SALINAS, CA - PMA Foodservice is still days away, but already my schedule is jam-packed! I mean between talking stalk at Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ booth and sampling all of the goodies Chef Todd Fisher has cooking up…well, I guess I’ll mostly be hanging out with the team at Duda! I caught up with Nichole Towell, Senior Director of Marketing, to find out what other dandy delights we attendees can expect at Duda’s booth.
“This year, we’re showcasing our celery, sweet corn, and radishes. Of course, Duda is known for celery, so attendees should stop by and talk stalk! We will also be featuring our super sweet corn, with Chef Todd on hand to sample on-trend Tori Kon, Japanese street corn,” Nichole shared with me.
In addition to giving attendees a taste of Tori Kon, Chef Todd will also be participating in the strolling lunch competition. Nichole revealed that he will be preparing his famous charred Dandy® Sweet Corn and Chicken Tinga Tostada with fermented Dandy® Celery Slaw.
“Chef Todd will be showing just how many delicious options foodservice operators can create with our offerings,” Nichole continued. “From snacktime to dinnertime, and everything in between, we’ve got everything foodservice operators need to create healthy, flavorful meals.”
When I asked Nichole why Duda Farm Fresh Foods looks forward to PMA Foodservice each and every year, her answer did not disappoint!
“PMA Foodservice is the only tradeshow dedicated to fresh produce for the foodservice industry,” Nichole said. “The smaller venue makes networking and connections easy and convenient.”
Stop by booth #901 to see all that Duda Farm Fresh Foods has to offer! And for more foodservice-forward news, keep following AndNowUKnow.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA - PMA Foodservice attendees are in for a treat when they swing by GreenFruit Avocados’ booth, because the company will be introducing its innovative 2-count box and outer carton. For retailers looking to make an avo-splash in the produce aisle, GreenFruit Avocados’ new packaging is sure to catch eyes and hearts with handy info and increased sustainability.
"These boxes represent a more sustainable solution compared to plastic bags since they’re 100 percent recyclable and provide better protection in transit and storage—which reduces shrink," said Dan Acevedo, Business Development Director. "We’ve tested these boxes for the past year with a customer in New York and have seen excellent results with product quality, distribution, versatility, and the efficiency of the design. We’re excited to offer them now to all of our customers—foodservice and retail, branded or privately labeled."
According to a press release, the 24-count, one-layer outer box is shipped and received containing 12 smaller boxes inside, each box containing two size-48 avocados. By supplying in twos as opposed to bulk quantities, foodservice partners can reduce waste and fulfill orders by smaller entities such as restaurants.
The boxes provide ample ventilation and protection during the shipping process, and include a stage-of-ripeness guide, which is as snazzy as it is informative. The SKU on each 2-count box promotes traceability within the foodservice industry as product changes hands, because each box relates to its master container.
Want to know more? Stop by booth #1304 at PMA Foodservice to get the deets straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.
NEW YORK, NY - The online and mobile wholesale retailer has found its first President in Prentis Wilson, former Vice President and General Manager of Amazon Business. Until now, Boxed has been up and running since 2013 without someone taking the helm, but the decision to anoint a President followed after a year of incredible growth for the company. According to the press release, the company has continued to scale operations, grow its private label brand, and make several notable new hires across departments over the past year. Wilson is looking forward to accelerating overall company growth by focusing on the customer.
“Boxed is an innovative company that identified and capitalized on a real opportunity in the grocery space,” said Wilson. “I’m super excited to join Boxed, where I see massive potential for its end-to-end platform to deliver an industry-best shopping experience for customers, as well as unrivaled value for vendors.”
Before joining the online wholesale retailer, Wilson has had decades of experience in retail and technology leadership roles. He’s also displayed massive initiative capabilities—Wilson is responsible for creating and growing the global division of Amazon Business, generating over $10 billion in annual sales in less than four years. Prior to joining Amazon, Wilson led Cisco’s global sourcing and procurement operations, and spent 12 years at Honeywell International in a variety of engineering, purchasing, and manufacturing operations roles.
