CHINA - You might take one look at this apple and consider it an “apple of discord,” but I’m going to stop you right there and set you straight. These black apples, a variety known as the Black Diamond Apple and grown in a remote part of Tibet, are worthy of praise—not derision.
According to TODAY, this variety stems from the family of Hua Niu apples, also known as Chinese Red Delicious. Their unique color directly correlates to the geography in which they are grown. Nyingchi, a small city in the mountains of Tibet, has a temperature that fluctuates quite dramatically at night, causing the skin of the apples to darken to that deep, dark-purple. The flesh inside, like other apples, is white.
Apart from looking like an apple the Evil Queen would tempt Snow White with, Black Diamond Apples are showing off their might in other ways. Namely, in how pricey they can be! Produced within a limited window and only available for two months of the year, these apples are mainly sold in high-end supermarkets in China. For good reason, too; an individual apple can range in price from $7 to $20!
If you’re dying to try this unique apple and don’t have the funds to get yourself to China, the United States has its own darker variety: the Arkansas Black. They’re not quite as alluring as the Black Diamond, but their rich color more than holds its own.
For the latest in goth fruits and fairytale-worthy produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
FISHERS, NY - Cynthia Haskins, President and CEO of New York Apple Association (NYAA), delivered a keynote address to more than 350 members of the New York State Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (NYSAND) at its annual meeting and conference in Syracuse.
“Helping people understand the journey their food takes—from the farm to the table—is as important as the taste and the nutrition of the food itself,” said Haskins. “New York agriculture plays a prominent role in our country. The New York apple industry is the second largest in the country—no wonder they call us the Big Apple! New York is also fourth in dairy production and fifth in fruit and vegetable production in the United States.”
According to the company’s press release, Haskins’ address included her insights on agriculture and consumer trends gleaned from nearly four decades in the industry. She engaged the audience of state-certified nutritionists and dieticians on a range of topics, which included traditional and modern apple production practices, climate and soil benefits unique to New York state, and the economics of apple production in the state and how it impacts growers, communities, and the nation.
Co-Owner of Noblehurst Farms Chris Noble, a seventh generation, multi-family farm located in western New York, joined her as a keynote speaker.
“We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to connect with such a highly skilled, enthusiastic group of professionals who serve the nutrition and dietary needs in so many people in schools, hospitals, retail stores, and other organizations throughout New York state,” expressed Haskins. “We look forward to working even more closely with them in the future.”
Diced New York apples were added to breakfast yogurt parfaits as part of NYAA’s sponsorship of the event. New York apple varieties, fresh New York apple cider, and a special apple dessert was served at lunch. NYAA Assistant Retail Account Manager Cailin Kowalewski shared the association’s new nutrition kit with conference attendees at the NYAA exhibit booth.
For updates on NYAA and the NYSAND conference, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK CITY, NY - Limoneira is having a fantastic week. Not only was the citrus and avocado provider invited to the New York stock exchange to uphold the coveted tradition of ringing the bell, the company also announced that it is doubling down on sustainability by investing in seven new solar installations across the country. Limoneira is truly showing just what produce excellence looks like in every way, shape, and form, and ANUK is living for it!
On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, many members of Limoneira’s team gathered on the NASDAQ floor—some even bringing along the company’s namesake to highlight to all those financial types what produce is all about: fun! One Vice President of Listings even kicked the event off by trying to juggle a few lemons! If you missed the big moment, you can check out the video here.
“It was incredible,” said Harold Edwards after he had the honor of ringing the bell. “It was truly a historic day for Limoneira and a very memorable day for me and all of my team who were there with me.”
In addition to ringing the bell, Edwards also shared with the NASDAQ team more about Limoneira, including a few accomplishments the company is celebrating this year. I caught up with John Chamberlain post-bell to find out more.
“It as a very exciting experience ringing the NASDAQ bell,” John shared with me. “Harold Edwards, our President and CEO, spoke of the company’s 125-year anniversary, continued growth and new acquisitions, and ONE WORLD OF CITRUS global 365-day Supply Chain. Many exciting prospects for 2019 and beyond.”
