WASHINGTON - In a statement, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) joined nutritionists and scientists in raising concerns about the Environmental Working Group’s latest publication.

"The claims in this report are not only misleading — they’re dangerously counterproductive to our nation’s public health goals. Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet and one of the most effective tools we have for preventing chronic, diet-related diseases. Yet, today, 90 percent of Americans fall short of the recommended daily intake of these essential foods — a public health crisis we can and must urgently address.

"Does it make sense to discourage people from eating produce? This kind of unfounded rhetoric harms consumers and unfairly threatens the livelihoods of American farmers, who work tirelessly to grow safe, nutritious food for their communities. Baseless attacks on fruit and vegetable growers only undermine efforts to improve diets in a country where 70 percent of what we eat is ultra-processed, and where chronic disease costs our economy more than $1 trillion annually in healthcare and lost productivity.

"Federal agencies rigorously review crop protection tools through science-based processes to ensure their safety. The authors of this report know — but conveniently ignore — that the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program consistently finds that produce sold in the U.S. meets or exceeds the EPA’s strict safety standards.

"Rather than sowing fear, we need a national, coordinated effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption — and empower farmers to keep providing abundant, affordable, and safe produce for every American table.

"At IFPA, we remain committed to working alongside farmers, health professionals, and policymakers to build a food system that supports healthier communities and a thriving, resilient agricultural economy for all."

More information and peer-reviewed research related to pesticides and produce can be found at safefruitsandveggies.com.

For recipes and other educational tools to encourage the consumption of nutritious produce go to fruitsandveggies.org.

CHELSRA, MA - Morning Kiss Organic will debut four new vegetable offerings and one new fruit offering at the Organic Produce Show July 9-10. Morning Kiss Organic is part of the Arrowfarms family of companies, which also includes DiSilva Fruit and Gold Bell, headquartered in New England and proudly supplying high-quality organic fruits and vegetables over the last 50 years. Utilizing state-of-the-art production facilities located within the heart of New England’s major food hub, Morning Kiss Organic is committed to providing solutions and value for its retail partners and consumers. These facilities are used for packaging all varieties of potatoes, onions, citrus, vegetables, and other commodities.

“We are proud to be your Northeast connection for organic. From expertise in introducing new products to private label opportunities and distribution strategies, when a customer or vendor develops a relationship with Morning Kiss Organic, they receive the best of what the produce industry has to offer,” says Nelly Czajkowski of Morning Kiss Organic in a recent release.

New Products in 2025

Morning Kiss Organic is excited to continue to grow and revitalize its produce mix in 2025. Four new vegetable offerings are now available: 2ct organic yellow and green squash combo tray, 3ct organic sweet corn; organic green beans, and organic brussel sprouts. All offerings can be packed in Morning Kiss label or private label. On the fruit front, Morning Kiss Organic is continuing to grow its organic apple and pears programs by growing and strengthening relationships with its grower partners, ensuring they can offer high-quality quality consistent year-round programs. Morning Kiss Organic has added organic Cosmic Crisp apples to their lineup this year.

Value

Morning Kiss Organic prides itself on providing value to customers beyond just a good price. Morning Kiss Organic has developed a network of trusted grower partners that allows them to offer year-round programs and provide their customers with consistent quality in a consistent label. Utilizing just-in-time deliveries allows Morning Kiss Organic to operate efficiently, maintaining freshness and optimizing the supply chain. By meeting consumer trends with smaller pack sizes, food waste can be reduced. Morning Kiss Organic aims to manage demand by anticipating and buffering disruptions within the supply chain and market volatility.

“Selling and sourcing produce is just one of the services we offer our customers,” says Chuck Reeves of Morning Kiss Organic. “We put together year-round programs, handle logistics, and develop private label packaging that meets consumer demands for sustainability. We take pride in providing value beyond fair pricing.” In addition to three state-of-the-art production facilities located within the heart of New England’s major food hub, they now operate out of five distribution centers located across the United States - Terra Bella, CA, Chicago, IL, Tampa, FL, Scranton, PA, and Boston, MA.

Innovative Packaging

Morning Kiss Organic offers innovative packaging solutions designed to meet the needs of every retail format—while critically ensuring that organic products are accurately identified and sold as organic at the register. This guarantee is essential for maintaining consumer trust, protecting organic price premiums, and supporting retailers’ compliance with labeling standards. By providing produce in a range of customizable formats, Morning Kiss Organic helps reduce waste, offers cost-effective options, and drives faster product turnover.

