CALIFORNIA - In the wake of this week’s numerous updates, namely from government agencies in the U.S. and Canada, the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) compiled all that the ongoing investigations have uncovered regarding the concurrent E. coli outbreaks that may be associated with leafy greens.
“This news should not have an impact on the supply chain, as the Salinas growing region stopped harvesting romaine in November,” April Ward, Marketing Communications Director, shared with the team when asked the most important thing for the industry to know.
According to a press release, the LGMA emphasized the following key points:
- Illnesses associated with current outbreaks are all in a similar time frame with the most recent onset date being mid-November
- Products implicated in current outbreaks are past their best by dates and should no longer be available for sale
- The most likely item associated with current outbreaks is romaine from Salinas
- The Salinas growing region is no longer harvesting or shipping romaine
- Romaine harvested in other growing regions is not included in any current consumer advisory, nor is any other leafy greens variety
- Leafy greens producers are voluntarily labeling all products containing romaine with information on the growing region and harvest date in an effort to assist consumers in their buying decisions
“We realize detailed information is critical to learning what can be done to prevent future outbreaks,” the LGMA said in a statement. “We continue to work with government agencies to learn all we can about these outbreaks so that our food safety practices can be improved to prevent future illnesses. As always, our thoughts are with those whose lives have been impacted in these outbreaks.”
As more updates come to light in the ongoing investigation, AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
MEXICO - My hope is that January will bring nothing but rainbows and clear skies for growers in Mexico, as rain and wind have bombarded many operations as of late. They say that the best thing to do when it’s raining is to let it rain, and that is exactly the attitude I’ve encountered when touching bases with our friends in the industry. SunFed and its Perfect Produce® line are more than familiar with the inclement weather, but Matt Mandel, Vice President of Finance and Legal, and Gretchen Kreidler Austin, Director of Marketing and Business Development have maintained a pep in their step through it all.
“Mother Nature doesn’t play by any set rule book, and just when you think you have a handle on where things are going, she turns on a dime,” said Matt. “We’ve fought uncharacteristic rains and wind on a recurring basis since the beginning of October, which has affected both production and quality.”
The unavoidable and untimely storms delayed picking operations at SunFed, and even some shade houses became inoperable. As Gretchen mentioned, though, this is of little concern in the face of a brand that consistently delivers perfect produce.
“Due to our strict packing protocols, weather will not change our quality standards for our SunFed and SunOne label products, though we may not have the same percentage of product available in our SunFed label (so, place your orders early and often!),” Matt added.
SunFed is currently harvesting conventional and organic soft squash, bell peppers, romas, cucumbers, Euro cukes, and eggplant. It will also begin to build out a larger portfolio of organics, hot peppers, and onions in the near future. Additionally, the company continues to support its retail partners with high-graphic bins and packaging that is ever-evolving. In doing so, SunFed is continuing to strive toward a year-round, uninterrupted supply of new items that work with its farmers and mix of products.
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there’ll be sun! That’s the tune blasting on repeat across the industry (maybe with a little rain dance for good measure). Meanwhile, us at ANUK will be scouting out a silver lining somewhere over the rainbow, so stay with us.
DELTA, B.C. - When the holiday season hits and retail produce departments light up with the best of the best in fresh produce, Windset Farms® is one of those companies that I always note front and center in the competitive greenhouse space. As Senior Sales Manager Ryan Cherry shares, there is much vision behind the holiday promotional period and end of year cheer for the Windset team.
“Windset’s snacking items are perfect for the holiday season. Cameo® Cherry Tomatoes, Symphony® Tomatoes Ensemble, Fresco® Mini Cucumbers, and Dolce® Sweet Mini Peppers are delicious and easy to prepare,” Ryan tells me. “They add beautiful colors to the table.”
In addition, Windset’s sustainable and eye-catching packaging is recyclable and consumer-friendly, which is a huge benefit for both the retailer and the shopper as produce purchasers look for more opportunities for their grocery choices to impact the longer-term effects on the environment. All three of these items showcase resealable features as well—a Top Seal element for the tomatoes and resealable bags for the mini cucumber and pepper bags.
“Retailers rely heavily on the consistently fresh and delicious produce we supply them,” Ryan says. “Knowing they can count on Windset to deliver the same delicious, family-favorite varieties of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers for any last-minute needs throughout the holiday season is a huge source of relief for retailers and ultimately the consumer.”
Ryan adds that during the holidays, everyone hits the grocery store to make sure they have plenty of fresh ingredients for their favorite traditional recipes.