But that’s not the only win Limoneira celebrated on April 9th. The company also unveiled its latest solar project, which includes seven solar installations across the company that will produce a total of 7M KW annually and, as a result, reduce 86,830 tons of CO2 over a 25-year period. According to a press release, this makes Limoneira one of the largest private users of solar energy in California.
“Over two thousand Hanwha Q Peak solar modules have been installed on the roof of Limoneira’s new packinghouse,” said Chief Financial Officer Mark Palamountain. “This is expected to offset approximately 680 tons of CO2 and 420 lbs of NOX annually.”
Limoneira also revealed additional sustainability initiatives, like its 12-acre green waste facility that processes an average of 1,000 tons of waste each week and a low-tech patented gravity-powered water treatment system, a 24,000-square-foot project that processes 180,000 gallons of water daily.
“This latest solar project will not only fix our electricity rates for years to come. It will produce clean energy that can be stored in our Tesla batteries and deployed during peak energy periods to reduce brown-outs,” said Edwards. “Our Board and management have always maintained that it is possible to do well by doing good. We will continue to evaluate projects that make sound fiscal and sustainable sense.”
Congratulations to Limoneira and team on the big week!
For more produce wins, AndNowUKnow will keep you up-to-date.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - 50 years of operating in our industry is an impressive feat—and one worth celebrating! To honor its 50th anniversary, Grimmway Farms is launching a campaign to honor its founders Rod and Bob Grimm and acknowledge those who have been integral to the company’s success over the years. The campaign, titled “Family-Owned for 50 Years and Growing,” kicked off with an exclusive farm tour and dinner hosted at Grimmway’s global headquarters in Arvin, CA.
“The farm tour and dinner created a unique opportunity to bring our founding families together with industry partners, customers, influencers, company leadership, farmers, and friends to recognize half a century of agricultural stewardship and the company’s deep respect for the land,” said Jeff Huckaby, President of Grimmway Farms, in a recent press release.
The event began with a tour of Grimmway’s ranches in the San Joaquin Valley, highlighting the distinctive organic faming practices upheld in cultivating over 65 different seasonal and year-round crops.
“I left the farm tour feeling inspired and optimistic about the future of agriculture,” stated Kelly Damewood, CEO of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). “We learned firsthand how Cal-Organic Farms scales its soil building practices and makes it possible for families throughout the world to access fresh organic produce.”
The press release noted that this occasion also reflected Grimmway’s history of growth in Kern County and the significance of the founders’ commitment to the local community.
“So many factors have contributed to the last 50 years of success,” said Brett Grimm, son of Founder Bob Grimm and Sales Associate at Grimmway Farms. “It felt opportune to celebrate in the fields, amongst our community with our employees, and customers whom have been the pillars of our company’s achievements.”
Guests were treated to an authentic, farm-to-table dining experience, in which they were treated to a four-course, family-style meal in the middle of an organic cabbage field—lit up perfectly by the setting San Joaquin Valley sun. The dishes, inspired by Cal-Organic produce, were served with locally-sourced specialties from neighboring farms and businesses.
“The 50th Anniversary event felt like a long overdue dinner with family. A great group, a beautiful evening, and an inspiring tour of the organic fields,” said Jessy Becket Parr, Director of the CCOF Foundation.
The farm tour and dinner is just the start of many celebratory events ahead for Grimmway Farms as it honors its employees, supplier partners, customers, and local communities throughout its anniversary year.
Cheers to another 50 years, Grimmway Farms!
ORLANDO, FL - My mother was the first person to instill in me the understanding that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, and it’s a phrase I take with me every time I shop. So it’s no surprise that I sidled over to CMI Orchards' booth on the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure show floor last month, because they had enough apples to keep me healthy for years! I spoke with George Harter, Vice President of Marketing, to learn a bit more about how the company has been getting apples into other shoppers’ carts.
“We’re very excited to talk about what we have to offer to our customers,” he began. “We have invested over the years in a variety of apples, such as branded apples, as well as organics and conventional. It gives you a better mix of product to use when you’re promoting your apple category.”
