OXNARD, CA - Westfalia Fruit, a global leader in the avocado industry with a legacy spanning over 75 years, is proud to announce its collaboration with AgroSustain, a pioneering agri-tech company focused on sustainable crop protection. The partnership marks a significant step forward in maintaining quality, reducing food loss and chemical residues across the fresh produce supply chain.

Discussions between Westfalia Fruit and AgroSustain began in 2022, where both companies explored the potential of AgroSustain’s edible coating, Afondo, to extend the shelf-life of avocados. Over the last three years, initial trials have been conducted in Colombia, Chile, and Peru, with treated fruit shipped to Westfalia’s operations in Germany and France, a press release stated.

Current trials focus on avocados and limes, with Afondo demonstrating a reduction in post-harvest fungicide use by at least 50% and a significant decrease in supply chain waste. The coating is compatible with existing machinery, and if planned in advance should result in minimal disruption on packing lines.

Following several years of successful trials, Westfalia has now began commercial trials with selected customers, with the opportunity to expand into additional markets. Customers have shown strong interest in solutions that do not affect flavour and significantly reduce food loss and chemical residues. Westfalia is committed to ensuring alignment and meet customer expectations through extensive and thorough testing.

“Westfalia is proud to be at the forefront of innovation in the avocado sector,” says Andrew Mitchell, Head of Innovation at Westfalia Fruit. “Our collaboration with AgroSustain reflects our shared commitment to sustainability and delivering high-quality produce to our customers. One of the benefits of the Afondo coating is its flexibility, we are able to incorporate into our existing operations as an option for customers who are impressed by its results. In a dynamic market we believe Afondo delivers better value and results than other coatings available on the market and will shortly be extending trials to other European markets.”

AgroSustain is equally enthusiastic about the partnership. “Working with Westfalia has been a collaborative and inspiring journey,” said Olga Dubey, CEO AgroSustain. “Together, we are optimizing supply chain integration and preparing to launch a bio-coating for organic crops in the near future.”

Afondo’s proven efficacy across a wide range of crops—including passion fruit, mangoes, citrus, nectarines, and cherries—opens new opportunities for both local and international growers and distributors to extend shelf-life while reducing reliance on chemical treatments.

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Southeastern Grocers, LLC (SEG) announces it will step into a new era as The Winn-Dixie Company in early 2026, uniting under one iconic brand with a renewed focus on its home state of Florida. The change honors Winn-Dixie’s century-long legacy while positioning the grocer for growth through investments designed to modernize stores, enrich the customer experience and reimagine the neighborhood grocer for the next 100 years.

Anthony Hucker, Chairman and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “For a century, Winn-Dixie has proudly called Florida home. Our story is built on the resilience and spirit of its people, and that foundation will guide our future. As we enter our next century as The Winn-Dixie Company – a brand-new 100-year-old company – we are accelerating growth where our roots run deepest while staying true to our purpose of feeding and enriching the communities, families and neighbors who have supported us for generations.”

Dozens of remodels and new store projects are both planned and already underway, with upgrades designed to create inviting, community-centered stores that reflect the needs of local customers. The grocer is also expanding its liquor store portfolio with innovative formats, growing its award-winning Own Brand product assortment – highlighted by the return of its iconic Lip Lickin’ Chicken in early 2026 – and piloting new customer conveniences and partnerships such as third-party online grocery delivery and return kiosks.

As part of its Florida growth strategy, SEG has finalized an agreement to acquire Hitchcock’s Markets in Alachua, Keystone Heights and Williston. These stores will be converted to Winn-Dixie and opened in phases beginning late 2025, further strengthening the grocer’s North Florida presence. The new Williston Winn-Dixie, located at 434 E. Noble Ave., is expected to open in early December 2025, ahead of the scheduled closing of the nearby Winn-Dixie at 727 W. Noble Ave. Associates from the nearby Williston location will have the opportunity to continue serving customers in the new store. The Alachua and Keystone Heights Winn-Dixie stores are slated to open by summer 2026.

In service of its strategic refocus to fuel long-term growth, SEG has made the difficult decision to transition ownership of most of its locations outside of Florida. While this change enables the grocer to reinvest in the communities where its roots run deepest, it also marks the end of an important chapter in regions that have supported Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets for generations.

SEG has reached agreements or is advancing plans with multiple grocers, which include 32 Winn-Dixie stores and eight Harveys Supermarkets, in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. SEG will continue to serve southern Georgia with stores in Brunswick, Folkston, Lake Park, St. Simons Island and Valdosta. Store closings are expected to be completed by year-end, with all banner transitions anticipated by early 2026.

Following these transactions, The Winn-Dixie Company will move forward with a sharpened focus on its home state and neighboring southern Georgia, operating approximately 130 conventional grocery stores and 140 freestanding and grocery-adjacent liquor stores.

SEG extends its deepest gratitude to its associates for their unwavering dedication and to the communities that embraced Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket as part of their daily lives. The grocer remains committed to ensuring every transition is handled with care, support and respect for its team members.

