IMMOKALEE, FL - As we reported last month, Lipman Family Farms is strengthening its supply chain capabilities and expanding its product portfolio. With peak summer season approaching fast, I touched base with Chief Executive Officer Elyse Lipman to learn more about the ways in which the company is growing.

Lipman has been very strategic in its regional expansion planning. How does this benefit your customers during the summer?

Elyse Lipman, Chief Executive Officer, Lipman Family Farms: "This secures domestic supply even during the transitional months, which provides surety of supply and accessibility of supply. It provides local opportunities for our customers and consumers, offering promotional opportunities and an opportunity to tell the farmer’s story, bringing consumers closer to where their food comes from. We have the opportunity to support local growers in their respective regions. This provides ample opportunities to tell the farmer’s story, as well as support small, family-owned businesses and share thorough practices, such as food safety standards, packing capabilities, and marketing support."

Can you provide more details regarding the quality and availability of the listed programs?

EL: "Our newest farms in Tennessee will be supplying Lipman round tomatoes and Roma tomatoes during the summer season. We are optimistic of great quality and availability, even as we faced months of clean up and repairing from the fall season hurricanes that struck the area. We have come back stronger than ever and have great people at the TN farms dedicated to harvesting a strong crop this summer."

What efforts went into rebuilding after the hurricane?

EL: "There was an amazing dedication from our team to overcome the devastation caused by the hurricanes back in the fall. First and foremost, we supported our people and dedicated time to ensure our teams were safe and secure. Our facilities outside of Tennessee and North Carolina sent truckloads of perishables and other essentials to those affected communities.

We cleaned up what had been laid and prepared for the season ahead, which the storm had blown away. We then replanted and relaid for the season ahead."

Are there additional plans for expansion we can tease to our readership?

EL: "We are launching a fresh-cut division at our California repack facility, and there’s room to expand in all divisions of our supply chain, including value-added."

We’ll be keeping tabs on this new facility, as well as any other exciting plans Lipman Family Farms has in the works!

CENTRAL CA - When a wide-reaching menu makes choices a challenge, there are few sadder lines to deliver and receive than being out of an item a guest has selected. In my case, very recently, a side of promisingly prepped carrots.

Luckily for that restaurant's latest patrons, reports of the category are on the rise with harvest having returned to Bakersfield, California, following the winding down of the Imperial Valley. While the latter is still seeing excellent quality, its volumes are waning as Kern County’s own supply picks up to steady offerings. Good quality is reported here, according to The Source, with pricing trending slightly higher and sizing remaining strong.

“We just recently transitioned back into to the Central Valley/Bakersfield region and the carrot crop looks great!” Lisa McNeece, Vice President of Foodservice and Industrial Sales for Grimmway Farms, confirmed. “We have optimal growing conditions at this time with warmer days and cooler nights. Supplies are plentiful and the market is steady.”

For future menu recommendations, upon hearing my experience Lisa said Grimmway is introducing Carrot Crinkled fries, available in a 5 lb foodservice pack as well in retail in a 13 oz Air Fryer kit.

The USDA concurred that the overall market stands steady. For more granular details, the following is reported for Kern County out of the L.A. Terminal Market:

• Cartons 30 1-lb film bags baby peeled carrots, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 10 5-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 24 2-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• Sacks 48 1-lb film bags, medium-large 28.00-28.50
• 25 lb sacks (loose), medium 15.00-15.50; jumbo 18.00-18.50
• 50 lb sacks (loose), jumbo 32.00-32.50

Weather Mission shows the North-Central Coast of California highs strengthening over the weekend, with near to slightly above normal temps before a break in heat. A slow-moving low-pressure system passing to the north around next weekend will deepen the marine layer to “June Gloom” levels and cool temps down closer to normal by the week of 6/16, hopefully spelling little potential for harvest disruption.

AndNowUKnow will continue to monitor this and other key categories throughout the industry.

