WASCO, CA - Sun World International, the global fruit breeder, licensor and marketer behind brands like AUTUMNCRISP®, RUBY RUSH®, and MIDNIGHT BEAUTY® showcased its latest advancements at the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show October 16-18, 2025, in Anaheim, California.

As the company approaches its 50th anniversary next year, Sun World enters one of the most transformative chapters in its history — expanding beyond table grapes into citrus, mangoes, and cherries while continuing to push the boundaries of genetics, flavor, and sustainability. From the global success of AUTUMNCRISP grapes to the newly announced partnership with Pairwise to develop the world’s first pitless cherry, innovation remains the engine behind Sun World’s growth.

The company’s commitment to bold, science-backed progress was also recognized during the show, where Sun World Executive Chair David Marguleas was honored with IFPA’s Science & Technology Circle of Excellence Award. The award celebrates individuals advancing the produce industry through innovation and leadership, and it reflects Sun World’s role in applying breakthrough technologies to real-world challenges— driving impact from genetics to global commercialization. Pairwise CEO Tom Adams also was recognized, reflecting the shared commitment to innovation that drives the companies’ groundbreaking work on pitless cherries.

“Fifty years of progress has taught us that innovation isn’t a milestone — it’s a mindset,” said Bernardo Calvo, president and CEO of Sun World International, in the recent release. “Our role is to balance one foot in the present and one in the future: creating fruit that excites consumers today while anticipating what they’ll crave five to even ten years from now.”

At IFPA, Sun World shone the spotlight on its expanding breeding programs that are shaping the future of the fresh produce aisle. This included next-generation grape varieties bred for enhanced texture, color, and shelf life; emerging mango selections designed to deliver smoother, less fibrous eating experiences; and citrus varieties that bring new flavor notes and season extensions to retailers.

For retailers, Sun World’s innovation pipeline delivers a win-win: fruit that performs beautifully in-store and meets the rising consumer demand for flavor, convenience, and consistency. With global partnerships spanning 30+ countries, Sun World continues to scale its breakthroughs, helping retailers and growers build categories that thrive year-round.

“Every milestone we reach opens new doors for what’s next,” added Calvo. “This is one of the most pivotal moments in Sun World’s journey — and it’s only the beginning.”

Learn more about Sun World’s pioneering work in fruit breeding and brand development at sun-world.com.

ORLANDO, FL - Fresh Express®, a brand leader in value-added salads, turned heads and delighted taste buds at this year's International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show, where the brand brought its signature creativity, innovation and culinary inspiration to life.

From October 16–18, attendees at Booth #2139 experienced the energy and flavor Fresh Express is known for, including product sampling, interactive appearances and engaging sessions that showcased the brand's latest innovations—most notably, the debut of the Mediterranean Herb Chopped Kit.

The excitement reached a fever pitch when actress, cookbook author and mom Tiffani Thiessen joined the Fresh Express booth to connect with fans and attendees. Thiessen, now part of the Fresh Expressionists program, shared her enthusiasm for the new salad kit and the brand's mission to make healthy eating both convenient and delicious. Her appearance drew a crowd eager for photo ops, recipe inspiration and a taste of what Fresh Express is serving up next.

Adding to the weekend's highlights, Registered Dietitian and New York Times best-selling author Kylie Sakaida, MS, RDN, led a Retail Dietitian Immersion session that captivated attendees. Sakaida shared her personal journey into nutrition and offered practical advice for incorporating more greens into daily meals. Her engaging session emphasized the shared commitment between Fresh Express and health professionals to make nutritious eating more accessible for everyone.

Attendees walked away inspired and some lucky guests left with signed cookbooks and exclusive Fresh Express giveaways, including tote bags and recipe cards.

The show marked the official debut of the Mediterranean Herb Chopped Kit, which quickly became a fan favorite among visitors. Featuring a bright mix of crisp greens, Mediterranean-inspired herbs, and chef-crafted toppings like crispy chickpeas and creamy feta crumbles, the kit was sampled throughout the weekend, drawing praise for its fresh flavor and versatility. Fresh Express customers also received an exclusive preview of the next wave of globally inspired restaurant flavors set to launch in March, underscoring excitement for what's next from the brand.

"The IFPA show gave us the opportunity to showcase what makes Fresh Express so special: our people, our partners and our passion for innovation," said Fabian Pereira, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Fresh Express, in the recent release. "From Tiffani's star power to Kylie's thoughtful nutrition insights, we saw firsthand how Fresh Express continues to inspire creativity in kitchens everywhere while driving growth in the salad category."

Fresh Express' dynamic presence at IFPA reaffirmed its role as the category leader in value-added salads, combining convenience, culinary craftsmanship and consumer insight to deliver crave-worthy, chef-inspired creations.

