OREGON - The wait is over—Berry Fresh’s Oregon blueberry season is officially underway, bringing with it some of the finest blueberries North America has to offer. Known for its rich farming heritage and ideal growing conditions, Oregon sets the stage for Berry Fresh to deliver exceptional fruit to customers across the continent.

This year, Berry Fresh reaffirms its commitment to flavor and maintaining quality. “We grow for flavor, not just volume,” says Bruce Turner, Director of Procurement, in the recent press release. “Our Oregon farm has flavor-forward varieties like SekoyaCrunch® and SekoyaFiesta® and is in the process of planting some yet-unnamed varieties that have strong flavor and offer that sweet, juicy bite consumers crave. It’s what sets us apart—and what keeps our customers coming back.”

Berry Fresh is also committed to hand-harvesting every blueberry, ensuring a gentle touch that protects the delicate fruit and preserves peak flavor, maintaining the eating experience of its berries.

In addition to quality, Berry Fresh is focused on growing more responsibly every season. From efficient water and energy usage to improved soil health practices, the Oregon farm is part of the company’s broader mission to build a more sustainable berry program.
As the season begins, Berry Fresh is excited for this year’s crop. Through new proprietary varieties being planted and consistently improved operations, the Berry Fresh farm continues to set itself apart as a Pacific Northwest grower.

COLLINSVILLE, IL - Packaging manufacturer Sev-Rend has announced the return of its annual pink packaging program in advance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. The initiative, which offers pink netting and customizable graphic options, allows produce brands and retailers to visibly support awareness efforts tied to one of the most prominent health campaigns in the U.S.

Sev-Rend has offered the campaign for multiple years as a way for its customers to participate in cause-related marketing while maintaining access to domestically produced materials and fast turnaround times.

October is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign that brings attention to the disease and promotes early detection, education, and research. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, outside of skin cancer.

To participate in Sev-Rend’s program, customers can order pink netting and collaborate with the company’s graphics team to develop custom tags or packaging visuals. The materials are produced in the U.S. and shipped nationwide.

“We’ve seen growing interest from brands that want to incorporate more meaningful storytelling into their packaging, especially around nationally recognized causes,” said Brittnie Hammack, Director of Marketing at Sev-Rend, in the recent release. “This program gives them a timely and visible way to do that.”

Lead times for custom graphics and netting can vary, and Sev-Rend recommends customers place orders as early as possible to ensure product availability ahead of October.

Additional information is available through Sev-Rend sales representatives or by contacting [email protected].

SOLEDAD, CA - Braga Fresh is a sponsor of the 2025 Organic Produce Summit in Monterey where the company will introduce two premium salad kits under the Josie’s Organics brand in booth #500 at the summit exhibition on July 10.

“Our goal for OPS 2025 is to showcase our organic farming with field tours and our product innovation with our organic premium salad kits” said Kori Tuggle, vice president of marketing and product development, in the recent release.

On July 9, the company will host an OPS retail field tour at the Braga Home ranch. The tour will travel through the Salinas Valley to the home of Josie’s Organics in Soledad, where attendees will learn about the company’s regenerative program (carbon capture farming) and all things organic.

On July 10 at the summit exhibition, the company will introduce two premium organic salad kits, Organic Sweet & Smoky BBQ and Organic Berry Balsamic.

The Sweet & Smoky premium salad kit mixes organic crisp leafy greens with crispy onions, white cheddar cheese and dried corn dressed with a sweet and smoky barbecue-flavored vinaigrette.

The Berry Balsamic salad kit mixes organic crisp leafy greens with sliced almonds, dried cranberries, Bing cherries and blueberries and a raspberry balsamic vinaigrette.

“These fresh new salads offer organic shoppers flavor-packed, clean ingredients in one convenient kit,” Tuggle said.

For more information about the company, visit www.bragafresh.com.

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA - Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, hosted its Third Annual Summer Luncheon in support of programming in Monterey County. During the event, guests were presented information on the impact made within the community, serving over 5,600 elementary school children with 20lbs of fresh produce per week, along with nutrition education lessons and engaging food experiences.

