CANADA - Thanksgiving is a time of connection and gratitude, in which we can express our appreciation for the people we love most. As our Northern neighbors celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, we reached out to several industry friends to learn what this holiday means to them, and their answers did not disappoint.

Paul Mastronardi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mastronardi Produce®

“Thanksgiving reminds us that food is more than what's on the plate—it’s the centerpiece of connection, tradition, and memory. At Mastronardi Produce®, we’re grateful to play a role in the moments that matter most, bringing fresh, flavorful greenhouse produce to family tables where stories are shared and memories are made all year long.”

Carlos Visconti, Chief Executive Officer, Red Sun Farms

“Thanksgiving is a time for family, for celebrating the harvest, and for appreciating the many hands that make it possible. We are incredibly grateful to our entire Red Sun Farms team across Canada, the USA, and Mexico for their dedication and hard work in bringing fresh, nutritious goodness to our friends and neighbours—not just during the holiday season, but all year long.”

Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing, Mucci Farms

"From our dedicated team members to our retail partners and loyal consumers, we’re incredibly thankful for the relationships that make our work meaningful. We are reminded of the power of collaboration and the strength of our community, especially within the Canadian produce industry. As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting on how grateful we are to grow fresh, flavourful produce that brings people together!"

Randi Church, Marketing Manager, WINDSET FARMS®

“This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the opportunity to grow healthy, fresh produce for our communities all year long. We’re thankful for the partnerships that help us continue to grow, from our business collaborators to local food banks, ensuring everyone has access to fresh, nutritious food on their tables.”

With a month left until our American Thanksgiving, let’s let the gratitude flow all season long!

CALIFORNIA and MEXICO - Life is full of rhythms, and in fresh produce, we don’t just acknowledge them—we live by them. Changing seasons beckon in new growing regions, harvests divide the calendar into delicious interlocking moments of time, and the hum of the holidays carries its own tempo. The people of this industry breathe these rhythms—in all they do and in how they live. Building on these interwoven patterns is Bobalu, a company consistently reading today’s retail landscape with its finger on the pulse of the evolving strawberry consumer—all in an effort to increase the surety of supply for its partners and the fresh berry basket. For Bobalu, this means expansion.

“As a fully integrated grower, packer, shipper, and processor of strawberries, maintaining a year-round supply for our customers is paramount to the continued success of our operations and Bobalu’s partners,” RC Jones, Managing Member, shares. “It only seemed natural to expand our program to respond to today’s market demand and to support customers seeking to bring a better berry experience to the fresh produce department.”

The strategic advantages are many, particularly as today’s shoppers become increasingly discerning about quality, company values, and compassionate growing practices—all areas Bobalu will be discussing at the 2025 International Fresh Produce Association's Global Produce & Floral Show on Oct 16-18 in Anaheim, California.

“Bobalu has expanded its organic program by strategically increasing our year-round supply, aligning with growers across organic and conventional acreage in Mexico and California’s Oxnard and Santa Maria regions for both planting cycles. This allows the company to continue providing its partners with an enhanced consumer experience,” RC tells me. “The growth of this program enhances Bobalu’s ability to maximize efficiencies in consolidation, logistics, and shipping capabilities. With five distinct crop cycles and several new and exciting varieties, Bobalu has positioned itself to provide consumers with some of the highest quality standards in the industry.”

The structure of Bobalu’s year-round organic strawberry program aims to minimize seasonal supply gaps and quality fluctuations, ensuring a more stable and reliable partner in the berry space.

Consumer trends point to continued growth in the organic segment, and Bobalu is helping retailers and operators meet those preferences.

“The organic category continues to evolve as demand grows, and Bobalu is pleased to be in a position to assist our retail and foodservice partners in meeting this expanding segment of the berry category,” Jonathan Sparks, Sales, explains.

To further strengthen its network of support, Bobalu brings marketing insights, category management tools, and solutions to help buyers maximize organic strawberry sales at retail and in foodservice menus.

“By having an experienced and dedicated field and sales team, Bobalu is able to quickly and effectively communicate with its customers about any updates and changes in the industry. This boots-on-the-ground approach provides our partners with up-to-date information and news from all growing regions,” RC concludes.

And so, from season to season, from region to region, Bobalu continues to move with the natural rhythms of fresh produce—ensuring that the steady beat of quality and consistency carries through to every berry basket.

Visit booth #1481 at IFPA's GPFS to learn more about Bobalu's evolution.

AUSTRALIA - Just three years after the first commercial plantings, 2025 marked a major milestone for the Fruit Australia Group with the debut of its first early volumes of Sunrise Magic® apples. Despite one of the most challenging growing seasons in recent memory—marked by extreme heat and widespread drought—the fruit has exceeded all expectations.

Harvested in mid-March and packed in late September, Sunrise Magic® has demonstrated outstanding storage performance. Fruit quality remained exceptional, with firmness averaging 9.5 kg/cm² and Brix levels averaging 15%—with some apples testing above 17%. With a deeper understanding of the variety, we’re confident that a consistent Brix average of 17% is an achievable target in the near future.

