BAKERSFIELD, CA - In my mind, there is perhaps no better way to celebrate than with a picnic. I think Grimmway Farms would agree with me, as it recently hosted its annual company picnic at the Kern County Fairgrounds to honor its dedicated employees and their families.
The event, which was initiated over 30 years ago by company Founders Rod and Bob Grimm, was attended by more than 10,000 employees and guests, including Supervisor David Couch, Mayor Karen Goh, and the offices of Congressman Kevin McCarthy, Senator Shannon Grove, Senator Melissa Hurtado, and Assemblyman Vince Fong. Festivities included music, carnival rides, a health and wellness fair, and a raffle for more than 60 prizes—including a car and a $10,000 vacation.
The company also presented scholarships to graduating high school seniors as part of its annual Rod and Bob Grimm Memorial Scholarship Program. The program, according to a company press release, recognizes the superior academic performance of students who have a parent or guardian employed by Grimmway. Since the program was created in 1997, Grimmway has awarded more than 630 scholarships totaling over $1.65 million.
“Today, we gave out 56 scholarships,” said Brandon Grimm, son of Bob Grimm and General Manager of the Organic Division at Grimmway Farms. “To be able to invest in the community and show our appreciation for our employees by providing educational opportunities for their children is really special.”
To qualify, applicants must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.8; those who exceed a 3.5 receive a MacBook Pro laptop in addition to renewable scholarship funds. This year’s recipients will attend a variety of top-ranked schools, including UCLA, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Westmont College, and the United States Navel Academy.
“This picnic is a highlight of our year and gives us the opportunity to reward the employees who work so hard for us,” stated Jeff Huckaby, President. He joined Grimmway Farms in 1998 and has served as President since 2016. “Our employees are everything to us and that’s the way Rod and Bob started it. We take this time to thank them for the past year of dedication and hard work.”
The event concluded with remarks from Barbara Grimm Marshall, Kari Grimm Anderson, and company leadership, followed by a fireworks display.
As Grimmway’s year-long “Family-Owned for 50 Years and Growing” campaign continues, keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest updates.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Is major grocery chain Kroger filling in the spot left open by McDonald’s in the plant-based protein market? A new partnership with Don Lee Farms has only one answer to that question, and it’s a resounding yes! Kroger is pushing produce into its meat departments with the introduction of Don Lee Farms’ Organic Plant-Based Burger to 2,000 stores across its Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, King Soopers, Fry’s, QFC, and Fred Meyer banners.
“Working with Kroger has been a priority for us in our pursuit to expand to where our customers want us to be,” said Donald Goodman, President of Don Lee Farms. “With the addition of Kroger, we are bringing the fastest growing burger of its kind to nearly 2,000 locations in the United States. With both private label and branded, we are now in over 8,000 retail markets.”
Made with a handful of organic plant-based ingredients, the Don Lee Farms’ burger is unique because it actually sizzles on the grill just like raw beef. This makes it a viable option for burger night mixers with both carnivores and meatless eaters in attendance.
In addition to Kroger, Don Lee Farms’ burgers can be found at Costco, Publix, Wegmans, H-E-B, Stater Bros, Tops, Stop & Shop, and 15 countries in Europe, South America, and the Caribbean, according to a press release.
The Organic Plant-Based Burger will hit Kroger’s shelves starting in May.
Is retail the final frontier for plant-based protein? And will this latest vegan burger expansion encourage those in the restaurant and fast food space to tap into this growing trend? AndNowUKNow will continue to report.
OXNARD, CA - Looking to sharpen its brand, Mission Produce recently revealed its elevated identity, which it has termed the “world’s most advanced avocado network.”
“To remain the leader in the industry, we have spent over three decades building a web of exceptional service, state-of-the-art infrastructure, strategic distribution, and cutting-edge solutions for our customers,” said Steve Barnard, President and CEO of Mission Produce, in a recent press release. “As a result, we have become ‘the world’s most advanced avocado network.’”
Ross Wileman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, also noted that, “Based on Mission Produce’s international scale and number of touch points, we felt it necessary to improve our identity to communicate all Mission has to offer. ‘The world’s most advanced avocado network’ represents what we have become and communicates the Mission advantage to our partners worldwide. We can provide any customer with a year-round supply of high-quality avocados, ripened exactly to their specification.”
