SALINAS, CA - Just as much as the quality of the produce is important, so to is the vehicle transporting it. Healthy Trailer believes in this concept and has been working with Lighthouse Food Quality and Safety to conceptualize a thorough and safe cleaning process for all trailers. That partnership has led to the conclusion of the first phase of a 3rd-party verification of its patent-pending trailer cleaning process.
“If we are going to talk about keeping food safe from Farm to Fork, it is critical to understand what is necessary to keep food safe during the transportation segment of the supply chain,” stated Pam Young, Manager and one of the Founders of Healthy Trailers. “Healthy Trailer's project is a big first step in helping the fresh produce industry appreciate the value of making sure the trailers transporting product are clean.”
Trailer sanitation in the food transport industry hasn’t always taken the spotlight much in food safety, but lately, it has become an increasingly hot topic. Fresh produce suppliers and receivers are beginning to take a serious look at the supply chain, not only because it is the law (FSMA’s Sanitary Transportation Rule), but also because consumers have expectations that their fresh produce is traveling in clean trailers. And honestly, that’s not something I thought would be a concern for me until today.
According to the press release, the purpose of this microbial evaluation in trailer sanitation was two-fold. The first objective was to establish the levels of microbial population. Second was to demonstrate that the Healthy Trailer process did effectively reduce the microbial load. As hoped, the results were positive, both good and bad.
Evaluations have shown that both field trailers (equipment used to transport fresh field product from farm to processing plant) and OTRs (long haul trailers loading fresh produce for deliveries to foodservice, retail, and wholesale businesses) do contain varying levels of microbial population. Test samples were taken from each of these trailers before and after the cleaning process, and the data demonstrates that the Healthy Trailer process does reduce microbial levels. This patent-pending process combines multiple spray bars, forced air drying, and germicidal UV lamps. This critical piece of FSMA compliance adds peace of mind for those who need to know that their fresh produce is transported in a clean trailer.
Seeing as the first phase was a success, what is next for Healthy Trailer? Keep reading ANUK as we cover everything involved in the produce world.
WASHINGTON, DC - Even though today is the dawn of Halloween, we are already looking ahead to 2020. United Fresh Produce Association announced that it will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to Emanuel Lazopoulos, former Senior Vice President of Del Monte Fresh Produce, at the 2020 FreshStart Conference’s Gala Dinner, Wednesday, January 15, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. Lazopoulos joins a distinguished group of past recipients, including Ron Carkoski, Hugh Topper, Bruce McEvoy, Rick and Tonya Antle, Mike Cavallero, Joe Procacci, Reggie Griffin, Frieda Caplan, and Bob Grimm.
“Emanuel has been the consummate professional role model in the produce industry, not only in advancing Del Monte during his tenure there, but serving as a leader throughout his career to move the industry forward,” said Tom Stenzel, President and CEO. “We are delighted to celebrate Emanuel’s decades of impact, and I encourage the industry to help us honor him at the FreshStart Conference in January.”
Lazopoulos began his journey at Del Monte in 2003 as Vice President of Value-Added/Fresh Cut, and after 18 months, was promoted to Senior Vice President of North America. During his tenure, Lazopoulos was instrumental in growing all aspects of Del Monte’s North American business, including avocado growth, banana and pineapple sales, fresh-cut operation expansion across the region, and the recent acquisition of Mann Packing. Prior to Del Monte, he held numerous leadership positions, serving as Chairman of the United Fresh Board of Directors and a member of the United Fresh Start Foundation’s Board of Directors, the Produce Marketing Association’s Retail Board, and the Produce for Better Health Foundation Board of Directors.
His career began at Castle & Cooke/Dole Foods in Philadelphia in 1979 after graduating from the University of Delaware. He was promoted to Eastern Division Sales Manager for Dole Fresh Vegetables, then moved to Salinas, California, as National Sales Manager and subsequently Vice President of Sales. After a short stint with Salyer American, Lazopoulos moved back East to help establish Banacol bananas and DNA Plant Technology operations through Fresh World Farms. He was one of three founding partners in NewStar Fresh Foods, where he served as Managing Director. He has been married to his college sweetheart, Laura, for 41 years. They have three married daughters and three grandchildren.
