VALENCIA, CA - Backed by a formidable network of growers, a monumental partnership, and a comprehensive marketing portfolio, Sunkist Growers is announcing a strong kickoff to the lemon season. Reporting good quality as the season begins, Cassie Howard, Senior Director of Category Management and Marketing, gave us a closer look at the supplier’s lemon crop.

“Our network of California and Arizona growers has reported healthy trees and strong fruit set, with early volume already shipping from the desert region as well as the Central Valley,” Cassie Howard, Senior Director of Category Management and Marketing, tells me. “Sunkist fancy grade fruit is looking great, and we are hearing really positive feedback from our customers on the quality they are receiving. Our Organic Lemon crop is also seeing strong quality, with good movement across a wide variety of sizes.”

The grower cooperative expects promotable opportunities for both bagged and bulk lemons throughout the holiday season and into 2026. Further elevating the company’s lemon program, Sunkist is happy to welcome Limoneira Company, one of its original founding members, back into the organization.

“This strategic alignment strengthens our lemon category foundation and ensures enhanced service and supply for our customers,” explains Cassie. “This partnership amplifies our ability to meet demand year-round, bolstering a lemon program that already includes conventional and organic fruit and multiple growing districts for seasonal continuity. It also reinforces our long-term vision: delivering category leadership through service, supply, and the strength of a grower-owned system.”

Effective November 1, 2025, Limoneira transitioned its fresh citrus sales and marketing into the cooperative, bringing expanded scale and optimized access to market.

“As a cooperative built by growers, Sunkist remains focused on delivering category growth through quality fruit, robust supply chains, and retail-ready marketing support,” Cassie concludes. “Our year-round lemon program allows partners to plan with confidence, while our broader citrus portfolio continues to drive seasonal momentum. That includes programs like our NBCF Pink Cara Cara initiative and our growing Sunkist Cali™ Mandarins line—both of which continue to resonate with today’s citrus shopper.”

With great quality, enhanced capabilities, and proven strategies for driving demand, Sunkist Growers is helping retailers maintain the strength of this staple category. Continue reading ANUK as we bring you the latest industry news.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - As consumers begin their Thanksgiving shopping and prepare for a month filled with holiday meals and entertaining, Side Delights® urges retailers to merchandise potatoes prominently as a reliable, high-velocity staple for the season.

Unlike many highly perishable produce items, potatoes offer a long shelf life and consistent household usage. When stored properly in a dark, cool, dry environment, potatoes can maintain quality for months, giving shoppers confidence in stocking up early and reducing waste. As America’s #1 vegetable, potatoes continue to deliver strong category demand across all formats.

Side Delights® provides retailers with a broad portfolio designed to meet every shopper’s need: core bagged potatoes in multiple sizes and varieties (Russet, Yellow, White, and Red), top-selling convenience potatoes, petite potatoes, organic, and fresh-cut potatoes. This assortment enables retailers to drive incremental sales through strategic secondary placements, bulk displays, and cross-promotions tied to holiday meal planning.

“Potatoes remain one of the most dependable holiday performers, especially for time-pressed consumers looking for dishes they can prepare in advance,” said Kathleen Triou, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Solutions Network, in the recent release. “From Thanksgiving mashed potatoes and mashed potato casseroles, quick healthy casseroles or potato turkey pot pies, Side Delights® helps retailers meet shopper expectations for convenience, value, and versatility during the busiest cooking season of the year.”

Retailers can leverage potatoes’ budget-friendly price point, strong household penetration, and relevance across multiple holiday menus to drive traffic and basket size throughout November and December.

The Side Delights® portfolio includes a variety of choices of nutritious, economical potato products to stock the pantry, prepare ahead, or enjoy any time. For more information on Side Delights® and its network of farms, visit FreshSolutionsNet.com, SideDelights.com, and GrownWhereItMatters.com.

CASTROVILLE, CA - Ocean Mist Farms, North America’s leading grower/shipper of fresh artichokes, is headed to the Big Apple for the 2025 New York Produce Show where the company will showcase – and sample – its latest innovations in value-added fresh vegetables.

“We’ll be featuring our newly rebranded ‘No Shame in a Shortcut’ Roastables line in our booth at the show,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Drew, in the recent release. “The feedback we’ve received on these convenient and delicious items has been phenomenal – and we’re thrilled to see how strongly they’re resonating with consumers.”

Launched last year, Roastables Ready-to-Cook kits quickly gained recognition as one of the most innovative products in the fresh-produce industry. Just months after their debut, the line was honored with the Joe Nucci Award for Product Innovation at the New York Produce Show, celebrating it as “the best product innovation in service of expanding fresh fruit and vegetable consumption.”

In addition to the refreshed Roastables line, Ocean Mist Farms will also be soft-launching and sampling their latest innovation – a first-of-its-kind line inspired by Roastables. But you’ll need to swing by their booth (#356) to check it out and try a sample! Designed for busy households, this new concept makes preparing fresh vegetable dishes easier – and more enjoyable – than ever. Virtually no prep, mess, or cleanup required…just wholesome, flavorful meals in minutes.

Each of the seven Roastables SKUs – including halved Brussels sprouts, broccoli florets, and cauliflower florets – feature unique, chef-crafted flavor profiles to suit every palate. “We know consumers across all age groups are juggling busy schedules and need help making fresh, healthy meals quickly,” Drew added. “Our goal is to create convenient, time-saving meal solutions that don’t sacrifice flavor or quality – because that’s what brings people back for the second purchase.”

With its rebranded Roastables line debuting in stores next month, Ocean Mist continues to strengthen its position as a category innovator and trusted partner in fresh, value-added vegetables. “We’ve invested significant energy and resources into understanding evolving consumer needs,” Drew said. “That insight fuels our product development process and ensures we’re delivering on-trend, solution-driven innovations that delight consumers, while expanding the category and driving sales growth for our retail partners.”