WENATCHEE, WA - CMI Orchards is bringing fresh excitement to the pear category this season with increased availability of its highly sought-after GEM pears, a variety known for exceptional flavor, versatility, and consumer appeal.

Primarily grown by Diamond Fruit in Oregon's fertile Hood River Valley, GEM pears remain a signature offering that is largely unique to CMI Orchards. Featuring attractive light green skin and vibrant red blush, GEM pears offer consumers the best characteristics of Bartlett, Seckel, and Comice, but with a unique eating experience unmatched by traditional pear varieties.

Unlike many pears that require ripening at home, GEM pears are naturally delicious at every stage. Consumers can enjoy them straight from the tree as a crisp, sweet snack, or allow them to soften for a juicy, buttery texture. Their slow-browning qualities make them an ideal choice for snacking, lunchboxes, and entertaining. For health-conscious consumers, GEM pears offer a fiber-packed, nutrient-rich snack option.

"GEM pears solve one of the biggest barriers facing the pear category today," said William Gant, Pear Manager for CMI Orchards, in the recent release. "Consumers often struggle to know when a pear is ready to eat, but GEM pears deliver outstanding flavor whether they're enjoyed crunchy or soft. That flexibility creates a great eating experience and encourages repeat purchases."

Available now through January, GEM pears can be merchandised in bulk or convenient 2-pound pouch bags. To help retailers maximize visibility, CMI also offers branded GEM pear display bins that create impactful secondary displays and attract shopper attention throughout the produce department.

"As availability continues to grow, we're excited to bring this exceptional pear to more consumers across the country," added Gant. "Retailers have a unique opportunity to build excitement around a differentiated variety that delivers consistently great flavor and a compelling story.”

Supplies are increasing, but GEM pears remain available in limited quantities. Reach out to your CMI Orchards representative today to secure fruit.

For more information visit here.

PHOENIX, AZ - A fresh milestone is sprouting in the retail sector as Sprouts Farmers Market officially celebrates the opening of its 500th store, marking a significant chapter in the specialty grocer’s continued growth.

David McGlinchey, Chief Development Officer at Sprouts Farmers Market, reflected on the achievement in a recent LinkedIn post, recognizing the wide network of team members and industry partners responsible for bringing the retailer’s expanding footprint to life.

“This weekend, we reached an incredible milestone: 500 stores open and serving communities across the country,” McGlinchey shared.

While the number underscores the retailer’s growth, McGlinchey emphasized that the milestone represents much more than new locations. He credited thousands of people across Sprouts’ store teams, field leadership and support center, including those working in operations, merchandising, supply chain, finance, human resources, information technology, real estate, construction and facilities.

The executive also acknowledged the external partners who have supported the company’s expansion, from developers and landlords to brokers, architects, engineers, general contractors, refrigeration partners and other vendors.

Reaching 500 stores reflects years of planning, collaboration and execution across Sprouts and its broader partner network. As each new location has opened, the company has continued extending its presence to more communities and strengthening its position within the grocery retail landscape.

For McGlinchey, the milestone offers both an opportunity to celebrate the retailer’s progress and a look at what lies ahead.

“The future is bright, and we’re just getting started,” he said.

With 500 stores now serving shoppers nationwide, Sprouts is carrying the momentum of this achievement into its next phase of growth—supported by the teams and partnerships that helped transform its long-term vision into a coast-to-coast retail presence.

MEMPHIS, TN - For decades, 1-MCP application in apple cold storage has followed a consistent operational model: generate the gas, seal the room, and rely on post-treatment outcomes to confirm success. Fresh Inset Solutions is changing that approach with the MaTri® System, a complete 1-MCP product line built around flexible application, straightforward operation and treatment confidence.

MaTri Sure: See for Yourself That Your 1-MCP Treatment Worked

MaTri SURE™ addresses a critical gap in post-harvest management: the ability to verify 1-MCP treatment effectiveness in real time. Until now, growers treating apple and pear rooms with 1-MCP had no practical, real-time way to confirm that gas reached the required concentration throughout the storage space. A sealed room could be treated correctly — or it could have a leak, an incorrect dose, or a missed area — and growers would not know until they opened the room weeks or months later to find quality loss.

MaTri SURE introduces a simple in-room indicator strip placed in the storage environment during treatment. After the exposure period, the test plate provides a visible color change that confirms whether effective 1-MCP conditions were achieved during application.