In addition to the Gala Dinner, the United Fresh Start Foundation’s annual event will feature the Growing Up Fresh golf tournament, the Bids for Kids silent and live auction, and a half-day of education. United Fresh will also hold all of its committee, council, and board meetings at the conference, which are open to all members to observe. Registration, including the gala dinner, is $295 for members, or $495 for non-members. Registration for the Growing Up Fresh Golf Tournament is $300, with proceeds going to support the United Fresh Start Foundation. To register, click here.
Congratulations to Emanuel Lazopoulos on this exciting honor!
TYSONS, VA - Whole Foods Market is a grocer known for innovation, and while the retailer has been testing smaller-format stores, it is not a singular direction. The grocer recently opened a new store on the East Coast that is the largest it has built in the region. Located in Tysons, Virginia, the new flagship store will contain all the usual bells and whistles of its other stores, but with even more features to offer consumers.
“We’re thrilled to expand our presence in the DC Metro area with the opening of our newest store in Northern Virginia,” said Carl DePree, Store Team Leader. “We look forward to providing the community—including residents and those coming through the transportation hub of Tysons Corner—with access to an expansive selection of fresh and innovative offerings, high quality food and drink options from many local partners, as well as a space to gather with friends and enjoy a meal or a drink at High Point, our in-store pub and game room.”
The 70,000 square-foot store will feature fresh produce, grocery items from local suppliers, a pub and game room, and a food hall offering a range of culinary experiences from Friends of Whole Foods Market Partners, a press release stated.
All of the locally-sourced foods, natural and organic grocery items, and grab-and-go prepared foods will meet Whole Foods’ rigorous quality standards, which prohibit high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats.
Some of the store’s offerings and features include:
- Fresh produce department featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with selections from several local growers of categories including apples, squash, and mums
- A self-serve pineapple coring machine
- JRINK, a full-service juice bar serving up superfood smoothies using Apothékary herbal blends, smoothie bowls, cold-pressed juices, and other functional tonics
- Prepared foods, including sandwiches, pizza, house-made tandoori Indian cuisine, salads, hot entrées, barbecue, and a full-service deli for charcuterie
- Thousands of locally-sourced products from suppliers across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC
The new store’s food hall includes a variety of tempting options, including:
- Officina: Founded by Michelin Star Chef Nicholas Stefanelli, the eatery offers modern interpretations of classic Italian food, with a focus on pastries and pasta, such as bucatini all'amatriciana, handmade beef ravioli, and polpette-veal meatballs with tomato and parmigiano
- Genji Izakaya: Serves an Izakaya-style menu featuring sushi, poke, dumplings, and various ramen bowls, including a new spicy “angry chicken ramen”
- Curiosity Doughnuts: The brainchild of the creative duo, Aki Kamozawa and Alex Talbot, Curiosity Doughnuts offers all 11 different dough styles to create daily-made, flavor-obsessed doughnuts
- Rappahannock Oyster Co.: A Virginia-based company that serves its very own farm-raised oysters, with a mission to celebrate good food grown well. The eatery features Rappahannock’s signature crab cakes and Barcat Oyster Chowder, along with non-seafood offerings, including salad and the company’s highly lauded Rapp Burger
This merging of fresh and foodservice, all in an enormous location, positions Whole Foods Market as a major competitor in the Mid-Atlantic region. Will there be other grocers who will move in on the region with their own behemoth stores? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
FELLSMERE, FL - Is kale poised to enjoy a resurgence of its 2014-15 fame? If B&W Quality Growers has anything to say about it, yes, and those new sweaters and t-shirts will be in red.
The company has seen such demand for the scarlet sibling of the superfood that it is now launching a foodservice option to treat menus to that success.
