ELGIN, MN - Let’s give a round of applause to Rebecca Meyers! The industry veteran was recently named as Honeybear Brands’ newest National Sales Director.

“I’m extremely excited to be working for a company with a heritage grower background, but who has been able to develop a globally recognized brand synonymous with quality. It has always been a priority of mine to ensure I’m providing my customers with an exceptional product that I too can be proud to share with my own family and friends,” said Meyers.

Meyers joins Honeybear after working most recently for Auvil Fruit Company, a press release stated. She has more than 20 years of experience in the industry executing sales leadership roles throughout her career. Meyers has a wealth of experience utilizing marketing and category management tools to deliver meaningful solutions when she meets with customers.

In this new role, Meyers will be maintaining existing customer relationships as well as leading the business development team.

“Her experience as well as being a people person will help provide us with a new lens on driving sales in an evolving retail landscape,” said Don Roper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “As our company continues to expand our growing and production in both Washington State and the Midwest, her expertise will be critical as we bring the Honeybear branded products to more markets.”

Meyers grew up in Western Massachusetts, receiving her degree in Food Marketing from St. Joseph’s University. She assumed her first role at C&S Wholesale Grocers immediately upon graduation.

“Having a procurement background allows her to have empathy on the buying side and gives a diverse approach to how Meyers navigates the buying and selling dynamic,” added Roper.

Congratulations to the new leader!

SIDNEY, OH - We are saddened to report the news that a beloved industry veteran has passed away. Freshway Foods Co-Founder Frank Gilardi passed away on July 8, 2024.

Born and raised in Sidney, Ohio, Gilardi was a successful entrepreneur who, along with his brother Phil Gilardi, co-founded Freshway Foods in Sidney in 1988 after purchasing the assets of their father’s wholesale company. Both men had worked in the multi-generational business previously and wanted to refocus the strategy to provide pre-cut and shredded lettuce to the foodservice industry.

The customer transaction cycle began with Frank Gilardi securing the order, brother Phil Gilardi making the order, and finally, Frank Gilardi delivering the order. Roughly 100-hour work weeks for both brothers translated into a successful business a few short years after it began.

“As Frank would often say, he enjoyed the ‘chase’ of growing a business,” said Devon Beer, President and Chief Operating Officer of Freshway Foods. “Customers will remember Frank as a man of his word. He was very focused on making sure that promises made were kept, and he took Freshway’s critical role in the value-add supply chain very seriously.”

By 1992, Freshway Foods opened a 12,000-square-foot facility to accommodate growth and, in 1995, Gilardi landed his first national restaurant chain which expanded the distribution beyond the Midwestern states. 1996 brought more expansion when the company opened an additional processing plant to meet the increased demand. In 1997, it accomplished another major milestone entering the retail market with a line of fresh deli salad kits. Growth and expansion were ongoing in the early 2000s with a new 60,000-square-foot processing facility followed by the addition of another 36,000 square feet by 2005. In 2006, Freshway was awarded Processor of the Year by the International Fresh-Cut Produce Association. The Gilardi’s sold Freshway Foods to US Foods in 2016.

“We are all so utterly heartbroken by the loss of Frank Gilardi,” said Dan Purdy, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Frank was so much more than a colleague and a boss. Frank was the father of the Freshway family.”

Gilardi was born on January 5, 1958, to Francis (Frank) Gilardi Sr. and the late Carol (Wesbecher) Covault. Gilardi will be lovingly missed by his wife of 44 years, Julie (Raterman) Gilardi, daughter Jennifer (Kurt) Jung, and grandsons Theodore and Luca Jung, of Huntersville, North Carolina.

Gilardi was passionate about giving back to his community and served on the board of many local associations, including the Holy Angels Soup Kitchen, the American Heart Association, Lehman Catholic High School, and more.

Gilardi placed a high value on spending time with family and friends, enjoying frequent gatherings with the Gilardi family and many close friends in both Ohio and Florida. He especially loved spending time with his grandsons Theo and Luca, talking about airplanes and cars, and swimming with them in the family pool.

Our deepest condolences go out to the friends and family mourning Frank Gilardi.

REEDLEY, CA - While perfecting the art of growing late-season peaches and nectarines, the premium stonefruit grower Mountain View Fruit Sales has launched a new brand, Autumnripe. Shoppers can expect larger sizes, dense flesh, and a high sugar content in these gorgeous fruits.

"Our Autumnripe peaches and nectarines are a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team. The extended time on the tree allows them to develop a depth of flavor and sweetness that truly sets them apart,” explains Rob Brett, Sales Manager. “We're excited to offer our customers this exceptional fruit, knowing it represents the pinnacle of quality we've always strived for and delivered over the years just now packed in a newly branded label."

Autumnripe peaches and nectarines will be available from September through October, perfectly timed to capture the essence of late summer and early autumn, mentioned a release. Retailers can leverage these end-of-season stonefruits with crucial merchandising materials that Mountain View has prepared. The company introduced newly designed fall-colored boxes, display bins, and other promotional materials to support the branding initiative.

Having been grown under meticulous care by expert farmers, these new Autumnripe peaches and nectarines are set to deliver an unparalleled tasting experience. Not to mention, another slam dunk for back-to-school lunch and snack additions.

AndNowUKNow will keep reporting on more fruit news, season after season, so stick around.

SAN ANTONIO, TX - Armed with a vision for its “Store of the Future,” Walmart is initiating a slew of strategic store updates across its San Antonio, Texas, footprint. The retailer announced that three locations in the region are set to receive major upgrades in 2025.

