GLENNVILLE, GA - Fresh produce is an industry built on relationships. Hand in hand, growers and buy-side operators work to bring fresh food to market amid fierce competition. At SEPC Southern Exposure, February 26–March 1, the floor opens for collaboration and conversation, where long-term strategies take shape to address a complex ecosystem of challenges. One company consistently part of that effort is Bland Farms—and what they are bringing to the floor is more than just a message; it’s a roadmap to success.

“At SEPC Southern Exposure, we’ll be highlighting initiatives that directly support retail execution and long-term performance,” Sloan Lott, Director of Sales, shares with me. “Among those is our core program of Vidalia® Sweet Onions, with continued emphasis on flavor consistency, quality, and dependable supply. Sand Candy® Sweet Potatoes will also be front of mind, providing a solution for a growing category focused on flavor and versatility.”

Building a year-round sweet onion program at retail is essential, and Bland Farms will also be showcasing its premium Sweet Onions from Mexico, supporting continuity outside the Vidalia season.

“To further celebrate our sweet onion program, we are highlighting our Vidalia Brands refresh with updated branding designed to strengthen shelf presence and keep Vidalia top-of-mind year-round,” Sloan details.

Add in expanded refrigeration capacity, with recent upgrades that allow for improved pack-out, extended shelf life, and tighter inventory management, and a well-oiled machine continues to thrive.

Bland Farms has also been investing in laser-weeder technology, which is deployed in organic fields to improve efficiency and sustainability without sacrificing quality.

“Our goal is to have buyers leave Southern Exposure knowing three things. One, we operate as partners, not just suppliers. From supply planning to marketing support, we work alongside our customers to help their programs perform. Two, quality drives everything. What happens in the field ultimately impacts families at the table, and we take that responsibility seriously. And, last but not least, we listen first. Every program is different, and our approach is built on flexibility, collaboration, and long-term relationships,” Sloan expresses. “What we do goes beyond moving product. Our focus is delivering fresh food that supports retailers, feeds families, and strengthens the communities they serve.”

As Sloan explains, the Southeast Produce Council has been instrumental in creating meaningful connections across the produce industry. SEPC fosters real dialogue—bringing growers, retailers, foodservice operators, and partners together in ways that prioritize trust, understanding, and shared progress.

“We believe deeply in their mission and vision for the produce industry. Our commitment to SEPC is rooted in active involvement and alignment with its mission,” Sloan reflects. This also includes leadership engagement, with Sloan himself currently serving as Chair. “SEPC’s emphasis on education, collaboration, and community allows companies like ours to stay engaged, listen closely, and grow alongside the evolving needs of the market.”

Stop by booth #106 and get that Bland Farms face time that makes all the difference. Sloan Lott, Delbert Bland, Sandra Bland, Richard Pazderski, Jeff Rhoden, Brian Silvas, and Zach Allen will be there to shake your hand.

WOODLAND, CA - Sakata Seed America announced an executive leadership transition, according to the recent release.

Eduardo Flores, President and CEO of Sakata Seed America, will be leaving the company and pursuing other opportunities. Sakata thanks Mr. Flores for his contributions during his time with the company and wishes him success in his future endeavors.

Dave Armstrong will step in to serve as President-CEO of Sakata Seed America.

Sakata remains focused on serving its customers, supporting its employees, and advancing its long-term strategy in a manner consistent with its values and culture. Business operations will continue without interruption.

Headquartered in Woodland, California, Sakata Seed America is a major research, seed production, and marketing-distribution subsidiary of Sakata Seed Corporation, based in Yokohama, Japan. Sakata Seed America serves as the headquarters for Sakata’s North and Central American operations. Sakata’s objective is to meet industry expectations for quality seed, innovative genetics, and excellent greenhouse and field performance quickly and efficiently.

UNITED STATES - The blueberry market remains steady overall, with pricing largely supported by prior commitments and variable supply conditions across major import channels, according to the USDA’s National FOB Review on January 21, 2026.

Chilean imports moving through the Philadelphia area are seeing fairly good demand with steady market conditions. Large 12 1-pint flats are ranging from $21.00–$30.00, mostly $24.00–$28.00, with most movement tied to previously committed sales. Quality is reported as good, with product moving primarily via boat.

Peruvian imports entering through the Philadelphia and New York City areas are experiencing light supply with fairly good demand. Pricing for large 12 1-pint flats is holding between $28.00–$33.00, mostly around $30.00, with occasional highs reported from $33.00 up to $38.00. Organic blueberries are commanding a premium, with prices ranging from $34.00–$40.00, mostly $38.00, and isolated highs reaching $45.00. As with Chilean product, most volume is moving on prior commitments, with quality reported as good.

Mexican blueberries crossing through Arizona, California, and Texas are facing fairly light demand, with markets reported about steady. Flats of 12 6-ounce cups are trading between $12.00–$16.00, with a wide range in pricing reflecting variable quality. Palletizing and cooling are included in reported pricing, with some lower prices noted.

Overall, the blueberry market remains balanced, with steady pricing supported by import flows and pre-arranged sales. Peruvian fruit continues to command higher price points due to tighter supplies, while Chilean imports provide more moderate pricing. Mexican crossings remain value-oriented but show wider variability tied to quality.

ANUK will continue to follow how import availability and demand levels shape pricing.

CINCINNATI, OH & SUNNYVALE, CA - The Kroger Co. announced an expanded relationship with Google Cloud. The leading grocery chain will use the Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience (CX) solution to support its customer experience transformation, combining cutting-edge technology with the care, food knowledge and understanding customers expect from Kroger – all into a new personal shopping assistant.

