WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms proudly announces it is now a Certified B Corporation®, joining a global community of businesses committed to using business as a force for good.

Just as Fair Trade USA and USDA Organic certifications validate how berries are grown, B Corp certification recognizes how companies operate. With this certification, California Giant demonstrates its commitment to meeting the high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Joe Barsi, President and CEO of California Giant Berry Farms, said in the recent release, “Our vision is to be the most sustainable fresh berry company in the world, because we believe that’s the only way to provide premium berries for generations to come. Becoming B Corp Certified is a significant milestone on our sustainability journey, as it holds us publicly accountable for real, lasting progress.”

Since its founding in 1983, California Giant has been a family-owned, purpose-driven company. As part of its sustainability roadmap, California Giant has recently announced several key milestones, including:

• Enhanced grower partnerships through Fair Trade USA and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) verification programs.
• Introducing company supported volunteer hours as well as reinstating its Green Team that provides employee education on California Giant’s environmental and societal impacts.
• Conducted a materiality assessment that informed new sustainability metrics and goals for internal and external benchmarking.
• Named as the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County 2024 Food Donor of the Year.
• Installing a solar array at our Santa Maria, CA cooler, expected to offset 50-60 percent of the facility’s grid electricity use.

B Corp certification is a part of California Giant’s broader “Berries with Purpose” ideology—an ongoing commitment to nourishing communities, protecting the planet, and delivering exceptional berries for generations to come.

​​“With our Berries with Purpose commitment,” said Catherine Campbell, Director of Sustainability at California Giant Berry Farms, “we’ve formalized our purpose, set strategic targets, and openly shared our progress through our Sustainability Report. Becoming a B Corp is the result of our team’s incredible achievements to date. We’re honored to join the B Corp community as we continue to grow our positive impact in the berry industry.”

CARLISLE, PA - The GIANT Company announced plans for a new store in Glen Mills, PA. The approximately 53,000 square foot store is part of a new ground up shopping center, The Shoppes at Concord, located at the corner of Route 202/Wilmington Pike and Ridge Road in Concord Township.

“For nearly four decades, we’ve been a part of Delaware County, continually investing in our stores, the surrounding neighborhoods, and the families who call Delco home. Today’s news reinforces our commitment to not only growing in, but also with, the communities we proudly serve,” said John Ruane, president, The GIANT Company, in the recent release. “We’re looking forward to introducing our new Glen Mills neighbors to the freshness and value GIANT is known for, in addition to having them experience the latest grocery amenities and service delivered with kindness by our team.”

Construction is scheduled to begin next year, subject to obtaining the necessary permits and approvals. Specific store amenities and employment opportunities, as well as an opening date, will be shared at a later date.

Currently, The GIANT Company operates 10 stores and employs more than 1,800 team members in Delaware County.

NEWARK, NY - Crunch Time Apple Growers, owned by nearly 170 New York apple growers and responsible for bringing SnapDragon apples to retailers across the country, is giving fans a chance to win big this season – both on and off the field. Crunch Time, specifically SnapDragon apples, is partnering with the Pro Football Hall of Fame for a sweepstakes that will award one lucky winner a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Football’s Greatest Weekend in Canton, Ohio, where they’ll attend the Hall of Fame Game and the Enshrinement of the Class of 2026.

As part of the campaign rollout, Crunch Time is currently recruiting retailers who sell SnapDragon apples to join the campaign. Participating retailers will receive in-store marketing support, including signage featuring Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed, and potentially other Hall of Famers.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for retailers to offer this sweepstakes to their shoppers,” said Jessica Wells, Executive Director of Crunch Time Apple Growers, in the recent release. “Apples aren’t typically top-of-mind in the winter months, but this promotion creates a renewed sense of excitement for them in-store – the timing of it aligns perfectly with the end of the football season, the big game and new Hall of Fame members being announced. This campaign will boost sales while helping retailers to engage directly with their shoppers. And who wouldn’t want to be able to say they helped send a shopper to the Hall of Fame?!”

The Snap Your Way to Canton sweepstakes officially starts in December, with a grand prize winner to be drawn in March of 2026. Fans can enter by purchasing SnapDragon apples, and can follow along on SnapDragon’s social media channels for more details*. The campaign rollout officially kicked off at this year’s IFPA show, where Reed, the spokesman for the sweepstakes, held a meet and greet with fans and discussed the upcoming promotion.