“In a rapidly evolving industry, we’ve been able to grow from a technology startup selling online bulk groceries to a full-service retail partner also offering software and actionable data insights,” said Chieh Huang, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Prentis will help us in scaling this operation, bringing years of insight from a strong player in the e-commerce landscape.”
Among other leadership hires, Boxed recently welcomed Chief Financial Officer Rhonda Ramparas, an eighteen-year veteran of Fortress Investment Group; Vice President of Growth Seiya Vogt; and Vice President of Product Andrea Chesleigh.
Keep reading ANUK for more advancements and updates in produce.
VANCOUVER, CANADA - With PMA Foodservice mere days away, the entire produce industry is all atwitter to see what new developments and offerings will be on display. For an event designed to showcase produce, Oppy is bringing out the big guns with an impressive array of fruits and veg that I’m sure I’ll be marveling over come Saturday. But for Oppy, the show is just as much about the people as it is about the produce, and the company intends to take advantage of the opportunity to hobnob with the best in the biz.
“The foodservice show allows us as growers to really highlight the capabilities that we have in our portfolio of products to drive growth in a large sector where Americans consume so much fresh produce,” Chis Ford, Foodservice Category Manager, told me. “The opportunity to network is excellent. It’s great to connect with partners in this small-format show, building relationships and showcasing our offerings.”
Oppy has been a part of PMA Foodservice for decades, so the company isn’t new to this rodeo. Oceanside Pole vine-ripe romas and round tomatoes, Ocean Spray Berries, and a range of table grapes will all be on display at the show. The company will also be emphasizing Sun World Innovations’ proprietary varieties of table grapes that it will be marketing starting in the import season. The range of grapes includes AUTUMNCRISP®, black MIDNIGHT BEAUTY®, and red SCARLOTTA SEEDLESS® among other promising new grape types.
Off-shore citrus will be another focus of Oppy’s displays, as it currently grows citrus in seven countries, with fruit from Argentina, Chile, Peru, Australia, and South Africa arriving now. The company’s citrus offerings include tried-and-true favorites like navels, lemons, and easy-peelers, as well as the more specialty varieties, including Daisy mandarins, blood oranges, and Meyer lemons.
Of course, it’s not always enough for produce to bring the flavor—it has to look good doing it. Oppy will be presenting new packaging this year for products including Ocean Spray cranberries, which will be sporting updated packaging that features more contemporary graphics and an emblem noting that 100 percent of the profits are returned directly to Ocean Spray’s farmers. And cranberries aren’t the only fruit to get special treatment, as the company’s Oceanside Pole tomatoes will be showing off packaging that recognizes its special qualities.
“This is the first full season that Oceanside Pole tomatoes will be packed in updated boxes to reflect their 80th anniversary of growing on the same land in Oceanside, California,” Chris commented. “The brand positioning line is ‘On a Mission since 1939,’ reflecting the Singh family’s enduring commitment to producing excellent tomatoes, as well as their traditional support of the nearby Mission San Luis Rey.”
This is shaping up to be a busy season for Oppy, with a veritable smorgasbord of fruit in its pipeline. Its import citrus season began a month ago and will run into October, while Oceanside Pole vine-ripe round and roma tomatoes began shipping earlier this month and will continue through late November. Oppy has large volumes of blueberries currently shipping from the Pacific Northwest, and raspberries and blackberries are also in season.
With Oppy poised to dazzle at this year’s event, its phenomenal fruit is sure to be a bright spot on the showroom floor. The company can be found at booth #704, so be sure to stop by.
PESCADERO, CA - July in California is the perfect time to escape to the cool coast of the state (unless you already call it home), sit back on a beach, stroll a boardwalk, and, if you are lucky, witness a few foodservice greats while you are at it. With PMA Foodservice essentially upon us, we are whetting your palates with some of the fresh produce flavor makers and one of those companies is Jacobs Farm del Cabo.
Kyla Oberman, Marketing Manager for the company took a beat to chat with me about the quickly approaching weekend and what Jacobs Farm del Cabo has in store.
