ENGLAND - Ocado, a well-known online supermarket, suffered extreme losses in February when one of its robots contributed to a devastating fire that left one of its facilities unusable. The company recently reported just how much this fire cost it: $137 million.
How exactly did this fire occur? According to a report from Forbes, one of the battery charging units set a factory robot on fire. This resulted in a warehouse fire that lasted for four days.
Given that Ocado’s business is powered by automated robots, this financial loss could be considered a setback to some. However, Ocado’s CEO Tim Steiner is still feeling optimistic about opportunities within the market. He announced that, “We have never had as many opportunities to grow as we do today.”
The financial loss was first noticed in Ocado’s half-year report, in which the company reported its overall losses for 2019 thus far.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest news as it pertains to produce.
SALINAS, CA - One of the highlights of my job is being able to write about industry friends that have impacted my career and Merritt Bruce is one of those people. As a newbie (maybe still a newbie), Merritt introduced me to the complex world of leafy greens at which point I never got a good night’s sleep again. Now, we get to join together in congratulating Merritt as he joins Church Brothers Farms as Vice President of Retail Business Development.
“Merritt is well respected by the industry, and it is a natural fit to have him join the rest of the Growers Express sales team who have been with us since April,” Jeff Church, Vice President of Sales said. “We look forward to Merritt taking over our retail program and continuing the service customers are accustomed to from him.”
The industry vet comes to Church Brothers Farms from Growers Express along with nine other sales professionals as part of the company’s acquisition of the Growers Express’ commodity program, according to a press release. The team’s pool of Green Giant Fresh program knowledge helped make a smooth transition for existing customers. Merritt reports to Jeff Church.
Before joining Church Brothers, Merritt was Vice President of Sales at Growers Express from 2013 to 2019. While in this role, his responsibilities ranged from strategic planning and retail business development to sales team, supply chain, and account management.
Congrats, Merritt, on this new path in your career and to the Church Brothers Farms team on the amazing changes that continue to elevate your game every day!
MONTEREY, CA - And it’s here folks! The annual Organic Produce Summit (OPS) is upon us and as we build our list of people to meet and things to do, I recommend adding the LIV Organic team to the top of your list. As we point our feet in the direction of the opening party and the Monterey Conference Center, plan to be wowed by all there is to see, learn, and, of course, meet.
“Our diverse resources and deep relationships within the growing community have allowed us to help our retail partnerships thrive since day one,” Co-Founder Anthony Innocenti tells me. “LIV Organic is a grower partnership we launched in the early part of 2018 which has been built on consistent supply from several family farms and strategic packing facilities that can highlight some of the finest organic fruit and vegetables from the Western growing regions, heavily weighted in California and including Mexico.”
The LIV Organic portfolio includes all the premium organic citrus, watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, onions, potatoes, squash, peppers, and cauliflower that a retailer needs to up its organic game. The company has a 52-week program for the citrus, onions, potatoes, and squash categories and additionally provides seasonal programs for its melons, peppers, cauliflower, and heirloom tomatoes.
Keep an eye out for these LIV Organic faces at this year’s OPS!
Anthony Innocenti brings more than two decades of passionate organic produce knowledge to the table. With a dedicated team committed to providing the premium products its customers need, Anthony hopes to impact the way that organic produce companies build relationships and grow them.
Carrie Briones is all in when it comes to the organic possibilities for the LIV Organic business model. She oversees sales and grower relations and brings nearly two decades of produce experience to her new role—building out the burgeoning company’s citrus program.
Wes Yamamoto is a new face for the LIV Organic team but with a wealth of experience which is industry gold. Wes comes to LIV Organic from Sunrise Farms in San Marcos, California, and with a total of 38 years in the industry. Focused on grower relations and sales, Wes will round out the trifecta of team members at this year’s show so stop by and meet a man with a plan.
See you all on the show floor at OPS and stop by the LIV Organic booth #113 as we get our Monterey underway!