“This partnership is a natural fit for the SnapDragon brand,” added Wells. “SnapDragon apples are the variety of choice for anyone who seeks out unique experiences and fosters a competitive spirit – we’re thrilled to team up with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to bring our audiences a fun, exciting way to celebrate their love of sports while enjoying their favorite apple.”

For more information, including how to commit to participating at the retailer-level, please contact [email protected].

UNITED STATES - Trader Joe’s is closing out the year with a slate of new store openings, adding eleven locations across the country as part of its ongoing national expansion strategy.

Following months of steady growth, the retailer has now officially opened new stores in Daytona Beach, FL; Newton, MA; Exton, PA; Goodyear, AZ; Washington–Friendship Heights, DC; Melbourne, FL; Broken Arrow, OK; Lacey, WA; Shelton, CT; and Kingwood, TX.

According to the releases, two additional openings round out the list: Costa Mesa, CA, which opens December 11, and Columbia, SC and Williamsville, NY, both welcoming shoppers on December 12.

This latest wave continues a remarkable cadence for the grocer, which has opened at least one—often several—new stores nearly every month of 2025. The new sites strengthen Trader Joe’s footprint across the Southeast, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and Southwest, bringing its neighborhood-style shopping experience to even more communities.

As the retailer builds out its coast-to-coast network, ANUK will continue tracking each new opening and the broader growth strategy behind them. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bolthouse Fresh Foods, a leader in premium fresh carrots and innovative produce offerings, is proud to unveil its 2025 holiday initiative, the Reindeer Ready campaign. This year’s program features the launch of its limited-time, family-friendly Reindeer Carrot Snacks. The festive holiday packaging is designed to bring moments of joy, creativity, and togetherness to households this December.

“December is a special time for families, and we’re proud to play even a small part in creating those moments,” said Karen White, Vice President of Marketing, in the recent release. “Reindeer Ready brings a bit of holiday magic into homes by giving kids a fun and playful way to take part in the tradition of leaving carrots out for Santa’s reindeer. As a company rooted in community, we love celebrating the holidays with the families who bring our products into their homes. It’s our way of sharing the season together.”

Last year’s Are You Reindeer Ready digital and social campaign introduced Bolthouse Fresh™ playful team of reindeer. It quickly resonated with families through holiday-themed activities and printable tags for carrots left out for Santa’s reindeer. Building on that momentum, this year’s Reindeer Ready campaign expands from online engagement to an in-store and in-home experience with limited-time holiday packaging designed to bring kids directly into the fun.

Key Features of the 2025 Initiative Include:

• Limited-edition holiday packaging featuring kid-friendly visuals and a customizable “write-your-name” panel that lets children personalize their pack and create an interactive Reindeer Ready moment at home.
• A dedicated Reindeer Ready activity webpage, accessible through the QR code on each package or at www.BolthouseFresh.com/holiday. Families can download free coloring pages and activity sheets and submit their completed creations.
• A month-long social media program throughout December featuring the Bolthouse Fresh reindeer fleet along with holiday-themed content created for kids and kids at heart.

“The holidays are a time when families look for little ways to have fun together,” added White. “With this campaign and our new packaging, we’re excited to help new traditions take root and to make carrots part of the joy and creativity of the holiday season.”

The Reindeer Ready campaign and holiday packaging will begin rolling out regionally across select retailers in early December. Consumers can follow Bolthouse Fresh™ on Instagram and Facebook for activity downloads and campaign updates.

MIAMI, FL - When it comes to holiday prep, one-stop shops are a destination of convenience for all. This, Katiana Valdes, Marketing Director for Crystal Valley Foods, recently pointed out to me, includes buyers looking to diversify the produce department.

Luckily, the grower has fresh holiday shopping lists checked twice across multiple categories, including blueberries, French green beans, pomegranate arils, and green and white asparagus.

“All these items have good demand and supply during this time of year,” Katiana told me. “Retailers can create fun holiday-themed areas and cross-merchandise these items with other seasonal staples. For example, French beans with crispy onions and cream of mushroom soup, for a casserole idea, asparagus with meats, lemon, bacon, or hollandaise sauce, and pom arils with cheeses or champagne.”

