CASHMERE, WA - Tony Freytag has always been about evolving his purpose. This perceptible gift is one of the first things I noticed about Tony nearly 15 years ago when I started in this industry. He always seemed to have his feet firmly planted in the moment while taking in the many components of the landscape in an effort to see the world—and its possibilities—differently. Today is no different, even as he announces his retirement from Crunch Pak on December 31, 2025, where he has served as Executive Vice President and Founding Partner since the company’s inception.

“Produce has always been about two things for me: health and people. At its core, this industry is about getting nutritious food into people’s hands in the most accessible way possible. That mission has kept me inspired for decades,” Tony shares. “The other part is the people—growers, retailers, industry colleagues—it’s a community built on hard work, trust, and shared purpose. Once you experience that, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else.”

As a Founding Partner, Tony has seen the apple industry evolve dramatically. In many ways, Crunch Pak has influenced consumer habits and the broader fresh-cut category over the years.

“Crunch Pak showed that convenience and health don’t have to be separate. By making apples more accessible, we helped families incorporate fruit into their daily routines,” Tony explains. “That, in turn, helped normalize fresh-cut produce as a category. We proved that with the right innovation, packaging, and quality, consumers would opt for a sliced apple tray over a processed snack. That shift in behavior is now reflected across the industry—and I’m proud Crunch Pak helped lead the way.”

It has been a beautiful journey for Tony. Over 25 years, he has contributed not only expertise and vision, but also deep dedication and heart. The defining milestones that shaped both the company and his own career are numerous, but Tony narrows them to the ones that immediately come to mind.

“Several moments stand out. First was proving the concept itself—showing fresh-cut apples could have a national footprint,” Tony recalls. “Developing anti-browning solutions, building strong retail partnerships, and creating consumer trust were all turning points. Another milestone was licensing, marked by the introduction of the first Mickey-shaped Foodle tray, which demonstrated the power of connecting produce with families through trusted brands. For me personally, the biggest milestone has been watching Crunch Pak’s culture take root—a ‘can-do’ spirit that made even the toughest challenges possible to overcome.”

Of all these moments, an overriding lesson is that every part of the chain matters—growers, packers, retailers, and consumers all need to feel the value.

“At Crunch Pak, success came from aligning those pieces: respecting the grower, building trust with retailers, and delivering something consumers wanted. Advocacy works the same way. If we can maintain those perspectives in a connected and balanced way, we’ll continue to grow the industry sustainably,” Tony reflects.

While Tony will be retiring from Crunch Pak’s day-to-day operations, he will not be stepping away from the industry as a whole. He has too much left to do, and that continues with his board service and industry leadership.

“I’ve never really looked at this as ‘retirement.’ It’s simply a new chapter,” Tony says. “I want to lend my experience and network to help future leaders make bold decisions, while continuing to represent the industry at the board and association level. It’s about supporting others as they take the wheel, while still being deeply invested in the health and future of produce.”

Upcycling, food as medicine, and supply-chain innovation are areas where Tony gravitates. They fuel that downfield perspective he so carefully hones.

“These areas resonate because they’re about impact—both immediate and long-term,” Tony says. “Upcycling ensures we honor the grower by using more of what’s harvested and processed, creating new value streams. Food as medicine is central to improving public health—the idea that fresh fruits and vegetables are frontline healthcare is incredibly powerful. Supply-chain innovation ties it all together; without efficiency and resilience, the best ideas don’t reach consumers. In the next chapter, I plan to champion these causes through mentorship, board service, and continued support for projects that demonstrate their value on the ground.”

As a beacon of thought leadership, Tony is a man of stories and carefully chosen words—words I take in eagerly.

“A few guiding ideas have stayed with me. First, persistence. Never take ‘no’ as the final answer if you believe in the vision,” Tony advises. “Second, fairness. Treat people with respect, and they’ll bring out their best work. And third, curiosity. Always ask, ‘What's next?’ This industry rewards people who are willing to take a leap, grounded in both data and intuition. Those mottos have helped me through both the toughest challenges and the most rewarding milestones.”

I am lucky to have had this amazing conversation with Tony on the cusp of his “retirement,” though we will continue to have the gift of his passion for many years to come in fresh produce.

Congratulations, Tony, and welcome to your next chapter.

MCALLEN, TX - Transparency is no longer "optional." Whether reporting from the retailer’s perspective or the consumer, this has moved beyond an extra offering into a necessity.

“Buyers want to see every line of the spec sheet: resin type (LDPE or PP), mono-material confirmation, film gauge and tolerance, sealing window, coefficient of friction, PFAS-free status, recyclability guidance, and country of manufacture. Providing that data up front not only speeds approvals but also strengthens trust with retail partners who are under pressure to meet their own sustainability and compliance goals,” Aaron Fox, Vice President of Fox Packaging, recently shared with me.

As a leader in flexible packaging solutions for over 60 years, Fox Packaging differentiates its pouch program through a PFAS-free portfolio in LDPE and PP; a film front/mesh-back Stand-Up Combo®—an all-PE construction that adds breathability to reduce condensation for items like apples, limes, and peppers; and domestic manufacturing that delivers responsive lead times and traceability.

Recyclable mono material designs are further supported by resin coding and How2Recycle guidance to give programs clarity at end-of-life (collection access varies by location), helping check that necessary box for both sides of the supply chain.

