WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms continues to grow! The company recently welcomed a new COO, Joe Barsi, to lead the company’s sales, operations, and strategic initiatives. The company also welcomed Brittany Wang, Financial Sales Analyst, and David Johnson, Logistics Specialist.
Barsi is already strengthening communication and culture from the inside out, a company press release noted. Staff has participated in a strategic planning process, internal company town hall discussions, a newly implemented annual Grower Summit meeting, employee training programs, and expanding various divisions within the company, all while continuing to align with its family heritage.
“The berry industry is going to look very different five years from now. In anticipation of that, we went through an extensive strategic planning process. Our company values of Quality, Community, and Fairness have not changed, but our strategies to address the rapidly changing berry industry had to,” said Barsi. “We are thoroughly reviewing our operations and processes to make sure we are positioned for the future. It has been a challenging year for the California strawberry industry. Quality wins at the end of the day, and California Giant is committed to delivering quality berries every day, when and where our customers need them, and that is weaved into our long-term plan.”
Brittany Wang joined California Giant on October 10, 2018. She is already diving into several projects, supporting sales with forecasting and analyzing data and evaluating sales goals with key customers. The company noted that Brittany is also researching and evaluating current economic conditions in various growing regions to help position the company for future growth.
David Johnson’s first day will be October 29. He will work closely with Logistics Manager, Gary Bertone, who is responsible for the transportation and logistical requirements for the movement of all berries throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, as well as strengthening capabilities—a critical component to the services California Giant provides customers with like delivered loads, cost efficiencies, and increased emphasis on hours of service.
As the company continues to grow its share of the market in the blueberry industry, Joe Barsi announced Markus Duran’s promotion from Blueberry Category Specialist to North American Blueberry Operations Manager. Markus has been with the company for five years, learning every aspect of the fresh blueberry industry. Markus will complement and lead an existing strong team, supporting this portion of the company’s business and working closely with the sales group and Nader Musleh who leads the South American blueberry program.
Other recent key hires include Abelardo Rodriguez, Systems Coordinator-Packaging/Track & Trace, a graduate from California State University Fresno with an emphasis in Plant Science & Crop Production Management; Wendi Castagnola filling the role of Staff Accountant and Chico State graduate and Central Coast native; and Shannon Cotton, Sales Coordinator.
Congratulations to all new members of the California Giant team!
INDIALANTIC, FL - Eastern Florida residents were in for a pleasant surprise this week—when a mysterious grocery development was revealed to be a new Publix concept store.
“No it’s not a Greenwise, it is a Publix but nothing like anywhere around here (literally),” said Dave Berkman, Mayor of Indialantic, Florida, in a Facebook post Tuesday night, which was subsequently reported on by Florida Today. "They call it a Prototype or Concept Store, the design and products are designed around the special communities they support. Someone mentioned they had recently been to one in Gainesville, ours will be similar but not exactly like it. I expect it will have fresh prepared foods, specialty meats/cheeses, organic, cafe seating inside and outside, etc.”
Initial plans had been submitted in August, prompting local speculation as to the identity of the new development.
The Indialantic Zoning and Planning Board approved Publix’s site plan Tuesday. Hairteck and Sun Clean Dry Cleaners storefronts will be razed to make way for the new 27,251-square-foot grocery store.
For more on this and other fresh-focused retail news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
PORT HURON, MI - This weekend, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations at the Blue Water Bridge seized a shipment of drugs disguised in a commercial shipment of berries. CBP agents arrested one Canadian citizen and seized more than 280 lbs of cocaine.
According to a CBP press release, the seizure took place on October 21st, when members of the CBP Port Huron Anti-Terrorism and Contraband Enforcement Team selected a commercial truck carrying berries for an “enforcement exam.”
During the inspection, officers uncovered four boxes containing suspected narcotics that field tests proved to be cocaine.
“This arrest demonstrates the continued effort by our officers, their dedication to our border security mission and the focus on the export of illicit narcotics” said Port Director Michael Fox, in a statement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan will be prosecuting the case, and the Canadian citizen involved is currently being held by Homeland Security Investigations.
No word was forthcoming on the state of the berries.
SALINAS, CA - Foodservice chefs from across North America gathered at Markon’s Fourth Annual Chef Summit to learn, collaborate, and innovate new ways to use produce. The event took place September 17-19 in Monterey, California, and brought together 17 chefs from Markon’s members and foodservice operators. While there, the chefs attended produce field tours, presentations on produce-centric menus and flavor trends, met with growers, and created unique recipes during two culinary events: the green box challenge and the blended mushroom contest.
