DELTA, BC - WINDSET FARMS® will be at this year's IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show, where the team is looking forward to connecting with industry, sharing everything from new products to what three decades of investment in greenhouse growing means for its customers and consumers today.

The show comes at a milestone moment for the company. Celebrating 30 years in controlled environment agriculture, Windset Farms grows premium greenhouse-grown vegetables for customers across North America and International markets. To mark the anniversary, Windset Farms recently released a video highlighting the company's successes over the years and what to expect in the years ahead. The video can be viewed here.

Windset’s Delta, British Columbia operation is the largest lit greenhouse vegetable facility in Western North America. Together with trusted grower partners in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and owned greenhouse production in California, Windset continues to strengthen its ability to deliver a reliable, year-round supply of fresh produce.

"As demand for fresh, premium greenhouse-grown vegetables continues to grow, we're investing in our people, our greenhouse platform, and the latest greenhouse technology to deliver the quality, flavor, consistency, and year-round supply our customers expect from Windset Farms," said Steven Newell.

Windset invites show attendees to stop by booth No. 1552 to see its greenhouse-grown tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and specialty items firsthand, and to learn more about what's next for the company, including continued expansion plans, packaging innovations, new products, and award-winning branding. 

“We’re excited to connect with all our partners who have helped us bring great-tasting produce to people’s tables every day of the year," said John Newel.

Learn more at Windset’s Booth No. 1552 at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, Florida, October 14–16.

SALINAS, CA - Tom and Steve Church, co-founders of Church Brothers Farms, will receive the E.E. "Gene" Harden Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA) at its Fall Recognition Event on Friday, October 9. The award recognizes individuals whose contributions have created a lasting legacy for Central Coast agriculture. The brothers will be introduced by longtime partner David Gill, co-founder of True Leaf Farms and last year's Harden Award recipient.

At the brothers' request, all proceeds from the afternoon’s live auction will benefit the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, a gathering place for families across Salinas, reflecting Church Brothers' longtime support of youth and community in the Valley.

"When Steve and I started out in the lettuce fields, the people around us were the ones who taught us what this business is about," said Tom Church in the recent release. "Being recognized by the Grower-Shipper Association means a lot, because it comes from those same people and that same community. I've been lucky to do this with my brother for more than forty years, and there's nobody I'd rather have shared the desk with."

The honor carries a family connection to the GSA itself. The brothers' father, Salinas attorney Sidney Church, represented many of the Valley's early grower-shippers and wrote the association's original bylaws.

Tom and Steve started in the Salinas lettuce fields as teenagers in the 1960s, working alongside Bracero crews. It's where they learned the value of hard work and respect for the land and the people who tend it. After college (Tom at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Steve at Arizona State University), Tom joined his uncle's Bruce Church Company, and Steve joined Growers Exchange. In 1981, Tom launched Fresh Western, one of the industry's first one-stop-shop operations combining commodity vegetables and value-added products. Steve joined him in 1985, and the brothers built the company until its 1993 sale, which led to the creation of River Ranch Fresh Foods.

In 1999, the brothers started over. With one computer and two desks facing each other in an office rented from their sister, they founded Church Brothers and set out to build the one-stop shop Tom had envisioned years earlier. Partnerships with David Gill and Neil Milburn created True Leaf Farms, and the combined company grew into a vertically integrated grower, harvester, processor and shipper with operations across California, Arizona and Mexico and more than 600 fresh vegetable items.

"Tom was always the one with the vision, and I was the one making sure the details held together. It's worked pretty well for us," said Steve Church. "To be recognized alongside the people who've received this award before us, people we've known and competed with and learned from our whole lives, is a real honor."

Along the way, the brothers helped move the industry forward. Tom brought the first form-fill-seal machine to Salinas, co-developed the injection ice system and Fresh Hold technology, and was a charter owner of Primus. Steve served as chairman of both the GSA and the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and on the boards of Western Growers and United Ag. In 2016, the brothers were jointly named The Packer's Produce Marketer of the Year.

Today the next generation leads the company, with Brian Church as CEO, Jeff Church as COO, Chuck Church as Chief Performance Officer and Megan Chedwick as Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance. Church Brothers Farms remains family owned and operated.