YUMA, AZ; MENDOTA, CA - It’s summertime and melons are ripe for the picking. Every summer, I’m blessed with the abundance of delicious melons to sink my teeth into at a BBQ or just lounging about. And it seems that there are more and more varieties catching my eye—Legend Produce has piqued my interest this season with its Origami cantaloupe.
“We at Legend continue to witness increased demand for Origami every year and are proud to continually build up volume to match that demand,” said Barry Zwillinger, Co-Owner and Sales Manager of this fourth-generation cantaloupe family. “There is no other variety on the market that can match what Origami does. It’s a full slip western shipper that provides an amazing aroma, high brix, a deep orange color, and a phenomenal unmatched flavor. Origami is a hearty melon with a small seed cavity that provides retailers with increased shelf-life and prevents spoilage on the other end to the consumer.”
The sweet and delicious melon is grown lovingly in California and Arizona, so you know that these babies are soaking up all the sun. Seeing as the Zwillinger family has been cultivating melons for consumption since 1955, meeting consumer demands is like second nature.
“In-store retail sales have shown that consumers prefer Origami, and the retailers’ sales data year over year backs that up,” continued Zwillinger. “We have retailers that are requesting only the Origami cantaloupe in their stores during this season.”
Be sure to take advantage during this peak season! AndNowUKnow will keep you updated on all the fruity news.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Target is introducing its small-format stores to the university scene on a grand scale. Recently, the burgeoning grocery retailer announced plans to open 30 new campus locations each year over the next couple of years in order to expand its small-format concept in a crucial market.
“Going off to college is a new life stage—students are making their own shopping decisions for the first time,” said Mark Schindele, Senior Vice President, Target Properties. “We want to help make students’ experiences fun and easy, serve up products and services they’ll love, and show them the best that Target has to offer, so they become lifelong guests.”
According to a press release, Target’s campus stores are like no other college-geared retail experience as each one’s designed for quick and convenient trips and stocked with locally relevant products at affordable prices. Products will include college-handy items like grab-and-go lunch and snack items—including bananas, apples, and more—as well as essentials and school supplies. The locations even offer online grocery services and pick-up.
“While all Target store teams strive to learn what local guests need and adapt accordingly, it’s particularly important for small-format stores near college campuses to get to know the unique needs of our student guests,” said Scott Timpani, Store Team Leader at Target’s University Center, University of California Irvine location. “We have four self-checkout kiosks next to the doors so [students] can quickly complete purchases and be on their way. And for guests who have more time to spend, we’ve created a cozy seating area near Starbucks complete with outlets for charging their devices.”
While this store concept is not new—in fact, Target opened 10 new campus stores in 2018, upping its footprint to two-dozen college locations nationwide—the kicker of the retailer’s latest plan is the rapid growth it’s hoping to achieve in the next few years.
Does Target have any more tailored store concepts up its sleeves it's planning on debuting as it tackles more markets? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
SALINAS, CA - Taylor Farms knows that the heart of any great organization is its people, and the company has taken great steps to invest in the future of its personnel. The company recently hosted its employees and their families at its annual Scholarship Luncheon, where Taylor Farms presented 20 new students with college scholarships. The recipients are all children of active, full-time Taylor Farms employees, and are pursuing higher education at a four-year university or graduate program. This year, the company awarded $100,000 in scholarships, and has given away over one million dollars to more than 100 worthy recipients.
“Taylor Farms is thrilled to continue the scholarship program for our team and their families with both new students and renewed scholarships,” said Bruce Taylor, CEO. “We are deeply passionate about creating opportunity for education as the foundation of a thriving future.”
The scholarships are designed to support the students throughout their entire academic career, according to a press release. Students will receive an upfront check for $5,000 with a guaranteed renewal of $5,000 for each year that they remain in their undergraduate or graduate program.
