MILLEN, GA - SEPC Southern Roots is the SEPC’s leadership program for women in produce. The program’s mission is to cultivate genuine relationships by equipping, elevating, and inspiring women of the produce industry through meaningful experiences. The vision of Southern Roots is to develop a dynamic culture where every woman feels inspired, empowered, and makes a lasting impact to strengthen our industry.

The SEPC Southern Roots Committee is honored to announce Tonya Morel as the Southern Roots Member Spotlight for May 2025. 

Please take a moment and get to know Tonya!

Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?

My mom has played a pivotal role in shaping the person I am today. She has always been my go-to person and my rock, steadfast, supportive, and unwavering. From an early age, she instilled in me the values of drive and determination. Through her example, I learned to never give up on my dreams and to constantly strive to become the best version of myself. Her presence gave me a sense of stability, and her belief in me gave me the courage to face challenges head-on.

What's your favorite quote and why?

"Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing." - John C. Maxwell

Motivation can come and go, but discipline is constant and what drives long-term success.

What's the most important thing that you've learned in your career?

Don't be afraid to ask questions. In your career, curiosity isn't a weakness, it's a superpower. The most successful people aren't the ones who know everything, but the ones who keep learning by asking the right questions.

Read Tonya's full highlight here.

MADERA COUNTY, CA - Riverstone, a premier master-planned community in California’s Central Valley, is pleased to announce the next exciting phase of its Riverwalk development: the addition of 61,000 square feet of new retail space, headlined by the arrival of Raley’s Supermarkets, a division of The Raley’s Companies.

A family-owned company, Raley’s has built a proud legacy of delivering high-quality groceries while promoting health and wellness across California and Nevada. The new Riverstone location represents a significant milestone for the grocer, as it marks Raley’s second store in Madera County.

Located in the vibrant Riverwalk at Riverstone, the upcoming 40,000-square-foot store will feature a contemporary grocery layout enriched with modern amenities. Designed to serve the growing needs of the community, the store will open as a Raley’s ONE Market and include an extensive selection of fresh prepared foods, natural and organic products, locally sourced produce, and a café.

In partnership with Tim Jones of Riverstone Development, Raley’s is set to introduce a new, state-of-the-art store format tailored for the Riverstone location. This innovative model will prioritize sustainable building practices, reflecting Raley’s commitment to environmental stewardship and future-forward retail development.

“We are deeply grateful to Raley’s Board Member, Jerry Cook, whose introduction to Riverstone Development was instrumental in forging this exciting collaboration,” said Tiffanie Burkhalter, The Raley’s Companies Chief Financial Officer and Head of Real Estate, in a recent press release. “Consistent with our Owner & Chairman, Mike Teel’s vision, this store embodies our mission of promoting health and wellness through fresh, responsibly sourced food and thoughtful design. We look forward to becoming a trusted neighbor and grocery destination for the Riverstone community.”

“This partnership represents a major step in our ongoing mission to enhance the lifestyle and amenities available to residents and neighbors of the Central Valley,” said Tim Jones, at Riverstone. “As a high-quality, community-focused grocer, Raley’s is the perfect fit for our growing community. This new store won’t just serve our residents—it will become a destination for the surrounding region, offering convenient access to healthy, fresh food and a shopping experience that reflects the values and lifestyle we’re building here in Riverstone.”

Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2026, with the grand opening targeted for spring 2027.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - NatureSweet®, the trailblazer in premium produce, is thrilled to unveil a refreshed and even more irresistible Glorys®. These vibrant cherry tomatoes are now packed with even more sweetness and flavor, delivering an elevated taste experience to consumers everywhere. The new, sweeter Glorys® excels in flavor, quality, texture, color, and burst, and consistently ranks as the top cherry tomato choice in extensive consumer testing when compared to other brands. NatureSweet is also proud to debut a fruit variety that boasts exceptional resistance to disease— an important advancement in safeguarding and securing our food supply.

“Our journey to find a sweeter cherry tomato variety began in 2022, leading us to a dozen countries where we sampled fruit from a range of seed companies,” says Gilberto Rojas, NatureSweet’s Senior Manager of New Varieties, in a recent press release. “This particular variety stands out for its aromatic richness and exceptional sweetness, scoring high on the Brix scale. Its superior flavor, disease resistance, and high yield truly make it a superstar in the world of tomatoes.”

Glorys® is ideal for grilling, sautéing, roasting, baking, and even snacking— much like NatureSweet’s popular Cherubs® grape tomatoes, which have long been the top choice for snacking and hold the number one spot as the best-selling brand.

The new, sweeter Glorys® provides consumers with another healthy, delicious option, offering high levels of Vitamins A and C, with fewer than 50 calories per serving.

“This is one of the sweetest tomatoes our sensory panel has ever tested,” says Julieta Ramírez, NatureSweet’s Manager of Sensory Evaluation, who leads a department dedicated to identifying optimal varieties for all NatureSweet produce. “What’s even more exciting is that consumer testing confirmed this excellence, with Glorys® earning top scores in key categories, highlighting its broad appeal.”

Glorys®10oz package can be found at supermarkets nationwide. The product features proprietary packaging made from 100% recycled PET.