WENATCHEE, WA - After noting a decrease in Honeycrisp volume, Stemilt is here with seasonal apple promotions to lift the crop. Marketing Director Brianna Shales got straight to the heart of the matter with her five apple-selling tips to grow apple sales.

“The crop is down 10 percent year-over-year, and the opportunity lies in focusing on more than one variety in ads and going back to multi-variety promotions,” commented Shales. “What we saw last year with Honeycrisp is dollars grew by nearly 30 percent from 2022 to 2023. That’s incredible growth, but as we head into the new crop, the idea of singularly promoting Honeycrisp has to shift because volume is down. Try promoting all apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith, Gala, and Cosmic Crisp® together to raise apple volume, that way you’re turning more than one apple at a time.”

As Stemilt noted, since Honeycrisp has been leading the way in apple popularity for years, replacing it with another crunch successor can help close the gap for where it usually would be in your departments. A solid choice are Rave® apples, which can act as a quick in-and-out variety in August and September.

“Rave is outrageously juicy with a refreshing, snappy zing that is only available for a short time, but can really help build velocity in the category,” added Shales. “Another variety to bring in when apples are at the top of mind for consumers is SweeTango®. SweeTango has grown into a variety that remains available beyond the fall months and into the new year, with a sales velocity during its October peak promotion time that no other club apple compares to. What better way to delight consumers than with an apple that delivers on crunch, juice, and hints of spice in the heart of fall?”

Another apple to include this fall is Cosmic Crisp®, which has the advantage of there being no gap between the old and new crop.

“It’s the perfect year to switch to Cosmic Crisp with Honeycrisp volume down,” said Shales. “We call it the dream apple with perfect flavor because it has a wonderful balance of sweetness, tartness, and a creamy texture. One of the main benefits of Cosmic Crisp to retailers is its ability to be stored for long periods of time, and its natural resistance to browning. This year, Cosmic Crisp is up in organics, so regularly calling out the apple in promotion is a great way to build dollars in the category with a premium item that isn’t conventional.”

Stemilt offers EZ Band sustainable four packs, Lil Snappers® kid-size fruit, and other bagged apple options.

“Bags are always a great vehicle for increasing apple sales,” Shales explained. “Since Covid, we’ve seen bags be a real growth point. At Stemilt, we have great capacity for pouch bags, 3 lb organic and conventional Lil Snappers apples and 5 lb bags for a volume play. It’s a good way to appeal to the timesaving, convenience-driven consumer. With retailers equipped with these five tools: multi-ad promotions, Rave, SweeTango, Cosmic Crisp, and bagged items, we can lift the category and delight consumers with excellent quality apples this season!”

Keep reading ANUK for the latest in all things fresh produce.

OVIEDO, FL - A significant change is taking place within Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ executive team. The supplier recently announced that Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Rick Alcocer is retiring.

Following his graduation from the University of Southern California in 1980, Alcocer began his lifelong career in the fresh produce industry when he accepted the position of financial analyst with Dole Fresh Vegetables. After eight years at Dole, he transitioned to Tanimura & Antle, where he spent nearly 15 years honing his skills. According to a press release, he assumed various roles with Tanimura & Antle, including Account Executive, General Sales Manager, and ultimately Director of Retail Sales. In 2003, Duda was fortunate to welcome him as the Director of Fresh Sales.

During Alcocer’s four-decade career, he has witnessed numerous industry shifts, technological advancements, and evolving consumer preferences, adeptly navigating each change and forging enduring relationships within the industry. His ability to lead and work with others was demonstrated in his appointment as the first American Chair of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (2017–2018), where he had been a Board Member for over 25 years.

In his retirement, Alcocer plans to spend more time with his grandsons and family, traveling, fly-fishing, hiking, and gardening. He is also hoping to learn how to sleep past 4 a.m. every morning. Aren’t we all!

“As Rick embarks on his retirement, I express our deepest appreciation for his unwavering commitment to the industry and over two decades of service at Duda Farm Fresh Foods," said Mark Bassetti, President. “He has made an undeniable impact on both Duda and the produce industry at large. I wish him a future filled with well-earned rest and enjoyment.”

We raise a glass to Rick Alcocer as he begins this new chapter!

CHICAGO, IL - It’s shaping up to be another high-performing year for apple growers after record-breaking production in 2023. This data comes from a new report released by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), during the organization's 129^th annual Outlook Conference.

