WENATCHEE, WA – Stemilt is partnering with Day’s Century Growers, a family-owned pear grower and packer in British Columbia, Canada, to sublicense the new Hw624 pear, branded as Happi Pear®, to offer locally grown Happi Pears to Canadian consumers. Stemilt’s Director of Research and Development, Rob Blakey, Co-Owner of Day’s Century Growers, Kevin Day, and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre’s President and CEO, Ian Potter, share their excitement for the cross-border collaboration to bring Happi Pear to the Canadian public from a local grower.

“Day’s Century and their growers are the leading pear growers and packer in BC, and we are excited to collaborate with them on the Happi Pear project,” says Blakey. “Haley’s Comet comes around more often than the launch of a new pear variety, so when something as special as Happi Pear comes along, it is key to join forces with growers and packers who understand the importance of quality and the needs of the local consumer.”

The Day family, owners of Day’s Century Growers, has farmed their land, known as Byrnes Farms, for over five generations, growing pears, fresh vegetables, and sweet corn, a press release stated. Day’s Century is known for its locally grown pears in the heart of Kelowna, BC. The grower has also implemented high-density plantings in the property’s newer orchards to increase the volume of pears per acre and the fruit quality.

“Our family has been farming since 1892, and we represent 80-90 percent of the pears grown in BC,” says Day. “We have been looking for a new pear, and Happi Pear has been the best candidate for us. We like Happi Pear because of its sweet but slightly tangy flavor profile, storage ability, and growing benefits, like its tolerance to psylla and fire blight. The Hw624 variety behind the Happi Pear program is set up to be successful for us as the grower and for the end consumer who enjoys it.”

Happi Pear was bred by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers at the breeding station at AAFC’s Harrow Research and Development Centre in Ontario, Canada, through cross-pollination methods. Since then, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has been evaluating the Harrow pear varieties and through working alongside the growers and consumers, Hw624 hit all the marks. Happi Pear is a Harrow Sweet cross that has a sweet, bright, zesty bite with citrus notes and some pears displaying a light blush color. Happi is one of the few pear varieties that has excellent eating quality when it is green and crunchy or when yellow with a melting texture. For the grower, the variety is precocious, productive, and highly tolerant to fire blight and pear psylla. For the packer, it is easy to store and pack, with low scuffing and shrivel. Because pear breeding is so slow, it is rare for a variety to tick so many boxes in the supply chain.

Vineland is proud of the achievements of Stemilt Growers in engaging Canadian producers like Day’s Century Growers in the commercialization of HW624 and the Happi Pear brand. This represents the beginning of a nation-wide rollout of this exciting new pear and exemplifies Vineland's commitment to bring high-quality, locally grown Happi Pears to Canadian growers and consumers, enhancing the economic viability and sustainability of the horticulture sector.

Stemilt and Day’s Century Growers share an aligned passion for bringing innovation into the pear category through precision growing, packing, and shipping practices. In 2019, the Day family installed a new packing machine equipped with 3-lane electronic pear grading and dumping mechanisms specifically designed to increase daily production of pears and yield a consistent, quality pack of pears. Likewise, Stemilt is in its second year of producing pears on its new state-of-the-art Unitec pear packing line in Wenatchee, WA, complete with double defect sorters and direct transportation between the packing line and its distribution center to ensure pear freshness and quality.

“We’re very excited to be partnering with Day’s Century Growers to plant enough of this new cultivar to bring Happi Pear supply that will match the high demand for the premium variety throughout North America,” says Blakey. “We look forward to building the Happi Pear brand with an exceptional local grower group and packer in BC. Growing a new variety to commercial volumes takes time and collaboration. Instead of getting there fast on our own, we hope to go farther together with our friends and partners in Canada.”

ONTARIO, CANADA - Heritable Agriculture, Paul J. Mastronardi, and CIV (Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti), are proud to announce that they have partnered to develop an advanced strawberry improvement program for greenhouse and tabletop varieties. This partnership represents a trifecta of expertise and capabilities essential for a successful breeding program, marrying the genetics and germplasm knowledge of CIV, the AI-driven breeding models and machine learning expertise of Heritable Agriculture, and the production assets, distribution network, and leadership in indoor strawberry production of Paul J. Mastronardi. 

By uniting germplasm, AI expertise, and advanced growing capabilities, this collaboration forges a synergy that surpasses what any single entity could accomplish alone.

Addressing Challenges in Greenhouse Crop Breeding

Traditional breeding programs take several years and millions of dollars to bring new cultivars to the market. Current strawberry breeding emphasizes field-growth and targets a limited number of traits. This results in inadequate control over essential characteristics such as taste, disease resistance, and productivity, which are key factors for successful greenhouse operations.

“We are already working with North America’s largest retailers to bring these innovations to their customers.” Paul J. Mastronardi said in a recent press release. “Greenhouse and tabletop environments vary widely, requiring tailored genetics and distinct growing protocols to optimize performance and meet market demands. We expect to bring novel varieties to the market that will deliver a premium quality experience for the consumer and retailer, while ensuring crop economics that will see farms thrive for generations.”

Innovative Breeding: Faster, More Precise, and AI-Powered

The partnership will use Heritable’s AI-driven predictive breeding technology to:

• Predict crop performance through simulations, before strawberries are planted.
• Optimize traits that are important in greenhouse environments, such as taste, disease resistance, and yield.
• Develop varieties that streamline growth and management practices for indoor growers.
• Reduce breeding timelines, bringing superior varieties to market faster.

