SAN JUAN, TX - When I sat down to speak with the Schuster Family of Rio Fresh, I was immediately overwhelmed. Not by the vast amount of information they gave me, but by the genuine passion I heard in the family members' voices. As someone who is new to the industry, I’m continuously humbled by the spirit of everyone involved—so full of determination to grow a healthier world alongside others who do the same. Rio Fresh’s operation is a special one. From growing produce to selling it, the family running the company has been farming in South Texas for over 85 years.
“We're one of the few, true family farms left in our area that grows, packs, and ships our own produce. My dad is the grower and my brother, cousins, and I sell the produce,” said Courtney Schuster of Sales. “Our sales team is in the field every day looking at the crops and working with the farming team to make sure that we have what our customers want. We have a real focus on farming and growing. It's just kind of in our DNA.”
Courtney went on to tell me that while Rio Fresh is in a period of growth and change, the family still sits down to eat lunch together every day at the farm headquarters, just as they’ve done for the past 75 years. The cook pulls from the trial garden and their grandfather’s newly-restored, 70-year-old greenhouse. Over the farm table, they discuss what they most enjoyed and what customers might enjoy. Aside from brainstorming new offerings, the company is also invested in its environmental impact.
“This land has been in our family for over 75 years and we want to continue farming for generations to come. We’re transitioning more and more land to drip systems that help conserve water. We’re increasing our usage of cover crops to improve our soil health. We’re even experimenting with composting our packing waste so we can use that and become more sustainable through the whole product life cycle,” Farming Director Fred Schuster shared. “We’ve done a lot of different things to make sure that our farm is productive and healthy for years to come. Our efforts to become Organic certified also align with this long-term commitment to the land. There are practices on the organic side that we can try out and utilize that will also make us stronger on the conventional side.”
This tremendous growth and change also extends to the packing side of Rio Fresh’s operation.
“We want everything to look as good as it did in the field,” says Salesman, Taylor Schuster. “In our greens shed, we've upped our cooling capacity and invested in new hydro-coolers that double how quickly we can get things cooled from the field, extending shelf life significantly. In our onion shed, we’re transitioning to new drying systems that remove moisture more efficiently and get that onion where we want it to be. We’re also increasing our packing capabilities and storage capacity. Everything is focused on overcoming the challenges we face as growers and ensuring freshness and quality for our customers.”
“We want people to have the same experience as we do when we enjoy something we brought in from the field that very day,” General Manager Christine Schuster Morley added. Christine also mentioned that the company is certified as a Women-Owned Business, which is something it has worked toward for years.
It is clear that the family’s hearts are firmly rooted in their long history as growers, but they are also focused on evolving and growing to ensure they can do this for generations to come. Because it’s more than a business to the Schuster family—it’s a way of life. Rio Fresh’s greens season is right around the corner, starting at the end of October, and will be kicking off its onion season in February. For more inspiring stories in produce, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
ROSEMONT, IL - The foodservice sector is enjoying a bountiful quarter, and US Foods is one distributor reaping the rewards. This week, the company announced the financial results of its third quarter of fiscal year 2019, which ended well thanks to US Foods' acquisition of SGA’s Food Group of Companies in September and its omni-channel selling approach.
“The integration of the Food Group is off to a good start, and we are excited to welcome our colleagues from the Food Group into US Foods,” said Chairman and CEO Pietro Satriano. “As a result of our year-to-date business performance, we are raising our fiscal 2019 organic Adjusted EBITDA growth guidance to 6.0 percent.”
In an earnings call presentation, US Foods went into detail about more of this quarter’s successes, including highlighting its omni-channel selling approach that the company is expecting to culminate in expanding its Pronto program to 15 markets, doubling its SKU count for its Direct program, and continuing the success of its Scoop offerings, which introduced a few new products this fall, as we reported on our sister site Deli Market News.
The presentation also noted that as part of the Food Group acquisition, three distribution centers were divested to three buyers. The closure of the acquisition also means products and customers are officially in US Foods’ system, with the foodservice provider already planning how to leverage its bolstered operation.
“Our focus on profitable growth enabled us to deliver strong organic Adjusted EBITDA growth of 6.7 percent for the quarter,” continued Satriano. “We also delivered organic independent restaurant case growth of 4.2 percent as we continue to gain share with this target customer group.
