DELANO, CA - Each year, California table grapes bring excitement and an allure that spark sales, drive traffic, and keep retailers looking for consistent supplies of quality varieties throughout the season. With the 2024 California harvest ramping up, our friends at Pandol Brothers are welcoming retailers to a robust program and helping to elevate Golden State table grapes from a rising tide into a wave of promotional opportunities.

“We are seeing excellent size in the mid-season and late-season varieties, which has been great!” Scott Reade, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, shares with me. “Sugar levels seem to be normal with good eating quality. Volumes are a bit lower than projected to start the season, but a number of mid- and late-season varieties look to have better yields.”

Currently, Pandol is harvesting in both California’s South Valley and up into the Earlimart Area. All San Joaquin zones in California are picking grapes at this time.

The beauty of the California season is its length and promotional periods. As Scott tells me, there are a number of months to go, so it is hard to say what the later season will be like. But at this juncture, Pandol anticipates shipping fruit through the Christmas holiday, as always, to supply customers.

“As of the beginning of August, we are more than halfway through our Sugar Crunch fruit and starting a few Sweet Globes for green seedless. The Krissy variety is our main variety for the red seedless at this time,” Scott details.

Later this month, Pandol will bring customers Sweet Celebrations which are presenting with great size and high sugars.

“The fruit quality remains good. I see the industry having good supplies of green and red seedless as we move into the mid-season varieties, which means we can support promotions going into August and September,” Scott determines.

With so much opportunity in the California table grape category, we anticipate a wave of fruitful news to continue. Please check back with AndNowUKnow as we bring you the latest on Golden State table grape advantages and benefits in 2024.

SHELBY, MI - Teamwork is at the root of many successes in this industry, and here is one more example. Peterson Farms, a trailblazer in fruit processing for over 30 years, has acquired King Brands to its family of companies in a step toward expanding its product portfolio.

"We are thrilled to welcome King Brands into the Peterson Farms Family of Companies," said Aaron Peterson, Chief Executive Officer. "This acquisition aligns perfectly with our growth strategy and our commitment to providing the best products to our customers. King Brands' expertise and reputation for excellence complement our own, and we look forward to achieving great things together."

King Brands supplies shelf-stable juices in aseptic liter boxes, in cups, or pouches. The products require no refrigeration and are ready to serve. These are distributed to foodservice sectors such as healthcare, schools, and the military, a press release explained.

The integration process will begin immediately, with a focus on ensuring a seamless transition for both employees and customers.

King Brands is focused on fostering growth and innovation in the foodservice industry and is confident the acquisition will help pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future.

The new synergy is expected to drive innovation, improve operational efficiencies, and enhance customer satisfaction throughout King Brands' well-established distribution channels.

AndNowUKnow will continue to report on more industry acquisitions so check back daily.

NORWALK, CT - In a company-first, Wegmans has expanded to Connecticut. The retailer’s newest store in Norwalk is scheduled to open in 2025. Hiring and training are currently underway.

“Wegmans offers competitive pay with industry-leading benefits, flexible scheduling, and a friendly, positive workplace,” said Store Manager Emily Reynolds. “We bring new employees on board quickly so they can receive in-depth training on the customer service skills and product knowledge that set our people apart.”

According to a release, Wegmans plans to employ approximately 500 people at this location, noting that the majority of employees will be new to the company and hired locally.

This new location stands at 92,000 square feet and features an abundance of high-quality products and ingredients, including thousands of organic options.

With this store on the books, Wegmans now operates 111 stores along the East Coast. The company has already announced future plans for additional stores in Maryland, New York, and North Carolina.

Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we bring you the latest in all things retail.

AURORA, CO - Safeway shoppers will soon be stopping in their tracks to check out an enticing new lineup of microgreens, as Kalera is bringing three fresh, high-quality microgreen varieties to the grocer’s shelves through its latest partnership.

"Our new microgreens are a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality, sustainably grown produce," said Jim Leighton, Kalera Chief Executive Officer. "We are thrilled to introduce these new varieties with Safeway, offering customers fresh, flavorful, and nutrient-packed options to enhance their meals."

Kalera’s high-quality microgreen portfolio is produced in Aurora, Colorado, using cutting-edge Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) practices with a hyper-local approach. This strategy leads to faster shipment from farm to table, along with environmental sustainability and fresher produce, a press release detailed.

"Our innovative CEA technology, coupled with our hyper-local approach in Aurora, Colorado, ensures that our microgreens are not only delicious but also grown with minimal environmental impact, using 99 percent less land and 92 percent less water than traditional farming methods, no pesticides, no GMOs, no harmful additives," Leighton added. "This local production reduces the carbon footprint and speeds delivery from farm to table."

Three key varieties are now available at Safeway stores:

• Pea Tendrils - a versatile ingredient that adds a fresh, vibrant touch to sandwiches, toast, crepes, and proteins
• Radiant Mix - a bright, rainbow blend that includes Thyme, Mizuna, Bulls Blood, Red Kale, Dill, Chervil, Parsley, and Red Cabbage
• Spicy Mix - a colorful mixture of red and green spicy mustard greens, offering a bold, peppery flavor with a slightly spicy kick, reminiscent of wasabi or horseradish

Kalera’s locally grown microgreens boast a 12–14 day shelf-life. The nutrient-dense and flavor-packed greens are packaged in a vented clamshell that helps microgreens last longer and remain fresh.

Read more about Kalera and its microgreens portfolio here, and keep clicking on ANUK as we continue to report on all things fresh.