UNITED STATES & MEXICO - The tomato market remains mostly steady across key production regions, with good demand supporting pricing despite weather-related supply constraints, according to the USDA’s National FOB Review on January 28, 2026.

In Central and South Florida, early harvests were curtailed by cold conditions, tightening supplies across several categories. Mature green tomatoes are trading steadily, with 25-pound cartons generally holding around $21.35 for 5x5, 5x6, and 6x6 sizes, while smaller 6x7 fruit is lower near $17.35. Cherry tomato supplies remain very light, with flats of 12 one-pint baskets ranging from $18.35 to $19.35. Grape tomatoes are also in tight supply, with flats holding near $21.35 and 20-pound loose cartons trading between $41.35 and $43.35, while organic grape flats are reported from $20.35 to $22.35. Roma tomatoes are steady, with extra-large and large sizes near $23.35, and medium fruit mostly around $21.35.

At Mexico crossings through Nogales, Arizona, tomato supplies are fairly light, resulting in slightly higher markets. Vine-ripe tomatoes are reported mostly between $18.95 and $22.95 across loose and two-layer cartons, depending on size. Grape tomatoes are trading higher, with flats ranging from $16.95 to $18.95 and 20-pound cartons mostly between $32.95 and $34.95. Roma tomatoes are also moving higher, with extra-large fruit reported from $20.95 to $22.95 and medium sizes generally from $17.95 to $19.95.

Through Texas crossings, markets remain about steady with fairly good demand. Vine-ripe tomatoes are trading mostly from $18.95 to $20.95, while grape tomatoes range from $15.95 to $18.95 in flats and $24.95 to $30.95 in 20-pound cartons. Roma tomatoes are holding steady, with extra-large fruit reported mostly between $20.95 and $21.95, and medium sizes near $16.95 to $17.95, depending on quality and condition.

ANUK will continue tracking market movements as seasonal volume adjusts.

FRESNO, CA - As fresh produce continues to become more and more of a focal point across store concepts, companies are being challenged to deliver growth through strong partnerships, smart innovation, and programs built for long-term performance.

Trinity Fruit Company answers that call with confidence. As we approach the SEPC Southern Exposure annual event, February 26–March 1, the company joined me to share what will be driving its messaging, booth conversations, and retail-forward focus on the show floor.

“This SEPC event continues to be a wonderful way to stay connected, grow our partnerships, and strengthen our relationships. This industry is not just a professional space for us—it’s a personal one as well,” Angela Hernandez, Vice President of Marketing, shared. “This year, we want retailers to walk away knowing that we stay nimble, continue to learn, and lean into opportunities to grow produce consumption—working together to create meaningful, incremental sales.”

Bringing a vibrant, smart, and innovative portfolio of programs, Trinity Fruit will be presenting a select group of items that speak to the full breadth and depth of the trailblazer’s offerings.

“We’ll be showcasing our citrus program with Buddy’s Citrus’ refreshed look, complemented by Squeezed Juice, including our new Kidz 4-pack—reflecting Trinity Fruit’s continued focus on innovation,” said Jackie Nakashian, Brand Manager.

With much to celebrate in 2026, Trinity Fruit invites attendees to join Angela, Jackie, and Kristyn Lawson, Sales Executive, at SEPC Southern Exposure booth #535 to experience more of what makes the company such an outstanding fresh produce partner.

MARLBOROUGH, MA & DELRAY BEACH, FL - BJ’s Wholesale Club announced that its second BJ’s Market will open in Delray Beach, Florida, on January 30.

Located at 14595 South Military Trail, BJ’s Market occupies 55,000 square feet – about half the size of a BJ’s club. The smaller footprint offers a convenient grocery shopping experience featuring essential fresh foods, produce, sundries and seasonal products for members, with the value that BJ’s members trust. BJ’s first introduced its market concept in Warwick, Rhode Island, in 2022.

“BJ’s Market offers unbeatable value on groceries combined with a smaller footprint that makes for a quick shopping experience,” said Bill Werner, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Development, BJ’s Wholesale Club, in the recent release. “BJ’s Market is perfect for families making a weeknight grocery run or a fast weekend trip between games and activities. Our Delray Beach location is perfectly situated between our clubs in Boynton Beach, Parkland, Royal Palm Beach and Coral Springs clubs.”