LAKEWOOD, CO - It's almost summertime, which means it's officially time to fire things up. Whether it's a backyard BBQ, a Father's Day feast, or a simple dinner on the deck, Natural Grocers®, the largest family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer in the U.S., has everything needed to grill in good taste—and with good conscience. From 100% organic produce to regeneratively raised meats and delicious plant-based picks, the Art of Grilling: Sizzling Savings event, June 6–8, makes it easy to eat well and feel great about what's on the plate. Customers can also enjoy seasonal, good4uSM grilling recipes, give back to local food banks, and enter to win a sleek new Blackstone griddle and grilling kit (a $450 value).

Sizzling Savings with Natural Grocers

Throughout the month, Natural Grocers will be showcasing all the grilling accoutrements needed to kick off summer by the pool, the patio, the park, or the tent. June 6-8th is the perfect time to load up on deals for all those summer outings and cookouts! Save, enter to win, grill and give back with Natural Grocers.

• June 6–8: Enjoy sizzling savings with up to 44% off items like Charcutnuvo Organic Chicken Sausages ($6.25/10 oz.), Grillo's Pickles® Pickle Spears ($4.65/32.oz.), Nixie® Organic Sparkling Waters, and Organic Zero-Sugar Sodas ($1.29/ea.), plus Repurpose® 10-inch Compostable Plates ($7.39/44 ct.).
• June 6–8: {N}power® members will receive a free limited-edition 'Art of Grilling' reusable bag with purchase.
  June 6–8: {N}power® members can buy one, get one 50% off on select customer favorites.
• Through June 21: Art of Grilling Giveaway – Natural Grocers customers can enter to win a Blackstone 28" XL Omnivore Griddle with hood and Grilling Kit ($450 value). The company offers four ways to win: Count the Burgers in the June 2025 good4uSM Health Hotline® Magazine, {N}power Spend & Win, enter for a chance to win on Instagram, or shop and download the Natural Grocers Mobile App.

See the full release here.

SOUTH & MIDWEST, US - A stretch of warm, humid weather is keeping conditions active across much of the country, with daily thunderstorms expected east of the Rockies through the start of the week. While the pattern brings much-needed rainfall to many regions, AccuWeather meteorologists note that it could also lead to travel delays and brief interruptions to outdoor plans.

“A series of low-pressure areas moving into and then out of the Midwest through early this week will be the impetus for the successive severe weather risks from the Plains to the Southeast,” explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill in the news release.

So far this month, storms have delivered a mix of gusty winds, hail, and localized downpours. Areas like eastern Oklahoma and southern Kansas, already seeing above-average rainfall, could still experience additional showers in the coming days. Merrill added, “Besides the severe weather threat, repeated downpours will move over already-saturated soil. Motorists will have to watch out for ponding of water on roads, and smaller creeks and streams will be susceptible to overflowing their banks.”

Storms over the weekend affected several major metro areas, including Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and St. Louis, while Merrill noted that a few brief tornadoes may have occurred in the High Plains on Friday, with storm activity moving into the mid-South by Saturday.

Looking ahead, forecast models suggest the pattern will remain unsettled into midweek, particularly across the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley. While these storms may bring minor disruptions, they continue to support soil moisture during a critical part of the growing season.

With many graduations and summer vacations now underway, staying up to date on the forecast can help make the most of each day, rain or shine. For localized updates, keep checking ANUK.

FRIESLAND, WI - Alsum Farms & Produce is proud to announce the recipients of the Wisconsin potato grower, packer, shippers’ inaugural high school senior scholarship program. Ten $1,000 scholarships have been awarded to deserving students preparing to make a positive impact in the agricultural industry.

The recipients were selected based on academic achievement; agricultural, community, youth organization involvement and reside in Alsum Farms & Produce growing or packing region. Each scholarship recipient received a $1,000 award for educational tuition expenses.

