KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, and MOREHEAD, KY - Mastronardi Produce and AppHarvest are teaming up to construct a high-tech greenhouse in Morehead, Kentucky. The new facility is expected to bring an infusion of jobs and award-winning produce to the Appalachian states.
“The 60-acre, state-of-the-art facility will be one of the most sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced greenhouses of its kind,” said Paul Mastronardi, President and CEO, and the fourth-generation family member to lead Mastronardi Produce. “This is a significant milestone for Kentucky’s farming and food sectors.”
The new facility is in-line with Phase One of AppHarvest’s Founder and CEO Jonathan Webb’s vision to stoke the region’s economy, which took a major hit with the decline of coal, according to a press release. In fact, the Morehead location was chosen with both Mastronardi and AppHarvest's strong commitment to developing communities in mind.
“Situated in the heart of America, the facility is within one day’s drive of 70% of the U.S. population in a region known for its hard work, ingenuity, and tenacity,” said Webb. “This greenhouse will be a source of opportunity, optimism, and prosperity for the entire Appalachian region.”
The facility is also expected to be one of the largest high-tech cucumber greenhouses in the U.S. and will help increase year-round access to locally-grown SUNSET® tomatoes and cucumbers.
“We believe everyone should be able to buy fresh vegetables,” added Mastronardi. “Thanks to this partnership, consumers in Kentucky and surrounding states—Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, to name a few—can look forward to flavorful SUNSET® produce arriving at stores within hours of being hand-picked. And increasing the availability of local produce will continue to be a priority for us.”
Look for delicious, Kentucky-grown SUNSET® products hitting stores in 2020!
For more produce industry news like this, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
EDINBURG, TX - As a Californian who once lived in Seattle, I’ve since picked up a few life hacks to help make May feel like spring, rain or shine, which I thought I’d share since the Golden State is currently experiencing its own Seattle spring. One of those hacks was enjoying any variety of melon, all day, every day. Honeydew, cantaloupe, and, of course, watermelon were my go-tos to help encapsulate warmer days with flavor and flare. This year, Little Bear Produce is making sure consumers across the nation can implement this hack and enjoy domestic melons all summer long.
“We are on the cusp of starting the first domestic supply of honeydews. These South Texas beauties are vine-ripened and as sweet as honey,” Bruce Densten, Director of Purchasing with J&D Produce, shared with me. “Our pretty pearls are packed under the Little Bear label and will have a sugar content ranging from 14 to 16 percent. We will also be adding Texas Seedless and Texas Personal melons to the mix a week to ten days later.”
Little Bear Produce kicked off its melon season with harvest on May 15, with Bruce informing me that volume for honeydews and seedless melons will be available between May 22 and June 10. In fact, acreage for honeydew and the Personal melon is very similar to seasons past, while regular seedless acreage is up this year—meaning retailers should buckle up for a great melon season.
“In terms of quality, the season looks good. In terms of timing, we’re a bit off," Bruce revealed. “Late winter and early spring weather was not typical ‘melon’ weather and, as a result, we are much later than normal. Traditionally, melon season kicks off the first of May. If we catch a warm spring, we can hit the end of April. This season, we’re delayed about 14 to 21 days. Despite that, field inspections and product samples are showing clean fruit with good quality. And we’re hoping to put on a little size before we begin harvesting.”
A later season has not taken a toll on markets, though, as Bruce explained that markets appear to be holding steady.
“Pre-bookings of fruit are very similar to last season’s markets. Transportation could get interesting as more and more product becomes available. With more product coming out of the Southeast, the competition will heat up for trucks as fruit volume increases out of Texas in the next couple of weeks,” Bruce concluded. “I also want to remind everyone to support their domestic growers and shippers, and as always, your support is appreciated.”
For more crop and market updates like this, AndNowUKnow will keep on keepin’ on in bringing you the latest.
