IRVINGTON, NY - Produce aisles around the nation are getting a leafy green makeover as BrightFarms expands its customer base to new stores and markets, meeting rising consumer demand for local produce that’s available year-round. Specifically, the hydroponic greenhouse grower is heading into the likes of Dierbergs, Food Lion, Jungle Jim’s, Misfits Market, and Tops Friendly Markets.
According to a press release, the following BrightFarms greenhouses will be helping to supply locally grown packaged salads to the following markets:
- BrightFarms’ greenhouse in Wilmington, Ohio, will supply salad greens for the grower’s new partner: Jungle Jim’s International Markets
- The Wilmington greenhouse will also supply 140 Tops Friendly Markets located in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont
- BrightFarms’ Culpeper, Virginia, greenhouse will supply Food Lion stores in Richmond and Lynchburg, which are just two hours away from the greenhouse
- BrightFarms is entering the St. Louis market and supplying Dierbergs Markets with unique lettuce varieties like Sunny Crunch and Fresh Kick from its Rochelle, Illinois, greenhouse
In addition to these local retailers, BrightFarms is doing its part to reduce food waste by partnering with imperfect produce delivery box service Misfits Market, which delivers produce to shoppers in Pennslyvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. As part of the partnership, the greenhouse grower will supply excess yields from its Bucks County, Pennsylvania, greenhouse.
BrightFarms notes in a press release that its hydroponic greenhouses use 80 percent less water, 90 percent less land, and 90 percent less shipping fuel when compared to long distance growers, and the proximity of its greenhouses to stores add that extra affirmation that only the freshest pesticide-free and non-GMO greens line store shelves.
In addition to the aforementioned new markets and partners, BrightFarms’ salads are also available in stores around the country, including Walmart, Ahold Delhaize, and Albertsons.
For more of the freshest produce news like this, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
STELLARTON, NS - Sobeys parent company Empire Company Limited is introducing the Great White North to its FreshCo banner as it makes moves to expand its businesses into Western Canada. The retailer announced plans to open 12 locations in British Columbia and Manitoba this year, with many of the shops taking the place of former Safeway stores.
“We are in the midst of turning around our Western Canadian stores. We have improved our standards, execution, and marketing,” said Michael Medline, Empire’s President and CEO. “We are extremely proud of the progress our teammates in the region are making. This decision in B.C. is a major building block in improving our customer service, employee relations, profitability, and flexibility in the West.”
The move not only advances Sobeys’ plans to expand FreshCo into new markets, but also implements a strategy to improve store profitability and allow conventional Safeway stores to compete in a level playing field in B.C. According to a press release, 25 percent of Empire’s 255 Safeway and Sobeys full service stores will be converted to the FreshCo banner, with the company offering voluntary buyouts to eligible long-service Safeway employees that could cost approximately $35 million.
The first five FreshCo stores are slated to open this spring in B.C. and Manitoba, with the additional seven stores opening in B.C and five additional Safeway stores closing in the first half of fiscal 2020.
To stay ahead of grocery retail happenings, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest.
BURLINGTON, MA - In a first-ever collaboration, the New England Produce Council (NEPC) and the Organic Produce Network (OPN) are joining together to put on the first New England Organic Produce Conference. The two associations announced the new educational event—to be held May 1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts—this week and noted that Shannon Allen, creator of the restaurant grown, will be the keynote speaker.
“This will be a do-not-miss event,” said Matt Seeley, Co-Founder and CEO of Organic Produce Network. “Working collectively with the New England Produce Council...will help increase the knowledge base of all of our members. The program will be first class.”
Developed in a partnership with Massachusetts-based New England Produce Council and California-based Organic Produce Network, the event will feature a number of educational and edifying opportunities including Neilson Report, Organics 101, and a Retailer Roundtable feature.
“We are very pleased and excited to invite Shannon Allen back home to New England to share her expertise on organics,” said Anthony Sattler, President of the NEPC, in a press release. “Also, we are very happy to be working together with the Organic Produce Network on this event.”
According to that press release, grown is a first-of-its-kind 100-percent USDA organic-certified fast food restaurant aiming to fill a void in the market with “real food, cooked slow, for fast people™.” The innovative concept attempts to marry the quality of farm-to-fork cuisine with the convenience of fast food dining with a focus on delicious, organic, nutrient-dense fare.
