REEDLEY, CA - When I asked George Matoian, Grape Salesman at Mountain View Fruit Sales, about what makes the California table grape industry so special, his answer was clear: its workforce and labor standards are top-notch.

“California has the strictest field labor laws in the world,” he began telling me. “They are in place for both the grower and workers' mutual benefit. Other producing countries do not have as many policies in place for protecting the worker, and even if they say they do, it is not always fully enforced. To make sure growers are within the guidelines of the current worker requirements, it is an added cost, and we are unable to pass this additional cost on to the consumer.”

In fact, George told me that California has the most expensive labor force in the world. According to him, more than 65 percent of the cost to grow and pack a box of table grapes in California is allocated toward labor.

“Currently we pay over $21/hour (this includes taxes/ins/unemployment/etc.) for our labor force, while other countries pay $21 for a full day (8–12 hours). We are at a huge disadvantage!” George told me.

From a consumer’s perspective, many folks would be compelled to learn that California’s emphasis on food safety is second to none, from the growing fields to the cold storage shipping locations. Plus, many of the table grape growers in California come from a third- or fourth-generation family. Knowing where their food comes from is a huge contributor to the consumer’s peace of mind.

The California table grape industry is certainly in a category of its own. For more insights, keep coming back to ANUK.

AUSTIN, TX - As we continue to explore Food is Medicine® and the opportunities produce providers have to harness this channel of demand, one company that comes to mind is Performance Kitchen®, which is driving the movement’s momentum by providing consumers with medically tailored meals (MTMs). I recently spoke with Mark Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Performance Kitchen, to discuss the company’s evolution and the importance of helping consumers make healthier choices.

“We started as a consumer retail brand selling in over 10,000 stores across the U.S. in major retailers such as Sprouts Farmers Market, Kroger, Southeastern Grocers, Albertsons, and Walmart. We also previously had our own retail locations and direct store delivery program in the Pacific Northwest, in addition to supplying healthy meal options to Delta Airlines,” Mark says, spotlighting the growth following the company’s inception. “We wanted to provide healthy meals to those who need them most: people facing chronic health conditions and/or lack of access to healthy meals. For us, this looked like engaging with innovative health insurance providers who offer MTMs as a covered benefit for those who qualify through National Medicare Advantage programs and state-level Medicaid programs.”

Through its collaboration with health insurance companies, Performance Kitchen now has a national presence in the United States, with a high concentration of programs in California.

U.S. healthcare costs have been rising steadily, with chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and kidney disease as the primary drivers. According to the CDC, over 144 million Americans—roughly 60 percent of adults—have at least one chronic disease. Performance Kitchen aims to address this problem by optimizing healthy food to prevent and help people manage several of the leading chronic conditions in America.

“Many of the members of our programs may not have experienced what it feels like to eat healthy, and we make it easy by providing frozen, prepared meals, delivered to their doorstep,” adds Mark. “The meals must taste good, otherwise people won’t want to eat them. We provide meals for people to simply start eating healthier, then empower them to continue with our program and then ideally transition into cooking for themselves with the support of produce prescriptions and healthy grocery programs. We don’t want anyone to be receiving MTMs forever—consumers need agency over their health, and we help them start. The role of a Registered Dietitian and support throughout the process is key to understanding and adherence.”

To help drive awareness for MTM programs, the company has teamed up with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to support the 138 million Americans living with diabetes. As of July, visitors to the ADA's Diabetes Food Hub can now access Performance Kitchen’s Meal Benefit Locator, which helps individuals determine if they qualify for delicious, diabetes-friendly meals covered by insurance.

“This program reflects our shared vision to improve health outcomes and quality of life through accessible, nutritious meals. Together, we are committed to making a meaningful impact on diabetes management and prevention,” Mark stated.

Another element of the provider’s effort to change health outcomes in America through the power of healthy and delicious food is its collaboration with Kroger Health to offer MTMs as a benefit through one’s insurance.

Through collaborations and a customized approach to driving awareness of the many benefits of healthy eating, Performance Kitchen lives up to its mission “To Empower People to Live Life to the Fullest.”

As we continue to dive into the Food is Medicine movement and opportunities for the fresh produce industry, leave a tab open to ANUK.

