WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. is partnering with US Foods for the troops. The latter has been awarded a maximum $452,617,541 firm-fixed, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity with economic-price-adjustment contract for food distribution support to the military, according to the Pentagon’s Wednesday statement. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps will all be served from this contract.
The competitive acquisition of this contract, which was decided upon from two contenders, is for a two-year run with one one-year option period and one two-year option period, the statement expresses. The maximum dollar amount is for the entirety of the contract’s life.
South Carolina is the base of the contract’s performance, with a Oct. 9, 2023 performance completion date. Fiscal 2019 through 2024 defense working capital funds is the type of appropriation for the contract.
The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support—based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—contracted US Foods for its food distribution needs.
For more information on how US Foods is serving consumers nationwide and overseas, stick with AndNowUKnow.
DELTA, CANADA - As the industry gears up to head down to Orlando, Village Farms is preparing to wow these show-goers with a consumer taste challenge campaign. Titled “Are you Sweet or are you Smooth,” this campaign focuses on the success of its flagship tomato variety—Heavenly Village Marzano, which debuted at PMA in 2011, and its newest variety Lorabella Blossom. Since its launch, the company has seen unprecedented success with this variety.
“The success of Heavenly Villagio Marzano is attributed to a number of key factors: no one else has a tomato just like our Heavenly Villagio Marzano, it is an extremely versatile tomato with a unique flavor people love, and it has amazing shelf life our customers think is fantastic,” said Bret Wiley, SVP of Sales for Village Farms.
Heavenly Villagio Marzano is the only authentic San Marzano tomato available in North America today, and it has won over the hearts of consumers, foodies, and chefs alike with its amazing authentic flavor, a press release noted. Wiley went on to say that due to its success, the company wants to get the word out about the newest addition to exclusive specialty tomato offerings in the San Marzano family: Lorabella Blossom, which will debut at this year’s Fresh Summit. It is an orange tomato bursting with fragrant floral notes, citrus essence, and earthy undertones some have described as reminiscent of tangerines, apricots, almonds, and honey.
Show-goers will have the opportunity to taste both tomatoes firsthand to determine if they are “sweet” like Heavenly Villagio Marzano, or if they are “smooth” just like Lorabella Blossom.
“This is a fun way to get folks to try our tomatoes. There are no right or wrong answers for this campaign and everyone's a winner—you take the challenge and get a sticker proclaiming, ‘I’m Sweet’ or ‘I’m Smooth.’ Plus, the best part is that by casting your vote you can enter for a chance to win an awesome Traeger Grill,” said Helen L. Aquino, Director of Brand Marketing & Communications.
Aquino also said that while most people may not associate tomatoes with grilling, Village Farms varieties are great for this and more.
“We have a plethora of tried and true exclusive recipes on our website for Heavenly Villagio Marzano and Lorabella Blossom that are perfect for grilling, roasting, and cooking,” she stated.
In addition, the company will ring in its 30th year of business with a cocktail reception at its booth #3601 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event theme “30 years and still growing strong,” signifies a milestone for Village Farms as one of the largest and longest operating vertically-integrated greenhouse growers in North America and the only publicly traded greenhouse produce company in Canada. The company noted in its press release that it is elated for this opportunity to toast all of its loyal customers, suppliers, vendors, and friends. Stop by booth #3601 to say hello!
WOODRIDGE, IL - Produce Pro Software is unveiling a brand-new booth at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida, on October 18-20. Double in size compared to previous years, the company’s new booth reflects the growth trajectory it continues to experience year after year.
“Based on how busy we’ve become as exhibitors at recent industry trade shows, when it came time to select and design a new booth, we identified that more space was a necessity, especially knowing how large PMA Fresh Summit has become,” said Marketing Manager Kristen Santangelo. “This will allow us a more relaxed and conducive atmosphere while speaking with current customers and getting to know prospective customers alike. Visitors will also notice a streamlined and minimalist style with the addition of more work spaces to help foster an engaging environment.”