Key benefits of MaTri SURE include:

• Immediate, on-site confirmation of treatment exposure,
• No laboratory testing or external sample analysis required,
• Support for quality assurance and documentation programs,
• Increased confidence in treatment consistency across rooms and loads,
• Simple single-step use: hang the strip before sealing, read the result before resuming storage operations

"A color change from pink to yellow is all it takes - confirmation that every room, every treatment, every time delivered the freshness protection your crop deserves. The result is a practical verification tool that helps growers and packers confirm treatment execution. With MaTri SURE™, we are introducing a new level of visibility and confidence to 1-MCP application, transforming a traditionally invisible and complicated process into one that can be verified quickly, clearly, and reliably by everyone," said Gordon Robertson, General Manager North America at Fresh Inset Solutions, in the recent release

One MaTri System, Built Around the Way Growers Work

Every storage operation is different. Room sizes and treatment volumes vary. Some growers operate large centralized storage facilities, while others need to treat smaller rooms or fruit moving in shipping containers. That is why MaTri is designed as a system rather than a single application format.

The MaTri System brings together:

• MaTri Powder – the established 1-MCP formulation for use with the MaTri Generator
• MaTri Generator – supporting efficient application in larger-scale cold storage operations
• MaTri Tablets – an additional, easy-to-use application for smaller rooms or containers
• MaTri SURE™ – visual treatment confirmation that adds a new level of confidence to the system
• MaTri DoseRight – an easy-to-use digital tool at ma-tri.com that helps apple growers calculate the right MaTri dose for their specific storage operation and order online.

Together, these components allow growers and packers to select the application approach that fits their operation while maintaining the advantages of one integrated MaTri platform.

MaTri Tablets: Effervescent Precision and Flexibility

MaTri Tablets expand the MaTri System with a convenient unit-dose application option for smaller packinghouses, satellite cold rooms, shipping containers and other sealed treatment environments.

The proprietary effervescent tablets simplify 1-MCP release. Operators place the required number of tablets into a standard bucket or tray containing water. The tablets dissolve and release 1-MCP into the sealed treatment space. Practical option within the MaTri System when the size, location or logistics of a treatment call for a simpler application method.

See the full release here.

MACEIÓ, ALAGOAS - Copra Coconuts will make its Global Produce & Floral Show debut this year, showcasing a range of premium coconut beverages and ingredients sourced from Thailand.

The company’s featured products will include Premium Organic Coconut Water, Organic Coconut Smoothie, Coconut Meat, Coconut Puree and Coconut Nectar.

“Our line of Premium Organic Coconut Water is the best and freshest you’ve ever tasted in the market,” said Charlie Vanichviroon, Head of Commercial Strategy at Copra Coconuts.

As a first-time exhibitor, Copra Coconuts hopes to introduce more produce industry professionals to its portfolio. “This is our first time at the show so we invite attendees over to try the freshest coconut water you’ve ever tasted in market,” Charlie said.

Copra is also seeing increased demand for its puree and nectar products as customers seek premium alternatives to conventional sweeteners.

“For trends and innovations, we’ve seen a lot of interest and growth in our Puree and Nectar lines as customer trends shift towards more premium, raw, unrefined sweeteners,” Charlie said. “We’ve seen massive growth for our coconut nectar this past year as a key ingredient driver for alternative, healthier, low-GI sweetener.”

Although Copra Coconuts has historically focused on supplying ingredients to B2B customers, the company is now making a concerted push into branded retail.

“We’ve built our business around B2B offering the best ingredients over the years,” Charlie said. “This past year is where we’ve really pushed into growing Copra-branded retail and the response has been incredible.”

At the show, the company aims to connect with retail decision-makers and expand its distribution. “We hope to connect with more buyers and category managers to expand our retail footprint and provide a premium offering in the fastest category in beverage, especially sitting in Produce,” Charlie said.

Natural hydration is another trend shaping the company’s approach to the premium coconut category. “Customers are looking for natural hydration,” Charlie said. “Coconut is considered ‘Nature’s Sports Drink’, it’s high in essential electrolytes like potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium.”

Copra Coconuts differentiates itself through a vertically integrated supply chain. The company sources its coconuts exclusively from Ratchaburi, Thailand, and operates its production plant at the farm.

“We focus on the coconut as we’ve always done, having a vertically integrated supply chain allows us to have the fastest time from tree to bottle,” Charlie said. “This means we’re able to offer the freshest coconut water in the market, it’s a difference you can actually taste!”

That proximity allows the company to process and bottle its coconut water within hours of opening the fruit.