IDAHO FALLS, ID - Space is so much more than walls and a roof. With the opportunity to broaden capabilities and foster growth, expansion and new facilities are a herald of excitement to come, and Eagle Eye Produce is celebrating both for its subsidiary, Eagle Eye Logistics. With a new office and shop, the company is promising new job opportunities, improved operational efficiencies, and sustained growth.

"After decades in the produce industry, we’ve learned that managing everything from farm to fork is what sets us apart. This expansion is just another step in making that vision a reality," said Newman Giles, Chief Executive Officer for Eagle Eye Produce.

The expansion is a significant step for Eagle Eye Produce. As the grower continues to strengthen its position as a leader in fresh produce while reinforcing commitment to premier offerings for its customers across North America, the new 22,000-square-foot-office and shop mark the next chapter in the company’s capabilities.

"It has been amazing to watch our growth from a small fleet to a nationwide carrier with over 100 trucks and drivers over the past 20 years. The new facility shows how focused we are on providing the best possible service and support for our drivers and customers, so they have everything they need to stay with us for the long haul," said Justin Clement, Director of Transportation for Eagle Eye Logistics.

This expansion includes the launch of a state-of-the-art facility, which features several bays for truck maintenance, modern offices for dispatch and management, and a fully equipped driver lounge designed to support the well-being of Eagle Eye’s truck drivers, according to a press release.

A grower, packer, and distributor of a wide range of produce including potatoes, onions, watermelons, and mixed dry vegetables, we are certainly keeping an eye on the next chapter of this continuously expanding produce brand.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - California is not just the home of the “salad bowl,” as Anthony Vineyard’s Rob Spinelli recently reminded me—it also offers the entire fruit basket.

“California offers retailers multiple opportunities for promotions during our long grape season compared to imported product,” he shared as we dug into what differentiates the Golden State ag scene, particularly in table grapes. “We’ve made huge strides in the acreage of new varieties over the last five to 10 years, creating changes in our industry when it comes to the overall season, storage times, and most of all the quality level of California grapes.”

Another key aspect of improvement has been sustainability. Anthony Vineyards, for example, not only offers a variety of pack options implemented on-site but has put significant steps in place for more sustainable offerings both in the field and for the final product.

Likewise, growers have successfully shrunk time in storage by a significant margin, providing the freshest fruit possible to a waiting audience.

Anthony Vineyards specifically has built up infrastructure, with new implementations to ensure high-quality grapes all the way through that prolonged season. Yet, as someone born and raised in this sought-after state, I know such bounty comes at a cost—quite literally.

“California offers more variety and a longer window to supply and keep customers sure of having grapes on the shelves. But the fresh advantages of our location is also the catch,” Rob observed.

California is the salad bowl and the fruit basket. Yet it is also one of the most expensive places to live and grow, a critical factor to keep in mind as our industry and the consumers we serve continue to count the region as such a critical source not just for grapes, but many fresh categories.

“Because we are local, many think it makes more sense to pay more for imported product when, in fact, we need to raise pricing due to the increased cost of input, labor, and water. The overall cost of production cannot be forgotten,” Rob pointed out. “The ease of availability does not compromise on the quality, yet much of the time prices acceptable from imports are not considered acceptable from local product.”

From the benefits of less mileage in the cold chain to the immediate responsiveness you can expect from California grape growers like Anthony Vineyards, there are many factors that set the value of this critical contributor to our industry.

“The communication process and execution is smoother and easier with California growers, with a high level of transparency and understanding when doing business. We bring so much value but at a high cost because of what it takes to grow here. It is something important to keep in mind when it comes to how much consumers all over are willing to pay for fruit from California,” Rob concluded.

As we continue to follow all the key categories impacting fresh produce, AndNowUKnow will ensure you have the latest within reach.

CHICAGO, IL - In order to make informed decisions about business, you need good data to back it up. The Fresh Market recently announced a new cooperation agreement with NielsenIQ (NIQ), a partnership poised to support The Fresh Market as it continues to grow.