Diving in further, Katiana explored with me a few of the Crystal Valley team’s favorite holiday ways to enhance displays and capitalize on festive trends like health-conscious feasting and premium entertaining.

French Beans

As is typical during this season, Crystal Valley always expects good volume but high demand during the holidays. To help balance the scales, the grower offers organic and conventional French beans in a variety of sizes.

“French beans shine for their consistent quality and supply, especially during the holidays when shoppers seek fresh, versatile sides for family meals and entertaining,” Katiana said, treating me to some tasty trivia. “This year is the 70th anniversary of the Green Bean Casserole, a favorite dish to serve from Thanksgiving through Christmas in the U.S. French beans are the perfect upgrade for the iconic casserole. They’re slender, tender, more flavorful than standard green beans, and hold their shape beautifully.”

Green and White Asparagus

Peruvian asparagus is typically at the end of its peak in November, making it a good time of year to show off this delicious and healthy holiday side. Both colors are easy to pre and cook during a hectic time of year, with white asparagus offering a unique and special option to supply and highlight during the holidays.

“White asparagus offers a little excitement to your asparagus lineup as well as good margins,” Katiana said, sharing that white asparagus for the U.S. market is produced in Peru, with Crystal Valley being one of its top importers. “Historically, white asparagus has been predominantly consumed in the European market, however, the holidays are a great time to display and promote the delicious and elegant veggie in the United States.”

Pomegranate Arils

Another vibrant color to add to the fresh department is the deep red of pomegranate arils. Crystal Valley offers 4.4 oz cups for retail, as well as 1 kg bags for foodservice customers.

“Demand and supply are typically good for the holiday season. These add the perfect pop of color and crunch for festive holiday sides, cocktails, apps, and desserts. Consumption continues to grow for this superfood, and the best part is that they are now available in convenient cups so consumers don’t have to worry about how to cut or prepare a whole pomegranate,” Katiana explained.

Blueberries

Our industry has performed a blue miracle in ensuring this berry is now a year-round favorite, with special plentifulness and possibilities around the holiday season.

“Demand is good during the holidays as consumers use them in baking, for garnishes, and even for healthy snacking in between the festivities! We are receiving our last arrival from Peru in mid-December and will start with Chilean blueberries around the same time,” Katiana concluded.

With so many produce possibilities to deck every holiday opportunity with, AndNowUKnow will continue to report on ways to inspire consumption this giving season as we count down toward 2026.

FOWLER, CA - California’s citrus season is in full swing, and the Bee Sweet Citrus team has a robust line of winter varieties available for seasonal promotions.

“Winter is a great time for marketing the citrus category because most shoppers are either gearing up for festive gatherings or seeking reprieve during cold and flu season,” explained Monique Mueller, Director of Communications at Bee Sweet Citrus, in the recent release. “We’re thrilled to offer an incredible array of citrus varieties to our customers that not only enhance the flavor of holiday meals but also pack a powerful punch of vitamin C to keep everyone feeling their best.”

Since the start of the season, Bee Sweet Citrus has added mandarins, lemons, Navel oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Meyer lemons, pummelos, grapefruit, Golden Gem grapefruit, and Royal Red oranges to its winter portfolio. The company’s field team reports that the quality and flavor of each variety have met, or surpassed, company standards.

“We had to work around a couple of storms early in the season but have been able to maintain a steady harvest pace,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Harvesting and Grower Relations Randy Stucky. “Maturity is ahead of past seasons, and everything is eating great right now, especially our mandarin and Navel varieties. Overall, size structure is bigger than last season, and we should have consistent supplies of everything throughout the next few months.”

Over the next few weeks, Bee Sweet’s customers can also expect to see their newly re-branded Heirloom Navels as part of its variety line-up. All the company’s winter varieties are available in both bag and bulk items.

To learn more about the company’s available varieties and supporting point-of-sale material, please call a Bee Sweet Citrus sales representative at 559-834-4200 or visit www.beesweetcitrus.com.

BAKERSIFIELD, CA - Sun World International’s partnership with Salling Group has sparked a grape craze in Denmark this fall, introducing AUTUMNCRISP green seedless grapes to Danish shoppers for the first time — and marking a major milestone for branded produce in Europe.

