VALENCIA, CA - Sunkist Growers, Inc., a citrus cooperative founded in 1893, announced today that it and Fruit Growers Supply Company, its sister supply company founded in 1907, will strategically reorganize effective November 1, 2025. A new California cooperative, “Sunkist Growers, Inc.,” is being formed and will serve as the holding company of the existing Sunkist Growers and Fruit Growers Supply Company. This strategic move will better position the combined entity to serve customers and growers with enhanced innovation and efficiency, as well as driving future growth in the citrus industry.

“We are excited to bring together the deep sales and marketing experience of Sunkist with the supply chain expertise of Fruit Growers Supply. This will allow for a more seamless experience for both customers and growers,” said Jim Phillips, President and CEO of Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply, in a press release.

Since adopting a shared management structure in 2017, Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply have increasingly aligned their operations. Both organizations have seen significant benefits from closer cooperation and see further strategic benefit to the reorganization of the two entities.

This marks the beginning of the next phase of transformation and reflects a natural evolution of the partnership that management has developed. The Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply Boards have approved a new five-year strategic plan to ensure there is a clear vision for the future and growth path as the combined entity moves forward.

“Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply have been operating as sister companies for over a century, and we anticipate this reorganization will allow the combined entity to better prepare for a rapidly evolving citrus market. With the changes that have been made over the past several years, we are in an excellent position to enter the next phase of growth as one company,” said Gerald Denni, Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply Chairman of the Board.

The leadership team of the parent company will be composed of key leaders from both Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply, ensuring continuity and a smooth transition for customers, growers, and employees.

MONTREAL, QC - Equifruit, North America’s market leader in Fairtrade-certified bananas, is serving up wellness at this year’s IFPA Global Show (October 16-18, Anaheim). Inspired by your favourite cult wellness brands, Equifruit is coming to California with a clear message: if we’re ready to drop serious cash on health-enhancing products like collagen water, protein powders and vitamin supplements, what’s stopping us from paying just a little more for bananas that do real good for people and the planet?

Stop by booth #3568, where Equifruit will be serving up delicious wellness beverages to fuel your day and get you fired up about fair pay for banana farmers. Then flex your morals and your macros at Equifruit’s fitness challenge in the IFPA Block Party area, where prizes await the boldest Banana Badasses.

“We’re not poking fun at wellness culture; we’re using it as a mirror,” says Jennie Coleman, President and Co-owner of Equifruit. “Switching to Equifruit Fairtrade bananas costs just $5 more for a whole year. We want to make people aware that for the same price as their $5 protein bar, they could buy Fairtrade bananas that support better incomes and working conditions.”

This October is also Fairtrade Month, a global celebration of the farmers and workers behind Fairtrade products, and retailers’ and brands’ collective work towards a more equitable world.

According to a press release, Equifruit continues to lead the market for Fairtrade bananas in North America, earning a spot on The Globe and Mail’s prestigious Canada’s top growing companies list for the fourth year running. Celebrate Fairtrade Month with the Equifruit team at IFPA and join the quest for Global Fairtrade Banana Domination.

Find out why Equifruit is The Only Banana You Should Buy™.

SALINAS, CA - Blazer Wilkinson Gee (BWG) has announced that its Foxy™ brand blueberries have begun arriving on the East Coast. With an expanded offering of high-quality fruit from South America, BWG will now be able to supply its customers with premium blueberries on a nearly year-round basis. BWG's retail partners can expect the same level of service and high-quality product that has established BWG as one of the leading suppliers of fresh strawberries throughout the United States.

“We’re taking our proven track record of strawberry best practices and developing partnerships with growers across the globe who share our values and attention to detail. This allows our retail partners to keep their blueberry category consistently performing throughout the year.” said Jack Wilkinson, Head of Sales at BWG.

For over half a century, the Foxy™ brand has been one of the most trusted names in produce, a press release stated.

BWG remains committed to bringing retailers high-quality fruit from a brand that shoppers know and trust. The company is poised to work with retailers on year-round programs designed to build the berry category and satisfy the growing demand for healthy, delicious produce that fits the lifestyle needs of their shoppers 365 days a year.

“While we’ve grown significantly, we're still a family-run organization based out of Salinas, California, and our partners can expect us to treat them like family,” Wilkinson continued. “Our team of multigenerational experts is passionate about delivering berry excellence with everything we ship, and our partners can trust us to deliver on schedule and on spec.”

