INDEPENDENCE, KY - How do you know when an event will go from good to great? When you invite fresh produce leaders to speak, of course! At the Crosset 2019 Produce & Floral Conference, the retailer panel will include Greg Corrigan, Senior Director of Produce and Floral for Raley’s; Caitlin Tierney, Senior Director of Produce for 99 Cents Only Stores; Drew Sullivan, Senior Category Manager-Produce for Sprouts Farmers Market; and Mimmo Franzone, Director of Produce and Floral at Longo Brothers Fruit Markets.
“We are thrilled to bring together such a distinguished group of produce industry professionals for our 2019 Produce & Floral Conference,” said Greg Kurkjian, Crosset Company’s Vice President and General Manager. “Each of the retailers represented on this panel have successfully crafted a unique positioning in their marketplace, delivered in large part through their fresh produce offerings. We look forward to a lively discussion that will both challenge and inspire our conference attendees in their ‘Dare to be Different’ journey.”
The roundtable discussion, which will focus on the use of organic, local, and clean foods to support each retailers' differentiation strategies, will be moderated by Steve Lutz, Vice President of Member Engagement for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA).
According to a press release, each panelist brings their own distinctive take on fresh produce in retail, as well as their own brand of passion for fruit and veg.
Greg Corrigan, for example, oversees all produce procurement and merchandising for Raley’s Bel Air, Nob Hill, and Food Source stores in California and Nevada. He is also the current Chairman of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association Board of Directors.
Mimmo Franzone, on the other hand, developed a passion for fresh food and produce while working in the family business. Throughout his 16-year career with Longo’s, Franzone has worked as Produce Manager and Produce Category Manager. He is now the Director of Produce and Floral. His personal mission remains bringing Longo’s shoppers the flavors and experiences that fresh veg and fruit have to offer. Franzone focuses on both quality and unique offerings and works to be a leader in building sustainable relationships.
Over her 14-year career in the produce industry, Caitlin Tierney has gathered a unique perspective on up-and-coming trends, such as e-commerce, grocery delivery, prepared foods, discount retail, and more. Her retail career started as a Produce Category Assistant for Michigan-based Spartan Stores, where she spent several years as a buyer. She then moved on to work for New York-based Fresh Direct as a Senior Produce Buyer. Prior to joining 99 Cents Only Stores, she was the Produce and Floral Purchasing Manager for Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market and NAFTA Produce Chain Marketing Manager for Bayer CropScience.
Drew Sullivan has nearly 20 years of retail grocery produce experience. He first worked for Safeway, and for the past three years has been with Sprouts Farmers Market. His experience spans produce department management, field merchandising, and regional and national produce category management responsibilities. He brings an innovative, analytical, and creative approach to driving produce growth.
Steve Lutz’s career spans nearly 40 years. Throughout it, he has worked in fresh food marketing and research. His career includes two stints with the Washington Apple Commission, first managing industry-wide marketing programs for the apple growers of Washington State and later serving as President/CEO. He also managed marketing programs for several wineries while at Ogilvy & Mather. He is the Co-Founder of Perishables Group and Vice President of Marketing for CMI Orchards.
Registration is now open for the Crosset Company Produce & Floral Conference, which will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 28, 2019. Retailers, foodservice operators, growers, suppliers, and other industry partners can now register on-line at crosset.com. The day-long event will feature guest speakers and panelists, networking and sales opportunities, and cooking demonstrations and sampling throughout the day.
Stick with us at AndNowUKnow for the latest in fresh veg and fruit!
FALLBROOK, CA - Trade shows are always a celebration, whether it be in honor of new products, hard work, or even the fact that we’re all together again! At this year’s Organic Produce Summit, however, Del Rey Avocado is celebrating the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art packing and distribution facility in Vista, California, as well as new packaging for its ever-so-popular Organic California Reed Avocado. I caught up with Patrick Lucy, Vice President, to learn more ahead of the show.
“We always look forward to getting meaningful facetime with our existing customer base and the opportunity to meet new customers at a nice venue and intimate environment,” Patrick said to me. “This is one of our favorite shows of the year because the venue is unbelievable—how can you not love Monterey in July? OPS provides the best opportunity to meet with decision-makers at all levels of a buying organization in retail, foodservice, and wholesale, and from all over the country.”
Patrick noted that Del Rey Avocado is particularly excited about the opportunity to show these buyers the Organic California Reed Avocado’s new packaging. Specifically, the new packaging will accommodate the larger fruit size, provide for better arrivals, and increase quality—all of which fits into Del Rey Avocado’s commitment to bolster organics.
