ST. CLOUD, MN - A leadership transition is underway at Coborn’s, Inc. as Emily Coborn Wright has officially stepped into the role of President. The announcement was made in a recent post shared via LinkedIn.

Emily Coborn Wright, a fifth-generation member of the founding family, brings a deep history with the company, having held numerous roles over her career. Her experience spans communications, merchandising, operations, and growth strategy. Most recently, she served as SVP of Growth Initiatives, helping shape key business advancements.

“It is an honor to assume this role and carry forward the Coborn legacy of stewardship and innovation that has shaped our company over the past 104 years,” she shared in a public statement.

Chairman and CEO, Chris Coborn, added, “Emily has literally grown up in this business. Her passion, commitment, and leadership have been evident in every step of her career. I couldn’t be prouder to welcome her as President and see her carry forward our legacy with vision and purpose.”

Coborn’s is a 100% employee-owned grocer operating 77 locations across the Midwest under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, and Marketplace Foods banners, supported by a workforce of around 10,000.

As Coborn Wright leads the company into its next era, ANUK will continue reporting on the evolving landscape of retail.

ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods Holding Corp. – one of America’s leading foodservice distributors – announced the release of the company’s 2024 Sustainability Report. Within the comprehensive report, US Foods highlights progress across its sustainable product offerings, support for associates and communities, and initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

“Being a responsible company is an integral part of our strategy and plays a central role in how we grow our business, strengthen customer relationships, maximize associate engagement and inclusion, and contribute to a better planet,” said Martha Ha, executive vice president, general counsel, and sustainability lead, US Foods, in a recent press release. “I am proud of the work we accomplished in 2024 to further align our approach to sustainability with the Company’s strategy and operating model and our continued focus on addressing pressing challenges in order to continue to deliver business value.”

The report shares progress highlights for each of the company’s key sustainability focus areas: Products, People, and Planet.

• Products: Supporting an ethical, sustainable, and resilient supply chain by prioritizing responsible sourcing practices and offering customers a best-in-class portfolio of differentiated products.
  • Maintained growth of the company’s local, sustainable, and well-being product offerings, with more than 5,000 differentiated products available today.
  • Generated $1 billion in annual revenue in 2024 for the first time for Serve Good® and Progress Check® products that are developed in partnership with suppliers committed to US Foods’ defined standards for responsible practices or are Exclusive Brands seafood products that are on their way to meeting the company’s Serve Good sustainability standards.
  • Updated the US Foods Seafood Policy to expand the company’s responsible seafood sourcing commitments and introduced new responsible seafood targets.
  • Expanded the company’s Exclusive Brands Serve You™ product portfolio, which includes a total of 4,100 Exclusive Brands products with simple ingredients not found on the US Foods Unpronounceables List®1, plant-forward attributes, or products that are certified gluten-free.

• People: Embracing a culture that is safe, supportive, and responsible to contribute to making US Foods the best place to work.
  • Improved injury and accident rates by 19% compared to 2023.
  • Donated more than $14.5 million in products, volunteer time, and monetary contributions to support communities in need.
  • Provided nearly 70,000 unique associate professional development opportunities, and associates completed more than one million hours of training.
  • Transitioned Employee Resource Groups to Employee Business Resource Groups to highlight their contributions towards driving business success, in addition to providing supportive networks that foster inclusion, a sense of community, and career development.

• Planet: Measuring, monitoring, and minimizing our environmental impact, including action to respond to climate change by increasing fleet and facilities efficiency, and engaging the company’s supply chain.
  • Reduced absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 16% since 20192 in support of the company’s formal goal to reduce absolute Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 32.5% by 2032 from a 2019 base year.
  • Implemented three fully refrigerated straight trucks featuring electric transport refrigeration units, among the first in both the foodservice and transportation industries.
  • Added 47 electric vehicles to the company’s fleet and installed 65 fast-charging stations at eight different US Foods locations.
  • Continued efforts to reduce the risk of deforestation and land conversion in the company’s supply chain, including mapping 96% of the palm oil used in US Foods Exclusive Brands products to the mill level.

The US Foods 2024 Sustainability Report uses recognized reporting standards, including the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board’s (SASB) Food Retailers & Distributors.

To view the US Foods 2024 Sustainability Report, visit the company’s website at usfoods.com/sustainability.