Held on June 3rd at the Club at Pasadera, the luncheon brought together over 160 community members, donors, and local produce industry leaders for an inspiring afternoon filled with good food, heartfelt remarks, and family testimonials highlighting the impact of the program. The spirit of giving was strong as attendees rallied to raise funds to go directly toward providing more than 40 percent of the food-insecure families in Monterey County.

“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our community,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites, in a recent press release. “This event is a testament to the power of collective action in improving the health and well-being of our neighbors.”

This memorable event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including Braga Fresh, Carmel Realty Company, Cannery Row Company, Church Brothers Farms, Drew-Massa, Driscoll’s, FreshPoint, The Joshua and Inette Brown Family Foundation, JV Smith Companies, Montage Health, The Reservoir, Rio Farms, River Fresh Farms, Salinas Valley Health, and Sysco.

Brighter Bites also extends a heartfelt thanks to its volunteers, planning committee, and every attendee who braved the rain to make a difference.

For more information about the Brighter Bites Salinas program, visit www.brighterbites.org/location/salinas, or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube.

LEAMINGTON, OH - Pure Flavor® is proud to introduce its latest organic innovation: Organic RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes. This certified organic variety is grown in a high-tech greenhouse environment, delivering bold flavor and dependable quality all year long.

Building on the strength of the RedRoyals® brand, the launch of an organic variety was a natural next step. Organic RedRoyals® bring much-needed innovation to the organic category by combining the signature flavor, texture, and visual appeal of the original with trusted organic, greenhouse-grown practices. As the snacking on-the-vine segment continues to show strong growth, this new offering meets consumer demand with vibrant sweetness, a crisp bite, and a deep ruby red color that stands out, both on the shelf and on the plate.

“Today’s consumers want more than just organic—they want flavor, consistency, and confidence in how their food is grown,” said Mike Glass, Director of Sales for Pure Flavor, in the recent release. “Organic RedRoyals check every box. They burst with natural sweetness and deliver that satisfying crunch shoppers love. Just as importantly, they’re grown with integrity using organic practices that reflect our core values.”

Organic RedRoyals also present an opportunity for organic shoppers to upgrade to a more flavorful, premium snacking experience. Offering a superior taste profile and consistency, they are a step above typical organic options, allowing consumers to enjoy a better-flavored tomato without compromising on their values.

With their uniform size and eye-catching appearance, Organic RedRoyals are perfect for snacking straight from the pack, tossing into salads, or brightening up a wide range of recipes. Their dependable quality is made possible through advanced greenhouse technology and a long-standing commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Pure Flavor organic produce is grown to the highest USDA Organic certification standards. Every crop is nurtured using natural pest control, organic-approved inputs, and environmentally responsible practices. This allows for year-round production while minimizing the impact on surrounding ecosystems.

“Growing organically in a controlled environment gives us a distinct advantage,” added Glass. “We’re able to naturally protect plants and maintain ideal growing conditions to deliver exceptional flavor 365 days a year. Organic RedRoyals represent everything we stand for—superior taste, responsible growing, and a better experience for consumers.”

The launch of Organic RedRoyals supports the long-term strategy of Pure Flavor® to expand its organic portfolio with distinctive, flavor-forward products that raise the bar in the category. At the same time, the brand continues to educate consumers about the benefits of greenhouse-grown produce.

Pure Flavor will unveil Organic RedRoyals at the upcoming Organic Produce Summit (OPS) in Monterey, California, July 9–10 at booth #303. Attendees are invited to taste firsthand how this premium organic sweet cherry tomato is redefining what greenhouse-grown organics can deliver, in flavor, quality, and sustainability.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - GrubMarket, the AI-powered technology enabler and digital transformer of the American food supply chain industry, as well as one of the largest private food eCommerce companies globally, announced it has completed the acquisition of San Diego, CA-based Coast Citrus Distributors, a preeminent national distributor specializing in tropical fruits, including a wide variety of mangos; specialty root vegetables; chili peppers; limes; and a wide variety of other produce items sourced from Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, as well as the United States. Coast Citrus Distributors' subsidiary companies, such as the well-known Coast Tropical and Olympic Fruit and Vegetable Distribution businesses, have also joined GrubMarket as part of this acquisition. This marks the largest acquisition completed by GrubMarket to date.