With apple offerings such as Ambrosia Gold®, KIKU®, Kanzi®, Smitten™, Jazz™, Envy®, and Pacific Rose™, CMI Orchards has more than enough varieties to keep retailers—and their shoppers!—happy. It’s the perfect way to strengthen the category. As usual, my mom was right!
To learn more, watch our exclusive video interview above.
LEAMINGTON, ON - Exiting Women’s National History Month with PMA’s Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference (WFPC) on the horizon, it’s safe to say that we at ANUK have got the fever for spotlighting the amazing women in our industry. One who came to my mind for me was Tiffany Sabelli, who I had the pleasure of getting to know better during last year’s conference.
Now a strong, confident, knowledgeable Key Account Manager for Pure Flavor®, she joined the sales staff fresh out of university, Business Degree in hand.
“I joined Pure Flavor® upon graduation starting off as a Sales Assistant. Over the course of the last six years, I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to all aspects of the business, which has led me to my current role,” Tiffany says. “I immediately fell in love with the produce industry from day one—it is the fast-paced environment that I was looking for. I was so fortunate to start my career in produce with a company that has been forever growing, so I was able to learn a lot; from sales to marketing to operations and everything in-between.”
In addition to the “stock market of tomatoes,” Tiffany says she’s enjoyed networking and building relationships with some amazing women across all aspects of the industry, regardless of product or region. One thing we land on are the challenges of this industry, specific and non-specific to women, and how we dig in to find something important about ourselves because of them.
“The biggest challenge has been learning how to pulse the market and trust my instincts,” she shares. “Our landscape is changing; consumers’ habits are always evolving, however everyone needs to eat. Some would say that the products that we grow are core items in everyone’s grocery basket. It is exciting to see our growers bring fantastic product to life week over week and it is even more rewarding to see thousands of cases of vegetables ship from our distribution centers every day—to know that I had an impact on moving those cases to partners throughout North America.”
Tiffany explains that, as a family-owned business, Pure Flavor supports a number of empowering initiatives. Whether it be events like the WFPC, its Adopt-A-School Programs, or the PureKids Triathlon Series, it’s about providing opportunities to connect and share the team’s enthusiasm for promoting healthy lifestyles.
As for WFPC specifically, she says, “I think it’s important to continue to highlight women in this industry, so those who are fresh out of college or university will have female leaders to look up to, whatever position they may be in. Taking part in the WFPC not only allows me to network and meet more fantastic leaders across our industry, it also allows me to listen to the speakers who have incredible life experiences that will empower me to make a difference in everything I do. I look forward to attending WFPC each year!”
And of course, it’s those proud moments we continue to live and strive for.
“We collectively work in one of the most exciting industries there is; relationship-based, we are focused on growing our brand and increasing our sales to partners. We work hard for our customers to ensure we deliver the best quality; we grow so their customers can count on them when they purchase week over week,” Tiffany tells me. “My proudest moment was standing at a retailer’s home office that I have admired my entire childhood.”
I, for one, am excited to see more proud moments for Tiffany and all in our industry that continue to influence positive changes for the business. Keep an eye out for more features from ANUK as we count down to WFPC 2019 in San Antonio, Texas, April 14 to 16.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY - One of the nation’s preeminent importers of citrus, avocados, and grapes, LGS Specialty Sales, is gearing up for its Peruvian avocado program, and the company is doubling down on its summer citrus season, as well, with plans to visit its grower partners throughout the globe.
“We value our partners and the work they do to help us keep our commitment to provide fresh produce to our U.S. customers year-round,” said Luke Sears, President and Founder, in a press release. “Our summer citrus and Peruvian avocado programs focus on meeting the needs and demands of our customers, and our partners overseas make that possible.”
In order to best supply its customers in the U.S. market this summer, LGS advisors will be visiting the company’s citrus and avocado farms in Peru, Argentina, and Chile to observe growing practices. The company’s representatives will also continue to nurture relationships with farmers and begin planning for the 2019 season.