“Country clubs and restaurants love red kale because of the vibrant color and distinctive taste that it has, but there are not many companies offering a true red leaf kale,” Nikki Hartman, Marketing Manager, says. “The red kale is ultimately flavor-neutral, it does not have the same bitter taste as traditional green kale, so it is much more versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes to add color and nutrition. These vibrant and versatile leaves will brighten up any salad bar, smoothie, sandwich, or entrée with the same amazing health benefits as traditional green kale."
The foodservice offering comes in a 1.5 lb bag, one bag per case, and because B&W has been using red kale in its Power 4 blend, it is already available year-round.
"The red kale has been very well received by the industry—people are constantly impressed by the amazing taste and deep rich color. After receiving such positive feedback from consumers and chefs, we decided to market it as a standalone item,” Nikki shares.
Beautiful, ready to eat, and packed with powerful vitamins and antioxidants, these baby leaves come with the same high standards as all B&W’s offerings. It is in the name, after all!
“B&W is very proactive in making sure that the red kale, along with all of our other product offerings, uphold the superior quality that we have maintained for the past 150 years. All of our products have incredibly tight specs, paired with post-harvest procedures that are second-to-none,” Nikki assures me.
With a new option to add one of America’s most show-stopping colors to the plate, I think it’s safe to say chefs are about to start seeing red.
NORTH AMERICA - New labor legislation is beginning to take form, with the introduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. On Wednesday, Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced the bipartisan bill, which would provide legal status for long-term agricultural workers, make improvements to the H-2A visa program, and ensure security by requiring that agricultural employers participate in the E-Verify program.
“I want to thank Chairwoman Lofgren and Congressman Dan Newhouse for their leadership in introducing this bill. Joined by a broad, bipartisan group of legislators, these two members have reached an agreement that will reform our immigration system for generations to come,” said Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association. “More work is needed to improve this legislation, but in a time where Washington can’t seem to agree on anything, these members have stepped forward and recognized that the challenge of immigration reform is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem, it is an American problem, and we need to fix it.”
Many in the produce industry stand in favor of the new legislation and consider it to be an important step forward toward addressing the challenges faced by the fresh produce industry with regards to labor availability.
“The Farm Workforce Modernization Act addresses two critical needs for American agriculture—to retain existing, experienced workers, and to ensure a reliable future flow of guest workers,” Western Growers President and CEO, Tom Nassif, commented. “Furthermore, after a satisfactory transition period, the bill includes E-Verify for agricultural employers, demonstrating the commitment our industry has made toward a long-term labor solution.”
Nassif expressed gratitude to the two Representatives proposing the bill for addressing the current agricultural labor crisis in a bipartisan manner and putting focus on the needs of those in the industry.
“The Farm Workforce Modernization Act has the resounding support of the agriculture community and contains principles that have historically received backing on both sides of the aisle. We, along with our Congressional champions and partners in the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, commit ourselves to moving the Farm Workforce Modernization Act forward this legislative session,” Nassif said in a press release, which can be read in its entirety here.
California Citrus Mutual was supportive of the legislation as well, seeing the move as a step toward securing a legal workforce now and in the future, while also providing security and stability to its employees.
"This legislation is critical to the sustainability of the fresh produce industry and our continued ability to grow fresh and healthy citrus products in California,” said Casey Creamer, President of California Citrus Mutual, in a press release. “The existing system is out-of-date and does not meet the needs of employers or employees. We must put aside political differences and create a reasonable solution. California Citrus Mutual remains committed to working with our partners, Representative Lofgren, and members of Congress to resolve outstanding concerns and reach a deal that can supported in the United States Senate and signed by the President.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this legislation as it unfolds.
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM - The C in Kayla Mackenzie Webb stands for Cat, as in capital-S capital-C Scaredy-Cat. Ever since I was yay high, I’ve fled from all things that go bump in the night. A friend to fiends? An acquaintance to apparitions? A bud to the Babadook? No, no, and no. I prefer to get chummy with all things cutesy tootsie, which means ghouls that say “hellOO!” instead of “Boo!”