Markon partnered with The Mushroom Council and asked attending chefs to submit blended mushroom recipes. Markon and The Mushroom Council chose the Summit’s top three recipe winners, which were served as lunch during the third day.
- First place: Sam Blackburn, Executive Chef, Northwest Texas Healthcare System, for his blended mushroom turkey meatballs with honey sriracha glaze, jasmine rice, and cucumber, mango, and jicama relish.
- Second place: Jenn Bushman, Creative Services Manager, Reinhart Foodservice, for her jalapeno mushroom patty melt
- Third place: Chris Casson, Director of Produce and Specialty Foods, Shamrock Foods Company, for his mighty mushroom burger with bacon jam and fried egg
"We appreciate Markon’s understanding of the plant-forward strategy of adding finely diced or ground mushrooms to meat to make healthier, flavorful, and more sustainable iconic foods that foodservice chefs want on their menus,” said Steve Solomon, Menu Strategist for The Mushroom Council. “The Markon chefs had a chance to create dishes with, what is called ‘The Blend,’ and they didn't disappoint—blended burgers, meatballs, and other meat-mushroom combinations were created that all the chefs in attendance agreed were among the best they ever tasted."
According to a press release, another highlight of the Summit was Markon’s $10,000 donation to Rancho Cielo Drummond Academy—an alternative education school that teaches at-risk youth culinary skills, provides job placement opportunities, and offers transitional housing. Markon has partnered with the academy for the past three years to have students work hand-in-hand with the chefs at the Summit.
"The Drummond Culinary Academy is a testament to Rancho Cielo's remarkable vision and passion for their students," said Rich Wolowski, Markon’s Board Chairman and Gordon Food Service’s President and CEO. "Markon, its member companies, and the wonderful participating chefs are blessed to share in Rancho Cielo's mission through our annual Chef Summit. Together, we provide a unique development opportunity for young people, helping change lives while preparing them for great career opportunities in the culinary and hospitality industry. This donation by Markon's board is a further sign of our continuing commitment to Rancho Cielo and our heartfelt desire to positively impact the Salinas Valley community."
This year, academy students had the opportunity to work alongside the chefs during the green box challenge to develop new recipes or product usage ideas for a variety of salads and blends from Markon and its platinum sponsors Taylor Farms, Misionero, and Church Brothers. The winning recipe, developed by Sam Blackburn, Executive Chef for Northwest Texas Healthcare System, and Angel Morales, Shamrock Foods Company Corporate Chef, was a beet pasta beggar’s purse filled with wild mushrooms, aromatic herbs and greens, braised Markon Ready-Set-Serve Super Slaw, and cured meat with goat cheese ricotta.
Other Summit activities included:
- Produce field tours
- Presentation on produce trends
- Supplier focus groups
- The supplier “speed dating” expo
- The Mushroom Council presentation
“I’ve been attending the Markon Chef Summit since its inception, and I find the experience and learnings I walk away with unparalleled. Each year, Markon keeps the format fresh and presents us with a wealth of new information and ideas. We collaborate and create innovative, on-trend recipes with new and existing Markon products,” said Chris Casson, Director of Produce and Specialty Foods, Shamrock Foods Company. “I also enjoy working alongside the culinary students at the Rancho Cielo Drummond Academy. This portion of the Summit allows us seasoned chefs to give back and help shape the future generation. I am already anticipating next year’s Summit.”
For the latest in foodservice happenings, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
This story reflects an updated date for the event, which was changed Friday, October 26, due to an inclement weather forecast.
NEW YORK CITY, NY - The Big Apple is about to be full of its namesake, with Crunch Time Apple Growers headed to Times Square to hand out delicious SnapDragon® apples to boost excitement for the variety’s season. Along with apples, the company will also be giving away a free Schwinn bicycle on Sunday, October 28th from 12 to 2 p.m.
“Cycling is a great way to stay healthy and have fun—which is exactly what SnapDragon is all about,” said Rena Montedoro, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “This giveaway is a great way to promote a healthy lifestyle and allow folks to discover for themselves the amazing SnapDragon apple!”
According to a press release, Crunch Time’s event is designed to not only ramp up excitement for the newest New York variety apple but also encourage consumers to be healthy, as the SnapDragon apples are a key part of an active lifestyle.
First launched in 2015, SnapDragon apples are the descendent of the Honeycrisp variety and contain a winning combination of flavor, size, and crunch and snapiness that has drawn in fans of all ages. The variety is also grown exclusively in New York state by some of the best farmers around, who apple fans can meet at Crunch Time’s latest promotional event.