Students earning an Alsum Farms & Produce Scholarship are:

Ally Saloun (Portage, Wis.), Ashton Brusveen (Cambria, Wis.), Isaac Ziebarth (Arena, Wis.), Kaylee Jahnke (Friesland, Wis.), Kylie Rimmert (Cambria, Wis.), Madyson Bitsky (Grand Marsh, Wis.), Max Luedtke (Beaver Dam, Wis.), Nicholas Medema (Randolph, Wis.), Ryan Clark (Mayville, Wis.) and Tabitha Buwalda (Waupun, Wis.).

“In our inaugural year of the Alsum Farms & Produce scholarship program, we are proud to be able to invest in future leaders in agriculture and our rural communities.,” said Larry Alsum, Alsum Farms & Produce President & CEO, in a recent press relase. “We believe in supporting these young adults and are optimistic these students will seek careers in agriculture and the businesses that support agriculture.”

To learn how Alsum Farms & Produce farm-fresh and sustainably grown potatoes make their way from field to fork using the Wisconsin Healthy Grown® program, visit www.alsum.com.

OXNARD, CA - Mission Produce, Inc., a world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados, reported its financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended April 30, 2025.

Fiscal Second Quarter 2025 Financial Overview:

• Total revenue increased 28% to $380.3 million compared to the same period last year
• Net income of $3.1 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to $7.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the same period last year
• Adjusted net income of $8.7 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to $9.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the same period last year
• Adjusted EBITDA of $19.1 million, compared to $20.2 million in the same period last year
• Repurchased $5.2 million of the Company’s common stock during the quarter

CEO Message

Steve Barnard, CEO of Mission, stated in the recent release, "We delivered record second quarter revenue and stronger than expected adjusted EBITDA performance. Our commercial teams successfully navigated typical seasonal supply challenges by leveraging our industry-leading global source network to satisfy customer commitments. While market pricing remained elevated during the second quarter and surpassed our expectation, distributed volumes were flat with the prior year period which speaks to the durability of consumption and the growing consistency of the category at retail. We are also pleased with the progression of key strategic priorities to enhance our position with customers, both in terms of products and global markets. Our mango business gained significant market share and achieved record volumes, establishing Mission as a leading U.S. distributor, while our operations in the United Kingdom are steadily gaining momentum through enhanced customer penetration which has optimized facility utilization following the strategic investment in the region. Looking ahead to the second half of the year, we are well-positioned to generate solid cash flow as we typically do through leveraging our own increased Peruvian supply to meet strong market demand."

Mr. Barnard concluded, “During the quarter, we also executed $5.2 million of share repurchases, capitalizing on an opportunity to return value to shareholders given our belief that the share price was undervalued relative to our demonstrated strength in operational execution and financial performance in the prior fiscal year and first half of 2025. Given the strength of our balance sheet, we will continue to review our ability to opportunistically repurchase shares while balancing competing strategic priorities.”

See the full report here.

UNITED STATES - Now is the time to ramp up those celery promotions as market dynamics point to a rising opportunity in the sector. According to recent insights, celery supplies are currently exceeding demand, with a steady supply and good quality coming out of California’s Salinas and Santa Maria/Oxnard regions.

According to PRO*ACT’s recent The Source report, released on June 4, “Supplies are exceeding demand, and this trend is expected to continue throughout the week. Some shippers are offering flexibility, particularly on larger sizes like 24-count.”

As The Source reported, all sizes remain available in Salinas and Santa Maria/Oxnard, and quality is reported to be good, with only minor instances of seeding.

Recent reports from the Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; and New York Terminal Markets also reflect a steady to about-steady market.

The following pricing was reported for each region:

• Los Angeles: cartons CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CALIFORNIA 2 dozen 16.00-16.50 fair appearance 13.50-14.50 2 ½ dozen 16.00-16.50 fair appearance 13.50-14.50
• Miami: cartons CALIFORNIA 2 1/2 dozen 27.00-30.00 film bags 30s 28.00-32.00
• New York: cartons film bags ARIZONA-CALIFORNIA HEARTS film bags 18s 22.00-24.00 few 26.00 cartons ARIZONA-CALIFORNIA 2 dozen 22.00 2 1/2 dozen 22.00 film bags 30s holdovers 20.00-22.00 fine appearance 24.00-26.00 one lot 28.00 FLORIDA film bags 30s 24.00-26.00 MEXICO 2 dozen one lot 22.00-24.00

For more pricing updates and market insights, be sure to leave a tab open to AndNowUKnow.