“Despite various challenges, the resilience and dedication of our growers have led to another promising year for apple production,” said Chris Gerlach, Vice President of Insights and Analytics. “The data we’ve gathered not only highlights the strength of our industry, but also underscores the importance of innovation and adaptability in ensuring a bountiful harvest.”

According to USApple’s analysis, total U.S. apple production for the 2024/25 crop year (CY) will be 259,517,252 bushels. This represents a 10.1 percent decrease compared to last year’s final production figure. These figures are more comprehensive than USDA data, which only look at the top seven apple-producing states, according to a press release.

“We still see strong Honeycrisp production, but it’s tempered this year,” added Gerlach. “With volumes aligning more closely with Gala and Red Delicious, we may see production levels stabilize rather than increase dramatically in the future.”

Gala is expected to retain the top spot with more than 48 million bushels produced, accounting for around 17 percent of the U.S. apple market.

Rounding out the top five are:

• Red Delicious at 12.3 percent
• Granny Smith at 10 percent
• Honeycrisp with 9.8 percent
• Fuji at 9.4 percent

The release noted other varieties on the rise, including Honeycrisp, Pink Lady/Cripps Pink, and Cosmic Crisp®.

Gerlach also comments on recent trade data, as the USDA reported fresh apple exports totaled 46.4 million bushels in the 2023/24 CY (July to June), translating to around 14 million bushels higher than 2022/23 export levels.

“Thanks to the removal of previously imposed tariffs on our apples, exports to India are up nearly 4,000 percent year over year. We are optimistic that this critical market will continue to grow in volume and value,” Gerlach concluded.

To read the full report, click here.

This data shows not only a national appreciation for the delicious apple, but also a global one. And as more varieties continue to develop, this fabulous fruit is sure to continue taking the world by storm.

BENTONVILLE, AR - In a strategic move to bolster its leadership team, Walmart announced the appointment of a new Board Member. Bob Moritz, former Chairperson of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), joined the Board as its 12^th member, bringing a wealth of experience in global business and governance.

“I’m honored to be joining the Walmart Board of Directors,” remarked Moritz. “The company has an impressive track record of serving customers, members, and communities for more than 60 years, and it has never been more relevant than it is today. I’m looking forward to joining my colleagues on the Board as we continue to lead Walmart on its mission of helping people save money and live better.”

Moritz has an audit and assurance background, primarily dealing with financial services, banking, and capital markets clients, one that Chairman Greg Penner described as a boon to the retailer's strategies.

“We are a people-led, tech-powered, omnichannel retailer dedicated to helping people save money and live better. As we continue to build on this foundation while defining the future of retail, it’s important to have strategic leaders like Bob on our Board," Penner noted. "With his history at the helm of PwC, his strategic, global perspective and highly relevant governance experience make him the ideal candidate to help us on our continued journey to be the best we can be.”

In June 2024, Moritz retired from PwC after working for 39 years in various roles, including U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner, with his most recent role as the Global Chair of the firm, according to a press release. Moritz joined PwC in 1985 and became a partner in 1995.

This career shift offers an exciting transition for Moritz and retailers, as Walmart continues to deliver on its mission of providing everyday essentials at a great value.

“Bob brings a wealth of global business experience to our Board. From his long career at PwC he brings international leadership experience and deep financial expertise across industries and regions of the world. We’re very excited to have him join us and put his expertise to work for Walmart associates, customers, and shareholders,” said Tom Horton, Lead Independent Director.

For more information, click here.

Stay tuned to ANUK to gain insights into the exciting world of global retail.

FRESH PRODUCE, WORLD - With trade show season evolving from a bookended period of time to a year-round extravaganza across the globe, it is never too early to plan ahead and reshape the way you prepare and execute your program. Whether you are an attendee or an exhibitor, there is always value to be gleaned from revamping your blueprint and fine-tuning your trade show muscles.

In a recent What’s On Karen’s Plate? blog post, titled "Prepping For An Upcoming Trade Show," industry veteran Karen Caplan brought a host of insights from her decades of experience in fresh produce. The timing could not be more perfect as we approach essential tradeshow opportunities, including Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Innovations and International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show.

Check out an excerpt from Karen’s post below and follow this link for the article in its entirety.

Every industry has trade shows. In fact, many industries have multiple trade shows in a year. Whether it’s an international, national, or regional trade show, and no matter how many times you’ve attended, I’m a firm believer that you should approach attending a trade show with plenty of planning.