In addition to its new identity, Mission unveiled its new website to better embody its international reach.
“We are excited to announce all of these changes including the new and sophisticated website,” said Denise Junqueiro, Director of Marketing. “It features enriched content, enhanced visuals, and improved communication. Though our changes offer aesthetic improvements and new language, the core theme remains the same—we will continue to provide customers with the world’s finest avocados.”
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest and greatest in fresh produce news.
NOGALES, AZ - As the Tomato Suspension Agreement quagmire continues to unfold, members of the Arizona Legislature have taken a stand. In a recent letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the legislative committee stressed the importance of negotiating an updated Tomato Suspension Agreement.
"We are concerned to see efforts from certain regional interests to disrupt the normal negotiation process between the Department of Commerce and the Mexican growers, a process that has happened regularly since 1996,” the letter reads. “By not renegotiating an agreement that has worked for over 20 years to stabilize the tomato markets, this Committee fears we would be erecting new trade barriers in fruits and vegetables that will directly harm Arizona businesses and consumers across the United States."
The letter urges for a renegotiation of the agreement, and follows recent testimony from The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA). In that testimony, the FPAA’s Tomato Division Chairman, Jimmy Munguia, addressed the recent announcement from the Department of Commerce to terminate the 22-year-old Tomato Suspension Agreement between Commerce and tomato growers in Mexico. At the hearing, Garrick Taylor from the Border Trade Alliance also testified in favor of maintaining the Tomato Suspension Agreement.
“Arizona is home to diverse industries that thrive on trade with our largest trading partner, and the businesses in Arizona that import fresh fruits and vegetables from Mexico are an important part of the economic health of our state,” states the letter. “The importation of fresh produce from Mexico has been a major boon to Arizona, creating tens of thousands of jobs for importers, distributors, brokers, packers, retailers, box companies, truckers, restaurants, freight forwarders, warehouse operations, wholesalers, and more.”
U.S. distributors in Arizona are concerned that the termination of the pact, which has till now created jobs and thriving businesses around the importation of tomatoes, could lead to higher prices for consumers, and loss of jobs and businesses in Arizona and across the U.S. An estimated 33,000 U.S. workers and 1.4 million Mexican workers could be impacted, which could then lead to a complete disruption of the North American supply chain.
AndNowUKnow will continue to deliver updates on this story as it further develops.
MARLTON, NJ - Sprouts Farmers Market is putting the finishing touches on its first New Jersey store and is ready to tackle a new market with enthusiasm. The new location will open Wednesday, June 5, and will help meet the growing local demand for fresh, natural, and organic goods.
To support its latest store opening, the specialty grocer announced it will be hosting hiring fairs on Tuesday, April 23, and Wednesday, April 24. According to a press release, Sprouts will be hiring 150 employees for the following positions:
- Department Managers (Produce, Meat and Seafood, Deli, Grocery, Bakery, Vitamins and Body Care, and more)
- Assistant Department Managers
- Clerks
- Cashiers
- Courtesy Clerks
- Backup Receiver
- Administrative Coordinator
- Scan Coordinator
Within 33,000 square feet, Sprouts’ first N.J. store will feature an open store layout that highlights an abundant selection of fresh fruits and veggies as well as barrels of wholesome grains, nuts, and sweets. The store will also include an in-house butcher, a variety of fresh and prepared deli items perfect for grab-and-go meals, freshly baked goods, and more, much like other Sprouts locations.
To learn more about available career opportunities and team member benefits, or to apply, visit sprouts.com/careers.
For more of our industry’s freshest news, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
FRESNO, CA - The much-anticipated California table grape season is just on the horizon and with it, the chance for retailers to give consumers the grapes they love. Coveted for their quality, flavor, and consistency, this category is a sales driver at retail and an essential element in the produce department spread.
According to the California Table Grape Commission, a recent study shows that 86 percent of grape purchasers prefer to buy grapes from California over those from other origins when priced the same. When California grapes are priced higher, 68 percent still prefer California grapes.
