FLORIDA - Expansion is afoot for Publix. The retailer has trained its eye on the Florida market and recently announced two more strategic acquisitions. Publix purchased two shopping centers in South Florida for a combined $83 million.

The Real Deal reported that the first of the two acquired plots was the Davie Shopping Center, which was purchased for $50.7 million, or $444 per square foot. The second deal was for the Regency Square Shopping Plaza. Publix purchased this plot for $32 million, or $304 per square foot.

The news source went on to note that this acquisition builds on Publix’s ongoing streak in recent years. The retailer has invested a combined $220 million in South Florida retail properties since 2021, including these two most recent purchases.

With all of this momentum, we are left to wonder whether Publix has plans for more South Florida acquisitions in the coming months. Either way, you can count on AndNowUKnow to report the latest.

SALINAS, CA - Back-to-school season is an important time of year to help set students up for success. Through its annual Backpack Giving Program, Taylor Farms has been helping students prepare for the coming year by donating backpacks filled with school supplies.

“Education is a cornerstone of our community, and we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to start the school year with the right resources,” said Panchita Preciado, Safety Manager, and leader of the program. “This program not only provides necessary supplies but also fosters a sense of community and support among our employees and local families.”

As the Backpack Giving Program celebrates its 14^th year, a whopping 5,700 backpacks were delivered to students in local Taylor Farms communities this year alone.

According to a press release, the program began in Monterey County, California, back in 2010. Since then, it has grown across 14 locations and has donated more than 43,000 backpacks to local students across the United States and Mexico.

This cherished tradition is a testament to Taylor Farms’ dedication to youth development and a philanthropic focus deeply rooted in the company’s culture.

As students head back to class, the provider also noted its value-added solutions such as Taylor Farms’ Snack Packs or Mini Chopped Salad Kits for convenient and healthy options.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest across fresh produce.

SALINAS, CA - A record-breaking raspberry crop is coming to retail shelves thanks to Naturipe Farms. The berry producer has entered its peak harvest season in both Baja and Central Mexico, with proprietary conventional and organic varieties available in high quantities.

“We’re excited to provide our customers with a plentiful selection of raspberries that we are confident will be a standout for retailers and consumers,” added Jim Roberts, President of Sales. “We understand the importance of meeting customer expectations and are dedicated to ensuring that when consumers come back for more of our exceptional raspberries, Naturipe will be there to provide them consistently.”

According to a press release, Naturipe Farms has seen customer demand for raspberries rising, and as a response, has expanded its acreage in all growing areas. Naturipe’s proprietary raspberry varieties are also performing exceptionally well this season thanks to a variety of environmental and growing factors.

Naturipe anticipates strong volumes of both conventional and organic raspberries through the end of the year. The improvements in acreage and crop quality position Naturipe well to continue this increased growth in the future.

“We’ve spent decades carefully cultivating our raspberries, and this year’s crop is some of our best ever—both in terms of yield and quality,” said Fernando Aguiar, Director of Business Development. “Our commitment to meeting customer needs has driven this expansion. This is the perfect time to mix raspberries into anything and everything. Enjoy them tossed on salads, baked into desserts, or by the handful straight from the clamshell. There’s no going wrong!”

Naturipe will continue to meet the increased demand for raspberries with a full range of packaging options and promotional support for customers. Retailers are encouraged to promote raspberries throughout the fall with in-store advertisements and signage. Naturipe also recommends promoting recipes, such as oatmeal raspberry cookies, berry citrus scones, or mixed berry baked French toast.

For more berry news, you know where to find us!

FRESNO, CA - Autumn is officially around the corner, and with the cooling temperatures come shifting programs. To drive category interest across its fall program, Trinity Fruit Company is preparing its Fall into Flavor campaign.

“Fall into Flavor is a play on words to entice shoppers to not forget to add these yummy fall fruits to their shopping carts,” Director of Marketing Angela Hernandez told me. “Our marketing team is prepared to support retailers with POS materials and collaborating on ways to increment sales.”

The campaign encompasses Apple Pears, persimmons, kiwifruit, and pomegranates.

“In preparation to the fall season, Trinity has prepared our fall program by continuing to grow our program yearly—allowing us to be able to supply the demand of our retail partners. Retailers should prepare by discussing with their sales associate to collaborate on the best go-to-market tactics,” Angela shared.

We’ll keep you in the loop regarding the latest campaigns and marketing strategies, so stay tuned.