Founded in 1950 by Roberto Alvarez on the simple principle of providing customers with the best products at the best price with the best service, Coast Citrus Distributors has grown over the past 75 years into a major produce importer and shipper with nationwide reach, doing hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales. Its strategic locations include an 80,000 square foot facility in San Diego, a 220,000 square foot facility in McAllen, Texas, and an 85,000 square foot facility in Union City, California, plus major warehouses in Los Angeles and Princeton, Florida. These sites offer state-of-the-art ripening and packing capabilities, allowing Coast Citrus Distributors to meet any kind of customer specifications and packaging needs. Coast Citrus Distributors also maintains strict compliance with top standards for food safety, workplace safety, and business ethics, with PrimusGFS certification and SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit). Its locations in key import hubs enable the company to effectively manage a thriving year-round import business that provides consistent, uninterrupted supply to customers. Coast Citrus Distributors also owns and operates a fleet of over 90 trucks, providing direct customer delivery throughout the West Coast.

After decades of shared growth, Coast Citrus Distributors has built strong, and in many cases exclusive, relationships with its most important growers, ensuring reliable access to top-quality product. With its customers, the company has, since the beginning, maintained a commitment to delivering superior quality, service, and prices without sacrificing honesty, which has helped it forge deeply loyal relationships, many spanning over 30 years. Its extensive customer base includes major national retailers, such as Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, Albertsons, Publix, and Sprouts, as well as hundreds of independent grocers and food service providers.

Isabel Freeland, President and CEO of Coast Citrus Distributors, said in the recent release: "Joining GrubMarket marks an exciting new chapter for Coast Citrus Distributors. We are proud of the tremendous growth we have seen over the years, while always maintaining the highest level of operational excellence driven by our employees' 'ownership mentality,' where everyone operates like a business owner, day in and day out. GrubMarket's commitment to AI technology and innovation aligns perfectly with our vision to continue to elevate our capabilities, strengthen customer relationships, and drive future growth through technology integration. We look forward to incredible opportunities ahead as part of the GrubMarket family."

Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket, added: "We are thrilled to welcome Coast Citrus Distributors to the GrubMarket family. Their exceptional reputation in tropical and other unique commodities, extensive grower partnerships, and strategic presence throughout the U.S. significantly enhance our capabilities to provide high-quality produce to our customers nationwide, year-round. This acquisition is, so far, the largest acquisition in the history of GrubMarket. Coast Citrus Distributors perfectly complements our business and aligns with our plans for strategic growth across North America."

After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its experienced leadership team, ensuring continuity and ongoing operational excellence.

As part of GrubMarket's portfolio, Coast Citrus Distributors will have access to GrubMarket's proprietary, AI-powered software solutions, including; WholesaleWare, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) ERP platform that provides food industry wholesalers, distributors, and shippers with seamless financial management, powerful sales support, precise inventory management, lot traceability, grower accounting, and automated routing and logistics; GrubAssist AI, GrubMarket's groundbreaking suite of agentic enterprise AI assistants that empower food supply chain businesses with deep insights, intelligent analysis, and automated order processing; Orders IO, GrubMarket's custom-branded, mobile and online ordering eCommerce solution; and GrubPay, the company's digital payments platform specifically designed for the needs of the food supply chain industry.

SANTA MONICA, CA - As berries continue to lead in organic produce sales, Gem-Pack Berries is working to expand its current mixed berries program.

Gem-Pack Berries, LLC is a Southern California-based grower-shipper with operations in Southern and Central Coast California, Florida, and Mexico.

Since merging with Red Blossom and Well-Pict, the company has significantly expanded its product portfolio, providing customers with a more consistent supply of both conventional and organic strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.

“Our goal is to have all four organic berries year-round. We currently offer organic strawberries year-round and are working toward expanding our offerings and having a more consistent supply of organic blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries,” says Trent Etchandy, Vice President of Sales at Gem-Pack Berries, in the recent release.

This goal aligns with market trends, as berries continue to lead organic produce sales in the United States.

