OXNARD, CA - Mission Produce, Inc., a world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados, showcases its promotable supply of jumbo avocados and mangos at the New England Produce Council (NEPC) Expo in Boston, Mass., August 18-19, 2025, at booth #117.

“Our strong supply of jumbo avocados and mangos provides a timely opportunity for retailers to leverage larger sizes to drive incremental sales and attract high-value shoppers,” said Galen Johnson, Senior Director of Sales, in the recent release. “Size is not only a key indicator of quality to avocado and mango shoppers, it’s a profit driver—whether through bulk or bagged programs. NEPC is the perfect venue to connect with our partners and explore how to maximize this moment.”

Mission's vertically integrated farms in Peru are producing strong volumes of jumbo avocados this season. Additionally, Mexico’s upcoming avocado size curve is leaning heavily on 48s and larger, and nearly half of Mexico’s Kent mango crop consists of sizes 6 and larger.

Jumbo avocados (sizes 36, 32, and 28) yield more than twice the edible volume of smaller sizes (96, 84, 70, 60), delivering clear value for consumers. Retailers adding jumbo bulk or bagged avocados have historically seen substantial category growth, including dollar lifts up to 29% and minimal cannibalization of smaller fruit.

Jumbo mangos (sizes 6 and larger) provide retailers with a premium offering, appealing to over one-third of mango shoppers who prefer larger mangos. Jumbo mangos carry a 73% price premium over smaller sizes, representing an opportunity to drive incremental revenue.

NEWARK, DE - The Foundation for Fresh Produce invites the produce industry to join them this September as the nonprofit organization kicks off its sixth annual National Fruits & Veggies Month. This month-long celebration of everyone’s favorite plants (fruits and veggies!) has reached millions of consumers each year.

National Fruits & Veggies Month was designed to celebrate produce as our nation’s top health priority. And as the conversation on health is in the national spotlight, it’s up to the produce industry to make sure fruits and veggies take the lead.

“The data is clear: fruits and vegetables improve lives, especially for children as they grow and develop. The sad reality is people simply aren’t eating enough of them, and we are committed to increasing consumption,” said Lauren M. Scott, President of The Foundation for Fresh Produce, in the recent release. “This is how the produce industry can provide a profound positive impact on global health.”

The Foundation for Fresh Produce focuses on boosting the appeal of fruits and vegetables as an integral part of people’s diets. Despite knowing that they’re necessary for good health, fruits and vegetables continue to rank low in consumer choice.

That’s where National Fruits & Veggies Month comes in. Using friendly and engaging messaging and education, the National Fruits & Veggies Month campaign shows how fruits and veggies can be added to our everyday lives. It emphasizes ways to make it easy to Have A Plant® at every meal and snack by highlighting hacks, flavor, and fun.

“The Foundation is dedicated to making fruits and veggies the number one choice through culturally relevant content that resonates with consumers,” said Katie Calligaro, Director of Marketing & Communications at The Foundation for Fresh Produce. “National Fruits & Veggies Month is a prime moment for our industry to take advantage of the campaign momentum with one collective voice to reach millions.”

The Foundation is making it easy to collaborate with the National Fruits & Veggies Month Toolkit. From customizable social media posts and turnkey messages to tips for activations in retail or incorporating more produce on menus in restaurants and schools, it is full of ideas to support everyone’s consumer marketing efforts this September.

The Foundation’s tried-and-true food and nutrition influencer network is also pivotal to reaching consumers online and through traditional media with National Fruits & Veggies Month messages. The Foundation encourages the produce industry to take advantage of the campaign by engaging with this important community or by activating your own influencer network.

“While fruits and veggies should take center stage all year long, September is a great time to promote your own products and brands too,” says Calligaro. “There’s strength in numbers, and together, we can rise the tides to boost appeal and drive demand for fruits and veggies to grow a healthier world.” 

