NOGALES, AZ - Wilson Produce is welcoming industry veteran Scott Kosnik to its sales team to support its growth plans. In his new role, Kosnik will utilize his 20 years of experience to develop and deepen relationships with buyers as the fourth-generation family farm rolls out new tools for new and existing commodities.
“It’s like coming home,” Kosnik said. “The owners and the people who work at Wilson are top notch—the farm is a pillar of the industry. Its rich history and reputation in the industry made it an absolute no brainer to join them, and I feel extremely fortunate to be part of the family. General Manager Guillermo Martinez’s vision for Wilson is definitely something I want to be a part of.”
Before joining the Wilson Produce team, Kosnik was responsible for sales at a number of growers, packers, and shippers in Arizona, including Tricar Sales and Harrison Fresh, according to a press release. Kosnik has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wright State University.
“We have known Scott for many years, and we’re thrilled that he’s agreed to join us at Wilson Produce,” said Guillermo Martinez, General Manager. “Scott is joining us at a critical time as the farm pursues a new strategic direction designed to support future growth and keep the brand and the company relevant and in the leadership position for the next generation.”
Over the next couple of months, Wilson Produce has a variety of brand resources—like new packaging, an updated website that reflects new and existing commodities, and a new dialogue with consumers regarding its “Truth be Grown” storytelling initiative.
Congratulations to Scott Kosnik on your new role! For more of the latest fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
KINGSVILLE, ON - With consumers clamoring to get longer-lasting, local, and more sustainably-grown fruits and vegetables, the demand for living produce is higher than ever. Luckily, here to answer that demand is DelFrescoPure®, which will be partnering with CubicFarm Systems® to create a new growing system: LivingCube™. With LivingCube, DelFrescoPure will be able to grow living lettuce, living basil, and microgreens vertically and autonomously all year long and more of them.
“Consumers want to be able to buy much more living produce that is locally grown in sustainable ways. The partnership with CubicFarms and DelFrescoPure allows this to happen. Fresh, local, healthy, sustainable, delicious, no pesticides, and fresh water...there is a lot to be excited about!” Fiona McLean, Marketing Manager for DelFrescoPure, explains. “And because we can now grow vertically and consistently 52 weeks a year, we can expand our capacity with relatively little land and with more yield per acre.”
As a whole, the LivingCube system is made up of 12 growing, germination, and irrigation machines, each built inside of proprietary insulated 40’ stainless steel growing chambers. Each of these machines are individually climate controlled and optimized for each crop, then connected to a fully enclosed and climatized common work area; all coming together to create a complete stand-alone system and independent growing facility. To power LivingCube, DelFrescoPure uses an off-the-grid electrical cogeneration system that is environmentally sustainable due to minimal land footprint, reduction in greenhouse gases, the usage of recycled water, and pesticide-free integration.
“Our partnership with CubicFarms provides us with exclusivity and support,” Fiona adds. “CubicFarms continuously conducts research into new varieties and processes to grow more varieties and yield more produce. DelFrescoPure is committed to getting ahead of trends so we can make sure our customers have the latest and greatest. Working together, we will have produce available on a national basis and able to support national customers!”
While DelFrescoPure’s launch is already ambitious, initially being able to provide lettuces, basils, herbs, and microgreens through the LivingCube, the system is flexible enough that more varieties and seasonality will be possible as customer demand dictates. At PMA Fresh Summit in Orlando later this month, DelFrescoPure will have a LivingCube demo unit in their new booth ready to show off to inquiring minds.
“Along with our LivingCube demo, we will be showcasing our YES!berries STACKERS and Euro Beans, as well as serving ice cream and LivingCube living lettuce, living basil, and microgreens. We have so much fun to offer this year!” Fiona exclaims.
Want to get in on some of that fun? DelFrescoPure is set up at booth number 1673. Stop by and experience the LivingCube system for yourself.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - SpartanNash is expanding the role of its former Vice President, Center Store Merchandising to include fresh food responsibilities. The company’s former VP, Joseph McQuesten, has been promoted to the role of Senior Vice President, Center Store and Fresh Merchandising—effective October 8, 2018.
In his new role, McQuesten will oversee SpartanNash’s merchandising center of excellence for both center store and fresh, according to a company press release. McQuesten will develop innovative retail programs for independent customers, national accounts, and the company’s more than 135 corporate retail stores.
McQuesten first joined SpartanNash in 2011—becoming Vice President, Center Store Merchandising in 2014. In that capacity, McQuesten has been responsible for category management, pharmacy merchandising, promotional programs, retail pricing, and shelf implementation for both the company’s corporate retail stores and wholesale independent customers.
“As SpartanNash continues to expand its organic, local, and fresh perimeter offerings to meet our customers’ growing appetite for quality produce, meat, seafood, dairy, deli, and all things quick and easy, we wanted to ensure our center store and fresh offerings are working together to provide our full range of customer solutions,” Larry Pierce, EVP, Merchandising and Marketing, noted in SpartanNash’s press release. “Joe’s expertise in center store and experience with fresh merchandising make him ideally suited for this role as we continue to grow our offering.”
