RIVERSIDE, CA - It seems like the fruit on consumers’ minds continues to be avocados. While avocados have been experiencing a renaissance of sorts over the past few years, Index Fresh has been celebrating the deliciousness of the fruit since 1914—with the company even traveling overseas to ensure the best of the best is available to retailers and consumers year-round. One way Index Fresh has accomplished this feat is by emphasizing its long-term relationships with growers and family farms in California, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and, soon, Colombia as a means to source the right fruit at the right time.
“Sourcing in several countries allows us to have high-quality avocados on a year-round basis, both conventional and organic,” said Giovanni Cavaletto, VP of Sourcing. “The diversification of having several countries has allowed us to continue to grow despite any production setbacks in any given country.”
Index Fresh first began expanding into other countries in the early 1990s, after a growth in demand and a freeze in California pushed the company to begin outreach in Latin America. Soon after, the company began sourcing its avocados from Chile and Mexico, with its Peru program kicking off in 2007-2008. According to a press release, sourcing from countries outside of the U.S. brings in fruit that’s a little different in nature (even within the Hass category) due to the diversity of their growing environments—which include the subtropical highlands in Mexico, the natural river valleys along the coast of Peru, and the Mediterranean climate north and south of Santiago, Chile.
“So much of what we do boils down to relationships. A part of our mission is to maximize returns for growers. I think that knowing the culture at Index Fresh is set by a Board of Directors made up entirely of growers resonates with all of the grower organizations we partner with,” Cavaletto continued.
Across its business, Index Fresh maintains a high level of integrity, transparency, and authenticity to ensure it is a responsible avocado marketer that serves as an ally for its farmers, instead of simply creating a buy-sell relationship. This has helped Index Fresh build relationships that have lasted over 25 years, and counting, with growers in Mexico, Peru, Chile, and California.
“Our entire procurement team spends a lot of time in countries getting to know the growers, getting to know the strengths of each production region, and that comes through with our customers,” Cavaletto concluded.
For more details about Index Fresh’s sourcing operations, click here. For more of the latest fresh produce news, keep following AndNowUKnow.
LOS ANGELES, CA - As the company continues to make strides in its organic portfolio, Giumarra Companies is gearing up for SEPC’s Southern Innovations Organics and Foodservice Expo, which will be held September 6-8, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in the aptly nicknamed Music City.
Regional Business Development Director Kristina Lorusso joins me in the lead-up to the show to discuss her excitement, Giumarra’s offerings, and the company’s vision.
“The versatility of our organic program is going to be on display at Southern Innovations. We want to show retailers that our organic avocado program is as robust and sophisticated as our conventional offerings,” Kristina tells me. “We will be showing retailers how to be innovative around their organic avocado category with multiple sizes, multiple stages of ripeness, as well as bags and bulk, and in such a way that real sales growth is an attainable goal.”
With the growth and demand in the avocado category all around, I ask Kristina how she sees the organic aspect of the program really taking off in the market.
“We know that demand for organic produce is growing year-over-year, so we’re getting an impressive ‘double whammy’ of growth in the organic avocado category,” she shares with me. “Data also shows that shoppers who purchase organic and shoppers who purchase avocados spend more per trip to the grocery store than the average shopper. The organic avocado category lifts the produce department as a whole.”
Kristina adds that, with avocados, there are several key educational pieces that should be shared with consumers, including year-round availability, how to select/store, usage in both sweet and savory recipes, and nutrition.
“Avocados are nutrient-dense and fit well into a variety of dietary niches, including vegan, ketogenic, paleo, and gluten-free,” she notes. “Our goal is to offer our retail partners customized marketing materials that highlight all the benefits of avocados, with a focus on nutrition, quality, and flavor. These include grower stories, recipes, point-of-sale and digital/social marketing materials. For packaging, we offer both bulk and bagged fruit.”
Giumarra provides its retailers with the same outstanding quality, the same premier service, and equally as many options on organic as the company does with its conventional products. Able and willing to work with retailers who are newly adding organic as a part of their avocado sales strategy, Giumarra helps customers ease into a manageable avocado program. And for those who are already involved with organic, Giumarra can help take their category to the next level of sophistication.
“Once again, our ability to offer versatility sets us apart,” Kristina concludes.
With all the hype around Southern Innovations, I already have my cowboy boots packed and Nashville on the calendar.
LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO - An age-old philosophical question: Can one celebrate the oncoming of autumn without pumpkin spice products? According to this new type of jalapeño, perhaps not. For those of us living in the dark, Gastro Obscura reported on pumpkin spice jalapeños, and I can’t tell if we’ve gone too far or if we haven’t gone far enough.
