ROSEMONT, IL - Every year, US Foods takes stock of its more than 3,000 suppliers, choosing just a four special partners to recognize. For 2018, one of our produce industry own made the top of the list and will be honored at US Foods’ Fall Food Lovers Forum in Chicago: Mann Packing. The Salinas, California-based company was chosen for the annual Produce Award based on its full pipeline of great products and continuous support of US Foods, whether on-the-ground at the local level or when providing strategic logistics solutions.
“These exemplary vendor partners go above and beyond to help us provide the highest quality products and business solutions to our more than 250,000 customers across the U.S.,” said Andrew Iacobucci, the foodservice company’s Chief Merchandising Officer. “We’re proud to work with such outstanding organizations who share our customer focus, commitment to innovation, and cultural beliefs. Congratulations to the winning companies for setting the standard for quality and excellence in our industry.”
Each category had five nominees that were selected based on their impressive partnerships with US Foods throughout the year, according to a press release, then rated on criteria such as innovation and product quality, support and collaboration, and exemplifying US Foods cultural beliefs and goals. Winners were selected by the US Foods field leadership team and merchandising and sales employees who interact with these suppliers on a daily basis.
In addition to Mann Packing, companies honored include:
Center-of-the-Plate and Supplier of the Year Awards:
Trident Seafoods has been a valued partner to US Foods for decades and truly exemplifies what it means to be a leader in the protein industry. Its sustainability-driven mission is commendable and it’s complemented by a commitment to its partners’ success.
Grocery Award:
Sugar Foods Corporation consistently delivers high quality products that play a significant role in an operator’s menu. It continuously deliver reliable service in this highly collaborative partnership. Sugar Foods raises the bar every year to provide a competitive and “Easy” advantage for US Foods’ business.
Non-Foods:
ProGuard Service and Solutions partners with US Foods throughout all areas of the organization to provide best-in-class cleaning and sanitizing products. It is always one step ahead in responding to the ever-changing needs of customers in this specialty area.
Congratulations to Mann Packing and the three other companies honored by US Foods. Here's to another year of excellence!
FELLSMERE, FL - After investing much of this year to undertake a complete packaging redesign, B&W Quality Growers is ready to unveil its new look. It all came to down to leveraging the company’s strengths—exceptional quality, highly nutritious and unique products, and nearly 150 years of experience—to make a personal connection with consumers.
“Our goal in modernizing the packaging was to showcase our key differentiators in a simple, yet compelling way,” shared Todd Gosule, EVP of Sales and Marketing.
The new packaging has prominent product names, informative flavor descriptors, and recipe images that make the bags visually appealing to consumers. B&W’s tagline “Exceptional Quality. Distinctive Flavor.” surrounds its logo, connecting the brand with a first-rate culinary experience. These, along with adding a “Since 1870” establishment date and a new, modernized white woodgrain background, provide a distinctive and artisan feel that balances modernity and tradition.
Alongside these elements, B&W will continue to proudly display the logo of Family Reach, a valued corporate partner dedicated to alleviating the financial burden of cancer for families across the country.
“We believe it was important to incorporate the Family Reach logo because their honorable mission resonates with B&W’s family-centric values,” said Gosule.
CEO Mark DeLeo also commented on the new branding, having noted, “The quality and flavor of our baby leaves speak for themselves, which, combined with B&W’s authenticity, honesty, and a consumer-centric approach, set us apart as a brand.”
For more on innovative branding and new marketing achievements in fresh produce, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Autumn is the perect time for sugar and spice and all things nice! And with Giumarra Companies latest addition to its retail lineup, retailers and consumers alike are getting to tap into a new festive treat. Beginning mid-October, Giumarra is bringing its new, proprietary persimmon variety, Sugar & Spice™, to market.