According to a press release, US Foods’ third quarter fiscal 2019 highlights include the following:
- Total case volume increased 3.0 percent; independent restaurant case volume increased 6.3 percent
- Total organic case volume increased 0.9 percent; independent restaurant organic case volume increased 4.2 percent
- Net sales increased 6.1 percent to $6.5 billion; organic Net sales increased 4.0 percent to $6.4 billion
- Gross profit increased 4.3 percent to $1.2 billion
- Income from continuing operations before income taxes increased $4 million to $144 million
- Net income decreased $8 million to $106 million
- Adjusted EBITDA increased 8.5 percent to $307 million; organic Adjusted EBITDA increased 6.7 percent to $302 million
- Diluted EPS decreased 7.7 percent to $0.48; Adjusted Diluted EPS increased 12.1 percent to $0.65
To read the financial report in its entirety, click here. AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you ahead of the latest in foodservice and grocery retail.
WASHINGTON, DC - When recipes and food ideas are just a tap away, things can get either so overwhelming where we don’t know what to eat anymore, or we become less excited because there’s a possibility that there’s something better out there. And when consumers aren’t sure, companies and retailers scramble to find that one access point to drive that sale home. United Fresh understands that struggle and is back again with the fifth annual BrandStorm™, set to take place in Austin, Texas, on February 10-12 of 2020.
United Fresh will host a food media dialogue, moderated by Chadwick Boyd, Food & Lifestyle Expert, TV Host, and Owner of consumer brand consulting firm L&D Enterprises, at this year’s BrandStorm. The panel will address how produce brands can capture the attention of key media influencers to participate in the media environment. Leading food media outlets will debate what’s truly driving food influence in today’s culture.
“As fresh produce continues to elevate its stature in today’s food culture, it’s critical that we stay engaged with those who are driving the conversation and influencing the ways in which consumers adopt and enjoy fresh produce,” said Mary Coppola, United Fresh’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, in a press release. “We’re thrilled to elevate this topic of interest at BrandStorm and keep the dialogue front of mind for fresh produce brand marketers.”
Food Media Panelists Include:
- Carla Hall, American Chef and TV Personality, notably a Top Chef competitor, and co-host on ABC’s The Chew
- Melanie Hansche, Deputy Editor, Food & Wine Magazine
- Kristen Hartke, Food Writer, Washington Post/NPR The Salt
- Debra Puchalla, Senior Vice President of Digital Programming and Video, Food Network, The Cooking Channel, and Genius Kitchen
BrandStorm will take place at the University of Texas at Austin’s AT&T Hotel and Conference Center. The event boasts the only annual opportunity for produce marketers to gather to dive into marketing education, idea-sharing, and innovative dialogue with peers and colleagues alike. United Fresh members can attend BrandStorm for $695 with discounts offered to marketing teams (from the same company) at the reduced rate of $645 each when you register two or more colleagues. Non-members can attend for $895. United Fresh 2020 Conference and Expo exhibiting companies can send a first-time BrandStorm attendee for free as part of the 2020 Exhibitor Value Package.
Don't miss a single detail as we cover all the innovative and happening events.
CHARLOTTE, NC - As the world prepares for Disney’s Frozen 2, arriving in theaters November 22, Dole has been hard at work creating recipes inspired by Anna, Elsa, and Olaf. Plus, thanks to a number of fall- and Thanksgiving-friendly dishes created by Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, and Dole’s Nutrition and Health Communications Manager, Disney’s Frozen fans can plan the ultimate Kingdom of Arendelle-themed healthy holiday.
“Parts of Disney’s Frozen 2 have a distinctively autumn look and feel—which gave us a rich canvas of colors, flavors, and ingredients from which to draw recipe inspiration,” said Marcus. “Dole recipe developers created these dishes to reflect the film’s themes of family, fortitude, responsibility, and the power of nature and to help parents motivate their families to healthier eating—during the holidays and throughout the fall and winter season.”
The new recipes are as follows:
- Dole Icicles
- North Spirits Colada
- Kristoff Ice Box Cupcakes
- D-Olaf Orangesicle Pancakes
- Grand Pabbie Troll Turkey Dinner in a Pan
- Arendelle Autumn Apple Crisp
- Arendelle Royal Holiday Stuffing
- Banana Berry Snow Flurry
- Roll Your Own Snow Cone
All of these recipes are part of Dole’s “Empowering the Hero Within,” which gives families access to ways to include fresh fruits and vegetables in every meal. According to a press release, this latest Dole initiative celebrating Disney’s Frozen 2 is part of a multiyear nutritional alliance with The Walt Disney Company.
