NOGALES, AZ - Food safety. Social responsibility. Traceability. These are just a few of the hallmarks that make Divine Flavor’s Better Grower Program one of the best in the business. In this article, two of the company’s leaders share insights on this one-of-a-kind operation.

“The Better Grower Program is not just about quality and flavor—which are first and foremost and forever the main focuses—but there's a lot to do with food safety, which has become crucial in securing a consumer purchase. Food safety requires a lot of detailed work and making sure the thousands of people handling products throughout the supply chain uphold our standards,” Alán Aguirre Camou, Chief Marketing Officer, started off.

Social responsibility is another key factor in Divine Flavor’s Better Grower Program.

“It comes from our parent company, Grupo Alta. They provided the know-how and the ability to educate growers on having top-notch facilities to improve the quality of life for our workers that come from the southern states, mostly from the southeast states of Mexico,” Alán continued. “They have health benefits, so they have an additional reason for leaving their homes for the season besides earning money for their families.”

Traceability, he added, plays another major role.

“Being fully transparent in information and organics is not a trending fashion for us. We started doing it in the '90s with Grupo Alta,” Alán imparted. “Sustainability is also playing a bigger role in every platform, whether it’s media, consumers, or retailers.”

It is these six pillars—quality, flavor, food safety, social responsibility, traceability, and sustainability—that sustain the Better Food for a Better World slogan. This six-pillar system is audited, monitored, and improved together with Divine Flavor’s growers through the Better Grower Program.

“We work with growers that operate at a high level, like Grupo Alta, who's the parent company to Divine Flavor. Then we also have smaller growers—growers that think and share similar values to Divine Flavor that are new to the group,” Michael DuPuis, Quality Assurance and Public Relations Manager, noted. “Even though they might be lacking in some areas when it comes to compliance, the Better Grower Program is there to help standardize.”

Michael continued, adding, “The Better Grower Program is such a powerful campaign and tool that basically allows every single grower that packs for Divine Flavor to be operating as one. The same certifications, methods, and practices regarding social responsibility and traceability programs, combined with giving us information that allows us to speak to the retailers about how we can better promote and sell our products, are at the heart of the Better Grower Program.”

That just about sums it up! For more from Divine Flavor, keep clicking back to AndNowUKnow.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Berry Fresh is proud to announce that its premium blackberry variety, Sweet Karoline®, has earned a Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute in Brussels. Judged in a blind tasting by a panel of over 250 world-renowned chefs and sommeliers, this award recognizes the exceptional flavor and eating experience of Sweet Karoline®—a variety that’s redefining what consumers expect from a blackberry.

“We’ve always believed Sweet Karoline® is something special, and this award validates the years of work our team has put into bringing a consistently sweet, high-quality blackberry to market,” says Jyoti Bhogal, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Berry Fresh.

Sweet Karoline® is grown with care in Mexico and soon in the Pacific Northwest, as Berry Fresh expands its production to meet rising demand across North America.

Known for its sweet, complex flavor and reduced tartness, the variety has gained a loyal following among retailers and consumers alike.

CHESAPEAKE, VA - Dollar Tree, Inc. reported financial results for its first quarter ended May 3, 2025.

“Our strong first quarter performance underscores the progress we’ve made against our strategic priorities and is a clear signal that our customers are responding positively to the changes we are making,” said Mike Creedon, Chief Executive Officer, in the release. “History has shown that we have the resilience to emerge stronger from periods of economic uncertainty, and in today’s rapidly evolving environment, we see a meaningful opportunity to further elevate the value, convenience, and discovery that our customers depend on Dollar Tree to provide.”

Additional Business Highlights

• Opened 148 new Dollar Tree stores
• Converted approximately 500 stores to our 3.0 multi-price format
• Generated $379 million of net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations and $130 million of free cash flow from continuing operations

First Quarter Results

Results for the first quarter, ended May 3, 2025, are reported on a continuing operations basis and reflect the Family Dollar segment as discontinued operations. Continuing operations reflect the results of the Dollar Tree segment and corporate, support, and other.

Also, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons are to the prior year’s first quarter, ended May 4, 2024, which also have been adjusted to reflect the Family Dollar segment as discontinued operations.

Net sales increased 11.3% to $4.6 billion. Same-store net sales increased 5.4%, driven by a 2.5% increase in traffic and a 2.8% increase in average ticket.

Gross profit increased 11.7% to $1.6 billion and gross margin expanded 20 basis points to 35.6%. The expansion in gross margin was driven primarily by lower freight, improved mark-on, and lower occupancy costs due to sales leverage, partially offset by increased distribution, shrink, and markdown costs.