BJ’s has a long-standing commitment to nourishing its communities. For over 15 years, it has worked with Feeding America and its network of food banks, providing more than 155 million meals for those in need. In Delray Beach, BJ’s is partnering with Feeding South Florida by regularly donating produce, meat, dairy products and more to support the community.

“Through our ongoing partnership with BJ’s Wholesale Club, we’re able to continue providing access to nutritious food for families in our community,” said Paco Vélez, President and CEO of Feeding South Florida. “We’re grateful for the commitment and support of BJ’s as we lead hunger advocacy efforts in South Florida.”

Like BJ’s clubs, BJ’s Market will offer a variety of pack sizes, including individual salad kits, sliced-to-order deli products and half gallons of milk, along with bulk paper goods and cleaning products, and multipacks of pantry staples. Members can expect the same unbeatable value and convenient time-savers like curbside pickup, same-day delivery* and ExpressPay**.

Existing members will have full access to BJ’s Market immediately, and new members who sign up at BJ’s Market will have full access to BJ’s clubs and gas stations. Local shoppers can join now with limited-time founding member offers starting at $15 for a 1-year BJ’s club membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal. BJ’s Club+ membership is also available for $50 for a 1-year membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal. Terms apply. Learn more at BJs.com/DelrayBeach.

YERINGTON, NV - At this year’s Southern Exposure, hosted by Southeast Produce Council, Peri & Sons Farms® is refocusing the produce conversation on what matters most to today’s shoppers: flavor.

“While onions are often treated as a commodity, consumers see them differently,” Kelsey Weingart, Brand Manager, Marketing, began telling me. “They notice quality, evaluate taste, and are quick to express disappointment when produce looks appealing but lacks flavor. As food costs rise, expectations rise with them, increasing pressure on retailers to deliver produce that satisfies both visually and on the plate.”

Peri & Sons Farms’ mission is to help retailers meet these expectations by delivering onions with genuine flavor, freshness, and consistency. Kelsey pointed out that flavor is not accidental; it is the result of thoughtful decisions made at every stage of farming.

“On the Peri family farms, flavor begins with top-quality seed varieties planted in carefully prepared, nutrient-rich soil. Crops receive clean water applied precisely, balanced fertilizer programs, and the time needed to fully mature,” Kelsey explained. “Because Peri & Sons Farms grows, packs, and ships entirely within the United States, crops are never rushed to meet importing timelines, allowing each onion to fully develop its natural flavor profile.”

Kelsey noted that post-harvest handling is equally important.

“Storage onions are more sensitive than many realize, and with 46 years of experience, Peri & Sons Farms understands that curing, storing, and climatizing onions is a science,” she said. “Onions are hand-harvested into ventilated bins to reduce stress, then cured in food-safe, climate-controlled environments to protect quality, flavor, and appearance.”

True flavor development includes aroma, texture, and visual appeal, all working together to create a complete eating experience.

“When practices prioritize appearance or transportability over maturity or flavor, consumer trust is compromised. This is why Peri & Sons Farms is known for consistently flavorful, premium, and organic onions. It is not a boast. It is a strategy,” Kelsey stated. “Alongside its flavor-first approach, Peri & Sons Farms continues to invest in sustainability, including Earthbags® packaging designed to reduce environmental impact while maintaining product integrity and shelf presence.”

As the company looks ahead to 2026 and beyond, the focus remains clear: Peri & Sons Farms is not just growing more, it’s growing better. Flavor drives satisfaction, and satisfaction drives repeat sales.

Peri & Sons can be found at booth #413 during the show. There, attendees can explore the newly updated website for sustainability initiatives, recipes, and product offerings. Those interested can also follow Peri & Sons Farms on social media to see what the team is growing and sharing next.

AndNowUKnow has plenty more to report before the show, so stick with us.

