REEDLEY, CA - Those looking to elevate their citrus, stonefruit, and table grape offerings should mark booth #627 as a must-see showcase during this year’s Southern Exposure as Mountain View Fruit Sales brings its full lineup to the highly anticipated event.

“The timing of Southern Exposure works well for us because we can discuss the upcoming season with our customers and prospects. It is always positive to interact with our customers and learn from them over the few days at SEPC,” shared Kevin Steiner, Director of Business Development, ahead of the show. “Our team at Mountain View is here to provide value for our customers in addition to shipping high-quality fruit. We offer merchandising tools and category recommendations to help increase consumption of stonefruit, grapes, and citrus.”

As part of the company’s amplified focus on high-quality, late-season fruit, Mountain View will transition to its eye-catching Autumnripe label after Labor Day, boosting late-season sales opportunities for its retail partners.

“Mountain View is focusing on growing high-flavor varieties that fit into our harvest plan. We continue to update technology at our packing sheds and orchards to provide as top-notch an eating experience as possible,” Kevin adds.

But the supplier’s goal extends far beyond selling a box of fruit.

Mountain View offers vibrant point-of-sale materials, merchandising bins, digital images, and recipe ideas to further uplift the stonefruit, grape, and citrus categories. This comprehensive merchandising portfolio supports an already impressive lineup backed by generations of growing expertise.

“We are very thankful to have multigenerational family growers, and we take a great deal of pride in being a family-owned company that strives each day to do the best job possible for our growers and customers,” concludes Kevin.

Be sure to check out the grower’s lineup and eye-catching display bins at booth #627. Until then, keep reading ANUK for pre-show insights and updates.

SALISBURY, NC - Food Lion has served the Statesville community for more than five decades, and on Jan. 28, the omnichannel retailer will open a new location at 1909 E. Broad St. This will mark the fifth store in the Statesville area, demonstrating the brand’s continued investment in the community. The new store reflects Food Lion’s commitment to an omnichannel shopping experience, making grocery shopping easy, fresh and affordable for local families through convenient in-store, pickup and/or delivery options.

Opening the Statesville store is part of Food Lion’s continued growth and investment across its footprint that also strengthens local economies, creates jobs and reduces food insecurity. As the brand looks ahead to 2026, Food Lion plans additional new store openings and remodels, building on strong performance and its commitment to fresh food at affordable prices.

Designed with convenience and accessibility in mind, the Statesville store features an easy-to-shop layout, expanded assortment and a welcoming, modern atmosphere inspired by customer feedback. Customers will find fresh produce, expanded quality meat options, simple meal solutions and everyday essentials, designed to help families nourish their households with confidence and value. The store also offers pickup and/or home delivery through the Food Lion To Go website or app and includes a CO₂ refrigeration system, an environmentally friendly technology that supports energy efficiency while enhancing the overall shopping experience.

“We’re excited to welcome our Statesville neighbors to their new Food Lion,” said Patrick Burns, Store Manager of the Statesville Food Lion, in the recent release. “Having been with Food Lion for 30 years, including 19 years as a store manager, I understand what it takes to serve a community with care and consistency. This store reflects our commitment to providing fresh food at affordable prices, and I look forward to giving neighbors the service and value they can always count on.”

On Jan. 28, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 7:45 a.m. Afterward, the first 100 customers in line will receive a mystery gift card valued up to $200 and a free reusable shopping bag. The store will be open daily from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Learn more about specific services the store offers and the weekly ad flyer.

Good things are in-store for neighbors

The new Statesville, N.C., Food Lion offers:

• A wide assortment of products, including ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook and ready-to-heat meal solutions; fresh produce; quality meats; and a variety of organic, gluten-free and plant-based items.
• A walk-in garden cooler, ensuring the freshest produce available, in-store prepared cut fruit, freshly made sushi and a self-service wing and hot favorites bar.
• Convenience and choices for shoppers by providing Food Lion To Go Pickup and/or Home Delivery options. Online orders may be placed on the Food Lion To Go website or through the app. The convenient service allows customers to place an order with the click of a button while experiencing the same low prices and fresh food items they receive in the store.
• Self-checkout lanes alongside traditional cashier-assisted checkout for a more efficient and flexible shopping experience.
• Nature’s Promise®, Food Lion’s affordable brand offering organic options alongside a variety of wholesome products made without artificial flavors, preservatives or synthetic colors.
• Through its Local Goodness program, Food Lion stores offer a wide variety of regional items sourced from local growers or manufacturers who provide products that are the heart and soul of the community. A list of additional North Carolina-based suppliers that may be featured in the store can be found online.