TAMPA, FL - The IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show comes to Orlando October 14-16, and Oppy is arriving with one of its widest ever showcases: Highlighting core items, longtime brands, and the growers behind them.

As a leading grower, marketer and distributor of fresh produce operating in 28 countries, Oppy will bring its portfolio to life for buyers, showcasing everything from category staples to standout new introductions.

"IFPA is one of those few moments each year when we can bring the full strength of our portfolio together under one roof," said President and Chief Operating Officer David Smith. "It's an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our grower-partners and connect with customers and industry leaders who are shaping the future of fresh produce."

Leading this year's display is Oppy's premium avocado program, in collaboration with Avoworks. What began as a strategic alliance in 2022 has evolved into a robust avocado platform that continues to grow in scale and value, helping customers meet rising consumer demand with confidence, alongside Oppy's partner Eco Farms.

On display is Soluna, the premium apple known for its deep burgundy skin and crisp balanced flavor, returning to the U.S. market for its second season with broadened distribution. The booth will also showcase Zespri kiwifruit, Sun Grape California grapes, Dole and Ocean Spray berries, and much more.

Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Categories James Milne shared, "Kiwi, avocados, grapes, berries, apples, hothouse, citrus, cherries and stone fruit are our strongest pillars in our portfolio, and IFPA is where we get to put that strength on full display. Retailers know they can count on us for innovation and consistency in those categories, season after season."

Looking ahead, Oppy is giving retailers a first look at its upcoming winter premium cherry program with quality fruit coming from Chile to brighten store shelves.

Stop by for a coffee and a chat with the Oppy team at booth #1943.

CORONA, CA - Index Fresh, a global avocado marketing and distribution company, has announced the addition of Caitlin Gerstenberger to the Sales & Business Development Team. Gerstenberger brings a decade of fresh produce sales and business development experience, with a background in building customer relationships and developing programs for retail, wholesale, and foodservice partners. She will join the Index Fresh team at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show, representing the company at booth #4157.

“Caitlin brings a strong understanding of the produce business and a thoughtful, customer-focused approach to building relationships,” said John Dmytriw, Vice President of Business Development at Index Fresh, in the recent release. “She understands the importance of listening to customers, identifying opportunities, and working across teams to deliver on their needs. We’re excited to welcome her to Index Fresh as we continue to strengthen our customer partnerships and grow our business.”

Most recently, Gerstenberger served as Director of National Business Development at Jac Vandenberg, working with key retail and wholesale accounts across the United States and Canada. In that role, she collaborated with company leadership and sales teams on sales strategies and grower programs that aligned with customer needs and market opportunities.

Previously, Gerstenberger spent more than eight years with The Oppenheimer Group, serving as Senior Business Development Representative for the Southeast United States. Her responsibilities included developing business across a 13-state region and managing large national chain accounts. She worked closely with customers, growers and internal teams to develop promotional programs, expand account coverage and support business growth.

“I’m excited to join Index Fresh and contribute to a team that values strong relationships and customer service,” said Gerstenberger. “I look forward to working with our customers to understand their priorities and develop avocado programs that support their business. The Global Produce & Floral Show will be a great opportunity to reconnect with industry partners and meet new customers alongside the Index Fresh team.”

Show attendees are invited to visit Index Fresh at booth #4157 to meet Gerstenberger and connect with the team about avocado sourcing, ripening, and customer programs.

ORLANDO, FL - Of any food category on the planet, fresh produce is by far the most versatile, colorful, and healthy, inspiring flavors and sensory experiences worldwide. Dates are one of those special niches of fresh produce that continue to inspire and aspire—providing retailers and foodservice companies with category lift, nutrient-dense benefits, and differentiation in the produce department. As we ramp up for the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Summit, Adam Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Oasis Dates, joins me to discuss what the brand and transforming company is up to and what customers can look forward to from the category as the new year wraps and 2027 heats up.

Oasis is preparing to debut new messaging and content initiatives to the trade and consumer, timed around IFPA. What's the core message you want attendees and retailers to walk away with?

Adam Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, Oasis Dates: As one of North America's largest date growers and processors, Oasis Dates delivers the highest-quality Medjool dates to retail partners and is a collaborative partner in helping to introduce shoppers to dates’ health benefits.