If spooky szn™ hasn’t always been up your alley for a similar reason, then you’ve clicked to the right article! This Halloween, we’re forgoing tricks to give you, beloved ANUK readers, a real treat! All October long, we’ve been probing the newswire for festive pumpkin news that really tugs at our heartstrings and what we’ve come up with is a list of our favorite gourd-themed stories starring none other than the cuddly wuddlies of the animal kingdom!
Without further ado, in no particular order, here are some pumpkin stories that will make you saw “Aw!” instead of “AH!” this fine Hallows-Eve morning.
It’s Freakin' Bats!
Full disclosure, I’m sobbing because of this series of photos from a zoo in Kiev. I never knew I needed a photo of a coven of turtles hosting a séance around a jack-o-lantern, but now it’s my wallpaper. Also, unpopular opinion: But bats are amazing and wonderful creatures that should be loved and revered rather than treated like vermin—especially the one posing with the orange veg like it’s serving face on a cover of Vogue. Also, the elephant-to-pumpkin ratio!? Be still my heart.
The Cutest Thief to Ever Exist in the History of Heists
This adorable bear followed the smell of Halloween spirit all the way to someone’s front porch, where a pumpkin ripe for the picking awaited. Not wasting any time, the bear tumbles the gourd down the steps and to—I’m assuming, based off of my limited bear knowledge—its cave. Listen, this bear can pilfer from my porch anytime.
The Photoshoot to End All Photoshoots
If this is what National Geographic photographers get to shoot all day then sign me the heck up! The heavens—or hell, since its Halloween!—aligned for Swedish photographer Geert Weggen, who managed to capture two tiny squirrels playing with none other than a jack-o-lantern. One picture even depicts one of the little fluffers donning the lantern as a helmet—presumably because he’s about to ride into battle on a trusty skeleton steed. (Steed not pictured!)
Big or Small, All Cats Are The Same
I can’t get behind owning any sort of wildlife as a pet…but carve my pumpkin and call me a jack-o-lantern (runner-up: dissect my cadaver and call me a corpse), I’m a hypocrite: I think this big ol’ fella would get along great with my housecats. The North Carolina sanctuary resident was caught on camera treating a pumpkin like its tinier relatives treat toy mice. Don’t worry, the wailing you hear isn’t what’s haunting your attic—it’s just me in my orange chair at the ANUK office.
I hope you’re donning a grin as garish as a carved gourd because we sure are after this news-trip!
If you happen to be participating in today’s great holiday—whether that be by playing with pumpkins like our above mentioned furry friends or dressed up as a furry friend yourself—be sure to send a photo of you and the team to [email protected] to be featured in our annual Halloween yearbook.
May you have a happy, safe, and, most importantly, cute Halloween, produce industry friends! We’ll see you next year!
KEASBEY, NJ - Something about the word “acquisition” makes our ears perk up over here at ANUK. That’s why we’re eager to get the news out about Wakefern Food Corp.’s most recent move. The company reeled in New Jersey-based Nicholas Markets, owned by the Maniaci Family, making it the 51st family to join Wakefern’s cooperative.
“We are excited to welcome another member into our Wakefern family,” stated Joseph Colalillo, Chairman and CEO. “Nicholas Markets is a strong addition to our cooperative. David and his associates are deeply committed to serving their communities and providing exceptional quality and fresh prepared foods to their customers.”
According to a press release, Nicholas Markets operates four stores in North Haledon, Cedar Grove, Colonia, and the Township of Washington, NJ, under the Foodtown banner. After the deal is finalized, the stores will be rebranded as The Fresh Grocer, a Wakefern trademark. Currently there are nine The Fresh Grocer stores, with eight stores located in the greater Philadelphia area and one in Wilmington, Deleware.
“Adding Nicholas Markets stores to The Fresh Grocer banner strengthens Wakefern’s competitive position in northern New Jersey,” said Joe Sheridan, Wakefern President and COO. “Membership in our cooperative allows independent operators to maintain their entrepreneurial spirit while benefiting from the scale and services Wakefern offers. We look forward to welcoming the Maniaci family to Wakefern.”