“Retailers are able to count on the consistency that comes with greenhouse-grown produce, not just around the holidays, but all year long,” he wraps.
The competitive retail space is continuing to heat up as we conduct our 2019 count down and ramp up for 2020. Stay tuned for more of the produce pioneers impacting the space and beyond. Tick tock.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Carrots feature heavily in some of my favorite holiday dishes. Brightly colored, versatile in flavor and application, carrots easily run the gamut of holiday possibilities. As consumers further dial down their holiday menus, how can retailers best prepare? I caught up with Mike Anspach, Grimmway Farms’ Vice President of Sales, to learn about the state of this season’s carrot market.
“We’re well into our Bakersfield fall crop and our quality looks great during the holiday season,” Mike explained. After 50 years of maintaining its commitment to consistent quality, Grimmway is continuing in this tradition, ensuring that its retail partners only put out the freshest carrots to the market.
“The holidays are an ideal time to promote baby carrots and value-added cuts,” Mike shared with me, noting that convenience plays a large factor in consumers’ buying decisions. “We expect to see strong demand for our organic carrot items, especially our rainbow products including cello, bunch, baby, and ColorShred®.”
As we get closer to the holiday rush—or rather, as we continue to weather it—AndNowUKnow will bring you the latest in what’s happening in all commodities.
BOISE, ID - Albertsons Companies is eager to stay on the cutting-edge of the industry, investigating and investing in new avenues of innovative growth. The retailer has partnered with Takeoff Technologies since 2018 and has since placed its focus on micro-fulfillment centers (MFC). Albertsons is continuing at full speed to collaborate with the tech company on more and better MFCs, including those it plans to purchase from Takeoff, and the ones yet to be constructed.
“The micro-fulfillment center model is a key element in the store of the future,” said Vivek Sankaran, President and Chief Executive Officer of Albertsons. “It combines the efficiency of automation with the ease of meeting customers when and how they want to shop. In working with Takeoff, we can evolve how the MFC ties into our store and e-commerce ecosystems and accelerate our path to best serve our customers.”
Leading the way in e-commerce fulfillment space, Albertsons operates stores in eight out of the ten largest MFC’s in the U.S., according to a press release, and has agreed to purchase more MFCs from Takeoff. While evaluating market expansion opportunities, Albertsons and Takeoff continue to collaborate, which has already resulted in the successful implementation of the company’s first MFC in South San Francisco in October of this year.
Albertsons and Takeoff kicked off their partnership in 2018 with plans for two pilot micro-fulfillment centers that would be built in existing Albertsons stores. The first pilot began on October 23, at a South San Francisco Safeway location. Another pilot is expected to begin operations at a San Jose Safeway location before the end of 2019.
“In collaborating with Takeoff, we’re able to leverage their thought leadership in e-commerce fulfillment with our expertise in running great grocery stores that meet customers’ everyday needs, and that’s exciting turf for us,” said Chris Rupp, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer and Digital Officer for Albertsons. “By placing an MFC in an existing store close to customers, we can carry a diverse and locally relevant selection of products with the friendly touch of our local team to service the customer.”
MFCs are said to combine the proximity of brick-and-mortar stores with the automation capabilities of large warehouses. The MFCs are located inside existing stores and can hold approximately 15,000 to 18,000 of the most popular products from the store’s local market.
“We are thrilled to broaden our partnership with Albertsons Cos., a clear leader in grocery retailing and a key player shaping the future of eGroceries,” Max Pedró, Co-Founder and President of Takeoff, commented. “With our strategic partnership, we’re confident we’ll be able to add significant value to its business and consumers as we work in partnership to define the future of e-commerce.”
Takeoff Technologies reports that the MFCs increase productivity by up to ten times due to the accuracy, improved speed, and efficiency they provide. Because the MFCs offer real-time inventory information, robotic fulfillment can greatly reduce or even eliminate product substitutions.
“We are living in historic times. The grocery industry is transforming its way into the future, and the winners will be the ones getting it right first. Albertsons Cos.’ move to expand its micro-fulfillment capability is a clear testament of such transformation,” said José V. Aguerrevere, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Takeoff.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for more updates on the e-commerce space.
TAMPA, FL - A partnership was struck between Food for Life, a food rescue organization, and IFCO, as both seek to give food to those in need. Food for Life noted that since IFCO donated 5,000 of its Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs), the amount of food donations from retailers has increased.