“We sampled Sugar & Spice last fall with a select group of customers, and the response to the flavor was overwhelmingly positive,” said Giumarra Reedley’s Director of Sales Jeannine Martin. “It is high Brix, with unique notes of fall baking spices and a touch of vanilla. Its texture is similar to a crunchy Fuyu. A creamier texture occurs when additional ripening happens at home, much like an avocado’s transitional ripening process.”
Shaped like a traditional Hachiya persimmon but with a ready-to-eat texture Fuyu fans will recognize, the new Sugar & Spice variety is bolstering Giumarra’s fall persimmon program, which also includes the aforementioned varieties. Sugar & Spice is also grown in the San Joaquin Valley in California, expanding Giumarra’s California-grown program.
“We look forward to expanding our growing persimmon category with this proprietary new variety perfect for fall celebrations,” said Kellee Harris, Western Region Business Director. “Sugar & Spice is locally-grown in California and packed with nutritional value. It lends a burst of color and flavor to salads and desserts.”
According to a press release, Giumarra is packing the Sugar & Spice in a one-layer tray pack with PLU #4427 (or a retailer-assigned PLU) or a larger 8-10-piece consumer pack with UPC.
“With the addition of Sugar & Spice and an overall increase in our persimmon program, Giumarra is now the largest supplier of California persimmons in the U.S.,” added Harris. “Our Fuyu persimmons just started shipping and our total persimmon program will conclude in December.”
For more on fall varieties retailers should keep their eyes on, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
MCLEAN, VA - Gladstone Land Corporation announced that it has acquired two orchards in Kings County, California, adding 194 gross acres to its portfolio of permanent crop farms. Gladstone Land completed the acquisition for approximately $6.9 million.
“This acquisition adds two more great farms and another strong tenant to our growing list of farms, further strengthening the diversification within our farmland holdings,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO of Gladstone Land. “Cherries are one of the many healthy foods that are produced on our farms, and these two farms produce some of the types of cherries that you typically see in grocery stores in the early spring. As many people know, our strategy is to own farms that produce healthy foods that are found in the produce and nut sections of your grocery stores.”
In connection with the acquisition the company and seller entered into a 15-year, triple-net lease.
“The Gladstone Land acquisition team continues to find opportunities to add high-value, fruit-producing assets that are leased to strong, established tenants, and this acquisition is another fine example of that,” said Bill Reiman, Managing Director. “The cherry orchards on these two farms are being grown with the most advanced technology and cutting-edge horticultural expertise and are expected to produce for the next 20-plus years. This region of the San Joaquin Valley in California is a very strong production area for many crop types, including cherries, due to its combination of fertile soil and ample water, and we hope this is the first of many acquisitions in Kings County.”
For more fresh fruit and veggie news, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
NEW KENSINGTON, PA - Teaming up with partners Domino and AB Graphic International, Yerecic Label announced this week that the installation of its first digital press and in-line finishing unit, the Domino N610i and ABG Digicon 3, is complete.
“With Yerecic Label’s focus on lean manufacturing and serving at the Speed of Fresh℠, our digital press cell must meet demanding standards. The Domino digital press and ABG finishing unit allows Yerecic Label to be even more nimble while achieving the consistent high quality our customers expect,” said Yerecic Label President Art Yerecic. “As configured, we’ve already identified over 300 constructions our digital press cell can create in one pass. We hope to add to our TLMI Print Awards with our new digital capability. With Yerecic Label’s 50th anniversary coming in 2019, we’re looking forward to continued success with our digital partners, Domino and ABG.”
For the last year, Yerecic Label researched over ten digital press and finisher manufacturers’ quality, adherence to food safety requirements, capabilities, and equipment speed before deciding Domino’s N610i digital UV inkjet label press with an in-line ABG Digicon 3 finishing unit would help it meet the evolving needs of the industry.
“Feedback from current users within our TLMI community was a major piece of the equipment research,” said Yerecic Label Vice President of Production Brian Hurst. “The opportunity to visit fellow TLMI converters, see the press and finisher on-site and talk with operators was invaluable during our selection process.”