Prior to joining SpartanNash, McQuesten served as a Division Vice President at Kmart, managing center store, fresh, marketing, and operations for the company’s Super K division. In total, McQuesten brings more than 30 years of center store and merchandising experience to his latest role.
Congratulations Joseph, from all of us at AndNowUKnow. We wish you and the SpartanNash team the best.
TEMPLE, PN - The saying goes that the old grey mare sure ain’t what she used to be, but Giorgio Fresh proves that our industry just gets better with age. After 90 years of successfully catering to consumers, the company is celebrating its accomplishments with the unveiling of its new packaging at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit in Orlando, Florida.
“Giorgio has a beautiful and rich history that started in 1928 when Pietro Giorgi built his first mushroom house in Temple, Pennsylvania and started our long-standing tradition of growing high-quality,” said Greg Sagan, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “As we head into the tenth decade of service to our customers, we are proud to offer the same quality in packaging that speaks more to today’s consumer.”
The company’s new look is a result of introspection, as it recounted its leadership in category innovation and insights. It looked to a packaging refresh and interactions with consumers to create its new packaging. The less-is-more appeal showcases a clean and simple label with bold colors to stand out on the shelf. With sleek and bright new labels that are color-coded by subcategory, the products invite consumers to check out the website for hundreds of recipes, according to a press release.
The company will debut its new look at its PMA booth, where attendees will be able to check out its open footprint that proudly showcases its Wall of Innovation, a cooking station, and a Giorgio coffee stand.
To find out how your retailer can bite into the new offerings from Giorgio, stop by booth #2872. Cheers to good coffee with a great-standing company that is celebrating its 90th anniversary! See you there!
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Maria Soto, doing business as Mary’s Produce, satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a press release, the McAllen, Texas, company has met its obligations and is now free to operate in the produce industry. Maria Soto was listed as the sole owner of the firm and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to impose sanctions on a business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named responsibly connected individuals.
The PACA Division, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,400 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. Our PACA staff also assisted more than 8,500 callers with issues valued at approximately $151 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
MADISON, WI - Excitement is swirling as we approach PMA Fresh Summit, and as attendees make their way to the Orlando, Florida-based event, they are ready to welcome the onslaught of showcased innovations to be announced. Among those dazzling the masses are two new flavors for The Little Potato Company’s Microwave and Oven|Grill Ready kits: Roasted Red Pepper & Onion and Tomato Basil. The product line offers fresh Creamer potatoes that cook in minutes.
“We have a line of products that deliver the convenience consumers are seeking. The Microwave Ready and Oven|Grill Ready Kits require no prep and each one includes 1 lb. of fresh Creamer potatoes and a value-added seasoning pack. These products have been out in the market for some time, but we added new flavors that rose to the top in our consumer research and revamped the packaging to make it easier to find and use for the consumer,” Christa Wagner, Director of Advertising and Promotions, tells me. “We’ve done a lot of consumer research over the last couple of years, and what we found was that the people wanted to be able to see the potatoes. Before, we had a sleeve around the packaging; so, there was some confusion—were these pre-cooked, etc.? Now consumers can see the fresh Little Potatoes through the window. Our seasoning packages are now enclosed inside—they used to sit on top.”
The packaging itself is easier to read with nutritional call-outs that are positioned in prime locations. Further, cooking instructions in a prominent location help consumers cook their Little Potatoes. These label upgrades, Christa explains to me, have made the product much easier for consumers to find their preferred flavor and cooking method.
“For the retailer, the newly designed packaging comes in a vertical orientation, which makes for great merchandising opportunities. It comes in a smaller case size for faster turns to maximize assortment. The packaging, from an environmental standpoint, is more sustainable—we have eliminated the paper sleeve. So, it’s really been a win, win, win, win, win!” Christa says happily.
The Little Potato Company is in it to win it, it seems, because with all of the focus on the packaging to meet retailers’ and consumers’ needs, the company has made sure to support its efforts with unique promotions and merchandising opportunities.
“We are supporting our products at the retail level with compelling, transaction-driving materials, as well as with our digital and advertising promotions,” Christa shares. “Our goal is to help change perceptions and transform the way consumers perceive, enjoy, and buy Creamer potatoes. We want to bring excitement back to the potato category.
There are few things I like more than great potatoes, and I can’t wait to try The Little Potato Company’s newest offerings. Which one do you think will be your favorite? Visit them at booth #3381 to find out if your guess is right!
FISHERS, NY - The New York Apple Association (NYAA) has a new logo! The new look will appear in trade and consumer media this month and is also the focal point of a new television commercial airing in October, which puts the spotlight on New York apple growers, apples, and ciders.
“We are excited to reveal our new logo, ‘Apples from New York®,’” said NYAA President Cynthia Haskins. “The decision to rebrand New York apples was a strategic one, and we believe it resonates well with trade and consumer audiences.”
To support the rebranding effort, NYAA has a variety of new assets and merchandising tools to share with retailers. This includes a refreshed website, new social media content, and a Holiday Extravaganza Retail Display Contest, running from November 1 through the holiday season. Prizes for the display contest include gift cards and a multi-day trip to one of two scenic locations in Apple Country, Niagara Falls, and Lake Placid, a press release noted.
