WASHINGTON - I can always tell when fall has begun, not by the changing of the leaves, but by an apple-filled Instagram feed! One apple that has shaken up not only my feed, but the industry at large is the Envy™ apple, which T&G Global is anticipating will deliver on the “ideal eating experience” with a beautifully-balanced sweetness, orchard-fresh crispness, and delightfully-satisfying crunch. With the season looking bright, T&G Global and Envy’s North American sales agents, Oppy, CMI Orchards, and Rainier Fruit Co, are all feeling optimistic about the season. Here’s why…
“The growing season finished well, and harvest is underway; so far, the fruit coming off the trees looks excellent and should enable a smooth transition from a strong New Zealand import season,” said Chris Willett, General Manager at EnzaFruit Products, T&G’s Wenatchee, Washington-based branch. “We feel Envy demand—customer and consumer—has escalated during the last few years, and our research helped confirm it rises to the always evolving shopper preference; a unique sweet/tart balance, firm and juicy texture, and beautiful white, interior flesh.”
This past year, a mild Washington summer following a cold spring placed little stress on the fruit and, as a result, the Envy will be offered with a smaller size profile—ideal for the variety. According to a press release, the larger crop and Envy’s leading storage abilities mean a consistently fresh Washington experience—supported by summertime import fruit—for the robust, year-round shopper demand. In addition to Washington, the New Zealand-born varietal also experiences year-round production in Chile, Europe, and New Zealand.
On top of a great growing season in Washington, the Envy is also expected to increase in volume: with 2019/2020 domestic conventional volume expected to increase by nearly 40 percent and organics by more than 50 percent, compared to last year. Year-on-year production spikes are also forecasted through 2025, with 150 percent more fruit expected to be harvested this season. These volume increases will elevate Envy to a mainstream premium status at retail, bolstered even more by strong year-round availability, merchandising, and promotional opportunities.
Over in British Columbia, Oppy is also excited about the Envy apple’s upcoming fall season, noting targeted, sales-driving, in-store programs as ways to capitalize on the increased volumes.
“As always, there’s great anticipation among our customers for the fresh-crop Enza varieties,” said Roger Aguirre, Oppy’s Apple Category Director. “Envy continues to shine, and provide clarity, as a category driver in the crowded apple set. It is the No. 2 apple in the category for YOY-dollar and—volume gains, with only near 5 percent of the premium apples segment. We believe it can perform even better with consistent placement and the exciting, customer promotions planned for the season.”
But the Envy apple isn’t the only variety T&G Global is expecting to lead the category this fall. The JAZZ™ apple, available now through March, is also one to watch as it has grown 60 percent versus last season in the organic category. Due to its smaller size, JAZZ is the ideal snack or lunchbox apple, with bagged programs taking a front seat this fall.
Pacific Rose™—a large, pink- skinned, sweet apple favored in export and niche domestic markets—rounds out T&G Global’s Washington portfolio, with the company expecting the variety to take the category home for the winter holiday promotions.
For more fresh produce news like this, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
CHICAGO, IL - For all you avocado lovers out there, I’ve got some exciting news: Hazel Technologies has officially announced its partnership with WP Produce to bring Desbry brand tropical avocados to the U.S. For us over here in the States that can’t seem to get enough of this superfruit, this is also a win for us.
“WP Produce has been an industry leader in the tropical avocado market for decades, and we are continuously searching for new ways to further improve the supply chain for our premium-quality tropical avocados,” commented Chris Gonzalez, Vice President of Sales at WP Produce. “Tropical avocados have become increasingly popular with consumers, who enjoy the fresh flavor, firmer texture, and addition to the avocado category that these varieties provide. So, as we sought to expand our distribution throughout the U.S. and Canada, we knew a partnership with Hazel Technologies would help us ensure all our customers from the East to West Coasts would receive high-quality fruit with longer shelf life at retail.”
According to a press release, the partnership has resulted in over a year of research with the WP Produce supply chain with fruit originating from Florida as well as the Dominican Republic. Hazel™ packaging for the avocados maintained quality and shelf life and helped reduce shrink and food waste of Desbry tropical avocados.
“The feedback from our commercial trials has been phenomenal,” Gonzalez continued. “Our retail partners saw an additional 4-5 days of shelf life, an improvement of up to 40 percent, and were thrilled by the reduced shrink this provided. In addition to the performance, what really sold us was the ease of use; our packers simply need to include one Hazel packet in each carton, without needing to invest in additional setup, equipment, or training.”