“Our citrus and avocado programs are a crucial part of the outdoor lifestyle shoppers enjoy during the summer season,” added Sears. “From Cinco de Mayo to Labor Day and beyond, our customers are seeking a partner they can count on to meet consumer demand for this special time of year filled with exciting eating occasions. As we continue to enhance and develop our relationships with growers in different regions, we’re able improve our availability of fruit during these months when citrus and avocados are in demand the most.”
LGS is, according to its press release, looking to grow and strengthen the Peruvian avocado program to meet burgeoning demand and complement the Mexican supply that will provide a steady source of fruit in the summer season.
In addition, the company is now offering Peruvian and Chilean clementines as well as fresh lemons from Argentina and Chile, minneolas from Peru, and navel oranges from Chile to enhance its summer citrus program.
For more fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
IRVINE, CA - This month, Western Growers President & CEO Tom Nassif appeared before Congress to detail the circumstances facing farmers as they grapple with the critical labor shortages facing American agriculture. Nassif outlined his case for immigration reform before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, detailing a two-pronged proposal for agricultural immigration reform.
“The simple fact is this,” Nassif articulated, “fruits and vegetables that are eaten in the United States will be harvested by foreign hands...The simple question for you, as members of Congress, is do you want those foreign hands harvesting your fruits and vegetables to be on farms here in the United States or do you want to see production continue to shift to farms in foreign countries?”
After detailing the shortcomings of the existing H-2A program, a program Western Growers characterized as “flawed” and “rife with burdensome regulatory red tape,” Nassif detailed a proposal that would jointly provide a pathway to legalization for existing farmworkers and their immediate families and create a more flexible, efficient, and market-based agricultural worker visa program to ensure a sufficient future flow of labor.
In his testimony, Nassif noted that experienced workers are aging out of the agricultural workforce with few Americans lining up to take their place, despite wages well above state and federal minimums. Farmers in all sectors of U.S. agriculture, especially in the labor-intensive fruit and vegetable industries, are experiencing chronic labor shortages, which have been exacerbated by recent interior immigration enforcement and tighter border security policies. As a result of the uncertain agricultural labor market, Nassif stated, that many American farmers are either shifting toward more mechanized crops or moving their operations to other countries.
Nassif noted, in conclusion, that “immigration can be among the most divisive and difficult to resolve in Washington,” yet he added that the issue is squarely non-partisan insofar as agricultural immigration reform is about securing the future of American agriculture and, by extension, long-term U.S. food security.
In its statement on Nassif’s testimony, Western Growers applauded the efforts of Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren and Ranking Member Ken Buck to “elevate the dialogue around this vital issue,” and noted, “we look forward to working across the aisle to advance bipartisan legislation that provides our country and farmers with a legal, stable and reliable source of agricultural labor.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on efforts to address labor shortages in the fresh produce industry.
CINCINNATI, OH - The Kroger Co. has recently announced a major shake-up to its executive management, with some team members retiring, and others rising up to take their place. The changes were made to support the company’s Restock Kroger campaign, as well as the company’s long-term growth.
"We have a leadership team that combines deep experience with creative new talent," said Tim Massa, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief People Officer. "In our dynamic retail environment, we continue to look to experienced and capable leaders to take on key senior officer roles while also developing high performing leaders and teams, including bringing in outside talent, as part of Restock Kroger."
The first of many promotions is Mary Ellen Adcock, who has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Retail Operations from her previous position of Group Vice President of Retail Operations, effective May 1. After joining Kroger in 2019 at the Country Oven Bakery, a manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, KY, Adcock held several manufacturing leadership positions, including Human Resources Manager, General Manager, and Regional Operations Manager. In 2009 she was promoted to Vice President of Deli/Bakery Manufacturing. Adcock continued to rise through the ranks, with a promotion to Vice President of Natural Foods Merchandising, where she led the launch of Simple Truth®. She was promoted again in 2014, this time to Vice President of Merchandising for the Columbus division, becoming Vice President of Operations for the same division in 2015. During her time in the Columbus division, Adcock led her team to achieve a double-digit increase in sales and market share growth. She was promoted to her most recent role in 2016. Adcock has impressive credentials, graduating magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Human and Organizational Development, as well as an MBA from the University of Colorado.
