MISSION, TX - The final time has come to get those scholarship applications in! The applications for the first Annual Viva Fresh Scholarship Program ends today. The program is available to the family of Texas International Produce Association’s (TIPA) members, Viva Fresh exhibitors and sponsor companies, and is not limited to traditional agricultural education tracks. Students studying a range of disciplines—from horticulture to logistics to vocational programs—are all encouraged to apply.
“It’s exciting to see the responses and diversity of studies of this next generation,” commented Dante Galeazzi, President & CEO of the Texas International Produce Association. “And we’re proud to support these future industry professionals as they pursue various educational endeavors to meet the ever-evolving demands of the fresh produce landscape.”
According to a press release, this program was established by the $30,000 raised at the 2019 Viva Fresh Open Golf Tournament. It offers one-year scholarships for students pursuing a degree or certification relevant to the fresh produce industry.
“The response to this program is a testament to the growing number of young people taking interest in the produce industry and the myriad of opportunities that exist for students from a wide variety of disciplines,” stated Ed Bertaud, IFCO Director, Retail Sales, and Chairman of the Viva Fresh Open Golf Tournament Committee. “It’s a reminder of how fortunate we are to work in a growing industry that attracts so many of the best and brightest.”
Each year, the scholarship will also honor a notable figure in the produce industry to pay tribute to the experts and pioneers who paved the way for these students. TIPA noted that Dr. Leonard Maxwell Pike was chosen as the inaugural honoree because of his contributions to the produce industry. As a Texas A&M research scientist, he developed several leading vegetable varieties including the Texas 1015 Super Sweet Onion and the Maroon Beta Sweet Carrot.
After receiving all applications, the committee will begin evaluating applicants based on merit. Award recipients will then be notified, and scholarships will be distributed prior to the beginning of the Fall 2019 semester.
Best of luck, young produce folk!
YERINGTON, NV - Peri & Sons Farms’ famous white onions, also known as Nevada Whites, are truly like no other.
These hearty white onions were the first crop that David Peri planted when he started Peri & Sons Farms in Yerington, Nevada, back in 1979. Now, decades later, David's whites are a highly sought-after onion in the produce industry.
The unique climate of the Mason Valley, with its warm dry days and crisp clear nights, helps to give our onions their unique pearlescent coloring, globe shape, and firm feel. Nowhere else do white onions grow like these.
In addition to being beautiful, Peri & Sons’ white onions are full of flavor, never bitter, and cook up even better than yellow onions. Our white onions contain less water by weight, and their higher pyruvic acid levels make them spicy and flavorful with little-to-no aftertaste.
Peri & Sons Farms is the first recipient of SCS Global’s Sustainably Grown certification for domestic onions. Our dedication to being Non-GMO, Pesticide-Residue Free, USDA Certified Organic, Sustainably Grown, and to Food Safety has earned us the GFSI/GlobalGAP certification. Our commitment to land-stewardship spans back three generations.
Awareness for white onions is growing and demand for Nevada Whites is on the rise. Factors fueling this growth include food movements, such as clean-eating, power bowls, plant-based diets, as well as the multitude of online resources that are introducing consumers to recipes from around the world. Afterall, white onions are often a key ingredient in international cuisine.
Learn more by visiting https://psfwhiteonions.com or PeriandSons.com.
CITRUSDAL, SOUTH AFRICA - Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) is turning up the heat as summer’s end approaches. It recently announced the return of its consumer promotion, the “Taste of Summer” sweepstakes, now in its third year. From now until August 21, consumers will be invited to locate South African citrus at their local grocery store and share the product on social media, which elevates awareness of both the brand and the premium quality of citrus available during the summer season.
“We’re excited about this season’s promotion and look forward to interaction with shoppers,” said Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa. “The goal of ‘Taste of Summer’ is not only to inform consumers of the availability of South Africa’s supreme citrus, but also to showcase interest to retailers. We plan to share the results of the promotion and feedback from shoppers with retailers to demonstrate the demand during the summer season.”