IRVINE, CA - The California Avocado Commission Board of Directors has promoted Ken Melban to be the organization’s president, effective May 22, 2025. Melban joined the Commission in 2011 as director, issues management. In 2015, he was promoted to vice president, industry affairs, and has served as vice president of industry affairs and operations, as well as co-executive leader of the organization, since late 2023.

“Ken has demonstrated outstanding leadership of the Commission’s financial and administrative operations as well as industry affairs programs,” said Jason Cole, chair of the California Avocado Commission Board of Directors, in a recent press release. “He has a keen understanding of the challenges faced by California avocado growers and the vitality to advocate passionately for their interests, along with the vision to recognize new opportunities and bring them to fruition.”

A produce veteran with extensive experience, highlights of Melban’s tenure at CAC include advocating to the U.S. government to prevent the introduction of potentially devastating pests into the country from imported avocados, a priority effort that is ongoing today. He has worked with the government and other organizations for the benefit of California avocado growers, including advocating on growers’ behalf after devastating fires. He led the development and widespread adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for the California avocado industry and spearheaded the expansion of the California avocado export program, persisting to secure market access to China in 2020 after nine years of process and negotiation.

Mr. Melban’s previous two decades of produce leadership included working with California commodity boards and the National Grape & Wine Initiative. He holds a Bachelor of Arts as well as a Master of Arts degree in leadership and organizational studies from Fresno Pacific University. Throughout his career, Melban has served with numerous community service organizations as well as with the California Department of Food and Agriculture Climate Change Adaptation Consortium and Ventura AG Futures Alliance.

OXNARD, CA - Mission Produce has released the following case study showcasing how its 4-count Retail Ready Mango Bag is driving category growth, increasing sales, and creating new value for retail partners.

Our 4-count Retail Ready Mango Bag hit shelves at multiple major retailers this winter, and early results show it’s doing more than selling well: it’s lifting the entire mango category for our retail partners. At one leading East Coast retailer, the results were clear:

• +13% in dollar sales
• +25% in volume
• 0% cannibalization of bulk

One month in, that retailer expanded the program to every store in their network—more than 100 locations—after starting in just 50. Today, the bag accounts for 20% of total mango category dollars and volume in their stores. Even better? Merchandising the bag alongside bulk increased the sales of both.

Our bag didn’t just perform—it changed the game.

Why It Worked: A True Shopper Solution

Shoppers want value, evidenced by 19% of last year's mango spend in club stores. Mission's Retail Ready Mango Bag delivers with:

• Retail-ready & high-impact: Bold, shelf-friendly pouch.
• Snack-size mangos: Appeal to all.
• Grab-and-go convenience: Easy purchase, more units per basket.

What’s Next: The 3-Count Advantage

Looking ahead, sizing is trending larger, and we’re ready.

Our new 3-count mango bag is built for this moment. It aligns with the current size curve and gives retailers a smart, scalable way to deliver value and drive incremental growth.

GOLETA, CA - Fresh Formulaics, an innovator in next-generation post-harvest solutions, has joined the "Supply Chain of the Future" initiative by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) as an executive sponsor of the Shelf-Life Prediction & Dynamic Incentives steering committee.

As a specialist in providing produce suppliers with safer, smarter, and more effective solutions for protecting the quality and value of their fruit, Fresh Formulaics’ support reflects a broader commitment to reshaping how freshness is measured, communicated, and rewarded across the supply chain. The company will collaborate with other steering committee members to help define open-source solutions that serve growers, distributors, and retailers alike.

“This initiative is about building trust and alignment across the industry,” said Denise Junqueiro, Head of Global Marketing at Fresh Formulaics, in a recent press release. “Whether you're a grower, shipper, marketer, or buyer, we need shared language and shared goals to drive adoption for a stronger and more resilient supply chain. That’s where collaboration becomes real—and where real change begins.”

Fresh Formulaics’ scientific and sustainability credentials will enhance the working group’s efforts to define shelf-life KPIs and align incentives that reward sustainable handling practices. Their real-world implementation knowledge will be crucial to building solutions that scale. Fresh Formulaics will also contribute to live pilot demonstrations aimed at validating shelf-life modeling tools.

Ed Treacy, Vice President of Supply Chain and Sustainability at IFPA, emphasized the collaborative foundation of the initiative: "This initiative is about coming together as an industry to solve the challenges no single organization can solve alone. We’re building shared systems—not just collecting data—to drive real, lasting change across the supply chain." This philosophy underscores the initiative's approach to breaking down data silos and fostering industry-wide cooperation.

