FRESNO, CA - If there’s one thing we can always expect in the ag sector, it’s evolution. Change may be one of our industry’s few constants, and companies are continuously seeking the next channel of growth to evolve alongside it. Wayne DeCou, Equipment Director for Volm Companies, recently took a moment to explore several points of industry evolution and how the packaging solutions provider is helping its partners take advantage.

“With so much innovation happening in fresh produce, it’s not easy keeping up with all the change. Every season seems to bring something new and different, including a range of equipment solutions,” Wayne explained to me. “Taking a bird's-eye view, however, allows for key themes to emerge. It’s this kind of insight that helps our industry strategically position itself for the future.”

One constantly evolving aspect is the rise of automation.

“As more facilities invest in equipment, the more productive their operations become. Automation is now the industry norm, and anyone not embracing it risks being left behind. The momentum is only expected to accelerate as manual labor becomes increasingly scarce and costly, and equipment solutions become more advanced,” Wayne notes.

“We’re also seeing a deeper integration of equipment solutions, which is good news for facilities of all sizes,” he continues. That’s because greater integration requires strong product development, thoughtful equipment features, and seamless execution of overall systems. Above all, it demands a more sophisticated approach. But sophistication does not need to be complicated. The overall goal here is not complexity for the end user, but a more harmonious space where all aspects are working together to increase output and speed, not to mention profit margins.”

Other key changes are coming about as larger retailers evolve their requirements along with automated warehousing.

“We’re seeing far more rigid formats—cases, trays, and RPCs—that allow for uniformity. For big retailers, these kinds of packages are easier to receive, store, retrieve, and ship, particularly when building mixed-load pallets and truckloads,” explained Wayne. “At Volm, we’re seeing this shift reflected in our equipment orders as a range of customers move to machinery that supports these needs.”

As Wayne illustrates, another shift driven by retailers is a rise in bag-to-bin solutions.

“The popularity of bins is one of the reasons why Volm continues to invest in our palletizing solutions,” he shared. “This includes our conventional palletizing options, as well as our bag-to-bin robot, which was recently updated to include a smaller footprint and other enhancements. In fact, most end-of-line solutions are undergoing a transformation. Palletizing, case packing, and grading continue to require a lot of manual labor, so there’s considerable energy in making them more automated. Expect to see big changes in those spaces going forward.”

As technology drives the industry into its next era of innovation, Volm will continue to evolve alongside its customers’ needs while collecting insights from the retail market to guide its latest strategies.

“The more we understand the retailer, the more wisely we can expand our partnerships, spend our R&D dollars, and proactively serve the market. We also believe industry partners must do more than offer a great product. Operator training, comprehensive technical manuals, and complementary annual preventative maintenance inspections are a few of the ways we support and empower our customers.”

Another valuable resource is Volm’s recently launched social media series, Quick Tips, in which its lead technician in Antigo, Wisconsin, shares pointers for maintaining equipment.

“These tools may not be trendy or as exciting as new equipment solutions, but they help to bring operators up to speed more quickly, improve facility safety, prevent unexpected repairs, reduce machine downtime, and increase operational productivity,” Wayne concludes. “The only catch is that you have to take advantage. But I can wholeheartedly say that we all collectively benefit every time you do.”

For more industry deep dives like this, leave a tab open to AndNowUKnow.

ST. LOUIS, MO - As part of its ongoing strategic collaboration, Save A Lot, one of the largest discount grocery chains in the U.S., and Leevers Supermarkets announced the opening of a new store format called Save A Lot y Mas. Located at 9430 Midland Blvd. in Overland, MO, the store builds on the core Save A Lot concept, offering an expanded selection of fresh Hispanic produce, specialty meats, and bakery items designed to deliver both cultural relevance and everyday value.

The new concept, with two additional locations in Colorado, will operate as a test-and-learn format with the potential for further introduction into other Save A Lot locations serving a large Hispanic customer base.

“Save A Lot y Mas is an extension of our work, expanding on our commitment to delivering quality, culturally meaningful grocery experiences at affordable prices,” said Bill Mayo, Save A Lot Chief Operating Officer, in the recent release. “We’ll continue to test and learn as we expand our product offerings and store formats into other areas.”

The store concept is the next iteration in a continuing collaboration between Save A Lot and Leevers to better serve the Hispanic community and follows the introduction of the Ahorra Mucho store format in Aurora, Colo., last fall. Save A Lot y Mas incorporates learnings from Ahorra Mucho and blends these best practices within the successful value-driven Save A Lot platform customers know and love. Initial concept features include an enhanced and diverse produce assortment, a curated meat selection with popular cuts and ready-to-cook marinated options, and partnerships with local bakeries to offer fresh-baked sweet bread and other authentic bakery options.

Save A Lot y Mas will also introduce updated graphics and advertising designed to better connect with Spanish-speaking shoppers. Spanish will be prominently featured throughout the store and across marketing materials, including in-store signage and digital promotions.

“Save A Lot y Mas is part of our ongoing concept development efforts to better meet the needs of Hispanic shoppers,” said Jon Koontz, Chief Operating Officer at Leevers Supermarkets. “We’re excited to bring these offerings to the vibrant St. Louis community. Using what we learn here, and in our locations in Colorado, we hope to be able to bring insights about how best to serve this growing customer base to the broader Save A Lot network.”

To celebrate the opening, the store will host a carnival on July 9 in the store parking lot, beginning at 8 a.m. CT, with fun activities for all ages, including a bounce house, cotton candy machine, face painting, taco truck, the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, tasty samples, coupons and more. Community members and shoppers, alongside representatives from the St. Louis Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will celebrate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m.

