WATSONVILLE, CA - Driscoll’s announced that its Sweetest Batch™ Blackberries were named a winner in Good Housekeeping’s 2025 Snack Awards. The full list of awards can be found here.

Bold and lusciously flavored with a smooth and velvety texture, Sweetest Batch™ Blackberries offer a multi-dimensional flavor experience curated through years of careful breeding selection, testing, and perfecting, a press release stated. Sweetest Batch™ Blackberries come from proprietary blackberry varieties traditionally bred by a dedicated team of agronomists, breeders, sensory analysts, plant health scientists, and entomologists exclusively for Driscoll’s network of independent farmers to grow and harvest. These berries are juicier and less tart than traditional blackberries and require specific growing conditions, which is why they can be found in limited amounts during certain times of the year.

Sweetest Batch Blackberries™ earned high praise from Good Housekeeping’s judging panel. One tester said, “I wasn't expecting much from these, but was so surprised in the best way. They are unbelievably good!” Others underscored the berries’ unique flavor profile with comments like “out-of-this-world delicious,” “consistently plump and juicy,” and “next-level.”

To find the best snacks on the market, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s registered dietitians and culinary experts rigorously analyzed the ingredient lists, nutrition facts labels, packaging claims, and flavor profiles of hundreds of submissions. Next, more than 1,000 consumer testers tried the snacks to share feedback on taste and provide additional real-life analysis. Winners were selected based on innovations in the food space that taste great and meet nutritional criteria, such as caps on per-serving calories, sugar, and sodium.

Driscoll’s mission is to continually delight consumers with Only The Finest Berries™. It was one of the first produce companies to introduce a formal blackberry breeding program, using traditional breeding methods to create patented varieties. Driscoll’s research and development team set out to change the perception of a tart, sour, inconsistent berry that was seen as an ingredient to add sugar to, rather than a fruit to enjoy on its own.

In this constant pursuit of flavor innovation, Driscoll’s introduced its Sweetest Batch™ berries in 2019, becoming the only produce company to market a complete berry patch of premium strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Sweetest Batch berries use Driscoll’s proprietary genetics to satisfy increasing consumer demand for premium food offerings and bolder flavor experiences. Driscoll’s Sweetest Batch™ blackberries burst with natural sweetness and are uniform in shape and consistency.

In addition to winning Good Housekeeping Snack Awards in 2024 and 2025, Driscoll’s has been recognized as a Fast Company Most Innovative Company and received other accolades for the flavor innovation of its Sweetest Batch™ berries.

WASHINGTON - Equitable Food Initiative, the capacity-building and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, and retailers, is intensifying efforts to combat heat-related illnesses among farmworkers by sharing its free, bilingual Sun & Heat Protection toolkit.

With field temperatures often exceeding 100°F during peak harvest months, farmworkers face heightened risks of heat stress, dehydration, and heatstroke. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that heat-related mortality among agricultural workers is 35 times higher compared to other professions.

To address this pressing issue, EFI has developed a comprehensive Sun & Heat Protection toolkit, co-created with farmworkers, offering practical solutions and resources to enhance safety in the fields. The toolkit is free and includes:

• A Spanish-language video (with English subtitles) detailing symptoms of heat exhaustion, preventive measures, and what to do in case of overheating.
• Printable bilingual tip sheets to increase awareness of heat-related risks, safety measures, and symptoms.
• Printable bilingual flyers for communal areas to reinforce heat safety protocols.
• Curated statistics and external resources to support employer-led training initiatives.

“Education and voluntary compliance are vital when it comes to heat safety,” said Alexandra Martinez, EFI’s senior digital marketing and sales associate, in the recent release. “Farmworkers are particularly vulnerable to heat-related health risks, and we’re providing simple, executable steps that can help reduce illness and save lives.”

Workers performing strenuous work in temperatures above 95°F are at risk of heat stress, with heat-related injuries increasing for every degree rise in temperature, highlighting the significant economic and human costs of inadequate heat protection measures. This stark correlation highlights the urgent need for proactive safety protocols, especially in agriculture, where prolonged outdoor exposure intensifies the risk.

While states like California, Oregon, and Washington have enacted comprehensive heat protection standards, many regions lack such regulations, leaving millions of farmworkers vulnerable. EFI’s toolkit aims to bridge this gap by offering actionable resources that employers can implement regardless of local mandates.

Companies that prioritize worker well-being not only safeguard their employees but also enhance their operational efficiency. Forbes reports that organizations supporting wellness initiatives experience a 41% reduction in absenteeism and 59% less turnover, leading to a more stable and committed workforce. Furthermore, 89% of employees at such companies are more likely to recommend their employer as a good place to work, reflecting increased loyalty and satisfaction.

“By adopting comprehensive heat safety practices, employers can protect their workers and improve efficiencies while enhancing their reputation as employers of choice,” Martinez added. “It’s about fostering a positive and productive work environment where safety is paramount.”

For more information on EFI’s bilingual Sun & Heat Protection toolkit and to access the resources, visit here.