BAKERSFIELD, CA - Grimmway Produce Group (GPG) just completed its 10th Annual Canned Food Drive, collecting 15,752 food items – nearly double 2024’s record total. This year’s effort brought together employees from every region and department, reflecting GPG’s shared commitment to giving back during an especially challenging year for many families.

Collections took place across GPG regions in California, Washington, and Georgia, with employees contributing non-perishable items for distribution to local food banks. In Kern County, donations totaling 11,361 pounds were delivered to Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), while items from other regions were provided to food banks serving their local communities.

“Our teams showed extraordinary effort this year,” said Jeff Huckaby, GPG President and CEO, in the recent release. “To see our employees nearly double last year’s contributions reflects who we are as a company – individuals who step up for one another and for the communities where we’re proud to live and work.”

Across GPG’s service areas, the need for food assistance continues to rise. The 26-county area surrounding Lake Park, Georgia, remains among the state’s highest for rates of food insecurity, while Kern County consistently ranks as one of the areas of greatest need nationally. Rising costs and increased demand for assistance have made community donations especially critical during this holiday season.

GPG will again match 100% of all employee-donated items, doubling the overall impact. For Kern County alone, this match equates to thousands of dollars in additional support for CAPK, supporting their mission to provide essential resources to families across the Central Valley.

PLANT CITY, FL - Plant City based, international grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries, Wish Farms, is proud to share that its proprietary breeding company, Berry Sweet Research (BSR), is advancing quickly towards commercialization of new varieties. Entering its fourth year of rigorous seedling evaluation, BSR is setting new benchmarks in innovation, flavor, and performance in its mission of developing premium raspberry and blackberry varieties.

At the helm is Carlos Fear, a renowned plant breeder and horticulturalist with thirty-five years of industry experience. Fear spent much of his career at Driscoll’s, where he played a pivotal role developing industry leading berry varieties. He is the inventor or co-inventor on thirty-five patents spanning raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.

“We are well on our way to breed and license superior proprietary genetics,” said Carlos Fear in the recent release. “All of our efforts are driven by developing exceptional flavor through the understanding of chemistry, molecular genetics, germplasm, sensory analysis, and optimization of production practices.”

Each year, BSR assesses 10,000 seedlings, and advances approximately one-hundred elite selections for further evaluation across three strategic trial locations in California and Mexico. Selections are chosen based on exceptional yield, superior postharvest performance, and standout flavor criteria that reflect the evolving demands of growers, retailers, and consumers.

Wish Farms Chief Operating Officer, James Peterson: “Carlos and his team bring unique skill set, expertise, and vision to our genetic initiatives. The program’s momentum continues to build, as results from our 2025 raspberry test plots show outstanding promise.”

BSR is preparing to launch full tunnel pre-commercial trials by 2026, featuring two standout raspberry selections. BSR anticipates expanding pre-commercial trials to include two to four selections with growers, paving the way for the release of up to two top-performing varieties for commercial production in 2027.

BSR is committed to delivering varieties that not only meet the highest standards of quality and consistency but also empower growers with genetics that thrive in diverse environments.

BLANDON, PA - Giorgio is proud to announce that its Grill Packs have been named the winner of the 2025 Joe Nucci Award for Product Innovation. The award was presented during the Thought Leaders Keynote Breakfast at the New York Produce Show.

Competition was strong, with the Grill Packs standing out among ten innovative produce products selected by an esteemed panel of judges from Produce Business - leaders well recognized for their expertise in the produce industry.

“It’s an honor to receive such an achievement,” said Bryan Shelton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Giorgio, in the recent release. “Across all our value-added products, innovation is at the forefront. Our goal is to connect consumers with healthy, quick meal solutions that deliver both nutritional benefits and craveable flavor.”

Giorgio’s Grill Packs feature fresh, sliced mushrooms in three flavor varieties: Steak Seasoning, Smokey Honey Habanero, or Brown Sugar Bourbon. Each pack offers a unique flavor experience that complements a wide range of meals or can be enjoyed on its own. Designed with convenience in mind, the packs can be cooked directly on the grill or in the oven using the included aluminum tray.

“From concept to design marketing, our goal with the Grill Packs has been to highlight convenience and accessibility,” said Naba Bakar, Vice President of Marketing at GoldenSun Insights. “Consumers can enjoy a healthy, flavorful plate of vegetables without spending hours in the kitchen or a fortune on takeout. We want to show that everyone, from home cooks experimenting in the kitchen to foodservice professionals - can use our products to elevate everyday meals.”

Looking ahead, Giorgio remains committed to driving innovation in the produce aisle and delivering products that make healthy eating easier and more enjoyable. Giorgio will continue expanding its value-added offerings, empowering consumers to incorporate fresh, flavorful mushrooms into everyday meals with ease.

YERINGTON, NV - Sweetie Tearless™ onions are a breath of fresh air in the kitchen. Naturally sweet and easy on the eyes, these innovative onions bring all the flavor without the fuss. No crying, just better cooking.

Here’s What’s in Store.

Shoppers are looking for products that make life easier—and Peri & Sons Farms’ Sweetie Tearless onions deliver. Grown from proprietary, non-GMO seeds using an all-natural method, these premium and organic onions retain their signature sweetness without the eye irritation that typically comes with slicing.

No goggles. No freezer tricks. No tears. Just fresh, flavorful cooking made simple.

And because they’re grown with care using sustainable farming practices, Sweetie Tearless onions are a smart, feel-good option that both retailers and shoppers can stand behind.