The Maniaci family has been part of the Allegiance Retail Services, LLC cooperative, operating Nicholas Markets as Foodtown. You could say it’s a family affair, as Nicholas Markets was founded in 1943 by Rocco and Nicholas Maniaci, grandfather and father of David Maniaci, who is the current President and CEO.
“The competitive landscape in New Jersey has grown fierce in recent years,” said Maniaci. “I believe Wakefern’s deep roots in the state will help me navigate this and other challenges facing the supermarket industry. I leave the Foodtown cooperative at a time when it is strong and thriving. It has seen significant growth to its membership base and store count over the past decade.”
Will Wakefern be nabbing more acquisitions? For more on industry updates, stay plugged into AndNowUKnow.
ANAHEIM, CA - With year-over-year debuts in the produce industry, I have to pause and remember the wonder behind it. Most research and development results are anywhere from two to five years in the making, a fact that has me astonished at every unveiling. So when an entire line, or multiple new additions to separate lines, are announced all at once, it is a cause for wonder.
The Little Potato Company did all of the above, introducing not only its new Easy Sides line of nearly ready-to-eat potatoes, but also a new flavor to its Microwave Ready line.
“We have a really robust marketing team, and we have a lot of great programs built around creating more usage for Creamer potatoes and making parents lives easier,” Christa Wagner, Director of Advertising and Promotions, recently shared with me. “Our Microwave Ready line has been wildly successful because you can cook it in five minutes, and this new Lemon & Garden Herb Microwave Ready kit flavor is refreshing. It’s zesty, it’s light, and lemon is such a natural complement to potatoes.”
The Easy Sides line takes this one step further, bringing convenience and flavor exploration to the next level.
“What is driving our Easy Sides is, of course, the constant need for convenience. Today’s consumer is super busy, dinner continues to be a challenge every single day, so we looked at how we can help them get dinner on the table,” Christa said.
Easy Sides certainly meets that need in that they are pre-seasoned and are available in the following four flavors:
- Onion and Garlic
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper
- Paprika and Bell Pepper
- Sweet Bell and Onion
They are also pre-cut and pre-cooked, as well, responding to research found about consumers and their spuds.
“We found that people just don’t know what to do with potatoes. They also find potatoes, in general, can be complicated and take too much time,” Christa explained. “So, we decided with Easy Sides to take all of that complication out. You just open up the package, put it in a hot pan on your stove top, and you have sizzle-crispy potatoes in seven minutes.”
It all circles back to getting the word out that potatoes are more versatile and fun than consumers might think, and The Little Potato Company is having a great time showing them just that.
“We get to make potatoes fun and playful, and we enjoy doing it! Everyone loves them, but there are a lot of myths that go with potatoes that we have to bust, but it has helped us to really grow,” Christa said.
One of the many avenues in which that growth is taking place is through partnerships, and The Little Potato Company is excited to be as versatile as the category it represents.
“We are a growing brand and, as a potato brand, we recognize that most people eat potatoes with something else. So, we would love to partner with another company that would accompany a Little potato, be on top of a potato, or have a potato in it!” she laughed. “Anything in which our two brands or ingredients complement each other, we would love to talk about and explore.”
Most recently, the company worked on a cross-promotion with Litehouse refrigerated dressings, an experience that resulted in fantastic consumer redemption and positive returns for all involved. As for retailers in need of some inspiration, the team has your back there as well.
“We have holiday promotions, a football and a summer sizzle program, and we are still growing. If you don’t know about this, please reach out to us—we are excited to partner with more retailers in helping to create more of a scene around Little potatoes, especially as Thanksgiving and the holidays approach,” Christa said.
Easy Sides are now available across the U.S. and in Canada, with more and more regions popping up in distribution every day. As we continue to report on the latest and greatest in our industry, keep following AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY - In today’s market, consumers have more choices than ever before. The brick-and-mortar retail space continues to evolve, and online grocers have also broken into the mainstream, so what can companies do to stand out amongst heavy competition? Imperfect Foods (née Imperfect Produce) has taken its wildly successful produce-centric business model and expanded it to include other pantry and grocery items—a shrewd move considering the rebranding is likely to secure further brand loyalty by offering customers a one-stop shop. Building on its current momentum, Imperfect Foods has also hit a major milestone, recently launching its services in New York City for the first time.
