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 that it has been named to the 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 list, a highly-regarded honor awarded to the top private companies whose innovations are revolutionizing their industries and inspiring positive change globally. This marks GrubMarket's third consecutive appearance on the list, alongside other world's most ambitious and impactful private companies.

CNBC's recognition comes on the heels of a transformative year at GrubMarket. Over the past twelve months, the company has accelerated its pace of AI innovation, launching powerful new AI-powered solutions, including the GrubAssist Cash Flow Analyst, AI Chatbot, and AI Orders Agent, which place real–time financial intelligence, intuitive data visualization and automated agentic order processing directly in the hands of operators across the food supply chain. At the same time, GrubMarket broadened its national footprint through a number of strategic acquisitions, successfully integrating companies like Brother's Produce, one of the largest and most well-known foodservice distributors in Texas and the broader Southwestern U.S., and Delta Fresh, a leading provider of Mexican-grown produce to major U.S. grocery and foodservice companies, as well as several regional market leaders into its expansive B2B eCommerce network, further extending its reach as a tech-enabled online foodservice distribution and wholesaling powerhouse. GrubMarket's acquisitions of Good Eggs, a leading online grocery service in California, and FreshGoGo, one of the largest online Asian grocery eCommerce platforms in North America, further solidified the company's position as a leader in the overall food eCommerce landscape in the United States.

This momentum unleashed hypergrowth at scale: in the last year, GrubMarket's annual revenue surpassed $2.1 billion, making it the largest private food tech companies in the U.S., while the business achieved another year of profitable growth. GrubMarket also deepened its commitment to sustainable food systems by planting another 100,000 trees through its Sustainable California initiative, with focus given to lands damaged by the LA wildfires.

"Being named to the CNBC Disruptor 50 list for the third year in a row is an incredible honor," said Mike Xu, Founder & CEO of GrubMarket, in a recent press release. "Our team's incredible passion for technological innovation and AI, paired with our relentless focus on operational excellence and sustainable growth, continue to drive us forward and continuously redefine the limits of what's possible for the food supply chain industry. It is great, worthwhile work, and we're just getting started."

The CNBC Disruptor 50 list highlights today's most forward-thinking and ambitious companies that are rewriting industry rules through technology innovation and rapid growth. GrubMarket stands among a distinguished group of companies that have been honored over the years, including SpaceX, OpenAI, Uber, Airbnb, and DoorDash. All submissions were subject to a comprehensive and rigorous process of research and evaluation across a wide range of quantitative and qualitative criteria, as well as feedback from CNBC's editorial staff and a global panel of experts that includes venture capital investors, entrepreneurs, and academics.

The complete 2025 CNBC Disruptor 50 list is available at CNBC.com/Disruptors.

FELLSMERE, FL - My ears instantly perk up when I hear the phrase “new products.” Suffice it to say, my interest was piqued in a recent discussion with B&W Quality Growers. I sat down with Anna Klawitter, Marketing Manager, to hear all about the latest offerings.

Can you tell me about the new products?

Anna Klawitter, Marketing Manager, B&W Quality Growers: “We’re excited to introduce two standout additions to the B&W lineup: Power 4™ and Baby Green Kale. Power 4™ is a nutrient-dense leafy green blend featuring watercress, baby spinach, baby arugula, and baby green kale—delivering over 80 essential vitamins and minerals per serving. Baby Green Kale offers all the nutritional benefits of kale with a softer texture and milder flavor, making it a great option for dishes that need a subtler green. They're both triple-washed, air-tunnel dried, and ready to use right out of the bag!”

What sets these new products apart from others on the market?

AK: “Both Power 4™ and Baby Green Kale were designed for maximum versatility in the kitchen. Power 4™ is the most nutrient-packed blend in the industry, combining bold flavor with the flexibility to shine in both raw and cooked applications—salads, bowls, sides, sandwiches, and more. Baby Green Kale stands out with its tender texture and sweet, earthy flavor, making it ideal for anything from sautéing and soups to wraps and smoothies. What really sets them apart is their consistent quality, flavor, and ease of use—triple-washed, air-tunnel dried, and ready to serve.”

What was the inspiration for launching these products?

AK: “We saw a clear demand in foodservice for versatile, nutrient-forward greens that don’t compromise on flavor or prep time. Power 4™ was born out of direct collaboration with chefs who wanted a blend that could do it all—nutritional density, flavor balance, and consistency. Baby Green Kale was inspired by the need for a kale that worked harder across applications while being more approachable for a wider audience.”

Is there anything else we should know about B&W?

AK: “B&W Quality Growers has been farming responsibly in the U.S. since 1870. We’re proud to have never had a product recall in over 155 years. All of our leafy greens are triple-washed, air-tunnel dried, and ready to eat—grown with care by people who know greens best. With a legacy built on consistency, innovation, and a commitment to quality, B&W remains the trusted name behind some of the most nutrient-dense greens in the industry.”