“We source exclusively from Ratchaburi, Thailand where these premium coconuts are grown, and because our plant is located right at the farm, we’re able to crack and bottle coconuts in hours rather than days or weeks!” Vanichviroon said. “This allows us to offer the most premium coconut water in the market because the freshness is captured at the time of bottling, rather than having to sit on a truck and get transported to a bottling facility.”

Attendees can meet the Copra Coconuts team and sample its products at Booth 4044.

“Please come by and try our samples, taste the difference for yourself and I promise it’ll be like you’re cracking open a fresh coconut on the beach in Thailand!” Charlie said.

For more showcase highlights, keep a tab on ANUK.

QUEBEC, CANADA - With a focus on building the farmworkers of the future with cutting-edge solutions strategically designed for modern agriculture, Sami Robotics is making it easier to harvest specialty crops while collecting valuable production data. As the company expands its solution into the Romaine lettuce sector, Teodora Toteva, Head of Operations, shared some of the goals behind this harvesting innovation.

How is Sami Robotics bringing the success it has seen in broccoli to the Romaine category?

“Broccoli has served as an important proving ground for our technology. Through commercial harvesting activities, field validation, and close collaboration with growers, we have demonstrated the platform's ability to operate in real production environments.

The transition into Romaine is a natural next step because many of the core technologies, including mobility, computer vision, robotics, and AI infrastructure, are already in place. The challenge becomes developing and refining crop-specific harvesting intelligence while leveraging the same underlying platform. Strong interest from major growers and shippers has reinforced our confidence in this direction.”

How does Sami Robotics turn every pass into useful data?

“Every time a Sami Robotics machine enters a field, it does two jobs simultaneously: harvesting and data collection. We often say that the harvest is only half the product.

Because the machine interacts directly with individual plants, it captures information that traditional scouting methods, drones, or satellite imagery may not capture with the same level of granularity. Each plant observed becomes another data point, which could be used to build a more complete picture of field conditions.

This information could be used to map crop readiness across the field, forecast what areas will be ready for harvest in the coming days, estimate future yields, and improve harvest planning and logistics. Growers could use these kinds of insights to make more informed decisions about labor allocation, harvesting schedules, and market commitments. The same vision and AI systems that identify harvest-ready crops can also detect visual indicators of plant health, including potential signs of disease, pest pressure, or other agronomic issues. Over time, this would create opportunities for earlier intervention and more proactive crop management.

The more acres the platform works, the smarter it becomes. Every pass contributes to a growing agricultural intelligence platform that aims to help growers move from reactive decision-making to data-driven field management. While the field analytics and insights feature is not expected to be commercially available before 2027, it remains an important part of our long-term vision.”

What other fresh produce categories is Sami Robotics currently exploring?

“Looking ahead, we see significant opportunities across the specialty crop sector. Crops such as Iceberg lettuce, and cauliflower face many of the same labor challenges that initially motivated our work in broccoli. Because our platform was designed to be adaptable, each new crop application can expand the value of the same machine already deployed in the field.

Our long-term vision extends beyond harvesting. We believe autonomous systems will eventually assist growers throughout the production cycle, creating a true robotic workforce that can support multiple operations across the season.”

What should growers know about Sami Robotics?

“One of the most important things to understand about Sami Robotics is that we are not simply building a harvesting machine; we are building an agricultural intelligence platform powered by robotics. Every acre harvested generates value twice: once through the crop itself and again through the data it produces.

We are also proud that our technology is being developed alongside growers in real-world conditions. Working directly with growers, shippers, and industry partners ensures that every improvement is tied to practical challenges faced in the field. This focus on real-world adoption has been a key reason for the progress we have achieved to date.

Ultimately, our mission is simple: help growers overcome labor constraints, increase operational predictability, and build a more resilient fresh produce supply chain through robotics, AI, and actionable field intelligence.”

As technology continues to pave the way for fresh produce advancements, ANUK will be here to report on the latest.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on Hurst Produce and Flowers Corp. The company, operating from Pennsylvania, failed to make prompt payment to nine produce sellers in the amount of $296,668 for produce that it purchased, received, and accepted in interstate and foreign commerce from Sept. 2022 to Nov. 2023, in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Hurst Produce and Flowers Corp. has been barred from operating in the produce industry until May 19, 2028, and then only after it applies for and is issued a new PACA license by USDA and posts a USDA-approved surety bond. The company’s principal, Matilde Baez, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until     May 19, 2027, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated and flagrant PACA violations and impose restrictions on those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval. By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.

For more information, contact the PACA Investigative Enforcement Branch at (202) 720-6873 or [email protected].  

