WASHINGTON, DC - As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint under the PACA against The Fruit Club, according to a press release.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The company, operating from South Dakota, allegedly failed to pay $367,040 promptly to four produce sellers from June 2016 through October 2017.
The Fruit Club will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the 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. 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.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Monterey Mushrooms is feeding into the playfulness of summer with fresh packaging targeting seasonal consumer needs. Last week, the mushroom provider unveiled new seasonal label art for a few of its hottest lines, including its packages of whole and sliced baby bellas, whole and sliced whites, and portabella caps.
“Fresh mushroom use peaks in the summer as the number of ways to cook with mushrooms increases,” said Lindsey Roberts, Marketing Manager. “People use their grills more in the summer and they make more salads. Mushrooms are a versatile ingredient that can be easily added to many favorite recipes.”
According to a press release, the new label art features recipes that are perfect for the summer months, like grilling hacks and mushroom snacks.
Retailers can also point produce aisle displays toward Monterey Mushrooms’ website, as the company is also adding the seasonal recipes and photos to all of its social media and digital platforms. To spread the word even further, the mushroom provider is also teaming up with food bloggers and influencers.
The new labels are available now through September, so get your retail-hands on the new packaging to be on-trend this summer!
For more of the freshest produce news, keep clicking AndNowUKnow.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Change is in the air, especially at retail. One of those companies looking to continually respond to the needs of the consumer, the market, and its foothold amongst the competition is Walmart. The company is now making organizational changes as a part of its mission to integrate its store and digital operations and leadership, according to CNBC, which obtained a memo sent by CEO Doug McMillon to the retailer’s employees.
“Our customers want one, seamless Walmart experience,” McMillon noted in the memo, according to the publication. “Earning more of our customers’ business in food and consumables is foundational to our strategy, and, at the same time, we will expand our ability to serve them with general merchandise in stores and through our broad e-commerce assortment as we continue to invest and build our e-commerce business.”
Some of those changes come through big name hires including Suresh Kumar, Walmart’s Chief Technology Officer, and Janey Whiteside, who took the newly created role of Chief Customer Officer.
Some of the more exciting news is that Walmart is bringing the U.S. supply chain teams together, which will be led by current Executive Vice President of Walmart U.S. Supply Chain Greg Smith. Smith will jointly report to Greg Foran, who runs Walmart’s U.S. stores, and Marc Lore, who runs Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce business.
Currently leading e-commerce fulfillment for Walmart is Nate Faust who will assist with the integration of the new leadership teams before moving to a new, yet-to-be announced position within Walmart, the publication adds.
As a part of the shakeup, twelve other leaders have also been named to the newly created U.S. supply chain leadership team.
As we look to the shift in roles, reporting to Whiteside will be Walmart’s services and digital acceleration team lead, Daniel Eckert, as well as the returns team lead, Linne Fulcher; and the media group lead, Stef Jay. In addition, there are open roles under Whiteside, which include a Chief Experience and Strategy Officer, a Chief Product Officer, and a leader for the customer care team.
Check out the full memo obtained by CNBC, sent by CEO Doug McMillon to the retailer’s employees here. And for the latest in what's happening in retail, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - I love a good spud. Purple, yellow, sweet, Yukon, Russet, Hasselback, mashed, chip, stuffed...you name it, I’ll eat it. Potatoes just give me life and happiness, and I may have some scientific support to back my potato love. According to a Side Delights® press release, the American Psychiatric Association held the 2019 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, and medical experts presented research showing that the Mediterranean-style diet, associated with a reduced risk of cancer and longevity, may also help protect against depression. What is in the Mediterranean diet? No grains, no dairy, less sugar, more healthy fats, medium amounts of protein, and most importantly, lots of vegetables. Which leads me back to: potatoes.
“Potatoes have been known as America’s favorite vegetable for decades, and as research continues to build on the health advantages of vegetable-heavy eating plans, consumers are embracing filling, flavorful ways to incorporate vegetables into more meals,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “Potatoes have a high-satiety factor and are extremely versatile—making them the perfect addition to a vegetable-based diet plan that can not only improve overall health but can help relieve depression.”
At the meeting, Dr. Konstantinos Argyropoulos claimed that people who adhere to a Mediterranean diet are less likely to develop symptoms of depression later on in life. U.S. News and World Report calls the Mediterranean diet a "well-balanced eating plan." Healthline has also published a recent article about treating depression and anxiety with a vegetable-based diet, touting significant improvements in two separate studies. Another Healthline article has championed potatoes for health benefits, such as being rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; can help with weight-loss by curbing hunger pains and cravings; and are naturally gluten-free.
In summation, potatoes will save your life. For more life movements and improvements, AndNowUKnow has you covered.
CARPINTERIA, CA - It’s no secret the trends start in the back-of-house, with the experts creating fresh and flavorful dishes for consumers to get hooked on before they start finding out how to bring it to their own tables. On that list, the team at Pete’s tells me, is butter lettuce, and they want to ensure foodservice operations have what they need.