“Our goal is to provide solutions for our customers,” says Mike Guptill of Morning Kiss Organic. “From reducing shrink to just-in-time inventory management—and most importantly, guaranteeing the organic ring at checkout—our programs deliver on every front.”

Private Label

By focusing on private brands and private label opportunities over highly marketed national brands, Morning Kiss Organic helps its partners to lower costs. “We think this is the perfect time to think creatively and strategically about private label products,” says Nelly Czajkowski of DiSilva Fruit. “We have experience bringing these types of products to market for all sizes of retailers.”

Sustainability

Morning Kiss Organic is committed to sustainable packaging options and reducing the amount of plastic that sits in landfills. The companies are utilizing several new packaging options – Bio Able bags, fiber-based Eco Boxes & 100% paper packaging. Bio-Able packaging is 100% degradable. While traditional plastics can take over 200 years to break down, this material breaks down within 4 years and fully bio-assimilates in both terrestrial and marine environments. Morning Kiss Organic is also rolling out two different types of 100% fiber-based packaging – paperboard Eco Boxes and paper and sugar cane mesh packaging for potatoes. Both options are fully biodegradable and easily recyclable at the consumer level.

Meet Our Team

Morning Kiss Organic will exhibit at the Organic Produce Show July 9-10 at booth #1101.

WASHINGTON - The Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP) has released its first annual industry report, showcasing significant strides in supplier and grower engagement across the fresh produce supply chain.

Since the program’s launch by an industry advisory group and Equitable Food Initiative in November 2023, ECIP has enrolled more than 280 suppliers and nearly 1,100 farms on its platform, representing an unprecedented effort to build awareness, assess management systems, and foster continuous improvement in alignment with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices.

Through ECIP’s Learn, Assess and Benchmark (LAB) platform, growers and suppliers access tailored components, Grower LAB and Supplier LAB, that guide them through self-evaluation, learning, and progress tracking. With privacy and continuous improvement at its core, ECIP has created a safe space for users to explore how their practices align with Ethical Charter principles.

“The report highlights the successful achievement of our year one objective: to initially engage a critical mass of suppliers and retailers in the program,” noted Peter O’Driscoll, executive director for Equitable Food Initiative. “Participants utilized ECIP LAB's self-assessments to evaluate their management systems, free from the pressure of an audit or external review, and that allowed them to access learning resources and prioritize areas for development.”

Of the 1,100 growers using Grower LAB, one-third submitted a current social responsibility certification from one of the 16 ECIP-approved programs, earning a gold star in their engagement profile. Nearly 800 of the farming operations that subscribed to Grower LAB had no prior experience with formal social responsibility audits or certifications.

“For the growers who haven’t experienced a codified workforce management, audit, or certification program, ECIP LAB provides a first-time opportunity to assess and improve labor practices using structured criteria and accessible tools,” said Kenton Harmer, director of market-based impact for Equitable Food Initiative. “Retail partners in ECIP are most interested in learning more about and supporting these growers to improve alignment with the Ethical Charter.”

Grower self-assessments revealed notable strengths in several areas. Many reported robust resources supporting:

• Occupational safety and health
• Wages and benefits
• Protection of children and young workers

At the same time, growers assessed a need for further development to support these Ethical Charter principles:

• Communication and worker protections
• Management systems and continuous improvement
• Ethical recruitment

In addition to summarizing the first year of activity in ECIP LAB, the first annual report shares insights and testimonials from participating retailers and highly engaged suppliers. Retailers share what they like about the program and why they are eager to support it, while suppliers point out the benefits of having a standardized approach to social responsibility in the industry.

“As we wrapped up year one, retailers gained access to the ECIP Buyer Dashboard which provides a ranking of the most engaged suppliers around labor practices based on their reporting within and use of ECIP LAB,” added Harmer. “Year two will be focused on driving deeper engagement so that growers and suppliers can best utilize ECIP LAB to showcase their social responsibility efforts to buyers – stay tuned for updates to the platform in mid-July!”

To access the full report, visit ethicalcharterprogram.org/ecip-annual-report.

FRISCO, TX - Retail expansion in North Texas continues as a well-known grocer prepares to plant roots in the rapidly growing northern pocket of Frisco. According to MSN, Aldi has confirmed plans for a new store along Hollyhock Road, near Highway 380 and the border of Prosper.

“We are excited to confirm that we are making headway on a new store in Frisco,” shared Scott Huska, Regional Vice President at Aldi, in a statement.

The upcoming location will mark another strategic step in the retailer’s ongoing U.S. expansion, which includes over 225 planned openings this year. With a focus on private label products and small-format stores, Aldi is pursuing proximity to emerging communities with growing demand for grocery access.

