SALINAS, CA - This past weekend, it was all about red, white, and blueberries both at retail and in kitchens across the country. Blazer Wilkinson, however, ushered in an all-new way to celebrate Fourth of July this year. Debuting another premier product to the Foxy brand, the grower-shipper has announced the iconic launch of Foxy blueberries.
“As we continue to aim to meet the needs of our customers and consumers, we are thrilled to add Foxy blueberries to our line of Foxy berries,” said Kiana Wilkinson Amaral, General Manager.
According to a press release, Blazer Wilkinson is now selling Foxy brand blueberries grown in California, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada, so the launch of this new berry will be spread far and wide.
Packs of the new product include dry pints in 6 oz, 18 oz, and 2 lb clamshells, giving retailers plenty of options for produce aisle success. This new product will pull in a plethora of sales in the berry category and is available until mid-September with ad opportunities starting July 15.
Act quick before this first-ever opportunity passes you by! And for all the industry’s latest, keep coming back to AndNowUKnow.
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Specialty retailer Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is teaming up with Target-owned Shipt to expand its offerings and its market share. Customers in 30 metro areas across the Midwest region will have access to this new offering from Shipt and Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, giving more than 10 million households this option for same-day delivery.
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Shipt,” said Ramesh Reddy, Chief Information Officer of Fresh Thyme Farmers Market. “Its delivery solution provides a convenience—one our customers are looking for in their shopping experience.”
According to the press release, this new partnership with Fresh Thyme Farmers Market provides Shipt members product offerings that follow vegan, paleo, keto, vegetarian, or wheat- and gluten-free diets.
To celebrate the announcement, new Shipt customers who sign up between July 7 and July 11 will receive an annual membership for $49 (regularly $99).
“Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a staple for healthy, convenient, and budget-friendly living,” said Joe Manning, Chief Business Officer of Shipt. “Partnering with Fresh Thyme Farmers Market gives us the opportunity to provide an additional layer of ease by bringing fresh and healthy goods to members across the Midwest.”
Additionally, customers now have the option to pay per delivery with a one-time fee, no obligations or commitment. With a variety of delivery options, customers have the flexibility to order same-day delivery from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, as much or as little as needed.
Will we see new partnerships take place as online delivery continues to expand? ANUK will report on the latest.
WASHINGTON, DC - United Fresh 2020 LIVE! was such a rousing success that the United Fresh Produce Association will transition its new virtual platform to United Fresh LIVE! 365. This year-round online marketplace offers buyers the chance to hunt down new products and solutions, all while discovering hundreds of vendors across the platform. The platform will also be the space in which United Fresh hosts its Washington Conference, and its educational and networking programs through the year, including the United Fresh Start Foundation’s FreshStart Conference and United Fresh’s BrandStorm™ Conference.
“Offering all of these signature events online will allow greater participation from multiple staff within a company, as well as attendees from around the world,” said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “And, by driving attendance to multiple educational and networking opportunities throughout the year, we’ll continue to bring a fresh audience to exhibitors on the platform, making this a year-round marketing opportunity.”
Stenzel continued, stating that, “United Fresh 2021 Convention & Expo in Los Angeles, CA, April 21–23, will bring the return of our face-to-face convention as a celebration never before seen. As the first in-person gathering of the United Fresh community, the association will organize an event not to be missed. Concurrently, some of the in-person programming will be made available online through the United Fresh LIVE! 365 platform for those who might be unable to participate in person, further broadening the reach of the event for company staff and industry members around the world.”
United Fresh LIVE! 365, according to a press release, will become the association’s year-round platform to deliver webinars, conference programming, and networking opportunities for the global produce industry. During July and August, the platform will remain free to all users, providing access to all current exhibitors in the expo and on-demand recordings of all general sessions and workshops from June 15–19. The association also will begin delivering new live webinars and networking events on LIVE! 365.
“United Fresh took a leap of faith by making the pivot to a virtual event this June and it paid off,” said Michael Muzyk, President, Baldor Specialty Foods and Chairman of United Fresh’s Board of Directors. “We all benefited from gathering our global community online. It’s only natural that we continue to rebuild our industry through this platform.”
In September, the platform will continue to be a free value offered to all employees of United Fresh member companies. A one-time annual registration fee of $100 will be required for employees of non-member companies. United Fresh LIVE! 365 will debut hosting the association’s annual Washington Conference, which is slated for September 21–25. Registration for the Washington Conference is now available here.
“The Washington Conference is a critical annual gathering for our industry,” said Mark Klompien, President and CEO, United Potato Growers of America and Chairman of United Fresh’s Government Relations Council. “We’re looking forward to meeting with our elected officials online and addressing our most pressing issues in order to continue to feed America and the world.”
Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest in trade news.
ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - It's a tragic story indeed when produce falls into the wrong hands, allowing drug smugglers to use it to their own ends. In this case, pineapples were the unlucky victims used to smuggle over 780 kilograms (roughly 1,720 lbs) of cocaine.
The discovery, made by Dutch customs agents in Rotterdam, had a street value of over 58 million euros (about $65.4 million USD). According to a news report from NL Times, the packages of cocaine were found inside a container loaded with pineapples from Costa Rica. So far, no arrests have been made.
AndNowUKnow has been diligently covering drug busts for quite some time, and criminals will go to great lengths to cover up their dastardly ways. Keep reading us to hear about how produce, in the end, sees justice.
VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA - Oppy continues to take innovation into its own hands. The fierce industry leader has nabbed a new partner in Flavour Fields, a company specializing in growing microgreens and edible flowers, all in a bid to develop new varieties to bring to market.
“We’re incredibly excited to explore interesting varieties that bring something truly unique to the market with Flavour Fields,” Oppy’s Senior Manager of Insights and Innovation, Garland Perkins, said. “Oppy is well-positioned to play an important role as a bridge that connects the needs of retailers and growers, with cutting-edge innovations.”
According to a press release, Oppy’s market experience, knowledge, and customer-base will complement Flavour Fields’ pioneering research projects, all while cultivating new varieties and targeting the customers that would be most interested in these products.
Introducing new varieties and innovations has long been a strength of Oppy’s as it has helped promote the launches of Granny Smith, JAZZ™, Envy™, and Zespri SunGold® kiwifruit.
“We have always been a leader of innovation for the produce industry, but our experience with the retail sector was limited,” General Manager of Flavour Fields Nicolas Mazard said. “We are therefore excited to access Oppy’s in-depth expertise in distribution and marketing. We could not have wished for a better partner than Oppy, and together we will work on bringing pioneering innovations to the industry.”
Great things continue for Oppy! AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date on the latest.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - The future generation holds much potential, especially for the ag industry. Grimmway Farms recognizes the value the younger generation has and continues to spur innovation and growth with its scholarship program. This year, Grimmway Farms awarded 64 college scholarships to recent high school graduates as part of its annual Rod and Bob Grimm Memorial Scholarship Program.
“The opportunity to show appreciation for our employees by providing their children with educational support is truly its own reward,” said Brandon Grimm, Grower Relations Manager at Grimmway Farms and son of Co-Founder Bob Grimm. “We are inspired by these hardworking students and proud to help them succeed in their studies and beyond.”
Named for Grimmway’s founders, the program recognizes the superior academic performance of students who have a parent or guardian employed by the company. According to the release, this year’s scholarship recipients will attend a range of top-ranked schools, including Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Colgate University, Fresno State, UC Davis, and UC Santa Barbara.
The scholarships, which are renewable for four years, are based on academic achievement and provide financial support for students attending two- and four-year colleges and universities.
“It is a privilege to continue our 23-year tradition of offering college scholarships to our employees’ children. We value the importance of education and are humbled to support these outstanding students in their college endeavors,” said Barbara Grimm Marshall, Founder and CEO of the Grimm Family Education Foundation and Co-Owner of Grimmway Farms.
Applicants who exceed a grade point average of 3.5 receive a MacBook Pro laptop in addition to renewable scholarship funds.
Since the program was created in 1997, Grimmway has awarded more than 740 scholarships totaling over $2.15 million in funds. The company continues to expand the reach of support, this year awarding scholarships to California students in Kern, Riverside, and Santa Barbara counties and a student in Washington.
Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients this year and we wish them luck on their academic endeavors!
MCFARLAND, CA - With exclusive brands named Sparkle™, Rosa®, Gem®, Stella Bella®, Sorella Bella™, and Sweet Carnival™ in Sunview Marketing International’s grape lineup, I can’t imagine it takes much to convince consumers that these grapes are must-haves in their shopping carts. Mitch Wetzel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, confirmed as much when we chatted about the upcoming season kicking off in July.
However, after speaking with Mitch, it’s clear that these are more than just fun names on store shelves. In fact, a few of them are setting new precedents in terms of quality, texture, and flavor in the grape category.
“We’re going to start packing this season’s grapes on July 6, with full commercial volumes of red, green, black, and organic grapes. So far, this year is setting up to be a much stronger year in terms of quality. Volume by variety also seems to be right in that normal range, although there is a shortness (in the beginning) on green grapes that should settle into a normal pattern after July,” Mitch explained to me. “It truly is a fantastic growing year. We’re seeing great quality in the vineyards, and I think the whole grape category is going to really shine this summer.”
One area of focus Sunview is dialing in on this season and beyond is its organics program. The organics season coincides with the conventional season and ships until Christmas.