“We are excited to present our roots off 24 count butter lettuce to chefs, our current partners, and prospective customers on how greenhouse-grown lettuce can be expanded at foodservice,” company President Brian Cook tells me. “It’s been exciting to see the growth of greenhouse-grown lettuce within the foodservice channel.”
As the growing method pertains to butter lettuce, Brian says this veggie remains a hero, specifically Living Butter Lettuce.
“This high-quality product mitigates shrink/food waste and allows for maximum use of each head as it has a small core, ultimate freshness, and a long shelf-life. In addition, Butter Lettuce is extremely versatile. It’s truly a lettuce without limits in that it goes beyond the traditional salad and serves as the perfect ‘protein-style’ low-carb alternative for burgers, tacos, and beyond—which we know is a popular trend happening in foodservice right now,” he comments.
Though operators who are doing high volume of butter lettuce may not need those additional attributes, no one wants to pass up the opportunity to maximize product quality. This, Brian points out, is the improvement greenhouse lettuce provides.
To make greenhouse-grown lettuce accessible to all operators, the Pete’s team is consistently reevaluating how to ensure this direction makes sense for them. One such way is reducing the packaging used in the company’s current product lineup.
“The reduction of plastic and cardboard is not only great for the environment, it allows us to help operators reduce their menu costs without sacrificing quality. Even better, they can count on consistent product and pricing year-round from the same facility and growing region. The ability to rely on a vendor for product and pricing is even more welcoming when Mother Nature forces prices up and/or product availability down,” Brian says.
Don’t want to miss your chance to meet with Pete’s about this latest item? Be sure to swing by booth #623 when you visit PMA Foodservice in Monterey, CA, July 27.
CHICAGO, IL - As our industry continues to change, companies like RSM US LLP (RSM) are making sure that this change is implemented easily and breezily for every member of the supply chain. In a way, RSM is the industry’s friendly neighborhood produce-man, a helper of any kind—from technology and modernization to food safety and logistics—and an ally of sorts intent on ensuring the industry is keeping up with its own evolution.
With access to professionals in more than 100 countries worldwide, and with nearly 90 offices across the U.S. and four locations in Canada, RSM carries more tools on its belt than almost any other company in the game. I tapped Chris Jones, Principal with RSM, to find out more about this jack-of-all-trades solutions provider that’s long been supporting the produce industry.
“If you look at traditional solution providers, none of them offers very specific solutions that address the unique needs of specialized industries, like the produce industry. RSM, however, makes a concentrated effort to customize and tailor our solutions to meet these unique needs. Whatever a company’s goal, whether it be getting to the next level or having a presence on the marketplace, we help companies reinvest in technology solutions so they can achieve their goals,” Chris explained to me.
While many solution providers are experts in their respective fields, RSM makes a point to work in the produce industry, not just with the produce industry. This has led the company to adopt the ins and outs of our industry into its repertoire of insights and experience.
“We’re actually involved in the industry. We’re not just out there creating solutions. We sit on boards for United Fresh and PMA and councils for safety and technology. We participate, co-sponsor, and speak at conferences and involve ourselves as much as we can,” Chris noted.
Specifically, RSM helps companies buy, store, track, and sell products efficiently and in the context of what’s happening in the industry. Currently, this means food safety and the tangled web that it is.
“We work with companies big and small, helping them meet the standards of the largest players in the industry. Often times, many organizations do not have the back-office systems, processes, or people to support the ever-changing initiatives required of the produce industry—which is where we come in,” Chris continued. “We meet companies where they are, and work with them to get them to the level of full-scale systems in compliance with industry standards.”
If RSM’s business card isn’t in your wallet (so that you can pull it out when need be), I highly recommend tapping this extremely knowledgeable resource, and fast!
For more on the ground-breaking companies that make up the produce industry, stick around AndNowUKnow.
LEAMINGTON, ON - NatureFresh™ Farms is expanding its Mexico operations team. This week, the greenhouse grower welcomed Paul Hulsbos to its sales team; he will be taking on the role of Procurement Manager, bringing his over 21 years of industry experience to his new position.
“I’m looking forward to contributing my experience to the procurement team at NatureFresh Farms, while strengthening their presence in Mexico,” said Hulsbos. “My new adventure with them is a life-changing decision, but one I am very much excited about.”
Hulsbos is originally from The Netherlands, where he began his career in agriculture by working at a family-owned and operated importer/exporter company. While there, he was responsible for the sales and marketing of the company’s produce. Hulsbos was then relocated to Mexico, where he has been working ever since to keep up with the market and the industry’s growth.
Hulsbos’ responsibilities as NatureFresh Farms’ new Procurement Manager will include aligning growers to support the company’s winter programs, setting up yearly commitments, and strengthening intercommunications between locations in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.
“We are thrilled to have Paul join the team,” said John Ketler, General Manager. “He brings a great amount of experience to this new position and will greatly assist in building relations and our efforts in year-round production in Mexico.”
According to a press release, NatureFresh Farms is excited for its future as it continues expanding its team, technology, and product innovations and building out its fresh produce items to year-round capabilities.
