NEW ROCHELLE, NY - LGS Specialty Sales, a leading importer of citrus, avocados, and grapes, shares an update on its robust summer citrus season with solid availability from both coasts. As the back-to-school season approaches, LGS is well-positioned to meet the demand for healthy, stackable, and lunch-packable fruit options.

As we begin to transition from Chilean clementines to W. Murcotts and Tangos, the company notes ample availability of summer mandarins with strong volume expected through November. LGS anticipates that W. Murcotts and Tangos will continue to be the dominant varieties, with consistently high-quality, sweet-tasting products.

“This year, we are experiencing a very steady supply of summer citrus from our partners in the Southern Hemisphere, including Uruguay, South Africa, Chile, Peru, and Argentina,” said Lucio Rainelli, director of sales at LGS Specialty Sales, in the recent release. “Moving into the cooler season, we are expecting a smooth transition to fall citrus and avocados.”

Back in 2023, LGS began packing its own fruit with the addition of S&L Cold Storage in New Jersey. S&L is a vital part of LGS’s vertically integrated supply chain. The facility features state-of-the-art automated packing and grading lines, enhanced quality control, and a prime location with direct access to major highways in the northeast. By streamlining operations and increasing efficiency, S&L has helped LGS continue meeting the needs of customers, growers, and the business, while also staying at the forefront of innovation. During the summer months, LGS also packs on the West Coast to further support our customers’ needs and allow for shorter transit times with the same LGS quality.

“The addition of S&L has helped us prioritize consistency year-round, delivering premium products that give our customers peace of mind when partnering with LGS,” added Luke Sears, President of LGS Specialty Sales.

To place an order today, please contact [email protected]. For nutritional facts and additional information, please visit lgssales.com or follow LGS Sales’ social media platforms for daily inspiration at Facebook, X, and Instagram.

SALINAS, CA - At its Advisory Board meeting last week in Ventura, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) presented past Chairwoman Jan Berk with its highest honor – the Golden Checkmark Award.

Earlier this year, Berk retired from her role as COO of San Miguel Produce, concluding an exceptional career in the leafy greens industry. Her retirement also marked the end of her tenure as Chairwoman of the California LGMA — a position in which she made history as the organization’s first-ever female chair.

Since joining the LGMA Advisory Board at its inception in 2007, she has been one of its longest-serving members and has led the Communications Committee since 2022.

Berk’s leadership was instrumental in launching the LGMA Romaine Test & Learn Program, which has now completed nearly two years of data collection, including more than 42,000 pathogen test samples. She has been a strong voice for LGMA members, especially those in the Oxnard and Ventura growing regions.

Presenting the award, California LGMA CEO Tim York said, “Jan is truly a special individual who demonstrated great leadership as Chairwoman of the LGMA. We thank her for her years of service and her unwavering commitment to food safety, and we wish her the very best in retirement.”

WASCO, CA - Sun World International welcomed more than 200 licensed growers and partners to its Center for Innovation in Wasco, California, for the 2025 July Field Day—a signature event focused on varietal innovation, vineyard performance, and Sun World’s commitment to delivering high-quality branded grapes worldwide.

Held biannually, the Field Day offers an in-field look at the company’s latest developments, providing partners with updates on planting trends, performance insights, and shared goals around flavor, sustainability, and market leadership.

This year’s event spotlighted five early-season pipeline varieties—including Sugrafiftythree, Sugra60, and advanced, yet-to-be-released selections. Bred for early maturity, high yield, and exceptional post-harvest performance, these cultivars give growers an edge in delivering fruit that meets both consumer expectations and production needs. Attendees toured test blocks and commercial vineyards to see firsthand how each variety performs under real-world conditions.

“We’re constantly balancing consumer preference with grower performance,” said Paola Barba, Table Grape Breeder at Sun World, in the recent release. “Our newest selections offer earlier harvest windows, simplified production, and the flavor traits that today’s shoppers crave.”

With a focus on the future, Sun World continues to invest in premiumization, brand adoption, and storytelling that links field performance with shelf appeal. Its upcoming Late Season Field Day, set for Aug. 21, 2025, will further these efforts by fostering innovation and collaboration across its global network. In addition to its California-based events, Sun World also hosts regional field days around the world, offering growers a closer look at newly introduced varieties and sharing best practices tailored to local growing conditions.

“Innovation is the foundation of everything we do—from the varieties we develop to the partnerships we build,” said Bernardo Calvo, President and CEO of Sun World International. “Sun World’s Field Day events are more than a showcase of what’s next in grapes, it’s a celebration of the growers, marketers, and visionaries driving the future of fresh produce across the globe.”

RICHMOND, VA - Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, announced that Babylon Micro-Farms is No. 1009 on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list provides a data-driven snapshot of the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Under Armour, Timberland, Oracle, and Patagonia. Babylon Micro-Farms also secured the No. 1 ranking among companies headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, placed No. 39 in the state, and ranked No. 95 nationally in the Business Products & Services category.