Shannon first developed the concept for grown after her son Walker was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. After a frustrating evening driving up and down Route 9 searching for real food with the convenience of a drive thru, she developed the concept for grown. The formula proved to be a success and the flegling restaurant chain quickly expanded to five locations—including locations inside of HardRock Stadium, the Wesleyan University Campus Bookstore, and a Walmart Supercenter in Lake Nona
The flagship grown restaurant is located in Miami, Florida, where Shannon lives with her husband, two-time NBA champion Ray Allen, and their five children.
grown will begin awarding franchises in 2019, and remain dedicated to its mission—“chang[ing] the world one 100-percent USDA organic-certified fast food meal at a time.”
“Having Nielsen, Tonya Antle, Matt Seeley, and Shannon Allen presenting their absolute best as experts in the area of organics in one venue will make this a powerful event,” noted Tom Murray, V.P. Produce Roche Bros, in the associations’ joint press release.
For more on this and other goings-on in fresh produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - Organics are about to get some major advocacy, as 22 farmer members of the Organic Trade Association’s Farmers Advisory Council head to Washington on February 5-6 to meet with new and incumbent members of Congress. The group will help familiarize incoming lawmakers with the organics industry and discuss the implementation of the organic provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill. A national coalition of organic farmers and organic farming organizations representing nearly 8,000 organic farms, the Council is able to offer unique insights for the betterment of the agricultural industry.
“The 116th Congress has 101 new members of the House and 10 new Senators, and many of these new lawmakers aren’t familiar with organic,” said Laura Batcha, Executive Director and CEO. “It’s important that we help our members get connected to these freshmen Congressional members so they can educate the new policy makers about the benefits of organic agriculture, the unique challenges that organic producers and businesses face, and the importance of federal policies that advance American organic agriculture and the organic sector.”
The event, coordinated by the Organic Trade Association’s Farmers Advisory Council, will bring in farmers from 11 states across the nation. According to the press release, this diverse group will include grain and specialty crop growers, dairy farmers, and egg and livestock producers. The implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill is set to be a key discussion point.
“The Organic Trade Association and its members worked hard to get top organic priorities included in the Farm Bill, and now we want to ensure that this bill—and all of its gains for organic—is implemented in a timely manner,” commented Batcha.
While the group is scheduled to attend meetings with over 40 lawmakers and national agricultural organizations, it will also be hosting an organic farmer's roundtable for congressional staff regarding important organic issues. Included in the roundtable will be a discussion moderated by farmer members who were featured in the recently published National Geographic article, We don’t have enough organic farms. Why not? The roundtable will expand on the highlighted themes in the article, and moderators will lead a conversation about overcoming challenges of organic transition and closing the gap between consumer demand and domestic acreage.
The member organizations of the Farmers Advisory Council include Georgia Organics, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), Montana Organic Association, Organic Egg Farmers of America, Oregon Tilth Certified Organic, Pennsylvania Certified Organic, Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, Tilth Alliance of Washington, and Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.
AndNowUKnow will keep you posted on all the developments relating to the 2018 Farm Bill.
FOWLER, CA - Growing your online presence is a must in today’s day and age, and Bee Sweet Citrus is keeping up with the times. The citrus provider recently announced that its marketing efforts are now targeting consumers through YouTube.
“Behind every amazing product is an even greater story, and that’s exactly what Bee Sweet’s YouTube channel aims to communicate,” said Monique Bienvenue, Director of Communications. “From the advanced technology we use to bring citrus to our consumers, to celebrating the characteristics and history of our varieties and employees, we want to give consumers a behind-the-scenes look into the many incredible facets of California’s citrus industry.”
According to a press release, the company’s #EatMoreCitrus campaign launched in 2015 as a way to educate consumers on the health benefits of citrus. Over the last four years it has morphed into an educational movement highlighting Bee Sweet’s citrus varieties, its innovative technology, and the employees who make up its history. Across its social media platforms, Bee Sweet’s marketing team focuses on giving consumers a peek behind the curtain at the everyday functions of one of California’s largest agribusinesses.
“As marketing trends continue to take the produce industry by storm, we’ve noticed that consumers aren’t just interested in learning about the product; they want to know the story behind it as well,” stated Joe Berberian, Sales Representative. “Our YouTube channel offers customers and the everyday consumer a chance to learn more about our product, as well as the technology and people that make production possible.”
The most recent uploads to YouTube highlight Bee Sweet’s state-of-the-art palletizing system and its new lemon wash and production line. As the company’s domestic season continues, subscribers can look forward to international videos regarding specialty varieties and recipe tutorials.
“As food and health trends continue to take shape, we want consumers to have all the information they need to make informed shopping decisions,” concluded Bienvenue. “There are many steps that go into providing quality citrus to our consumers, and our YouTube channel gives the public a chance to better understand our history, mission, and brand.”
