WENATCHEE, WA - Global Produce & Floral Show excitement continues to ramp up, with the number of days until the highly anticipated event quickly winding down. Stemilt is among those soon to hit the show floor, bringing several key programs that highlight innovation and growth opportunities across both the pear and apple categories.

One key offering taking the spotlight is Happi Pears®, which will be featured in the Fresh Ideas Showcase and Stemilt’s sponsorship video during the State of the Industry Breakfast.

“Happi Pears are bringing new excitement to the pear category with their unique ability to be enjoyed while green or yellow, delivering a sweet, bright, and zesty flavor experience that resonates with today's consumers and helps drive category relevance,” shares Auna Lundberg, Senior Marketing Manager.

The supplier is also reintroducing its Prism Pears™ program in a new pouch bag format.

“By combining multiple pear varieties in one convenient package, Prism Pears create strong visual appeal at retail, encourage shopper discovery, and provide a fresh way to drive engagement and category growth,” Auna explains.

The company is also drawing attention to its apple program, highlighting core varieties—including Cosmic Crisp®, SweeTango®, and Granny Smith—while showcasing merchandising solutions and promotional programs across bulk, bagged, and EZ Band formats. Lil Snappers®—the kid-sized apple and pear program designed to provide families with a convenient, healthy snack option—will also be on display.

Together, these programs help retailers meet a variety of shopper needs while creating impactful displays that drive sales.

“Stemilt stays on the leading edge by focusing on what matters most: delivering exceptional flavor, freshness, and value,” Auna continues. “We're intentional about growing the right varietal mix to meet consumer demand while generating strong returns for our growers, helping drive long-term growth across the apple, pear, and cherry categories.”

One of Stemilt’s core strengths is the company’s "win at the point of sale" approach. The grower’s dedicated merchandising team works closely with retailers to understand their business and develop customized programs, promotions, and display solutions that drive results.

“We're also committed to continuous innovation, investing in advanced packing technology and packaging solutions like our 4-CT Sustainable EZ Band packs to improve efficiency, enhance the shopper experience, and create value for our customers,” Auna adds. “By combining operational excellence, category expertise, and consumer-focused innovation, we continue to help our retail partners succeed.”

The supplier also maintains its portfolio strength by leaning into the latest consumer trends. Placing a greater emphasis on quality, convenience, and education, today’s shoppers want fruit that consistently delivers on flavor, freshness, and value, while also fitting seamlessly into their busy lifestyles through convenient packaging and merchandising solutions.

“We're also seeing increased interest in learning more about produce, from variety differences and flavor profiles to ripening and usage tips. That education helps build confidence at the point of purchase and encourages trial,” Auna explains. “For Stemilt, these trends reinforce the importance of delivering exceptional fruit quality, developing innovative packaging solutions, and providing resources that help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.”

Stemilt’s portfolio and innovative approach to category growth with be showcased at booth #2551 during the show.

“We encourage attendees to stop by the Stemilt booth and experience everything we have planned throughout the show,” Auna concludes. “In addition to learning about our latest apple and pear programs, visitors will have the opportunity to meet David the Magician, who will be joining us again this year. David has become a favorite part of our show experience, bringing energy, entertainment, and memorable interactions that help make our booth a fun and engaging destination. We look forward to connecting with customers, partners, and industry friends while sharing what’s new at Stemilt.”

More exclusive pre-show insights are on the way, so stick around!

HAMILTON, MT - An exciting new packaging debut is headed for the 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show (GPFS)! Local Bounti is rolling out a new design for its baby leaf portfolio in a strategic move to boost shopper engagement.

“At this year's Global Produce & Floral Show, we will showcase the new packaging design for our baby leaf portfolio, highlighting the qualities that matter most to today's consumers: pesticide-free, ready-to-eat greens with exceptional freshness, great flavor, and grown in a safe, controlled environment,” shares Baltazar Garcia, Vice President of Sales. “The refreshed packaging helps communicate not only how our products are grown, but also the consistent quality and eating experience consumers can expect every time they choose Local Bounti.”

GPFS offers the perfect platform to showcase the brand’s refreshed packaging, allowing the company to demonstrate how thoughtful design can support category growth while connecting directly with partners who share its focus on innovation, freshness, flavor, and consumer engagement.

“The Global Produce & Floral Show brings together the retailers, growers, and industry leaders who are helping shape the future of fresh produce,” Baltazar adds. “The event also provides a valuable platform to continue educating the industry on the value of greenhouse-grown produce and the benefits it delivers to both retailers and consumers.”

The new packaging launch strategically caters to several key rising consumer demands.

“Today's consumers are looking for products that combine health, convenience, and transparency,” notes Baltazar. “At the same time, retailers need brands that can communicate value clearly and quickly. Our new packaging helps address both needs by making product benefits easier to identify while reinforcing the quality, freshness, and flavor consumers expect from Local Bounti. It's also an opportunity to better educate shoppers about the benefits of greenhouse-grown produce and the value of controlled environment agriculture.”

As Jazmin Tonnemaker, Director of Commercial Insights and Product Strategy, explains, this refresh is about making it even easier for consumers to find, understand, and enjoy Local Bounti products.

“More than a packaging update, it's a reflection of our commitment to transparency, quality, and innovation, helping shoppers connect the benefits of greenhouse-grown produce with the freshness, flavor, and convenience they're looking for,” she notes. “We hope consumers come away with a better understanding of how their food is grown and why that translates into a consistently great product, while retailers see a stronger platform for communicating the value of greenhouse-grown produce at the shelf.”

Local Bounti's strength is amplified by its ability to combine innovative controlled environment agriculture with a disciplined, customer-focused operating model.

The company’s proprietary Stack & Flow® growing approach, regional production network, and commitment to continuous operational improvement enable it to deliver consistently fresh, high-quality greens while providing the reliability and year-round supply that retailers value.

“What continues to set Local Bounti apart is our focus on scaling with purpose, investing in productivity, quality, and efficiency improvements that strengthen our business and create value for our customers,” Jazmin adds. “By pairing innovation with strong execution, we're building a differentiated model that meets evolving consumer needs while supporting long-term growth.”

Local Bounti’s commitment to innovation, quality, and transparency will be on display at booth #3961 at this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show.