With an investment of roughly $750,000 per store, Walmart plans to enhance the stores through the expansion of its grocery pickup and delivery programs, expanded produce and deli sections, a new Grab & Go section, and a variety of new community-focused food and merchandise offerings. Each remodel includes facets of the retail chain’s "Store of the Future," a comprehensive blueprint for entering the next era of grocery.

Construction will run from April to July 2025 on the first two stores, followed by the third store in February through May 2025, LMT Online reported.

Walmart has over 4,800 locations in the United States with over 40 stores in the San Antonio area. Will we soon see other stores slated for upgrades and remodels?

AndNowUKnow will surely be here to report.

HAMILTON, MT - Local Bounti is tightening its hold on consumers in the Southeast and Southwest United States, announcing the expanded availability of its full product line through partnership with Brookshire Grocery Company (BGC). The brand’s full lineup will be available in over 180 BGC locations across three states.

Local Bounti’s President and Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Valiasek emphasized the importance of this partnership in advancing the company’s mission to deliver fresh, locally grown produce to more communities, a press release shared.

The newfound alliance is supported by the indoor ag company’s newly established facility in Mount Pleasant, Texas, which supplies its Grab-and-Go Salad Kits, living lettuce, and bay leaf varieties. The new, state-of-the-art controlled environment agriculture facility was announced back in May.

Brad Brookshire, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BGC, also expressed enthusiasm about offering Local Bounti's fresh, innovative products to their customers, aligning with the chain’s commitment to quality and freshness.

With a 95-year-strong history, BGC is a family-owned company operating more than 210 locations across four states, under various banners.

This exciting retail expansion comes shortly after the announcement of another extended partnership with Sam’s Club, also supported by the Mount Pleasant facility.

For more industry news and information, be on the lookout for our little apple logo.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - Do you ever wonder who supplies food to hungry athletes? With an increased focus on local and organic products, plus a heavy emphasis on plant-based options, local farms are supplying produce such as potatoes to the Olympic Games. Fresh Solutions Network’s Side Delights® brand announced that for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the Athletes’ Village is open from July until the September close of the Paralympics, and during this time, 15,000 athletes and millions of guests are served meals at 35 venues.

“Plant-based meals like potatoes are becoming the preferred choice from pantries to Paris,” said Kathleen Triou, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Side Delights potatoes are a cost-effective, nutritious solution that are the perfect meal for athletes or anyone. Consumers enjoying the Olympics can cheer on the USA with recipes from their hometown or their favorite athletes with recipes like California Avocado Tri-Color Potato Salad and Tex Mex Shepherd’s Pie or celebrate the host country with Potatoes Boulangèreand French Potato Salad.”

The “Paris 2024 Food Vision” plans to cut the amount of animal products provided at the event by half of that in 2021. At least 60 percent of the meals offered for sale to spectators will be vegetarian, according to a release referencing data from Food Vision. Athlete’s meals will be 33 percent plant-based including more than 600 tons of fresh produce.

“It is an honor to be providing potatoes to the Olympics,” shared Lionel Plasmans, Owner of a farm in Villeron, north of Paris.

Potatoes contain 26 g of the carbohydrates and 620 mg of potassium, an important electrolyte necessary for performance. Potatoes also contains the ever important B6 vitamins.

“Nutrition plays a crucial role in sports performance. Most world-class athletes enjoy a steady intake of proteins, carbs, and healthy fats before training or competing and for recovery time,” reported the Culinary Nutrition Advisor for the Food Platform.

As consumers continue to lookout for nutrient-dense produce, potatoes will be at the forefront of minds, especially going into the colder months.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - Last week on August 8, the California Strawberry Commission (CSC) hosted the 10^th Anniversary Cal Poly Strawberry Center Field Day. This event marked a decade of collaboration between CSC and Cal Poly, showcasing advancements in sustainable strawberry farming that benefit growers, farmworkers, students, consumers, the environment, and local communities in California.

“Seeing the advancements and research presented at Field Day shows how committed everyone is—from the students working in the fields to the staff managing the projects. It’s a collective effort to address the challenges farmers encounter every day,” said Allen Davis, Chairman of the board at CSC. “The collaboration between CSC and the Strawberry Center is crucial for advancing sustainable and efficient farming practices to ensure the strawberry industry continues to thrive.”

Over the last 10 years, the Strawberry Center has expanded significantly, evolving from a focus solely on plant pathology to an organization with 13 staff members and three disciplines including plant pathology, entomology, and automation. According to a press release, the center has evaluated over 1,500 strawberry genotypes for disease resistance; trained 147 students to be future leaders in strawberry production, diagnostics, and research; and secured more than $7.7 million in external competitive funding. Additionally, staff and students have won more than 30 awards.

New research findings and tools were presented and displayed by students, researchers, and CSC staff, including:

• Non-chemical pest management solutions including the use of UV-C light, which has been shown to reduce powdery mildew in strawberries when applied at night
• Automations to improve workplace efficiency and safety, including the Hoop House Arch Remover, Laser and Mechanical Runner Cutters, Lygus Bug Vacuum and Heated Hole Puncher, now commercially available
• Solutions for controlling and mitigating soilborne pathogens including salt and moisture control and the development of elite plant breeding lines
• Investigations into soilborne pathogens and diseases such Fusarium wilt race 2 and Macrophomina on strawberry plants

“Investing in cutting-edge research and advanced automation solutions is vital for the future of strawberry farming,” said Rick Tomlinson, President, CSC. “The groundbreaking research being done at the Strawberry Center over the last 10 years has been instrumental in equipping our growers with the tools needed to succeed in today’s dynamic agricultural landscape and support a sustainable future not only for the farmers and farmworkers, but for their community, the land, and the planet.”

Stick with ANUK for more updates like this.