Anthony Hucker, who will remain as Chairman and CEO of The Winn-Dixie Company, added, “As we write our next chapter as The Winn-Dixie Company, we also want to acknowledge the people and communities beyond Florida who have been an integral part of our story. We are profoundly thankful to our associates and customers in these markets for their loyalty – for making Winn-Dixie and Harveys a meaningful part of their lives and trusting us to help nourish their families. We will do everything we can to support those who supported us, ensuring this transition reflects the gratitude and respect they deserve.”

Building on a proud legacy, The Winn-Dixie Company is moving confidently into its second century with bold investments, fresh innovations and a clear vision for the future of neighborhood grocery – all while staying true to what matters most: caring for its people, serving customers with excellence and supporting communities with heart and purpose.

For updates on The Winn-Dixie Company and SEG’s transformation, visit segrocers.com/updates. In the sale transaction, The Food Partners served as financial and strategic advisor to Southeastern Grocers.

CORAL GABLES, FL & SALINAS, CA - Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., one of the world’s leading vertically integrated producers, marketers, and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, and Church Brothers Farms, a family-owned, Salinas-based company known for its leadership in value-added vegetables and leafy greens, today announced that they have entered into an agreement for the sale and transfer of key assets from Fresh Del Monte’s Mann Packing business. The transaction represents a strategic, forward-looking move for both organizations—aligning each company around its core strengths and driving continued progress for the fresh produce industry as a whole.

“This is a complementary move that positions both organizations for success,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Church Brothers brings deep vegetable expertise and a strong production footprint, making them the ideal home for Mann Packing and its legacy of innovation. For Fresh Del Monte, this transaction allows us to concentrate fully on our core products and higher-margin, value-added segments—areas where we continue to deliver the quality, reliability and innovation our customers expect. It also reflects our disciplined commitment to long-term growth and shareholder value, ensuring we invest in the categories and capabilities that will define the next chapter of our business.”

Under the agreement, Church Brothers Farms will assume operations at Mann Packing’s state-of-the-art facility in Gonzales, Calif. This expansion allows Church Brothers to serve both foodservice and retail markets more comprehensively, operating as a true, one-stop shop for customers seeking continuity, quality and convenience. Building on Mann Packing’s legacy of innovation, Church Brothers will integrate its vegetable expertise and value-added capabilities to further strengthen its retail presence.

“As industry leaders in farming, harvesting, processing, and marketing premium vegetables, we are honored to steward Mann Packing’s legacy in the Salinas Valley,” said Brian Church, Church Brothers Farms Chief Executive Officer. “This transition marks a pivotal step in our growth journey, reinforcing our commitment to category leadership and accelerating our strategic expansion into retail—an essential pillar of Church Brothers’ future.”

For Fresh Del Monte, the divestiture reflects a disciplined focus on strengthening its core portfolio and driving long-term, sustainable growth. Mann Packing has been an important part of the Fresh Del Monte family for several years, and this transition ensures that its legacy will continue under a company deeply rooted in the vegetable industry. By concentrating resources on high-growth fruit and fresh-cut categories—where it continues to deliver the highest quality and reliability—Fresh Del Monte will enhance operational efficiency, optimize its margin profile, and continue developing opportunities to convert residual materials and byproducts into new value streams, while reducing waste and enhancing overall resource efficiency.

For Church Brothers, the acquisition represents a continuation of its steady growth strategy and long-term commitment to the vegetable category. The company plans to leverage the Gonzales facility’s capacity to expand its integrated supply network, enhance service capabilities, and deliver greater value to retail and foodservice customers.

With complementary expertise and aligned values, Fresh Del Monte and Church Brothers are leaning into their core strengths to help strengthen the broader produce supply chain—supporting quality, consistency, and sustainable growth.

“Progress in produce has always come from collaboration and shared purpose,” Abu-Ghazaleh added. “This agreement reinforces that principle—two leaders doubling down on what they do best, creating a more dynamic, customer-focused future for the industry.”

WASHINGTON - ENVY™ apples are not just any apple, they are an indulgent experience that just has to be savored. The ENVY™ apple brand is loved by those who buy it and admired by those who don’t, making it an apple worth discovering. This globally recognized brand is fast becoming the signifier of exceptional taste, as it brings a moment of luxury to an everyday occasion.

Here’s What’s in Store.

As one of the largest fruit categories worldwide, apples often compete in a crowded landscape where brands can easily blend together. ENVY™ apples cut through the noise—offering a unique eating experience that goes beyond expectations, thanks to its consistently superior flavor and quality.

A proven performer, ENVY™ apples have continued to drive category growth for five consecutive years. Most recently, the brand delivered impressive results in July, growing 35 percent in dollar sales and 47 percent in volume—outpacing the majority of apple brands and the overall category.

With fall now upon us, it’s the perfect time to re-energize the apple category with a brand that transforms the ordinary into something truly extraordinary.

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