Hazel’s sachets have shown to slow down the ripening process post-harvest, ensuring the same fabulous avocado from start to finish when it reaches consumers. The USDA-funded avo-saver also plays an important role in reducing produce wasted due to loss in quality or appearance.
“Our partnership with WP Produce, a premier tropical avocado grower and packer for over 35 years, is further evidence of how many different types of avocados can enjoy longer shelf life and maintain quality with our technology," commented Aidan Mouat, CEO and Co-Founder at Hazel Technologies. “The data-driven validation from the customers of WP Produce shows that using Hazel Tech can have a real impact increasing sales and reducing food waste for retailers handling avocados.”
As more and more companies take part in this sustainable and innovative product, the more the earth is left in a better place for the future. What other innovations are yet to be made? Find out with us at ANUK.
JALISCO, MEXICO - We’ve all heard the age-old adage that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In this case, the whole is a world in which the agriculture industry is optimized, and the parts include a wide array of companies working toward this goal. BlueDrop Mexico and Consalo Family Farms are two of such companies and have recently partnered up to pool their efforts. The partnership will consist of marketing and distributing BlueDrop blueberries and other fresh products in the United States and Canada with a seamless end-to-end integration.
"This new partnership provides us with clarity throughout the distribution chain and provides retail customers as well as consumers the freshest blueberries available," Hector Bonilla, Chairman of the Board of BlueDrop Companies, announced at the Grower and Investor meeting.
According to a press release, BlueDrop is one of the largest producers of blueberries, organic bananas, and other agricultural products in Mexico, with production encompassing over 52,000 acres. BlueDrop is also known for its proprietary varieties, technology, and sustainable environmental practices.
"This partnership will have 
unprecedented benefits for BlueDrop and its entire network throughout Mexico. The Consalo Family has a long history of integrity, successful growing, marketing, and distribution of fresh blueberries as well as other quality fruit and vegetables to retailers in the eastern U.S. and Canada," said Franz Meiners, Managing Director at BlueDrop.
New Jersey-based grower Consalo is currently spearheaded by third and fourth generation family members.
"We are very excited about partnering with a company of BlueDrop's magnitude. The growth that we envision in not only the blueberry category but across multiple other produce categories is something that we feel will greatly benefit our customers but ultimately the consumer," said Skip Consalo, President of Consalo Family Farms.
Congratulations to BlueDrop and Consalo on this exciting partnership! Stick with us at AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest news in produce.
ANAHEIM, CA - Attending PMA Fresh Summit is always a delight for both the ears and eyes, but it’s a delight for the soul when you hear about industry innovators being recognized for their new products. Mucci Farms proudly took home the top prize for Best Sustainable Packaging for its Simple Snack, a plastic-free, backyard compostable series of packaging.
“To win this category in particular is exciting because sustainability is by far the top of mind subject in the food industry today,” said Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing. “We’ve been recognized in the industry for flavor and innovation over the years, so we are ecstatic to be able to package those award-winning products in a package that helps to address a global concern. It’s also very special to win in a competitive category that included submissions from packaging suppliers and fellow marketers.”
Mucci Farms has always been a vertically-integrated greenhouse grower committed to sustainability at all ends of the business, and Simple Snack only adds to those commitments. According to a press release, the package is composed of a tray made from agricultural waste. The lidding film is made of sugar-cane and wood fibers using a process that emphasizes social and environmental responsibility.
“Consumer feedback over the last several months has been almost exclusively focused on the reduction of plastic, so we feel like we’ve addressed that concern by coming up with a truly plastic-free package,” said Fernanda Albuquerque, Packaging Development Manager. “We also saw the value of being able to add key messaging to the tray which gave our designers a larger canvas for branding, information, and education.”
Mucci Farms also sponsored the annual Center for Growing Talent 5k race, which fits into the company’s objectives to be a health and wellness-conscious brand. Race participants were served smoothies made with the award-winning SmucciesTM Sweet Strawberries. Additionally, Mucci had a sampling station at the show entrance where attendees could take home a sample of their very own Simple Snack package.
Congratulations to Mucci on this well-deserved win! And as always, check back in with AndNowUKnow for the latest in what’s going on in the industry.
EDISON, CA - Now that the year’s penchant for pumpkin spice is behind us, it’s time to make way for another seasonal orange-colored offering: citrus! November is inching closer day by day, meaning it’s just about time to stock up on Johnston Farms’ variety of citrus offerings. Lying in wait of the season’s start date, I tapped the company’s Citrus Sales Manager and Partner Derek Vaughn.