To take advantage of BWG’s commitment to high-quality supply and connection to superior blueberries retailers can contact their head of sales Jack Wilkinson at [email protected].

KINGSVILLE, ON - Del Fresco Pure® is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Silver Award in the OHS Culture category at the 2025 OHS Canada Honours. This recognition highlights the company’s commitment to cultivating a strong health and safety culture that prioritizes the well-being of its workforce.

The OHS Canada Honours celebrate organizations across the country that demonstrate excellence in workplace health and safety. The OHS Culture category specifically recognizes companies that actively engage employees at all levels, foster open communication, and integrate safety into the core values of the organization.

"In agriculture, cultural diversity and language barriers present unique challenges, making workers particularly vulnerable to health and safety risks," said Amanda Sharman, Food Safety Compliance and Regulatory Specialist at Del Fresco Pure®, in a recent release. "While we have always followed Health and Safety Regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, we recognized that we could do more to protect and empower our workforce."

In 2024, Del Fresco Pure® achieved certification by the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) for Social Responsibility. EFI provided guidance that led the company to enhance health and safety programs, establish a Leadership Team, and create a platform where workers, supervisors, and managers could openly discuss concerns and solutions. All Leadership Team members were trained in EFI standards and worked together to improve communication, address health and safety issues, and engage the workforce in meaningful dialogue.

Key initiatives that have strengthened the company’s health and safety culture include:

• Providing training materials, notices, and policies in multiple languages to ensure all workers can fully understand protocols.
• Implementing an anonymous reporting system for workers to voice concerns safely in their native languages.
• Using visual aids, posters, and images to communicate safety information effectively to those who may struggle with reading.
• Ensuring Leadership Team members communicate directly with workers, translating as necessary, to foster understanding and trust.

These measures have significantly increased workforce engagement, allowing employees to feel more comfortable raising concerns and actively participating in safety initiatives. The Leadership Team works in tandem with the Health and Safety Team and the Joint Health and Safety Committee to continuously improve the company’s Health and Safety Management System.

"We are honored to receive the Silver Award in OHS Culture," said Carl Mastronardi, President and CEO of Del Fresco Pure®. "This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and underscores our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and responsive workplace. By integrating social responsibility standards and prioritizing continuous improvement, we are strengthening the culture of safety across our operations."

CHARLOTTE, NC - The pineapple category was ready for another shakeup, and Dole Food Company delivered. DOLE® Colada Royale Pineapple is a game-changing new non-GMO variety prepared to shake up the produce department with its unique taste and appearance. Global Produce & Floral Show attendees will be among the first to experience the variety’s indulgent hints of coconut and piña colada.

“What really sets Colada Royale apart is the eating experience. The flesh is lighter in color than most people expect, but the flavor is strikingly different,” explains Bil Goldfield, Dole’s Director of Corporate Communications. “It's sweet, bright, and with the subtle coconut note that reminds many of a piña colada. It feels indulgent, but in a natural, refreshing way.”

Colada Royale has a unique visual appeal, with a distinct green-to-gold outside and a lighter cream-colored inside. Its sweeter, bolder flavor is the result of 15 years of trial-and-error natural breeding by Dole at one of its oldest pineapple farms in Honduras.

In fact, the new variety is a passion project for Honduran native and Director of Pineapple Breeding Roberto Young, who counts it as his crowning achievement after 28 years with the company. As part of its mission to positively impact worker welfare and human rights, Dole is reinvesting a portion of Colada Royale proceeds to build a community center for farm workers and their families in Honduras.

“Beyond the taste, consumers today also care about where their food comes from and giving back,” Bil adds. A portion of Colada Royale sales will go directly toward building a community center near our farm in Honduras, which will offer healthcare, education, and training programs. That combination of a premium fruit with a real connection to the people behind it is something we think will resonate strongly.”

In addition to the exciting opportunities it creates for retailers, the debut of this new variety also signals space for continued innovation in an established category.

“Pineapples are a fairly mature category, but Colada Royale shows there is still room for meaningful innovation,” Bil says. “It took more than 15 years to get this variety right, and we see it as proof that patient, thoughtful development can pay off. Unlike some novelty pineapples that may often come to market at very high prices or lean heavily on a marketing gimmick, Colada Royale will be priced within reach of most everyday shoppers. That balance of something new and indulgent, while still accessible, can bring sideline consumers into the category and help really lift sales.”

To learn more about this striking new variety, visit booth #2838 during the GPFS. Until then, keep reading ANUK for the latest updates!