POMPANO BEACH, FL - Southern Specialties, Inc. proudly announces the launch of its Southern Selects® Heirloom Tomatoes, a line of premium, greenhouse-grown heirlooms that celebrate the rich heritage of tomato farming. These authentic varieties—carefully passed down through generations—are grown specifically for flavor and texture, delivering a true farm-to-table experience for today’s discerning consumer.

The new offering includes both large heirloom tomatoes and baby heirloom varieties, each harvested with care to ensure consistent quality, vibrant colors, and exceptional taste. Unlike commodity tomatoes bred for transport, Southern Selects heirlooms are cultivated for what truly matters—a rich, authentic eating experience.

Grown in the “Land of Eternal Spring”

Our Southern Selects heirloom tomatoes are greenhouse-grown in Guatemala, a country often called the “land of eternal spring.” Nestled between volcanoes, the region offers fertile soil, abundant natural resources, and an ideal temperature environment—conditions that make it one of the best places in the world to grow flavorful produce. This unique setting allows for year-round production and the assurance that every tomato meets the highest standards of taste, freshness, and quality.

Meeting Consumer Demand for Authentic Produce

Today’s consumers increasingly seek produce that delivers authentic flavor, heritage, and a great story. By offering heirloom tomatoes grown in a region steeped in rich agricultural tradition, Southern Specialties connects the consumer not only to a product but also to a legacy of farming passed down through generations.

A Fresh Choice for Retailers and Foodservice

Southern Selects heirloom tomatoes provide retailers, chefs, and foodservice operators with a premium product that enhances menus, adds vibrant color to displays, and satisfies consumer demand for fresh, flavorful produce.

“Our Southern Selects Heirloom Tomatoes are grown with authenticity, tradition, and flavor at their core,” said Robert Colescott, President & CEO of Southern Specialties, in the recent release. “We’re proud to share these unique varieties with our customers and look forward to delivering the quality and taste that Southern Specialties is known for.”

WATERBURY, CT - Price Rite Marketplace, known for its everyday low prices and shopper-friendly format, is excited to announce the opening of its newest store in Waterbury, CT on Wednesday, October 1. Located in the Waterbury Shopping Center at 881 Wolcott Street, the 34,000-square-foot store will feature a produce department brimming with fresh vegetables and fruits and grocery aisles stocked with high-quality meats, dairy products, baked goods, frozen foods and national and private label grocery items at unbeatable prices.

The community is invited to celebrate the grand opening, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 AM and a full day of festivities, including vendor sampling, a live DJ, photo opportunities, gift card giveaways and more.

Known for its commitment to value, variety and quality, Price Rite Marketplace was recently ranked one of the most affordable grocery stores in Connecticut by a national NetCredit report. The supermarket is excited to deliver its fresh and affordable shopping experience to Waterbury residents.

“We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome the Waterbury community to our store,” said Kevin McDonnell, president of Price Rite Marketplace, in the recent release. “This store represents our ongoing commitment to making fresh, affordable food accessible to more families — with thousands of everyday low prices. We’re excited to celebrate this next chapter with our new customers and team members.”

The Price Rite of Waterbury will deliver a diverse selection of authentic foods and flavors that cater to the local community’s tastes and traditions. Customers will also find a wide variety of everyday essentials and big-value club-size items, all designed to meet the needs of families and individuals alike.

Built with sustainability in mind, the Waterbury store will feature several green technologies, including energy-saving glass doors on all dairy cases and energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration systems throughout the space.

The store is still hiring. Interested candidates who are passionate about customer service to apply for open positions online here.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - North Bay Produce, a leading name in the fresh produce industry, is thrilled to announce that its premium blackberry variety, ERANDY®, has been awarded the prestigious Superior Taste Award in Brussels, Belgium. This esteemed recognition is presented by the International Taste Institute, known for its rigorous evaluation process involving over 200 professional taste experts from around the globe.

The ERANDY® blackberry, packaged under North Bay’s RESERVE® label, is renowned for its exceptional flavor profile and superior quality. It has captured the attention of the expert jury composed of members from the most distinguished chef and sommelier associations. These jury members are not only affiliated with top-tier associations but have also been recognized for their expertise through chef and sommelier competitions, as well as prestigious institutions such as Le Guide Michelin and Gault & Millau.

