SANTA MARIA, CA - Tozer announced it will participate in the 2025 American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Leadership Summit, scheduled for June 8–11 in Washington, D.C.

The annual event brings together leaders from across the seed industry for discussions focused on policy, innovation, and leadership development. The summit will include a day of direct advocacy on Capitol Hill, where participants will meet with lawmakers to share key concerns and priorities impacting the seed sector.

“At Tozer, we know innovation isn’t just about what happens on the field, it’s also about showing up where decisions are made,” said Kraig Kuykendall, General Manager of Tozer, in a recent press release. “This summit is an important way we bring our expertise and voice to the national conversation.”

The summit offers attendees the opportunity to engage with congressional leaders and policy experts on issues shaping the future of agriculture. Tozer representatives said the event reinforces the company’s commitment to both seed innovation and policy engagement.

“This summit is a great opportunity to elevate the issues that matter most to our growers,” added Anthony Stevenson, Area Sales Representative. “Meeting directly with policymakers allows us to connect the dots between our work in the field and the legislation that affects it.”

Tozer’s attendance at the ASTA Leadership Summit underscores its ongoing role as a leader in vegetable seed innovation, not only through breeding excellence but through active participation in shaping the future of agriculture.

For more information about Tozer and our vegetable seed innovations, visit www.tozerseeds.com.

KINGSVILLE, ON - Mastronardi Produce, pioneers of commercial greenhouse growing in North America, is pleased to announce the addition of two high-tech greenhouses into its U.S. farm distribution network. The two greenhouses, located in Minnesota and Iowa, add an additional 48 acres to Mastronardi’s expanding U.S. greenhouse network. Mastronardi Produce now has over 600 acres of greenhouses in its U.S. greenhouse network, with distribution centers and greenhouses located in 15 states.

The greenhouses, which currently grow a variety of tomatoes and strawberries, provide a strategic location for the Mastronardi Produce network. Increasing its domestic U.S. production is a key priority for the industry leader. An evolving consumer base has changed how people shop and the products they shop for, with locally grown produce being top of mind for many consumers.

“Consumer preferences and shopping habits are changing fast and we're re-aligning our portfolio to address these factors," said Paul Mastronardi, President and CEO of Mastronardi Produce, in the recent release. "Having more facilities across the U.S. allows us to deliver the diverse set of products consumers seek out, while shortening trips from our greenhouses to retailers and keeping products at peak flavor and freshness."

WASHINGTON, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) announced the results of its Organic Seed Survey, offering timely insights into the key challenges and priorities facing the organic seed sector.

IFPA’s Organic Committee convened an Organic Seed Working Group to examine the current usage, availability, and market conditions for organic seed used in fresh produce production. Conducted in response to discussions at the 2024 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) fall meeting, the survey gathered feedback from fresh produce growers from across the nation and organic seed manufacturers.

“The survey’s findings highlight the barriers, research needs, and policy priorities shaping the future of organic seed availability,” said Sara L. Neagu-Reed, IFPA’s director of production and environmental policy, in a recent press release. “We deeply appreciate the input of our members and industry partners. These survey results offer a valuable roadmap for where our collective efforts should focus — ensuring a stable, viable organic seed supply while upholding the trusted standards that consumers expect.”

Key Barriers Identified

Survey participants identified several significant obstacles limiting the growth and accessibility of organic seed:

• High barriers to entry for new seed manufacturers, including limited land access, pest management challenges, and elevated production costs.
• Geographic constraints, with few regions offering the land and climate conditions suitable for commercial organic seed production.
• Extended crop rotation requirements and increased crop-specific disease risks further limit production capacity.

Research and Policy Priorities

Stakeholders also highlighted critical areas of focus for research and policy advancement:

• A call for expanded research into organic-compliant pest and disease management tools, along with improved risk management practices.
• Strong support for maintaining current organic seed standards, with caution against abrupt changes that could disrupt market availability or increase consumer costs.
• A clear need for consistent, direct engagement with producers and manufacturers in policy discussions impacting organic seed supply.
• Continued attention to emerging genetic technologies and their potential role in organic systems, with an emphasis on inclusive, transparent dialogue.

As the organic industry works to address challenges around seed availability and production, IFPA urges regulators and policymakers to pursue incentive-based, collaborative approaches that overcome production hurdles while preserving organic market integrity.

IFPA will continue working closely with growers, seed manufacturers, and policy leaders to advocate for balanced, practical solutions that strengthen organic seed production and support the broader organic fresh produce industry. Learn more about IFPA’s organic policy.

CHICAGO & NEW YORK - Circana, LLC has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of NCSolutions (NCS), the joint venture between Nielsen and Catalina that improves advertising effectiveness. With this acquisition, Circana significantly expands its media measurement capabilities. Circana announced its intent to acquire NCS last year.

"We are thrilled to welcome the talented NCS team to Circana and meaningfully enhance our media capabilities,” said Stuart Aitken, president and chief executive officer of Circana, in the recent release. “Allocating finite marketing resources is one of the most critical and challenging decisions organizations face today – and there is no substitute for comprehensive, real-time data and actionable insights to optimize outcomes. Bringing together Circana and NCS data, technology assets, and industry-leading expertise will deliver more value for our clients as we work with them to maximize every media and marketing dollar they spend.”

Clients of both organizations will gain broader access to audience targeting, media measurement, in-flight optimization, and clean room solutions. This combination will also increase efficiency and offer improved products and services to fuel clients’ growth through more targeted and impactful advertising.

NCS will join Circana’s Media team, which works with advertisers and their agencies to plan, target, activate, measure, and optimize media spend. Its solutions portfolio is built on a robust enterprise technology platform, actionable CPG and general merchandise shopper, sales, and causal data sets, and advanced analytics. The Circana Media team is led by Cara Pratt, president of Global Retail & Media for Circana.

“NCS has built a stellar reputation in advertising effectiveness,” said Aitken. “We are excited to work alongside their team to bring even better services and solutions to our clients and help them unlock new growth.”

Circana continues to work towards closing its previously announced acquisition of Nielsen’s Marketing Mix Modeling business.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint against International Fresh Produce LLC for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The company, operating from Texas, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 12 produce sellers in the amount of $161,510 from Jan. 2024 through Sept. 2024.

International Fresh Produce LLC will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Further, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

For more information, contact the Investigative Enforcement Branch, at (202) 720-6873 or [email protected].