For the latest in innovative industry news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
UNITED KINGDOM - Across the pond, one of the United Kingdom’s largest grocery retailers, with 3,400 stores and 300,000 employees, is attempting to brave the waves of a tumultuous retail market by cutting 9,000 staff jobs. In addition to job cuts, Tesco is also simplifying its operations and implementing cost saving strategies that include altering the makeup of its stores, according to a report by Reuters.
“We’re making changes to our UK stores and head office to simplify what we do and how we do it, so we’re better able to meet the needs of our customers,” Tesco Chief Executive Jason Tarry said, according to The Guardian. He also noted that the market continues to pose a challenge that Tesco is currently adapting to. Overall, the retailer asserts that a smaller staff is needed for stock control, merchandising, and head office operations.
One way the UK-based retailer is adapting is by closing its fresh meat, fish, and delicatessen counters in 90 stores, with the remaining 700 switching to a “full or flexible counter.” Tesco’s head office will also witness a restructuring and simplifying.
“Staff at Tesco are shocked and dismayed by the scale of yet another round of potential job losses, which clearly demonstrates the pressure retailers are under in the current very difficult and uncertain economic climate, as the cost-cutting continues,” said Pauline Foulkes, Usdaw Union’s National Officer. “This is devastating news for staff, who have played a crucial role in Tesco’s turnaround project, contributing to 12 successive quarters of growth, solid Christmas trading, and over £1bn of profit.”
The Guardian notes that Tesco estimates that about 4,500 of the 9,000 workers will be able to find “alternative roles across the business, limiting the impact on staff.”
For more from the front lines of the grocery retail landscape, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest.
MARRERO, LA - US Foods is breaking ground on a new facility expansion in the Mississippi River Delta this week.
The foodservice provider is slated to begin work on an expansion of its Marrero, Louisiana, distribution facility—taking its current facility from 70,000 to 200,000 square-feet and bringing 45 new jobs to the New Orleans suburb, according to a report by New Orleans City Business.
The Illinois-based foodservice giant first acquired the facility in June of 2017—when it purchased broadline distributor F. Christiana—a company that services more than 1,800 independent restaurant, hotel and convenience store customers spread throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
According to New Orleans City Business, the state of Louisiana offered US Foods a $1.5 million grant to offset the cost of upgrading the Marrero facility, as well as a performance-based, forgivable loan of $561,000.
The groundbreaking will take place at the company’s 7251 River Road facility this Thursday.
For more breaking news in fresh food, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
LONG BEACH, CA - While the winter blues are still bringing us in the States down—just ask my dog who has been looking longingly out the window waiting for the sun to stop going down at 5 p.m so he can play outside—summer is raging on in Chile, and with it, some of our favorite seasonal flavors. Grapes, peaches, nectarines, cherries, blueberries, and plums are plentiful in the Southern Hemisphere—so plentiful in fact, that our friends at the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) have had the opportunity to get creative with their bounty. Behold—plum beer!
A Chilean plum beer has been born from a new partnership between the CFFA and the Long Beach Beer Lab Brewery, and the duo have produced and distributed a total of 4,000 16-ounce bottles throughout California. Steve Hattendorf, Western Region Merchandiser for the CFFA shared how this fruity brew came to fruition.
“The key focus of the CFFA is on retail promotions, but this was a really fun and creative way to utilize Chilean plums,” he explained. “An importer donated the plums, and the Beer Lab created a delicious beer out of them. We look forward to potentially working with the Beer Lab on other fruit-forward beers.”
“What is this Beer Lab and can I buy a house right next door?” is what you’re probably asking yourself right now (or is it just me?). Headed by a real life beer scientist and BrewMaster, Dr. Levi Fried, the lab is a brewery dedicated to fermentation-forward beverages, including sours—a personal favorite of mine and a growing category in beer, the CFFA said.
According to Nielsen, for the 52 weeks through May 20, 2017, dollar sales of sour beer styles soared 49 percent in off-premise outlets. And luckily for whoever manages to get their hands on a bottle, fresh fruits such as Chilean plums can be a perfect addition to sours, Dr. Fried said.
“Chilean plums were the perfect addition to our crisp farmhouse ale, Milk the Mustache,” he shared. “Blended with our sourdough ale and aged for three months with the delicious hand processed Chilean plums, the end result was a crisp, complex, and satisfying beer. We look forward to teaming up with Fruits from Chile in the future on more ‘exbeeriments,’ adding other great tasting Chilean fruit to our beer.”
So, sorry Franklin, our trip to the dog park will have to wait another day—I have a Chilean plum beer to track down.
NEWARK, DE - It’s 2019, people, time to embrace the future! The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has taken this to heart, bringing its 2019 Science & Technology Circle of Excellence Award back for a third year. The award is meant to spotlight science and technology innovations that can help the produce and floral industry to develop better products, processes, and other customer values. Nominations are due to PMA by March 22, so don’t sleep on this opportunity!