Since hitting shelves across føtex, Bilka, and Netto, AUTUMNCRISP has driven remarkable momentum with a 90% sales increase, contributing to an overall 25% annual growth in the grape category. This growth is a direct result of the robust campaign which not only introduced shoppers to AUTUMNCRISP’s signature crisp bite and perfectly balanced sweetness but also positioned Salling Group as the first retailer in the EU to feature branded grape packaging, setting a bold new tone for the category and for branded produce overall.

“This partnership brought together two ends of the innovation spectrum,” said Elena Hernandez, Director of Global Marketing at Sun World International in the recent release. “At Sun World, everything begins with science: pioneering breeding technologies that deliver the taste, texture, and eating experience consumers crave. Our licensees bring that promise to life in the vineyard, but it’s our retail partners who complete the story. Retailers like Salling Group translate great fruit into a great experience, creating the connection point where shoppers discover, choose, and fall in love with our brands. Their success is an example of what happens when an exceptional product meets exceptional execution. Together, we built a retail model designed to resonate with consumers from first discovery to the 
last bite.”

The campaign’s digital footprint matched its in-store success. A high-impact influencer activation generated more than 1.5 million impressions across Instagram and TikTok. Danish food and lifestyle creators showcased AUTUMNCRISP’s giant size, luminous color, and refreshing flavor through snackable recipes and shareable moments, inspiring trial and driving buzz among new audiences. In stores, bright displays featuring branded packaging and targeted digital promotions helped turn AUTUMNCRISP into a must-try item throughout Salling Group’s banner stores such as føtex, Bilka, and Netto.

“At Salling Group, we’re always looking for ways to delight our customers,” said Anders Juul, category manager, fruit and vegetables at Salling Group. “AUTUMNCRISP grapes delivered on every front — flavor, freshness, and innovation — and quickly became a fan favorite. This launch underscores our commitment to bringing the very best in fresh produce to Danish households and reflects the connection between the shopping and eating experience we aim to bring to everyone who steps foot in our stores.”

The launch marked just the beginning of a fruitful partnership. As AUTUMNCRISP continues to win over Danish households, Sun World and Salling Group are already exploring new ways to bring even more flavor, freshness, and innovation to produce aisles across Europe.

WETHAMPTON BEACH, NY - Andrew M. Pollak, CEO and owner of ADS Management, the parent company of Hapco Farms, Freshouse, Barnwood Valley Farms, MR Farms and Northwest Wine Services, passed away on December 7, 2025, at the age of 65 after a short illness.

A third-generation grower and a true trailblazer in the agricultural industry, Mr. Pollak carried forward a family legacy that began in 1945 when his grandfather, Henry Pollak, started the business selling fertilizer to Long Island’s potato growers. Henry’s son, Harvey, later expanded operations into Maine and Canada, ultimately building a network across all major potato-growing regions in the United States.

Under Andy’s leadership, the company evolved far beyond its roots, an announcement from the company stated. He transformed the business into a full-line supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables, providing year-round produce to major retailers throughout the Northeast. A Cornell graduate driven by a passion for farming and strong business insight, Andy expanded the organization to more than 500 employees and forged multiple strategic partnerships, positioning ADS Management as a leader in the produce industry.

“Andy’s passing is an immense loss for our company and for the entire produce industry,” said Eric Scannelli, COO of ADS Management. “His core mission was to deliver quality product to our customers, and he drew on his deep knowledge and strong relationships to fulfill that mission every single day.”

ADS Management is a genuine family business, rooted in family values and structured to uphold his legacy and vision moving forward.

“Andy was a mentor to me for over 38 years.” said Jamey Friedman President of Freshouse Produce. “He built a company with family values touching everyone who worked for him. His vision and passion were unmatched. He was always striving to grow our businesses, expanding our farming operations and developing a one-of-a-kind distribution infrastructure” he added.

Alongside his passion for farming, Andy was an avid fisherman. Some of his happiest moments were spent aboard his boat, Hot Potato, enjoying time on the water with family and friends.

Andy is survived by his children Brian, Bella, and Mia; his parents Harvey (Teresa) and Meryl; and his siblings Debbie, Danny and Nancy. He was predeceased by his son, Jason.