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.
ALEXANDRIA, VA - It’s been a good month for Wegmans! After being listed as number three on Fortune and Great Place to Work®'s list of Best Workplaces for Millennials, the retailer announced it broke ground on another Virigina store in Alexandria.
According to a report from local news outlet Alexandria Times, Wegmans will anchor the new town center called Carlyle Crossing. This one-million-square-foot project is comprised of 130,00 square feet of retail space and roughly 750 residential units. (Can you imagine being within walking distance of a Wegmans? Swoon.)
Phase one of the project is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2021, with the storefront officially open in 2022.
Will more Wegmans start cropping up in Virginia? Will the beloved grocer expand past its current markets and look toward California? (Hey, a girl can dream.) Stick with AndNowUKnow for the latest and greatest in retail news.
IRVINE, CA - Good morning, AndNowUKnow readers!
Today, I am bringing you some of the category and weather news from around the industry. Check back twice weekly to see where the rain is falling, the sun is shining, and everything in between.
Weather around the country is fairly quiet this week. We have showers returning to the Eastern half of the country, heat out west dissipating, and a potential tropical depression forming out in the Caribbean.
RAIN THIS WEEK FOR EASTERN HALF OF COUNTRY
Almost the entire eastern half of the country will receive rain this week. The graph below notes the accumulative rainfall amounts over the next five days. Areas in blue represent total rainfall between .75” to 1.50”. Once we get into the purple areas, the accumulate rain totals will be above 1.50” up to 2.00”.
This should be a welcomed relief for many of these areas who haven’t see rain for well over a week now.
PEAK OF HEAT OUT WEST HAS PASSED
The heat wave that engulfed most of California last week has dissipated for the most part. The coastal valleys of Salina, Santa Maria, and Oxnard have all returned to normal temperatures as of Sunday. The southern half of the SJ Valley is still under a heat advisory with maximum temperatures between 100° to 103° through next weekend. This is down about 5° from the maximum high temperatures we saw late last week. The average high temperature for July in region varies from 98° to 101°, so although it’s still hot this week these adjusted temperatures are typical for this time of year.
HURRICANE CENTER UPDATE
There is a tropical disturbance off the southern coast of Puerto Rico that is bringing showers to the area. It is nothing to worry about at this point. The concern is that it may continue to gain strength and form into a Tropical Storm later in the week as it makes its way west and north. Could bring some heavy showers to Florida and Georgia later in the week. We will follow the storm and update you on Friday.
Thanks again, and we'll be back later this week with another report!
ORLANDO, FL - Leadership is a mindset and skillset. This is something that industry veteran Wendy McManus will tell you that she has learned during her successful 30-year career, including her time leading the retail marketing team at the National Mango Board.
Now, with her Connect 2 Potential venture and Lean Into Leadership—a group coaching and leadership development program for women in the fresh produce industry—Wendy is creating a platform to help others glean, polish, and practice leadership skills to elevate their game.
The next class will start on August 14 and wrap up on October 30th. With the date just weeks away, we shared with you Wendy’s mind at work in Part 1 on this two-part series. And now, let’s dig into Part 2!
Jordan Okumura: What is one of the biggest misconceptions about what it means to be a leader?
Wendy McManus: One of the biggest misconceptions is that the leader should have all the answers. In reality, the most effective leaders are masterful at getting the best work and the most brilliant solutions from their teams.
When a leader lets go of their notion that they’re supposed to have the answers, they start asking better questions. They set their ego aside and stop worrying about who will get credit for the next big idea. They start tapping into the genius that’s available to them from the individuals on the team.
This question points to one of the most difficult transition points for a new leader. There’s a time in every leader’s career when they must shift from providing value by doing the work to providing value by leading others. It’s a confusing time that causes many to question their ability to be successful in this new leadership role.
I see so many leaders that never fully made this transition, and years later they are still holding on to too many of the details of execution. They aren’t getting the full value out of their team because they are still trying to micromanage and control too many aspects of how the work is done.
On the other end of the spectrum, I see leaders who simply expect others to do their jobs. They use “hire good people and get out of the way” as a leadership strategy. They think this shows great trust and makes them an evolved leader who doesn’t need to micro-manage.
The trouble is that people need and want leadership. They want to be shown a vision of where the team is headed. They want a partner to help with problem-solving. They want feedback to know how they’re doing and how they can grow. For these hands-off leaders, learning to lead effectively without infringing on the autonomy of the team is a delicate dance to master, but well worth it.
