AUSTIN, TX - Whole Foods Market and Mad Agriculture announced a transformative collaboration to launch a national biodiversity highway initiative aimed at reconstructing native ecosystems across American farmland. This visionary program, beginning in and around the Lowery Creek Watershed in Wisconsin, seeks to create a connected highway of climate-resilient habitats restoring biodiversity, improving soil and water health, and strengthening the long-term resilience of the food system.

The future of food depends on healthy, functioning ecosystems, a press release stated. Yet America’s farmland is under intense pressure—biodiversity is disappearing, soil health is declining, and the land’s ability to withstand environmental stress is weakening. By linking farms, watersheds, and wild areas, the biodiversity highway will reduce fragmentation, support pollinators and wildlife, and help buffer communities from climate impacts like flooding and erosion.

The program is building a practical model for reconstructing ecosystems in ways that have the potential to improve how the land functions—filtering water, storing carbon, managing pests, reducing erosion, and keeping farmland productive over time. This includes cultivating perennial crops, which stay in the ground over years improving soil health by reducing or eliminating the need for tillage.

“Teaming up with Mad Agriculture represents a meaningful step forward in our commitment to improving ecosystem health and fostering climate resilience,” said Jason Buechel, chief executive officer at Whole Foods Market. “This initiative is about rethinking how we care for the land and support the people who grow our food. As the program expands, it will forge a more connected, resilient landscape — supporting biodiversity and more sustainable farming for generations to come. It’s one of the most exciting efforts we’ve launched this year, and it builds on the momentum and progress outlined in our 2024 Impact Report.”

As part of the initiative, Whole Foods Market has pledged up to $500,000 in matching funds to catalyze $1 million in collective investment from food system stakeholders in 2025. The program aims to cultivate a 1,000 acre biodiversity highway across American farmland and invites Founding Member organizations to co-invest in ecosystem reconstruction efforts that will serve as an example for regenerative agriculture and collaborative supply chain transformation. Companies committed include Applegate, Bob’s Red Mill, The Campbell’s Company, New Belgium Brewing, OLIPOP, UNFI, UNFI Foundation, west~bourne, and Yogi Tea.

“This initiative is laying the groundwork for a new kind of agriculture,” said Omar de Kok-Mercado, Director of Wilding at Mad Agriculture. “The biodiversity highway is a blueprint for the next era of American infrastructure. Not just pipes and roads but living systems that restore function to land. It operationalizes perennial agriculture at scale, connecting ecological health to economic resilience. We’re not restoring the past — we’re engineering the future, one corridor at a time.”

The initiative is a cornerstone of Whole Foods Market’s broader commitment to sustainability, as detailed in its newly released 2024 Impact Report. The report highlights progress across our key focus areas, including:

• Advancing Regenerative Agriculture: Doubled the number of certified regenerative products to 301, all verified by trusted third-party standards such as Regenerative Organic Certified, Regenified, and Ecological Outcome Verified.
• Biodiversity Leadership: Ranked the top U.S. retailer for pollinator protection by Friends of the Earth and expanded biodiversity efforts through native prairie restoration and pollinator-friendly sourcing policies.
• Food Access and Community Giving: Donated over 34.6 million pounds of food – nearly 29 million meals – to more than 1,000 food rescue and redistribution programs across North America.
• Reducing Emissions in Our Supply Chain: Collaborated with key suppliers, including shrimp and dairy suppliers, to help accelerate their carbon-reduction efforts and mitigate the carbon impact of our supply chain.
• Reducing Emissions at our Stores: 64 stores with solar installations, 235 stores relying on lower-global warming potential refrigerants, and 389 electric vehicle charging stations across our stores to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
• Impact Through Giving: Invested $14.2 million through the Whole Foods Market Foundation, supporting 1,239 organizations and schools in 39 countries to advance food access, education, and economic opportunity.
• Responsible Sourcing: Supplied more than $8.8 million in premiums benefitting workers, their communities, and/or the environment through our Sourced for Good program.

“The 2024 Impact Report is a reminder that the products on our shelves represent a story—of people, places, and choices that shape our food system,” said Caitlin Leibert, Vice President of Sustainability at Whole Foods Market. “It reflects the collective effort of farmers, producers, Team Members, and partners who are helping us build something better. Our work with Mad Agriculture is one of the most inspiring examples of that effort – showing what’s possible when we stay rooted in our purpose to nourish people and the planet. We’re proud to be part of something that honors those connections and helps shape a more hopeful future for food.”

Check out the 2024 Impact Report on its new microsite here: wholefoods.com/impact.

This shared vision – spotlighted in the 2024 Impact Report and embodied by the biodiversity corridor initiative with Mad Agriculture – offers a forward-looking blueprint for how the food industry can address ecological challenges through ecosystem restoration and land stewardship. To learn more about Whole Foods Market’s impact, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/mission-in-action.

UNITED STATES - Today, we’re excited to expand grocery delivery offerings across the country with the addition of six beloved local grocers. These new partners join DoorDash at a time when more consumers are ordering groceries through the platform than ever before.