“We are really looking forward to this year’s PMA Foodservice. A large part of our vision for the show is to share our message of value and commitment to our customers through Jacobs Farm del Cabo’s organic and sustainably grown produce. Building new relationships is also key and will be front of mind as we look to elevate the plate,” Kyla shares with me adding that variety is the spice of life. “We have an exciting range of products that makes us a one-stop-shop for flavorful organic produce.”
The company will be showcasing its lineup which includes basil, chilies, jalapeños, Cabo Diablo peppers, cherry bombs, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and its 1 lb and 4 oz bagged herbs. Additionally, Jacobs Farm del Cabo will have unique items available like makrut, sorrel, and lemongrass to help chefs add distinction to their dishes.
“Fresh and flavorful is a combination to rival,” Kyla continues, “and being able to offer that combination, that is organic to boot, to customers is where our value lies as well. The Jacobs Farm del Cabo growers and sales team are dedicated to ensuring a consistent supply of quality, fresh organic products to foodservice customers on a year-round basis.”
Innovation is also a huge aspect of Jacobs Farm del Cabo’s vision, offering an internal natural breeding team that is always considering flavor-forward vegetable and herb offerings. As demand grows for the company’s organic products, the team has continued to add specialty herbs and unique vegetables to its growing foodservice portfolio.
But don’t take my word for it! Check out Jacobs Farm del Cabo booth #1310 and we will see you all soon!
ALABAMA, N. CAROLINA, and MINNESOTA - The German grocer is cementing its place in the U.S. market, with plans to open over a dozen new stores across the country. In its current production plan, four stores are in the works in North Carolina, eight new stores across Minnesota, and its very first store in Montgomery, Alabama.
According to Alabama News Network, Aldi has plans to invest $3.4 billion to expand to 2,500 U.S. brick-and-mortar stores by the end of 2022. Its first-time expansion into Montgomery, AL, is one part of that plan.
“We strive to make grocery shopping an enjoyable experience. We combine great food with affordable prices, and we are excited to open our first store in Montgomery, to show a new community of shoppers what we do best,” said Shaun O’Keefe, Jefferson Division Vice President for ALDI. “We pride ourselves on saving people time and money, and we can’t wait to provide Montgomery residents with a grocery store that meets their needs.”
The new Montgomery store is set to open on August 1 of this year, and the opening ceremonies will include a giveaway of gift cards to the first 100 customers and a sweepstakes to win a year’s supply of Aldi produce. The store will feature an expansive refrigeration space for its 40 percent increase in its fresh food selection, Alabama News Network reports.
Minnesota is another market that Aldi is attempting to dominate, with plans to operate at least 70 locations throughout the state. According to Minnesota Star Tribune, to achieve this goal, the retailer is opening eight new Minnesota locations. Aldi has spent over $34 million in the past two years to construct new stores and renovate existing ones. Since that time, almost 20 stores have been remodeled, with thirteen more in the works.
The new Minnesota stores will be located in:
- Richfield, opening August 14
- Minneapolis, opening August 21
- Chanhassen, opening in October
- St. Louis Park, opening in October
- Blaine, opening in November
- St. Paul, opening in November
- Phalen Village, opening in November
- Roseville, undisclosed opening
North Carolina is also in the retailer’s crosshairs as it plans to open four new locations, one of which will be located in a former Kroger spot in Raleigh, according to WRAL.
The new North Carolina stores will be located in:
- Cary, opening October 17, 2019
- Raleigh, opening October 31, 2019
- Raleigh, opening June 25, 2020
- Holly Springs, opening July 23, 2020
Where will Aldi set its sights next? AndNowUKnow will report.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Flavor is everything at Driscoll’s. And that is more than just a vision, but a commitment as well. What allows the team to make that essential commitment to the berry category is its deep dedication to cultivating the land on which it grows as well as its devotion to developing some of the best varieties across the industry. While retail has always been a huge part of the market share for Driscoll’s, foodservice is gaining ground, as we will witness at this year’s PMA Foodservice event.
“Here at Driscoll’s, we have begun to develop unique varieties that respond to the need for a premium berry experience among today’s shoppers. Take the recent release of our Limited Edition Rosé Berries™ in both strawberry and raspberry offerings,” Randy Benko, Director of Foodservice, shares with me. “We have also generated excitement around our other items like our Limited Edition Sweetest Batch™, which is a collection of high-flavor strawberries and raspberries that inspires memorable moments of sweet indulgence.”