DALLAS, TX - Move aside, analytics and experts — this year, the Big Game is being foretold by the one man who truly understands the mystical power of guacamole: Avocados From Mexico®’s Guac Guru. Played by actor and comedian Rob Riggle, he’s bringing some avo-fueled foresight to football’s biggest night, including three bold predictions about the in-game action. And if he gets them all right? Well, prepare to have your world guac-ed.

Avocados From Mexico®, the number one selling avocado brand in the U.S., is celebrating game day with its Guacamoney Sweepstakes, letting one lucky fan taste sweet (and savory) victory. If certain predictions are accurate, one lucky fan will score $60,000 in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Big Game — plus free avocados for an entire year. Now that’s a lot of green (we’re talking guac).

It’s time to get your head in the game — if you want to win, watch along to make sure these three predictions about health, taste, and fun come true:

• HEALTH: A team will score exactly 20 points to mark the more than 20 vitamins and minerals found in avocados. Twenty is also the secret hero of the scoreboard, appearing in 20% of the top 10 most common professional football scores1.
• FLAVOR: A player will perform an eating gesture to celebrate a big play during the game. Because like a game-changing play, good guac is worthy of celebration.
• FUN: The announcers will say the magical word: “guacamole,” in honor of the one snack that brings the “party” to any watch party.

“We wanted to bring the health, flavor, and fun of avocados to football fans in a way that’s as exciting as the game itself,” said Alvaro Luque, Avocados From Mexico President and CEO, in the recent release. “Especially since avocados are one of the top-selling foods leading up to the Big Game, we’re tying guac into those intense in-game moments to create a truly unique experience. Guacamoney adds a heightened sense of excitement to the live game, letting fans look forward to more than just football. I trust in Rob Riggle — I’ll be cheering on his predictions all game long!”

To enter, fans can head over to AFMGuacamoney.com from Jan. 29 to Feb. 8 at 9 a.m. ET for a chance to win $60,000. One entry is all it takes to be in the game — the rest is up to Rob Riggle and his bold predictions.

“I’ve watched a lot of football — like, a lot — and one thing that needs no prediction: Guac is as much a part of game day as the game itself,” added Riggle. “And as the Guac Guru, I made sure to make my three in-game predictions as tasty as Avocados From Mexico themselves. I mean, helping someone walk away with $60,000 AND free avocados for a whole year? Let’s guac-and-roll, baby!”

Can’t get enough? Visit here to check out the Prediction Pit, an immersive AI experience that lets fans step “inside the game” and interact directly with Riggle’s AI avatar to predict plays, games, and outcomes, and get custom recipe inspiration in real time.

Whether you’re in it for the football, the commercials, or the dips, Avocados From Mexico is here to make sure you score major points with your entire crew all season long.

MIAMI, FL - Guests and local officials were welcomed with fully stocked shelves featuring an impressive assortment of premium meats and seafood, fresh seasonal produce, distinctive local offerings and a curated selection of international favorites. Reinforcing its ongoing commitment to nourishing the communities it serves, The Fresh Market team also proudly contributed $2,000 to Feeding South Florida.

“We’re thrilled to begin another year of growth for The Fresh Market with the opening of our South Miami location,” said The Fresh Market CEO Brian Johnson in the recent release. “South Florida has been exceptionally welcoming to our brand, and we’re proud to bring South Miami residents our award-winning shopping experience — complete with a thoughtfully curated assortment of local and global products, the highest quality fresh foods, along with the signature hospitality that defines The Fresh Market.”

Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting marked the first of what will be two days of opening festivities.

On Saturday, Jan. 31, South Miami guests will have the opportunity to experience a larger celebration complete with giveaways and food sampling throughout the store, as well as the celebratory cracking of an 80-pound wheel of Parmesan cheese. The South Miami store opening marks The Fresh Market’s 172nd location to date, with more opening announcements coming soon.

REIDSVILLE, GA - Shuman Farms University is returning in 2026, and classes begin soon! With enrollment set to open at Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure in Orlando, Florida, President and Chief Executive Officer John Shuman took some time to highlight why this offering gives a special edge to the growers' buy-side partners.