"Fresh Formulaics is an example of a company that is redefining what's possible in the perishables space," said Drew Zabrocki, CEO of Totem and Chairperson for the initiative. "Their engagement with the Shelf-Life steering committee will elevate the science and strengthen the real-world impact of what we create."

The IFPA initiative draws its strength from a coalition of growers, distributors, retailers, technologists, and NGOs committed to building interoperable systems and open-source infrastructure that support a more sustainable, efficient, and equitable produce industry.

"Supporting this initiative aligns directly with our mission to build a more resilient, data-driven supply chain," said Mac Marshall, Product Director at Fresh Formulaics. "By working with IFPA and the steering committee, we’re helping to establish the predictive frameworks and incentive structures needed to reward sustainable handling and reduce food waste at scale."

There are several ways to get involved in the Supply Chain of the Future, including joining one of the working groups, signing on as a sponsor, or participating in the program pilot series. These are all detailed on the Supply Chain of the Future website.

Industry members may also join the Supply Chain of the Future Symposium on June 9, 2025 from 11am – 4pm EST. This event, held in conjunction with The Washington Conference hosted by IFPA, is free and open to in-person and virtual participants. The event will be a fast-paced opportunity to engage and network with other industry visionaries, see the latest in innovative technologies and more.

Following the symposium, the initiative will expand pilot programs through targeted industry partnerships and technical enhancements, with a global showcase planned during the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in October 2025.

KINGSVILLE, ON - A notorious Peter and his generational connection to peppers must have happened at this time of year. Rather than a peck, it is a peak, making for perfect picking for retailers.

“Overall, demand is strong and continues to trend upward year over year as more shoppers prioritize flavour, convenience, and health," Steve Zaccardi, Senior Director of Sales, shared. “Peppers perform really well going into summer. Consumer demand spikes with grilling season and outdoor gatherings. Our snacking and mini pepper options also benefit from the back-to-school mindset that begins to build toward late summer.”

The most successful summer promotions the greenhouse grower has seen combine vibrant, high-visibility displays with strong storytelling, whether that is highlighting local or regional production or the health benefits of vitamin-rich peppers.

“We also offer all of our retail partners branded displays for our annual summer grilling campaign. If the footprint is available, we’ve seen a lift in sales for retailers that have taken advantage of those displayers that we provide at no charge,” Steve explained. "Cross-merchandising is one of the most effective tools we've seen for peppers, pairing them with complementary items like dips, salad kits, and grilling accessories drives incremental sales. Creating color-blocked pepper displays is also incredibly eye-catching and reinforces the freshness and variety we offer.”

Steve added that retailers who rotate seasonal recipes or QR codes for easy meal ideas right at the display consistently see stronger engagement. This is bolstered by the consistency Mucci offers its retail partners in both volume and quality year-round.

"With our industry-leading acreage of bell peppers, which is approaching 400 acres, we offer consistency that helps stabilize pricing. As we move through peak summer, supply is strong across all colors and formats. Buyers should take advantage of promotional opportunities now when volumes are high and quality is optimal, especially for bulk and value packs," Steve advised.

Partnering with Mucci Farms, the Senior Director of Sales assured me, means more than just premium peppers. With a focus on category leadership and collaboration, the company is confident that its innovations in sustainable packaging, marketing support, and data-driven insights help retailers grow the category.

“Plus, with our vertically integrated model, we ensure speed to shelf, traceability, and consistently fresh, flavourful product your customers will love!" Steve concluded.

Put more than a little “pep” in your produce department as the thrill of summer opportunities crack open true veggie potential. AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this and other key categories as the summer begins to heat up.

FLORIDA, BAHAMAS, & CARIBBEAN - Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, forecasters at AccuWeather warn that the first named storm of 2025 could arrive before May draws to a close. Atmospheric signals are building across the southwest Atlantic, with increased moisture, stalled fronts, and a possible tropical wave hinting at early development potential near Florida, the Bahamas, and the Western Caribbean.

While harsh wind shear and dry air typically suppress early-season storms, meteorologists are watching two key triggers:

• A lingering front across Florida waters that may bring showers and thunderstorms
• A developing tropical wave and pooling moisture in the Caribbean that could support storm organization by early June

Though nothing is imminent, a tropical system forming before June would mark an early start to the season. AccuWeather’s forecast calls for 13–18 named storms this year, with 3–6 expected to directly impact the U.S.

Keep checking ANUK for updates on storm impacts to growing regions, transport routes, and produce timing.