- Adan Lopez Calderon – University of California, Berkeley
- Andrea Rivera Maranon – California State University Fresno
- Brenda Ruby Rodriguez – University of California, Berkeley
- Cecilia Linares – San Francisco State University
- Emma Horton – University of California, Los Angeles
- Erika Servin Vela – California State University, Monterey Bay
- Francisco Javier Romero – San Francisco State University
- Gloria Angelica Tinoco Estrada – California State University, Monterey Bay
- Jasmine Beltran – Sacramento State University
- Jesus Alfar – University of California, Santa Barbara
- Jonathan Josue Quintero Ramos – California State University, Monterey Bay
- Karen G Navarro – California State University, Long Beach
- Leonardo Reynoso – University of California, Davis
- Maria Ramirez – University of California, Davis
- Mariluz Tejeda-Leon – Yale
- Maria Guadalupe Duran – Cal Poly
- Matthew Steven Morasca – University of Nevada, Reno
- Pablo Mendoza Contreras – University of California Davis
- Ronaldo Aguilera – University of California, Los Angeles
- Seth-Abdiel Briano Palacios – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
For the second year running, Taylor Farms has teamed up with the Community Foundation for Monterey County to expand the reach of its scholarship program, allowing applicants to use an online platform to instantly apply for the Taylor Farms Scholarship program, as well as over 40 additional local scholarships that they may not have otherwise known about.
Congratulations from all of us at ANUK to Taylor Farms for a truly inspirational act of altruism!
MANHATTAN, NY - Plant-based foods have reshaped the retail landscape. Where once consumers could find only beef and chicken, they’re now presented with numerous options that plug in fresh veggies as the main component. The latest meat getting the plant treatment is shellfish: lobster in particular.
According to a report from LIVEKINDLY, ethical eaters are searching for humane lobster options. At May Wah Vegetarian Market in New York City, vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians alike can purchase vegan lobster meat made out of yam flour and vegetable oil. The recommended way to prepare this “lobster” is to boil it in hot water before letting it cool down. Once it’s been cooked, it should be sliced and marinated, then served either cold, in a stir-fry, or in a stew.
Where will the plant-based movement take us next? Potato shrimp? Squash-based nuggets? The ever-growing world of veg is an exciting one to watch out for, and AndNowUKnow will continue to report the latest!
MILL VALLEY, CA - A new organic company has been born again under the presence of TerraFresh Organics (TFO). Greg Holzman and Steve Akagaki are partnering up one more time after selling Purity Organic six years ago. Now, TFO will be focusing on supplying organic citrus, mangos, stonefruit, and grapes in partnership with Harbinger Group and plans a full roll-out of organic fruits under Misionero’s Earth Greens label.
“We are excited to join with the Harbinger Group of companies,” said Greg Holzman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of TerraFresh Organics. “The Harbinger Group’s working knowledge, grower network, distribution model, and commitment to the organic space is unparalleled. The opportunity to work with Green Wave Farms, Vertical Farms, and Misionero is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, and I’ve never been more excited about our future. As a veteran of the produce business, I believe the time's right to re-engage with organic farmers as the category continues to thrive.”
Before TFO, Holzman and Akagaki have been in the organic fruit biz for over 30 years. According to a press release, Holzman invested in an apple orchard in 1985 and recruited Akagaki two years later after successfully converting it to an organic farm. That then turned into a partnership and presented itself as Purity Organic/Pacific Organic Produce. Their commitment to organics has led them to seek out conventional growers whose farms could be converted into organic farms as well.
“We are thrilled to be reviving past partnerships and developing new, strategic relationships with growers and farmers,” said Steve Akagaki, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of TerraFresh Organics. “The partnership with the Harbinger Group brings us technology and other resources that are crucial to being a top-tiered supplier. It allows us the ability to service our customers and build programs that meet the growing expectations of today’s consumer. The world has gotten smaller, the choices greater, and the competition has become fiercer. I believe TerraFresh Organics is well-positioned to be a leader in the organic category.”
This week, Jason Laffer, the newest VP of Sales for TFO, will be at the Organic Produce Summit in Monterey. Be sure to stop by the Misionero booth at #819 to meet the team and learn more about the new family in organics.