WASHINGTON, DC - 24 retail banners gathered alongside suppliers during the first Retail Council meeting under the International Fresh Produce Association’s new volunteer structure. Sitting down to confront long-standing obstacles to collaboration and reimagine partnership, a handful of association insiders gave a glimpse into the key takeaways.

“You can’t build a collaborative relationship if you don’t understand the realities of your partner’s business,” said Joe Watson, IFPA Vice President of Retail, Foodservice, and Wholesale. “We heard again and again that trust starts with shared understanding and open, honest conversation.”

Honing in on trust being hard to build and easy to break, Joe said that, first and foremost, retailers and suppliers have a shared goal of delivering value to consumers. Despite this, however, each is sometimes at odds with the other on the best way to accomplish that.

“The heart of our discussion came down to one thing: transparency. Surprisingly, feelings were mixed on this,” he shared. “Some believe the biggest challenge is a lack of transparency—either due to poor-quality information, miscommunication, or inconsistent data sharing practices. In other cases, there were reports of too much transparency, where oversharing creates confusion or undermines confidence.”

Striking a fine balance, acknowledging that conversations are critical even when the need for those check-ins is not mutual, rang as a new goal for all sides involved. With both sides often working toward different definitions of success, conflicting KPIs, short-term priorities, and a lack of joint business planning were cited as points that could turn strategic partnerships into transactional exchanges.

“What if the industry could build partnerships from scratch, with no baggage and no bad habits? That’s exactly the challenge participants took on. The blueprint they created wasn’t radical, but it did demand a cultural shift,” Joe observed.

At its core, the ideal partnership model includes:

• Mutual transparency: From costs to crop conditions, trust requires full visibility on both sides
• Strategic alignment: A shared vision and a 3-to-5-year planning horizon creates room for innovation and agility
• Long-term commitment: True collaboration isn’t seasonal—it’s sustained
• Open dialogue: Regular, consistent conversations, preferably in person, are vital to navigating challenges
• Collaborative tools and structures: Joint business planning, aligned KPIs, and vendor tools make strategic alignment possible
• Flexibility and adaptability: Retailers and suppliers must be willing to adjust specs, sell the full crop, and problem-solve together
• Education and empathy: Understanding each other’s world—whether it’s farm realities or retail logistics—is key to building solutions that work

Personal connection was repeatedly cited as a differentiator; picking up the phone, walking fields together, and making human interactions happen to build trust.

“Technology is helpful, but it can’t replace personal relationships,” one participant noted. “Those are what carry you through the hard moments.”

High staff turnover, while technological tools meant to connect increasingly replace in-person interactions, was cited in retrospect on both sides, but the IFPA saw optimism on the horizon.

“The tools to move forward already exist. What’s needed is intention—and the patience to stay the course,” Joe stated. “This meeting didn’t solve all the challenges between retailers and suppliers—but it didn’t aim to. What it did accomplish was more important: a shared acknowledgment that while the barriers to trust are real, they are not insurmountable.”

Attendees pointed to several building blocks for stronger collaboration:

• Patience and consistency
• Cost-sharing and risk-sharing models
• Open-book conversations on costs, challenges, and trade-offs
• Better use of data to drive smarter planning and execution
• Educational partnerships
• Knowledge transfer playbooks standardizing how teams onboard, share best practices, and navigate transitions

Ultimately, the group called for guidelines that define what success looks like on each side and provide clear pathways for joint action.

“In a sector where everyone depends on everyone else, that kind of collaboration isn’t just good business—it’s the future,” Joe concluded.

As we continue to report the pathway for both sides holding up the bridge between the product and the consumer, keep reading AndNowUKnow.