MAIN STREET USA, DISNEYLAND - In a marriage of millennial nostalgia and trendy fruit, Disney has released a truly magical line of Mickey Mouse-inspired avocado merchandise that has me busting out my credit card. Tapping into the avocado craze, the new line of merchandise is cute enough to forgive a live-action Aladdin remake and features a range of items that include Micky ‘cado pits.
Ranging from hats to pins, journals to salt and pepper shakers, this line has something for everyone Disney and/or avocado obsessed. Instead of singular avocado pits (so 2018), the avocados pictured in the new merchandise have Mickey and Minnie pits. I’ve got my eye on the Mickey Avocado tumbler, but you may prefer the Guac bowl—because what could possibly be better than serving up some avo-dip in an adorable Mickey bowl?
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According to Delish, the new merch ranges from $10 to $17 dollars—a steal for Disney lovers! But consumers should act fast to snatch up the themed products because I’m guessing they’ll be sold out before you can say supercalifragilis—you know the rest.
Ready for a whole new world of avocado-themed products? Just think happy thoughts, and the dream that you wish will come true. AndNowUKnow will keep you posted on all the produce products that warm our hearts and keep consumers thinking fresh.
One of the questions in last week's Quiz Quix mistakenly noted the correct answer for what portobella mushroom strain Monterey Mushrooms is best known for as "Delta Breeze" when the correct answer was "Heirloom." Because this was caught before winners were confirmed, it did not affect who now wears the mushroom crown. While we would love to say "AndNowUKnow," we'd rather thank you for your time, as always, and apologies for the fungi fact.
SACRAMENTO, CA - It’s my pleasure to announce the two winners of our most recent Quiz Quix opportunity.
The buy-side winner, Phil Abatecola, Demand Planner for Sobeys, is going home with $100 cash, thanks to his quick-thinking and speedy clicks.
Supply-side winner Victoria Serrano, Marketing Administrator at Giumarra Companies, is also walking away from this quiz with the coveted prize.
Check out who came in the top spots in the leaderboard below to see the stiff competition for this Monterey Mushrooms quiz…
We all know that when the pressure is on, we can tense up and miss a beat. Here is the most missed question from the Monterey Mushrooms quiz.
Most Missed Question
On average, how many pounds of mushrooms does a picker pick in one day?
Correct Answer
700
Missed out on this round? You can practice for the next by checking out the link below.
There are more opportunities to jump on the prize-winning train if you missed out on this one. You can take this one to practice your quickness for the next round of quiz wiz fun by checking out the link above, or you can subscribe, if you’re not already, to stay in-the-know on our next quiz opportunity and chance to win a $100 cash prize —just click the link here.
Congratulations, Phil and Victoria!
MONTEREY, CA - At the fourth annual Organic Produce Summit (OPS), new consumer data and analysis related to increased organic fresh produce sales will be featured as part of an educational session from the industry’s leading trade organizations on July 10-11.
“Consumers of all ages, all income levels, and of all demographics are buying organic, and they’re hearing and learning about organic from a wide variety of sources,” said Laura Batcha, President of the Organic Trade Association. “The Organic Trade Association has collaborated on a six-phase research project with the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) to better understand what messages penetrate deeper than others and what attributes of organic are the most valued by today’s diverse organic customers. We are excited to unveil the comprehensive suite of produce insights at OPS this July in Monterey.”
According to a press release, Batcha will discuss a new research project done with NMI on messaging to organic customers and the development of a toolkit for organic industry members to use based on the findings of the research. Steve Lutz, PMA Regional Vice President, US West and Canada, will update OPS attendees on the latest organic performance trends and provide an initial look into focus group findings from a research partnership between the Organic Produce Network and PMA.
Moderated by MorningNewsBeat.com's Kevin Coupe, Lutz said his presentation will focus on organic fresh produce performance at retail and consumer alignment as the category continues to grow.