With these new products making their way to foodservice menus, keep checking in with ANUK for the latest updates.

PORTERVILLE, CA - As the 2025 stone fruit season reaches full stride, Homegrown Organic Farms is celebrating a banner year of flavorful fruit, strong supply, and continued growth across its stone fruit program. With exceptional early-season quality, sizing, and volume, the company is expanding its organic offerings while introducing a limited-run conventional program to meet the diverse needs of its retail partners.

With the addition of volume from Kliewer Family Farms, Homegrown is well-positioned to offer consistent, high-flavor fruit throughout the summer. The introduction of a small-scale conventional program provides additional flexibility and convenience for customers—while maintaining Homegrown’s commitment to grower support, transparency, and care.

“We’re especially excited about the strength of the fruit coming off the trees this year,” said Parker Anderson, Tree Fruit Category Manager, in a recent press release. “And with the support of our expanded grower base, we’re able to deliver the volume, quality, and reliability our customers count on.”

At the core of Homegrown’s offering remains its Regenerative Organic Certified® stone fruit program, now in its third season. These farms go beyond organic—building soil health, supporting biodiversity, and restoring ecosystems—while producing consistently exceptional fruit. Combined with the company’s Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) certified packing and cold storage facility, the program reflects high standards for both people and the planet.

“This is farming with integrity—from the soil to the shelf,” said Stephen Paul, Deciduous Category Director. “As a 100% employee-owned company, we each have a stake in doing what’s right. That shows up in the fruit—and in every part of how we do business.”

To support retail success, Homegrown also offers a suite of marketing tools—including its GROWN by video series, which delivers real-time updates from the field and helps connect consumers with the people and practices behind the fruit. “Shoppers care about more than flavor—they care about relationships, values, and where their food comes from,” added Elise Smith, Marketing Manager. “We help our partners tell that story.”

Whether it’s through regenerative farming, fair labor certifications, grower-forward storytelling, or customer-focused convenience, Homegrown Organic Farms is proud to offer more than a produce program—it’s a purpose-driven partnership. “We grow with care—and we work with people who do the same,” said Parker. “If you’re looking for stone fruit that delivers on both flavor and values, let’s talk.”

For more information or to place an order, please contact the Homegrown Organic Farms sales team at [email protected] or (559) 306-1770.

BENSON, NC - The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) and the NC Sweetpotato Commission (NCSC) have assembled a five-state, thirty-organization coalition comprised of two national organizations, representing a diverse collection of crops, including eight advocacy groups, with the unified mission of filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The purpose of the request is to obtain detailed information about how the USDA calculates the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), which determines minimum wages under the H-2A agricultural guest-worker program.

Backing this request is forthcoming research by Dr. Blake Brown, Hugh C Kiger Professor Emeritus, NC State University, which indicates that the AEWR calculations have deleterious consequences for farmers, consumers, and American workers. This research will be available in mid-June.

Additionally, data reflects that due to higher prices, American consumers are eating less fruits and vegetables, leading to increased healthcare costs because of a poorly balanced diet. Furthermore, the USDA provided data in 2023 that our nation is now a net importer of food. While this contributes to several problems for our country, most alarmingly leaves the U.S. even more vulnerable and exposed when it comes to our national security.

"The sharp increase in AEWR rates is putting North Carolina sweetpotato farms – and the entire state’s agricultural economy – at risk,” said Michelle Grainger, executive director of NCSC, in a recent press release. “Sweetpotatoes are a labor-intensive crop and due to skin sensitivity, sweetpotatoes must be hand harvested. As labor costs surge beyond inflation, many growers are facing reduced access to essential workers, threatening a substantial reduction in acres produced, timely harvests and ultimately leading to significant revenue losses. If left unaddressed, this wage pressure could push more farms out of business, weaken our rural communities, and undermine the sustainability of North Carolina's vital produce sector while also further distancing consumers from the producers and their healthy crops that aid in an affordable and nutritionally balanced diet."

The coalition warns that the USDA’s current AEWR methodology contributes to a self-compounding wage inflation cycle, undermining the economic viability of U.S. agriculture. This poses growing risks to national food security, increases American dependence on imported food, and threatens the stability of rural communities across the country.

"The current trajectory of AEWR increases is simply unsustainable for specialty crop growers in Georgia and across the Southeast,” said Chris Butts, executive vice president of GFVGA. “Without immediate legislative reform and greater transparency in how these wage rates are set, we risk losing farms, jobs, and our ability to feed the nation. We must act now to ensure a fair, data-driven wage process that protects both our farmworkers and the future of U.S. agriculture."