“This year, the advertising plan for California grapes includes messages for the primary shopper while they are at home, online, on the road, at the doctor’s office, and even at the store. Print media campaigns will occur all season long, from May through January and will include special cover wraps on People magazine distributed to doctor offices around the country six times during the year. The advertising messages will focus on health, usage, and origin,” Jeff Cardinale, Vice President of Communications with the Commission, tells me.
The Commission adds that one of the many reasons why California grapes are so special is the state’s unique terrain for growing California grapes. Here in the Golden State, the Coachella and San Joaquin valleys offer the optimal growing conditions for grapes of the highest quality, providing a winning combination of warm sunshine, nutrient-rich soil, and crisp mountain water.
“These ideal growing conditions are the subject of two new commercials for California grapes, one of which will debut globally in 2019. The commercials will be seen in the U.S. on The Food Network and The Cooking Channel. One of the commercials will also air in nearly 30 countries across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand,” Jeff shares. “Usage ads will focus on the portability and ease of incorporating California grapes as the perfect snack at home or on the go. These usage ads will feature the well-tested, and well-liked wood crate background, beautiful images of grapes and silhouettes of various activities like yoga and biking, showing consumers can go with grapes from California wherever they are and whatever they are doing. The usage print ad campaign will reach readers globally through in-flight magazines. “
In addition, the cultivation and growing of California table grapes will be reinforced and highlighted through the Explore California section of the commission website as well as in social media posts.
The benefits of grapes are more than just taste bud and sales impact-deep. Brain, colon, and heart health will be the focus of magazine print ads all season long. Heart and brain health and grapes will also appear in health-based inserts in USA Today, three times over the course of the season.
“In the car, consumers can hear new healthy snacking, holiday meal planning, and back-to-school messages about California grapes on the Radio Health Journal network and new healthy snacking spots on traffic radio airing on morning and afternoon drive times,” Jeff states. “As shoppers reach select locations, mobile geolocation-targeted California grape ads will appear on mobile devices. This is important, as recent research shows well over 20 percent of grape purchasers do not decide to buy grapes until after reaching the store.”
Want some more data to pique your interest? With nearly one-third of primary shoppers using mobile phone apps or websites to help make purchasing decisions, usage, and inspirational videos about California grapes will appear online to keep California grapes top of mind.
The Commission is big on letting the fruit speak for itself, and will during several sampling events. The consumer will also see gorgeous displays of grapes during display and sales contests with retailers, all reinforced with point-of-purchase materials that match the same beautiful and effective look of the magazine ads.
If you were not already excited about the California table grape season ahead, I bet you are now! Stay tuned for more from the California Table Grape Commission and the states leading growers as we ramp up for the season start!
WASHINGTON, DC - Giant Food has reported its participation in the Produce Rx pilot program in partnership with local nonprofit, DC Greens, to give customers better access to healthy food.
“Giant Food is excited to be bringing the Produce Rx program to our local Alabama Avenue store,” said Gordon Reid, President at Giant Food. “As a food retailer, we recognize the important role we can play in the access to healthy foods and health education, and the program is certainly a natural fit with our ongoing efforts to support the health needs of the communities we serve.”
According to the company’s press release, customers who are Medicaid beneficiaries through AmeriHealth Caritas DC through the program and who are currently experiencing a diet-related chronic illness, can receive a prescription for fruits and vegetables from their healthcare provider and fill the prescriptions at the Giant pharmacy at 1535 Alabama Avenue SE in Washington D.C.
Customers may fill prescriptions during their weekly shopping trips at the in-store Giant pharmacy. When filled each week, a Giant pharmacist will provide the customer with a $20 coupon to be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from the store’s produce department.
"We believe that cross-sector partnerships are the only way to achieve health equity in our city," said Lauren Shweder Biel, Executive Director of DC Greens. "Doctors and patients both need more tools to address food insecurity and diet-related chronic illness. Through Produce Rx, our healthcare system can be a driver to get patients access to the healthy food that they want and need."
The motivation behind implementing Produce Rx was to further support hunger relief efforts, nutrition counseling and access to healthy foods. Giant continuously aims to build healthy communities through its team of expert in-store nutritionists and pharmacists, the Guiding Starts nutrition rating system, Nutrition Made Easy! Podcast, and more. Giant donated over five million pounds of food to hunger relief and nutrition education resources in 2018.