Samples were featured on the N&A booth at Asia Fruit Logistica, where Sunrise Magic® was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Visitors praised its vibrant appearance and excellent eating qualities, with many returning repeatedly over the three-day event for another taste. Texture and sweetness were frequently cited as standout attributes that resonated strongly with potential customers from across the region.

Back in Australia, samples were distributed to major national retailers, where feedback was equally enthusiastic—particularly for the apple’s flavour and crisp texture. A soft launch began in late September through wholesale markets in New South Wales and Victoria, where premium retailers responded positively. As one retailer put it: “It’s not just another apple—it’s Sunrise Magic.”

Although 2025 volumes were modest at just 40 tonnes, strong repeat sales have already signaled significant market potential. Growers within the Fruit Australia Group are optimistic about what Sunrise Magic® offers to Australian consumers.

“With its standout quality, strong consumer appeal, and excellent shelf life, we believe Sunrise Magic® has the potential to reinvigorate what many see as a maturing apple category,” said James Walters of Fruit Australia, in a recent release.

Fruit Australia is the exclusive Australian licensee for Sunrise Magic—a collaboration between three of Australia’s leading apple industry participants: Adelaide Hills Fresh, N&A Group, and 9 Mile Fresh.

WENATCHEE, WA - Stemilt is introducing two new pear packaging options as part of its robust pear program: a mixed variety bag called Prism Pears for conventional fruit, and two 4-count EZ Band paperboard consumer packs for conventional and organic pears. Stemilt’s Marketing Director, Brianna Shales, said the new packages are designed to help retailers find solutions for merchandising pears in the face of a larger crop year and build on Stemilt’s endeavors to invest in pears from the orchard to the final pack.

“Prism Pears is a new mixed-pear bag that combines three colorful varieties, green, red, and brown, in 2 lb. or 3 lb. poly bags, available now for conventional pears and coming soon for organic pears,” said Shales in the recent release. “We first introduced EZ Band to apples, then organic pears, and now it is available for conventional green d’Anjou and Red pears. It will pack and ship in a Euro footprint box with 8, 4-count units in each master. These packaging additions are in line with Stemilt’s ongoing investment in pears from the orchard with the new Happi Pear®, to state-of-the-art packing, and now to innovative packaging solutions to help retailers drive sales.”

According to the Washington State Tree Fruit Association’s 2025-2026 forecast, overall pear volumes are up 58% compared to last year, with organic pears estimated to increase by 73% (excluding Comice). Stemilt’s crop is up from last season, offering a reliable supply and strong promotion opportunities for both conventional and organic pears, especially winter varieties like d’Anjou, Red pears, and Bosc.

“With bigger volumes of pears this year, packaged programs can help create incremental sales opportunities and make pears easier for shoppers to buy,” explained Shales. “Prism Pears is a way to highlight multiple pear varieties in a single bag and encourage consumers to try a pear they may not have before, while the paperboard EZ Band option helps build visibility for large-medium sized pears. Retailers can rely on Stemilt to have a good supply this season and the tools to see success in the pear category.”

Shales stated that promoting pears, especially organics, will be key this year. Pairing them with an in-store event like Pear Month in December, or creating more display space, can help pears stand out and drive additional movement. Stemilt will be highlighting both new packages at the upcoming IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show at its booth #2847 and is looking forward to conversations with retailers about how best to position pears this season.

“The addition of Prism Pears and new EZ Band packaging options gives retailers choices in how they merchandise pears this season to see incremental sales,” said Shales. “With more fruit to move, we want to make sure pears are easy to merchandise and appealing to shoppers, whether conventional or organic.”

GONZALES, CA - Misionero, a leading grower and fresh-cut innovator, is proud to announce the rebrand of its Garden Life™ Washed & Trimmed line. The refreshed packaging and visual identity delivers a modern, cohesive look across the full portfolio—while maintaining the same trusted field-grown quality.

According to a press release, the new design enhances both shelf appeal and sustainability, featuring pre-printed lidding film that eliminates approximately 40% of plastic per container, reducing material use while maintaining freshness and convenience. Clean, bold color segmentation improves shopper recognition, while consistent branding and simplified quality callouts—Field Grown • Crisp & Crunchy • Hand Harvested—reinforce Misionero’s commitment to premium, practical produce solutions.

"This rebrand reflects what today's shoppers are looking for: field-grown freshness and ready-to-use convenience," said Nicole Minnich-Zapata, Marketing Director at Misionero. "The new Garden Life™ design not only modernizes our look but also supports retailers in continuing to drive category growth through stronger on-shelf differentiation. The rebrand comes at a time of strong momentum for Washed and Trimmed lettuces, which continues to outperform the broader packaged salad market."

The refreshed line includes:

• Lettuce Wraps (formerly Lettuce Boats)
• Romaine
• Green Leaf
• Red Leaf
• Deli Leaf

The new Garden Life™ identity will make its official debut at IFPA Global 2025 in Anaheim, where attendees can preview the refreshed look and learn more about Misionero’s expanding portfolio of premium field-grown innovations. Visit Booth #1075 to see how Misionero is helping elevate and grow the lettuce category.

For more information about Misionero or the Garden Life™ rebrand, visit www.misionero.com.