This year, Produce Pro is bringing a team of seven industry professionals, including President Dave Donat and National Sales Manager Marc Hatfield, to PMA. According to a press release, this expanded team will give attendees the opportunity to discuss the company’s latest All-in-One Software solutions and enhancements to the following systems:
- Core ERP System
- Warehouse Management System
- Driver Solution
- Mobile Applications
- Business Intelligence and Analytics
- Industry Consulting and Training
“Attending and exhibiting at trade shows is extremely important for us as a company,” said Hatfield. “Having limited space in our booth had become a challenge for us. With PMA Fresh Summit being one of the most relevant shows in the produce industry, getting quality face-to-face interaction and networking with visitors is truly priceless. We’re excited to welcome attendees to our new booth in Orlando.”
Stop by Produce Pro’s new booth and chat with the team at PMA Fresh Summit booth #1883!
VANCOUVER, BC - If there’s anyone capable of getting you jazzed about the apple category, it’s Oppy. With its three premium apple varieties, JAZZ, Envy, and Pacific Rose, everyone has a reason to fall in love. And starting next week, shipments of JAZZ will be on the road, with Envy and Pacific Rose shipping out October 22.
I had the chance to talk to Dave Nelley, Vice President of Categories and Global Exports, Oppy, to learn more about what sets this program apart.
“At the end of this summer, we’ve seen Envy distributed to accounts which have previously not moved this volume in the past, nor had access to it,” Dave begins. “That gives our U.S. Envy crop real momentum, because its penetration is higher than we’ve seen in recent crops. Frankly speaking, we invested in the future by giving more consumers access to Envy at lower retail prices and 2019 is the first year we’ve had sufficient volume to go year-round on Envy. Retailers are really excited about that.”
As well they should! Oppy’s organic programs are delivering exciting growth, with JAZZ up by more than 50 percent, and Envy and Pacific forecasts are more than double of last year’s crop. Once Dave and I begin talking about Envy, it’s hard to get either of us to stop raving about this apple.
“We’ve done quite a lot of research into what the consumers like about the taste and texture of Envy, and the big words that resonate are sweetness, crispness, and texture. If retailers are looking for a chance to differentiate in the sweet apple space, Envy is the apple to do that,” Dave tells me.
With the ongoing excitement around organics at retail, Oppy offers additional volumes of these flavorful, organic apples in bulk as well as high-color 2 lb pouch bags.
But it’s the program’s advertising and marketing spend that really sets it apart from the pack.
“We need to create excitement with consumers, because consumers will pull fruit from the shelves,” Dave explains to me. “One thing that we absolutely know about this apple is that once people try it, they love it, and they'll go looking for it in stores."
In other words, you have to bite to believe it! For more fresh produce updates, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA - Mann Packing’s award-winning Nourish Bowls® line is expanding once again, welcoming a new unique offering to its successful portfolio and making it an option for any time of day. The company is introducing Nourish Bowls® Breakfast next week at PMA Fresh Summit, taking place in Orlando, FL, October 19-20.
“We aim to continually innovate with our product offerings, and there is no better place to reinforce our leadership in the category and introduce our new Nourish Bowls® Breakfast items than at PMA Fresh Summit,” said Rick Russo, VP of Sales, Marketing & Product Management.
Nourish Bowls® Breakfast comes in two delicious flavors: Denver Scramble and Fiesta Scramble.
What the company promised will be a healthy twist on one of America’s favorite breakfasts, the Denver Scramble features kale, sweet potato, cauliflower, and broccoli. The dish also includes a Bell Pepper Sauce that has diced ham and onion, with a cheddar cheese topping. The Fiesta Scramble has equal superfood components, including kale, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and butternut squash. Consumers can top this off with a Pico de Gallo Salsa that has chicken chorizo and comes with a Mexican Cheese Blend topping.
Purchasers need only add 1-2 eggs, microwave for 4 minutes, and enjoy these healthy, fresh veggie breakfast bowls!
Retailers can promise consumers 330 calories or less in these products, up to 25 grams of protein, and all the convenience, nutrition, and freshness of Mann’s other Nourish Bowl® offerings—for breakfast!
Mann’s said in a press release that it is capitalizing not only on the success of its Nourish Bowls® product line, but also on the massive growth of the Breakfast Meal Occasion as reported by Technomic 2017 Breakfast Consumer Trends Report, Foodnews Intl, FONA Intl:
- 83% of Foodservice operators have increased breakfast hours in the past 3 years
- 93% of Americans think that breakfast is the most important meal but only 44% eat it daily
- 51% of consumers have eaten breakfast for lunch over the past two weeks
The two new breakfast bowls join Monterey Risotto, Sesame Sriracha, Southwest Chipotle, Smokehouse Brussels, Spicy Thai, Basil Pesto, Tomato Bolognese, and Cauli Rice Curry.