“Johnston Farms and our BlueJay brand focus on being the best tasting high-quality citrus. Our oranges and grapefruit are double graded for quality,” Derek told me. “For the mandarins, we focus primarily on stem and leaf so that our customers know that the product is always fresh.”
The Navel season kicks off a short four days into November, followed by the Stem and Leaf Satsuma Mandarin season on the 11th, and the Red grapefruit season, which falls near the Thanksgiving holiday. With that in mind, I asked Derek how he suggests retailers display and promote Johnston Farms’ citrus during the holidays.
“Our citrus works well in bulk displays because of its high quality,” he said. “We offer high-graphic display bins, as well as end cap retail bins. The updated, high-graphic design will add an extra pop of color to any retail or wholesale display. For Navels and grapefruit, we also have bagging available.”
While the company prepared for a monumental citrus season, it also made improvements to its packing operations. According to Derek, significant mandarin category growth in the last five years has led to a need for increased packing capacity. In anticipation of the upcoming season, the company updated its mandarin packing line to accommodate a greater capacity of 25-30 percent.
“We have added a second line for the washing, waxing, and drying of the fruit along with a palletizer, which will allow 80 percent of the product to be machine stacked,” explained Derek.
In our closing remarks, Derek suggested a shift in focus for the industry.
“With the focus lately being on Murcott and clementine varieties, retailers and wholesalers looking for something that is unique, easy to peel, and has a superior taste should consider the Satsuma mandarin available from mid-November through February,” he concluded.
What an exciting time for Johnston Farms! As we head into the thick of citrus season, AndNowUKnow wishes the best of luck on the company’s efforts. Keep an eye out for more category updates as we uncover the industry’s latest.
SALINAS, CA - Fresh off the heels of PMA Fresh Summit excitement, Duda Farm Fresh Foods announced the expansion of its Oxnard, California, cooling and fresh-cut facility to better meet the increased demand for celery from foodservice operators, retailers, and consumers.
“With the strong growth in the celery snacking segment, we saw an opportunity to get ahead of demand and amplify our capabilities,” stated Dan Duda, President. “The expansion of the Oxnard facility allows us to not only continue preparing for tomorrow, but also to grow the Duda family legacy and ultimately the next generation of celery growers.”
Due to be completed this fall, the facility expansion arose out of the company’s commitment to innovation and new product development. Estimated to cost $5 million and add a 35 percent increase to the facility square footage, the project allows for Duda to better provide its customers with higher volumes of celery during peak consumption times. Not only will Duda double its current out-put of product, it will increase jobs by 17 percent, a press release noted.
While at PMA Fresh Summit, the company’s Culinary Ambassador, Chef Todd Fisher, helped promote discussion of the facility by preparing an eclectic mix of dishes for attendees. Paying homage to the cultures and flavors of Southern California, Chef Todd created dishes featuring Dandy® celery, radishes, and corn, such as Korean short rib tacos, vegan grapefruit cupcakes, and chicken and sweet corn waffles.
“We [were] excited to showcase Anaheim’s food scene by serving dishes that represent the unique background and culture fusion of the city,” Nichole Towell, Senior Director of Marketing, stated.
Congratulations to Duda on this next stage of growth!
PHARR, TX - After U.S. Customs and Border Protection thwarted the latest drug smuggling attempt at the Pharr International Bridge, I think it’s time we all agree that fresh tomatoes don’t make for the best drug mule—for more reasons than one! Last week, authorities uncovered $1,800,000 worth of methamphetamine in a commercial truck carrying fresh tomatoes from Mexico.
“Our officers’ outstanding ability to work as a team along with great utilization of all available tools and resources resulted in the detection of these hard narcotics, which won’t make their final destination within the U.S.,” said Carlos Rodriguez, Port Director of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry, in a press release.
The tomato-carrying truck first came under inspection after a CBP officer referred it at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility. Upon closer examination and non-intrusive imaging system inspection, a spare tire under the truck’s trailer led officers to believe there was a cause for concern, which ultimately led to the discovery of 17 packages of meth concealed within the tire. Each package weighed 88.3 pounds.
While CBP authorities have not disclosed who was behind this latest produce bust, an investigation is underway and the industry can rest assured knowing justice will be served.
CHARLOTTE, NC - Prepare to start singing “Let it Go” at the top of your lungs again, because Dole is celebrating the next installment of Frozen with another of its “Empowering the Hero Within” campaigns. This program, which lasts through December, inspires parents and children alike to eat healthier.