Save A Lot y Mas in Overland is open daily from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Customers can learn more by visiting SaveALot.com.

OKEMOS, MI - The Michigan Asparagus season concluded with decent volumes, perfect for summer barbecues and grilling. To increase the bottom line, the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board (MAAB) developed unique marketing strategies, including retail promotions, influencer programs, farm tours, recipe development, and digital advertising.

As home cooking continues to grow, consumers have recognized the importance of taking control of their own health habits. Over 10+ recipes, including a mix of fresh, frozen, and canned options, were created. The dishes included fan favorites such as Summer Veggie Flatbread, Asparagus Lemon Barley Bowl, and Ham & Asparagus Crepes. Over 59,644 impressions resulted, signifying the importance of adding fresh, local ingredients into meal planning.

Highlighting “locally grown, locally sold” is what positions Michigan asparagus as the option of choice. By partnering with Roundy’s, a prominent grocery store retailer in the Midwest, they enacted advertising and price tags featuring “Michigan asparagus” as the callout. As a result, there was a sales lift during half of the season.

“Partnering with the Michigan Asparagus program this season was a fantastic decision for our stores. The support helped us engage our customers in meaningful ways—especially around the value of fresh, locally grown produce,” remarked Waleed Nabeel, Asparagus buyer, in the recent release. “Shoppers increasingly want to know where their food comes from, and being able to highlight Michigan-grown asparagus was not only great for sales, it also reinforced our commitment to supporting regional agriculture. It was truly a win-win for our team and our customers."

To increase brand awareness, we worked with Family Features, a leading content syndication company specializing in lifestyle content. They created a video and article featuring Fettuccine with Pesto Prosciutto – a comforting meal perfect for dinner with family and friends. Content acquired over 213,000,000 placement impressions and 548 total placements.

The season highlight was the “2025 MAAB Farm Tour,” where Influencer Farm With Zoe came to Michigan. She visited the fields and research station and tried picking asparagus on a cart. Educational videos on asparagus sizing, picking, and planting were created. The video content received over 6.2 million views and garnered over 3,000 followers.

Beyond the tour, the influencer program featured a mother and registered dietitian, Ayat Sleymann. Her content included Air Fryer Asparagus Parmesan is a quick and easy snack for health fanatics. To cater to dog lovers, Blake Martin, owner of Whiskey Bear, has a dog cooking channel with human and dog recipe content. They created Chicken Primavera inspires owners to incorporate veggies like Michigan asparagus into their furry friend’s diet. The content received a total of 331,746 views.

“Michigan asparagus continues to stand out as a powerhouse of both taste and quality,” said Jamie Clover Adams, Executive Director of the MAAB. “This season, we embraced bold, creative strategies that elevated the presence of Michigan asparagus and helped us connect with consumers in fresh, compelling ways. From vibrant visuals to innovative content, we built excitement that resonated during peak moments.”

Looking ahead, the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board is already planning for next season with promotional funds available for retail partners to increase sales and consumption. Follow MAAB online and across social media to stay updated on all things Michigan asparagus — from seasonal tips to delicious, nutritious recipes.

ATLANTA, GA - Cox Farms, a leader in indoor agriculture and the largest greenhouse operator in North America, announced three new additions to its corporate leadership team: Chris Meyerpeter as chief technology officer, Abby Prior as chief commercial officer, and Tina May as acting chief people officer, providing interim operating support. All three executives begin their new roles immediately and report to Cox Farms President, Steve Bradley.

"As our company continues to grow, we're building a team that's uniquely qualified in the indoor farming space," said Bradley in the recent press release. "They have the ideal background, knowledge, and experience to lead and thrive in these roles, and I'm looking forward to working with them for many years to come."

Meyerpeter joins Cox Farms after spending many years in the agriculture industry, the last seven as the chief information officer of Ardent Mills. Under his guidance, Ardent Mills embraced new initiatives driven by advanced data analytics and automation. In his role with Cox Farms, Meyerpeter will drive the technological direction of the company, ensuring the infrastructure and technology capabilities support growth and the company's focus on agricultural innovation and environmental sustainability.

Prior spent the last decade at Cox Farms' BrightFarms brand, with the last three years as its chief commercial officer. She is credited with bringing together BrightFarms' sales and marketing groups to help accelerate growth. She and her team placed retailer relationships at the center of their strategy and helped grocery shoppers understand the benefits of greenhouse-grown produce. Prior will be responsible for driving commercial strategy across the Cox Farms portfolio of businesses.

In addition to Meyerpeter and Prior joining the team, Cox Farms also welcomes Tina May as acting chief people officer. May joins Cox Farms from its parent company, Cox Enterprises, where she was a leader in the talent acquisition function and worked closely with partners in all facets of HR, including employee experience, organizational design, and leadership development. She also has experience in executive search from her time at two global Fortune 500 companies. May is responsible for guiding a consistent people strategy and evolving organizational structures across Cox Farms' two brands, Mucci Farms and BrightFarms, during this important phase of growth and integration.

As the largest greenhouse operator in North America, Cox Farms is a leader in indoor agriculture. The company operates over 700 acres of greenhouses, has a workforce of more than 2,500 employees, and harvests more than 450 million pounds of fresh produce annually.

The company's portfolio includes BrightFarms and Mucci Farms, two brands that embody its mission to future-proof agriculture. Innovation and sustainability are central to Cox Farms' strategy, as it seeks to drive continuous advancements in greenhouse technology.