According to a press release, the sweepstakes provides participants with weekly opportunities to win a $150 Visa gift card. To enter, consumers are asked to follow SCSA on Instagram, find the SCSA logo on packs in local stores, and share product images on the social platform. If they can’t locate SCSA citrus in their market, the company suggests that they share the provided image on Instagram and tag their local retailer requesting Summer Citrus from South Africa.
The promotion will also be supported by influencer partnerships in three major cities: Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Houston. In addition, SCSA will utilize targeted online advertising in key markets on Facebook and Instagram that will encourage consumers to participate in the sweepstakes.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in what’s happening in the produce world.
CASTROVILLE, CA - It seems that Ocean Mist® Farms is continuing its hiring spree with another addition to the family. Paul Scheid was recently announced as the new Vice President of Production for Ocean Mist Farms and will work closely with Jeff Percy, VP of Production South, on year-round supply for both the Ocean Mist Farms and Ocean Mist Organic brands. Scheid will manage and coordinate the supply of conventional and organic produce for the Salinas Valley, Huron, and Oxnard production regions.
“I am happy to join the Ocean Mist Farms family and look forward to this new opportunity with a respected company,” said Scheid. “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of Ocean Mist Farms.”
According to the press release, Scheid graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and has accumulated over 25 years of farming and production experience.
As Director of Northern Production Supply for Laguna Mist Farms and Boutonnet Farms, Scheid built and maintained the Salinas planting schedules and oversaw all production operations for each of these farming operations.
Congratulations to Paul Scheid on the next step in his journey! ANUK will continue to report on the latest news in the produce industry.
SAVANNAH, GA - The German grocer has global expansion on the brain, as it continues to grow its presence in multiple countries. Aldi has been eyeing the Chinese market and is moving forward with its push to cement a place for itself in the U.S. market, releasing plans to open multiple stores throughout Alabama, North Carolina, and Minnesota, and 15 new stores in California. Now, the retailer is narrowing in on another Southern region, with three more new stores set to open in Savannah, Statesboro, and Pooler, Georgia.
“We strive to make grocery shopping an enjoyable experience. We combine great food with affordable prices, and we’re excited to enter the Savannah market and show new communities of shoppers what we do best,” said Shaun O’Keefe, Jefferson Division Vice President. “We pride ourselves on saving people time and money, and we can’t wait to provide Statesboro, Pooler, and Savannah residents with grocery stores that meet their needs.”
According to WTOC11, the stores are slated to open in summer and fall of 2019, though no ground-breaking or opening dates have been released. Each new store will employ approximately 50 new employees.
Where will the retailer set its sights on next? Keep reading AndNowUKnow to find out.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Arizona-based Triple Fresh Produce LLP satisfied a $5,130 reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The prior order involved unpaid produce transaction(s).
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The Nogales, Arizona, company has met its obligations and is now free to operate in the produce industry. Adam Polan, Enrique “Kiki” Heredia, and Manny Dinis were listed as partners of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license of a business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals.
The PACA Division, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,350 PACA claims involving more than $63 million. Our PACA staff also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $156 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For further information, contacts, and to read the press release in its entirety, please check out the link here.
GLASSBORO, NJ - Nothing quite says summer like a citrus destination at produce or brightens up the holiday and BBQ spread like the booming category and coveted varieties. This year, as Sunny Valley International seeks to bring more value to its customers, the company is introducing lemons from Chile into its portfolio, available from July through October for the benefit of produce departments.
“We are the exclusive sales and marketing agent for many popular programs including the Jersey Fruit brand of peaches and blueberries, Just Picked New Jersey peaches, and Dixie Belle South Carolina peaches,” Bob VonRohr, Director of Customer Relations, shares with me. “As a sales and marketing agent for fresh premium growers of domestic peaches, blueberries, cranberries, and imported blueberries, pears and grapes, we are uniquely situated to provide a one-stop-shop for the needs of the produce buyer.”
Sunny Valley will be loading Chilean lemons out of Eastern Propak in Glassboro, New Jersey. All product will arrive via ocean container into the Port of Philadelphia weekly. The program will offer 38 lb boxes and grades of both fancy and choice are available—with and without PLU stickers. Sizing this year is from 75-count to 235-count as well.