For the Rosé berry selection, you can truly Rosé-all-day and bring a beautiful light-pink hue to the table cultivated from the non-GMO breeding methods used by Driscoll’s Joy Makers—a team of agronomists, breeders, sensory analysts, plant health scientists, and entomologists who research and develop proprietary varieties. The flavors are sweet, unique, and buzz-worthy across the board.
“In the foodservice world, flavor is so important when delighting shoppers and diners,” Randy adds. “The arena presents a huge opportunity for us to continue to grow. Knowing that there are so many more consumption moments out there is a great thing and is one of the highlights we are noticing when we look at consumer behavior. Some of the data we have gathered tells us that kids are eating a lot more frequently throughout the day—not just breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Berries present such a great way to entice and excite the shopper or diner whether it is as a snack, an ingredient, or an inspiring piece of fresh fruit that the chef can build a dish or drink around—we have tapped into a win-win for both retail and foodservice.”
I know I have got PMA Foodservice booth #218 on my radar. The bigger question is: Do you?
WALTHAM, MA - Wakefern has partnered with Takeoff Technologies to launch a new fulfillment center in Clifton, New Jersey. This move centers Wakefern’s commitment to improving the online grocery shopping experience.
"We are excited to partner with Takeoff Technologies to see how their hyperlocal automation technology will benefit our cooperative, retail members, and shoppers," said Steve P. Henig, Wakefern's Vice President of Digital Commerce & Analytics. "We are really proud of our e-Grocery shopping platform, ShopRite from Home®, and believe this partnership will enhance our online shopping service."
According to a press release, the ShopRite from Home program currently offers clients pick-up and home delivery services across most ShopRite store locations. The new fulfillment center will serve select ShopRite stores—operated by Wakefern member Inserra Supermarkets—in North Jersey and New York. Utilizing advanced robotics, orders of up to 60 grocery items can be assembled within minutes.
"We're thrilled to partner with Wakefern to help make their e-Grocery service even better," said Jose Aguerrevere, Takeoff’s CEO and Co-Founder. "Our hyperlocal approach and technology results in lower packaging costs and high last mile efficiency."
Additionally, both Wakefern and Takeoff have agreed to open new fulfillment centers in the future.
"Our e-Grocery automation is a turn-key, scalable solution that uses robotics to unlock convenience for shoppers without the need to charge extra fees," added Max Pedro, Co-Founder and President of Takeoff. "It's a win-win for grocers and shoppers."
For the latest on who’s partnering with whom, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - Walmart is making waves by granting $1.2 million to Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) in order to advance responsible labor practices through workforce development programs on fresh produce farms in Mexico. The Walmart Foundation grant runs through the end of 2020 and will support EFI in offering workforce development and certification programs to more Mexican suppliers.
“The grant support allows EFI to work across groups of growers, to expand its direct programs, and to deliver capacity, learning, and tools more widely than its immediate networks. EFI is well-positioned to drive this needed learning, collaboration, and problem-solving, given its experience implementing its assurance program in Mexico over the past several years,” said Karrie Denniston, Senior Director, Walmart.org, which represents the philanthropic efforts of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation.
According to the press release, the grant also supports outreach to and collaboration with like-minded organizations that want to expand social assurance protections for produce farmworkers in Mexico. EFI will work with partners to develop training workshops, assessment tools, and other materials that introduce continuous improvement and problem-solving strategies that promote responsible labor practices on Mexican farms.
In 2018, the fresh produce industry published the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, a charter outlining the guiding principles and effectively elevating labor concerns to the same critical level as food safety. Due to this publication, suppliers will need additional tools and resources to fully abide by charter principles and provide verification to customers and consumers.
“The ethical charter is an important commitment and market signal for improved practices, but it will take leadership and investment from a range of stakeholders to ensure that the principles laid out in the charter become the norm for the produce industry,” said Peter O’Driscoll, Executive Director for Equitable Food Initiative. “We applaud the Walmart Foundation’s grant-making to build capacity in this area and look forward to implementing our program and to working with other stakeholders from the public, private, and civil society sectors to promote the charter.”
