SALINAS, CA - Since I’ve been watching the Olympics, my quest for healthy snacking has been at an all-time high—those viral chocolate muffins notwithstanding. Healthy snacking is the bread and butter of Naturipe Farms, especially with the launch of its new value-added line Berry Buddies.

“It’s clear how much kids love to snack, and at Naturipe Farms, we love to make those snacks,” said Steven Ware, Vice President of Value-Added. “Berry Buddies meet market demand for delicious, nutritious, easily-transported snack options that are filled with fresh fruit. We’ve put years of hard work, planning, and research and development into Berry Buddies, and we’re thrilled to finally be able to share them with our customers.”

Packaged in containers with separate compartments for each food product, there are three variations in the Berry Buddies line:

• Berries and Pancakes: Featuring blueberries, miniature pancakes, and maple syrup for dipping
• Berries, Cookies & Cheese: Combining blueberries, miniature cookies, and mixed cheese
• Berries, Pretzels & Cheese: An assortment of blueberries and grapes, crunchy pretzel twists, and cheddar cheese

Naturipe noted how important taste and flavor play into parents’ choices for the snacks they give their children.

“Berry Buddies don’t just taste good—with their bright colors and cartoon character icons relating to ingredients—they’re eye-catching and a fun attraction too,” said Matt Lyons, Director of Business Development, Value-Added. “Anyone who’s spent time around kids knows that food that tastes good is only half the battle when it comes to what they’ll eat. Berry Buddies make nutritious snacking fun. And they’re not just for kids—even parents will enjoy how delicious and convenient they are!”

Each variation in the Berry Buddies line has a shelf life of at least 17 days and has earned the official stamp of approval from The Produce Moms.

Berry Buddies are available starting now. Sounds like a back-to-school promotion waiting to happen, if you ask me!

Keep reading ANUK as we cover the latest in what’s next for fresh produce.

ONTARIO, CANADA - Many of you know that we recently hosted the annual Besties Awards in Monterey, California, on July 9. Reflecting on the event, we wanted to give a special shoutout to our winners, one of which was Nature Fresh Farms®, recognized with the Best Snack Ad award.

“Being selected as the Besties award winner for the Best Snack Ad is truly an honor for our team,” Amanda Armstrong, Director of Marketing, told me after the event. “Our inspiration in this arena comes from a deep understanding of consumer preferences and behaviors. We are constantly researching and analyzing trends to stay ahead in the competitive landscape.”

The Nature Fresh vision, as Amanda explained, revolves around creating ads that not only showcase its products but also resonate emotionally with its audience. Execution of this vision involves a collaborative effort where creativity meets strategy. The team brainstorms ideas that connect with their target demographic, ensuring every ad tells a compelling story.

“The industry is dynamic and highly competitive, making expertise and investment in advertising crucial for maintaining market relevance and driving growth. Our commitment to this area stems from a belief in the power of effective marketing to elevate brand perception and drive consumer engagement,” Amanda continued.

She went on to note that investing in its advertising capabilities allows Nature Fresh to innovate and explore new avenues for reaching target audiences. Whether through digital platforms, traditional media, or experiential marketing, the company continuously seeks ways to enhance its brand visibility and connect with consumers in meaningful and memorable ways.

“Over time, our approach to advertising has evolved significantly alongside advancements in technology and shifts in consumer behavior,” Amanda stated. “Initially focusing on traditional media channels, we have adapted to the digital age by embracing social media, influencer partnerships, and targeted digital advertising. We have also become more data-driven, leveraging analytics to optimize our campaigns and measure their impact effectively.”

This evolution has not only enabled Nature Fresh to reach a broader audience, but has also deepened its understanding of what resonates with consumers.

“Overall, our journey in advertising has been marked by continuous learning, adaptation, and innovation, driven by a passion for delivering excellence in every campaign we create,” Amanda concluded.

For the awards process, our team handles the initial nominations to ensure each nominee meets our stringent standards. We then share our nominees with our Besties committee.

The committee is composed of experienced retail buyers or individuals with substantial experience and knowledge in their respective fields. This year, they voted on every category except for one: Retailer of the Year. Each committee member received a ballot with three nominations for each award category. Based on their votes, we determine the winners of the Bestie Awards.

Once again, congratulations to Nature Fresh Farms!

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Balancing between quality and innovation can be a tough rope to walk, but the team at SpartanNash is doing just that in its recent banner revamp. The company unveiled its latest chapter in grocery shopping with the grand reopening of its Family Fare® store in Michigan.

"We're thrilled to debut this updated Family Fare, which blends innovative concepts with the familiar, neighborhood feel our store guests know and love," said SpartanNash Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer Bennett Morgan. "This transformation is informed by extensive shopper data and insights, aimed at enhancing convenience, quality, and affordability. Our goal is to create an exceptional shopping experience that stays true to Family Fare's core pillars of freshness, friendliness, and value, and this store sets the stage for future updates across our stores."

According to a press release, this is a modernized shopping destination that features an enhanced array of fresh meal solutions and convenience-focused food selections, alongside a few unique amenities such as a beef jerky bar and a nostalgic vintage candy station.

The refreshed concept will serve as a model for future Family Fare remodels.

"Family Fare stores have served the Holland community for almost 60 years, and today nearly a half million shoppers come through the doors of our local stores here every year," added Family Fare Store Director Michael Farrell. "At Family Fare, our tagline is 'In Your Neighborhood,' and in honor of our grand reopening, we are proud to donate a gift to the nonprofit Community Action House that will provide more than 8,500 meals to our neighbors."