“How are consumers aligning their increased demand for organic fresh produce into actual purchases at the store?” Lutz asked. “What are the key purchase barriers and ways to convert potential customers into consistent buyers? We will explore the trends and opportunities that lie ahead for all OPS attendees.”
The 2019 OPS educational sessions rounds out the announcement of the educational session featuring new consumer sales data and analysis. Fresh produce leaders from three of the nations’ most progressive retail and on-line grocery operations have been confirmed as panelists for the Retailer Roundtable as well. One of the most anticipated events at OPS 2019, the Retailer Roundtable will feature panelists Don Barnett, Chief Operating Officer for Sun Basket; Greg Corrigan, Senior Director of Produce and Floral for Raley’s; and Vic Savanello, Vice President of Produce for The Fresh Market. Tonya Antle, Co-Founder of the Organic Produce Network (OPN) will serve as moderator.
Further, two important presentations featuring organic consumer activist Robyn O’Brien and award-winning chef and author Dan Barber, as well as a series of five other educational sessions focusing on a variety of topics and subject matter related to the multi-billion-dollar organic fresh produce industry are on tap for OPS attendees.
Other educational sessions at OPS 2019 will include:
- What Lies Ahead for Wholesalers of Organic Produce?
- Tackling Food Waste—Good for the Planet and the Bottom Line
- The Future of Organic Meals at Retail
- International Insights and Trends on Organic Produce
- International Organic Produce Supply
Also, OPS 2019 includes a selection of field tours for retailers and buyers, a gala opening night reception, and a trade show featuring 148 producers and processors of organic fresh produce from across North America and the world.
For more news on the upcoming live event, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Retail and foodservice titan SpartanNash has just wrapped up a rebranding effort—reopening 18 stores in its West Michigan backyard terminal. The effort consisted of an $18.3-million overhaul and is expected to create more than 120 jobs in newly redesigned Family Fare stores.
According to the Grand Rapids Business Journal, SpartanNash has adopted the new slogan “keeping it real” for its Family Fare supermarkets (a shot over the bow of Amazon and other virtual competition?) and has promised to deliver on five points, with a format that promises “Real local” food and products; “Value beyond price” with weekly deals, curbside pickup, and at-home delivery; “Affordable wellness” with products that follow a “live better, healthier, and happier” ethos; “Socially smart” products and services that evince a commitment to social, environmental, and corporate consciousness; and a “Fun and indulgent” format featuring new products every day, as well as prepared food offerings from BBQ grocerant Betty Kaye’s, freshly butchered produce from Fresh Divide, gourmet popcorn, and in-store taquerias.
Newly remodeled stores are located at the following locations:
- 6370 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale
- 2245 84th St. SW, Byron Center
- 1181 W. Randall St., Coopersville
- 6480 28th Ave., Georgetown Township
- 1415 Fulton St. E., Grand Rapids
- 5241 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids
- 2755 Lake Michigan Dr., Grand Rapids
- 1225 Leonard St. NE, Grand Rapids
- 4325 Breton Rd. SE, Grand Rapids
- 3960 44th St. SW, Grandville
- 1185 S. Washington Ave., Holland
- 993 Butternut Dr., Holland
- 5221 Cherry Ave., Hudsonville
- 1965 Baldwin St., Jenison
- 6127 Kalamazoo Dr. SE, Kentwood
- 2275 Health Dr. SW, Wyoming
- 2900 Burlingame Ave. SW, Wyoming
- 9479 Riley St., Zeeland
This week, SpartanNash also reported its first quarter 2019 financial results after adjusting its fiscal guidance two weeks ago. The company reported a “challenging operating environment” though it reported solid progress on key strategic business objectives.
"We are pleased with our team's efforts to grow net sales across all three business segments, particularly in light of the challenging operating environment," said David Staples, President and Chief Executive Officer. "While we are not satisfied with our bottom-line results for the quarter, our team remains committed to our fiscal 2019 objectives and long-term strategy, which we believe will support both future growth and profitability long-term."
