Organic Produce Summit celebrates milestone 10th anniversary with record industry engagement. MONTEREY, Calif., July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Organic Produce Summit (OPS), The only event dedicated exclusively to the organic fresh produce industry, concluded its milestone 10th anniversary on July 16 at the Monterey Conference Center, welcoming nearly 200 exhibitors and more than 750 attendees and buyers. Buyers represented 40% of attendees and traveled from more than 40 U.S. states and 12 countries, reflecting the Summit's continued growth as a central gathering for the global organic produce sector. The 2026 event featured expanded programming, new networking opportunities, and an energized trade show floor that showcased the breadth and innovation driving the organic produce industry forward. Education Program Addresses Industry Priorities The 2026 education schedule featured timely sessions addressing organic growth strategies, retail insights, and sustainability practices. Keynote presentations included Chef Dan Barber of Row 7 Seeds, who made a compelling case for flavor-forward breeding in organic agriculture, and an innovative panel featuring leaders from Military Produce Group, Happy Dirt, Organic Options Consulting, Misfits Market, and Veritable Vegetable exploring transformative retail and distribution strategies. Additional sessions throughout the three-day program covered topics ranging from data-driven decision-making to worker well-being in organic farming, equipping attendees with actionable insights for navigating today's market landscape. Networking Events OPS 2026 introduced several new networking opportunities that enhanced relationship-building throughout the event. The inaugural Cultivating Connections Women's Networking Event on July 14th brought together leaders from across the organic produce industry, featuring a keynote by Brenna Davis, CEO of Organically Grown Company, and a panel with executives from Driscoll's, Creekside Organics/Fruit World, and Kauai Living Foods. The newly launched golf tournament provided a relaxed setting for industry professionals to connect before the official Summit programming began, while the reimagined Organic Roots Cocktail Reception created a welcoming environment specifically designed to help newcomers connect with established buyers and retailers. Partner events, including the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Roots & Vines Foundation gathering, offered additional opportunities for focused engagement around shared industry priorities. Throughout the three days, attendees took advantage of structured networking sessions, informal meetups on and off the expo floor, and evening receptions that created countless opportunities for buyers and suppliers to build relationships and conduct business in a focused, productive environment. Field Tours Connect Retail Buyers with Organic Producers A highlight of this year's Summit was the opportunity for registered retail buyers to experience organic production firsthand through exclusive farm field tours. OPS partnered with industry leaders Driscoll's, Earthbound Farm, and Nature Fresh Farms to provide buyers with an immersive look at organic growing practices, sustainability initiatives, and the innovation happening at the farm level. These offsite experiences allowed retailers to walk the fields, ask questions directly to growers, and gain a deeper understanding of the care and expertise behind the organic products they source. The farm tours strengthened the critical connection between production and retail, fostering greater appreciation for organic agriculture and informing more strategic buying decisions. Expanded Expo Floor The 2026 trade show floor featured the largest and most diverse exhibitor lineup in OPS history, with expanded space to accommodate growing industry participation. For the first time, the Summit welcomed the entire organic produce ecosystem, from growers and shippers to allied service providers and supply chain partners, creating opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. The second-floor exhibit area was reimagined with interactive demonstrations, product samplings, and hands-on activations that allowed attendees to experience innovations firsthand. Exhibitors included leading brands such as Misionero Vegetables, Stemilt Growers, Cal-Organic Farms, Del Rey Avocado Company, Honeybear Brands, California Giant Berry Farms, Crunch Pak, Dole Food Company, and hundreds more. "Attending OPS for the first time this year was a great experience, we got to spend time with our distributors and meet the growers directly to learn more about their operations. Very valuable networking event, we will be coming back next year," says attending retailer Jon Price, Vice President of Operations, El Rancho Marketplace, California Fresh Market. Celebrating 10 Years For OPS's decade anniversary, the Summit recognized nearly 40 companies that have exhibited at OPS since the inaugural 2016 event, while also celebrating the 150+ companies that have joined the community over the past nine years as the show has grown into the industry's must-attend gathering. "The energy and engagement we witnessed at OPS 2026 reinforces the vital role this event plays in bringing our industry together," said Keigan Roos, Event Manager for Organic Produce Summit. "Seeing growers connect directly with retail buyers during our field tours, watching meaningful partnerships form during the networking events, and observing the packed aisles of our expanded expo floor throughout all three days, this year's 10th anniversary celebration demonstrated the strength and resilience of the organic produce community." Looking Ahead Organic Produce Summit will return to the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, CA next July 20-22, 2027. Registration and exhibitor information will be available in the coming months at www.organicproducesummit.com. About Organic Produce Summit Organic Produce Summit, founded in 2016, takes place annually in Monterey, California and is the only event dedicated exclusively to bringing together organic fresh produce growers, shippers and processors with retail and buying organizations from across the globe. Organic Produce Summit is part of New Hope Network, the leading natural, organic and conscious products event organizer and industry resource for the natural and healthy lifestyle products industry. For more information visit www.newhope.com. To learn more about Organic Produce Summit, visit www.organicproducesummit.com. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