Of course, if you are an exhibitor, you should have a checklist for your exhibit booth, or you may even hire an outside marketing firm to handle all the details.

But what if you are just “walking the show?” Do you have an objective? Are you a speaker? Have you thought about what you will wear and if it is aligned with your brand (personal or company brand)?

I know that Focus Precedes Success, so here are some of the best practices I have always used before attending a trade show.

As an exhibitor:

Assign a key person in your organization to handle all the details, fill out the forms, and be the go-to person to answer any and all questions about the show.

It may sound old-fashioned, but the best exhibitors have a 3-ring binder, where copies of all forms, checklists, shipping documents, contact phone numbers, and emails, etc., are handy when you get to the show.

Be strategic about who you bring to the trade show. For sure the CEO must be there if it’s an international or national show, as they are often the face of the company. But do you need to bring every single salesperson to a regional show? Think about the size of the booth and how crowded it will feel if you have too many staff.

Assign some of your staff to work inside the booth and assign others to walk the show and gather competitive information on your industry.

After you decide who is attending the show, start having “Pre-Show” meetings at least 3 months in advance to discuss the design of the booth, the objectives of attendance, which clients you want to meet with, develop a script for when someone asks you “what’s new” when they stop by your booth. Having group meetings in advance gets your team excited about the show and allows you plenty of time to review all details.

When you are deciding what all booth staff should wear, think from the perspective of the attendees who will be walking by your booth. Will “all black shirts” stand out against the background of your booth? Is your logo on your shirts legible for someone who doesn’t know your company? Will your staff have their own company magnetic name tags? Or do you want your staff to be wearing the industry issued badges, promoting other company names and logos that are printed on the lanyards?

Get the registration list at least 6 weeks in advance, and have your staff review and identify which of your clients and prospects will be in attendance. That way, they can start discussing meeting up with them, far in advance of the show, vs sending out a mass e-blast asking everyone to “stop by your booth”. The more personal the contact, the better the connection.

As an attendee:

Decide what your main objective is in attending. Is it just a habit that you attend a trade show, or are there specific people or companies you want to meet or talk to?

Get a copy of the attendee and exhibitor list in advance and identify the people you want to meet. Email them in advance to set up a time and place to meet...

That is not all.

Want to read the amazing insights Karen shared in the rest of her article? Please check out her blog post here!

Karen Caplan sold her company, Frieda’s Specialty Produce in 2023 and is now a CEO/Executive Coach. Interested in exceeding your company and personal goals and leading your team to new levels of performance? You can schedule an informational call with Karen at www.karencaplan.com.

HOUSTON, TX - As a writer, I like to make lists and draw out plans. Along with keeping me focused, this also allows me to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. Sysco has made plans itself, albeit at a much larger and dynamic level. It announced a comprehensive plan to support the Food Traceability Rule, issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

“Sysco is dedicated to leading the industry in food safety to protect our customers and our communities,” said Charles Leftwich, Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance. “As the industry leader, we’re not just working toward our own regulatory compliance, we’re also taking steps to help our suppliers comply.”

A press release shared how, effective summer of 2024, the new Food Traceability Rule mandates establishing a traceability recordkeeping system for certain foods to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially harmful products from the market.

Here’s a breakdown of those key components from Sysco’s Traceability Initiative:

• Strong Partnerships: Sysco will partner with iFoodDS, a leader in traceability, to bolster its traceability efforts, food safety, and quality management solutions, give Sysco’s extensive supplier network flexible, interoperable, and pragmatic options for sharing data required by FSMA 204
• Enhanced Digital Tracking Systems: Sysco will leverage state-of-the-art digital technologies to streamline product tracking through every stage of the supply chain to provide real-time visibility and ensure the integrity of traceability data
• Supplier Collaboration: In partnership with iFoodDS, Sysco will provide education and guidance to align supplier processes with Sysco’s traceability standards, and will work closely with its vast network of suppliers to implement traceability practices
• Customer Support: Sysco is committed to supporting its customers with an effective solution that provides clear and accessible information regarding the traceability of its products
• Continuous Improvement and Compliance: Sysco will establish an internal task force to ensure that Sysco remains at the forefront of food safety and regulatory adherence, monitor compliance, and continuously improve traceability processes

Sounds like great news for suppliers, and the industry at large. ANUK we will keep an eye out as these developments unfold, so click back, folks!