SINALOA, MX - With a vast network of growers located in Sinaloa, Veggies From Mexico (VFM) is currently gearing up for the start of the 2025–2026 season. The operation’s grower partners will begin with seedlings in July for a wide variety of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, string beans, hot peppers, and eggplants, among other offerings.

“In recent years, our state has experienced a significant drought. According to weather forecasts, we expect to receive substantial rainfall this summer,” shared Georgius Gotsis, Chief Executive Officer, Veggies From Mexico. “Fortunately, vegetable production has been the least affected, as high-tech irrigation systems, protected agriculture, and other technological tools that help conserve water are being used. For the 2025–2026 season, we expect production volumes similar to last year’s. In the case of corn production, which serves the local market, there will be more challenges due to the lack of water.”

As Georgius notes, now is the ideal time for growers to sit with retailers and plan this year’s sales through contracts with attractive prices for both farmers and consumers. Weekly harvest and sales scheduling by volume allows for efficient planning, streamlining of processes, and maximizing profits for all parties involved.

Another key driver of category growth at retail is consumer education.

“We must continue working to share with the North American consumer that Mexican veggies production has been known for over 100 years for its high quality, flavor, and nutritional value,” Georgius added. “It is essential that they know our produce is backed by food safety and social responsibility standards and certifications. This is especially important in light of the critical situation regarding potential tariffs on our exports to the United States, where consumers could ultimately be the most affected.”

To learn more about Veggies From Mexico’s growers, production timeframes, and contacts, click here.

FRESNO, CA - With the summer season upon us, retailers nationwide are adopting strategic plays to fuel the already strong demand for delicious stonefruit. Announcing peak season for multiple key varieties, Trinity Fruit Company is sharing a few tactics for maintaining consumer interest.

“Health and wellness continue to shape consumer buying habits, and demand for organic stonefruit is on the rise,” explains Jackie Nakashian, Brand Manager. “Trinity Fruit has been proactive in meeting this opportunity with not only premium organic stonefruit offerings but also innovative packaging—like our new 4-pack trays for organic peaches and organic nectarines—to enhance convenience and shelf appeal. Retailers can capitalize on these trends by prioritizing organic selections and offering easy-to-grab options that align with today’s health-conscious shoppers.”

As the company’s Vice President, Gunner White, notes, Trinity Fruit provides a competitive edge through consistent sizing, flavor, and quality all season long, from May through October. Creating an abundance of category opportunities, the supplier is currently amid peak season for its nectarines, peaches, and plums.

“Our diverse portfolio includes white and yellow flesh peaches and nectarines, plums, apricots, and a robust organic lineup,” Gunner shares. “We’re committed to ongoing variety development, ensuring strong offerings throughout every phase of the season. Simply put, we’re a one-stop shop for all your stonefruit needs.”

So, how can you harness these top-quality varieties to increase demand all summer long? The Trinity Fruit team recommends optimizing the power of color and aroma.

“Color and aroma sell! Create visually impactful displays with vibrant fruit stacked high in branded boxes or display bins,” Jackie advises. “Let packaging be part of the experience. Our Farm2You brand and packaging features fun, colorful designs that stand out on the shelf and help drive impulse purchases. Don’t be afraid to go big and bold to celebrate the season!”

More category opportunities and merchandising insights are on the way to the pages of AndNowUKnow, so stick around.

ORLANDO, FL - The Colombia Avocado Board (CAB) partnered with Weis Markets, Inc. to launch the Heart of Colombia Avocado Display Contest, a retail campaign designed to drive consumer excitement and increase impulse avocado purchases. Running from March 27 through April 23, the promotion was activated in 200 Weis stores across three regions, combining custom display bins, point-of-sale materials, and team incentives to generate consumer excitement and spark impulse purchasing.

Produce managers were challenged to create eye-catching displays that placed Avocados From Colombia at the center of their department. With up to $7200 in gift card prizes on the line, store teams brought their creativity to life by leveraging cross-merchandising with lemons, mangos, and other complementary produce to highlight avocado versatility and drive sales.

The campaign timing aligned with key spring holidays, including Easter, Earth Day, and Cinco de Mayo. According to the Hass Avocado Board, in Q2-2024, avocado dollar sales reached their highest levels of the year, underscoring the opportunity to build brand equity with consumers during seasonal peaks. Promoting during key holidays creates opportunities to develop relationships with consumers, who are starting to become familiar with the taste and flavor quality of Avocados From Colombia.

