LAKELAND, FL - This Hunger Action Month, Publix Super Markets Charities (PSMC) is making its largest donation yet to help people experiencing food insecurity across Publix’s operating area. PSMC’s $25 million donation, a $10 million increase from last year, is supporting more than 350 local food banks and other nonprofit organizations, including 43 Feeding America® partner food banks.

Over 8,000 Publix associates are also volunteering at more than 150 nonprofit organizations during the company’s annual Publix Serves Week that focuses on feeding neighbors in need. Associates are engaging in community service activities that benefit their local areas.

“As a food retailer, we believe our greatest opportunity to give back is helping feed our neighbors in need — a responsibility we take to heart,” said Publix CEO Kevin Murphy in the recent release. “I’m proud of our associates for taking the time to come together and make a real difference where they live and work. We are also grateful to Publix Charities for its generous support and working with food banks throughout the Southeast to provide nourishment to our communities.”

Helping food banks meet local needs

PSMC’s donation helps support initiatives like weekend backpack programs, food pantries and meal delivery services. A portion of the donation will also help Feeding America partner food banks in Publix’s eight-state operating area fund one-time efforts, including vehicle purchases and other capital improvements, a press release stated. This brings PSMC’s total investment to help end hunger to over $103 million since 2015.

What Publix does year-round to help people facing hunger

According to Feeding America, nearly 12 million people in Publix’s eight operating states are food insecure. Throughout the year, the company works to help people have nutritious meals to eat through its register campaigns and food donations.

Twice a year, the Good Together hunger campaign invites customers and associates to donate at the register and join Publix in helping provide the fresh produce and nonperishable food items needed most by local food banks. The next campaign will run in stores Nov. 11-22.

Through the Good Together food donation program, Publix donates food that is no longer salable but safe for consumption to Feeding America partner food banks and their partner agencies. In 2025 alone, over 140 million pounds of food were donated — a single-year record for the program, which began in 2009.

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 260,000 associates, currently operates 1,442 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. For 29 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.

SALINAS, CA - Church Brothers Farms, a vertically integrated fresh produce grower and shipper, today announced a new conventional salad blend lineup organized into three distinct, shopper-friendly categories: Toppers, Tender & Sweet, and Crisp Classics. The new architecture spans 12 varieties and is designed to make it easier for shoppers to find the right product for every meal occasion while giving retailers a cleaner, more intuitive assortment to merchandise, stated in a press release.

Toppers are built for adding crunch, color, and texture including finishing touches for tacos, grain and protein bowls, sandwiches, or salads. Tender & Sweet features softer greens with broad appeal for salads, wraps, and everyday meal prep. Crisp Classics delivers the familiar romaine and lettuce blends shoppers already know and trust, serving as a reliable foundation for a wide range of meals.

"Our goal was to rethink the conventional salad blend category through the eyes of the shopper," said Tracy Carranza, VP of Retail Sales at Church Brothers Farms. "We saw an opportunity to simplify a lineup that can sometimes feel overwhelming at shelf. Rather than asking shoppers to navigate a large assortment of similar products, this new structure clearly communicates what each group brings to the meal and how it can be used."

The launch is paired with a packaging system that clearly differentiates each category at shelf while maintaining a cohesive Church Brothers Farms brand identity.

"We wanted the packaging to tell a clean and simple story," said Jon Gutierrez, Senior Brand Manager at Church Brothers Farms. "Each category is clearly identified, so shoppers can scan the case and immediately understand what they're looking at without having to read every label. It's a small design choice, but it makes a big difference in how quickly someone can find what they need."

The new conventional salad lineup will make its debut at the IFPA’s Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando on October 15-16. Visit Booth 2079 to learn more.

ORLANDO, FL - BrightFresh® Microgreens will debut an innovative new collection of eight Microgreen Salad Blends and six Micro Herbs at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, expanding the ways consumers can enjoy microgreens every day.

The new retail Microgreen Salad lineup includes Micro Arugula, Micro Broccoli, Micro Watercress, Micro Rainbow Salad, Micro Asian Salad, Micro Super Salad, Micro Crunchy Salad and Micro Spicy Salad. The collection will be introduced at BrightFresh® Microgreens Booth #2058.

Designed for convenience and versatility, the salads can be enjoyed straight from the package or incorporated into sandwiches, bowls, tacos, entrées, and other everyday meals. Each blend offers a distinct combination of flavor, color, and texture, making it easy for consumers to add fresh microgreens to the foods they already enjoy, stated in a press release.

BrightFresh® will also introduce six Micro Herbs, delivering familiar herb flavors in a fresh microgreen format. Created as an easy finishing ingredient, the herbs add fresh flavor, aroma, and visual appeal with little to no preparation — an effortless way to Finish Fresh.

“Microgreens have long been valued by chefs for their flavor, texture and versatility, and we see tremendous opportunity to make those same qualities more accessible to consumers,” said Marc Oshima, SVP of Sales. “These new products are designed to make fresh flavor simple, convenient and relevant to everyday eating.”

Grown in San Marcos, California, BrightFresh® Microgreens benefit from natural sunlight and the region’s distinctive coastal growing environment, supporting fresh, vibrant microgreens year-round.

The 14-product launch reflects the brand’s continued focus on making microgreens more approachable, versatile, and easy to incorporate into everyday meals.

Visit BrightFresh® Microgreens at Booth #2058 at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, FL October 15-16, 2026.

CHELAN, WA - A quick snack as students officially settle into their back-to-school routines. A tray of sliced apples and caramel sauce to satisfy that after-dinner sweet tooth. The still-steaming pie that sits on the countertop the morning of a family gathering. No matter how you prefer to enjoy them, apples have found their place in life’s most joyous moments.

Retailers looking to make the most of apple opportunities this season will be drawn to the Chelan Fresh booth (#1157) at the 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show, where the grower will be showcasing its club variety apples, SugarBee® and Rockit™, alongside its red-flesh varieties, Lucy™ Glo and Lucy™ Rose.

“These varieties draw a lot of attention to the produce department and do really well with consumers,” Mac Riggan, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, tells me. “We’ll also be showcasing our extensive lineup of organic apples and pears, along with the packaging for both. New this year will be an extensive showing of our 4 count Organic Apple ECO tray, which features all cardboard and no plastic.”

In its initial year, the Organic Apple ECO tray sold nearly 3.2 million individual 4 count units, signaling strong demand at retail.

“We offer our retail partners unique products that can help them create a point of differentiation among their competition with consumers who are looking for surprise and delight in the produce department,” Mac concludes.

The company’s robust apple and pear portfolio will be on display at booth #1157, so be sure to swing by during the show! Until then, be on the lookout for more updates from AndNowUKnow.