WENATCHEE, WA - With innovation right there in the name, what better place than Southern Innovations to show off a dynamic portfolio designed to meet the growing demand for healthy family snacking, convenience, and fun retail engagement? CMI Orchards is checking all of these boxes with its apple, cherry, and pear programs, and Marketing Manager Kaci Komstadius recently took a moment to explain how.

What programs will be displayed at CMI Orchards’ Southern Innovations booth this year?

“Among the highlights this year is CMI’s licensed character bag program, which injects fun and familiarity into the produce aisle using recognizable characters, making apples more appealing to kids and a practical choice for parents seeking lunchbox solutions. For the organic shoppers, Crunchie Munchies® offers snack-ready organic apples in bright, approachable packaging that combines wellness with excitement. CMI’s proprietary Hero® bags, complete with playful in-house designed mascots, provide retailers with a unique, family-focused program that encourages both trial and repeat purchases. Meanwhile, Gem® pears stand out as the perfect grab-and-go option—naturally snack-sized, sweet, and ready to eat—earning their place as a fall favorite for busy families.

What sets CMI apart in the category is the breadth of snack-focused solutions across both apples and pears, backed by customizable marketing support for retailers. By tying licensed character programs and proprietary designs to timely cultural moments, like back-to-school, CMI drives excitement and impulse purchases while offering both conventional and organic choices to appeal to a wide range of shoppers.

With its focus on snackability, family appeal, and innovative packaging, CMI is positioning apples and pears as the go-to healthy snack for kids and parents alike. This blend of variety, customization, and shopper-centric design reinforces our leadership in delivering fresh solutions that grow consumption and delight families at retail.”

What emerging trends have you witnessed across these categories?

“Across apples, cherries, and pears, snackability, convenience, and premium experiences are driving consumer demand. Shoppers are increasingly seeking healthy, portable options that fit busy lifestyles, and fresh fruit is stepping into that role. In apples, this has translated into demand for bagged items, licensed character packs, and branded programs that make fruit both fun and approachable for kids and families. Cherries continue to shine as a seasonal indulgence, with consumers gravitating toward larger sizes and packaging that enhances their premium perception.

Retailers and foodservice operators can harness these shifts by leveraging CMI’s comprehensive portfolio of brands and packaging solutions. Programs like Crunchie Munchies and Hero bags highlight healthy family snacking in eye-catching packaging, while licensed character pouches bring cultural relevance and excitement to the produce aisle and can be particularly effective during back-to-school promotions. These programs not only attract attention but also make fruit easier for parents to choose and kids to enjoy, directly fueling consumption.

By combining innovative marketing, exclusive varieties, and snackable solutions across apples, cherries, and pears, CMI helps its partners not only keep pace with changing consumer preferences but also spark new demand. Whether through retail promotions, foodservice integration, or in-store merchandising, CMI ensures that fresh fruit remains a vibrant, exciting, and convenient choice for today’s consumer.”

What makes attending Southern Innovations so valuable to CMI Orchards?

“The Southern Innovations show offers a unique platform. It is designed to spotlight fresh ideas, forward-thinking products, and innovative solutions that connect directly with the needs of today’s retailers and foodservice operators. Unlike larger national shows, Southern Innovations creates a more intimate environment where suppliers and buyers can easily connect and collaborate to prepare for the season ahead.

It provides the chance to kick off our upcoming apple season, helping decision-makers see how products and programs can be positioned for success in their stores or menus. For CMI Orchards, it’s the perfect venue to highlight category-driving programs that align with the show’s emphasis on innovation and consumer engagement.

Southern Innovations is not just about displaying produce, it’s about sparking ideas, building connections, and helping retailers and foodservice partners discover new ways to grow demand and differentiate their offerings.”

It’s all waiting for you at booth #308, so be sure to stop by and check out these premium programs!

WASHINGTON, DC - In a complaint filed on March 6, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) alleged that Atlantic Frozen Foods LLC, of Whitehall, Pa., failed to make full payment promptly in the amount of $1,176,084.39 to six sellers for multiple lots of produce, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

After the complaint was filed, USDA and Atlantic Frozen Foods entered into a Consent Decision and Order in which Atlantic Frozen Foods agreed to pay the unpaid produce sellers listed in Appendix A to the Complaint and to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $25,000. Atlantic Frozen Foods has satisfied the terms of the Consent Decision and Order, and the finding that it committed repeated and flagrant PACA violations has been permanently abated without further process. The case has been closed.

For more information, contact Peter Scarabelli, Acting Chief, Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873 or [email protected]. 

WASHINGTON, DC - In a complaint filed on Jan. 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) alleged that Roberson Onion Corp., doing business as Roberson Produce, of Hazlehurst, Ga., failed to make full payment promptly in the total amount of $889,309.48, to 12 sellers for multiple lots of produce, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

After the complaint was filed, USDA and Roberson Produce entered into a Consent Decision and Order finding that Roberson Produce committed repeated and flagrant PACA violations by failing to pay $457,171.80 to multiple produce sellers. The Consent Decision and Order took effect on Aug. 15, 2025.

Steve Roberson, the company’s sole shareholder, and principal, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until Aug. 15, 2026, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Mr. Roberson is also ineligible to be licensed under PACA until Aug. 15, 2027, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

USDA is required to publish a finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant PACA violations, and impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.

By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace. For more information, contact the Investigative Enforcement Branch at (202) 720-6873 or [email protected].