To make sure as many folks as possible see the new recipes, Dole is using print and digital placements, how-to recipe videos, and social enhancements. Other campaign elements include a dedicated campaign web page, digital banner ads, and a wintry deluge of social media posts. Dole is also partnering with family, health, and fitness bloggers and social influencers to host Disney’s Frozen 2-themed contests, recipe-development initiatives, and other programs.
Now through January 2020, shoppers will find images of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven, and Kristoff on millions of DOLE® Bananas and Pineapples at supermarkets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Disney and Dole fans can participate in the DOLE Banana Sticker Peel and Play Game by downloading the official activity sheet on www.dole.com/Disney and collecting the entire blizzard of 20 Disney’s Frozen 2-inspired stickers.
A whole flurry of offers await! Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in all things Frozen—I mean produce.
NEW YORK - Back in August, we reported on a monumental lawsuit that took the industry by storm. After at least seven fires broke out at Walmart stores, the company found that Tesla’s solar panels installed on the roofs were at fault, and demanded that they be removed at over 200 locations. Walmart filed an official lawsuit against Tesla, claiming “widespread, systematic negligence,” according to Reuters. The dust has finally settled this morning, as the two companies released a joint statement announcing the lawsuit’s resolution.
Tesla provided the statement early this morning, as Reuters reported, stating that the company was “pleased to have resolved the issues raised by Walmart” and that it anticipates “a safe re-energization of [its] sustainable energy systems.” Walmart previously sued Tesla for breach of contract on August 20, 2019, demanding that the solar panels be removed at over 240 of its stores. This has now been retracted.
This settlement is another win for sustainability initiatives across the industry. Because these two major companies came to a respectful agreement, they set an example for all environmental efforts moving forward. We extend our congratulations and thanks to Walmart and Tesla on setting this precedent.
For all of the latest updates in the industry, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
CASTROVILLE, CA - Ocean Mist® Farms is getting into the holiday spirit in a big way this season, after forming a new partnership with one of the biggest names in gift baskets. The grower has teamed up with well-known gourmet gift company Harry & David to offer long-stem artichoke gift packs throughout the holiday season.
“Over the years, shoppers have increasingly asked where they can find long-stem artichokes,” Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms, commented in a press release. “Because not all retailers carry long-stem artichokes, our partnership with Harry & David is a great way for us to make this item easily accessible during holiday season when we see interest spike.”
This seasonal partnership is part of Ocean Mist Farms’ continuing marketing initiatives to inform and educate consumers while promoting artichoke consumption. The grower’s marketing efforts work together to drive demand for Ocean Mist artichokes at the retail level.
Each Harry & David long-stem artichoke gift pack costs $29.99 and contains four long-stem artichokes. Shoppers can purchase the new gift packs through the Harry & David website, as well as using the grower’s Destini locator tool on its website to find this and other Ocean Mist products.
For more seasonal produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
MONTEREY, CA - The annual Organic Grower Summit is almost upon us! OGS will be held this year on December 4 and 5 in Monterey, CA, and California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and the Organic Produce Network (OPN) have been teasing incoming attendees with what’s to come. Most recently, CCOF and OPN will be honoring long-time organic growers Lundberg Family Farms as the recipient of the third annual Organic Grower Summit’s Grower of the Year award.
“We are honored to present the annual Grower of the Year award to the Lundberg family. Their decades-long work exemplifies what hardworking, passionate organic farming is all about,” said Greg Milstead, Director of Sales, Southwest Region for AGCO, the sponsor and presenter of the award.
According to the press release, Lundberg Family Farms was selected based on the company’s ongoing commitment and dedication to excellence in organic production and organic industry leadership and innovation. Grant Lundberg will accept the award on behalf of the entire Lundberg family at OGS.
“Not only has the Lundberg Family’s decades of work to encourage water conservation, rotate crops, grow cover crops, and use natural methods for pest control made them leaders in organic rice production and wildlife-friendly farming, but it has always found ways to share information about those practices with other organic farmers. This dedication to the environment and community is what makes the organic sector special, so the Lundberg Family could not be more deserving of the title of Grower of the Year,” said Kelly Damewood, CEO of CCOF.