“We also have the capability to repack into various-sized bag styles to meet everyone needs,” Bob adds. “Our grower has chosen a region of Chile with the best combination of soil and climate to ensure a high-quality piece of fruit. To help ensure quality from the very beginning, our grower produces its own plants. Having a packing facility with a new generation electronic selection and packing line takes the benefit of working with us one step further.”
Once the bulk lemon arrive to Sunny Valley’s warehouse facility in Eastern Propak in Glassboro, the company has the capabilities to pack fresh in a wide selection of packages on an “as needed” basis to ensure only the highest quality and freshest lemons are going to the operation’s customers.
The time is already been upon us for lemonade concoctions, cools desserts, tangy meals, and freshly-squeezedm citrus-touched dishes. But, let’s be honest, the time never truly passes.
BOISE, ID - Albertsons is taking fresh steps to enrich its leadership, welcoming Jonathan Gardner to the role of Group Vice President of Strategic Sourcing, and promoting David Nelsen to Group Vice President of Marketing. Gardner will report to Evan Rainwater, Senior Vice President, Strategic Sourcing and Manufacturing.
“Jonathan is an incredible leader who brings a significant amount of experience to our established Strategic Sourcing team, and we look forward to having someone with his expertise and acumen lead the expansion of our Goods Not For Resale (GNFR) efforts,” Rainwater commented. “Moreover, David’s manufacturing experience is industry-leading. This combination of leaders will position us to further our efficiencies and create opportunities to invest in our company.”
Gardner comes to Albertsons with a wealth of industry knowledge, having spent the last nine years of his career at Starbucks. During his time with the coffee juggernaut, he began as Director of Sourcing for IT and Digital, and worked his way up the ranks to his most recent position as Vice President, Global Sourcing and Supplier Relations. In this role, Gardner was responsible for Beverage, Dairy, Packaging, Print Production, and Supply Development teams in Seattle. Gardner also set strategic and cultural priorities for over 200 sourcing professionals in a matrix organization linking sourcing offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Sao Paulo, Toronto, and Seattle.
“We’re focused on making moves that improve our productivity and agility so that we can strategically invest in our omnichannel future,” said Susan Morris, EVP and Chief Operations Officer, in a press release. “GNFR can provide a productivity lift to many areas of our company. Jonathan’s new role will be key to driving that so that we can best serve our 13 operating divisions, 2,200-plus stores, and 34 million customers every day.”
Nelsen has served on Albertsons’ manufacturing team since 2001, holding a variety of leadership roles during his tenure. He has been a pivotal figure in leading the team in expanding manufacturing’s capabilities and product offering to retail including extended shelf life dairy and plant-based products, Icelandic and Greek yogurt, and expanded ice cream products. He was also instrumental in opening the retailer’s Hatfield Milk plant.
AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop of the comings and goings of retail leadership.
INDEPENDENCE, KY - August is fast approaching, and what better event to look forward to now than the Crosset 2019 Produce & Floral Conference on August 28 in Cincinnati, Ohio? Crosset Company has slated Chief Human Resources Officer for the Castellini Group of Companies, Bonnie Curtis, to lead a panel discussing what this “next generation” is looking for as they enter the workforce and progress in their careers. In other words, what are the Millennials and Gen Z’ers asking for?
“When we asked our customer and supplier communities what keeps them up at night, to a person, the ability to hire and retain the talent they need to succeed was at the top of the list,” said Greg Kurkjian, Crosset Vice President/General Manager. “We all know that engaged, informed in-store associates are essential to delivering an exceptional, differentiated shopper experience. They are also one of the best sources to tap for future company leaders, especially in the produce and floral industry. And this talent challenge extends beyond the retail store to product management, production, sales, marketing, finance…it touches everyone and every link in the demand and supply chain. However, attracting and retaining those just entering the workforce or early in their career requires a different approach today than just 10 years ago. How better to learn what this next generation of talent is looking for than to hear it directly from them?”