“Healthful food is essential to healthy people. The Produce Prescription Program is part of DC Health's portfolio of innovative Healthful Food Access Initiatives, and these initiatives work together to meet individual and household food access needs while addressing gaps in the food environment in specific areas of our city,” said Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt, Director, DC Health.
The Produce Rx pilot program will run at the Giant store through December 31, 2019 and customers may renew their prescriptions with their healthcare providers throughout the program as stated in the press release. With the hope to expand to more individuals in the future, the pilot will kickoff with 500 AmeriHealth patients.
“AmeriHealth Caritas DC is committed to helping our members, especially those with chronic health conditions, improve their overall health by adding more fruits and vegetables to their daily diet,” said Keith Maccannon, Director of Community Relations and Outreach at AmeriHealth Caritas DC. “Collaboration with community-based organizations and businesses like DC Greens and Giant Food are a key component of our strategy in this area.”
On April 24th, the program will be spotlighted at an event. The event, which is open to the public, will feature speakers including DC Greens, Giant, DC Health, AmeriHealth Caritas DC, and DC Councilmembers Trayon White and Mary Cheh.
For more updates on the Produce Rx Program and Giant Food, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
WINTER HAVEN, FL - When a year-round supplier of berries calls itself “Always Fresh,” you know the company is confident in both the quality of its products and the consistency of its supply—and Always Fresh Farms is certainly that and more. I spoke with Lindsay Giddings, Food Safety Coordinator and Social Media Manager for Always Fresh Farms to learn more about the company’s approach, its strawberry, blueberry, and blackberry offerings, and the ways in which it is meeting—and exceeding—its customers’ expectations.
“Always Fresh Farms' approach to offering fresh produce is just that—Always Fresh. We strive to provide the highest quality produce available, year-round,” said Lindsay. “Our values are based on being the leader in marketing quality produce, grown in an environmentally and socially responsible way—we are a leader in implementing food safety and traceability initiatives. We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of service in everything we do.”
Lindsay told me that seasonality is non-stop with Always Fresh Farms, which currently packs berries throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as partners with growers in Mexico and South America.
With offerings currently available to wholesale, retail, and club stores, Always Fresh Farms is a full-service berry provider of both conventional and organic berries. The company has grown prodigiously over the course of the last 20 years, Lindsay noted, and its done so on the basis of its excellent service and products and the relationships the company has developed with its trusted partners.
“Our growth is directly related to the hard work and constant quality of our grower base and the excellent trading partners we have developed over two decades,” said Lindsay.
Always Fresh Farms offers a variety of pack sizes and formats suitable for the largest club store and the smallest fresh-focused market. And Lindsay told me, the company provides ample opportunities for retail support for retailers of all shapes and sizes.
“Our sales team is more than qualified to assist interested parties with lining up our products in seasonal opportunities enjoyed in multiple growing regions. We have any and ALL pack styles available—everything from 6 oz blueberries to 4 lb strawberries, maximizing our opportunity for retail support,” Lindsay explained. “Our willingness to customize pack styles and sizes set us apart from our competition. Our latest endeavor includes top seal technology. We support our loyal customers with advertising opportunities, including print, TV, radio, and internet customer loyalty programs.”
In addition to berries, Always Fresh Farms will have spring watermelons and peaches from Florida and organic bell peppers and squash—all packed under the Always Fresh brand.
For more on this and other dynamic companies in fresh produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
MISSION, TX - At this year’s Viva Fresh Produce Expo, there will be an event on Friday, April 26, focusing on the Tomato Suspension Agreement. Moderated by Dante Galeazzi, President & CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, a panel of experts will review the history of this agreement and discuss potential changes that could impact the future of the supply chain, including regulatory issues, tariffs, duties, and pricing, along with the status of current negotiations.
This past February, the Department of Commerce announced their intent to withdraw from the 2013 Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, rescinding the five-year sunset review of the suspended investigation and the administrative review of the 2013 Agreement, and to resume the antidumping duty investigation initiated in 1996.
“This withdrawal stands to create dramatic changes in how Mexican tomato imports are handled,” stated Galeazzi in a recent press release. “We felt it was important to include this workshop in our Friday sessions to help educate the industry on what to expect and from a business perspective, how supplies could look moving forward.”