CARLISLE, PA - The GIANT Company, known locally as GIANT and MARTIN’S, announced that renovations are now underway at its GIANT store located at 760 Pennsylvania 113 in Souderton, PA. The store will remain open during renovations, which are expected to be completed early next year.

“While this remodel will give current departments a needed facelift, the overall goal of the project is to enhance the shopping experience for our customers,” said Johnathan Heron, Souderton GIANT store manager, in the recent release. “Once the remodel is completed, customers will find more product variety and meal solutions coupled with GIANT’s commitment to value and freshness.”

The store’s fresh offerings – produce, bakery, meat and seafood – in addition to the center store aisles and beer and wine areas, will be updated with improved efficiencies for shoppers and an enhanced assortment of products. Understanding the needs of today’s busy customers, the deli and prepared foods department will undergo an overhaul to offer more Grab ‘n Go items. In addition, pharmacy customers will soon have a new consultation room for pharmacists to administer immunizations in a more private setting.

Open daily from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m., the Souderton GIANT opened in 2000 and currently employs approximately 235 team members.

For greater shopping convenience during the remodel, Souderton customers are encouraged to try GIANT Direct, an opportunity to order their groceries online at giantdirect.com for easy curbside pickup.

COCHISE, AZ - Plant Grow Harvest (PGH) is rethinking how potatoes show up in the produce department, bringing new fuel to the category. With a vertically integrated operation that gives the company full control over the entire process—from proprietary seed development and growing through packing and shipping—the company is using its expertise to cater to a variety of rising consumer demands.

“Because we’re connected to each stage of the process, we’re able to approach innovation much more holistically,” explains David Yeager, Chief Sales Officer. “Rather than looking at innovation solely through the lens of packaging or marketing, we can start with the potato itself and consider everything from variety, flavor, size, and growing characteristics to packaging, merchandising, and the overall consumer experience.”

For the company’s retail and foodservice partners, this translates into greater flexibility and more opportunities to build programs around their specific needs. Whether it’s a particular variety, size profile, pack style, or program, PGH has the ability to work across its breeding, growing, operations, and sales teams to bring its partners’ ideas to fruition.

The company’s multi-region growing program helps support a consistent, year-round supply, while cutting-edge facilities and visibility across the supply chain allow it to respond quickly as market conditions and customer needs evolve.

“That level of integration also allows us to move ideas forward more efficiently,” David notes. “We can identify opportunities in the market, collaborate across our seed, growing, operations, sales and marketing teams, and develop solutions that make sense for both our customers and consumers. Ultimately, it gives us greater flexibility to respond to evolving needs and bring new ideas to market.”

Through its continuous innovation, Plant Grow Harvest is committed to finding new ways to make the potato category more relevant and engaging for today’s consumer. Already an incredibly versatile staple in the produce department, the supplier sees significant opportunity to rethink how potatoes are positioned, packaged, and brought to life at retail.

“Our innovation strategy is centered around the things that matter most to today’s shoppers, including flavor, convenience, sizing, and variety,” David shares. “We’ve continued to expand the Digs portfolio with offerings like Tiny Digs and our 3 lb Tasty Little Digs, creating new ways for consumers to shop, prepare, and enjoy potatoes. And we’re continuing to explore additional innovations that build on that same consumer-first approach. Our goal is to bring fresh energy to the category with products that are easy for retailers to merchandise and exciting for consumers to discover.”

Tiny Digs are a 1 lb package of small, bite-size potatoes that offer convenience, quick preparation, and versatility. Their small size makes them approachable for everything from weeknight meals to entertaining, while the package creates a differentiated option within the potato set.

Complementing the Tiny Digs, the brand’s 3 lb Tasty Little Digs offer an accessible everyday format for shoppers looking for versatile mini potatoes in a larger pack size. Together, the two offerings give retailers more flexibility within the set and are part of a broader Digs lineup that gives consumers a range of sizes, varieties, and formats to choose from.

“For retailers, the opportunity is in bringing the full Digs lineup together at shelf,” David adds. “Maintaining a consistent Digs identity across the portfolio creates continuity at retail, helps consumers recognize and navigate the different offerings, and gives retailers a cohesive lineup across multiple potato varieties, sizes, and pack formats.”

Plant Grow Harvest is currently moving into its fresh Arizona crop, which is an important part of the producer’s multi-region growing program and year-round supply strategy.

“There’s a lot more ahead for PGH and Digs, and we’re excited to keep building on that momentum with our customers and bringing new ideas to the category,” David concludes.

For more insights directly from the potato experts themselves, leave a tab open to AndNowUKnow.