Greenhouse Competitions in Leamington, Ontario, made a return this year hosting its annual Greenhouse Vegetable Awards, showcasing the best greenhouse-grown produce from leading North American growers. Family-owned Nature Fresh Farms was awarded overall winner of the Hottest Tomato with their newest Umami Cherry Tomato, in addition to winning the entire Bite-Sized Tomato category with their Axiany placing third, Orange Cherry receiving second, and their Umami Cherry Tomato awarded first place.
In 2014, the Refrigerated Foods Association (RFA) proclaimed July as National Deli Salad Month. This designation has been officially recognized and established and each year, throughout the month of July, food manufacturers promote and feature such summer staples as potato salad, macaroni salad, dips, chilled desserts, protein salads, ready to eat sandwiches and more.
Alpha Foods has hired their first Chief Marketing Officer--former lululemon VP of Global Brand Management, Kierstin De West. Prior to her leadership at lululemon, De West founded her own marketing agency in 2003. During her fifteen years as a CEO, she helped guide clients such as Hershey, The North Face, MillerCoors, the Rainforest Alliance and more through the continued cultural shift towards sustainability, purpose and impact.
Cedar’s Foods, the nation’s leading producer and co-manufacturer of hommus has expanded distribution to include Amazon Fresh. A Mediterranean foods brand leader in the natural and organic grocery channel, Cedar’s is additionally available in over 8,000 stores across the country including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Kroger and Publix.
The Very Good Food Company announced a partnership with Copper Branch, the world’s largest 100% plant-based quick service restaurant chain with 40 locations across North America. Starting this summer, Copper Branch will make products from Very Good’s signature plant-based protein brand, The Very Good Butchers, available to customers, initially in branded freezers in select Canada locations.
Afia, a Mediterranean food company headquartered in Austin, Texas, driven by a mission to make food powerful, has released new brand positioning, packaging and identity. Launched in 2017 at a farmers’ market, the company has grown distribution 340% percent in the last year and now is available at over 800 retail locations nationwide.
Nabati Foods, a plant-based food tech company offering whole, natural, plant-based foods for health-conscious consumers, has announced its dairy-free cheesecakes are now listed online with vegan e-commerce retailer, GTFO It’s Vegan.