ANDERSON, IN - In today’s day and age, convenience is king. Perhaps Giant Eagle recognizes this, because the retail chain recently announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Ricker Oil’s 56 convenience stores and gas stations.
“We are thrilled to partner with such a strong company, brand, and talented group of Ricker’s employees,” said Laura Karet, President and CEO of Giant Eagle, in a statement. “We look forward to building on the great history that Ricker’s has in Indiana, and carrying forward many of the amazing offerings and services Ricker’s customers have come to expect.”
As reported on by local news source The Herald Bulletin, the two companies stated that they expect the transaction to close by the end of the year. Financial terms were not disclosed at this time.
“Ricker’s has proudly served the Indiana community for nearly 40 years, and we are so excited to have found a partner in Giant Eagle and GetGo who shares the people-focused values we hold so dearly,” Ricker’s President and CEO Quinn Ricker said. “Giant Eagle, like Ricker’s, is a family-owned company. We believe strongly that the coming together of our two businesses will be a seamless, and extremely positive, experience for employees, customers and business partners alike.”
Giant Eagle said there would be no disruption to Ricker’s store operations as a result of the agreement between the two companies, nor are there any immediate plans to change the GetGo or Ricker’s store experiences.
“We want to thank our loyal Ricker’s customers and assure them this new business arrangement will help us maintain our position as a leader in the convenience store industry,” said Jay Ricker, Ricker's Chairman.
What will this acquisition mean for Giant Eagle and Ricker’s customers? AndNowUKnow will report the latest in grocery happenings.
FOWLER, CA - As California’s citrus season revs up, it sounds like retailers are in for a sweet treat—a Bee Sweet treat, to be exact! Bee Sweet Citrus is expecting a strong domestic season.
“Over the next few months, consumers can expect to see some of their favorite varieties back on the shelves of their local retailer,” said Sales Representative Joe Berberian. “Throughout the month of October, Satsuma mandarins, Meyer lemons, Pommelos, and Navel oranges will be back just in time for new seasonal promotions.”
From October through June, California’s domestic season brings a large array of specialty citrus varieties to retailers all over the country. Consumers looking forward to this citrus season can rest assured that their Navels and Blood Oranges are heading back to retail in a big way.
“California’s Mediterranean climate provides growers with ideal conditions for growing citrus,” said Field Department Manager Scott Woods. “Because the fruit is sensitive towards extreme temperatures, we’re able to harvest citrus year-round, and specialty varieties during the winter months.”
Unique flavors and characteristics are attracting consumers to specialty citrus varieties. Cara Cara Navels’ pink interior and Blood Oranges berry-esque taste are hunted for in grocery aisles. Also, Satsuma mandarins are a great way to introduce specialty varieties to consumers because they make such a great addition in salads and parfaits—the everyday items. Then there are Meyer lemons, which, let’s face it, are good in everything but are specifically delicious in salad dressings and baked goods.
“While we’ve always been able to supply numerous varieties to our consumers during our domestic season, we’re excited to include Gold Nugget mandarins into our specialty citrus line this year,” Berberian shared. “Popular for being one of the sweetest mandarin varieties out there, Gold Nuggets are sure to be a big hit with consumers this season.”
Bee Sweet Citrus’s produce is grown under the company’s farming department to meet strict quality standards, according to a press release, ensuring consumers obtain exceptional pieces of fruit.
Bite into more fresh produce news with AndNowUKnow.
FRESNO, CA - Yesterday, September 27, 2018, the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) made the decision to decertify the United Farmworkers of America (UFW) as the exclusive bargaining representative of Gerawan Farming’s agricultural employees.
“The Gerawan family congratulates our employees on today’s decision. We are inspired by their struggle to vindicate their right to vote and to decide for themselves whether they want a union,” Gerawan Farming said in a statement. “Today’s decision is a long overdue acknowledgement of a choice made five years ago by our employees. Seventy-five percent of eligible Gerawan employees—nearly 2,000 farmworkers—voted in the election. Eighty percent voted ‘No Union,’ which is an overwhelming 5-to-1 majority. Whether for or against the UFW, one hundred percent of those who voted reaffirmed their basic right to choose for themselves who will speak for them at the bargaining table.”
The California Fresh Fruit Association’s President, George Radanovich, also enthusiastically welcomed today’s decision, according to a press release.
“The steadfast determination of the employees, and their employer, in the defense of their right to choose and have their voices count led to this correct and fair outcome, favoring worker choice over the unjust desire to undermine and disregard the will of the farmworker electorate. Today, the ALRB made the correct decision to decertify the UFW and respect the employee’s decision,” Radanovich said. “We hope this serves as a signal to lawmakers and bureaucratic agencies to work to put protection of free choice and due process at the forefront of future legislative and rule-making efforts.”