“Del Rey Avocado was one of the earliest adaptors in California Organic Avocados. We are proud to feature organics as a mainstay to our product line and are committed to more organic acreage in California, Peru, and Chile,” Patrick shared. “In addition, we are proud supporters and active participators in the Fair Trade movement. Fair Trade and organics go hand-in-hand with our overall marketing strategy.”
And if that wasn’t enough for us to celebrate in Monterey in a few weeks, Patrick also revealed that Del Rey Avocado has experienced tremendous growth in organic exports in South Korea and Japan, proving that organic avocados are now a worldwide market for the fruit provider.
To learn more reasons to celebrate with Del Rey Avocado on the OPS show floor, stop by booth #302! For more pre-OPS coverage, keep following AndNowUKnow.
BOISE, ID - Albertsons is tackling online accessibility to fresh produce and beyond, announcing an initiative to make both desktop and mobile grocery shopping easier for customers with disabilities.
“Ensuring a great shopping experience for all customers is one of our highest priorities, which includes ongoing web and mobile app accessibility enhancements to provide access to customers of all abilities,” said Ramiya Iyer, Group Vice President, Information Technology.
The retailer collaborated with several visually impaired customers of the company's family of grocery stores, including Safeway, in a process known as ‘Structured Negotiation,’ according to a press release.
Albertsons noted positive feedback from customers on both sides of the country.
“I congratulate Albertsons Cos. for recognizing the needs of all of its customers including customers like me who have visual impairments,” Judy Dixon, a Safeway shopper in Virginia, said in the release. “The changes announced today will make it easier for us to shop with convenience and efficiency.”
The enhancements include significant enhancements to its online shopping websites and mobile applications to improve accessibility, striving to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0 Level AA. The investment comes as news sources report major competitors like Amazon are struggling in the e-commerce online grocery realm. Will this move cultivate a loyal following that could give Albertsons an e-commerce edge? AndNowUKnow will report the latest.
REEDLEY, CA - One of my favorite stories to tell is the one that speaks to legacies; that speaks to revitalizing the family farmer’s connection to the soil. Fruit World Co. is one of those companies determined to realize this vision and create a space for the next generation of growers to not only excel but thrive. Owned and operated by CJ Buxman and Bianca Kaprielian, third- and fourth-generation, respectively, this company seeks to produce the most flavorful fruit in California and connect with customers who share the passion for quality and peak seasonality that Fruit World so inspiringly brings to market each day.
“I love the idea of reinvigorating the public's relationship with produce and ensuring the sustainability of agriculture,” Bianca shares with me. “When we say ‘the sustainability of agriculture,’ it's really about sustainability in terms of the land but it is also answering the question: How do we make this a viable career path for our peers and our children and future generations?”
The Fruit World team cares deeply for each other, honors its growers, stewards the land, and jumps over drip tape for their buyers, Bianca adds. And the goal for that legacy is a huge part of the dynamic that drives that team.
“When founding Fruit World, we asked ourselves, ‘Is there a way that we can continue our family's agricultural legacy and then be able to help make it viable for the folks we grew up with or other families of Central Valley farmers? Is there a way for us to help make that sustainable for them?’” she adds.
This family and the multi-generational element are not something that Bianca and CJ pulled out of thin air. In 2017, CJ and Bianca founded Fruit World to celebrate and carry on their families’ legacies of sustainable farming practices and good stewardship of the land because it was not just in their hearts, but in their blood.
‘We really are living entities of that storyline, because both of our families were in the stonefruit business,” CJ tells me. “We even lived in the same small town and did some trading together, back in the day. Now, we grow and sell organic and conventional citrus and organic stonefruit, grapes, pomegranates, and other specialty commodities. It has been such a wonderful journey for us. We both took separate paths and just when we were both desiring to keep our family legacies going, we thought, 'Hey, let's join forces and do this together.’ So really it’s been a story of keeping our families’ legacies alive—that is truly what it feels like for me.”
These two are definitely a rare breed of human—bringing a fresh perspective and youthful wonder to a story that could have been one of loss.
But growth is where Bianca and CJ focus their energy and passion now. Their histories have built their foundations, and now their vision will take them into the next era of produce leaders.
And as a California company, we all know that one huge area of growth and impact is the state’s table grape category. As we move toward July, the company is ramping up its California grape program in the San Joaquin Valley, bringing heritage varieties across red, black, and green categories that offer full flavor and aroma attributes that have been developed and perfected over years and years of care and cultivation.
With grapes available from July through October, Fruit World is partnering with customers to bring value and a rich history to its California grape destinations through partnerships with well-respected growers like Pete Wolf, who was one of the first organic growers in California. His organic certification number is 002 if that tells you nothing else. But that is another story to tell.