“We’re upping the standard and quality of organic offerings. This has included adding some of our own exclusive brands to our organics program. Organics have more importance with consumers these days, and Sunview is well-positioned to handle substantial increases in supply for retailers as table grapes become a bigger part of the entire organic category,” Mitch added. “Whether conventional or organic, our goal at Sunview is to enhance the grape experience by providing sweeter, crunchier, and bigger varieties. We focus on the eating experience, especially with high flavor grapes, which is where our Sweet Carnival fits in.”
The first of July signals that we’re two months away from starting the Sweet Carnival season, the current star of Sunview's exclusive offerings—and one that really showcases the excellence of the company’s breeding program.
“Everyone in the table grape sector is doing a good job of breeding for sweetness, but texture is where Sunview stands out. Across the board, our breeding program has developed varieties that are crisp, firm, and crunchy in texture, and this texture continues to be one of the foremost qualities we breed for,” Mitch continued. “In fact, texture is what we get complimented on the most.”
Mitch then concluded with, “Sunview Marketing is one grower, or a single source of supply. This is key in the message we want to portray to retailers and consumers. We also strive to be good stewards, whether it’s water, land, or our employee associates. Right now, we’re working on producing content that showcases this dedication to stewardship, whether that be a virtual tour or social media posts. We are excited to work with our retail partners to make this grape season successful.”
For more fresh produce news like this, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
CLEARLAKE, CA - Over the holiday weekend, while many within the industry were barbecuing and setting off fireworks, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake was reported 11 miles from Clearlake, California. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the event occurring on Sunday at 9:14 a.m. PST.
Within the earthquake’s radius were agricultural towns such as Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, and Ukiah, many of which are mainly known for their wine-growing regions.
According to a report from The Los Angeles Times, California and Nevada are subject to roughly 234 earthquakes per year that range between 3.0 and 4.0.
As of right now, there have been no reports suggesting that any suppliers were affected by the earthquake, but AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you posted on the state of the weather as it pertains to our industry.
ARVIN, CA - In tandem with its 10-year anniversary campaign, Tasteful Selections® is continuing its year-long celebratory message by launching a new theme this month. Bringing nutrition, convenience, flavor, and versatility to everyday meals has always been a priority, and in in the newest theme of the campaign, Tasteful Selections is creating new ways to be a partner in the kitchen. This round, the company is helping consumers get organized in the kitchen.
“An easy way to make cooking simpler is having an organized kitchen,” said Tim Huffcutt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Operations for RPE. “In this theme, we will be giving away prizes helping with organization, providing a downloadable shopping list, and more.”
To bring another new, quick, and easy meal to consumers, Tasteful Selections is eager to work with Dawn Nieves from A New Dawnn! As a mother of two, avid traveler, and lifestyle blogger, Dawn knows all about the importance of simple and prepared meals, as noted in a press release.
In addition to a new recipe, consumers have the opportunity to win new prizes including a 24-piece set of glass storage containers, a label maker, lid organizer, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and FREE bite-size potatoes.
“We want to be more than just a reliable product,” Huffcutt said. “Whether we supply new recipes, cooking and storage tips, food pairing ideas, or collaborating with one of a kind partners, we want to go above and beyond to make every experience with Tasteful Selections exceptional.”
Tasteful Selections also continues its “10th-day Instagram Giveaway,” giving away free potatoes to two lucky winners on the 10th of every month in 2020.
The celebration of fresh produce never ends in this industry, so keep an eye out for more reports from AndNowUKnow.
IRVINE, CA - Recently, reports surfaced that Chinese Customs would require a Letter of Undertaking of Safety of Import Food for food shipments hoping to enter into the country. In response to this news, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement.
“The recent move by Chinese authorities to require a statement of undertaking for food importers is not based on any legitimate food safety concern,” Puglia began. “Our food system is the safest in the world, and the known science behind the transmission of COVID-19 is inconsistent with the Chinese government’s call for more restrictive food safety-related trade measures. Indeed, the very food safety guidance referenced in the required statement—issued by the United Nations and World Health Organization—affirms that there is ‘no evidence to date’ of COVID-19 being transmitted through food or food packaging. This point is important for our domestic consumers to remember, as well.”
He continued, noting that, “The viability of many U.S. farms and the rural economy depends on healthy, robust international trade with key partners like China. At a time when American farmers are still trying to dig themselves out of a coronavirus-induced financial hole, it will be difficult for the industry to absorb further losses due to unfounded demands like this. We are aware that the Trump Administration has objected to China’s actions and request that the administration continue to pressure the Chinese government until it reverses this ill-timed and scientifically indefensible trade barrier.”
Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest in news that directly affects the supply-side.