Commitment to community and sustainability

Demonstrating care for its neighbors and communities through a commitment to supporting renewable energy in its towns and cities, Food Lion’s enhanced stores feature energy-efficient LED lighting, refrigerated cases with doors and CO₂ refrigeration systems that help reduce its environmental footprint. The modern solutions impart ambiance, enhance fresh product assortment and decrease energy consumption.

See the full release here.

WATSONVILLE, CA - A topping on yogurt bowls, the base of smoothies, and more—blueberries play a key role in my everyday eating occasions. This staple berry is beloved by consumers, and they look for it on each shopping trip. To get an update on the category, I turned to Tim Youmans, Vice President of Sales at California Giant Berry Farms.

“Peru continues to provide a steady volume of blueberries, while Mexico is currently building toward a peak in early February. These volumes will be complemented by high-quality fruit from Chile,” Tim explained. “This increasing influx, paired with Oxnard, California’s domestic organic program hitting its stride mid-month, is expected to provide ample availability, especially for February.”

California Giant’s current organic blueberry supply is ramping up quickly, according to Tim. Conventional supplies remain stable and consistent with last year’s levels.

Currently, California Giant’s conventional blueberries are being harvested in Peru, Chile, and Mexico. The supplier’s organic program is currently sourcing from Peru and Oxnard. Tim relayed that he anticipates the arrival of organic fruit from Chile toward the end of the month.

“Conditions across these regions have been favorable for quality. In Peru, optimal weather has led to an earlier-than-normal peak, while Mexico is benefiting from steady, warm days that are supporting consistent yields,” Tim continued. “In Oxnard, while we’ve monitored seasonal rains earlier in the month and cooler morning temperatures typical for January, the fruit quality remains strong as the California season begins to gain momentum.”

Tim went on to note that as we move toward late January and early February, the market will transition into a much more abundant and stable supply phase.

“The arrival of volumes from Chile in late January, complementing Mexico hitting its peak in early February, will provide a boost to overall availability,” he said. “With Oxnard’s organic program also ramping up to peak volumes in mid-February and Peru maintaining its stability, the industry is looking at a window of strong availability. This alignment of regional peaks creates a perfect opportunity for large-scale promotions and consistent shelf presence throughout the mid-winter months.”

In a follow-up article, Tim and I will discuss blueberry demand as well as one of California Giant’s newest products. Keep a tab open for ANUK, and you won’t miss it.

MANAHAWKIN, NJ - ShopRite announced the grand opening of its brand-new, state-of-the-art ShopRite of Manahawkin, located at 733 Route 72 West. The new supermarket will officially open its doors on Wednesday, February 4, with a 7 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand-opening celebration for shoppers.

Members of the Saker family, owners and operators of Saker ShopRites, and their retail team will greet customers as they enter the new store, with the first 200 customers in line receiving special grocery gift bags filled with product samples and coupons. The opening-day celebration will also feature in-store sampling, food trucks and more. Local officials will join the Saker family for the ribbon cutting of the new location, which is more than double the size of the existing store and marks a major addition to the Manahawkin Commons shopping center.

“With this new Manahawkin location, we’re proud to offer a fresh, modern store filled with amenities that make shopping easier and more enjoyable. From locally sourced products and prepared foods to world-class services, this store reflects our promise to deliver quality and care to every customer who walks through our doors,” said Richard Saker, CEO and President of Saker ShopRites, in the recent release.

The new ShopRite offers a wide selection of groceries including locally sourced foods and fresh produce, as well as popular national brands and ShopRite’s award-winning Bowl & Basket, Wholesome Pantry and Paperbird private label lines.

The store will also offer an expanded line of international foods and prepared dishes and specialties. Other features will include a Saker ShopRites World Class bakery with special occasion cakes and freshly made bread, an extensive meat department with trained butchers, a seafood department with fresh catch deliveries, floral shop, full-service deli and prepared foods department offering Saker ShopRites’ own World Class Kitchens and specialty Dearborn Farms brands. A pharmacy and ShopRite’s online shopping service, Order.Pickup.Deliver., will also be available at the new location.