“Our goal is to warmly embrace the universal appeal of Disney’s Frozen 2 and the film’s themes of family, fortitude, responsibility, and the awesome power of nature to help create healthier household routines that can lead to long-term, positive changes in behavior,” said William Goldfield, Director of Communications. “More important, we want to combine the powers of Dole and Disney’s Frozen 2 to make healthy eating fun, exciting, and maybe even a bit magical.”
At the heart of the program lies Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, and Dole’s Nutrition and Health Communications Manager. She created 20 fruit- and vegetable-based recipes, all of which were inspired by Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven.
According to a press release, these recipes range from the Sven Sleigh-Pulling Power Smoothie to the Royal Frozen Sweet Potato Lasagna.
“Most parents want nothing more than to establish the healthy eating and living routines for their kids that will last a lifetime,” said Marcus. “I’m a new mom, and giving my daughter a healthy start is the most important thing to me. But life is busy and schedules are full—so we developed a series of family-friendly breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes that were designed to be prepared in advance and frozen. Now, working parents can ensure their families get the fruits and veggies they need every day of the week—and, thanks to Disney, love doing it. While Dole realizes that families can’t correct many of the nutrition mistakes of the past, we’re committed to offering them the tools to shape their destiny toward a healthier future.”
Original recipes, nutritional insights, and other information can be found on the company’s website. A second batch of original recipes is slated for reveal on November 4.
The company is using a host of tactics to ensure that shoppers view and try these new recipes. Strategies include print and digital placements, how-to recipe videos, a dedicated campaign web page, digital banner ads, and social media posts.
Consumers will surely see the millions of DOLE® bananas and pineapples featuring character images from the film. These will be sold in produce departments of most major retailers across the United States and Canada.
For more Disney-related fun, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
UNITED STATES - Forget spooky szn, it’s Trader Joe’s season! All October long, the cult retail icon has been hard at work opening new store locations across the country. Trader Beaus in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Idaho are all celebrating the grand openings, and we here at ANUK are, too.
Last week, on October 17th, Trader Joe’s opened its second store in the Boise area, targeting Meridian, Idaho, as its new home spot in the Gem State, according to Idaho Statesman. The new location occupies 17,000 square feet of the former 60,000-square-foot Rosauers, which is larger than the first Boise store (the first TJ's in Idaho).
Next up on the calendar is Boston, Massachusetts; the new location will open this Friday, October 25th. According to NBC Boston, this marks Trader Joe’s first location in the Seaport neighborhood and its second in the city of Boston.
The retailer is then closing out a whirlwind month with two more stores slated to open in New Jersey, with an additional two on the way. Ocean County welcomed its first Trader Joe’s on October 17th, while Denville will be joining the opening festivities this Friday, October 25th. According to News12 New Jersey, the grocery chain also plans to open more locations in Cherry Hill and Bridgewater, adding to its 13-store-strong network in the Garden State.
With Trader Joe’s moving and shaking the grocery retail market so much this month, what can we expect from November? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on all the latest retail happenings.
VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA - How do we as an industry continue to inspire consumers to take up the recycling charge? Oppy is putting a personal stake in this fight, as it adds the How2Recycle® label program to its products. By doing so, the company aims to inspire families across the globe to recycle produce packaging.
“We believe that consumer education for recycled packaging is a top-of-mind issue,” said Cathie MacDonald, Director of Marketing Services. “Partnering with How2Recycle was a natural next step in our mission to drive participation in the circular packaging economy. Anything we can do that empowers shoppers to recycle more responsibly is good for the planet, our future, and us all.”
How2Recycle, according to a press release, is a standardized on-package label program that aims to reduce consumers’ confusion regarding a product’s recyclability. All members receive a customized recycling assessment for each of their pack styles to ensure accurate disposal.
Oppy is also a member of CPMA’s “Plastics Packaging Working Group.” Its goal is to work alongside the government, regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and customers to create an industry-led packaging strategy. How2Recyle is also a project of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition®, which brings together business, educational institutions, and government agencies to collectively broaden the understanding of packaging sustainability and develop meaningful improvements for packaging solutions.
“Oppy isn’t just passionate about sustainability, it’s integrated into everything we do. Working together with both these alliances strengthens our approach to the future of packaging,” MacDonald said.
Oppy will be rolling out its first pack featuring the How2Recycle label in the coming weeks.
With 2020 looming in the near future, how will the industry continue to push the best of produce? AndNowUKnow will report.