GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Food solutions company SpartanNash® recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest Supermercado Nuestra Familia®—the fourth location in SpartanNash’s Hispanic retail banner. The newly renovated Supermercado Nuestra Familia—located at 5101 Harrison St. in Omaha, Neb.—was previously a Family Fare, with the transition reflecting the Company’s continued commitment to providing a tailored shopping experience that reflects the tastes and traditions of South Omaha’s Hispanic community.

Supermercado Nuestra Familia stores focus on community, quality, and convenience. Along with its classic selections offered in the previous Family Fare store, store guests can now look forward to new additions like tortillas made fresh in-store, an enhanced cake selection, and a broader assortment of authentic Hispanic produce, meat, grocery and dairy products.

“Our Supermercado Nuestra Familia stores offer an abundance of handmade Hispanic foods, plus the convenience of a one-stop shop for grocery staples, and I’m excited to further invest in this banner as part of our retail portfolio,” SpartanNash Senior Vice President and Chief Retail Officer Djouma Barry said in a recent press release. “With four locations in the Omaha community, we are proud to build on our legacy by introducing even more store guests to everything Supermercado Nuestra Familia has to offer.”

Serving the Nebraska and Iowa communities since 2013, Supermercado Nuestra Familia specializes in Hispanic foods, including an abundant assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables and dried chiles and spices. Aguas frescas and horchata are available, along with fresh-cut fruit. Meat is trimmed fresh daily in the full-service carniceria. Tres Leches cakes, gelatins and flans are made in-house, and La Cocina features fresh cheeses, creams, hams, and hot food favorites like tamales, enchiladas, beans and rice. Shoppers can also find freshly made corn and flour tortillas in the tortilleria, often still warm as they go into shoppers’ carts.

“Supermercado Nuestra Familia is deeply rooted in our neighborhoods and proudly supports community events such as Cinco de Mayo Omaha and Fiestas Patrias Omaha. Our entire team is honored to carry forward the tradition of neighborhood service while offering guests even more reasons to shop locally,” Store Director Jerry Duncan said.

AMADO, AZ - Wholesum, a leader in responsible farming and fresh organic produce, recently hosted its company-wide strategy event on April 30th, titled Steps Towards Progress, uniting employees from across the organization in a powerful display of shared purpose, collaboration, and ambition.

The event served as a platform to unveil Wholesum’s strategic direction for the coming years, grounded in the company’s vision, mission, and purpose. With a strong focus on transformation, innovation, and sustainable growth, the strategy introduced new initiatives, long-term projects, and a set of cross-functional strategic teams that will lead the company into the next few years.

Five strategic teams were introduced during the event, each spearheading a core area of growth, advancing key objectives including innovation, market intelligence, labor, and technology, and other critical priorities. These teams are charged with developing and executing initiatives that align with Wholesum’s values-driven culture and long-term goals.

One tangible outcome of this strategic approach was the inaugural Vendor Recognition Ceremony, a new initiative led by one of the strategic teams focused on deepening partnerships within the supply chain. For the first time, Wholesum recognized six standout vendors selected based on a newly developed, cross-departmental scoring system that evaluated performance in areas such as service quality, ethical practices, delivery reliability, pricing, and collaborative support.

Vendors play an essential role in our success and in the execution of our strategic priorities,” said Theojary Crisantes Jr., Chief Operations Officer during the ceremony. “They are a critical part of our interconnected supply chain, and this event was an opportunity not only to recognize their contributions, but to share our strategic vision so we can continue building mutually beneficial relationships."

Recognizing top vendors by farm exemplified Wholesum’s commitment to partnership and accountability across its stakeholder community. The company believes that when vendors understand its direction, particularly in areas like sustainability or innovation, they are better equipped to contribute ideas and materials that align with evolving needs.

The 2025 Vendor Recognition honorees included:

• International Paper Co
• JDR Transport, LLC
• Celulosa y Corrugados de Sonora, S.A. de C.V.
• Agri-Packing Supply, Inc.
• Koppert
• Fast Acrylic, LLC

"This kind of collaboration doesn’t happen by accident,” shared Wholesum’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ricardo Crisantes, in a recent press release. “It’s the result of shared values, continuous dialogue, and a commitment to excellence.”

Led by Wholesum’s leadership team, Steps Towards Progress emphasized that every role, internal and external, contributes to a larger shared purpose. The event left a clear message: transformation is a collective journey.

“We are all interconnected in this process,” Ricardo concluded, “And our progress depends on our ability to move forward together.”

GLENNVILLE, GA - G&R Farms proudly announces the launch of its 2025 Growing America’s Farmers (GAF) program, featuring in-store Vidalia promotions to support the next generation of agricultural leaders. GAF raises funds for grants and scholarships benefiting students pursuing careers in production agriculture.

USDA reports the average age of U.S. farmers is nearly 58 years old, and only 1.5% of the population is farmers and ranchers, highlighting an increase in the average age, coupled with a decrease in workforce. This creates significant labor shortages that challenge the sustainability of farming operations nationwide. The GAF program aims to help alleviate that strain.

Now entering its tenth year, the GAF program was developed by G&R Farms, a third-generation family farm rooted in southeast Georgia. The mission: invest in the future of farming by supporting FFA students and helping them achieve their educational goals. To date, the program has raised nearly $450,000 for the National FFA and State FFA Foundations across more than a dozen states.

“We started Growing America’s Farmers with a simple belief—that by investing in today’s students, we’re planting the seeds for a stronger, more resilient agricultural future,” shared Blake Dasher, CEO of G&R Farms, in a recent press release. “These young leaders will tackle tomorrow’s challenges, and it’s our responsibility to help pave the way.”