Under the expansion, Kroger will roll out Gemini Enterprise for CX nationwide to help make grocery planning easier through an integrated Meal assistant and Shopping assistant – providing faster shopping, without compromising on unique customer preferences.

In addition to deploying Gemini Enterprise for CX, Kroger will also use Customer Experience Agent Studio to analyze interactions and intent on calls made by customers to stores to proactively identify and resolve issues earlier, enhance associate productivity, and deliver a more seamless, "white-glove" experience nationwide.

"We know our customers want an experience that is seamless and adapts to the context of their day, and the Shopping assistant is one more way we will transform how our customers will engage with us," said Yael Cosset, executive vice president and chief digital officer for Kroger, in the recent release. "A customer planning a week of dinners, seeking recipe inspiration, or jumping into a new food regimen, will be able to ask our integrated assistant to create a shopping list based on their immediate needs, their budget, and family's unique preferences. We are streamlining every aspect of the shopping experience from building a basket and getting relevant offers and savings, to scheduling a delivery faster than ever before. We are making grocery shopping simpler and more personal, creating more time for real connections around foods families love."

Building a Personal Shopping Companion

Kroger has been helping families find foods they love for nearly 150 years, by removing the need for customers to compromise on the choice of product, including innovative Our Brands products, offering more options to shop how they want in store, through pickup or delivery, and providing personalized offers and value to each customer.

Kroger's Shopping Assistant will build upon this foundation, reducing the time it takes to complete complex, multi-step tasks without requiring a lot of input from customers. The Shopping assistant incorporates AI-enabled features such as:

• Intelligent execution: Agentic integration, allowing the assistant to complete complex tasks from a single instruction—such as explore meal ideas, build complex carts for a big occasion, reorder a past purchase, or compare product details.
• Inspiration-to-cart flow: Converts a customer request, like "I want to prepare vegan tomato soup" into a guided recipe, with a detailed ingredient list, that can be added to their shopping carts with a single click.
• Accurate and grounded: Makes recommendations based on Kroger's proprietary data asset and grounded in actual assortment, pricing, and availability, meaning customers receive relevant, reliable suggestions they can act on immediately. The Shopping assistant takes advantage of Kroger's precise understanding of customer needs, and will deliver a complete solution—from finding value, to planning, to purchasing a full meal—that every member of the family will enjoy.

"Kroger is pioneering the future of commerce by embracing true generative and agentic AI at the heart of their customer journey," said Darshan Kantak, vice president of product for applied AI at Google Cloud. "With Gemini Enterprise for Commerce, Kroger will be setting a new standard for grocery, ensuring its agent becomes a comprehensive digital concierge across every customer touchpoint."

EAGLE, ID - The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is introducing Top That Tater™, a new chef-inspired seasoning created to celebrate everything people love about Idaho® potatoes, from mashed and baked to fried and roasted, while exploring new, flavorful ways to keep the crop at the center of the plate.

Officially titled Top That Tater, Seasoning for Potatoes & More, the product was developed as a natural extension of the Idaho® potato story. With potatoes prepared in countless ways, IPC set out to create a seasoning that consistently complements potatoes across every preparation while remaining versatile enough to use beyond them.

“This really was a passion project,” said Jeweldean Hull, Managing Director of the Idaho Potato Commission, in the recent release. “Potatoes are incredibly versatile, and we wanted a seasoning that could keep up with that. Top That Tater was created to be one of those blends you reach for again and again, something that just works on potatoes no matter how they are prepared, but still makes sense across the rest of the plate.”

Top That Tater™ is made with high-quality ingredients, contains no artificial flavors or preservatives, is Non-GMO, and low sodium. The custom glass bottle features an airtight, built-in grinder designed to naturally lock in freshness without the need for preservatives, delivering bold flavor with every turn. A 4oz refill pouch with seal to easily add more fresh seasoning to your bottle as needed.

While created with potatoes in mind, the seasoning was intentionally designed to go further, complementing meats, vegetables, eggs, and everyday meals and encouraging creativity in both home and professional kitchens.

Availability

Top That Tater™ will officially launch on January 29, 2026, but available to preorder now! Orders begin shipping on 1/29/26. The seasoning will be sold via shop.idahopotato.com, at the Idaho Potato Commission’s local office, and promoted and sold across IPC social platforms. Expanded distribution, including Google Merch, Instagram store, Tik Tok shop and eventually Amazon.

In addition to retail availability, Top That Tater™ will be featured and resold by some local boutiques and restaurants alike.

EMERYVILLE, CA - Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., a high-growth, extreme value retailer of quality, name-brand consumables and fresh products, announced that it raised enough funds to provide two million meals* to people facing hunger through its holiday campaign with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.

The initiative, which ran from mid-November through December 31, was part of Grocery Outlet’s ongoing commitment to fight hunger and support the local communities it operates in. During the campaign, customers were invited to donate at checkout, and store operators were able to choose which local food bank or community organization they wished to support. Grocery Outlet also matched a portion of donations to amplify the impact, altogether raising over $200,000.

“Food insecurity continues to affect millions of Americans, and we are proud to stand alongside Feeding America to make a meaningful difference,” said Jason Potter, Grocery Outlet Chief Executive Officer, in the recent release. “Thanks to the generosity of our customers and the dedication of our store teams, we helped provide two million meals to people who need them most.”

Feeding America estimates that 47 million people in the U.S. face hunger, including 13 million of whom are children.

“We are grateful to Grocery Outlet and its customers for their incredible support in helping us provide meals to families who are facing hunger,” said Lauren Biedron, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. “Partnerships like this are essential to ensuring that everyone has access to the food they need.”

^{*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks.}