Galeazzi will facilitate the workshop with the following panel of expert speakers:
- Martin Ley, President, Fresh Evolution: He has represented the Mexican Tomato Industry in a variety of significant landmarks, including Tomato Suspension Agreement negotiations, Food Safety Tomato Metrics Development, the Salmonella SaintPaul Investigation, and the Harvard-FDA-Industry Traceability Initiative. Among other recognition, he’s been named Produce Business, FPAA and Texas International Produce Association’s 2011 Exporter of the Year. Martin serves on FPAA’s Board and Executive Committee and CPMA’s North American Trade Committee. He also served as the PMA Vice Chair of Produce Safety, the Science and Technology Committee, the Leadership Committee, and is a member of the PTI Leadership Council.
- Jason Klinowski, Agricultural and Food Law Attorney at Wallace, Jordan, Ratli & Brandt LLC: Jason advises clients on a range of business and legal issues, including USDA and FDA regulatory compliance, supply chain and distribution transactions, and federal litigation. His civil practice focuses on representing agribusinesses and food companies in complex commercial litigation, including bankruptcy matters and general counseling, where he works primarily on matters arising under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, the Food Safety Modernization Act, the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act, the Plant Protection Act, the Packers & Stockyard Act, the Capper-Volstead Act, the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, and other federal and state agricultural statutes.
- J.O. Alvarez, President, J.O. Alvarez, Incorporated: With offices throughout the southern border and Mexico, J.O. Alvarez, Incorporated has been in operation since 1957. J.O. was born in Laredo, Texas, where he studied and got his custom broker’s license in 1981. He is also President of 4 Logistics LLC, SE-Transport, LLC, Cross Border Logistics Transport, JOA ColdPoint LLC, and a member of the Alvarez Family Partnership.
“This session is a timely opportunity to discuss the challenges ahead for both U.S. and Mexican suppliers of fresh tomatoes related to the changing agreement. Currently 60 percent of the fresh U.S. tomato supply comes from imported products and any significant change will be disruptive for the entire supply chain. It’s important to help everyone better understand the issue,” remarked Melinda Goodman, Managing Partner of Full Tilt Marketing and chair of the Viva Fresh Education Committee.
The Tomato Suspension Agreement workshop will take place on Friday, April 26, in Grand E-F at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa as part of the Friday education sessions at the Viva Fresh Produce Expo. Admission into the educational events is included with registration for Viva Fresh attendees and exhibitors. Visit www.vivafreshexpo.com for more information.
EDINBURG, TX - J&D Produce is announcing a new consumer marketing campaign during the 2019 Viva Fresh Expo as part of a commitment to raising awareness of its proprietary HoneySweet® Onion brand.
The expo will be featuring nutrition coach and dietitian blogger, Stacey Mattinson, whose whole foods approach to health and wellness has been featured in Shape, Women’s Health, Weight Watchers, NBC News, and more.
“Stacey’s passion for produce and healthy eating personifies our company’s values,” remarked Jimmy Bassetti, President. “We’re excited to have her represent us with reaching a younger consumer audience and educating them on the consistent quality and premium, mild flavor of our HoneySweet onion variety that’s available year-round.”
According to the company’s press release, the consumer marketing campaign will launch this summer and be customized for participating retailers. Mattinson will lead a team of food bloggers to generate excitement and buzz.
Additional activities will include:
- Engaging, eye-catching POS displays
- New consumer website digital coupon offering
- Social media contest
- Retail Dietitian resource guide
- Recipe and how-to content with video and photography
“These marketing activities are designed to help retailer’s maximize sales,” stated Bret Erickson, Sr. VP Business Affairs. “While most onions in the industry have a pungency level of five, our HoneySweet onions consistently rates with a pungency level of 1.8 – 2.4 providing us with lots of great information to share with shoppers.”
During the Viva Fresh Expo at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort, Mattinson will be featured in the J&D Produce Booth #74 in San Antonio, TX, on April 27. She will hand out signature recipes and showcase her HoneySweet Onion Retail Dietitian Resource Guide.
For updates on the HoneySweet onion variety, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.