“This year’s curriculum will equip retail and foodservice teams with the information needed to create excitement with their shoppers and operators around Vidalia onions. Enrollees will gain a stronger understanding of Vidalia onions’ product attributes, origin story, and the farm-to-table process, plus valuable consumer insights and merchandising tips to help produce teams drive sales and inspire consumption,” John tells me.

In response to evolving consumer trends, John explains that new content will focus on helping retail partners create value and meal solutions for their shoppers.

“It is important to showcase Vidalia onions as a seasonal ingredient that adds exceptional flavor to everyday meals and merchandise them alongside high-affinity items like peppers, squash, and potatoes,” John says.

Classes start back in April, and the Shuman Farms team is excited to share more at Southern Exposure come February 26. There, attendees can learn more about what’s new for the educational initiative in 2026 and how Shuman’s retail and foodservice partners can get enrolled.

Visit with the Shuman Farms team at booth #101 to learn more about Shuman Farms University and snap your very own first day of class photo.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - What does it mean to be a part of your community? Declaring values for companies is not a longstanding necessity, yet the Allen Lund Company (ALC) has stood by several pillars built by Allen and Kathleen Lund for half a century.

What it means, I learned as I stood in the conference room of the building the logistics giant has grown into, is that those who represent, speak for, and shape the area you call home come to a gathering on a Wednesday afternoon in January to acknowledge what your business means to them.

"Allen Lund Company was started so that our mom and dad could feed their kids. 50 years later, it is a billion-dollar company that still has that family feel. It's a great accomplishment, and we are so proud of our people who have taken mom and dad's dream and made it a reality," Eddie Lund, President of ALC, said in a statement. With me stood key local dignitaries, including Mayor Kim Bowman and Pat Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce, who once worked in the very building now bearing the Allen Lund Company name on the side. All were there to extend appreciation and accolades to ALC for what it has become to the community.

"We are so blessed to be celebrating our 50^th anniversary, and we are grateful to the city of La Cañada (our home for 47 of the 50 years), Los Angeles County, and all of the vendors and friends we have in the area who have offered their support," Eddie said of the event. Later, in discussing the commitment that has helped the ALC brand get to where it is, he shared, “If we do a great job performance-wise in five areas—growing offices, helping our people, IT initiatives, our support departments, and acts of kindness—then the results will happen. Because we're not bigger than the market, we're not going to control the margin. We're going to control our service offering, and how well we treat our customers, our carriers, and our people.”

Wandering the office of Allen Lund himself, Mrs. Lund treated me to stories from the ranch where our now widespread image—cover of The Snack Magazine in 2015—was taken. Warmly, she remembered the laughter and the lighting of an image that would help tell the story so many times of the man whose name would become synonymous with logistics and TMS innovation.

Sitting with her and Eddie later in his office, shifting back and forth between business and family experiences, it is easy to see how, even as it has grown, ALC still makes each person feel they are the sole focus of the moment. As Eddie shared with the team at the onset of a company-wide livestream, “This is no small accomplishment. Our mom and dad valued our employees so greatly, and their motto was always, ‘our employees are our greatest assets.’ So thank you to all our past and current employees.”

As ALC enters the second half of its century in business, it is doing so in a way that has contributed significantly to its success thus far. To commemorate the milestone, Kenny Lund, Executive Vice President, announced the launch of a charity initiative, "50 Acts of Warmth," as the team marked the occasion with a celebratory lunch at headquarters.

Mrs. Lund elaborated more on this with me. 

“The fifth pillar of the company is Acts of Kindness, so it carries an equal weight in our company's mind as the other four,” she shared with me. “When we started the Acts of Kindness, that was our 40^th year, and we had 40 divisions. We asked each division to do something, and we ended up with about 70. And then, it was Allen’s last address to the managers in 2018, he said, ‘Keep that going. Keep. That. Going. That this is an important part of who we are.' He didn't talk about growing to a billion dollars; he talked about taking care of your customers and being involved in your community.”

This is what it means to live your values. To truly contribute to the area you call home, at your headquarters, and at every office that sports your brand. This is the cup that nourishes a legacy.

Congratulations to the Allen Lund family and team on this incredible milestone!