A Testament to Excellence

Receiving the Superior Taste Award is a significant achievement, as it reflects North Bay Produce's dedication and commitment to providing consumers with fresh, flavorful, and high-quality produce. The ERANDY® blackberry stood out in the evaluation process for its unique taste, texture, and overall excellence.

The jury, consisting of independent and external experts from over 20 countries, conducts a rigorous assessment to ensure that only the finest products receive this accolade. Their extensive knowledge of taste, coupled with their ability to offer insightful feedback, is constantly evaluated to maintain the highest standards of the award.

A Legacy of Quality and Innovation

North Bay Produce has always prioritized innovation and quality in its produce offerings, and the recognition of the ERANDY® blackberry is a testament to this legacy. The company's commitment to sustainable and advanced agricultural practices ensures that each blackberry is cultivated to perfection, offering consumers an unparalleled taste experience.

"We are incredibly proud to receive the Superior Taste Award for our ERANDY® blackberries," said Nick Osmulski, President of North Bay Produce, in the recent release. "This award acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our team and farmers who strive to deliver the best possible produce to our customers. It is an honor to be recognized by such a distinguished panel of taste experts."

MADRID, SPAIN - Covering technical topics on packaging, composting, and sustainable practices, the platform is designed to support stakeholders in the context of new packaging regulations.

As global leader in fresh produce labelling solutions, Sinclair is launching the first platform of its kind for the global fresh produce industry. The resource hub will be available for free on the Sinclair website.

Created to offer educational content to help understand regulations, compostable products, composting, product certification, and more. The platforms' goal is to provide packaging stakeholders, and even consumers, with the resources needed to make informed decisions. Over time, it will develop into a comprehensive and ever-expanding resource hub.

Making technical topics accessible

“Since launching our certified compostable label, Sinclair - T55, last year, we've identified a significant gap in clear and accessible information regarding packaging waste and compostable products”, said Duncan Jones, Senior Marketing Manager at Sinclair, in the recent release. Compostable products—and the topics surrounding them—can quickly become highly technical. Compounding this complexity is the lack of global alignment in sustainable packaging regulations, which has led to staggered and delayed implementation across different regions. 'We see an urgent need to share our expertise and insights into the technical aspects and topics related to compostable fruit labels, as well as labeling systems more broadly, with all our stakeholders,' he added

The hub features articles, guides, and insights from leading experts in the industry. Initial topics include “Why compostable fruit labels offer a smart path to sustainable produce packaging” and “Navigating the compostable regulation landscape.”

“We’re starting small, but our goal is to build a robust knowledge hub by actively listening to our customers and industry stakeholders. As packaging continues to evolve rapidly, we aim to bring clarity to our space by sharing fact-based, data-driven insights and resources that truly add value. This marks an exciting step toward making high-quality industry knowledge more accessible to everyone.”, said Jones.

Sparking conversations

This launch is conveniently timed ahead of two of the main industry events of the year: Fruit Attraction, September 30 to October 2 in Madrid (Spain) and The Global Produce and Floral Show, October 16-18 in Anaheim (USA).

“Partnerships have been central to Sinclair’s success over the past 43 years. We’re committed to continuing meaningful conversations with our customers and the wider industry at events like these. Face-to-face dialogue is essential for building trust, and we genuinely value the exchange of ideas," explained Jones. "The global success of our T55 compostable label has been a major milestone. Now, we’re focused on maintaining that momentum and helping to demystify the complexities and regulatory requirements surrounding compostable packaging”.

Visitors will be able to find Sinclair at Fruit Attraction in Hall 10, Stand 10B21 and at the Global Produce and Floral Show at stand 3931.

UNITED STATES - Trader Joe’s expansion continues full steam ahead this month, with the retailer celebrating grand openings and teasing more stores soon to come, according to its recent announcements. From the East Coast to the West, new neighborhoods are about to get their own Crew.

The specialty grocer plans to host grand opening celebrations for the following locations:

• Staten Island (South Shore), New York — September 24 (8 AM)
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — September 30 (9 AM)

In addition to these store openings, Trader Joe’s has revealed plans to further expand its footprint with stores coming soon in the following markets:

• Columbia, South Carolina
• Costa Mesa, California
• Cypress, Texas

AndNowUKnow will continue to track the retailer’s growth as more doors open nationwide—stay tuned for future updates.