SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, CA - A strong fall storm system is sweeping through the San Joaquin Valley, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and a sharp temperature drop across key growing regions. Showers began moving through Modesto mid-morning and are expected to spread southward, reaching Bakersfield by late evening. The heaviest rainfall is forecast to taper off by midday Tuesday, though light post-frontal showers may linger into the night.

Rain totals are expected to exceed 1 inch for most fields, with up to 2 inches possible in the Sierra foothills. Morning lows will range from the upper 40s to low 50s, while daytime highs will remain in the low 60s before warming to the mid-70s by the weekend. Dry and more stable conditions are forecast to return by Wednesday, according to the latest Weather Mission report.

Looking ahead, forecasters are monitoring another frontal system expected to arrive early Monday, October 21, bringing additional rainfall—though lighter than this first round. Cooler and windier-than-normal conditions are expected to follow, extending through the week and potentially impacting harvest and field access.

The current pattern reflects a significant shift toward wetter conditions after a dry start to October, with field operations likely to face short-term disruptions. Growers may need to plan around intermittent rain events and cooler mornings as the storm track remains active through the end of the month.

Keep checking ANUK for the latest field and logistics updates.

PALMETTO, FL - SiCar Farms proudly announces the opening of its new East Coast Distribution Center at Port Manatee, strategically located at the entrance of Tampa Bay in Southwest Florida. The 20,000-square-foot facility, set to begin operations in December 2025, strengthens SiCar Farms’ ability to efficiently deliver fresh citrus products to the growing markets across the U.S. East Coast.

Equipped with 8 full truckload dock doors, automated fruit selection, advanced bagging systems, and automatic racking technology, the new distribution center enhances throughput and reduces handling time while maintaining the highest product quality standards.

“This new facility is a key step in meeting the growing demand for premium fresh citrus on the East Coast,” said Luis Gudino, CEO of SiCar Farms, in the recent release. “By optimizing delivery routes and integrating automation, we’re not only improving efficiency but also reducing our environmental footprint.”

The location at Port Manatee enables SiCar Farms to minimize transportation distances, reduce carbon emissions, and support its broader sustainability goals aligning with the company’s long-standing commitment to responsible, resource-efficient operations.

As a third-generation, family-owned produce company, SiCar Farms is recognized as a leader in the cultivation, packaging, and distribution of limes and other citrus products that are backed by consistent year-round supply and strong sustainability programs.

SiCar Farms will showcase its latest innovations at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show, held October 16–18, 2025, in Anaheim, California. Attendees can visit the company at the Mexico Pavilion (Booth #539) to learn more about SiCar Farms’ fresh citrus solutions and its vision for a more sustainable produce industry.

ANAHEIM, CA - Honeybear Brands is kicking off the new season with the fresh harvest of its exclusive premium apple varieties, including the ruby-red, sweet-and-tangy Pazazz® and the crisp, sweet-flavored JUICI® brand apple. Both varieties are now shipping to retailers nationwide and will be featured at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Booth #1539.

JUICI® is the company’s newest varietal addition to its premium portfolio, joining a formidable lineup that includes First Kiss®, Pazazz®, and Honeymoon®. With this expansion, Honeybear continues to deliver on its promise of apples with exceptional flavor, superior crunch, and outstanding value.

Expanded Washington State Production & Year-Round Supply

The addition of Starr Ranch Growers and Valicoff Fruit Growers strengthens Honeybear’s footprint in Washington State, uniquely positioning the company for growth with key retail partners and export markets. Coupled with orchards and facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York—and Southern Hemisphere programs in Chile and Argentina—Honeybear Brands ensures a consistent, year-round supply of premium apples, pears, and cherries.

Commitment to Retail Partners

“Honeybear has been focused on expanding our footprint so we can distribute the best apple varieties grown ‘close to home, as well as arm customers with category data and insights that lead to success,” said Chuck Sinks, President of Sales and Marketing, in the recent release, Honeybear Brands. “Knowledge is power and we take pride in helping retailers grow the apple category—both conventional and organic—with data driven information while exceeding expectations in fruit quality, customer service, and supply assurance”.

Visit Honeybear at IFPA Booth #1539

Retailers and industry partners are invited to taste the new season’s fruit—including First Kiss®, Pazazz®, JUICI®, and Honeymoon®—and connect with the Honeybear team, featuring new faces with long-standing industry expertise.

IMMOKALEE, FL - At the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show, visitors to booth 2861 can easily see the freshness that Lipman Family Farms delivers to retailers every day.

Front and center is the rich, red Crimson tomato. This juicy homegrown variety is a crown jewel in Lipman’s lineup and a favorite among both chefs and retailers. Alongside it, the Lipman Fresh-Cut lineup showcases appetizing fajita and pico de gallo mixes, salsa, perfectly prepared bell peppers, onions and more. It’s all innovatively prepared at the peak of flavor and packed to maximize shelf life.