“Our partnership with Weis Markets reflects a shared commitment to quality, consistency, and excellence”, said Manuel Michel, Managing Director of the Colombia Avocado Board, in a recent press release. “As Colombian avocado volume continues to grow year-over-year, these retail programs are essential to driving trial and educating consumers. After a successful retail promotion like we just experienced with Weis, the enthusiasm from produce managers reinforces that Colombia is not just a new source, but a rising force in the U.S. avocado category.”

The campaign also marked the beginning of the Traviesa season, one of Colombia’s two harvest seasons that support year-round availability. The natural rainfall helped produce a high-quality crop, making the promotion a celebration of both a new harvest and a growing market presence.

“Our stores were excited to introduce Colombian avocados into the category in the last year, and to promote its rich flavor and versatility,” stated Mathew Forbes, Avocado Buyer at Weis Markets, LLC. “The contest energized our stores and encouraged collaboration across departments. More importantly, it gave our staff the confidence to highlight the story of Avocados From Colombia and helped them better connect with customers."

The Colombia Avocado Board continues to expand its footprint in the U.S. through partnerships with retailers and foodservice operators, backed by a commitment to quality and responsible sourcing.

KANSAS CITY, KA - Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) collaborated with Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on two data research projects this 2024-2025 school year. These initiatives supplement AWG with sophisticated analytics, strategy recommendations, and an AI dashboard. Simultaneously, participating students gain valuable, real-world experience, enhancing their career prospects. Now in its fourth year, the partnership brings together AWG Brands, AWG’s private brands program, with the data science skills of the university’s esteemed Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) students to address grocery business opportunities in innovative ways.

"Connecting with college students through AWG’s internship program and through yearly partnerships, such as with the University of Illinois, provides valuable opportunities for both AWG and the students to grow and learn together,” said Patrick Reeves, AWG Chief Human Resources Officer, in a recent press release. "We appreciate their dedication and enjoy the chance to cultivate future business leaders."

Guided by Professor Ashish Khandelwal, who oversees experiential learning projects for the MSBA program at Gies Business, student cohorts studied two different consumer-focused areas of the AWG Brands business. As a mostly business-to-business entity, AWG still strives to gain consumer insights. One cohort analyzed seven years of data from AWG’s Save-A-Label program. Started in 1987, Save-A-Label allows member retailers to give back to local non-profit organizations and schools. In an effort to continue to evolve this program for member retailers and their consumers, the student cohort analyzed trends among geographic regions and non-profit classifications, which resulted in a machine learning dashboard designed to improve predictions of donation source and timing.

“Working with AWG was a great experience,” said Flavien Marwin Patrice Foreste, who led the Save-A-Label project team. “We had the opportunity to apply data analytics and machine learning to solve a meaningful real-world challenge. It was both exciting and rewarding.”

The other cohort analyzed two years of email marketing data to suggest optimal times and content that would resonate most with readers. By taking a deep dive into open rates, link clicks and other data sets, the students were able to recommend email strategy adjustments that have already been implemented by the AWG Brands team to drive significant business improvements.

“These students demonstrated that analytics can do more than uncover insights—it can influence real business decisions,” Khandelwal said. “Partnerships like this are essential for preparing students to thrive in data-driven organizations.”

The partnership is structured to be mutually beneficial, providing MSBA students with invaluable real-world experience by working on live projects that directly impact AWG Brands business strategies. The students not only enhance their data-science skills, but also develop business needs such as meeting preparation, insight summarization, and presentation skills. At the conclusion of each research project, students present their findings to AWG teammates in a formal presentation. In exchange, AWG benefits from fresh perspectives and cutting-edge analytical techniques and tools.

"Beyond the interesting insights the students are able to bring to light, I really enjoy collaborating with them to hear how they’re approaching different situations throughout the AWG Brands business,” said Kate Favrow AWG Brands Director of Marketing & Brand Development, and Gies Business alum. “The grocery business is complex, and there’s so much data to harness. Working with the students allows us all to focus on real opportunities and bring about new solutions to help AWG Brands continue to succeed for AWG member retailers.”