"We are excited to expand our capabilities with NIQ’s solutions to better serve our customers," said Giorgio Bianchetti, Chief Merchandising Officer at The Fresh Market. "This new partnership allows us to leverage industry-leading data and insights, enhancing our understanding of consumer behavior and preferences. By integrating NIQ's comprehensive measurement tools, we are committed to continuously innovating and elevating the grocery experience for our shoppers."

According to a press release, NIQ provides unparalleled data and insights across both in-store and online channels. The company also operates globally.

This new cooperation will significantly enhance The Fresh Market’s understanding of consumer behavior and support its commitment to quality and innovation across all channels. With industry-leading POS truth sets, large sample sizes, and comprehensive product data, NIQ offers high data quality.

“We are delighted to work with The Fresh Market, a leader in delivering exceptional shopping experiences,” said Raha Alavi, Senior Vice President Retail at NIQ. “This agreement marks a significant step forward in our commitment to provide the Full View™ of the consumer wherever they shop. NIQ's solutions recognize that traditional channel boundaries are blurring and ensure that every retailer is considered as part of this dynamic space. The Fresh Market is an exciting and important addition to our measurement universe.”

We’ll keep our eyes on the retail wire, so keep tuning back in to AndNowUKnow.

MEDELLÎN, ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA - Backed by 28 small and medium-sized producers, the Colombian Hass avocado industry announces the initiation of Carbon Hass Project. Climate change has been affecting Colombian agriculture with a variety of challenges, such as droughts, frosts, and new pests. As nationwide consumption increases, the Carbon Hass Project wants to challenge key industry players to identify their contribution to global warming.

“This initiative allows us to continue working to position ourselves as an environmentally sustainable sector, which stands out for its superior agricultural practices. In addition, the Colombia avocado industry promotes rural labor formalization which generates over 61,000 jobs across 16 departments and more than 250 municipalities where the fruit is cultivated,” said Katheryn Mejía Vergel, Executive Director of Corpohass, an association of producers and exporters of avocados.

The project includes 28 small and medium-sized Hass Avocado producers who have committed to adopting the project initiatives to better protect the environment for future generations.

As a release outlined, the project was born to drive change and spark conversation among conservation efforts—all with the goal of prioritizing sustainability efforts for a better tomorrow. And as Colombia positions itself in the world’s global avocado markets, this move establishes a benchmark for quality and good practices.

The participants make up over 1,600 hectares of Hass Avocado cultivation in Antíoquia, Caldas, and Risaralda, achieving the certification of 19,028 carbon credits available for sale. This announcement strengthens the industry by showcasing how sustainability remains a priority in avocado production.

For more information, click here.

AndNowUKnow will be here to deliver the latest news from across multiple categories, so stay tuned!

CALIFORNIA - Are you ready for peak strawberry season? With its Santa Maria, California, growing region nearing its peak next month, Bobalu is laying the foundation for a strong fall strawberry season, bringing increased opportunities to its retail partners.

“Our fall crop is coming on in Santa Maria,” the company shared in its latest weekly crop report. “We are seeing a steady increase in daily and weekly strawberry volume and should see numbers peak by the third week in September. Our peak should take us well into October, just in time for the Oxnard fall crop to kick in and keep volume steady into the holiday season ahead.”

The company also reported good weather conditions and healthy crops in the region.

“Our Santa Maria fields are all on the coast, so the weather has been perfect with foggy mornings and mild sunny afternoons. The 10-day forecast shows much more of the same mild conditions which is keeping our forecast on track with the plants looking very healthy and loaded with bloom and fruit in all stages of color,” the company’s weekly report continued. “We do have ground committed to the new Salma day neutral variety, and look forward to seeing how it is received by our shoppers to consider acreage expansion in future years.”

Looking at the strawberry sector on a statewide scale, the total statewide volume for the week ending August 3, 2024, was 6.4 million trays, with the week ending August 10 dropping to just about 6 million trays. Bobalu shared that while that number is below the same time last year, the total cumulative volume in California is 25 million trays ahead of the same time last year, and current acreage estimates for the fall crop are higher than last year, leaving plenty of fruit ahead for fall and holiday promotions.

Some of the slightly lower total weekly numbers reported this year may be attributed to later planting dates of the summer crop in some regions.

ANUK will continue to relay insights on the strawberry category and more, so be sure to leave a tab open for us.