Toxic allegations shake berry giant: Driscoll's confronts lawsuit over "forever chemicals" in strawberries. * Andrew Carlson - #TheJewishVoice #JewishVoice * July 19, 2026 * 0 Comments By: Andrew Carlson - #TheJewishVoice #JewishVoice The global fresh produce industry has been thrust into a moment of profound scrutiny as Driscoll's, the world's largest berry supplier, faces a sweeping consumer fraud class-action lawsuit alleging that its widely marketed strawberries contain hazardous "forever chemicals." As reported by The New York Post, the litigation, filed on behalf of consumers across multiple states, raises deeply consequential questions about food safety, corporate transparency, and the integrity of one of the most recognizable brands in the produce sector. At the heart of the lawsuit is a set of alarming claims that Driscoll's strawberries - long marketed under the company's signature slogan, "Only the Finest Berries" - may contain residues of toxic substances that persist in both the environment and the human body. The plaintiffs, six consumers residing in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois, allege that they were misled by what they describe as a carefully cultivated image of purity and safety, only to later discover troubling reports suggesting the presence of chemical contaminants. The case, which The New York Post has closely followed, is anchored in a laboratory analysis that tested two separate containers of Driscoll's strawberries. According to the report cited in the complaint, the fruit "contained residues of 12 different pesticides at levels prohibited in the European Union, Taiwan, Chile, Korea & Russia." Of particular concern, the report identified eight of these substances as belonging to a category known as PFAS - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - commonly referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their extraordinary resistance to degradation. PFAS compounds have increasingly come under global regulatory scrutiny, with mounting scientific evidence linking them to a range of adverse health outcomes, including endocrine disruption, immune system impairment, and potential carcinogenic effects. Their defining characteristic - their persistence - renders them exceptionally difficult to eliminate once they enter ecosystems or biological systems. As the lawsuit asserts, these chemicals are "extraordinarily difficult to clean up and break down" and can "accumulate in the environment and living organisms, including humans." The plaintiffs contend that Driscoll's engaged in what they characterize as deceptive marketing practices, effectively presenting its products as environmentally pristine while allegedly concealing the presence of these compounds. In language cited by The New York Post, the complaint accuses the company of "greenwashing its true farming and manufacturing practices," suggesting that its branding strategy may have obscured material facts about its production methods. The individuals bringing the lawsuit - Robert Berlinger, Robert Duxler, Francesca Hammersmith, Maria Khangi, Phylicia Washington, and Bianca Weins - state that they purchased Driscoll's strawberries during May and June 2026, relying on the company's reputation and marketing representations. According to the complaint, they believed the products to be "safe, high-quality and free from harmful contaminants." Their subsequent discovery of reports linking the strawberries to PFAS-related compounds prompted the legal action. "If they had known the true facts concerning the strawberries, including the presence and/or use of PFAS-related compounds," the lawsuit states, "they would not have purchased the products or would have paid significantly less for them." This assertion forms a central pillar of the consumer fraud claim, which hinges on the argument that Driscoll's representations materially influenced purchasing decisions. The lawsuit's allegations gain additional gravity from their connection to a separate but related whistleblower complaint filed in Ventura County Superior Court. As detailed by The New York Post, David Harada, a former manager of food safety and regulatory compliance for Driscoll's in the United States and Canada, has accused the company of systemic failures to adhere to pesticide regulations. Harada's claims, which he filed after his termination, suggest that he raised concerns internally about growers allegedly violating state, federal, and international pesticide limits. According to court documents reviewed by The New York Post, Harada asserts that after bringing these issues to the attention of company leadership, he was instructed to prioritize profitability and maintain what he described as "plausible deniability" rather than address the underlying problems. These allegations, if substantiated, could have far-reaching implications not only for Driscoll's but for the broader agricultural industry. They raise fundamental questions about the adequacy of oversight mechanisms, the enforcement of regulatory standards, and the ethical responsibilities of corporations operating within global supply chains. In response to the mounting controversy, Driscoll's has categorically denied the allegations. In a statement provided to The New York Post, the company declared: "We reject the allegations in this lawsuit and believe they are without merit." The statement continued with a robust defense of the company's practices, emphasizing its longstanding commitment to quality and compliance. "As a family-owned company, food safety, quality, and integrity are fundamental to who we are," the statement read. "We maintain robust food safety and compliance programs and rigorous standards designed to support compliance with applicable regulatory requirements." Driscoll's further underscored its century-long history, noting, "For more than 100 years, we have worked to earn the trust of our customers by communicating responsibly about our products and our growing practices, and we remain committed to that responsibility every day." Despite this emphatic denial, the allegations have already begun to reverberate across the marketplace, potentially affecting consumer confidence in a brand that has long been synonymous with premium quality. The New York Post reported that the lawsuit has drawn significant attention, amplifying concerns about the presence of chemical residues in everyday food products. The broader context of this controversy reflects a growing public awareness of the potential risks associated with agricultural chemicals. In recent years, consumers have become increasingly vigilant about the origins and composition of their food, driving demand for transparency and accountability. The allegations against Driscoll's, therefore, resonate within a larger societal shift toward heightened scrutiny of corporate practices. For industry observers, the case may serve as a bellwether for future litigation and regulatory action. Should the plaintiffs succeed in substantiating their claims, the implications could extend beyond financial liability, prompting more stringent oversight and potentially reshaping industry standards. At the same time, it is important to note that the allegations remain unproven, and the legal process will ultimately determine their validity. The case is likely to involve extensive examination of scientific data, regulatory frameworks, and corporate practices, making it a complex and closely watched proceeding. The stakes are undeniably high. For Driscoll's, the outcome of the lawsuit could have profound implications for its reputation and market position. For consumers, the case raises critical questions about the safety of widely consumed products and the reliability of the information provided by manufacturers. As The New York Post continues to report on developments in the case, the unfolding legal battle promises to illuminate the intricate intersection of science, commerce, and public trust. In an era defined by increasing demand for transparency, the resolution of this controversy may well shape the future of consumer expectations and corporate accountability in the global food industry. In the final analysis, the allegations against Driscoll's underscore the enduring importance of vigilance in safeguarding public health. Whether the claims ultimately withstand judicial scrutiny or are dismissed as unfounded, the case has already succeeded in drawing attention to the complex and often opaque processes that bring food from farm to table. For a company built on the promise of delivering "the finest berries," the challenge now lies in reaffirming that promise in the face of unprecedented scrutiny.