Our marketing campaign, Earth’s Most Versatile Fruit™, will be history-making and will drive consumers specifically to the Oasis Dates brand. This will increase demand by highlighting our three pillars to consumers: Oasis Dates are a Healthy Sweet Treat, Natural Energy Boost, and Culinary Secret Weapon™. We want attendees to leave our booth seeing what the date category can become, with the Oasis Dates brand, product innovation, advertising, and in-store merchandising leading an acceleration of growth.

What challenges in the category is this messaging built to address?

AC: Our messaging highlights just how versatile and useful Medjool dates are. In our planning stage, we conducted the world's largest consumer research study on date consumption to learn how to reach shoppers where they are, and discovered that one of the biggest challenges for this industry is lack of awareness and education about dates. As a result, our campaign messaging, Earth’s Most Versatile Fruit™, is built around helping consumers see the versatility of the dates and multiple ways they can fit into their routines and lifestyles.

What does the product portfolio look like that you'll be highlighting at the show?

AC: We will debut our entire product portfolio of seven unique items at the show, ranging from organic and conventional, whole and pitted Medjool dates and our innovative Boosted items: Cinnamon Oat Gut Health Date Boost and Salted Caramel Energy Date Boost. We’ll also showcase our cart-stopping shipper displays for both the Medjool and Boost product lines, bringing the bold imagery of our Earth’s Most Versatile Fruit™ campaign into the store.

Retailers have reportedly been coming to you with their own ideas rather than the other way around; what's an example of that entrepreneurial back-and-forth?

AC: We’ve had a very collaborative relationship with our retailer launch partners, and many have been refreshed to see a leader finally enter this category with innovative merchandising and products.

For example, Kroger challenged us to create new merchandising solutions for the Oasis Dates launch, including new displays focused on our Date Boost innovation and large-scale displays to promote our high-ring, no-shrink, organic Medjool dates during the upcoming holiday season. This reflects a collaborative partnership and confidence in Oasis to execute a huge program.

You mentioned exploring the NFL playoffs/Super Bowl as a new occasion for dates, backed by consumer research. How central is that push to the 2026/2027 roadmap?

AC: Our team is always looking for cultural moments where Oasis Dates fit naturally. Our consumer research showed that football watch parties, especially Super Bowl watch parties, are a promising new occasion for consumption. Inspired by these insights, we will be showcasing the industry’s first-ever football date display to encourage shoppers at the point of sale to add bacon-wrapped dates to their football snacking menu in addition to adding a healthy sweet treat to their charcuterie boards.

This is another example of the versatility of our marketing program, which will expand to other new consumption occasions in the future.

Check out booth # 1301 at the show and meet with the Oasis Dates team. See you all in Orlando!

ATLANTA, GA – As some companies transform their business models, they think about the best next step. Others think about the entire system. This is the space where Georgia-Pacific lives and thrives, constantly focusing and refocusing its solutions on what customers need, and how that fits into an ecosystem of opportunities for the client, the retailer, the consumer, and the planet. As we quickly approach the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, Lauren Campen, Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Communications—Packaging, took a moment to discuss the many things that Georgia-Pacific has in store for attendees and how differentiation equals value.

"We're bringing a diverse packaging program to the GPFS this year," Lauren begins. "We think differently about corrugated trays, display boxes, and more. Through Hummingbird, our digital print solution, we help brands bring their story to the box in weeks, not months. Add in Sterling Coated Rollstock, our protective, printable, and brand-enhancing coating, and we help our customers take their brand a step further. We also offer low minimums, the flexibility to run seasonal or promotional SKUs on a single roll, and a separate recycling program through GP Recycling that keeps the sustainability story going strong."

With that produce-centric mindset for GPFS, Georgia-Pacific will be bringing a version of its expansive watermelon box, built to withstand the weight of the fruit while showcasing digital design all at once. This is just one example of a solution that can tell many stories.

Georgia-Pacific will also have team members on hand at the show to talk about recycling, sustainability, and stewardship, elevating its strategy and circularity story for customers. These capabilities usually live in separate departments, but for Georgia-Pacific they are part of the same story. The team that builds the brand on the shelf can also help turn what many companies write off as waste, or wasted time, into value.

Make it a priority to stop by Georgia-Pacific's booth #2501 to learn more about the team behind multifaceted packaging solutions and how they see the circular system as good for the business as it is for the Earth.