Additional comments were made by Pick Justice, a group organized to represent the workers, and Silvia Lopez, a Farm Worker Rights advocate and Gerawan employee.
"Pick Justice was started because of the courage, strength and determination of thousands of farmworkers who simply wanted the right to choose and to be treated equally like every other worker in the state and country,” Jesse Rojas, spokesman for Pick Justice. “We are thankful that the ALRB finally did the right thing after 5 years of suppressing workers' rights. Today is a historic and huge victory for the Gerawan farmworkers. Pick Justice is just getting started and will continue to advocate for what is right."
Lopez commented, “I cannot believe what just happened today. The ALRB certified our votes and results. I am speechless and beyond excited and happy because justice was finally done.”
To stay in the know on this case and more as news arises, keep following AndNowUKnow.
NEWARK, DE - As the fresh produce and floral industry continues to rely increasingly on technology, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has tapped an experienced new Vice President of Technology, Vonnie Estes, who will start October 1.
“I look forward to bringing the expertise and skills I’ve developed working for individual companies in the technology space to bear to help PMA’s members across the supply chain and around the world,” said Estes. “Together, we can help capitalize on the opportunities and minimize the challenges of adopting tech. My personal passions for agriculture and sustainability mesh perfectly with PMA’s mission to connect, inform, and deliver industry solutions to enhance members’ prosperity—in a way that sustains both people and the planet.”
In her new role, Estes will help PMA members to gain greater awareness and understanding of emerging science and technologies—particularly science and tech related to labor, food safety, and sustainability, according to a press release. She joins PMA’s Science & Technology team, which is led by Chief Science & Technology Officer Bob Whitaker, Ph.D.
Estes has been longtime member of the produce technology field and has been an independent business consultant focused on guiding clients toward realizing value from new technologies since 2015. Previously, Estes held technology leadership roles at companies including DuPont, Monsanto and Syngenta, as well as for small start-ups and venture funds. Most recently, she was Vice President of Business Development for Caribou Biosciences, a biotechnology company specializing in CRISPR Cas9 genome engineering.
“As technology continues to influence all aspects of the produce and floral supply chains, it made sense to add an expert of Vonnie’s caliber to our team to provide deeper value to PMA members and industry,” said CEO Cathy Burns. “Her expertise and insights will help our global community better understand how to leverage current and emerging technologies to grow their businesses, and ultimately grow a healthier world.”
Estes has built a reputation for getting things done throughout her career, noted PMA Chief Science & Technology Officer Bob Whitaker, Ph.D., in a press release. The two have known each other since they worked together at DNA Plant Technologies early in her career; she was marketing manager, and he led research and development.
“This is an exciting time for our industry,” added Whitaker. “Technology development is exploding across our industry, and we have a unique opportunity to help our members become aware of these opportunities and evaluate the value emerging technologies can have for their businesses.”
Congratulations to Vonnie Estes on this prestigious role in produce technology with PMA from all of as at AndNowUKnow.
SACRAMENTO, CA - There’s no doubt that we’re all a little bit avocado-obsessed. West Pak put our readership to the test on its Lil’ ‘Cados—the perfectly-sized avocado for those dying for a perfectly-sized snack. We’re excited to announce the two winners in our recent Quiz Quix opportunity. All eyes were on Lil’ ‘Cados to see which two top dogs would come out on top.
The buy-side winner, Mariano Sancez from Nor-Cal Produce, is going home with $100 cash, thanks to quick-thinking and no hesitation on those speedy clicks.
“What a suprise!” Mariano expressed. “The only thing I can say is I will use the money to buy some Lil’ ‘Cados.”
Now, that’s dedication!
Supply-side winner Juan Magdaleno of Calavo Growers is also walking away from this quiz with the coveted prize. His expertise in the industry came in handy when selecting the right answers.
“No plans for the prize money, but clearly I love everything about avocados and marketing them in a single serving size is wonderful for reducing waste!” said Juan.
Check out who came in the top spots in the leaderboard below to see the stiff competition for this Lil’ ‘Cados quiz…
We all know that when the pressure is on, we can tense up and miss a beat. Here is the most missed question from West Pak’s quiz…
Most Missed Question
What is the full name of the value-added retail alternative?
Correct Answer
Lil' ‘Cados: Just the Ripe Size
Missed out on this round? You can practice for the next by checking out the link below.