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WOODLAND, CA - For the first time, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds welcomed industry leaders from around the world to the Future of Veg event series. This unique experience allowed visitors to see vegetable crops in three locations – each specializing in unique crop groups to showcase the varieties in real-world conditions.

“We’re excited to show our solutions, including not only leading products, but providing growers with insights into our pipeline, industry trends, and new technologies to help them address future needs on and off the field,” said Ana Grau, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds America's Brand and Customer Head, in a recent press release. “We want to partner with our customers to help them succeed in the ever-changing landscape of vegetable production.”

The events were hosted in Plainfield, Wis., Salinas, Calif., and Woodland, Calif. from August 12-15, bringing visitors from Australia, Latin America, Mexico, Europe, Africa, and more – with more than two dozen countries represented.

Solutions for Every Grower

Grower priorities are different depending on crop, location, and many other factors. Each location provided a unique experience to help growers discover new opportunities for their local conditions.

“We work hard every day of the year to find solutions that matter to our growers,” said Andre Cariou, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds' Regional Commercial Head, LATAM and AGH. "Events like this are exciting because they allow us to showcase our innovations directly to customers while gaining valuable insights about how our solutions perform in real-world operations."

For more insights across regions, click here for more information.

Grower Feedback Drives Innovation

At Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, finding solutions that bring real-world value is what drives our experts in the lab, field, and farms – and it starts with truly understanding our customers.

“By bringing Future of Veg directly to three key growing regions simultaneously, we’re enhancing innovation and collaboration,” said Juan Pablo Lopez, Regional Commercial Head, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. “Our customers succeed when they can see firsthand how our varieties perform closer to their specific environments. And by gathering feedback from these growers, we gain a comprehensive understanding of market needs that helps shape our innovation pipeline.”

For more information on Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, please visit www.syngentavegetables.com.

ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - Ahold Delhaize announced that it has reached an agreement for the divestment of 87 Romanian stores with local Romanian supermarket company Annabella, which has over 30 years of history of operating in the Romanian market.

This divestment is in accordance with Ahold Delhaize’s post-closing obligations from the Romanian Competition Council (RCC), as announced on the 3rd of January 2025 following the acquisition of Profi.

Of the 87 stores to be divested, 82 are currently operated by Profi, with the remaining five operated by Mega Image, Ahold Delhaize’s other supermarket brand in the Romanian market.

Closing conditions

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including merger clearance by the RCC. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

LEAMINGTON, ON - Nature Fresh Farms®, one of North America's leading growers of sustainable greenhouse produce, announced Thomas Dreher as its new Chief Financial Officer, bringing extensive financial and strategic expertise to support the company's expanding partnerships and market initiatives.

With over 20 years of leadership experience across food manufacturing, consumer packaging, and financial services, he has built a career driving value creation and strategic growth at companies navigating complex market dynamics.

"This appointment brings exactly the kind of financial leadership we need as we pursue new partnerships and market opportunities," said Patrick Criteser, CEO of Nature Fresh Farms, in a recent release. "Our ability to identify and unlock value across diverse business relationships will be crucial as we expand our grower-to-retailer ecosystem."

Thomas will oversee financial operations while playing a key role in evaluating and structuring strategic partnerships that advance Nature Fresh Farms' mission of leading controlled environment agriculture innovation.

His experience in complex business environments positions him to help drive strong returns while maintaining the company's commitment to quality and environmental stewardship.

"What excites me most about joining Nature Fresh Farms is the opportunity to support a company that's creating real value for partners, customers, and communities," said Thomas. "The financial discipline and strategic insight required to grow sustainably in this industry align perfectly with my experience and values."

Thomas succeeds Dave Hildebrandt, who, after guiding Nature Fresh Farms through a period of remarkable growth, is transitioning to the board of directors, where he will continue to support the company's strategic direction.

Thomas joins an experienced executive team at the family-owned Nature Fresh Farms, reinforcing the company's commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture solutions, driving industry transformation, and achieving market leadership.