Bill Myers, Marketing Manager for Domino Digital Printing North America, added what sets the latest technology apart from what’s currently on the market, which played a major factor in helping Yerecic Label choose, “We know that the importance of speed, uptime, and print quality are key critical to our customers and the success of their business. Domino has ‘engineered out’ operator intervention on the N610i digital UV inkjet label press with automated features of printhead cleaning, stitching, and recirculating ink. What that means is that at the end of the day, our customers produce more labels in less time with consistent and repeatable high-quality printing. Combining the highest digital productivity, the best UV inkjet quality, and the most consistent print results on a proven and reliable platform…those characteristics are what separate the Domino N610i from everything else.”
In addition, the press cell configuration of the Domino N610i and ABG Digicon 3 allows Yerecic Label greater flexibility in constructions and capabilities on-press, keeping in line with the company’s goal to always say “yes” to its customers’ needs.
“We are able to satisfy even the most color-sensitive customers with the high density dual white ink and six color expanded gamut (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Orange and Violet) that accurately reproduces over 92 percent of Pantone colors,” said Hurst. “The press/finisher speed of over 200 feet per minute was just as important in convincing the Yerecic Label team that it was time to invest in digital capabilities.”
According to a press release, the ABG Digicon 3’s fleyeVision 100% camera inspection and glueless turret rewinder ensures Yerecic can prepare smaller rolls for immediate dispatch straight from the machine, safe in the knowledge the product has been inspected and passes stringent quality control requirements.
“When specifying Yerecic Label’s digital solution we realised finishing the product in-line was critical to their needs,” said Tony Bell ABG Sales Director. “Yerecic chose added value for their customers, flexibility, and most importantly automation, allowing products to be turned around very quickly, reducing the chance of operator error.”
Yerecic Label is also dedicated to investing in the most advanced technology as a way to better serve its customers, and believes it is accomplishing that with its latest investment.
For more of the latest news like this, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
CINCINNATI, OH - Three years after being acquired by the Kroger company, Mariano’s leadership confirmed to reporters that the company will consolidate its assets into a single Wisconsin-based division, uniting Mariano’s, Roundy’s, and its various banners—including Pick ’n Save—under one leadership team.
According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, a memo was sent to Mariano’s employees last Thursday detailing plans to consolidate Mariano’s and Roundy’s Wisconsin assets under a single leadership team and the name “Roundy’s.” The division will be led by longtime Kroger executive and current head of Roundy’s Michael Marx.
Several senior executives—including Mariano’s President Don Rosanova and VP of Merchandising Don Fitzgerald—will depart. Rosanova will retire at the end of the month, and Fitzgerald, along with John Boyle, Roundy’s VP of Operations, will continue on in an advisory capacity until January.
“Mariano’s will continue to be operated as a unique brand and experience…In summary, what is changing is in the back office and in places customers can’t see and won’t experience, in order to continue to provide the experience our customers know and love,” said Jim Hyland, VP Communications & Public Affairs for Roundy’s, in an email reported on by the Tribune.
The consolidation is, according to the news source, part of Kroger’s ongoing efforts to cut costs while also making capital investments to improve in-store experience.
For more fresh-focused new, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WOODLAND, CA - Sakata Seed America celebrated the completion of the first phase of its new Woodland Innovation Center last week. The company announced plans to construct the state-of-the-art research and production facility in March of 2016, and this month, Sakata’s construction efforts culminated in an inaugural event on the 219-acre site.
At the company’s Grand Opening Ceremony held Thursday, September 13, Sakata Seed Corporation President Hiroshi Sakata affirmed Sakata Seed America’s parent company’s commitment to the North American market and the seed and produce industry. After briefly relating the history of Sakata and its expansion in the United States, Sakata noted the auspiciousness of the opening and its promise for the U.S. market.