Less obvious, but just as important, is the story behind the displays. The vertically integrated behind-the-scenes network makes it all possible, gives Lipman’s customers a variety of benefits.

From its start as a single tomato stand, Lipman has done whatever it takes to deliver consistency and efficiency to customers, all while retaining the relationships and care that have defined it for most of a century.

Today, Lipman has the flexibility and responsiveness of a local grower, along with operations that are large enough to supply customers across North America. The company’s operations provide unique control across every link of the supply chain. Its end-to-end capability ensures reliability, supports industry-leading food safety standards and provides remarkably consistent produce from coast to coast.

• In-house R&D breeds proprietary varieties to produce better flavor, durability, shelf life and other traits that benefit retailers and food service customers.
• 23 repack facilities reduce transit time and ensure dependably fresh product deliveries.
• 8 fresh-cut facilities with growing capacity help meet the need for custom products and unique customer demands.
• A comprehensive logistics offering delivers just-in-time product 365 days a year.

“We’re growers at heart, but our business extends far beyond farming,” said Elyse Lipman, CEO of Lipman Family Farms, in the recent release. “From our R&D department and breeding programs to our partnerships with local family farms across the continent, no one is better equipped to provide in-season freshness and flavor at any time.”

The proof is plain to see (and taste) at IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show. Attendees can experience the innovation and flavor of Lipman’s fresh-cut lineup, taste recipes featuring Crimson tomatoes, and learn more about the company’s vertically integrated solutions at booth 2861. For more details, visit lipmanfamilyfarms.com.

ONTARIO, CANADA - At the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show, Mucci Farms aims to highlight the enhanced flavor and quality of its products, demonstrate their consumer appeal, and communicate the benefits they bring to retailers.

“Our goals for the show are to introduce and showcase our new and improved products, such as Cherto™, directly to the industry and our retail partners,” Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing, told me. “Additionally, we want to continue to build relationships, generate excitement around our new varieties and packaging options, and gather real-time feedback from attendees to inform future launches. We are also aiming to communicate that our partnership with Cox Farms and BrightFarms will only strengthen our offerings for retailers as a result of an increased network of supply between our companies. Check out our shared offerings at the Cox Farms Family of Businesses Booth #1485.”

At the show, Mucci Farms will be showcasing the following items:

• Main Fresh Ideas – Cherto™ Cherry Tomatoes On-The-Vine
  • Mucci Farms is excited to introduce its new and improved Cherto™ Cherry Tomatoes On-The-Vine! Cherto™ is now a vibrant trio of red, brown, and orange tomatoes that prove that the best things really do come in every color. In addition to adding more colors to the lineup, Mucci has enhanced its already iconic Cherto™ tomato with a new look, new flavor, and new expanded varieties. Cherto is aesthetically beautiful, offers a higher BRIX reading for consistent sweetness, and is available in both 12 oz and club pack formats—benefits that will please consumers while driving value for retailers. Attendees may discover the new taste of Cherto™ Cherry Tomatoes On-The-Vine by heading over to the Sampling Station.
• On-The-Go – Snacking Line Refresh
  • Mucci Farms is looking forward to unveiling its refreshed snacking line packaging, representing an evolutionary step forward for this category. The key to this refresh was maintaining the recognizable premium look that consumers know while introducing a brighter, more vibrant presence on shelf. Using retailer and consumer feedback, Mucci’s creative design team simplified layouts with larger, bolder elements to deliver stronger impact. Updated recipe imagery features fresh, appetizer-inspired ideas to bring a playful, engaging energy to the brand. The redesign achieves a modern, cohesive look that allows the entire lineup to ‘pop’ on store shelves.

• Packaging Innovations – Paper Top Seal
  • Mucci’s award-winning Paper Top Seal package is now available across its entire snacking lineup. The Paper Top Seal package, an innovative amendment to an existing container, reduces plastic and maintains the integrity of the original package while including the newly redesigned high-impact graphics for merchandising appeal. Paper Top Seal replaces the plastic lidding film with a paper film, allowing the PET tray and lid to be 100 percent fully recyclable. This reinforces Mucci’s commitment to sustainability and also helps consumers maximize shelf-life, ultimately limiting their trips to the grocery store.
• Certified Organic – Organic Sun Drops
  • Most recently recognized by CPMA for Best Organic Product, Mucci’s award-winning Sun Drops™ Grape Tomatoes are making their appearance at IFPA as an organic offering! These naturally grown, bite-sized tomatoes are packed full of sweet flavour, making them great for salads, grilling, and kabobs.

“Visitors to our booth can expect to see all our new product offerings, packaging, as well as real-time product tasting and sampling with our chef in the booth. In addition to showing these exciting products, we look forward to welcoming attendees to our booth with the Cox Farms Family of Businesses. Cox Farms is committed to delivering more value to retailers through our shared vision, innovation, and collaboration,” Emily added.

To get a closer look at all Mucci Farms has to offer, be sure to stop by the Cox Farms Booth #4185 at the show!