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Babylon Micro-Farms has grown from a local startup to a recognized leader in sustainable indoor farming, managing more than 375 farms across the U.S. and internationally through its proprietary Guided Growing™ platform. Dedicated to bringing the farm directly to people and inspiring a deeper connection to fresh, delicious food and how it’s grown, the company was named to the 2025 FoodTech 500 list of the world’s most innovative AgriFoodTech companies, expanded partnerships with leading institutions such as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Mayo Clinic, Sunrise Senior Living, and JW Marriott, and launched the STEM Garden to bring hands-on agricultural education to classrooms nationwide. These efforts have also earned recognition for aligning with WELL, LEED, and AASHE standards.

“We are incredibly honored to make the Inc 5000 of fastest growing privately-held companies as our solution for indoor on-site vertical farming has been expanding extensively across 4 key sectors - Healthcare, Corporate Dining, Education, and Hospitality,” says Marc Oshima, CEO, Babylon Micro-Farms, in the recent release. “We want to thank our amazing customers, partners, and incredible team who are all incredibly aligned to our mission of bringing the farm to you, inspiring a greater connection with fresh, delicious produce, and how it is grown.”

This year’s Inc. 5000 honorees have demonstrated exceptional growth while navigating economic uncertainty, inflationary pressure, and a fluctuating labor market. Among the top 500 companies on the list, the median three-year revenue growth rate reached 1,552 percent, and those companies have collectively added more than 48,678 jobs to the U.S. economy over the past three years.

For the full list, company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, visit here.

“Making the Inc. 5000 is always a remarkable achievement, but earning a spot this year speaks volumes about a company’s tenacity and clarity of vision,” says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “These businesses have thrived amid rising costs, shifting global dynamics, and constant change. They didn’t just weather the storm—they grew through it, and their stories are a powerful reminder that the entrepreneurial spirit is the engine of the U.S. economy.”

Inc. will celebrate the honorees at the 2025 Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, taking place October 22–24 in Phoenix, and the top 500 will be listed in the Fall issue of Inc. magazine.

DUBLIN, IRELAND - Dole plc released its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025.

Highlights for the three months ended June 30, 2025:

• Very strong performance for the second quarter, with growth across all Continuing Operations segments
• Revenue of $2.4 billion, an increase of 14.3% (an increase of 12.1% on a like-for-like basis)
• Net Income decreased to $18.0 million, primarily due to a loss in the Fresh Vegetables division
• Adjusted EBITDA3 of $137.1 million, an increase of 9.3% (an increase of 7.2% on a like-for-like basis)
• Adjusted Net Income increased 13.0% to $53.2 million, and Adjusted Diluted EPS3 increased 12.2% to $0.55
• Post quarter-end, successfully completed the sale of the Fresh Vegetables division to Arable Capital Partners for approximately $140.0 million

Commenting on the results, Carl McCann, Executive Chairman, said in the recent release:

“We are very pleased to report a strong result for the second quarter of 2025. Group revenue increased 14.3% and Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.3% compared to the prior year, with good growth across all of our Continuing Operations.

Post-quarter end, we completed the sale of the Fresh Vegetables Division to Arable Capital Partners. The completion of this sale represents an important strategic milestone for the Group and will enable us to further concentrate our efforts and investments on our core business activities.

For the current financial year, although the macroeconomic environment remains complex, we are pleased to announce an upward revision of our guidance and are now targeting full-year Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $380.0 million to $390.0 million.”

See the full report here.

SEATTLE, WA - Amazon is taking another step into fresh grocery convenience, announcing that customers in more than 1,000 cities can now add produce, dairy, and other perishables to their same-day delivery orders. According to Seeking Alpha, the company plans to more than double that reach, servicing over 2,300 locations, by the end of 2025.

The Seattle-based retailer said the move integrates thousands of perishable items into its existing speed-optimized logistics network. Customers can bundle groceries with household goods, electronics, home improvement tools, and more in a single cart, delivered within hours.

Amazon noted strong adoption in early test markets like Phoenix, Orlando, and Kansas City.

Check back with ANUK as we continue to follow this expansion and its potential ripple effects across the grocery landscape.

ISSAQUAH, WA - Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $20.89 billion for the retail month of July, the four weeks ended August 3, 2025, an increase of 8.5 percent from $19.26 billion last year.

Net sales for the first 48 weeks were $248.35 billion, an increase of 8.1 percent from $229.81 billion last year.

Additional discussion of these results is available in a pre-recorded message. It can be accessed by visiting investor.costco.com. This message will be available through 4:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

Costco currently operates 910 warehouses, including 626 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 110 in Canada, 41 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 20 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, two in France, two in Sweden, and one each in Iceland, and New Zealand. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.

See the full release here.