JO: How would you define your approach to leadership discovery and learning?
WM: I use a hybrid approach in my group programs, combining leadership development and one-on-one coaching. All of our sessions are done via Zoom video conference, so we’re having a face-to-face experience. In the group sessions, all of the members can see each other, which encourages a high level of interaction and focused attention.
For the six group leadership development sessions, I take a training approach. I bring the topic and content to each session. There are specific concepts and skills that I want the group members to learn. There is always time built in for interaction and discussion amongst the group, so it’s not a boring lecture format. The content for these leadership development sessions is getting better and better because I’m able to see what resonates with the group.
It’s pretty obvious when people are fully engaged compared to when they are bored and losing interest. I’ve been tweaking the content after each group to ensure that all of the topics are engaging.
Each participant will also have four one-on-one coaching sessions with me. Before the first coaching session, they complete a DiSC communication styles assessment and review their report. In the first one-on-one coaching session, we debrief the assessment, and spend time uncovering this individual’s core values and life purpose. It’s deep work that is truly life-changing. I’m honored to have the opportunity to walk with people on this journey.
In the other three one-on-one coaching sessions, each participant brings their own topics for coaching. We might talk about a difficult situation that’s already happened or maybe a big challenging opportunity that’s coming up for them in the future. We tend to work on specific situations, but they are always related to the bigger opportunity to be a more effective individual and a more effective leader.
I’ve found that this hybrid approach of leadership development topics that are driven by me and coaching topics that are driven by the individual is highly effective for honing leadership skills and strengths.
JO: What are some of the key tools that the next groups of incoming participants can expect to be given the opportunity to explore?
WM: I’m super-excited about the content for the next group. I expanded the program from five group sessions to six, because there was so much great content I want to share.
On the Inner Game side of things, we will work on:
- Increasing confidence
- Managing self-doubt
- Playing up your strengths (I call these superpowers)
- Living with intention
- Understanding your communication style and your impact on others
- Identifying your opportunities to grow and improve
On the Outer Game side, the program includes:
- Building a powerful working culture
- Using effective listening and coaching skills
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Managing conflict
- Getting things done by influencing others
- Building your relationship power base
Lean into Leadership is one of the best initiatives I’ve ever created. The feedback has been solidly positive from the two groups of women who have already walked this path. I give the program a great deal of my energy and time because it’s fun and rewarding for me as well.
To learn more about the amazing opportunities here, please check out the Connect 2 Potential site and the Lean into Leadership program for more details and information.
SEATTLE, WA - Amazon has returned to the drawing board, this time to devise its own grocery store banner. According to The New York Times, Amazon is “quietly exploring an ambitious new chain, probably separate from Whole Foods” that would meld together all that it has learned from its brick-and-mortar and online grocery endeavors.
According to Business Insider, Amazon is attempting to build its own grocery stores rather than rely on Whole Foods to fuel its grocery expansion.
“People need to understand—Whole Foods is the beginning, it’s not the end,” Brittain Ladd, who worked on Amazon’s grocery operations until 2017, said to The New York Times. “It’s not everything.”
In typical Amazon fashion, the new stores will focus on pickup and delivery while also integrating a traditional supermarket format where shoppers can pick out their own fresh items.
While the rumor mill began turning this weekend after an Amazon memo from 2017 cropped up again amongst Amazon employees, The New York Times also pointed to new job postings for store designers that have been listed in the last couple of months. The postings enlist a potential candidate to take responsibility for the “development, implementation, and customization of brand design standards as they translate into [Amazon’s] physical stores,” as well as “develop creative solutions for a retail concept that houses multiple customer experiences under one roof,” as stated in the post and in The New York Times’ article.
Rachel Hass, Amazon’s PR Manager, asserted Amazon “doesn’t comment on rumors or speculation” when the news sources reached out for comment.
Will Amazon’s new grocery banner hit the market soon? And how will it disrupt the retail landscape? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
ARLINGTON, VA - The National Grocers Association (NGA) Board of Directors has announced the next President and CEO appointment of the NGA. Effective September 1, 2019, Greg Ferrara will take on the reigns following Peter Larkin’s retirement, who will remain on as advisor until his retirement at the end of the year.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead an organization and an industry that I care so passionately about. Independent grocers are the bedrock of thousands of communities across this country and NGA has played an essential role in ensuring that those entrepreneurs have the support they need to grow and be successful. The future is very bright, and I look forward to working closely with our Board of Directors and members to grow NGA’s influence and resources in support of our membership,” said Ferrara.