“Mary Ellen quickly established herself as a key contributor to both the sales and operations organization as well as to the senior executive team,” said Mike Donnelly, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, in a press release. “She led Kroger's efforts to deliver an unprecedented $1 billion in operational savings in 2018 and will no doubt successfully extend her proven track record while overseeing several of Kroger's retail supermarket divisions.”
Joe Grieshaber was recently promoted to Senior Vice President, Merchandising, from his current position as President of the Fred Meyer division, effective May 1. Grieshaber started off his career with Kroger in 1983 as a store management trainee in Nashville, TN. He has since served in a number of leadership roles with Kroger, including Meat Merchandiser and District Manager for the Michigan division. Grieshaber was promoted to Vice President of Merchandising for the Columbus division in 2000, before taking on his role as Group Vice President of Perishables Merchandising and Procurement at the general office in Cincinnati in 2003. In 2010, he was named President of the Dillons division before moving on to his current role in 2017. Grieshaber earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Western Kentucky University.
"Joe brings to the senior merchandising role experience in a variety of leadership roles throughout the company, including most recently leading our successful Fred Meyer division with its broader mix-oriented retail format," said Donnelly.
Robert Clark, currently Senior Vice President of Merchandising has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Sourcing, effective May 1. Clark kicked off his career with Kroger in 1985 as a courtesy clerk at Fry’s Food Stores in Arizona. He has since held various leadership positions, including store and district management as well as in grocery merchandising. He was named Vice President of Merchandising for Fry’s in 2002, and in 2010, he was promoted to Vice President of Operations for the Columbus division. Clark was again promoted in 2011 to the role of Vice President of Merchandising for Fred Meyer before being promoted to Group Vice President of Non-Perishables in 2013, and to his current position in March 2016.
"Robert will continue to focus on building capacity in Kroger's outstanding manufacturing and distribution networks to support our anything, anytime, anywhere customer ecosystem," said Donnelly.
These weren’t the only changes Kroger made to its executive leadership as the company made way for team members to leave, and team members to be promoted. All of the following staffing changes are effective May 1:
- Dennis Gibson, currently President of the King Soopers division, promoted to President of the Fred Meyer division
- Dan De La Rosa, currently President of the Columbus division, promoted to President of the King Soopers division
- Joe Kelley, currently Vice President on Special Assignment, promoted to President of the Houston division
- Marlene Stewart, currently President of the Houston division announced her retirement plans after 41 years of service, effective July 20
"We are making progress on redefining the customer experience, and our high-performing leaders are determined to maintain that momentum in year two of Restock Kroger and beyond," said Donnelly. "Each of these promotions is consistent with Kroger's track record of strong succession planning and will help ensure we continue driving toward our growth objectives."
To read the press release in its entirety, click here.
For more news regarding key retail executive staffing changes, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK CITY, NY - Are meal kit companies barely squeaking by? While this could be a gross overestimation of the state of the market, there are a few signs that don’t seem to bode well for what was once a quickly growing sector—particularly following news that meal kit company Plated is undergoing corporate layoffs.
Earlier this year, Plated’s Co-Founder Josh Hix stepped down from his role as CEO. This news was then followed by headlines proclaiming Albertsons was removing its Plated meal kit offerings from store shelves, which hit the newswire late last month. This week, Bloomberg reported that the retailer-owned meal kit company is cutting 10 percent of its workforce.
According to the news source, the job cuts are confined to Plated’s New York City corporate staff and will affect about 25 employees.
“The responsibilities of those individuals will be distributed among the remaining staff at Plated as well as other teams in Albertsons,” wrote Christine Wilcox, Albertsons' Vice President, Communications & Education, in an email to reporter inquiries. In the email, Wilcox noted that the cuts come during a time when Plated is focusing on reducing expenses and better utilizing company operations.
In addition to Plated, Blue Apron has struggled to stay afloat, with headline after headline seeming to paint a bleaker picture of the state of the company.
What does this mean for meal kit companies? Are the likes of Blue Apron and Plated simply implementing strategies to streamline operations and stay competitive? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.