"We're thrilled to officially rebrand to Imperfect Foods and hit the ground running in New York. New York is the epicenter of food and culture, and we're excited to work with the community here to tackle inefficiencies in the food system while providing quality groceries to customers' doors,” Reilly Brock, Content Manager, told me. “Now, having rolled out expanded grocery, dairy, and protein options, Imperfect is excited to start this new chapter and give consumers from coast-to-coast an accessible way to save more on all their groceries while fighting food waste."
Ever since its inception as Imperfect Produce in 2015, the company has been delivering “ugly”—but perfectly delicious—produce straight to consumers in an effort to tackle the industry-wide food waste issue. About 40 percent of all food sourced goes uneaten, and 33 percent of food that is grown is either unharvested or left behind in the fields because growers aren’t sure of what to do with produce that doesn’t meet standard aesthetic requirements, according to the company. For Imperfect Foods, these statistics were a call to action, and since the company launched, it has recovered 80 million pounds of food that would have otherwise been wasted.
However, as Imperfect Foods continued to evolve, it became clear that produce was not the only category of food that has a waste problem. All too often, shelf-stable and grocery items don’t make it out of the warehouse due to changes in labeling and design, inefficiencies in the supply chain, and inconsistencies with date labels. This was an opportunity for the company to continue expanding and add to its stable of consumer offerings, as well as make a dent in a problem affecting the entire industry. Today, Imperfect Foods has branched out beyond produce to offer items like grains, nuts, dairy, protein, beverages, and more.
The company is not only expanding its product offerings, it is expanding into new markets as well, including the rich customer base of New York City. Residents of the city will now have access to Imperfect Foods’ affordable grocery subscription boxes, so they can save money, save time, and do good. The NYC market is more than just lucrative, it is a concentrated region of consumers who could make a significant dent in the amount of food waste the city produces. Imperfect Foods estimates that if just 2,500 NYC residents sign up, the community would recover 26,450 pounds of produce each week, and over one million pounds of produce per year.
Launching brands in new cities can be tricky, but Imperfect Foods has put real effort into respecting and enriching its new community. The company will be partnering with Mast Brothers and Brooklyn Delhi, both NYC natives, to provide its new customers local products and support New York food producers. Imperfect Foods is also looking to bolster its new community with charitable efforts. Since the beginning, the company has donated over three million pounds of food to over 117 food banks and nonprofit partners, and as part of its NYC launch, Imperfect Foods will be partnering with New York-based organization, Edible Schoolyard, to continue fighting food waste while supporting the community.
With expanded offerings beyond produce and taking bold steps into new markets, Imperfect Foods might have hit on a winning combination—produce producers, take note. AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the evolution of the industry.
SOLEDAD, CA - Growth is not only a vision for Braga Fresh, it is a well thought out mission and strategic plan as the company looks to the rest of 2019 with excitement. The company and Pure Pacific Organics, LLC—an affiliated company of Pacific International Marketing—have announced an agreement regarding the sale of the Pure Pacific processing facility in Gonzales, California, to Braga Fresh.
"We have been a longstanding grower for Pacific, and we are honored to build on that relationship with having the opportunity to co-pack for them,” Rod Braga, President and CEO of Braga Fresh, said. "We are excited to join this new facility with our current location in Salinas, California, to meet our future growth needs."
The value-added and leafy greens pioneer is looking forward to welcoming Pure Pacific's employees to the Braga Fresh team and working toward a common vision with Pure Pacific's customers as well.
"It's important for us to make sure we continue to provide the best service to our customers and to make sure our employees are taken care of,” Dave Johnson, President of Pacific International Marketing.
Congrats to Braga Fresh on the recent acquisition and the exciting road ahead as we close out an epic 2019!