Each participating organization is engaging its stakeholders, press contacts, and state congressional delegations to advocate for an accountable, fair, and economically sustainable wage-setting process that promotes the sustainability and future of American agriculture.

The coalition is encouraging organizations and stakeholders who are facing similar undue burdens from rapidly rising AEWR rates to consider sharing their experiences and concerns with local and state representatives. A unified understanding of the impact across agricultural sectors will help inform a more balanced and transparent wage-setting process, one that supports both the fair treatment of farmworkers and the continued viability of U.S. farms. Addressing this issue collaboratively is essential to sustaining rural economies, safeguarding national food security, and ensuring the long-term health of American agriculture.

See the full list of organizations in the coalition here.

DENVER, CO - U.S. Potato export volumes increased for frozen (3%), fresh (1%), and seed potatoes (16%), while export volumes fell for dehydrated potatoes (-16%) and potato chips (-17%) from July 2024 through March 2025. Total export volume declined 4% to 2.3 million metric tons (fresh weight equivalent), driven primarily by a decrease in dehydrated potato exports. U.S. potato export value declined 1% to $1.7 billion compared to the same period last year, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data.

U.S. frozen potato exports, the largest export category, increased in Japan (9%), South Korea (11%), Canada (10%), Taiwan (13%), Guatemala (15%), and Saudi Arabia (4%). However, frozen exports decreased in the Philippines (-26%) and Malaysia (-9%), driven by increased exports to those countries from China and India. Frozen potatoes constitute about half of U.S. export volume (49%), followed by dehydrated (24%), fresh (20%), chips (6%), and seed potatoes (1%).

U.S. fresh potato exports, which include both table stock and chip stock potatoes, increased in Japan (76%), Taiwan (23%), the Dominican Republic (71%), and Guatemala (98%). At the same time, fresh potato exports decreased to Canada (-19%), South Korea (-20%), the Philippines (-13%), and Malaysia (-37%). The decreases in Asia were again driven by increased exports to those countries from China and India. Fresh potato exports to Mexico were flat, but Mexico remains the United States’ largest fresh potato export market, accounting for 43% of all U.S. exports.

U.S. exports of dehydrated potatoes were down in eight out of the top 10 export markets (Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, China, and Israel). The other top 10 export markets, Indonesia (127%) and Malaysia (26%), saw notable growth in the last nine months.

Trade Data Monitor compiles the data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Foreign Trade Division, using the Harmonized Coding System, Schedule B. Potatoes USA accepts no liability for the content of these reports or the consequences of any actions taken based on any information contained herein. Questions on the trade figures, international trade leads, and Potatoes USA international marketing programs should be directed to [email protected].

ALPHARETTA, GA - Aptean is announcing the soft launch of Aptean Fresh Produce ERP: The Next Generation of Produce Pro Software. I sat down with Marc Hatfield, Regional Account Director of Aptean’s Fresh Produce Sector, to discuss the details.

“Today’s produce companies are navigating tighter margins, labor shortages, evolving regulatory requirements like FSMA 204, and rising customer expectations around traceability and transparency. Aptean Fresh Produce ERP is built on the proven legacy of Produce Pro Software, delivering the modern, scalable platform produce companies need to stay competitive,” Marc began telling me.

The product combines decades of industry expertise with the power of a Microsoft, cloud-based, next-generation ERP to help growers, packers, and shippers increase visibility, streamline operations, and adapt quickly to change. Marc explained that this purpose-built solution offers integrated tools for everything from inventory management and grower accounting to quality control and compliance, helping fresh produce companies work smarter, not harder.

“The full-scale launch this July will officially introduce Aptean Fresh Produce ERP to the broader fresh produce market, along with enhanced functionality and expanded cloud capabilities designed specifically for all business types within the produce industry. We're building momentum, and the launch will spotlight how this modern ERP software empowers produce businesses to embrace digital transformation while retaining the trusted processes they’ve relied on for years,” Marc added. “Expect new resources, deeper product demos, and opportunities to connect directly with our experts during the rollout.”

This solution is more than just a software upgrade. It’s a strategic investment in the future of fresh produce operations.

“Aptean Fresh Produce ERP is designed to grow with your business and meet the increasing demands of a fast-paced, perishable market,” Marc said on a final note. “It brings together the best of both worlds: decades of produce-specific functionality from Produce Pro Software, now optimized for scalability, accessibility, and ongoing innovation in the cloud. Backed by Aptean’s deep software expertise and a robust suite of complementary, integrated technologies—like TMS, EDI, Ecommerce, BI and more—we’re excited to help the industry evolve and thrive with solutions made specifically for them.”

For more insights on this exciting new solution, check out a blog post from Produce Pro Software here. As we await the official launch next month, keep clicking back to ANUK.