KINGSVILLE, ON - Mastronardi Produce, a leader in the greenhouse-grown fresh produce industry, is proud to announce that its flagship SUNSET® brand has received three 3-star Superior Taste Award certifications for the exceptional flavors of Campari® Tomatoes, Angel Sweet® Tomatoes, and WOW® Dreamberry™ Strawberries.

Mastronardi Produce was also awarded four 2-star Superior Taste Award designations for SUNSET® Flavor Bombs® Tomatoes, Summer Dream™ Raspberries, Secilia™ Tomatoes, and the Backyard Farms® Green Leaf Lettuce.

“Flavor is what drives us, and to be recognized for that is an honor,” said Paul Mastronardi, President & CEO of Mastronardi Produce. “We take great pride in everything we grow. Receiving such high distinction emphasizes the genuine passion found throughout our entire organization.”

The Superior Taste Award is a prestigious global certification that highlights delicious tasting food and beverage products. Organized by the International Taste Institute, submissions are assessed for appearance, aroma, flavor, and texture by a jury of over 250 professional chefs and sommeliers from more than 20 countries. Products that obtain a 3-star rating are deemed exceptional and of the highest quality in their category. A 2-star rating honors outstanding products that clearly distinguish themselves within their category.

The Superior Taste Award certification for the SUNSET® Campari® Tomato follows the recent announcement of the cocktail tomato's 30th anniversary. Renowned for its perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, Campari® also earned a 3-star Superior Taste Award in 2019.

The Superior Taste Awards come on the heels of Mastronardi’s earlier wins this month at the Leamington Greenhouse Competition in Ontario, Canada, where the company received 23 awards for flavor, including the competition’s top honors for best tomato, best strawberry, and four Chef’s Choice awards.

CANADA & WESTERN U.S. - Over the weekend, massive wildfires burning across central and western Canada sent thick plumes of smoke into the U.S., with winds pushing hazy skies into parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Cities including Milwaukee, Chicago, Green Bay, and Detroit experienced reduced visibility and declines in air quality from Friday through Sunday.

The fires prompted some of the largest evacuation orders in recent memory for provinces such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan. More than 170 wildfires were reported nationwide, many of them uncontained. In areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin, state officials issued air quality alerts as fine particulate levels reached thresholds considered unhealthy for all residents.

While much of the smoke remained in the upper atmosphere, resulting in vivid sunrises and sunsets, some regions saw temporary air quality impacts at ground level. With forecasts calling for an above-average wildfire season on both sides of the border, AccuWeather reports more smoke-filled days could follow as summer progresses.

Keep checking in with ANUK for continued coverage of weather events and their effects on transportation, agriculture, and everyday routines.

KINGSVILLE, ON - Still reveling in their win, Del Fresco Pure® took home some impressive hardware from the 18th annual R.E.A.C.H. International Greenhouse Competitions that took place on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kingsville, Ontario, which included:

• 1st Place (Cucumber category) Del Fresco Pure ® Organic English Seedless Cucumber 
• 1st Place (Yellow Bell Pepper category) Del Fresco Pure® Yellow Sweet Rainbow Pepper* Three-time winner
• 1st Place (Tomato on the Vine category) Del Fresco Pure® Tomato on the Vine 
• 2nd Place (Beefsteak category) Del Fresco Pure® Beefsteak Tomato

Along with the impressive wins, there were top honors in the Overall Coolest Cuke category, where they secured the title with their Organic English Seedless Cucumber.

“We always look forward to the greenhouse competition organized by R.E.A.C.H. International. This event not only brings our industry and community together, supporting a great cause,” says Sonia Klinger, Marketing Manager at Del Fresco Pure®, in a recent press release. “Our team takes great pride in our successes, particularly our overall win for our Organic English Seedless Cucumber. This achievement reflects our dedication to quality. "Winning such a prestigious award was a testament to the hard work and passion that our team pours into every aspect of our greenhouse operations,” states Sonia.

The awards ceremony was held at Kingsville Community Church on Friday, May 23rd, and live-streamed at greenhousecompetitions.com.

The winners received the coveted Greenhouse Competition trophies and, of course, the bragging rights as the best producers in North America. Red Seal Chef Julie Myers, owner of Thyme Kitchen, had the difficult task of choosing 8 products from the 194 entries as the Chef’s Choice winners of this year’s competition. Chef Julie wowed the crowd gathered for the awards with dishes made from the products she chose. This is the 18th year of these unique competitions that have been running since 2007 to celebrate Essex County as the largest greenhouse industry in North America. And the charity that runs the annual event uses the proceeds from the competition to sponsor over 45 children in Uganda, Africa, annually. These sponsorships give the children and teens food, school supplies, medicine, and everything else they need to get an education and break the cycle of poverty.

Art Barron, President of R.E.A.C.H. International, speaks on the impact of the Greenhouse Competitions: "We just love that we can celebrate the Greenhouse Industry in Essex County with this annual event that helps in so many ways. Locally, the Kingsville Community Center receives funds from selling donated produce to help support their amazing programs, and the Gleaners pick up any leftover produce. For the villages we serve in Uganda, these competitions have helped us to raise over $275,000, which is used to provide for children's education, build infrastructure, and enhance health and wellness."