For the 2025 summer season, the company’s organic strawberry operations are primarily based out of Watsonville, California. In Mexico, organic raspberry operations are in full swing in Baja California, along with a smaller organic blackberry program in central Mexico.

The company is not only seeking to enhance its organic berry lineup but also continues to develop its patented “Earthmade” project. The project presents a new approach to farming, which is an exciting development in sustainable, organic farming. The Earthmade method uses new beneficial fungi and bacteria technology to mitigate pests and heal soil.

These initiatives are a part of Gem-Pack Berries’ commitment to advancing sustainability in its operations and cultivating only the highest quality of berries. Gem-Pack Berries is excited to be exhibiting at the Organic Produce Summit in Monterey, California in July. Visit booth #1104 to learn more about Gem-Pack Berries and their operations.

UNITED STATES - With school out of session and kids back at home, there’s a chance to boost apple demand even in the hot days of summer. Here's a quick look at some data to help understand the promotional path to take.

As The Source reported last week, “the apple market is expected to remain steady through the rest of June and into July.”

This report pertains to the Hudson, New York, region, and notes that supplies of certain varieties, like Honeycrisp and Cosmic Crisp®, are light, followed by smaller volumes of Golden Delicious and Pink Lady.

Data collected from the New York Terminal Market on June 23, 2025, corroborates these findings, with pricing listed below for cartons of 12 3-lb film bags:

• NEW YORK U.S. EXTRA FANCY EMPIRE 2 1/4" minimum 22.00
• FUJI 2 1/2" minimum 20.00-22.00
• GALA 2 1/2" minimum 24.00-26.00
• GOLDEN DELICIOUS 2 1/2" minimum 24.00-28.00 mostly 26.00
• HONEYCRISP 21/2" minimum 32.00
• MCINTOSH 2 1/2" minimum fine appearance 24.00-26.00
• PINK LADY/CRIPPS PINK 2 1/4" minimum 20.00-22.00
• RED DELICIOUS 2 1/2" minimum 24.00-26.00

As The Source explained, no gaps are anticipated between the old crop and the new.

At the Yakima Shipping Point on June 20, 2025, prices are reported to be lower, with moderate demand.

We’ll continue to keep our eyes on in-demand categories, so keep turning to ANUK.

SACRAMENTO, CA - Rä Foods LLC’s Wild About Sprouts®, the innovative fresh produce brand redefining healthy eating, is thrilled to announce that its Cold Grown®, nutrient-dense, living sprouts are now available at Raley’s Supermarkets, including Bel Air and Nob Hill Foods.

This launch brings together two independent, family-owned brands—Raley’s, a beloved Northern California grocer with a legacy of health and sustainability, and Wild About Sprouts, the first and only national living sprout brand grown and packed safely in Sacramento, CA.

“Our Cold Grown® sprouts deliver up to 100 times the phytonutrients of mature vegetables and are packed with plant-based protein, antioxidants, and essential vitamins,” said Barry Didato, CEO of Rä Foods, in a recent press release. “Partnering with Raley’s, a company known for putting purpose over profit, helps us bring this living superfood to more households focused on health, versatility and flavor.”

Wild About Sprouts’ patented Cold Grown® process grows sprouts in 3-ounce recyclable containers, untouched from seed to shelf. This means no human hands and no contamination—just pure, safe, living nutrition with an industry-leading 21-day shelf life. Grown using less than ¼ cup of water per pack and free from GMOs, herbicides, and pesticides, these sprouts support Raley’s commitment to sustainability and clean food innovation.

Now available in six vibrant varieties—including 100% Broccoli, Alfalfa/Broccoli/Kale, and more—these sprouts are ready to toss, top, blend, or snack straight from the pack.

“Raley’s and Wild About Sprouts share a deep-rooted belief that food is medicine,” added Didato. “These living greens aren’t just fresh—they’re functional. Together, we’re helping customers make better choices, one bite at a time.”

With this launch, two purpose-driven brands unite to elevate produce shelves—and plates—with smarter, safer, better-for-you food.

Visit www.wildaboutsprouts.com or follow @wild_about_sprouts on Instagram for more information and usage ideas and Raley’s at www.raleys.com.