Texas already ranks among Aldi’s largest markets, with over 125 locations statewide. The new Frisco store will complement existing sites on Preston Road and in nearby Little Elm, reinforcing the brand’s footprint in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Positioned amid a dense retail corridor with competitors such as Kroger, H-E-B, and a newly opened Costco, the move underscores the retailer’s confidence in North Texas as a growth hub and its commitment to accessibility in high-traffic zones.

Stay tuned to ANUK for continued coverage of retail developments in key produce markets.

ELLENVILLE, NY - Tops Friendly Markets is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest location in Ellenville, New York, representing a significant $2 million investment in the local economy and the creation of more than 120 new jobs.

A celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 8 at 9:00 AM, welcoming the public and officially opening the doors to this vibrant new store. During the Grand Opening Celebration, customers will enjoy a taste of Tops with delicious sampling stations, live music, and opportunities to take part in seven days of giveaways! Conveniently located near Joseph Y. Resnick Airport, Ellenville Regional Hospital, and surrounding residential neighborhoods, the 46,750-square-foot store has been thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s shoppers—offering convenience, variety, and exceptional value in a fresh, modern environment.

A Fresh Take on Neighborhood Grocery Shopping The new Ellenville Tops brings a full-service shopping experience that blends high-quality, locally sourced, and specialty items with everyday essentials from shopper-favorite brands—all under one roof.

Store highlights include:

• Full-service seafood and meat departments, where certified butchers prepare fresh, hand-cut USDA Choice beef and pork daily
• A vibrant, fresh produce department offering seasonal fruits, vegetables, and convenient, ready-to-serve trays and sides
• A chef-inspired deli featuring hand-rolled sushi, summertime meals, and premium meats and cheeses from Boar’s Head
• A wide selection of grab-and-go favorites, including Tops’ award-winning fried chicken, made-to-order subs (including 3-foot party subs), fresh salads, and signature breakfast pizza
• An artisan bakery, producing fresh-baked breads, pastries, classic donuts fried daily, specialty cakes, and gluten-free treats from a new gluten-free bakery line, Antonina's.
• A dedicated gluten-free area that includes a wide variety of offerings to include frozen and bakery.
• A broad assortment of natural and organic products, not only within a dedicated department, but also seamlessly integrated throughout grocery, dairy, frozen, produce, and meat departments.
• A robust lineup of certified Kosher options
• A dedicated Healthy Hydration zone and Brew Market, showcasing regional craft beers and trending beverages
• Fast and easy online ordering with grocery pickup, home delivery, and full-service catering available

A Commitment to Community

“We are thrilled to welcome the Ellenville store into the Tops family,” said Ron Ferri, President of Tops Friendly Markets, in the release. “This location is another example of our commitment to investing in the communities we serve. We've created a space that delivers on quality, value, and convenience, making everyday shopping easier and more enjoyable for our customers.”

This newest addition not only expands access to fresh, affordable groceries but also deepens Tops’ long-standing dedication to supporting local economies and enriching the neighborhoods it serves.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Experience is one of the most valuable commodities in our industry. Thanks to a leadership shift earlier this year, Top Brass is among the most recent companies showcasing the ROI on mentorship and shared wisdom.

Brett Dixon, President and Founding Member of Top Brass, retired at the conclusion of 2024 after more than three decades with the brand.

“Brett Dixon has served as a mentor to me throughout my entire career; for over 20 years, I worked under his guidance,” April Myers, President of Sales, recently shared with me. “I could not have wished for a more exemplary leader to learn from and collaborate with. Additionally, the high quality of our produce greatly simplifies my role in sales!”

While she recently stepped into her latest position, April has been with Top Brass since 1998.

“Throughout my tenure, I have held various positions, and this role is undoubtedly the most challenging and fulfilling one I have experienced,” she assured me. But, she added, the team and brand make it all more than worth it. “The Vignolo family has consistently embraced me as one of their own. I began my journey with the company at a young age, during the summer breaks when school was out. My mother, Lorna Myers, held the position of Office Manager at the administration office of Vignolo Farms for 40 years, collaborating with all four generations of the Vignolo family.”

Reflecting on the roots of those beyond Top Brass’s success, April described a legacy of long-serving employees, ranging from office management to field management.

“Every employee understands the significance of being valued, and the Vignolo family certainly exemplifies that,” she summed up.

With organic potatoes underway and the company’s California grape season quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to experience both the people and product of Top Brass.

Congratulations to April and the company on this newest chapter of its expanding story!