The press release stated that the leading edge of Millennials will turn 40 in 2021. The youngest Millennials are just now entering the workforce full time, as are the oldest Gen Z’ers. Yet the attitudes, values, and expectations of these two generations could not be more different from each other or from the Boomers that preceded them. Seeing as over half of the U.S. population is made of up Millennials and Generation Z babies, they also make up the largest pool of employees and consumers. Having a panel of these influencers would help give insight and understanding on what connects these generations and is essential to attracting, retaining, and tapping into their true potential for successful growth.
Featured on the panel so far are as follows:
- Moderator: Bonnie Curtis, Chief Human Resources Officer, Castellini Group of Companies: Bonnie has a track record of accelerating growth for two very different companies: Procter & Gamble and the Castellini Group. She brings expertise in management, supply chain, human resources, and sales. She leads with a passion for people and process. Bonnie will set the stage and moderate a lively discussion with the NextGen panelists.
- Panelist: Josie Harrison, Executive Assistant & Real Estate Management, Jungle Jim’s International Markets: Josie is a 2017 Miami University graduate with a degree in Technical Writing. In order to pay for college, she began working as a cashier at Jungle Jim’s International Market when she was a senior in high school—and she never left. While attending college, Josie continued to work at Jungle Jim’s, and had several on-campus jobs, as well. Over the past six years, Josie has held a variety of increasingly responsible positions at Jungle Jim’s, and she now assists the owner of the company. She describes her job with one word: chaotic (and that’s just the way she likes it)!
- Panelist: Aaron Klohn, Marketing Assistant, TechSolve: Aaron is a 2019 graduate of Xavier University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, Public Relations, and Digital Media. He grew up in Fremont, Ohio, on his family’s grain farm and cattle ranch, and was an active member of 4-H and the FFA. He has worked in a variety of industries, including agriculture, higher education, non-profit, and manufacturing.
To get a seat in this hot-topic panel, you can sign up for the day-long event here. ANUK will continue to bring you new developments.
SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is ramping up its efforts to ensure the Produce Safety Rule (PSR) of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is upheld. These efforts have included sending educational letters and questionnaires to 8,000 “small” and “very small” produce farms in the Golden State.
“California has many more produce farms than any other state in the nation,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Approximately 20,000 farms in the Golden State will now be subject to new food safety regulations under the Produce Safety Rule.”
According to a press release, the questionnaires will be returned to the CDFA by August 31 in order to verify commodities growing, determine whether annual sales qualify farms for a PSR exemption, and to help prioritize future inspections. PSR regulations, which are similar to food safety plans that many farmers have been implementing for years and that most grocery stores and restaurants already require, include ensuring:
- Produce is properly handled by workers
- Farm equipment is sanitary
- Produce is grown with safe soil inputs
- Measures are in place to prevent contamination of produce by wildlife or domesticated animals
CDFA created the Produce Safety Program (PSP) to help implement the PSR, to educate farmers, and to conduct on-farm inspections on behalf of the FDA. Resources available to farmers as part of the PSP include a website—featuring the ability to schedule an On-Farm Readiness Review and register for a Produce Safety Rule Grower Training Course, which is mandatory for at least one employee of every produce farm per the new regulations—a Facebook page, and an e-newsletter.
In addition, “large” farms have been undergoing inspection to verify PSR compliance since April. The current PSR stage also includes the following:
- Inspections are underway for “large” produce farms with average annual sales of $500,000 or greater during the previous three-year period.
- “Small” farms with average annual sales of $250,000–$500,000 during the previous three-year period are now expected to be in PSR compliance, with inspections set to begin in January 2020.
- “Very small” farms with average annual sales of $25,000–$250,000 during the previous three-year period must be in general compliance by January 2020, with inspections set to begin in January 2021.
The press release also noted that any farm that does not comply with the Produce Safety Rule may face economic, regulatory, and legal consequences. Minor violations will be handled through on-site education, in line with an “Educate Then Regulate” commitment. However, if there is significant and imminent threat to public health, a PSP inspector will inform the FDA and the California Department of Public Health, which may perform accelerated on-farm follow-up inspections or administrative detention orders up to and including seizure of the product that could cause people to get sick.
For more information, visit the CDFA website. And for more of the safest produce news, keep following AndNowUKnow.