DANVILLE, VA - AeroFarms, an indoor vertical farming company and the leading supplier of microgreens to the U.S. retail market, announced that the company’s Micro Broccoli, Rainbow Mix, Micro Kale and Super Mix can now be found in Harris Teeter stores chainwide, including 20 locations within 90 miles of the AeroFarms location in Danville, Virginia.

Today, most leafy greens in the U.S. are grown in California or Arizona and transported to the eastern United States. On average, fresh produce travels approximately 1,500 miles from farm to plate, and today, about 31% of the U.S. food supply is lost in transport, storage, and beyond, according to the USDA. AeroFarms’ supply of microgreens to Harris Teeter’s Mid-Atlantic store locations from its farm in Danville, Virginia, not only reduces the risk of food loss but also secures year-round access to these nutrient-packed greens for Harris Teeter shoppers.

“The adjacency of our farm in Virginia to Harris Teeter’s distribution centers translates to longer shelf-life, shorter transportation routes, and, ultimately, more time for shoppers to use and enjoy our microgreens,” said Dane Almassy, SVP of Sales & Marketing at AeroFarms, in a recent release. “With Harris Teeter, we now offer the power of locally grown microgreens to the communities in which we live, play, and farm.”

With an industry-leading shelf life of 18-to-23 days and the proximity of AeroFarms to Harris Teeter stores, shoppers will enjoy microgreens that stay fresh in their home for up to 2 weeks. Because AeroFarms does not grow its plants in soil or use pesticides, consumers can also enjoy the convenience of a ready-to-eat, no-wash-required format. In addition to this unparalleled freshness and convenience, AeroFarms microgreens offer 4-to-40x the nutrition of the mature vegetable counterparts of specific vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

AeroFarms microgreens’ diverse taste and versatility allow Harris Teeter shoppers to boost nutritional meals in an endless variety of ways, using great-tasting recipes that combine AeroFarms microgreens with other Harris Teeter-branded products.

Harris Teeter shoppers can now find AeroFarms microgreens in all Harris Teeter locations in Virginia, Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. To find AeroFarms Micro Broccoli, Rainbow Mix, Micro Kale, and Super Mix at a Harris Teeter store nearby, visit www.aerofarms.com.

FOLSOM, CA - Blueberries have long been known and appreciated for their health benefits, and now it’s time to shine a spotlight on blueberries in a big way. The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) announced the launch of an exciting marketing campaign with two new ads that celebrate how the small and simple blueberry packs huge benefits in each bite or handful. “Blueberries GO BIG” demonstrates an emotional connection to the fruit in two different but equally captivating scenarios, showcasing the big things that can happen when you grab a boost of blue.

The two ads can be viewed on Youtube.com/@eatblueberries:

• A Better Way - Up your “coolness” factor and shake up your post-workout recovery.
• Next-Level Snacks - Blueberries come in clutch for your kid’s team at halftime.

“Blueberries GO BIG” is debuting via a comprehensive paid media campaign directed to a targeted audience of 18 million blueberry consumers, which includes programmatic display, online video (OLV), audio, connected TV (CTV), paid social, paid search and more. According to a press release, a TikTok TopView campaign on July 29, reaching millions of users, showcases a thumb-stopping behind-the-scenes look at one of the ad’s big stunts. USHBC is also partnering with influencers to demonstrate how blueberries “go big” for content creators in their own ways.

“Our new campaign illustrates the many benefits of blueberries, including health as foundational message, while also giving more air time to attributes like the great taste and easy-to-eat benefits that we know are important to our consumer but are not always focused on as much,” said Kevin Hamilton, USHBC vice president of global marketing and communications. “‘GO BIG’ helps us tell a story that connects to our consumer more emotionally, and highlights the better-for-you snacking opportunities around our fruit.”

USHBC works to increase demand for blueberries across all channels through marketing promotions, research and resources, all while empowering the industry to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit. Working with Schafer Condon Carter (SCC), USHBC’s partner agency for brand and consumer marketing, the GO BIG platform is the next phase in the continuous evolution of blueberries as a brand.