Lundberg Family Farms has been committed to producing premium quality organic rice and rice products with earth sustainability in mind since 1937. Today, the third and fourth generations carry on the family heritage by using eco-positive farming methods that produce wholesome and organic rice-based products, while improving and protecting the environment for generations to come. The Lundberg Family will join Thaddeus Barsotti of Capay Organic (2017) and Vernon Peterson of Peterson Family Farms (2016) as the winners of this amazing award.
Attendee registration for OGS is $499, with discounts available for CCOF members. Registration to OGS is all-inclusive, and includes admittance to the opening reception, educational sessions, keynote presentations, breakfast and lunch, and trade show floor. Attendees can also receive CEU for their attendance in a series of educational sessions on December 4-5.
Over 50 sponsors have confirmed their support of OGS and the tradeshow floor is sold out. Exhibitors include soil amendment, bio-pesticide, seed, packaging, food safety, Ag technology, and equipment manufacturers who will be connecting with organic field production staff, supply chain managers, pest management advisors, and food safety experts.
Don’t miss out on this exciting event! Keep following us here at AndNowUKnow as we bring you more updates to come.
HOUSTON, TX - Over the last fiscal year, Sysco undertook multiple acquisitions, facility expansions, and new product offerings—which we reported on our sister site, Deli Market News. All of these developments seem to have placed the foodservice distributor in an advantageous position to start out 2020, after it recently revealed that its first quarter fiscal 2020 results has improved both of its top and bottom lines.
“We saw improved financial results in the first quarter with adjusted operating income growth that was in line with our expectations, as we remain focused on accelerating local case growth and maintaining our strong track record of expense management,” said Tom Bené, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, in a recent press release. “As we look forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary this fiscal year, we remain committed to meeting the changing needs of our customers and supporting their continued growth.”
Highlights from the first quarter included:
- Sales increased 0.6 percent to $15.3 billion
- Gross profit increased 1.4 percent to $2.9 billion; gross margin increased 15 basis points Operating income increased 6.4 percent to $668.3 million; adjusted operating income increased 7.3 percent to $741.9 million
- EPS increased $0.06 to $0.87; adjusted EPS increased $0.08 to $0.98
So where is the company's next strike against possible decline? In the company’s earnings call, Joel Grade, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, noted that the quarterly results fall in line with Sysco’s current expectations. Notably, growing cases in customers segments, increasing Sysco brand penetration, and a strong track record of managing expenses has only kept Sysco on track to meet its three-year financial plan.
To view the entirety of Sysco's financial report, click here.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - We all know that health is an important aspect of life, but sometimes we forget to check in with our bodies to make sure we’re actively staying healthy. So, when events that focus on pursuing that comes along, the industry jumps on board. On October 26, the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) in partnership with Fleishman Hillard hosted What’s In Store, an event geared toward retail dietitians, the people working on the front lines to ensure that shoppers find that healthy balance. Limoneira was able to partake in this massively successful event and benefitted from the discussions, networking, and resources available to colleagues across the country.
“We were excited to hear from the 50 plus retail dietitians that attended the What’s In Store event. They are passionate about their work and were happy to hear how Limoneira can support their efforts,” John Chamberlain, Vice President of Marketing at Limoneira, shared with me from his day at the event. “Retail dietitians are on the front lines in the effort to get grocery shoppers—and consumers in general—healthy.”
RDBA serves as the professional group to the more than 800 retail dietitians throughout the U.S. and Canada that work for or consult to supermarket chains, helping customers and employees with food, culinary, and nutrition issues.
“Because most buying decisions are made at the point-of-purchase, retail dietitians can have a direct impact on healthier food options ending up in the grocery cart,” Annette Maggi, MS, RD, LD, FAND, and Executive Director of RDBA, said. “This event provides an opportunity for companies like Limoneira to partner with these retail health influencers for positive health and business outcomes.”
The organization’s mission is to foster the continuing business education and career development of current and future retail dietitians because it believes retail dietitians are uniquely positioned to profoundly impact public health while at the same time supporting the business of food retail. And Limoneira took note. The company’s new app, The Produce Department is Nature's Pharmacy™—part of Limoneira’s campaign, Take A Healthy Stand™— was featured prominently to much appreciation.