For more information about Fresh Express, including products and recipes, visit www.FreshExpress.com and follow Fresh Express on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and X. 

WASHINGTON, DC - The Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP), overseen by a multistakeholder industry group to build alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices and facilitated by Equitable Food Initiative, celebrated the close of its second year with continued growth in supplier and grower engagement, expanded buyer participation, and two flagship events held in conjunction with the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show.

The events were held to increase industry participation in the program and to celebrate the suppliers and growers who are demonstrating leadership in the program.

In the first event, Walmart invited some of its suppliers to an educational meeting to learn more about ECIP and how the program aligns with the retailer’s values and priorities for its supply chain. Laura Himes, vice president of global sourcing for Walmart, moderated a panel discussion with representatives from Five Crowns Marketing, Naturipe Farms and Stemilt Growers, who shared practical experiences about how they use ECIP to deepen engagement with their growers. Each company offered candid advice for leveraging ECIP to meet social responsibility goals.

“At Walmart, we believe that strengthening responsible labor practices across the supply chain is essential,” said Laura Himes in the recent release. “ECIP provides growers and suppliers with the tools and resources they need to assess their management systems, benchmark their progress, and drive continuous improvement. We were proud to bring together some of our suppliers to hear how they are using the program and to share how ECIP fits into our ethical sourcing priorities.”

Also during the IFPA Global Show, ECIP and its sponsors, Windset Farms, GoodFarms and Stemilt Growers, hosted the 2026 Leadership Circle Celebration, recognizing the 34 supplier companies that have earned all five stars in the online ECIP Learn, Assess, Benchmark platform since the new engagement criteria were introduced in July.

During the celebration, representatives from Costco, Kroger, Sam’s Club and Walmart spoke about the program and celebrated the work of the companies in the ECIP Leadership Circle. Companies that have already earned a spot in the 2026 ECIP Leadership Circle event include:

• AMFRESH North America
• Bay Baby Produce
• Bee Sweet
• Blue River Legacy Farms
• Bobalu Berry Farms
• Bonipak
• Bostock North America
• Bridges Organic Produce
• Del Monte Fresh Produce
• Dole South Africa
• Eagle Eye Produce
• Equifruit
• Favorita USA Corp
• Five Crowns
• Fresh Express
• Fresh Flavor International
• Freshway Produce
• The Fruitist
• Fyffes
• GLC Cerritos
• Gold Cup Fresh
• GoodFarms
• Homegrown Organic Farms
• Kingsburg Orchards
• Mastronardi
• Miami Agro Import
• Misionero
• Naturipe
• Oppy
• Pacific Produce
• Stemilt Growers
• Sunridge Farms
• Superfresh Growers
• Titan Farms
• Westmoreland Sales - Topline Farms
• William H. Kopke Jr. Inc.
• Windset Farms

“Momentum is building around ECIP, and we are encouraged by the engagement and commitment we’re seeing from retailers, suppliers and growers,” said Kenton Harmer, director of market-based impact for Equitable Food Initiative. “With the changes in ECIP LAB this year — Engagement 2.0 and introduction of the Supplier Gold Star — we have raised the bar for what meaningful engagement looks like, and this year’s Leadership Circle demonstrates that suppliers are rising to the occasion. Since the first Leadership Circle was announced in 2024, the number of participating supplier companies has grown steadily, even as qualification thresholds have increased.”

RIVERSIDE, CA - Blue Banner Company’s new packing and shipping brand, Goody, stepped boldly into the spotlight at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show backed by 75 years of expertise. While the brand’s executive leadership and sales team alike have decades of experience in the produce space, hosting a booth among nearly 1,100 exhibitors on the floor was a first.

“The support we received from our tenured connections in the industry was overwhelming,” shared Vince Mazzetti, Vice President of Blue Banner Company and Goody, in the recent release. Proud to remain family owned and operated in the same packing house since 1965 in Riverside, California, Goody represents the evolution of the packing industry, combining refined best practices with integrity fueled, human-centric customer service.

“Fostering relationships is a vital part of our industry. While some companies are looking to automate service, we are looking to elevate service,” shared Mazzetti. While attendance was record breaking with attendees from more than 50 countries and over 3,500 buyers from around the globe, Goody focused on making each person that invested time at their booth feel like family and not just a visitor.

Establishing the new gold standard for customer service in the packing and shipping industry, Goody’s Sales Manager Mike Rubidoux and National Sales Director Eric Mydland were proud to talk with their peers and prospects in the produce space about their service and solution-oriented offering. “We have been in business longer than many, but it was refreshing to experience our new direction take flight as we start from experience and not from scratch,” Mazzetti shared.

For more information on Goody’s sales offering, learn more HERE.