To learn more about the strategy and work behind the campaign, as well as USHBC’s comprehensive marketing and promotions programming, blueberry industry stakeholders are invited to attend The Blueberry Convention, October 8-10, in Seattle.

IMMOKALEE, FL - Lipman Family Farms, North America’s largest vertically integrated source for fresh tomatoes and vegetables, is proud to announce the opening of its newest fresh-cut facility in Manteca, California. You’ll hear from the team on their latest operations and check out their fresh-cut services at the IFPA’s Foodservice Conference, taking place August 1, 2025, in Monterey, California.

“As we continue to deepen our partnerships across the foodservice space, IFPA’s Foodservice Conference is an ideal setting to collaborate and share what’s next for Lipman,” said Elyse Lipman, CEO of Lipman Family Farms, in the recent release. “Our newly opened facility in Northern California is an example of our strategic expansion in the fresh-cuts segment, aligned with the overall growth we’re seeing in the industry.”

The fresh-cut facility, specializing in sliced tomatoes, complements Lipman’s true vertical integration model, offering transparency and control of the product from farm to processing to plate.

Its strategic location supports Lipman’s ability to service just-in-time deliveries of freshly sliced and diced vegetables. Now with eight fresh-cut facilities spread across North America, Lipman services national distribution with guaranteed freshness.

“We are driven to provide a consistent, reliable supply of fresh produce that is accessible to all,” Lipman shared. “Our fresh-cut operations and the teams that manage the supply are best in class, and the newest facility and teams on the West Coast prove that we are primed for steady growth in value-added capabilities.

With the demand for consistency, stability, and food-safe products being more prominent than ever, Lipman’s state-of-the-art fresh-cut operations ensure reliable, ready-to-eat tomatoes and vegetables.

Visit Lipman Family Farms during the IFPA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, CA, July 31–August 1, 2025, to learn more about the company’s fresh-cut capabilities and its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer success.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Back-to-school may feel early to talk about, but for retailers, the time to plan is now—especially as parents look for fresh alternatives to chips and candy. Bolthouse Fresh™ is stepping in with a dynamic duo built for the season: classic baby carrots and bold, flavor-packed Carrot Shakers™. Together, they deliver the perfect blend of nutritious staples and exciting, kid-friendly innovation.

“Baby carrots maintain core volume, while Carrot Shakers™ add variety, encourage trade-up, and create opportunities for secondary placement. From the retail perspective, this duo allows for both routine purchase and basket-building innovation,” the brand’s Vice President of Marketing, Karen White, explained. “Together, they help retailers meet evolving shopper demands, support their goals for convenience and incremental growth, and reinforce produce as a dynamic, snackable destination.”

Carrot Shakers, a small bag of baby carrots with a seasoning packet built in, were created in direct response to the evolution of modern snacking habits and consumer desire—for themselves and their children—to freshen up their convenient foods.

“To help retailers maximize sales of Carrot Shakers and baby carrots during the back-to-school window, Bolthouse Fresh recommends a layered support strategy focused on driving visibility, trial, and repeat purchase. Dedicated back-to-school displays in high-traffic areas, like grab-and-go sections or lunchbox aisles, can increase awareness and basket size by showcasing the products with complementary items, such as hummus, cheese sticks, ranch cups, and crackers. These cross-merchandising opportunities help parents envision complete snack or lunchbox solutions,” Karen shared.

Offering families the chance to try Carrot Shakers firsthand with in-store samples is another hands-on and engaging way to introduce new shoppers to a fun, fresh snack solution during one of the most high-traffic seasons of the year.