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.
FEELING HOT HOT HOT IN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEKEND…BE CAREFUL WITH QUALITY
Starting this Thursday, get ready for extreme high temperatures to hit the state, possibly affecting quality of many commodities.
In the southern deserts where grapes are still being harvested, look for a high of 115° on Thursday and 118° on Friday. Saturday through next Tuesday will experience a high of 116°. Low temperatures will remain extremely warm during these six days, around 87°. We might see quality issues with these temperatures.
The San Joaquin Valley will also see warmer temperatures starting Thursday, with highs expected to reach 106° by Saturday. These warmer temperatures will last through Tuesday, July 16. Low temperatures during this spell will be in the mid-70°s.
Even the Salinas Valley won’t be able to escape the heat. The city of Salinas, at the northeastern end of the valley near the ocean, will only see highs warm up in the upper 70°s. The city of Soledad, toward the southern end of the valley, will see maximum temperatures well above 90° tomorrow through next Monday. The hottest day will be Saturday, with the maximum temperature possibly reaching 100°. Look for possible quality issues on lettuces and other wet veg coming from this area.
Why does this matter? Well, this kind of extreme heat is tough on plants as well as the fruit. We might see an increase of production over the next week or so but be careful of quality issues. It not only affects the fruit ready for harvest but can also be detrimental to the plant and future fruit growth. In addition, the heat could also affect markets in the longer term, so companies might want to plan ahead this week when buying.
TROPICAL DEPRESSION LIKELY TO FORM BRINGING HEAVY RAIN TO GULF COAST STATES
There is a high possibility of a hurricane forming over the next five days. Here is the latest from the National Hurricane Service:
“A trough of low pressure located over central Georgia is forecast to move southward toward the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, where a broad area of low pressure is expected to form on Wednesday. Environmental and ocean conditions are forecast to be conducive for development and a tropical depression is likely to form by the end of the week while the low moves slowly westward over northern Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of development, this system has the potential to produce heavy rainfall along portions of the northern and eastern U.S. Gulf Coast later this week. For more information about the rainfall threat, please see products issued by your local weather forecast office and the NOAA Weather Prediction Center. Interests along the Gulf Coast from the Upper Texas coast to the western Florida peninsula should monitor the progress of this system.”
*Formation chance through 48 hours...low...30 percent.
*Formation chance through 5 days...high...80 percent.
HIGH TEMPERATURES RETURN TO MICHIGAN EARLY NEXT WEEK
Michigan had a reprieve last week from the extended extreme high temperatures it experienced late last month, but things will soon change. Tomorrow will once again see a high temperature of 90° before cooling off on Wednesday. But, come Sunday, maximum temperatures again will reach into the 90°s, where it will remain until at least next Wednesday, July 17.
There is also little or no chance of rain over the next ten days. Look for possible quality issues on product from these regions.
Thanks again, and we'll be back later this week with another weather report!
YAKIMA, WA - It’s only July and already there are opportunities to look back on the year and reflect. Superfresh Growers® has taken a deep dive into the apple and pear market to uncover the details of the categories. The grower analyzed the last 52 weeks to find out category patterns and growth.
In the apple sector, organic apples experienced a 5 percent national sales growth, with the Gala variety leading the way, representing 34 percent of all organic apple sales, according to a press release, based on IRI Freshlook® data. Following Gala were Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady® varieties. Though winter promotions proved successful in growing the organic movement, spring and summer saw missed opportunities for promotion.
Organic pears charged past the apple category, with a national sales growth of 7 percent. 47.4 percent of organic pear sales—a whopping $14.8 million—came from the Bartlett variety, with Anjou and Bosc rounding out the core three organic pear varieties. The three combined represent 89.5 percent of all organic pear sales.
August will mark the start of apple and pear season, starting with Organic Gala apples and Organic Bartlett and Starkrimson pears.
For more updates on the organic market, keep reading AndNowUKnow.