This year’s program includes a fresh new look for all in-store materials, including redesigned full-size and secondary display bins, bags, and POS, offering a high-visibility platform to share the program’s mission with shoppers while elevating product presence.

For participating retailers, G&R Farms dedicates a portion of proceeds from specially marked produce items to be donated to the National FFA Foundation, that are then disbursed to the states where the product is sold. These funds directly impact young agriculturalists who represent the future of America’s food supply.

Melissa’s Produce returns as a proud partner in 2025, continuing their commitment to agricultural education and youth development. Also demonstrating their commitment to the future of our food supply are nine regional and national retail chains confirmed so far.

“This campaign is about more than sweet onions—it’s about investing in the lives and futures of the students who will carry agriculture forward,” Dasher added. “By working with our retail partners, we’re showing these young farmers that their goals are important and their future matters.”

While many promotions coincide with Vidalia sweet onion season, G&R Farms has been a year-round sweet onion supplier for more than 15 years. With farms and experts on the ground in Peru during Vidalia’s off season, Growing America’s Farmers promotions can run anytime, year-round.

As G&R Farms celebrates its 80th year in 2025, the milestone is more than a celebration of longevity – it’s a testament to G&R’s deep-rooted dedication to the agricultural industry, the sweet onion category, and the future of our nation’s food supply. Sights are set high, aiming to beat last year’s program donations through the Growing America’s Farmers program.

To learn more about Growing America’s Farmers or to become a participating retailer, visit www.growingamericasfarmers.com or www.grfarms.com.

SOLEDAD, CA - Great skill recognizes great skill, and there are few I recall hearing of as a tour de force like that of Tonya Antle. An industry maven and changemaker in her own right, Tonya was recognized for her scroll of professional accomplishments seven years ago as the annual Ag Woman of the Year. Last week, she returned to the longstanding luncheon to introduce a new addition to this legendary hall: Jessica Harris Handley.

“This dynamo doesn’t just show up; she cuts a path! She forges new ways for others to follow, guiding them with both her heart and mind. And when it comes to stepping up to take on volunteer roles, there she is again. Plus, this marvelous person gives the best hugs!” Tonya shared with the crowd.

300-plus participants were in attendance at the Grower-Shipper Foundation’s 29^th annual Ag Woman of the Year recognition luncheon Friday, May 2, at McIntyre Estate Vineyards, to welcome with resounding applause the revelation of this year’s recipient.

Jessica has risen from a pivotal role at Earthbound Farm to Associate Director of Technical Product Management at Pairwise before landing at her current role as Vice President of Marketing at F&S Fresh Foods. Additionally, she has been involved in or spearheaded so much that Tonya joked to the avid crowd that Jessica might have managed to clone herself.

Just a few accomplishments and advisories include:

• Salinas Valley Fair Superintendent for Ag Mechanics and FFA exhibits
• PMA (now IFPA) exhibitor Advisory Committee, Farm Day, the IFPA Marketing Committee, the Grower-Shipper Foundation Board, the California Rodeo Marketing Committee
• The National PMA Women’s Perspectives Steering Committee
• Inaugural winner of the Supermarket News’ GenNext Award
• One of 40 under 40 (Produce Business)

As Tonya concluded, Jessica is everywhere, constantly moving our industry forward.

“But awards and titles don’t capture the essence of who she is. Look around this room. How many of you has she come through for?” the maven observed.

Because the foundational element of this list is support. It is the ties that bind our industry together amid countless challenges, and it is everything the 2025 Ag Woman of the Year practices—from her own time and resources to a warm embrace.

For the past 29 years, the Agricultural Woman of the Year award has celebrated the achievements of a woman from the tri-county area of California's Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey County, who serves as a change agent and has made unique contributions to promote the local ag industry at local, state, and/or national levels.

Congratulations to Jessica Harris Handley in being recognized for embodying this philosophy!

WENATCHEE, WA - What do you get when you mix a bucket of Cosmic Crisp® apples, a 1926 Ford Model T, a giant Ladybug car, and a whole lot of community pride? Another unforgettable day at the annual Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival Grand Parade!

The Mathison family, proud longtime sponsors of the parade and founders of Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, Washington, showed up in style and spirit this year, rolling through downtown Wenatchee in their vintage Ford Model T and the fan-favorite Stemilt Volkswagen Ladybug. In their hands: a bucket full of juicy, flavorful Cosmic Crisp® apples. Check out this video of the family in the parade!

“Apple Blossom is more than a parade; it’s the heartbeat of our valley,” said West Mathison, President of Stemilt, said in a press release. “It’s an honor to support a tradition that brings together neighbors, families, and generations. A huge thank you to the organizers for keeping this celebration as vibrant as ever.”

First held in 1919, the Apple Blossom Festival is a cherished tradition in the Wenatchee Valley, showcasing the region’s agricultural roots and vibrant community. For Stemilt and the Mathison family, it’s the perfect place to celebrate where their fruit journey began and to share a taste of what’s next. 2025 marked the 106th annual Apple Blossom Festival and the start of a new crop year.

“Cherry season has just begun, and we’ve officially started harvest in our California orchards,” said Mathison. “At Stemilt, we’re proud to offer one of the longest cherry seasons in the industry, stretching from May through September. Each spring, the blossoms on our apple, pear, and cherry trees burst to life right alongside the Apple Blossom Festival, fueling our passion and energy for the season ahead.”