“Bolthouse Fresh is positioning both baby carrots and Carrot Shakers as must-have snack solutions for busy families during the back-to-school season,” Karen continued. “Baby carrots continue to be the lunchbox MVP. They are naturally sweet, crunchy, and perfectly portioned for kids—a trusted, no-prep staple that aligns with what parents want: simplicity, nutrition, and kid-approved. Carrot Shakers™ build on that foundation by offering bold, kid-friendly flavors like Dill Pickle, Chili Lime, and Ranch, delivered in a playful, shake-to-season format that brings fresh energy to the produce aisle.”

Together, these offerings deliver on what today’s families are looking for while giving retailers a way to drive seasonal relevance, expand snacking assortment, and grow the fresh category in a meaningful way.

Karen pointed out that over 90 percent of consumers snack at least once a day, playing out at retail via the rapid expansion of fresh snacking sets. Bolthouse’s carrot offerings bridge the gap between produce and snack, delivering incremental category growth and repeat purchase behavior.

“We see the category continue to grow, driven by demand for bold, craveable flavors typically found in packaged snacks. Carrot Shakers bring that same flavor-forward energy to the produce aisle, combining the natural crunch of fresh baby carrots with on-trend seasonings—delivered in an interactive ‘shake to season’ format that’s fun for kids and satisfying for adults,” she said.

Strategizing so Carrot Shakers and baby carrots work together to strengthen both the performance and versatility of the carrot category at retail, Bolthouse is providing a powerful combination to drive unit growth and basket expansion. A duo where each serves different but complementary shopper needs while sharing the same foundation of freshness, health, and convenience.

“Baby carrots are a produce staple and trusted household item. Carrot Shakers, on the other hand, elevate that base by tapping into snacking behavior and flavor trends—introducing something new and exciting to attract younger shoppers and re-engage loyal ones,” Karen concluded.

While it may seem impossible to plan back-to-school sets already, Bolthouse Fresh certainly has grocers’ homework ready long before the first bell.

MONTEREY, CA - The first time Joshua Crone, Retail Programming Senior Manager for Produce for National Co+op Grocers (NCG), met FreshSource President Scot Olson, they discussed the importance of knowing your produce department managers.

The reference came up as the latter introduced the former on the stage of the 2025 Organic Produce Summit’s (OPS) Retail Roundtable. Yet while organic was the focal point, the pieces that drive its success shone.

“It's not just access to quality labor—to good workers—but also what's going on once you get those workers in terms of training, in terms of product knowledge, in the food space and co-op food space,” Joshua observed. “I spend a lot of the time with retail operations and really being hands-on with the teams, trying to impact them in terms of product knowledge, customer service, how to trim things, how to present things.”

Joshua pointed out that NCG and its partners in the industry do a great job from the time product goes into the ground to the trucking, logistics, sales, brokering, and beyond. When it gets to that home stretch in-store, he concluded, is when these training and knowledge points need to close the loop.

“Yes, there's so much going on. Training still has to be part of the conversation,” he said. Another is investing in the stores to be sure that the environment shouts clean, safe, and fresh. “I always think that the detail is the retail and retail is detail.”

From the scales to weigh product to any surfaces they may rest on, Joshua doubled down on the ground game of good sanitation and clean upkeep of fixtures, coolers, and cases. And, of course, merchandising.

“When we're consulting with our members and really getting in there, peeling the onion back—no pun intended, right?—we're looking to see what you are doing on a regular basis to create that theater. To guide the consumer into purchasing a certain item; whatever tastes best, whatever may be the best price, whatever is most seasonal,” Joshua expounded.

That theater is the NCG’s sharing of the greater story our industry is constantly trying to tell the consumer. Beyond simply stating this, Joshua dug in further to what that means in action.

“I like telling the story in terms of specifics: Annual reporting, actual point of sale information for folks, and, of course, just knowing that the young are out there—the young are extremely focused on the word ‘authentic.’ They want to know where the stuff's coming from. They want to know the provenance of the produce, they want to know the growing practices. Anything you can do to really showcase those local providers, I'm all in,” he said.

Pointing to seasonal and signature items, such as limited edition offerings that will not only offer flavor but excitement and anticipation, further enhance the storytelling ability of the produce department.