“I’m pleased that we continue our investment in California, in the city of Woodland, and in Yolo County with the Sakata Seed America Woodland Innovation Center—a brand new research, production, and product development facility, which we formally open here today,” Sakata said. “By integrating traditional Sakata breeding, cutting-edge technology, our motivated and experienced staff, along with the optimal climate, we promise to deliver new innovation from Woodland to the world—in a wide range of crops…Vegetables nourish people’s bodies and flowers nourish people’s souls. All of the management and local Sakata staff continue to strive, passionately, to achieve Sakata’s mission. We will continue to contribute sustainably to the betterment of life and culture of people around the world with values created through our innovative flower and vegetable varieties and through our services. ”
John Nelson, Vice President, Sakata America Holding Company & Sakata Seed America, noted that the completion of the first phase of Sakata’s project reaffirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to bettering the produce industry.
“What this facility—here in what we consider the Silicon Valley of Produce—really signifies is Sakata’s continued commitment to both the produce industry and the seed industry both domestically and globally,” Nelson told me.
Dave Armstrong, President and CEO of Sakata Seed America echoed Nelson’s sentiments in an address later that evening.
“This new facility will support our growing business and deepen the roots we have here in what we believe is the most dynamic agricultural area in the world,” said Armstrong. “Sakata’s new Woodland Innovation Center will also be an important addition to our other sites in North America…I’ve never been more excited about the future of Sakata Seed America and our team here, and we truly look forward to what is going to come out of our new facility.”
The evenings proceedings included a performance from drumming ensemble Sacramento Taiko Dan—performing traditional Japanese music—and traditional sake ceremony known as “kagami biraki.”
Sakata’s Woodland Innovation Center represents an $18.5 million investment and will, according to a press release on the subject, “consolidate and expand R&D and production practices on a single, state-of-the-art campus, flexible for future expansion.”
It was a triumphant tone that sustained throughout the evening, and attendees would have been hard pressed not to admire the facility, the Sakata team’s passion, and the promise of new and important innovations from Sakata Seed America.
For more fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY - When my partner brought home a smoker, I never thought I’d want to use it to desperately try to duplicate a New York restaurant’s innovative offering in the convenience of my backyard, but here I am! Duck’s Eatery is changing the smoking game with its smoked “ham,” a juicy watermelon that takes on the delicious, savory, rich flavors in the unique process. Are you salivating yet? Yeah, I need a bib just writing about it.
“It’s hot, which is super weird, we understand,” Will Horowitz, Duck’s Eatery Co-Owner, said in a FOX Business interview with Maria Bartiromo. “We just wanted to try something a little different.”
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At a whopping $75 bill per “ham,” it takes time to create—five days time, to be exact—and can be shared amongst three to five people. The process is a big to-do, as well. First, the watermelon is brined in a salty solution with coriander, oregano, and wood ash, according to Food & Wine. This step gives the fruit the tough exterior that looks like a ham. Second, its dried and smoked for half a day. Third, it is scored like a ham, seared in a pan, and basted in its own juices. What?! Yes, you read that right, friends.
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What makes the offering so special for Duck’s Eatery is that it is, in fact, a watermelon dished up for customers, a far cry from its meat-focused menu options, but the restaurant makes up for the difference by cultivating a ham-like look. The news source relays that the owners began trialing smoked fruits and vegetables to become environmentally-friendly and sustainable methods of cooking, as well as attract vegetarian and vegan eaters. One of its first successful ventures into the seemingly Upside Down of cooking was a smoked cantaloupe burger. Since then, Duck’s Eatery is on the up and up.
“We’re seeing incredible feedback on social media,” Co-Owner Julie Horowitz told the news source. “Our business has increased.”
According to Delish, customers are waiting 30 days to get your hands on the alternative-meat delicacy. The restaurant's website explains that customers wanting to skip the wait can preorder the ham a minimum of one week in advance via email.