SnapDragons are available at retail chains like Costco, Morton Williams, Aldi, and Whole Foods, as well as Crunch Time farm stands across New York state. To learn more about this healthy variety, visit snapdragonapple.com or @SnapDragonApples.
Catch Crunch Time Apple Growers at the corner of 42nd and 7th Avenue in New York City, and you could walk away with a bunch of SnapDragon apples and maybe even a Schwinn bicycle! Race ya there!
ROCHESTER, NY - As a consumer, I live for convenience. In today’s busy world, sometimes you need the simple things to be, well, simple. Wegmans is here to add that additional layer of convenience, with its new app Wegmans 2GO. The retailer just started testing this pilot at its flagship store at Monroe Avenue in Pittsford, New York.
According to a report from local news source, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, users can order prepared foods, such as ready-to-heat meals and create-your-own-salads, for pickup in the prepared foods department or at curbside pickup.
“The menu has evolved and may continue to evolve during the pilot,” said Wegmans Media Relations Coordinator Katie Roche, before adding that there isn’t a markup on app-ordered foods—prices remain what customers would pay in store. The app also offers delivery by Wegmans employees and Instacart drivers within five miles of the Pittsford store.
So, when will it be available at your local Wegmans?
“We are improving the app as we go, based on customer and employee feedback,” Roche stated. “There is no set timeline for rolling it out to more stores. We want to get this right before opening it up to more customers.”
Will this app be the next big thing for Wegmans? AndNowUKnow will be on the lookout.
CORAL GABLES, FL - Fyffes is gearing up for its sixth straight year supporting the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM). The 2018 edition is the 43rd in the event’s storied history, and Fyffes is getting ready to help participants fuel up. The company plans to supply 30,000 bananas to participants crossing the finish line and—in conjunction with its commitment to global sustainability—to encourage runners to compost their peels in official Fyffes composting bins.
The banana provider is also introducing its new “What Fuels You?” social-media initiative, created to inspire runners to dash to both the start and finish line of “The People’s Marathon.”
“Fyffes strives to generate community goodwill in line with the highest standards and discipline of the U.S. Marine Corps, and that is showcased each year through physical fitness during the MCM,” said Marion Tabard, VP of Marketing for Fyffes North America, in a press release. “Fyffes is honored to be a part of igniting the running community to participate, and this year we’re asking MCM runners: ‘What Fuels You?’”
Fyffes is asking athletes preparing for the 43rd annual MCM—held October 28— to share their “What Fuels You?” stories and reveal what inspires runners to complete the MCM running events. Marathoners are encouraged to use the #FuelWithFyffes hashtag across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest in sharing their motives. And the company plans to award three winners three lucky winners with funds covering their registration costs for this year’s MCM.
“During a marathon the human body is put to the ultimate test, but consider that the mind is the most powerful muscle in the body,” added Tabard. “Think of all the mental and emotional drive that spurs marathon training and performance: patriotism, familial inspiration, [and] physical and mental challenges, workout goals, tributes to those who have fallen. By sharing on social media ‘What fuels you?’ with the #FuelWithFyffes hashtag, we all inspire fellow participants.”
In conjunction with the campaign, Fyffes is also highlighting its commitment to global sustainability. In a press release, the company noted that sustainability has long a priority for Fyffes—one of the largest Fair Trade importers of bananas in the world. In addition to supplying more than 150,000 bananas to the MCM over the course of the last five years, Fyffes has provided composting bins for runners to dispose of their peels in an eco-friendly manner.
According to the company’s press release, peels collected at the event will be handled by Arlington County Waste Management and processed into high-quality organic compost that provides critical micronutrients to soil throughout the Washington, DC, community. This Fyffes sustainability effort, the company noted, constitutes one of the largest composting programs for any single event, with more than 1.7 tons of food scraps composted since 2014.
For more on produce providers and the ways in which they give back, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
YAKIMA, WA - During the frenzy of fun that was PMA Fresh Summit, Domex Superfresh Growers® debuted its signature apple, Autumn Glory®. A variety that many consumers anticipate in the off-season, Superfresh Growers is ratcheting excitement up to new heights this year by partnering with influencers Kelly Pfeiffer of Nosh and Nourish and Lindsey Johnson of Café Johnsonia—both of whom created and featured recipes that showed off the Autumn Glory’s unique flavor characteristics at the show this past weekend.