Lil' 'Cados: Just the Ripe Size
There are more opportunities to jump on the prize-winning train if you missed out on this West Pak quiz. You can take this one to practice your quickness for the next round of quiz wiz fun by checking out the link above, or you can subscribe, if you’re not already, to stay in-the-know on our next quiz opportunity and chance to win a $100 cash prize —just click the link here.
Congratulations, Mariano and Juan!
SALINAS, CA - As consumer demand for versatile menu items continues to grow, foodservice operators feel the pressure to find healthy and flavorful fare. Insert Markon’s latest product—Ready-Set-Serve Heart-Y Slaw.
Ready-Set-Serve (RSS) Heart-Y Slaw is a vibrant and nutrient-dense blend containing cruciferous super foods and colorful root vegetables that can be used in a variety of creative ways across the menu, a press release noted. Made of julienned broccoli, shredded cabbage and kale, cauliflower pearls, sliced radishes, and shredded carrots, this fresh blend can be used for a variety of dishes and is ready to serve right out of the bag.
RSS Heart-Y Slaw is available to operators through Markon’s foodservice members: Ben E. Keith Foods, Gordon Food Service, Maines Paper & Food Service, Nicholas & Company, Reinhart Foodservice, and Shamrock Foods Company.
“After spending a day in the produce fields, getting trend insights and interacting with growers, last year’s Chef Summit attendees were energized to create a new blend that focused on raw material utilization, on-trend ingredients, and menu versatility,” said Eric Cronert, Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising for Reinhart Foodservice. “It was great to see the Markon vision of cultivating fresh ideas come to life with the new Ready-Set-Serve Heart-Y Slaw.”
The new RSS Heart-Y Slaw was created specifically for Markon by its foodservice member chefs at the third annual Chef Summit held in September 2017. Member chefs gathered at the Markon-hosted event to create healthy and ready-to-serve options that meet the increased demand for unique flavor choices in foodservice establishments.
“The National Restaurant Association highlighted fresh produce’s position as the star of the dish as one of its top menu trends for this year,” said Nicholas & Company Executive Chef Vic Vegas. “With its crunchy texture and nutrient-dense popular vegetables, such as broccoli and radishes, RSS Heart-Y Slaw holds up in both hot and cold applications and makes adding produce to menus nearly effortless.”
The press release noted the uses for RSS Heart-Y Slaw:
- Tossing the mixture with a creamy avocado dressing and using it to top burgers and sandwiches.
- Mixing slaw with Thai peanut sauce and topping with grilled chicken, shrimp, or seitan satay skewers.
- Combining with sesame-ginger dressing and topping with grilled fish or steak.
- Adding RSS Chopped Romaine to RSS Heart-Y Slaw; tossing with Caesar dressing and house-made croutons for a more nutrient-dense Caesar salad.
- Hand-mixing RSS Heart-Y Slaw with buttermilk Ranch dressing and piling on top of fried chicken sandwiches.
Like all of Markon’s produce, the new RSS Hearty-Y Slaw is backed by Markon’s unparalleled 5-Star Food Safety® program which tracks products at five key points: fields, facilities, transportation, distributor warehouses, and operators’ kitchens, along with providing full traceability back to the field. This salad blend is available now.
For the latest in innovative products, be sure to stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
FLORIDA - In light of the revised trade agreement with Mexico last month, Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio are pushing the Agricultural Trade Improvement Act of 2018 forward, which will allow Flordia growers to bring trade cases to the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission against Mexican growers, according to the Florida Phoenix. As the news broke this week, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) announced its wholehearted support for the legislation, affirming it will provide critically needed trade relief for specialty crop producers in Florida and the Southeast.
“Congress and the Administration are well aware that our growers have suffered more than most under the original NAFTA,” FFVA wrote in a press release. “Years of harm from unfair trading practices, such as dumping and subsidies, have caused family farms that have operated for generations to close their doors. Without relief, Florida’s specialty crop industry will continue to suffer and shrink.”
The Agricultural Trade Improvement Act of 2018 specifically is looking to aid smaller groups of Florida-based strawberry and tomato farmers to bring complaints forward related to seasonal dumping.
“We especially appreciate both of the senators’ commitment and diligent efforts to provide the trade relief and reform to protect our growers. We urge quick passage of this important legislation,” the FFVA concluded.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the Agricultural Trade Improvement Act of 2018 and more produce-related legislation as updates arise.
HOOD RIVER, OR - One day ’ll be able to tell my future children, “Back in my day, I could only enjoy blueberries in the heat of summer,” and that day is probably not as far away as I think as our industry’s import programs continue to strengthen. Thanks to import/export companies like Twin River, the produce industry as a whole is expanding operations on an international scale to tap into local markets and offer fresh produce year-round.