See the full report here.

ELGIN, MN - Honeybear Brands, a leading grower, marketer, and developer of premium conventional and organic apples, pears, and cherries, and its exclusive brand Pazazz® teamed up with Professional Hockey standout Taylor Heise to “Assist Second Harvest Heartland” during the 2024-25 hockey season. The partnership paid off big time, with the Frost winning their second national championship and Pazazz donating 12,000 pounds of apples to the Second Harvest Heartland food bank.

“Our food shelf partners appreciated the generous infusion of fresh apples this winter. We were thrilled to partner with Pazazz and Taylor Heise on this inaugural campaign. It’s been fun to watch Taylor compete and bring attention to the cause, helping to put hunger on ice,” said Lindsey Ochmanek, director of sourcing and demand planning, Second Harvest Heartland, in a recent press release.

Honeybear Brands donated 600 pounds of apples each time Heise fed a teammate an assist – otherwise known as an “apple” in hockey – during Frost hockey games this season, running December through May. Heise broke last season’s assist record of 9 assists – with a total of 20 assists.

"It’s been an amazing season for many reasons. The Pazazz Apples partnership benefiting Second Harvest Heartland has been an incredible opportunity to give back to the community that has supported me throughout my career. I was doubly motivated throughout the season, knowing that each assist on the ice translates into apples for those in need. I broke my record and we brought another Walter Cup home in the process!" said Taylor Heise, professional hockey player.

Doing Good While Promoting Good Health

Throughout the hockey season, Heise helped promote the campaign to her avid followers on social media – marking each “apple” and resulting donation. Honeybear amplified the campaign on its Instagram and Facebook platforms in markets where Pazazz is on shelf. In addition to fighting hunger, the campaign promoted the importance of fueling the body with fiber for overall good health.

Apples offer numerous health benefits, thanks to their fiber-rich peels. One medium apple has approximately 4.4 grams of dietary fiber, which is 16% of the daily requirement. Apples, which are about 85% water, are also a hydrating snack.

Pazazz is a popular option for apple lovers. Perfectly sweet and tangy, with an explosive, loud crunch, Pazazz is also a late season apple that remains delicious long after other premium apple flavors start to fade.

“Taylor Heise has been an amazing ambassador this season. Not only does she genuinely love apples, but as an elite athlete she has helped educate her followers on the importance of fueling their bodies with healthy options.” said Kristi Harris, brand manager, Honeybear Brands. “Just like Heise, Honeybear is passionate about giving back to our community. We were thrilled to see Taylor amplify our Pazazz brand of apples in a genuine spirit of filling the need to alleviate hunger. It’s been a WIN all around.”

EAGLE, ID - After nearly 17 years with the Idaho Potato Commission and over 50 years in the food industry, Armand Lobato has retired, closing an impressive chapter in a long and accomplished career. Known for his dedication, humility, and genuine relationships, Armand continues to have a lasting presence among growers, commissioners, colleagues, and friends.

Armand began his career in 1974 as a courtesy clerk in Denver, Colorado. From those early days, he steadily advanced through retail and foodservice before joining the IPC as Foodservice Promotions Director West. In that role, he traveled across 14 western states visiting distributors, restaurants, culinary schools, and processors while sharing his well-known love of dad jokes.

Reflecting on his time with the IPC, Armand said in the recent release, “It has been a privilege to work and travel for the IPC. I will miss the growers, commissioners, teammates, and friends I made along the way. I am just an ordinary guy working in an extraordinary industry.” This deep appreciation made his contributions especially meaningful.

Along the way, Armand earned undergraduate and graduate degrees and wrote a weekly column for The Packer and other agribusiness publications for nearly 20 years. He became known for his sharp industry insight, storytelling, and respect for Idaho’s growers and shippers.

Armand looks forward to spending more time with his wife Michelle, their two grown children, and three grandsons. He also plans to continue writing and hopes to teach journalism or creative writing in the near future.

“It’s been a remarkable ride, one I recommend highly,” Armand said. “It is my hope that someday, someone will open a carton of fresh Idaho potatoes and say, ‘You know, I had a good friend that worked there, years ago.’”

“Armand has been a vital part of the Idaho Potato Commission,” said Jamey Higham, President and CEO of the IPC. “His passion for the industry, his storytelling, and yes, even his love of dad jokes, have made him a cherished member of our team. We will truly miss working alongside him and wish him all the best in this exciting new chapter.”