Equally, Aaron emphasized that the shopper experience can’t be an afterthought.

“Consumers expect a pouch they can open and re-close cleanly, with windows that show off the product inside without weakening the package. At the same time, that pouch has to leave room for certifications, date codes, and traceability details that give shoppers and retailers confidence in what they’re buying,” he observed.

Material decisions affect budgets and schedules immediately, with the biggest cost lever being gauge, according to the packaging expert. Breaking it down for me, he and his team explained using the lightest workable film that still holds seals and survives the route is critical. Additionally, mono-material pouches can shorten production by avoiding extra lamination/cure steps, while features like zippers, vents, and mesh backs add performance but also time and cost, so plan for that. On the line, PP’s web stability and flatness help pouches track and register at speed; LDPE seals easily but may need tighter tension and temperature control on high-speed automation.

“As a domestic Texas manufacturer, we can reduce lead times, cut freight risk, and respond faster to seasonal swings, keeping pouch programs moving smoothly,” Aaron said. “Domestic manufacturing keeps lead times honest and freight risk low. The rest is relationships, daily check-ins, fast trials, and shared problem-solving with suppliers and customers.”

Whether it is the route the product is delivered, or the packaging that brings it to the shelf, it is critical for all in the supply chain to have a plan as transparent as your pouch bags.

YERINGTON, NV - Showcasing its Healthy Value+® onion program at the upcoming IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, Peri & Sons Farms® speaks to the health-conscious, budget-conscious shopper of today’s world.

“Our Healthy Value packages are a great value-priced option,” Teri Gibson, Director of Marketing, shares with me. “They’re perfectly delicious onions, and they’re an attractive addition to retailers’ onion merchandising strategies, particularly for those more price-sensitive shoppers.”

As Teri reminds me, all Peri & Sons Farms onions are safely and sustainably grown before being carefully packed and shipped directly from the family farm.

“These grab-n-go onion packages of red, white, and yellow onions provide customers with the helpful information they need to buy with confidence, as well as access to our extensive online library of Free Recipes,” Teri adds.

The company will also spotlight the new packaging of its Sweetie Tearless® onions.

“Our Sweetie Tearless onions are naturally sweet and easy on the eyes. These innovative onions bring all the flavor without the fuss. Grown on our family farm from proprietary, non-GMO seeds using an all-natural method, these premium and organic tearless onions retain their signature sweetness without the eye irritation that typically comes with slicing,” Teri says.

Because they’re grown with such care, Sweetie Tearless onions are a smart, feel-good option that both retailers and shoppers can stand behind.

Available from December through March, they’re also a great way to extend the sweet onion season, and they make eye-catching displays.

With rising costs impacting the supply chain all the way down to the shopper, Peri & Sons is ready and happy to work with its customers to deliver affordable, delicious produce.

To see the team yourself, be sure to visit booth #4172.

DELTA, CANADA - For WINDSET FARMS®, this year’s IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, in Anaheim, California, feels like a homecoming. Windset’s Santa Maria, CA operation is recognized as the largest single-site vegetable greenhouse facility in the United States. With continued LED-lit expansion in Delta, BC, and a trusted partner grower base in Mexico and British Columbia, Windset supplies consistent, high-quality tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers to customers across North America. The West Coast stage provides the perfect setting for Windset Farms to reconnect with customers, showcase its growth, and highlight the innovations that set the company apart.

Visitors to Booth #825 can expect a dynamic display of products that reflect Windset Farms’ commitment to quality, creativity, and responsible growing.

At the heart of this year’s showcase is AURA™ Tomatoes, a premium variety named for its natural glow and irresistible taste. With their glossy red hue, balanced sweetness, and crisp bite, AURA™ Tomatoes are Bursting with Brilliance. AURA™ reflects everything Windset represents: innovation, flavor, and award-winning branding.

Joining AURA™ in the spotlight are several standout product innovations:

• FESTIVA™ Cherry Tomato Medley - A celebration of flavor, this exclusive medley brings together a rainbow of vibrant cherry tomato gems, each bursting with juicy sweetness. FESTIVA™ Cherry Tomato Medley makes every day worth celebrating.
• BBQ BUDDIES™ Beefsteak Tomatoes - Juicy and firm, BBQ BUDDIES™ Beefsteak Tomatoes are the ultimate sidekick for burgers, sandwiches, and backyard creations. Packed in a recyclable paper tray, they deliver flavor, fun, and sustainability in one convenient package.
• SWEETIES™ Seedless Mini Peppers - Snackable, colorful, and completely seedless, these crisp red, orange, and yellow SWEETIES® Seedless Mini Peppers make healthy snacking effortless and delicious.

For Windset Farms, tradeshows are about more than introducing new products. They are about building connections that matter. This year, the company celebrates a milestone: 10 years as the first greenhouse operation certified by the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), highlighting its commitment to responsibility, partnership, and responsible growing.

“Windset Farms is excited to return to Anaheim to share our innovations, celebrate our partnerships, and reconnect with the industry,” said Ryan Cherry, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Windset Farms, in the recent release. “The IFPA show is always an incredible opportunity to showcase not just what we grow, but how we grow with flavor, creativity, and care.”

Windset Farms invites show attendees to Booth #825 to discover AURA™, explore the complete lineup of Windset innovations, and join in celebrating the future of fresh produce together.