Congratulations to Paul Hulsbos on his new position! For more news on the latest industry hires taking produce to new heights, keep following AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - A step was made toward the first federal minimum wage hike in a decade this morning, with the House voting 231 to 199 in favor of the Raise the Wage Act. If it goes through Senate, it would mean more than doubling the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 by 2025.
“I commend my colleagues for taking this important step towards creating an economy that works for everyone,” Rep. Bobby Scott, a Virginia Democrat who introduced the legislation, said in a statement, according to CNBC. “Now, Senate Republicans must decide to either stand with American workers or turn their backs on hardworking people across the country.”
The news source noted, however, that this week the White House warned President Donald Trump would veto the measure if it crossed his desk, arguing the administration’s policies are “driving economic growth and increasing workers’ take-home pay far more effectively and efficiently” than the Democratic plan. The White House contended it would “eliminate jobs and reduce total wages for American workers,” according to the report.
On the food industry side, the subject has been a matter of contention as far back as 2012, with workers protesting for more per-hour. McDonald’s recently delivered a turn in its position, which may have assisted the small victory for the act. The fast-food giant has lobbied against raising the federal minimum wage, but recently announced they would stop doing so, while Walmart's CEO previously said that the federal minimum was "too low" where it stands.
The act made it through the House not just with six Democratic votes, but also three Republican ones, raising eyebrows for its future promise.
Will the Trump administration maintain its stance on the act, or make yet another unpredictable turn to push it through for an unprecedented wage hike across the U.S.? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this and any effects it has on our industry.
YERINGTON, NV - If you’ve had an ear to the ground of late, you’ve probably heard lots of talk about this season’s onions. When I chatted with Teri Gibson, Director of Marketing and Customer Relations for Peri & Sons Farms, she told me it’s all because the quality and consistency of this year’s crop is something to be excited about.
“We are currently harvesting, packing, and shipping red, white, yellow, and sweet onions from our farm in Firebaugh, California,” Teri told me. “The onions are looking great this year, and we’re very excited. After being challenged by drought conditions in California the last couple of years, this years’ good weather is a welcome change.”
The great quality of this year’s crop is also making demand stay on the up and up, with Teri revealing that demand has been good across all varieties. This has kept the market tight and pricing on an upward trend for yellows—due to tight supply that has since steadied—and on short dips for whites and reds that has since rebounded to higher levels.
“The past three weeks supplies have been tight due to production gaps in both major growing regions created by weather during the planting and growing season,” Teri continued. “We’re expecting promotional volumes to be available starting the week of July 22nd.”
USDA-certified organic reds, yellows, and Sweetie Sweets are also available and now loading in Firebaugh, California, with good supplies across all varieties. Once Peri & Sons’ California program winds down in August, the grower is kicking off its organic program in Nevada, so stay tuned for more market and crop updates from AndNowUKnow.
COMMERCE, CA - Brussels sprouts needn’t be kept in the corner of fall and holiday recipes. In fact, they shine as a summertime staple. Don’t believe me? I spoke with Mark Munger, 4Earth Farms' Vice President of Sales and Marketing, to learn more about how this veg is faring.
“Fortunately, our Brussels sprouts program is now year round,” he began. “Although we see an increase in demand during the winter holiday season, Brussels sprouts have become a steady year round in-demand vegetable. We grow Brussels sprouts all year along both the Baja and California coasts, but a vast majority of our summer crop comes from California (Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Salinas). We will move back to our Baja fields in the winter. We work hard to select the optimal varieties for each specific region and season where we grow, but our two major varieties are Confidant and Gustus.”
A mild coastal summer has equaled consistently excellent quality, which Mark believes will last throughout the season.
“As an industry, we had a very challenging spring,” he said. “The El Nino rains this past winter prevented pretty much all growers from planting their spring crop, so volumes in May and early June were nearly non-existent. We worked hard to navigate this challenge and were able to fill our most critical orders and escape much of the severe quality issues. We are now into new fields and the industry is back to ‘normal’ volumes. The current market is very stable. Demand has been strong all summer and we feel we are set for a fantastic late summer and early fall season.”
As Brussels sprouts continue to be a hit with consumers, consumption and demand are rising exponentially.
“In the summer, consumers are always looking for healthy high-flavor veggie options and Brussels sprouts are the perfect choice. They are so versatile and easy, consumers can grill, steam, bake, or simply shave them into salads…they are truly one of the most versatile veggies,” Mark shared.
He also gave insight on how retailers can take advantage of this all-purpose veg.
“Consumers now view Brussels sprouts as a year-round, versatile vegetable, not merely a seasonal item. Retailers should capitalize on this year-round demand by promoting Brussels sprouts and building big displays to keep them front and center with consumers. Summer ads that promote grilling Brussels sprouts help tie into barbecue and backyard themes. Offering Brussels sprouts in multiple pack sizes and options helps appeal to a broader customer base and significantly increases sales. Options can be a bulk display, one-pound net bags, steam-in-bag Brussels sprouts, and even halved or shaved Brussels sprouts.”
For the latest crop and market updates like this, keep reading AndNowUKnow!