“We are proud to work with Kelly Pfeiffer, as she positively promotes easy, simple, and delicious recipes that are produce forward,” said Catherine Gipe-Stewart, Commmunications Manager. “Her presence in the booth brought an element of food knowledge and consumer savvy that elevates the Superfresh Growers and Autumn Glory apple brands. She understands our target demographic, speaks their language, and inspires parents to create affordable and healthy meals for their families.”
Pfeiffer is a blogger and a cookbook author and was featured on Good Morning America for her lunchbox Instagram series that featured healthy meals for kids. According to a press release, Pfeiffer emphasizes that social media (for lunchboxes) is about community and camaraderie and inspiring parents with fun, creative ways to feed their kids. Her current Instagram series, #NourishABC, features Superfresh Growers Organic Bosc pears for the letter S.
At PMA, Pfeiffer and Johnson showcased and offered show-goers the chance to try an Autumn Glory Quesadilla, Autumn Glory Sangria, and a Baguette with Autumn Glory Chutney.
Autumn Glory apples are known for unique caramel and cinnamon notes and a juicy crunch, a flavor and texture combination that has helped consumers fall in love with this variety. According to a press release, sales growth for the Autumn Glory has been exponential, with the variety breaking into the United States top 20 apple varieties in just its second significant year of volume. The 2018-2019 season will be the third year of significant volume for the variety.
Available worldwide now, don’t miss out on the deliciousness of the Autumn Glory this year!
CINCINNATI, OH - Where did October go? Is it just me or does it feel like the spooky season just started and now it’s almost over? Well, one thing is for sure, while Halloween may be basically over, there are still plenty of holidays in the pipeline. To prepare for one of the craziest seasons of the year, Kroger is hiring more than 10,000 associates across its family of stores.
“Holidays are an exciting time for Kroger because food is at the center of every celebration. We are looking for talented, inspired associates who share our vision to serve America through food inspiration and uplift,” said Lanell Ohlinger, Vice President of Talent Development. “Whether a customer is looking for ingredients or ideas, our friendly and caring associates help more than nine million customers every day feel uplifted.”
This season, Kroger is hiring for seasonal career opportunities like customer service, e-commerce, merchandising, operations, and the pharmacy.
"There has never been a better or more exciting time to join Kroger for a job and stay for a career," Ohlinger continued. "We really believe here at Kroger, you have a career with promise."
According to a press release, talent development is a core driver of the company's Restock Kroger plan, which details plans to invest $500 million in rewarding and meaningful benefits for all associates, including wages, training, and development.
Interested candidates can apply here.
For more retail news like this, stay up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.
MORGAN HILL, CA - As part of its Sakata Gives Corporate Giving Program, Sakata Seed America participated in two walks to raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association (AHA).
“It is evident that the mission of the American Heart Association is a mission that is near and dear to the hearts of the Sakata Family,” said Kelly LaPorta, Regional Director for the American Heart Association. “Heart Walk is our premiere event for raising funds to save lives from heart disease and stroke, and Sakata has fielded a team for the past six years. Happily, Sakata wanted to do more. They wanted to be sure they could participate at the highest level and raise the most funds and awareness—hence we decided to co-host our first coordinated campus walk for Sakata, and it was a huge success!”
On October 20, Sakata Seed America staff, family, and friends joined the annual AHA Central Coast Heart & Stroke Walk. More than 275 Central Coast residents and visitors gathered for this walk in order to raise life-saving funds for heart disease and stroke. The event, comprised of 19 teams—including Team Sakata—raised over $44,000, according to a press release. Funds raised from the Heart Walk will benefit research, advocacy, outreach, and education.
In addition to this walk, the Sakata team hosted its own company-wide Heart Walk on October 3. The event was staged at seven of its campuses across the U.S., including major locations in Yuma, AZ; Morgan Hill, CA; Salinas, CA; Woodland, CA; Ft. Myers, FL; Mt. Vernon, WA; and Burlington, WA. A first for Sakata and the American Heart Association, Sakata’s coordinated campus walk was the ‘heartchild’ of Jaime Kitz, Program Manager for Sakata Gives.
“Partnering with strong community-minded organizations like the American Heart Association speaks to the essence of Sakata Gives. We love engaging in our communities through activities that contribute to the betterment of both life and culture,” stated Kitz.
To encourage and thank walkers, 400 colorful tulips were donated by Sun Valley Floral Farm, the press release noted. Overall, roughly 110 Sakata employees participated in the two walks and raised over $4,900 for the cause.
For more on how those in our industry are giving back to the community, keep reading AndNowUKnow.