So, stay tuned for more rich history and rich vision from Fruit World and the companies that drive our industry forward in new and exciting ways.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA - There is nothing like a little talk about aggressive expansion strategies and burgeoning growth to get your blood up. GreenFruit Avocados is one of those companies energizing the avocado category this summer with the welcomed additions of produce industry veterans Lisa Cabuto and Dave Culpeper to its sales team as Senior Sales Representative and Senior Account Manager, respectively.
"As we continue to grow as a global company, we know that the people who represent GreenFruit Avocados will be instrumental in our success," Brian Gomez, President and Founder, said. "We are extremely pleased to have Lisa and Dave as part of the GreenFruit sales team."
Cabuto and Culpeper bring a wealth of knowledge to their new roles. The new additions will leverage their industry expertise and connections to help the company continue its exponential growth, according to a press release.
"Lisa’s customer focus, work ethic, and charismatic personality will make her a tremendous addition to our team," said Kraig Loomis, the company’s Sales Manager. "The strong business relationships she has built with Mexican grower-shippers over the course of 25 years in the produce business will also provide the company with fresh insight on how to collaborate most effectively with all of our U.S. and international partners."
Combine the team growth with the recent move to a larger facility in Newport Beach, Calfornia, and you can begin to see the exciting elements that make up GreenFruit’s aggressive expansion strategy, enabling the company to maintain the high-quality service for which it is known.
"We are well positioned as a vertically integrated avocado grower and packing house," Dan Acevedo, Director of Business Development, said. "But to have someone as uniquely qualified as Dave Culpeper bring his talents to our organization and assist with our continued growth is very humbling."
Cabuto began her career by advancing through multiple positions at the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market. Most recently she was a Buyer for Northgate Gonzalez Markets. Culpeper brings roots in agriculture that go back to his time in Escondido, California, where his father managed several citrus and avocado ranches. After serving in the United States Air Force, he was the first employee at West Pak Avocado and spent more than 30 years with the company.
A huge congrats to the growing team at GreenFruit and the promising avocado road ahead!
CHICAGO, IL - Jewel-Osco® and G&R Farms® are proving to be the buy-side/supply-side mash-up we never knew we needed until now. In an effort to support investments in U.S. agriculture education and careers, the retailer and the Vidalia® variety grower/marketer are collaborating with Growing America’s Farmers, a non-profit organization providing college scholarships through the national Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization, in an all-new campaign rolling out now.
“This collaboration is a great opportunity to showcase Vidalia onions and at the same time give a young person the chance to fulfill their dreams of becoming a farmer,” said Scott Bennett, Jewel-Osco Sales Manager. “Vidalia sweet onions have long been a customer favorite and Jewel-Osco is proud of the partnership.”
According to a press release, a portion of every consumer sale of G&R Vidalia sweet onions will be donated to FFA to provide educational scholarships. All contributions will also help Jewel-Osco support regional opportunities targeting the next generation of America’s farmers.
“I have been so humbled and blown away by the support we have received, and I am really excited about what we will be doing together for the future of the American farmer,” said Walt Dasher, Founder of Growing America’s Farmers. “My long-term goal is to support the FFA organization and the individuals who upon graduation become America’s leaders and farmers of America.”
Vidalias will be on sale at participating Jewel-Osco stores for the rest of the summer season and throughout the fall.
For more on game-changing partnerships, mergers, and produce collabs, stick around at AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA - David Martinez had been Vice President of Sales at D’Arrigo Bros since 2011, and has played a critical role in its strategic and business planning—River Fresh Farms wants in on that. The company has created a new role for Martinez, veteran of the produce industry for more than 25 years, appointing him as its new Senior Vice President of Business Development. Talk about admiration.
"I’m very excited to be joining Vince and the team at River Fresh Farms," said Martinez. "Everybody’s energy and enthusiasm are invigorating, but most important to me is the culture and commitment to customer service, along with the creative concepts they’ve developed to simplify the supply chain and better serve our clients. It’s a great opportunity for me to bring my vast experience to a smaller, rapidly growing company."
According to the press release, Martinez will lead the company’s continued national expansion, with a focus on building and maintaining relationships with retailers and food service providers, while also developing new distribution channels. On top of these new duties, the company’s Vice Presidents of Business Development will now report to Martinez.
"I’ve known and admired Dave for most of the more than 25 years he’s been leading produce sales and executive teams in the Salinas Valley," said Vince Ballesteros, CEO and Founder. "We’re thrilled to now have his experience, energy, and customer relationship focus on the River Fresh team."
If you’d like a chance to talk with Martinez and glean any wisdom from his vast wealth of knowledge, catch him at the Organic Produce Summit this week and PMA Fresh Summit later this year.