ShopRite of Manahawkin is owned by Saker ShopRites, a family-owned company made up of third and fourth generation grocers with stores in Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset and Mercer counties. The supermarket hired additional full- and part-time employees ahead of the store’s opening. This new store replaces the former location at Stafford Square.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Oppy is pleased to announce the return of Director of Canadian Sales Steve Young, who rejoined the company on January 5. In this role, Young will lead Oppy’s Canadian sales team with a focus on strategic growth, program expansion and strong alignment across sales, marketing and category teams.

Young brings more than two decades of produce industry experience to the role, including a deep history with Oppy. He first joined the company in 2008 as a sales representative and went on to hold leadership roles as sales manager and later director of sales for Canada before departing in 2018. Most recently, Young served as vice president of sales at BCfresh Vegetables Inc., where he gained valuable experience working within a close-knit, highly focused organization. Earlier in his career, he was an account manager at Sunkist Growers from 2004 to 2008.

With an eye on long-term business growth, Young will help lead Oppy forward by building on its strengths, expanding strategic programs, and ensuring seamless collaboration between teams to deliver value to customers across Canada.

“I’m incredibly excited to return to Oppy,” said Young in the recent release. “I’ve always looked at Oppy as my home, and I’m really looking forward to getting back to the roots of my career. So much has changed in the eight years I’ve been away. The growth of the company, the expansion of our capabilities, and the alignment with Dole have created exciting new opportunities, particularly for our Canadian customer base.”

Young added that his return offers a unique opportunity to blend past experience with new perspective.

He went on to say, “Over the last near-decade, I’ve grown in different ways by working in a smaller organization where my lens was very acute. Coming back to a larger, global company like Oppy allows me to bring those skills and insights to a broader scale: Supporting our Canadian team and delivering innovative, program-based strategies to retailers.”

Executive Vice President of Sales and General Manager of the East Coast Brett Libke said Young’s leadership, relationships and cultural alignment make him well-suited to lead the Canadian sales team into its next chapter.

“Steve has a proven ability to champion both internal teams and external partners. His industry insight will strengthen customer trust, accelerate growth opportunities and align our sales team around shared goals and values,” Libke shared.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) has made its mark on the industry calendar not just for timing, but for connection. As Bolthouse Fresh Foods™ executives Kim St George and Melissa Oliver recently shared with me, Southern Exposure gives the opportunity to spotlight more than a portfolio, with people being a driving component for the show by nature.

The company knows firsthand, being actively involved with SEPC through leadership participation, with Melissa, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and Kim, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, both serving on the Southern Roots Committee.

“We’re always excited to return to Southern Exposure,” Melissa shared. “It’s an important opportunity to continue building meaningful relationships, focus on growing carrot consumption, and connect around our long-term commitment to the Southeast.”

With exciting items in the pipeline, including a fresh line of Carrot Fries and multiple flavors of Organic Side Dish Sizzlers perfect to align with the southern palate and beyond, the company has much to look forward to in Orlando, Florida, come February 26–March 1.

“Southern Exposure plays an important role in bringing the produce industry together and provides one of the first opportunities of the year for us to engage in person with our retail and foodservice partners. These conversations help set direction, align on priorities, and establish momentum heading into the year,” Kim explained.

Likewise, the company has ensured it has a network with the strength and reach to support both the local and national needs of buy-side attendees.

“Bolthouse Fresh Foods’ multi-region growing strategy is foundational to how we support our customers,” Melissa said. “The expansion in Sparks, Georgia, is designed to better support our Southeast customers by strengthening regional flexibility, efficiency, and reliability. Together with our other growing regions, it allows us to provide consistent, year-round supply.”

That year-round growing strategy is especially relevant as retailers head into spring resets. The Bolthouse team is keeping top of mind that, during this time, the buy-side is evaluating sets, refreshing assortments, and planning for lighter, fresher eating patterns. It’s an important moment to align on items that expand usage occasions and perform reliably on the shelf.

“These discussions help guide our approach to category stewardship throughout the year and reinforce the importance of working closely with retail partners to keep the produce department engaging, effective, and aligned with how consumers shop and eat today,” Kim stated.

As you map out your plans for the Southern Exposure showfloor, be sure to bookmark Bolthouse Fresh Foods booth #611 and see why the strength of the carrot category is only just being realized.