“Just having all those varietals out there at the right time is really important—thank you for that,” Joshua pointed out. “If I can only get a Golden Globe plum for two or three weeks, just the ability to showcase that for even a limited period of time is what will ultimately get more foot traffic.”

With a different format due to the co-op nature, a hallmark Joshua pointed out in the model is welcoming everyone. Often catering to first-timers, signage and open readiness to help are critical.

“The growth has been so positive in NCG member co-ops of late, and I attribute a lot of that to our adherence to organic standards. But also, I'll convey just one little vignette here in terms of how we've been successful: We have a member co-op in the Midwest who is just amazing. He really leans into the Colorado beach season; he's texting me pictures of his displays, they have songs, they have bags, they have all the marketing collateral,” Joshua explains. “Now, they're baking using the peaches and doing peach glazes for the meat. It's the whole throughput of fresh departments, where you have meat, produce, and deli all synced up.”

The takeaway? If you can take that produce item and show the consumer how it connects other fresh departments, conveying the adventure and spontaneity only seasonality can bring, all will win.

So what is Joshua’s final ask of suppliers to help make that happen?

“Help us get the word out. In terms of our natural food retailers, our co-ops, the messaging is so key. I'm very bullish on organics and regenerative. I think regen is going to be a huge thing. And whether it manifests itself in traditional dirt-grown crops or even the next frontier, the CEA crops, I think it's really important for you to help us with the collateral that we can leverage on the actual sales core. And not just for the consumer, but also for the staff education piece,” Joshua said, bringing us back to that critical closing of the loop. “You have to think of the produce staff. They're ultimately the ones that all the shoppers are going to connect with and say, ‘Hey, is this sweet? Is this good? How do I juice this? How do I cook with this?’ So, whether or not the co-ops and the stores take all that information and then shift it around a little bit so it's brand compliant for a given co-op, or they just use it shelf-ready as you give it, that can be really helpful.”

Sitting in gratitude for all the pieces that make it possible to bring the storied fresh fruits and vegetables to market, I hear the call to action Joshua is making to all sides. As plans already begin for the 2026 Organic Summit, I look forward to seeing how that call is answered when we gather again.

ONTARIO, CANADA - “Our key message is simple: we have the size, scale, and experience to meet the diverse needs of our foodservice partners.”

Thus begins Mucci Farms’ Ken Paglione as we dive into the company’s plans for the upcoming Foodservice Conference, hosted in Monterey, California, by the International Fresh Produce Association.

“From consistent supply to product variety, we’re built to support operations of any size,” Ken added. “Plus, being greenhouse-grown means we can deliver reliable year-round availability and premium quality with consistent size, flavor, and visual appeal.”

Mucci Farms boasts a comprehensive product portfolio, featuring a diverse range of snacking and bulk items, as well as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.

“The show is a great opportunity to highlight the variety and versatility of our offerings, which are ideal for all types of foodservice programs,” Ken noted. “In recent years, major fast-food chains have started shifting toward greenhouse-grown produce because of the consistent quality it provides throughout the year. Controlled environment agriculture helps make that possible. Many foodservice operators are starting to take notice, and with our experience and scale, we are ready to meet that demand.”

The company is particularly excited to introduce its new Senza Sweet Seedless Mini Peppers, one of its latest innovations in the snacking category.

“By removing the seeds, we’re enhancing the snacking experience, making them even more convenient and enjoyable for consumers. It’s a small change that makes a big impact,” Ken said.

In addition to this product development, Mucci Farms has another piece of news that will pique the industry’s interest.

“Looking ahead, we’re also excited to share that we’ll be expanding our lettuce program this fall,” Ken shared. “The new addition will add more than 11 million heads of lettuce annually to our production, further strengthening our ability to meet the growing demand for fresh, greenhouse-grown leafy greens.”

To learn more from the team, you’ll have to stop by booth #215.