SpartanNash reported the following highlights:
- Consolidated net sales for the first quarter increased $157.3 million, or 6.6%, to $2.54 billion from $2.39 billion in the prior year quarter. The increase in net sales was bolstered by the acquisition of Martin's, as well as sales growth in the Food Distribution and Military Distribution segments
- Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 was $377.7 million, or 14.9% of net sales, compared to $343.2 million, or 14.4% of net sales, in the prior year quarter
- SpartanNash also realized its goal of acheiving at least $15 Million of Annual Run Rate Savings Over the Next 24 Months from Project One Team, exceeding its objective by identifying over $20 million in savings opportunities, which it expects to achieve in annual run rate over the next 24 months
To read more about the company’s Q1 2019 financial results, click here.
For more on all things fresh produce, stick with AndNowUKnow.
CARLISLE, PA - After opening six new stores in four different states, GIANT Food Stores is continuing its expansion along the East Coast. The Ahold Delhaize-owned banner recently announced that it acquired a Ferguson & Hassler store in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.
“We were thrilled when the Hassler family contacted us about their beautiful store,” said Nicholas Bertram, President, in a recent press release. “We recognize the important role this store plays in the Quarryville community and we can’t wait to begin serving the loyal customers of Ferguson & Hassler’s and introduce them to the very best of the GIANT brand, which many customers throughout Lancaster County have enjoyed for more than 20 years.”
The press release noted that once the sale is complete, GIANT will temporarily close the store for about one week in order to remodel it. It will then be reopened later in June of this year.
GIANT continues to recognize that not every shopper has the exact needs as the other, so it will enhance this Quarryville location with curbside pick-up options and grocery delivery options, delivered with GIANT DIRECT, Powered by Peapod.
For the latest in retail happenings, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
EDINBURG, TX - How do you revitalize a category? For the Frontera/Crescent Fruit and Sostena teams, it’s a matter of consistent, premium flavor. I had the pleasure to speak with Amy Gates, President of Frontera Produce, and Timothy Collins, President of Sostena, to learn more about the creation of Golden Crush and the first-of-its-kind tech seen in ProducePlan.com.
“With Golden Crush, I was looking for a melon that I felt was going to be commercially viable, first of all,” Tim shared with me, as we dial into the beginnings of this gorgeous melon. “In order for it to be commercially viable, it has to work for the grower, as well as the retailer and consumers.”
The development of Golden Crush was a cooperative effort by Sostena and Origene Seeds, in direct response to declining consumer consumption and sales of cantaloupes at retail. Golden Crush is the first melon in a family of Crush melons to be introduced soon.
“Golden Crush has a great flavor, but if it isn't also a high-yielding variety that growers can work with, eventually the supply chain will break down and growers will discontinue growing it because it is not profitable,” Tim continued. “So, we look for flavor, and then we look for a balance in the supply chain. And in order to have flavor, we have to be able to tell when the melon is ready.”
With its clear harvest indicator—turning a lovely golden color just as it’s ready to be picked—cutters and harvesters have been trained to know exactly when to cut the melons from the vines. And since Golden Crush is essentially the first melon grown on a digital platform—ProducePlan.com—harvest need only happen once a week. ProducePlan.com helps to ensure all key stakeholders have a coordinated supply chain by building supply plans based on demand plans, no more “plan and pray.” And with the precision irrigation technology of GroundSight, the companies have been able to help growers get increased yields and better quality, all leading to a better, more consistent consumer eating experience.
“A big part of what ProducePlan talks to is the sustainability side of our supply chain. This creates the opportunity for top-down planning, and the top can be as high a retailer or Frontera. It’s a fully-integrated digital supply chain tool that enables growers to effectively plan for an indefinite period of times,” he stated.