“We are proud to support Food for Life in its mission to rescue food and combat food insecurity by providing meals to those in need,” said Dan Martin, President of IFCO North America. “It is a natural partnership for us because we share the goal of stamping-out food insecurity and reaching a zero-waste food supply chain in Canada and globally.”
IFCO is in full support of Food for Life’s mission to rescue good food that would otherwise be sent to a landfill and share it with both nonprofits and neighborhood food programs. According to a press release, Food for Life impacts the lives of more than 55,000 people each month.
“We can’t thank IFCO enough for its generosity in donating its RPCs,” said Graham Hill, Food for Life Executive Director. “IFCO’s containers make our operation more efficient from beginning to end—making it easier for companies to get us their donations and easier for us to get rescued food to those in need. The impact has been tremendous and that is why we call IFCO RPCs ‘little agents of change.’”
The charity rescues approximately 4.2 million pounds of good food annually (85 percent of it is fresh food). As part of its commitment to the communities it serves, IFCO agreed to donate the use of its RPCs all the way through the Food for Life supply chain, eliminating the need for packaging transfers.
“This partnership fundamentally impacts our ability to move food in the most sustainable way possible and also reduces damage to food during additional distribution,” remarked Hill. “The results were amazing. Retailers found it easier to donate food, resulting in donation increases of food and more meals served in local communities. In addition, Food for Life saw a sharp increase in efficiency within its operation due to the standardization and stacking ability of the RPCs.”
The collaboration has also generated impressive sustainability returns. The use of IFCO RPCs reduced food waste within the food rescue operation is reducing the need to use and dispose of cardboard boxes used for shipping and handling.
“IFCO RPCs have been a game-changer for us and they will be a permanent part of what we do moving forward. I hope this partnership also inspires others to do the same thing,” concluded Hill.
For the latest in how our industry is working to improve the communities it serves, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
LONG ISLAND, NY - Growth has always been a driving factor for Trader Joe’s, but now the retailer seems to be ramping up its expansion efforts, opening several new stores in new regions across the country. Its latest rumored new store is said to be in Long Island, and though the grocer has not publicly announced the new location, there are signs pointing in that direction.
Trader Joe’s is well-known for being tight-lipped about new stores, a practice that builds considerable excitement from residents. Despite the lack of confirmation directly from the retailer, according to licPost, local real-estate brokers have weighed in on the speculation, pointing out that a lease has been signed for a property on 22-43 Jackson Ave.
The new store is rumored to open in late 2020 and is situated in the city's Prime Building, an 11-story, 70-unit mixed-use building currently under construction, the news source reports. The retailer’s primary competition will come from existing neighborhood grocers, Foodcellar and Urban Market. Trader Joe’s has been expanding in New York City since 2006, and now it seems that the retailer is growing outside the city limits.
When will Trader Joe’s confirm the new location? And where else has it set its sights? AndNowUKnow will report.
UNITED STATES - The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which was passed yesterday by the United States House of Representatives, contains provisions related to alien farmworkers, including provisions establishing a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and changing the H-2A temporary worker program. The industry has long been in support of this bill, for it provides much needed reforms to the H-2A program by expanding access to year-round industries, brings certainty to wage costs that have ballooned in recent years, and provides a pathway to earned legal status to the current undocumented workforce.
Several industry powerhouses took to the newswire to share their thoughts.
“With today’s passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act by the U.S. House of Representatives, another hurdle in the race to save America’s family farms has been cleared. Western Growers is grateful for the leadership exhibited by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman Dan Newhouse, and the statesmanship demonstrated by the bipartisan group of legislators who sponsored and voted for the bill,” stated Western Growers’ President and CEO Tom Nassif in a statement. “But the race is far from over. Both the Senate and President Trump must be willing to take the political stand that is required to ensure the continued production of an abundant, safe, and affordable domestic food supply. Our farmers are depending on the present actions of Congress and the Administration to make possible the future viability of the agriculture industry.”
He continued, noting that, “Agriculture has made its case for a narrow, surgical fix to the farm labor crisis. The rationale, that foreign hands will harvest our fruits and vegetables and perform many of the other skilled jobs required on American farms, has long been accepted on both sides of the aisle. The substance, maintaining the existing, experienced workforce while reforming the H-2A program for future workers, has been carefully crafted with the input and approval of virtually every key stakeholder. All that remains now is for the Senate and President Trump to act. Granted, the bill is not perfect. No piece of legislation ever is. However, the need to secure an adequate, reliable, and skilled workforce for U.S. agriculture cannot be overstated. The farm labor crisis is real and crippling, and the demand to provide a workable legislative solution is immediate and critical, which is why we urge the Senate and President Trump to engage in the legislative process to improve the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, adding those amendments that are necessary to secure the mutual support of Congress and the Administration.”