Mann’s Nourish Bowls® Breakfast will be on display in the on-the-go section of PMA’s new products showcase at Fresh Summit, and will be available to sample at the Del Monte Fresh/Mann Packing booth #2901. Eat up!
KEENE, NH - C&S Wholesale Grocers recently announced the appointment of Chris Smith as Chief Supply Chain Officer, effective October 15, 2018. Smith will lead all Operations and Transportation teams, working across the organization to enhance the customer experience.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the lead supply chain company in the food industry,” said Smith in a company press release. “The expertise of the C&S team is a valuable asset to independently-owned retailers and national supermarket chains, and I look forward to working toward our mutual successes.”
The press release noted that Smith is a seasoned supply chain and distribution executive with a finance background. He brings more than 25 years of progressive leadership experience to his new position. He is joining C&S from McKesson, where he has spent 13 successful years in senior leadership for the U.S. distribution business. Most recently, Smith held the position of SVP of the Northeast region. Prior to McKesson, Smith spent 12 years with The Home Depot in progressive logistics and finance leadership roles.
“Smith is a hands-on leader who believes in supporting and coaching his team,” said Mike Duffy, C&S Chief Executive Officer. “His significant logistics experience and positive approach to leadership will be tremendous assets as we execute on future initiatives.”
C&S welcomes Smith into its lead logistics role, as Peter Fiore, Executive Vice President of Distribution, plans to retire at the end of 2018 following 26 years of dedicated service to the company and more than 40 years in the grocery industry.
Smith currently serves on the Board of Directors for Cancer Support Community of Walnut Creek, CA, and the Supply Chain Leaders in Action (SCLA). He earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Congratulations from all of us at ANUK to Chris on this new role!
KINGSVILLE, ON - With less than two weeks until PMA Fresh Summit, Red Sun Farms is more than ready to celebrate the big event and get ready to ring in a new year.
“PMA is one of the largest trade shows focused purely on fresh produce and attendees represent a diverse scope of experiences within the industry,” Costin Beliciu, Marketing Specialist, tells me. “With that in mind, there are so many areas of inspiration to be had, whether it be in developing retail partnerships, product innovation, marketing, or packaging. You definitely see what’s the latest and greatest in the produce world.”
As for he and his team, they’re ready to add to that with the debut of the company’s newest item: Sweetpops.
“It’s the ultimate snacking tomato,” Costin shares. “We’ve paired this new variety with a fun new resealable packaging that speaks to the personality of the product, and will surely stand out in any produce section.”
That personality, he describes, is one with a distinct balanced sweet-to-acidity ratio, and bite-sized proportion that pops in your mouth.
“It releases a burst of juicy-sweet flavor that you can’t stop snacking on,” he promises.
While snacking on a Sweetpop, you might find that there is much more in store for Red Sun and those it partners with come next year.
“We expect 2019 to be a great year. As an organization we are consistently experiencing growth in our facilities, our commodities, specialties, and our innovations,” Costin comments. “This next year will be huge for the Red Sun family and we’re looking forward to it.”
Find out much more about that growth, the people behind it, and the new Sweetpops variety by visiting Red Sun Farms in booth #443. The big event takes place in Orlando, FL, October 19-20. See you there!
YAKIMA, WA - It’s apple season, my friends, and you can find me in front of a big bucket of caramel with my sliced apples, ready to feast when you are! Domex Superfresh Growers® Horticulturist and Proprietary Variety Developer, Dave Gleason, knows just what to say to warm my heart, as the cooler breezes rush in this fall season: a gorgeous Autumn Glory® crop. He shares his insights from the orchard to paint a picture of the apples in all their glory.
“We’ve been picking lots of apples. We started about the first week of August, even, and the quality this year’s amazing,” he explains. “The flavors have really developed well, and we’re excited about the products we’re going to present to you this year.”
The company has just finished Gala, Golden, and Red Delicious, and it is making its way into Fuji Braeburn, Grannies, Pink Ladies, Autumn Glory. There are different sizes to provide something for everyone’s tastes and appetites.
At the root of this time is an overflowing excitement—this is the big production that Dave and the Domex Superfresh Growers team look forward to all year long.