Another key focus of the grant is to strengthen EFI’s capacity to develop responsible recruitment programs, to work with and build the capacity of Mexican organizations, and to engage public and private sector leaders on recruitment challenges.
To stay current with all things relevant to the produce industry, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
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.
EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING TO CALIFORNIA
California will experience a heat wave all this week that will affect several major growing regions.
All points of the San Joaquin Valley will see maximum temperatures well above 100° all week. Bakersfield and Fresno will be at 105° today and tomorrow but will rise to 107° on Thursday where it will remain through Monday of next week.
The northern end of the valley will also see maximum temperatures well above 100° and will hit a maximum of 106° on Thursday. Temperatures through the area will not drop below 100° until next Tuesday, July 30.
This may lead to possible quality issues on items such as tomatoes and melons out of these areas. Call your shippers.
The second main area of mention is the Salinas Valley. From Soledad south in the valley, expect the high temperature for tomorrow to be 97°and rise to 99° on Thursday. Maximum temperatures will remain at this elevated level through next Monday.
This may lead to quality issues on wet veg and tomatoes coming from these areas as well.
Oxnard/Ventura region along the southern coast of California will also experience well above average temperatures for this time of year. Maximum temperatures will range from the mid-80°s up to the mid-90°s all this week depending how far from the coast the farm is located. These temperatures are 10° to 20° above normal. Berries, lemons, bell peppers, and some wet veg are coming from these areas right now.
Please take your precautions.
RESPITE OF COOLER TEMPERATURES AND RAIN AFTER THE MASSIVE HEATWAVE
After a weekend of grueling heat through the Midwest and Northeast, many parts of the East Coast will see a good shot of rain and below average temperatures today.
From Pennsylvania in the north all the way down through Virginia, the Carolinas, and into Georgia, many growing regions can expect between 1.00” to 1.75” of rain today. The forecast is for a 100 percent chance of rain. Along with the rain will come cooler temperatures. Pennsylvania will see maximum temperatures in the mid-70°s today and tomorrow, while South Carolina and Georgia will see maximum temperatures in the mid-80°s. These temperatures are 20° cooler than what these areas saw over the weekend.
Please check the app for the commodities and specific locations that will be affected.
The Midwest will also see much cooler temperatures over the next several days. Locations that saw temperatures in the mid-90°s over the weekend were in the upper 70°s and low 80°s yesterday throughout the region. These cooler temperatures will continue through Thursday in many areas. Talking about states such as Indiana, Missouri, and as far south as Alabama and Arkansas.
Nothing to make an issue of, but definitely a big change compared to temperatures only a few days ago.
STORM #3 OFF THE SOUTHEASTERN TIP OF FLORIDA TO AFFECT NORTH CAROLINA WATERMELON GROWERS
"Tropical Depression Three," as it is being officially called by the National Hurricane Center, has formed off the southern tip of Florida over the weekend. The storm will not elevate in stature to a hurricane but is forecasted to bring 1.00” to 3.00” of rain to the east coast of Florida as it makes its way north today.
By this afternoon, the storm will be at the Florida-Georgia line where it will begin to pull away from the coast but is predicted to make landfall tomorrow morning in the state of North Carolina, where it will dump up to 2.00” of rain in the main watermelon growing areas of the region.
Please be aware of this rain to hit tomorrow.
ONE LAST NIGHT OF NEAR FREEZING TEMPS IN CHILE
Many growing regions of Chile have been experiencing below freezing temperatures the last few nights as we discussed last Friday. Last night saw the continuation of temperatures below the freezing mark. Tonight should be the last hurrah with temperatures dipping to around 33°. By tomorrow, we will be out of any danger with minimum temperatures around 36°. By this Friday, the nightly minimums will be back in the 40°s.
REMAINDER OF COUNTRY AND MEXICO EXPERIENCING NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR TIME OF YEAR
Outside of the weather issues mentioned above, we don’t see anything out of the norm for this time of year. Please check the app for specific growing locations and commodities for more specific data.
Thanks again, and we'll be back on Friday with another weather report!