Naturally sweet without any tears, Sweetie Tearless onions are the upgrade your produce aisle has been waiting for.

Thanks for watching What's in Store.

ISRAEL - With flavor, quality, and disease resistance at the forefront, Breedx is further elevating its collection of high-performing pepper and tomato varieties to meet the evolving demands of growers and consumers alike.

“At Breedx, we continue to expand our portfolio with new, high-performing pepper and tomato varieties that combine appealing look, superior flavor, yield, and disease resistance,” shares Yaron Giras, Sales and Marketing Manager, North America. “These varieties deliver strong agronomic performance, reduced waste through improved fruit set and firmness, and differentiated products that help retailers create added value in their premium segments.”

Some of the newest introductions to the vegetable breeding company’s portfolio include:

• Sweet and Seedless Mini Peppers, which provide growers with high yield, uniform fruit size, and excellent shelf-life, while offering consumers a sweet, crunchy, healthy, and convenient snack option
• High-Flavor Taste-Tomatoes, developed with a focus on taste, texture, and unique colors and shapes, adapted for both high-tech greenhouses and mid-low-tech conditions

“One of Breedx’s unique strengths is our dual-focus breeding strategy—developing genetics that perform exceptionally in both advanced greenhouse environments and traditional mid-low-tech production systems,” Yaron explains. “Additionally, we continue to pioneer new seedless traits, high-flavor profiles, uniformity, and disease resistance packages that align with growers’ needs for reliable yield and consumers' demand for better taste in a convenient, unique experience.”

To continue elevating its portfolio and driving varietal development, Breedx has strategically expanded its R&D, commercial, and technical support teams globally, with accelerated growth in North America and Europe.

“These additions strengthen our capacity to work closely with growers, understand local production challenges, and accelerate the introduction of new genetics to the market,” Yaron tells me. “By combining scientific expertise with strong market insight, we ensure our breeding pipeline remains agile, focused, and aligned with real grower, shipper, retailer, and consumer needs.”

Looking ahead to 2026, the company has set its focus on multiple key areas of growth, including:

• Expanding its global footprint in key markets, including North America, Mexico, and Europe
• Commercializing new product segments such as advanced seedless peppers and high-flavor tomato lines
• Boosting sustainability and efficiency by breeding resilient varieties that require fewer inputs and adapt to climate challenges
• Building strong partnerships with leading fully integrated growers, distributors, and retailers to accelerate innovation and adoption

For further information contact Breedx at: https://www.breedx.com/contact-us/

As Breedx continues to chart new courses for the tomato and pepper categories, AndNowUKnow will be here to report on the latest developments.

MONTREAL, QC - As consumers continue to let their personal values guide their decisions in the grocery store, Fairtrade-certified offerings continue to increase their appeal—especially when supplied by a women-owned, Certified B Corporation that cares for both its people and the planet. Kim Chackal, Equifruit’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, recently took a moment to explain what the Fairtrade label means to growers, retailers, and consumers alike.

“Fairtrade International is internationally recognized, respected, and trusted, and it has the most rigorous standards to ensure that the farmers at the beginning of the supply chain have the most benefits,” says Kim Chackal, Co-Owner and Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “If we want to do business within an ethical framework, we have to uphold the most rigorous standards. Fairtrade International is the only certification that's 50 percent owned by the growers themselves.”

By offering Fairtrade-certified fruit, importers like Equifruit agree to pay a Fairtrade premium, which financially supports growers and the improvement of their businesses and communities. This results in a slightly higher price point for the retailer and consumer—an investment that largely pays off when it comes to sustainability and consumer loyalty.

“Our fruit is marginally more expensive than the big guys, and it always will be,” Kim explains. “That is because when you buy an Equifruit banana, you know where that product came from, and you understand the values of the people who are waking up each day to improve the banana industry.”

However, the increased pricing for Equifruit’s Fairtrade bananas results in only an additional $5 spend per year. To effectively communicate this to consumers, the brand optimizes eye-catching packaging and point-of-sale (POS) materials to educate shoppers in a clever and concise way.

“What really sets us apart is our packaging. It’s very vibrant and colorful, and anybody who takes the time to read it will quickly understand that this is a brand that's all about paying farmers fairly,” Kim says. “We also work very closely with our retail partners, and we can offer a turnkey solution at retail depending on what their merchandising needs are.”

As Kim goes on to explain, offering Fairtrade bananas is a great way for retailers to signal their sustainability values to consumers.

“The consumer who's buying bananas weekly understands the 20 cents more per pound that they are paying supports a woman-owned, Fairtrade, B Corp-certified business that is all about improving the lives and communities of banana farmers,” Kim points out. “They actually feel this great connection to the brand, and the halo effect then spreads to the retailer that's chosen to partner with us. Bringing Equifruit bananas into your banana set is a strategic move to position you as a sustainability superstar.”

This is especially true when you consider the category’s expansive reach.

“Bananas represent roughly 1 percent of total grocery store sales,” Kim shares. “From a strategic perspective, if a retailer wants to communicate that they care about farmers and where our food comes from, what better touchpoint than one of the highest touchpoints in the whole store?”

Equifruit also works closely with its partners to track the impact of the Fairtrade premium spend, contributing to retailers’ investment and sustainability metrics.

As we enter 2026, Equifruit is ringing in the year of the Banana Badass, bringing Fairtrade bananas into a well-deserved spotlight.

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