Ferrera has been with the NGA since November 2005 and brings a wealth of experience in the grocery industry, specifically managing his family’s century-old supermarket in New Orleans before the store was ultimately destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. He has also worked as a Corporate Project Manager for Associated Grocers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; holds a BA in Political Science from Loyola University New Orleans; is a fellow of the prestigious Institute of Politics at Loyola University; a graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management; and is a graduate of the NGA Executive Leadership Program at Cornell University.
“As a former independent grocer, Greg’s passion for our industry is second to none and his leadership over the years as NGA’s Chief Lobbyist, among other roles, has prepared him well to lead this organization into the future. We look forward to working with Greg to support his efforts to buildupon the strong foundation that Peter Larkin has laid for NGA,” said Cheryl Sommer and Mike Stigers, NGA Chair and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, respectively.
The press release states Ferrara currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the NGA. He is responsible for overseeing NGA’s advocacy and lobbying efforts, public relations, industry relations, and retail and wholesale membership. As NGA’s Chief Lobbyist, he is responsible for representing the association and its members before Members of Congress, Federal Agencies, and the Executive Branch on a wide-variety of issues while also overseeing the NGA’s political and grassroots affairs, including the NGA Grocers PAC. Ferrara is also responsible for working closely with and maintaining an excellent relationship between NGA and its state trade association partners.
Considering his extensive background, we at ANUK look forward to his many successes with NGA. Congratulations Greg Ferrara!
WENATCHEE, WA - Have you ever had a cherry so good that you howl at the moon after you’ve eaten it? If not, both you and your shoppers need to get in on the Stemilt Moon cherry hype. The fourth-generation grower’s A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries are hand-picked, premium, high-quality cherries grown at elevations of 2,640 feet and higher.
“Moon cherry harvest is starting the first week of August at Amigos Orchards in Wenatchee, Washington, and we are excited about our plans for the cherry season finale,” said Brianna Shales, Communications Manager. “Amigos has the perfect climate for growing late-season cherries. The locale is ideal because the days aren’t as hot as other locales and it cools off at night, helping fourth generation grower, Kyle Mathison, grow firm, large, and super-sweet cherries.”
Mathison likes to align his cherry harvest with the days leading up to the full moon—August 15, for those who don't have a moon chart memorized. According to a press release, Mathison has found the extra gravitational pull from a full moon enhances nutrient delivery from the root of the trees to the fruit hanging from its branches. This extra gravitational pull results in harvesting fruit with high sugars, acids, and aromatics, which all leads up a premium eating experience.
“Moon cherries are a great differentiator at retail and a proven way to end the cherry season on a high note,” Shales stated. “The packaging and mystical story of these cherries highlight the quality inside and the unmatched passion of Kyle, the ‘Cherry King’ who has farmed for four decades.”
Varieties that can be found under A Half Mile Closer to the Moon brand include Skeena, Sweetheart, Staccato®, and Sentennial™, all late-ripening varieties. Each variety is firm, comes in large sizes (10 row and larger), and has a nice balance of sugars and acids. Options to load Moon cherries will begin the first week of August and will continue throughout the month.
“The varieties found under the Moon cherries label are what allow us to end the season with a grand finale,” said Shales. “They also leave retailers with a delighted consumer and a lasting memory of our World Famous cherries.”
Stemilt packs Moon cherries in random-weight pouch bags and 1 lb and 2 lb clamshells. The grower also offers multiple digital resources to help promote these delicious fruits in store, including a digital toolkit that features social media assets, POS and poster materials, video, photography, and more. Retailers will also have resources for Stemilt’s national holiday dedicated to Moon cherries, National Chant at the Moon Day on August 15.
“National Chant at the Moon Day is where we celebrate our premium Moon cherries and how the moon cycle can benefit cherries during harvest,” remarked Shales. “We encourage retailers to use this tool on a consumer level to elevate Moon cherry sales as well as share the story of our mystical Moon cherries.”
On top of its extensive promotional resources, Stemilt is also partnering with influencers across the country to target new market groups. More than 15 influencers will be sharing the Moon cherry brand across various social media platforms. Stemilt will also be supporting in-store sales with geo-targeted social ads that target social media users in major Moon cherry markets.
“We are constantly looking for ways to support the brand to ensure retailers find success at the end of the cherry season,” said Shales. “Using influencers who reach shoppers and geo-targeted social ads are effective yet simple ways to support retailer’s efforts in store.”
For the latest in what’s happening in produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.