EAST ALTON, IL - While the retail market is as tight as can be, Schnuck Markets is finding its biggest competition may actually be itself. The grocer recently announced the impending closure of its Wilshire Village store in East Alton, Illinois, citing competition from neighboring stores.
"We open stores only when we believe they will be both a preferred choice for shoppers and success for our company, but in this instance, our customers are increasingly bypassing this store in favor of one of our three nearby stores instead,” Schnucks' Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck said in a statement, reported by Republic Monitor.
As we previously reported, Schnucks had acquired 19 SuperValu-owned Shop ‘n Save grocery stores in the area in October 2018—the East Alton location being one of them. All 27 employees of the East Alton store will have the option to transfer to nearby Schnuck Markets.
Is the grocery retail market getting too crowded? Will Schnucks have to shutter more of its locations? AndNowUKnow will bring you the updates.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - As the never-not-great Rob Spinelli told me, trying to stay ahead of the curve is what Anthony Vineyards' mantra is, after I inquired about the company's organic table grape program and upcoming appearance at the 2019 Organic Produce Summit (OPS). The company is gearing up for the fourth-annual OPS, bringing the very best it has to offer as it prepares to wow the crowds with its exceptional organic offerings. With the grapes and dates Anthony Vineyards plans to showcase, you can bet that attendees will be clamoring for some extra face time at the company’s booth.
“This year, we'll be featuring organic grapes as well as an organic dates from our sister company—Sun Date, which is based in Coachella,” Rob said. “They'll be showing off some of their organic Medjools and different pack styles that they'll be pushing. With the organic dates we do different types of packs—traditional, 11 pound bulk, five pound bulk, one pound clam, eight ounce clam, and other different things that we can do for retail. On the grape front, we have our program that Anthony is known for—organics.”
According to Rob, the Bianco Family has been on the forefront of the organic grape movement since 2003, developing a full program that the company has since continued to expand upon with newer varieties. The company is transitioning away from traditional varieties like Thompsons and have been developing newer varieties like Valley Pearl, Ivory, Sweet Globes, and other high-flavor varieties. Though these newer varieties in the industry have been developing on the conventional side, Anthony Vineyards has been developing organic versions, to strengthen its organic program, giving the consumer a better product overall.
Demand for organics is still going strong, Rob tells me, and the category has become much more mainstream in recent years. However, the organic grape market still has some hiccups. Although there is some product coming in from Peru to augment the U.S. harvest, it’s still not a big program, so there is no year-round supply of organic grapes.
When I transition to the topic of OPS, Rob had a lot to say and all of it is good. Anthony Vineyards has been a supporter of the show since its very inception, and Rob tells me that a show dedicated to the organic sector is invaluable.
“We've been with OPS since it started four years ago,” he told me. “When OPS first asked if we would we be interested in doing a strictly organic show, we told them right off the bat—yes, because Anthony Vineyards believes there was a need for a strictly organic produce show, so it doesn't get lost among the masses.”
Monterey in the summer, Rob commented, is the perfect location and season for the show, as the entire region is a hotbed of growers, so attendees have the chance to visit suppliers during peak season. OPS also offers the opportunity to bridge the supply- and buy-side sectors in a way that benefits everyone.
“It's always been great, they give us a lot of retail support which makes a great show—you get retail support from all areas of the country,” Rob said. “There's a good turn out of retailers and wholesalers, and this year even the international arena people are coming.”
Anthony Vineyards is eager to share its evolution over the past three years, as it changes out older, traditional varieties, and starts in on newer, popular varieties of red, green, and black grapes. The grower plans to showcase its willingness to take the next big leap, and whether it’s new varieties, or newer, more sustainable packaging, Anthony Vineyards has what it takes to keep up with the competition.
Want to see Anthony Vineyards’ latest and greatest for yourself? Hop on over to booth #303. ANUK will continue to keep you posted on all things OPS as we ramp up for the show.
BROOKFIELD, WI - Trader Joe’s is one of those names in grocery that gets the entire industry talking. Whether it be expansion plans or two of its execs answering burning consumer questions, the grocer has the sort of retail clout that keeps tongues wagging. And those tongues are going to keep on wagging, as the retailer announced it will be bolstering its presence in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
According to local news source Milwaukee Business News, this latest store will mark the third location for Trader Joe’s in the Badger State. The others are located in Glendale and Madison.
Although a significant portion of the retailer’s expansion has taken place along the East Coast—with stores opening up in New York and New Jersey—it is also looking to expand down South—several stores recently opened in Nashville, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Will Trader Joe’s now swing its expansion plans in a Northern trajectory? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.