“At Limoniera, we know that good health and maintaining balance continues to be important to all of us, and that produce and citrus can be critical to this balance,” said Harold Edwards, President and CEO of Limoneria. “We understand that people are busy and looking for solutions that are easy to incorporate into their busy lives, and The Produce Department at Nature's Pharmacy app does just that.”
Limoneira cross-tabulated 57 health concerns (such as the need to increase good cholesterol, prevent cardiovascular disease, or ease insomnia) as well as desired outcomes (including improving energy levels or reducing wrinkles) with 74 fruits and vegetables commonly found in grocery stores. These items contain essential vitamins and minerals that address these concerns or help with desired outcomes. By selecting a concern or outcome, the app then generates foods in the produce aisle that can help consumers achieve their health goals.
“The app is just one of several educational platforms to be launched as part of Limoneira’s new Take a Healthy Stand platform, which showcases the many ways that citrus and produce can play a role in helping to alleviate serious health issues and enhance personal appearance and wellbeing,” John explained. “The foundation underpinning Limoneira's Take A Healthy Stand is consumer-friendly messaging supported by research by the Institute of National Health and other objective organizations.”
Essentially, the app is pretty much a game changer: By consuming all the health benefits right at the source, shoppers will be able to focus more on their shopping needs. This convenience is available at their fingertips, thanks to the app, right in the produce aisle.
“The Produce Department is Nature's Pharmacy and Take a Healthy Stand are important components of the Food as Medicine movement taking hold nationwide,” said Megan Roosevelt, a Limoneira nutritionist and Founder and CEO of Healthy Grocery Girl®. “Food as Medicine maintains that fresh, healthy produce such as lemons can help avoid an expensive and perhaps less effective trip to the grocery department's supplement aisle.”
The app can be found on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For the latest in produce meets tech, keep reading ANUK.
YERINGTON, NV - Out in the onion fields of Yerington, Nevada, it’s calm…too calm. But like the eerie silence blanketing a long winter freeze, the composed landscape often paints a deceptive picture of what’s to come—like a sudden snow flurry or, say, a holiday shopping scramble. As I chatted with Jessica Peri, Retail Sales Manager, one cold October morning, I got the impression that Peri & Sons Farms is facing a similar scene to the above mentioned as it awaits the expected craziness of the winter holidays.
“Harvest is wrapped up, with no major issues to report. We don’t have this season’s crop fully in storage just yet, but we’re getting close. Everything looks good: quality, yields, and sizing—except for the fact that business hasn’t quite kicked in yet since Thanksgiving is later this year,” Jessica shared with me. “There’s a lot of supply, but not enough demand. I’m looking forward to demand picking up in the next couple of weeks, which will give pricing a lift as well.”
Like a dining room prepped for a Thanksgiving meal, Peri & Sons Farms has everything immaculately in place for a great onion season. In addition to good quality, yields, and sizing, Jessica revealed that the grower recently increased its acreage, which resulted in more onions ready to market this year than last.
Even the weather hasn’t thrown a wrench into Peri & Sons Farms’ season. Jessica noted that the company just experienced its first cold spell, but it is too early to tell if it will have any effect on the onions. This is partly because Peri & Sons Farms hand-harvests its onions, meaning the current onions in the field are in burlap sacks—i.e. they’re exposed to the cold but have an extra layer of protection. This, Jessica explained, will help the grower’s supply and market stay steady once the holiday season officially ramps up.
“While the market isn’t very active at the moment, we’re expecting to not experience a slowdown until February. In a week or two, Thanksgiving shopping will pick up, followed by the winter holiday demand, then the health and wellness push in January. Since we’re already at those high levels of production, we’re not going backwards and will instead stay pretty steady until well into February,” Jessica said.
And the holidays aren’t the only thing Peri & Sons Farms is celebrating this winter. This year, the company also rang in its 40th anniversary via a brand refresh and the launch of a new consumer awareness program for Nevada Whites™.
“Our white onions are what we’re known for, so it was a natural fit to introduce a new program,” Jessica noted, before concluding: “We’re also doing special promotions through the holidays. A few of our popular varieties like our Sunions and Sweetie Sweets are joining the holiday fun and experiencing good growth, so we’re excited about that this season, as well.”
As that deceptively calm onion landscape breaks into sweet holiday chaos—the good kind that means shoppers are buying the crucial variety in droves—AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the state of the market.