With the revamp of this banner, SpartanNash noted that it continues to invest in innovations that benefit its customers.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in retail news!

LEE’S SUMMIT, MI - A produce marketing strategist steps into the role of President and Chief Executive Officer for The Mushroom Council. Amy Wood steps into the role following the transition of former President Bart Minor, who had led the Council for 26 years.

“Like so many other commodity boards and associations, the mushroom industry finds itself at the critical intersection of maintaining its loyal customer base while expanding and attracting new shoppers,” remarked Wood in a press release. “I look forward to the challenge ahead.”

As President and CEO, she will be responsible for developing and overseeing strategic marketing, communication, as well as research and promotion programs designed to bring profitable returns to U.S. mushroom farms and importers.

In order to do so, she will pull from more than two decades of food marketing and communications expertise under her belt. She most recently served as Senior Vice President, Food Strategy, at Curious Plot, which has represented The Mushroom Council for the past nine years.

“Amy is a true food marketing strategist and leader who not only is ready to go on day one because of her near decade of immersion in the mushroom industry, but also because of her vast background leading and counseling marketing teams for dozens of commodity boards and organizations,” added Michael Stephan, Chairman.

While she was at Curious Plot, Wood led planning and strategy for Mushroom Council initiatives such as the Blended Burger Project, Feed Your Immune System, Mushroom Monday, and more. She has represented additional clients including the California Avocado Commission, the National Watermelon Promotion Board, and Sun World International.

Congratulations to Amy Wood on this newest role!

SAN JOSE, CA - Being able to protect your business is paramount, and ZAG Technical Services is here to help. The solutions provider issued a statement warning agriculture businesses of the latest email phishing schemes as these threats become more prevalent.

"Imagine the domino effect if a cyber attacker gained access to a school system, not only accessing student information but also learning about parents' workplaces and potentially compromising those systems as well," said Allen Santana, Cybersecurity Operations Manager at ZAG Technical Services. "Similarly, the interconnected nature of agribusiness makes it a prime target for scammers."

According to a release from the company, attackers are using compromised email accounts to send fraudulent messages that appear to come from trusted sources. To further enhance their credibility, hackers are now signing up for services like Dropbox with these compromised accounts.

As ZAG noted, this layered approach not only makes the email seem legitimate but also adds an extra layer of credibility through the use of recognized services, complicating the detection of malicious intent. Sales teams have been targeted with fraudulent POs from supposed customers, making the phishing attempts appear legitimate.

How can you identify a phishing email? ZAG suggests the following:

• Verify the Sender: Call a verified phone number of the person who supposedly sent the email to confirm its authenticity. Do not reply to the email, click on any links, or call any numbers noted in the email
• Contact Leadership: Notify your CEO, CFO, or Controller to check for any attempted ACH fraud
• Involve IT: Engage your IT team to trace the origin of the email and assess the threat
• Avoid Forwarding Suspicious Emails: Do not forward the email to others to test links or attachments
• Seek Expert Opinion: If in doubt, ZAG Technical Services is always available to provide a second opinion and assist with any security concerns

ZAG explained that phishing attacks are not random; they are strategic attempts to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain. The company went on to note that agriculture tends to be an easy industry to exploit because of how many points of connection there are between businesses and vendors. Attackers seek access to networks to obtain sensitive information, initiate fraudulent ACH transactions, and extort ransomware payments through cryptolocking.

These are the key lessons ZAG hopes you take away from this:

• No Company is Too Small: Every business, regardless of size, can be a target
• High Stakes: Attackers aim to infiltrate networks to steal valuable information
• Increased Vigilance: Regularly educate and remind employees about the signs of phishing
• Layered Controls: Implement layers of control, particularly in financial processes like ACH transactions

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we continue to deliver insights and tips for our industry.

CALIFORNIA - While overcoming challenges caused by the highs of 110–115 degrees in California's San Joaquin Valley, Fresh Farms has maintained a strategic eye on shifting consumer preferences, ensuring all its grapes cover aspects such as flavor, appearance, and attractive packaging.

“The intense heat has had a pronounced effect, especially on colored grapes like Flames and Summer Royals, [which] were very slow to gain color and have only begun to color up in the past week,” said Shaun Ricks, Sales Representative. “The green grapes were delayed only slightly but resumed maturation when the heat broke and are now about two weeks ahead of last year. Colored grapes are running about the same as last year.”

Fresh Farms has also been focused on logistics. The company implemented delivery practices by using refrigerated trucks for transporting grapes from the field to properly store them, rather than flatbed bobtails. A press release explained this change ensures that the grapes are kept in good condition, maintaining their quality throughout the supply chain.

As Fresh Farms navigates this unusual season, it remains dedicated to delivering top-quality grapes. It’s this commitment to excellence that has led to Fresh Farms' continued success in the industry.

This dedication is seen when grapes arrive at the store as the company ensures that retailers know exactly how to preserve the grapes’ quality, providing full-service support in grape category management. Fresh Farms emphasizes that selling grapes involves more than simply storing them in refrigerated cases.

Fresh Farms will be concentrating on these varieties this season: Sweet Globe, Great Green, Allison, Krissy, and Candy Hearts.

The industry-wide estimate for these grapes is a total pack out of 94 million. The final figures are expected to be confirmed in December.

When you’re hungry for more harvest updates—you know where to click!