Amy added, “The waste management and crop utilization is awesome. I’m able to communicate to my growers that they’re going to be growing just the right amount to go to the right locations. It’s all pre-programmed, so I’m not dumping cantaloupes and I’m not short. It makes my growers happy, it makes the shipper happy, and it makes me happy! Like all new cutting-edge technologies, Sostena continues to adjust and refine ProducePlan. However, it is changing the produce supply chain and we are thrilled with what we are seeing.”
With the promise of putting close to a million cartons of cantaloupes into the market that have been digitally planned—and grown—from start to finish, I can’t wait to see what other innovative solutions Frontera/Crescent Fruit and Sostena may bring.
WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant is gearing up for an expanded berry program! The company has been building its year-round berry program over the last several years to increase promotable volume of all four berry types. This year, the company is thrilled to report it has met a milestone with fresh blueberries!
“We have worked together at California Giant to develop long-term partnerships with our blueberry farming partners and are excited to see these relationships come together to benefit both of us,” said Markus Duran, North American Blueberry Operations Manager. “We look forward to sharing details with our trading partners about our expanded blueberry program and the volume we will bring to the table with both conventional and organic fruit just in time for summer.”
According to the company’s press release, over the past five years, fresh California Giant blueberry volume has increased each year by anywhere from 15 percent to 30 percent due to increased customer and consumer demand. In addition, summer volume from the Pacific Northwest in 2019 is expected to increase by 45 percent over last year. The conventional program will increase by 25 percent over last year, and the organic blueberry volume is expected to increase by 90 percent over 2018.
The major increase in California Giant brand blueberries is due to efforts in building grower partnerships, specifically in Oregon, allowing the company to ship most of its summer blueberries domestically, which reduces food miles.
As the company will provide promotable volume of both conventional and organic blueberries now on a year-round basis, California Giant is looking forward to this new program addition.
For holiday promotions both in retail and foodservice, the company expects the summer blueberry crop to begin in July. Availability of fresh California Giant organic and conventional blueberries will continue throughout the summer and into the fall when the season moves to Mexico and South America. The company developed long-term relationships with farming partners in those regions as well, enabling a smooth transition and allowing promotions to continue.
California Giant will feature more detailed crop and promotion plans at the United Fresh Convention and Expo in Chicago in June (booth #7015).
For updates on California Giant’s fresh blueberry program, keep checking back to AndNowUKnow.
CORAL GABLES, FL - Consumers are setting the tone for sustainability in the fresh produce industry, and Fyffes is one brand that’s ready to take on the call. To reduce its packaging imprint, the banana importer has introduced new, sustainable packaging, in the form of a fully recyclable paper banding to wrap its Organic Fairtrade bananas in selected markets.
“We are very excited to introduce our new recyclable and compostable banana banding,” said Emma Hunt-Duffy, Ireland Sales and Marketing Manager. “This is a significant step in realizing one of our sustainability strategic pillars—stewardship for the planet—and has created an opportunity for us to promote the sustainability message amongst our consumers.”
The new band is a more sustainable alternative to the plastic bags widely used within the sector, and are fully compostable and sourced from certified Forestry Stewardship Council approved sources, according to a press release. A product of an 18-months of research and development, the 100-percent Kraft pulp-made bands have been successfully trialed in real-life market conditions through leading retail outlets in Ireland. Estimates say the initiative will result in a reduction of over 12,500 pounds of plastic.
In choosing the materials required, Fyffes placed emphasis on a number of key necessities when working with supply partners. The most important factors were, recyclability, compostability, and sustainability, and to ensure the finished item would be of a high enough quality to provide a good surface for branding and consumer information.
It was also essential that the packaging maintains the fruit in quality condition while being able to withstand climatic changes and other features present within the supply chain—including tropical temperatures, transportation by ship, and the ripening process. Adhesives on the bands are plant-based, not plastic, and only food-grade inks are used for the print. The water resistant bands remain effective throughout the supply chain.
For more ground-breaking packaging, keep reading AndNowUKnow.