NEW YORK - Grocer Hy-Vee is expanding its digital food ordering capabilities, partnering with Deliverect, a leading global food tech SaaS company. By integrating Deliverect into each of Hy-Vee’s Fast & Fresh Market Grille Express stations, the grocer can deliver an even better customer service experience by preparing orders more quickly and efficiently. Hy-Vee will also leverage Deliverect's analytics to make more data-driven decisions on its menu offerings and inventory.

“As a brand with convenience at its core, it’s critical that we meet our busy consumers where they are,” said Jennifer Lambert, Senior Vice President of IT Strategy and Planning, Hy-Vee. “Deliverect's innovative solutions have dramatically increased the speed of our curbside pickup service while providing us with key insights to keep our operations running smoothly and our customers happy. We look forward to seeing how this collaboration continues to evolve in the future.”

Hy-Vee’s Fast & Fresh convenience stores have 190 locations throughout the Midwest, and are designed to meet the time-strapped needs of today’s consumers. Automating the order creation process with Deliverect eliminates manual entry of meal and snack orders, helping staff focus on preparing high-quality meals.

“Convenience stores are at an exciting juncture as they begin to play alongside restaurants in the food delivery arena, and technology is necessary to make this shift successful,” said Noah Hayes, Americas Vice President, Deliverect. “Deliverect’s suite of solutions are designed to enable food service businesses to streamline their operations and deliver a frictionless customer experience.”

As a press release explained, Hy-Vee began collaborating with Deliverect in January 2024, piloting a custom integration across all store locations. Hy-Vee’s Fast & Fresh app was developed to leverage Deliverect’s order and menu management, as Deliverect also built a custom curbside notification solution, significantly increasing customer convenience, and operational efficiency at each convenience store location.

According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, the food service category—which includes prepared food, commissary, and hot dispensed beverages—now accounts for 26.9 percent of in-store sales. As convenience stores increasingly enter the food ordering space, delivery apps are becoming essential to meeting consumer demand.

ANUK will continue to report on all the latest partnerships in our industry, so keep clicking back.

CLEWISTON, FL - An acquisition between Rouge River Farms and True North Farms was announced earlier this week. Rouge River Farms signed a definitive agreement to acquire True North Farms, a grower agent serving wholesale and retail markets.

“Rouge River Farms is committed to investing in growth that benefits our stakeholder ecosystem and improves the quality of life for consumers, customers, suppliers, and employees, and we believe True North Farms is a perfect fit,” commented Rouge River President Robert Reesor in a release.

As Rouge River Farms aspires to lead the market and increase the accessibility of healthy products, it needs good partners such as True North Farms backing it.

As the release went on to note, the financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.

“Rouge River Farms is a well-established leader in our industry, and we’re excited to join the Rouge River Farms team. We believe they are the perfect partner to join as we share common values and a passion for exceeding customer expectations,” added Jason Wyatt, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of True North Farms.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in transactions like this.

SACRAMENTO, PA - Can you believe it? Southern Innovations is next week! The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) show, taking place September 12–14, will provide a platform for many innovative produce suppliers, including Masser Family of Companies. The grower will be showcasing the new Side Delights® Amazables!®—a key item in the Masser booth and also featured in the Wall of Innovation Showcase.

“Consumer demand for single-serve format products that are easy and fast to prepare continues to grow, and we are proud to participate in the Southern Innovations show again with a first-of-its-kind innovation,” said Dave Masser, President.

Amazables! are first-of-its-kind oven-crisp-style microwavable potatoes that come with and without custom sauces by Litehouse®, a press release stated. The gluten-free sauces—Loaded Potato sauce and Buffalo Ranch sauce—were created to complement the taste of a Russet potato and leverage top foodservice flavors. The Loaded Potato sauce features the flavors of traditional steakhouse-loaded baked potato toppings, cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives. The Buffalo Ranch sauce, on the other hand, blends the heat of classic Buffalo sauce with the cool taste of ranch dressing.

The product’s innovative film shrinks around the potato in the microwave to crisp the skin. The film is #1 recyclable, the most accessible and prevalent recycling material available, with the highest chance of being recycled and used for another purpose, the release noted.

“We are particularly excited about showcasing Amazables! and invite attendees to visit us at booth 314,” added Bob Meek, Chief Revenue Officer.

This year’s Southern Innovations will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Attendees will be encouraged to discover “What’s New?” within the fresh produce industry as new product items and technologies are launched into the marketplace.

ANUK will have more show coverage coming your way over the next couple of weeks, so stick with us.