duda and G’s, we anticipate the business evolving into an even more exciting and dynamic future.”

Guy W Shropshire, CEO, G’s Group, said: “We have long admired Tozer’s diversity of genetics across its crop portfolio. Through this acquisition we have enabled the bringing together of Tozer and Duda’s world-leading celery genetics. This new venture provides deeper vertical integration, giving us greater engagement in the science of breeding and seed production, and we look forward to welcoming our new Tozer and Duda colleagues into the broader G’s Group.”

Sammy Duda, CEO/President, A Duda & Sons, shared: “With over 200 years of celery breeding research and development—including our proprietary Duda Generations varieties, grown by Duda Farm Fresh Foods—we’ve built an unmatched foundation of innovation. By combining Duda’s celery genetics with Tozer’s global breeding portfolio, we’re positioned to accelerate the next generation of celery products that elevate flavor, quality, and category growth. This partnership marks a significant milestone for the industry, and we look forward to working with Tozer and G’s to expand opportunities for growers and customers worldwide.”

WOODLAND, CA - Syngenta Vegetable Seeds is excited to promote its firm-flesh watermelon varieties and introduce its newest sugar baby-type watermelon, Bahama, at the upcoming Southern Exposure, held February 26–March 1, 2026.

“Going into Southern Exposure, our top priority is to reinforce our commitment to innovation and partnership throughout the value chain,” Rebecca Wente-Naylor, Product Specialist – Cucurbits, shared with me. “We aim to connect with our growers and retail partners on how our new varieties, such as Cato, Golden Crisp, and Bahama, offer solutions to their challenges.”

Rebecca noted that Cato and Golden Crisp are unique varieties because they are both well-suited for sale as fresh-cut or whole fruit.

“Compared to traditional watermelon varieties, they have demonstrated resilience to long-distance transport. They are both also strong performers in the field, making them an ideal choice for growers and retailers alike,” she added.

Bahama is Syngenta's newest small-to-medium-sized sugar baby watermelon, offering growers high fruit-count potential and outstanding internal quality.

“Compared to traditional sugar baby-type watermelons, Bahama has an ideal rind thickness and flesh firmness that helps to improve shipping ability,” Rebecca explained.

At the event, Syngenta wants to make clear to attendees that it is committed to delivering innovative genetics that address customer challenges.

“Our team will be available to discuss how Cato, Golden Crisp, and Bahama can integrate into their programs, offering benefits like improved shelf-life, disease resistance, and excellent flavor,” Rebecca said. “We believe these varieties represent the future of watermelon production and retail, and we're excited to partner with stakeholders throughout the value chain to take advantage of their full potential.”

The team will be found at booth #802, so be sure to stop by and learn more about these watermelon varieties.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - In his first week as CEO, Michael Fiddelke is addressing guests, team members, and business partners, reflecting on his career at Target and outlining the priorities guiding the company forward. The following statement was shared in a recent release:

To our Guests, Team Members and Business Partners,

This week marks my first as CEO, and I want to start by saying thank you.

I began my career at Target more than two decades ago. I’ve grown here, learned here, and worked alongside teams and partners who care deeply about our guests. Stepping into this role is both humbling and deeply personal.

And while we have real work to do, we are clear on who we are, our unique place in retail, and in the hearts of our guests. We are equally clear on the opportunity in front of us. Our guests want great design, real value, and experiences that delight. That’s where Target has always been at its best, and it’s what grounds the important work in front of us now.

As we move forward, our strategy is focused on four priorities:

• Leading with merchandising authority by curating with conviction — bringing together design, style, and value in a way only Target can.
• Elevating the guest experience by making every store visit and digital interaction easier, more inspiring, and more welcoming.
• Accelerating technology to remove friction, enable our teams, and create more personalized, joyful experiences for guests.
• Strengthening our team and communities by investing in our people, building future-ready skills, and growing alongside the communities we serve.

In the weeks ahead, my focus is simple: listen closely, move with clarity and urgency, and lead with purpose. We will make clear choices, invest where it matters most, and bring this strategy to life through our stores, our digital experiences, and — most importantly — our people.

• To our guests: we’re committed to earning your trust and making every visit feel worth it.
• To our team members: you are the heart of this company.
• To our partners: we grow best when we build together.

I’m excited for what we’ll create — together.

With gratitude,

Michael Fiddelke, CEO, Target