“New York state is Apple Country!” Haskins said. “We are happy to offer prizes that give retailers who participate in our contest an opportunity to experience it firsthand.”
NYAA’s focus on social media includes a social media consumer sweepstakes campaign that invites consumers to share their homemade recipes using apple varieties grown in New York. Prizes include gift boxes of apples and a multi-day weekend getaway in Apple Country.
Later this month, NYAA is also supporting the “Big Apple Crunch,” an event which encourages students and adults across the state to bite into a New York apple at precisely 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 25.
“Last year, we had 2.3 million people participate, and this year we expect to have even greater participation,” Haskins concluded.
NYAA’s new logo will appear on a billboard in New York City in a press event the following day.
For those attending PMA Fresh Summit, you can find NYAA at booth #2649.
FRESNO, CA - Word on the street is that Ellie Krieger—celebrity chef, best-selling author, and registered dietitian—is on a mission to showcase the versatility of California grapes. To put the pretty produce items front and center, she used them during a test kitchen seminar in Des Moines, Iowa, headquarters for Meredith Corporation, home of some of the top magazines and social media websites in the U.S. Those in attendance at the talk were the following, and more: Better Homes and Gardens, Eating Well, Traditional Home, and the social media website AllRecipes.
Throughout her demonstration, Krieger divulged how California grapes can be paired with many ingredients, according to a press release, in order to highlight the perfect blend of taste, texture, and nutrition. After her discussion, editors were able to pair fresh, pickled, and roasted California grapes with a variety of proteins and grains to dish up unique flavors. A California grape agua fresca, among other beverages using the produce essential, were offered to wash down all of the eats.
“The goal of the test kitchen seminar was to really give the editors a chance to taste and see for themselves just how versatile California grapes can be,” said Jeff Cardinale, VP of Communications for the California Table Grape Commission. “Once the editors have that opportunity to experience California grapes in their own, unique way, they can take those ideas to the pages of their magazines.”
New recipes featuring California grapes—including Jerk Roasted Chicken with California Grape Salsa, Saffron Cauliflower Rice with California Grapes, and a Grape Upside-Down Olive Oil Cake—were showcased for editors to ooh, ah, and enjoy.
The discussion also explained how research shows the positive benefits of consuming California grapes—such as heart, brain, and colon health.
So, what’s your favorite way to munch on California’s grapes?
BAKERSFIELD, CA - As you map out your strategic stops amidst the expansive PMA Fresh Summit, I was recently told to make a calendar reminder for one not-to-be-missed event. Western Veg-Pro’s Dylan Lym assures me that retailers looking to draw a little more impulse buying to their produce departments will be given a sweet treat at the company’s presidential suite, right next to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
“Rather than the traditional approach with a booth, we wanted a fun, more exciting way to gather colleagues and customers, and maybe even reveal a thing or two while we are at it,” Dylan says playfully—no, I don’t know what it is either. He simply assures me that Western Veg-Pro has a few things up its sleeve, and is doing it with prizes.
“Fresh Summit is for networking. What better way than a fun cocktail event with a few fun things to take home? Anyone who arrives will be entered to win a gift bag, and one of three grand prizes, but everyone will have a chance to take home something, I assure you,” he says.
Another incentive to attend might just be the plans for growth the company has laid out over the past year, including acquisitions that expanded both its grape and strawberry offerings and the recent introduction of a new market update tool to keep retail and foodservice partners in the loop. So, how do you get in on the fun?
There will be two chances, both Friday and Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to midnight. To make a reservation, click here. The suite is at the Hyatt Regency Orlando right next to the convention center, though which one is yet to be announced.
“We will be sending more details as the event gets closer,” Dylan explains. “So keep an eye on your email.”
Curiouser and curiouser. AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest in fresh produce events, innovations, and more.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited McAllen Produce LLC and Charles Jeffrey Edwards, Weslaco, Texas, for failure to pay for produce.
According to a press release, the USDA filed a complaint in May 2017 alleging that McAllen Produce LLC, while under the direction and control of Brenda E. Edwards and Charles Jeffrey Edwards, failed to pay $405,527 to 14 produce sellers from December 2014 to December 2015.
The parties subsequently agreed to a Consent Decision and Order finding that McAllen Produce LLC and Charles Jeffrey Edwards committed willful, repeated and flagrant violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) by failing to pay $405,527 to 14 produce sellers from December 2014 to December 2015. The parties further agreed to dismiss the case against Brenda E. Edwards.
As a result of the violations, McAllen Produce LLC and Charles Jeffrey Edwards are not eligible to apply for a PACA license until Sept. 21, 2020. Furthermore, Charles Jeffrey Edwards and the company’s principal officer of record, Lori J. Edwards, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until Sept. 21, 2019, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. The company’s sole shareholder, DJJJ Trust, may not be affiliated with any PACA licensee until Sept. 21, 2019, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,400 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACAstaff also assisted more than 8,500 callers with issues valued at approximately $151 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.