“I use the word exciting a lot but especially now. It’s exciting because all year long we’ve been growing this fruit, watching it apple-by-apple on the trees, protecting it, giving it the water and nutrients it needs, and watching it. And now, we get to put it in the bin, put it in the rest of the system that will finally present that final apple to you,” Dave shares with a smile. “We’re hoping and expecting and excited to give you the apples we’re producing this year.”
The company is particularly excited to bring an exceptional Autumn Glory crop to retail. It’s an interesting process to find something new, Dave shares in the video. A limb on one tree will show something new, and the company will go through a process to create something out of that discovery—to cultivate and nurture the genetic diversity that naturally occurs.
Watch the video above for the whole update from Dave, and stick with AndNowUKnow for more fresh produce news.
RICHMOND, VA - Aldi remains committed to its growth pattern, as the retailer hosts a hiring event next Tuesday, October 16, for its Richmond-area grocery stores. As we previously reported, the grocery store chain is looking to add a total of 25,000 new jobs by the end of 2022 as part of its nationwide expansion.
Local news source WTVR.com reported that Aldi is looking to hire full-time store associates for its stores in the Richmond-area. Associate positions begin at $12.35 per hour, with a pay increase to $12.70 after 6 months of employment.
The hiring event will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hampton Inn & Suites, located at 5406 Glenside Driver in Richmond.
Job Requirements:
- Must be 18 years or older to apply
- High school diploma or GED preferred
- Drug screening and background check
- Must be available to work anytime between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., Monday – Sunday
- Retail experience preferred
- Ability to lift 45 pounds
Aldi’s growth plans in Florida are part of the $3.4 billion expansion plan the retailer laid out last year, outlining a goal of expanding its total number of grocery stores to 2,500 by the end of 2022.
PHARR, TX - This year’s PMA Fresh Summit Expo and Conference in Orlando, Florida, is right around the corner, and our industry is abuzz with new products, programs, packaging, and other innovations. London Fruit is one of the companies constantly pushing forward for the next season. With categories from the tremendously popular avocado to fast-growing specialty items, London Fruit is set to showcase its products at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit.
Earlier this year, the company debuted its jackfruit program—encouraging retailers to promote, sample, slice, and tray pack the on-trend offering to build customer education and excitement.
Supplies of jackfruit are currently limited, but London Fruit expects the fast-growing category to gain steam as next season approaches, rounding out the company’s lineup of avocados, limes, and mangos.
“I think jackfruit is still hot. I think it’s very promising for the future. We have a lot of requests for it, and as more and more people learn about jackfruit and its wonderful benefits, it will continue to grow,” Cindy Swanberg Schwing, Sr. Marketing/Business Development, tells me. “And at the retail level, they’re recognizing that the more they can help with promotions and education, the more it helps grow the category.”
Cindy encourages those interested to follow London Fruit Inc on Instagram and their other social media (including Facebook and Twitte
The jackfruit category, though still in early stages of what could be a meteoric rise for the south Asian fruit, is experiencing palpable growth each month Sales Manager Mario Cardenas adds.
“We see growth every month with our jackfruit program. There’s still a lot of education that consumers need—still a lot of consumers that don’t know what jackfruit is,” adds Mario. “But there are a lot of interested customers that want to try it. We’re getting a good response to it, and its continuing to grow in popularity."
Although London Fruit is just wrapping up its mango and jackfruit season, the company is in full swing with limes and avocados.
“Our lime production’s picking up quite a bit, and we expect promotional opportunities to pick up in the next few months as well,” notes Jerry Garcia, Sr., Vice President. “In terms of jackfruit, we’re adding more and more loads every week during the season. And avocados are growing every year, we’re expanding on that. The Pharr International Bridge is the number one point of entry for avocados and tomatoes, so we’re going to take advantage of that, too. We’re located a mile north of the Bridge.”
And Mario tells me the company is looking at some ideas to move more product and better showcase the company’s fruit—packaging innovations that the company may be debuting in the coming months.
“We’re looking at a way to both sell more and protect the fruit more, to decrease shrink that results from handling,” says Mario.
Cindy adds: “We’re following trends in the marketplace and paying attention to what we think consumers—as well as retailers—are looking for.”
Attendees at PMA Fresh Summit are encouraged to stop by booth #1826 to learn more about London Fruit’s line-up!