BELLEVUE, WA - Arable Capital Partners, LLC, a leading investor in sustainable food and agribusiness, announced that its portfolio company, organicgirl, LLC, the U.S. market leader in branded organic salads, has successfully acquired Braga Fresh, LLC through a merger, followed by the acquisition of Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle, a former division of Dole plc.

Braga Fresh is a vertically integrated grower and processor of both conventional and organic vegetables, offering salad kits, blends, and fresh-packed vegetables. Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle has a long-standing reputation for delivering a comprehensive range of value-added salad blends, kits, and vegetables under the well-known Dole and Bud of California brands.

Tim Stejskal has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the newly combined entity. Tim joined Arable as an Operating Partner in 2023 after serving as CEO of Fresh Innovations and spending over two decades at Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle as General Manager and Senior Vice President of Sales and Innovation. Commenting on the announcement, Tim said, “This new platform creates a diversified produce portfolio that strengthens each brand’s legacy of innovation and commitment to exceptional customer service.”

Mark Drever, Co-founder of organicgirl, added in the release, “This combination unlocks exciting new potential for the organicgirl brand and presents meaningful opportunities for the dedicated teams across all three companies. With enhanced resources and scale, we are even better positioned to deliver on our promise of quality and care to consumers.”

Rod Braga, President and CEO of Braga Fresh, said, “bringing these companies together creates an exciting new chapter. It allows us to continue offering exceptional value to our customers, expand opportunities for our world-class grower partners, and support the growth and development of our talented employees.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle and Braga Fresh into the organicgirl platform and the Arable portfolio,” said Derek Yurosek, Managing Director of Arable Capital Partners. “Each company is a leader in its segment and together they create a powerful platform poised for long-term growth and success.”

Greg Richards, Managing Director of Arable, added, “Arable was formed to provide investors with unique opportunities to partner with great businesses and operators and create value. The merger of organicgirl, Braga Fresh, and Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle does exactly this in combining industry leaders across the salad and vegetable sectors, enabling continued market growth for these businesses and their customers, growers, and shareholders.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - As the second half of summer unfolds, Creekside Organics is delivering a fresh, flavorful lineup of organic fruit designed to bring energy and momentum to produce departments nationwide. With organic grapes and melons now shipping in peak volumes, Creekside is meeting the moment with consistent availability, strong varietal diversity, and packs that align with retail execution strategies.

Fruit World, a part of the Creekside Organics family of brands, is currently shipping its seasonal grape program through late September. This year’s standout offerings include organic Thomcord and conventional Kyoho varieties. The company’s signature Thomcord grapes—a cross between Concord and Thompson Seedless—are beloved for their nostalgic, intensely “grapey” flavor and wide consumer appeal.

These are available in one-pound clamshells and two-pound paper totes to meet a variety of merchandising needs. Each Thomcord retail pack features Fruit World’s signature “Thomcord Tales” card, which invites consumers to text the team directly with feedback, stories, and questions, creating a memorable and engaging connection with the brand.

“We look forward to grape season every year,” said Bianca Kaprielian, Co-CEO of Creekside Organics, in the recent release. “Our organic Thomcords capture that old-school grape flavor—bold, juicy, and deeply nostalgic. The best part is getting texts from customers sharing their stories. We pioneered this text engagement six years ago, and it’s just as fun and rewarding as it was when we started. We even get people reaching out via text before the season starts to ask when they can find the grapes at their local grocery store. People share photos of their kids enjoying the grapes, stories of how the grapes remind them of a Concord vine from their childhood, and encouragement to keep farming delicious fruit. And we respond to each text.”

Creekside Organics is also in the heart of its organic melon season, with cantaloupes, honeydews, Hami, and mini seedless watermelons now shipping in promotable volumes through the end of October. Organic cantaloupes are consistently measuring high on the Brix scale, delivering the sweet, juicy flavor consumers expect in a peak-season melon. Honeydew melons, known for their smooth yellow skin and light green flesh, are a standby that performs well at retail. Creekside is also offering seedless and black seedless watermelon and galia melons through August.

“Our melon program is all about delivering consistent high quality and making things easy for our customers,” said Brenda Haught, Co-CEO of Creekside Organics. “We focus on reliable sizing, timely harvests, and a packout that gives retailers the flexibility they need across different stores and promotions.”

All Creekside Organics programs are backed by the company’s dedication to food safety and organic integrity. Creekside brings together a strong network of trusted partners and family farms—offering a robust portfolio rooted in deep respect for the land and the people who farm it.

As summer merchandising strategies shift into late-season promotions, Creekside Organics and Fruit World provide a cohesive solution for retailers looking to refresh the summer set with quality organic fruit. To learn more or place an order, contact the Creekside sales team at [email protected].

MILWAUKIE, OR - USA Pears has named Barbara Ruhs, MS, RDN, as director of nutrition affairs and communications, effective immediately.

Ruhs is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and leader in retail health promotion who brings ‘wellness to the shelf.’ As a successful nutrition communications consultant, she is the former nutrition marketing dietitian for Avocados From Mexico and launched a conference for retail dietitians.

A trusted nutrition expert, she knows how to blend science and storytelling to build influence with dietitians, media, and consumers.

“We’re excited to welcome Barbara as we lean into the nutritional benefits of fresh U.S.-grown pears,” said CarrieAnn Arias, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, in the recent release. “Barbara is a nationally recognized dietitian and wellness strategist with a strong track record of helping brands bring nutrition to the shelf. Her insights will help USA Pears speak clearly and credibly about the important role pears can play in everyday wellness.”

“As a dietitian, I believe working in the food industry is a critical piece to helping Americans eat healthier,” said Ruhs. “Now, more than ever, shoppers are hungry for foods that deliver health benefits, and pears are well-positioned for nutrition stardom. As an excellent source of fiber, just one medium pear provides 6 grams of fiber, which is more than 20% of the daily goal. They pair perfectly with protein, and with more than 10 varieties to choose from, there's a pear for everyone."