Heritable’s AI-driven breeding program optimizes both grower and consumer traits simultaneously, and their breeding simulations and predictions drastically reduce breeding cycle timelines. By partnering with Paul J. Mastronardi for operational and market leadership, and CIV for their worldclass germplasm, Heritable is set to transform the strawberry market.

"Our approach empowers greenhouse and tabletop growers to break free from traditional breeding limitations," said Dr. Brad Zamft, CEO of Heritable Agriculture. "Partnering with Paul J. Mastronardi and CIV allows us to push the boundaries of what's possible for greenhouse crop optimization."

Heritable Agriculture’s multi-omic, AI-driven predictive models generalize across species, environments, and traits, making the approach highly adaptable to any operation. The technology extends to crops such as tomatoes, spinach, and peppers, offering an opportunity for growers looking to diversify and innovate.

See the full press release here.

OXNARD, CA - Freska Produce International is entering the most exciting part of the produce calendar with promotable volumes of fresh mangos, peak California avocados, and a growing lineup of tropical innovations. Retail buyers are encouraged to take advantage of these timely opportunities for Easter, Cinco de Mayo, and summer promotions.

Freska’s mango season out of Mexico is now in full swing, featuring Tommy Atkins, and Ataulfo varieties—all known for vibrant color, consumer-friendly flavor profiles, and strong shelf performance. The company is emphasizing high-volume retail promotions for key spring and summer holidays.

"This is a crucial time for mango sales, and we’ve got the supply, quality, and variety that retail buyers are looking for,” said Jesus “Chuy” Loza, Managing Member at Freska, in a recent press release. “With consistent arrivals of all major varieties, buyers can plan impactful, high-velocity promotions with confidence.”

To complement the fresh category, Freska is also rolling out dried mangos from Mexico—a shelf-stable, healthy snack alternative that brings versatility to retail sets and merchandising plans.

Promotable California Avocados with New Sizing Technology

Freska is also in peak production of California avocados, supported by the company’s recent investment in a state-of-the-art sizer. This new technology enables Freska to deliver customized sizing specifications, ensuring retail buyers have the consistency they need to support ad campaigns and in-store displays. Freska also can bag avocados to your specifications.

“Our new sizer takes the guesswork out of avocado planning,” added Loza. “It allows us to meet buyer specs with precision and back it up with promotable volumes.”

Freska will enhance its Spring-Summer avocado program with Peruvian avocados, also distributed from its Oxnard, CA, facility. Utilizing advanced ripening rooms, Freska ensures avocados reach peak ripeness for a consistently ready-to-eat experience. Freska also offers year round avocados out of Mexico.

Year-Round Dragonfruit Program Launches

Freska is also proud to announce a new year-round dragonfruit program sourced from Ecuador. As consumer interest in exotic and health-forward fruits continues to grow, this addition provides retail buyers with reliable, 12-month supply to support ongoing merchandising and cross-promotional opportunities.

“Dragonfruit has moved from a specialty item to a core part of the tropical set for many retailers,” said Loza. “With year-round availability, buyers can now plan long-term strategies with both red and yellow flesh dragonfruit rather than seasonal one-offs."

Ready to Support Retail Growth

Whether it’s fresh mangos for grilling season, consistent California avocados, or innovative tropicals like dried mango and Dragonfruit, Freska Produce International is committed to supporting retail buyers with high-quality products, promotable volumes, and category expertise.

For more information on current programs or to speak with a Freska sales representative, visit www.freskaproduce.com or contact the sales team at (805) 650-1040.

UNITED STATES/MEXICO/PERU - An always-in-demand item, blueberries are a core driver in any berry set. With Florida production only just beginning, and short supply coming in from export markets, the next few weeks could be tight.

According to PRO*ACT’s The Source, released on April 2, 2025, availability should improve by late April. Supply from California is steady with elevated pricing and good quality; supply through McAllen, Texas is light with elevated pricing and good quality.

This has led to steady pricing in the market for now, as USDA reports for the Los Angeles Terminal Market listed the following for Blueberries (flats 12 6-oz cups with lids):

• CHILE medium-large fair appearance 22.00-23.00, poorer quality and condition lower
• MEXICO large fine appearance, 24.00-26.00 (few labels) medium-large insufficient to quote
• MEXICO large fine appearance 26.00-28.00 (one label)
• PERU medium-large fair appearance 22.00-24.00 poorer quality and condition lower flats 12 1-pint cups with lids
• CALIFORNIA SANTA MARIA DISTRICT CALIFORNIA NEW - medium-large insufficient to quote

ANUK will keep reporting on the current conditions of the market, so stay tuned.

UNITED STATES & MEXICO - As recent reports from both the United States Department of Agriculture and PRO*ACT’s The Source can attest to, tomato supply is currently very light.

As The Source outlined in its April 2, 2025, report, “Florida production remains light, with supply expected to improve by May. Central Florida has started with light volumes, and production will gradually increase through April and May. Mexican supply is steady, though rounds remain the tightest variety. More fruit variety is expected in late spring.”

The Los Angeles Terminal Market echoed this reporting, as it reported that the market was barely steady on April 4, 2025: For Tomatoes (25 lb cartons loose):

• MEXICO VINE RIPES Light Red-red 4x4 size 22.00-24.00 4x5 size 22.00-24.00 5x5 size 20.00-22.00 5x6 size 20.00-22.00 cartons 2 layer
• MEXICO VINE RIPES Light Red-red 4x4s 24.00-26.00 4x5s 24.00-26.00 5x5s
  22.00-24.00 5x6s 22.00-24.00 5 kg/11 lb flats
• MEXICO greenhouse VINE RIPE - ON THE VINE Red 4-5 count 10.00-10.50

We’ll continue to monitor the situation and report back.