While Twin River has a presence in Argentina and Mexico that has helped it import high-quality blueberries to the U.S. in the off-season, the company realized that it was still only able to offer berries to U.S. consumers most of the time. With the goal of offering a consistent, year-round supply from local farms, Twin River recently expanded its network into Chile and Peru. I spoke with Ben Escoe, Managing Partner, to learn more about how Twin River is working to supply berries all year long so that the company can offer stability in the supply chain for local growing communities around the world.
"We have worked hard to build a consistent program out of Argentina and Mexico in order to have high-quality blueberries available to the market year-round. We have done very well in those countries, but we noticed that there are still times when we are short on volume or we can’t ship to certain regions in the U.S. Adding Peru and Chile will change that for us,” Ben shares with me. “We are aiming to create successful programs within each country to build on what we have already accomplished with Argentina and Mexico. We have found some like-minded growers, packers, and shippers that we think will add tremendous value to our supply chain and product offerings.”
Ben goes on to explain that the addition of Peru and Chile, combined with anticipated growth in Argentina and Mexico, will help the company triple its supply. Twin River’s presence in two new countries also diversifies its sourcing and provides further assurance that the company will deliver on its commitments to retailers.
“The whole system needs to work with fluidity to make a difference, and we think this is one step in the right direction toward a fine tuning,” Ben explains. “Adding Peru and Chile also helps us differentiate our product—not necessarily because of the new origins, but because of who we are as a company. Our philosophies and ideals were developed through our relationships with the land we farm, the products we create, and the customers and growers who we call partners. We stand out by working with like-minded people who truly care about our food, planet, and everyone involved in the supply chain. The expansion will allow us to carry our philosophies into more growing regions and seasons throughout the year.”
With the season in full swing, I asked Ben if he can divulge any details on what’s happening on the ground. He tells me there have been no serious issues with weather so far—knock on wood! But there was a shortage in the domestic season due to late heat in Oregon, and the season in South America is delayed slightly due to colder weather. As a result, Twin River has seen a spike in prices as consumers continue to drive demand with their healthy appetite for fresh fruits throughout the entire year—another large factor in pushing the company to expand its network.
“During the 2017/2018 season, we maintained a presence in the market on the East Coast during the fall and West Coast during the winter and spring. Expanding our supply in South America will allow us to reach the four corners of the United States, thereby providing fresh berries to both coasts and reaching more of the market in between,” Ben concludes.
Twin River has begun shipping Peruvian blueberries, and is expecting to start the Argentina season this week out of Tucuman! From there, Mexico will follow close behind and the company kicks off in Chile at the end of November.
For more of the latest on produce movement and company expansion across the globe, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
LAKELAND, FL - One of the Southeast’s most prolific grocery store chains—Publix—is expected to announce an expansion to its Lakeland headquarters this morning.
The retailer was slated to make the announcement this morning with Governor Rick Scott set to speak at the company’s home campus this afternoon, according to local CBS affiliate WTSP-TV.
The chain currently operates 793 stores in the state and is, reportedly, the largest employee-owned grocery chain in the U.S.—employing more than 190,000 people, in the seven state region in which it operates.
News of the expansion comes just one week after Publix announced the expansion of its GreenWise Market banner into the Atlanta, Georgia-area. And at the end of last month, the retailer announced definitive plans to build a much-anticipated $400 million distribution center in Greensboro, North Carolina.
How will the dynamic retailer continue to expand? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
WESTLAKE, FL - Kling Strategic Partners LLC has a new gig to add to the portfolio. J&J Family Farms announced it has retained CEO Doug Kling in an effort to build up its business. J&J’s CEO Lynn Rundle shared the news.
“We are excited to announce that Doug Kling CEO of Kling Strategic Partners LLC has been retained to expand our Business Development initiatives, increase our value-added packaged sales, and enhance our company wide marketing efforts,” said Rundle.
Rundle explained that Doug and Kling Strategic Partners will be assisting J&J’s senior management team in developing strategy, expanding relationships with targeted customers, and approaching top retail accounts that are currently underserved by the company’s current distribution.
“We look forward to Doug bringing his experience and expertise to J&J so that we can continually improve and deliver excellence to our customers and partners,” Rundle added.
Reporting directly to Rundle, Kling will work closely with Senior VP of Sales Dave Guzi and the rest of the senior management team, with whom he will work to expand the distribution of new products such as J&J’s proprietary field grown colored pepper, Yummy Sweet™ Peppers, and other packaged products.
Here’s to a beautiful new partnership in the produce industry!