California Fresh Fruit Association President, Ian LeMay, also issued a statement regarding the bill’s passage.
“The ability to have reliable, legal workforce representatives is one of most important steps forward our industry has made in over 30 years," LeMay stated. "The passage of H.R. 5038 will address critical needs within agriculture by providing a pathway to legal status for current undocumented employees, along with reform to the current H-2A program. Our members look forward to continuing to provide the world’s freshest fruit to consumers here domestically and around the world.”
He also remarked that, “there is no doubt the agricultural industry has waited many years for an immigration reform bill to address the labor concerns amongst the many different commodities produced here domestically so that it can continue to provide the nation and world with safe and reliable food supply long into the future. H.R. 5038 demonstrates that bipartisanship still exists, that when faced with a common challenge we can still rise to the occasion and do the right thing.”
United Fresh’s CEO joined in on supporting the passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
“For too long, the fresh produce industry has suffered under a system that fails to meet the labor needs of our industry,” Stenzel explained. “Passage of this legislation represents an important step in ending decades of uncertainty for growers of fresh fruits and vegetables. I’d like to personally thank Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman Dan Newhouse who spearheaded the bipartisan negotiations that led to this agreement. United Fresh looks forward to similarly working with bipartisan members in the Senate to build on the work of their House colleagues and craft legislation that deserves our support.”
For the latest in industry news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
CORONA, CA - While many modern music listeners assumed Justin Bieber’s 2015 chart-topper Where Are Ü Now was about a former flame, I can’t help but listen to the lyrics as a call for sustainability. After all, we need sustainability the most—in our business models and in our buying habits. Luckily, retail partners and consumers alike won’t have to look farther than Veg-Fresh Farms for a simple solution to one of our industry’s most pressing issues.
The grower is helping the buyside check in on our beloved Mother Earth with new Earth-friendly packaging, aptly branded Earth Check. I tapped Randy Cancellieri, General Partner of Veg-Fresh Farms, to find out more about these innovative, and important, packaging options.
“The packaging is a unique package design made from non-bleached, lightweight, 100-percent recycled paperboard that is sourced from local mills. It is also moisture resistant, so it makes the perfect packaging for our tomatoes!” Randy shared.
The Earth Check packaging line consists of two options: the Earth Check Window Box—for those consumers looking for a window into the Earth’s soul and Veg-Fresh Farms’ produce—and the Earth Check Open Pints. Both options rely on little to no plastic. Instead, the Window Box and Open Pints use recycled and non-bleached paperboard, making it a great choice for organic produce.
Randy noted that the Earth Check line already has consumers in their feelings. Like many in the industry, Veg-Fresh Farms noticed how important sustainability is to today’s conscious consumers and so created its latest packaging innovation as a way of meeting that demand.
“Our open-pints have been a great hit with consumers. They really love being able to purchase something that does not have any plastic in the packaging,” Randy continued. “At the moment, we mostly sell them with our Organic Medley Tomatoes, but we have also created a generic open-pint design that can be used for other commodities. We are excited to see these earth-friendly packaging designs continue to evolve and become a staple in the industry.”
As Veg-Fresh Farms’ latest packaging innovation pends a patent, AndNowUKnow will continue to be by the produce industry’s side, reporting on the news you need the most.
SALINAS, CA - The month of December brings the hustle and bustle of year-end holidays for retailers and growers as sales opportunities arise and consumer demand spikes for the season’s most favorable produce items. During this time, the Nunes Company and Foxy brand are responding to the needs of buyers and shoppers alike as it ramps up with promotable volumes on its coveted program from the desert growing region of Yuma, Arizona.
“We are excited to work with customers as we move through Christmas and into the New Year,” John Amaral, Sales Manager, shares with me. “We offer over 35 different conventional and organic vegetable items for our retail and foodservice trade, which gives great coverage to all of their Western Vegetable needs. Loading off the same dock offers a one-stop-shop which translates to time and money saved on their logistical costs.”
The Nunes Company completely transitioned out of Salinas, California, and has entered full production on its line of Foxy Brand items in Yuma, which includes categories from iceberg and Romaine lettuces to broccoli and cauliflower.
“We are off to a good start with excellent quality and condition. We have strong volume presently and are looking forward to a great Christmas and New Year pull.” John says.
This December will present a quick buying period. Get your orders ready!