“Science and technology are uniquely positioned to help our industry solve a broad range of business challenges,” said PMA VP Vonnie Estes. “The goal of this award program is to recognize those game changers. And by bringing attention to their work, we’ll not only incentivize their businesses, we can also attract other innovators to help our industry address more challenges. Innovation begets more innovation, that’s why we call it the Circle of Excellence award.”
Created in 2017, the award recognizes leaders who are essential and active in the industry, helping to solve business challenges by harnessing science and technology. The award is just one example of the year-round work of PMA’s Science & Technology team to help PMA members to utilize science and technology for the purpose of sustaining and growing their businesses.
Past awards have gone out to companies with a commitment to innovation and forward-thinking. In 2017, the inaugural award went to SmartWash Solutions for developing systems that help fresh produce packers and processors to monitor and enhance wash water quality in real time, effectively saving labor while at the same time enhancing food safety and protecting public health. Last year’s award went to Tanimura & Antle’s PlantTape automated transplanting system. The system harnesses technology to address multiple business challenges, from reducing labor needs to shrinking farming’s environmental footprint.
“Receiving this award was a tremendous honor to all of us at PlantTape,” said PlantTape USA President Brian Antle, in a press release. “To have our industry peers recognize the hard work our team has put into developing and commercializing the PlantTape system has been very rewarding. We have been very fortunate to receive a lot of press with our system, but certainly the highlight of the year was being recognized by PMA.”
There are some key caveats when it comes to submissions, as nominees must already be conducting business within the global produce and/or floral industry supply chain. The nominated solution needs to disrupt industry practices and/or create improved processes, products, and practices, and provide benefits that bring value to the produce and/or floral supply chains. Nominees must also fall into one or more of the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, math). Winners will be selected by a panel which will include PMA staff science and technology experts and qualified industry executives.
It is important to note, that nominees do not need to be members, there is no cost to enter, and companies can nominate themselves. However, the winner is required to attend PMA’s Tech Knowledge event on May 1-2, 2019 to receive the award in person. The winner will be recognized again at PMA’s Fresh Summit Convention & Expo, October 17-19. Additionally, the winner will receive complimentary full registration to Tech Knowledge and Fresh Summit, and will be recognized by the association via public relations, social media, and its website, PMA.com.
AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you apprised on all further tech innovations.
CARLISLE, PA - Excuse the silly wordplay that is about to come forth, but are you ready for some news of giant proportions? GIANT Food Stores recently announced a new addition to the GIANT family of brands, GIANT DIRECT, Powered by Peapod. The new brand will debut in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with its e-commerce hub at 235 North Reservoir Street, on Tuesday, February 12.
“We are excited to make Lancaster the home of our newest innovation with the launch of our new GIANT DIRECT, Powered by Peapod e-commerce hub,” said Nicholas Bertram, President, in a recent press release. “Not only is the e-commerce hub a completely new concept for us and a first of its kind in our area, it’s the product of a fruitful collaboration with Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace and local residents to give the Lancaster community the shopping experience they want and need.”
The press release noted that the 38,000-square-foot hub, part of a $22 million investment in Lancaster County, will add approximately 150 jobs to the local economy. In partnership with Peapod Digital Labs, GIANT DIRECT will propel the company’s e-commerce centers to offer a pickup option, where online orders are delivered to customer vehicles.
”Our GIANT DIRECT, Powered by Peapod location will deliver fresh, quality foods direct to your car, direct to your home, or direct to your business,” Bertram continued. “We’re thrilled to bring real innovation to Lancaster-area residents, but just as importantly, customers can expect the GIANT Direct, Powered by Peapod experience to be personalized, inspiring, and delivered with a smile.”
For customers who require, or prefer, an alternative to ordering online, the new hub will feature a walk-up vestibule with easy-order tablets. The hub will also serve local residents by allowing for a deeper delivery reach into greater Lancaster communities. To place an order with GIANT DIRECT, Powered by Peapod, customers can use any device to visit the GIANT Food Stores website, the Peapod website, or the Peapod app, enter their zip code, and begin shopping. Before checking out, they’ll be asked to select how they would like to receive their order—delivery or pickup.
“Customer choice is at the heart of all we do,” Bertram concluded. “GIANT Direct, Powered by Peapod will allow more loyal GIANT customers, starting with our neighbors in Lancaster County, to shop how they want, when they want, and where they want, whether in-store, online, or at a convenient pick-up location.”
For the latest in retail happenings, continue reading us here at AndNowUKnow.