Now available on DoorDash:

• Bi-Rite Market: A San Francisco institution with three locations throughout the city, Bi-Rite is committed to offering the most delicious food in the Bay Area. Shoppers can enjoy everything from local, organic, peak-of-season produce, to sustainably sourced meat, poultry, and seafood, staple and specialty grocery items from entrepreneurial artisans and makers, and of course, Bi-Rite’s own housemade meals and famous Bi-Rite Creamery ice cream.
• Dave’s Markets: With twelve locations in Northern Ohio, Dave’s Markets prides itself on bringing its customers the freshest cuts of meat, fresh baked goods, farm fresh produce, and more.
• Dorothy Lane Market: A gourmet, family-owned supermarket in Southwest Ohio, Dorothy Lane Market offers local shoppers all the staples with an emphasis on made-in-house prepared foods, scratch bakery, local produce, all-natural meat, and specialty foods at its three stores.
• Lucky’s Markets: With four locations in Ohio, Lucky’s Markets offers organic foods, delicious made-in-house foods, and local delights in a unique atmosphere.
• Lunardi’s Markets: Known for personalized service and maintaining high-quality selection, consumers can find domestic and imported products, fresh produce, seafood, and more at Lunardi’s Markets' eight locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Superior Grocers: Superior Grocers is a cornerstone of communities across Southern California, the Central Valley, and Nevada. With seventy-four locations, the grocer provides an extensive selection of produce, meat, international foods, and more.

As DoorDash continues to broaden its selections so consumers can enjoy on-demand access to the best local businesses in their neighborhoods, almost 1 in 2 consumers in the US who are new to ordering delivery in the Grocery, Convenience, and Alcohol categories through a third-party marketplace placed their first order on DoorDash in 2024. The new partners announced today bring shoppers across the West Coast and Ohio more grocery choices, joining several other grocers of all sizes in these regions on DoorDash.

The new partners announced today are available on DashPass, DoorDash’s membership program that offers $0 delivery fees, reduced service fees, and exclusive benefits on eligible orders from thousands of restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores nationwide, a press release stated.

HART, MI - On the heels of successful asparagus and sweet corn seasons, Todd Greiner Farms Packing, LLC. (TGF) is proud to announce the start of its fall shipping season, offering a full lineup of pumpkins and winter squash starting the week of Labor Day.

Known for premium asparagus and summer sweet corn, TGF is quickly becoming a go-to source for seasonal Michigan-grown vegetables in high consumer demand. This fall, the company will be shipping traditional orange pumpkins, white pumpkins, and heirloom varieties, as well as winter squash including acorn, spaghetti, and butternut.

“We’re proud to bring the same quality and service our customers expect from our spring and summer programs into the fall,” said Blake Hansen, National Sales Manager, in a press release. “Retailers can count on us to deliver picture-perfect pumpkins and flavorful winter squash that are ready to move in produce and seasonal displays.”

Michigan is consistently ranked among the top five pumpkin-producing states in the U.S., harvesting nearly 90 million pounds annually. TGF sources only the best seed varieties, ensuring that each harvest yields some of the largest, most vibrant Jack-O’-Lantern pumpkins in the Midwest. Whether for carving, decorating, or culinary use, TGF ships pumpkins nationwide to meet the seasonal surge in demand.

In 2024 alone, Americans spent over $750 million on carving pumpkins for Halloween, with approximately 145 million shoppers purchasing pumpkins at an average of $5.26 each. This fall item isn’t just festive—it’s profitable, driving consumer foot traffic and impulse buys in retail settings.

“Our pumpkins consistently stand out for their size, shape, and color,” Steve Rudat, Account and Supply Chain Manager. “Whether you’re looking for truckloads of uniform bins or decorative assortments with heirlooms and whites, our goal is to help you build successful, eye-catching seasonal programs.”

TGF’s fall offering also includes robust volumes of Michigan-grown winter squash, with promotable volumes of acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash ready to ship alongside pumpkins starting in early September. With Michigan ranked #1 nationally in winter squash production, TGF brings a critical combination of quality, consistency, and Midwest sourcing that today’s retail buyers are seeking.

Todd Greiner Farms is rooted in Michigan’s specialty crop leadership. As the second-most agriculturally diverse state in the U.S., Michigan ranks #1 in asparagus, cucumbers for pickling, winter squash, tart cherries, and multiple dry bean varieties, and is a top producer of apples, blueberries, and summer squash.

With its year-round growing partnerships, packing infrastructure, and now expanded sales and marketing programs, TGF is positioned to represent and ship Michigan’s best produce throughout all four seasons.

For orders, pricing, or to schedule sweet corn promotions, please contact Blake Hansen, Steve Rudat or the Todd Greiner Farms sales team at (231) 873-2828 or [email protected].

UNITED STATES - The bell pepper market is experiencing moderate demand with mixed price movement across colored varieties, according to the USDA’s July 25, 2025, National FOB Review. Red and yellow bell peppers are trending slightly higher, while orange shows slightly lower pricing. A wide range in quality continues to influence price variation across size grades.

In 11 lb cartons, greenhouse red bells are mostly priced at $16.00–$17.00 for jumbo, and $16.00–$18.00 for extra-large, with occasional higher pricing reported. Large red bells range $14.00–$15.00.

Yellow bells are also steady to slightly higher, with jumbo and extra-large mostly at $16.00–$17.00. Orange greenhouse bells are trending lower, with both jumbo and extra-large mostly in the $16.00–$18.00 range, and some reports indicating prices both above and below that window.

Stay with ANUK for continued updates on bell pepper movement and pricing trends.