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Since New York is kind of far away from me—like on the other side of the country, far—it’s time to pull out that smoker and get crafty with some fruits and veggies! Wish me luck!
Will this trend seep further into consumer trends throughout the nation, and will folks perusing the aisles be looking at produce for their center-plate needs in a new way? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated.
NOGALES, AZ - The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is kicking off a new event at this year’s 50th Nogales Produce Convention, and this one is for the ladies. The association will be celebrating its first ever Women’s Leadership Invitational (WLI), welcoming women from all walks of life who help lead the way in the produce industry. Packed to the brim with inspiring speakers, educational sessions, and networking opportunities, there will be something for every woman (or otherwise) who attends on Friday, November 2nd from 2 to 4 p.m.
“We are so excited to have this new event featuring leading women. We have already received positive response from local community leaders, and we can’t wait for the Women’s Leadership Invitational at the Fall Convention,” said Marlene Lopez, Director of Membership Affairs and Events for the FPAA.
According to a press release, the following speakers will be presenting at the Invitational:
Cathy Burns
Cathy has built a career in the food industry, and after being President of retailer Food Lion, she is now an industry leader as the CEO of the Produce Marketing Association.
Rosie Favela Cornelius
The winner of this year’s “Pillar of the FPAA” Award, Rosie has worked in the produce industry for more than 30 years and has played a major role planning past FPAA conventions.
Sabrina Hallman
An FPAA Board Member at Sierra Seed and leading woman in the produce industry, Sabrina will serve as the moderator and mistress of ceremonies.
Pati Jinich
Pati is the keynote speaker for this year’s convention, host of PBS series “Pati’s Mexican Table,” as well as James Beard award winner, and will talk about her challenges and secrets to success as a woman entrepreneur.
As part of a leadup to the FPAA Convention, there will be a forum kick-off on Friday, September 21st at the FPAA office in Nogales, AZ.
This year’s landmark event will run from November 1st through 3rd at the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa. Registration for the 50th Nogales Produce Convention and Golf Tournament is now open and can be completed at this link here.
Another event to honor our outstanding women in produce? Count me in!
ROSEVILLE, CA - Two respected firms are uniting to serve agricultural business interests throughout California and the West Coast. On September 1, 2018, The Saqui Law Group P.C. joined Dowling Aaron Incorporated, as of counsel. The merger, which is set to be completed in full by 2019, will help broaden both companies’ client reaches to include employers in diverse industries.
“I am excited that our firm will be joining the team at Dowling Aaron. This is the natural progression for us given the similarities of our firms, our clients, and our approach to business,” said Michael Saqui, Founder of The Saqui Law Group. “This will establish us as the premier firm in the West for agriculture and other key industries.”
Established in 2007, The Saqui Law Group represents the labor needs of California growers, packers, and shippers, as well as clients across the nation, including those in food processing, manufacturing, construction, trucking, trash hauling, automobile dealers, and hospitality. According to a press release, the firm’s Employment Practices Team offers expertise in labor and employment law and provides legal representation to employers in employment practices litigation, complex wage and hour class actions, H-2A Guest Worker Program coordination, and defense and general advisory work.
“The Saqui Law Group possesses one of the nation’s best Labor and Employment practices, which is a tremendous addition to our broad range of legal services,” said Richard Aaron, Chairman of the Board of Dowling Aaron. “The goal for this new association is to connect our clients with some of the best legal experts in a variety of practice areas such as water, labor, employment, tax and estate planning, and provide superior service and expertise within one firm.”
A full-service law firm in central California, Dowling Aaron represents a broad range of clients and has expertise in agribusiness and agricultural litigation, which includes representing farmers, growers, packers, shippers, dairies, wineries, cooperatives, investors, lenders, processors, insurance providers, and more involved in the food production industry. Following the merger, Dowling Aaron will maintain offices in Fresno, Bakersfield, Visalia, Salinas, and Sacramento.
For more ag-related acquisitions, mergers, and more, stay up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.