A truly divisive flavor, pumpkin spice inspires either adulation or disgust, but I’m afraid there isn’t an in-between. For those desperately waiting for Starbucks to announce that pumpkin spice has returned, I’m afraid this pepper won’t suffice as a supplement. It might have the same orange hue, but that’s where the resemblances end. Alas, this pepper won’t taste of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, to the disappointment of PSL fans everywhere. The name stems entirely from the color, a nod to how popular those lattes really are.
Developed by researchers at New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute, the pumpkin spice jalapeño pepper is one-third of a trio of peppers specifically developed for their bold colors. The NuMex Pumpkin Spice Jalapeño—its proper title—was created in 1995 with the express goal of creating a striking hued pepper, although in my opinion, how hot it is should garner attention, too. On the Scoville scale, the NuMex Pumpkin Spice Jalapeño comes in at 80,000 Scoville Heat Units—10 times hotter than the usual jalapeño.
What it lacks in pumpkin spice flavor, it makes up for in heat. Otherwise known as this season's alternative to warming up by the fire.
For the latest in produce innovation, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SAN DIEGO, CA - As the leaves change colors and the winds chill, we are reminded that change is inevitable, but it is what we make of it that counts. Organics Unlimited is making the best of change, celebrating September as being the 13th annual GROW Month. As of September 1st, the company is jumping into its initiative that partners with retailers and media to focus on GROW’s social responsibility programs, such as sustainability, education, and health care for underserved communities in banana growing regions of Mexico and Ecuador with sales from organic bananas.
“Our social responsibility programs help create positive change in places where health care, social services, and environmental education are greatly needed,” Mayra Velazquez de León, President and CEO of Organics Unlimited and GROW, shared. “During GROW Month, we want consumers to connect with and really understand the meaning of making a major impact in the lives of the less fortunate. We want them to know that their GROW banana purchases are making a significant difference in communities around the world and recognize that they are helping to change people's lives.”
Over $2 million in aid has been provided by GROW organic banana purchases since 2005, thanks to the retailer and distributor support because a percentage of every GROW organic bananas box that is purchased is earmarked for the GROW fund. The funds collected support youth educational programs, health clinics, and dental and vision care in Mexico; clean water and early childhood education programs in Ecuador; and disaster relief and environmental initiatives.
According to a press release, consumers are wanting organic produce that is sustainably and ethically grown and positively impacts social initiatives to create change. These have been goals of Organics Unlimited since its 2000 founding, and it has since become devoted to providing organic and sustainable produce to consumers in the U.S., Canada, and Asia.
Retailers take note: use #GROWMonth on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram throughout September to raise awareness of GROW’s humanitarian work when purchasing GROW-labeled organic bananas.
Outdoor advertising promoting GROW organic bananas in select U.S. cities throughout GROW Month will be seen by consumers. Check out organicsunlimited.com for more details.
CINCINATTI, OH - Analysts are suggesting two potential acquisitions may be in the works for Midwestern grocery giant Kroger.
After Rite Aid and Albertsons dissolved their $24 million merger deal at the eleventh hour, earlier this August, and SuperValu reached terms to sell to UNFI late last month, both Rite Aid and Cub Foods—a SuperValu-owned retail banner—have become targets for Kroger, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier.
Analysts quoted by the news source suggested that both Rite Aid and the Cub Foods banner could be logical acquisition targets for Kroger.
“I think Cub would be largely incremental to them. I’d say to the extent they’d invest in brick-and-mortar, that might make sense,” Jim Hertel, SVP at Inmar Analytics, told the news source. But, Hertel noted, unlike Kroger’s recent acquisitions, which brought along expertise in growing markets such as online sales and urban, small-format stores, a Cub Foods acquisition would be more about acquiring brick-and-mortar stores. “In addition to buying those stores they were buying learning opportunities. I don’t know what they learn from Cub.”
Other analysts suggest that the strategic value of the acquisition, in terms of the retailer’s footprint, could be enough to entice Kroger.
“With an acquisition of Cub Foods, Kroger would grab a solid share of the grocery market in the Twin Cities,” Investment Manager Zach Horn told the news source.
And Rite Aid’s 4,600 stores around the country could, according to the Business Courier, offer the same enticement, allowing Kroger to expand further into pharmacy, grow its presence nationally, and provide additional benefits of scale.
Kroger declined the Business Courier's invitation to comment on rumors of a potential acquisition.
Is one or several mergers in store for Kroger in the near future? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - Allen Lund is celebrating this week, after Food Logistics named Allen Lund to its 2018 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list once again!
"We have worked hard over the years to build our food transportation brokerage side of the business while maintaining the best reputation possible," said Kenny Lund, Allen Lund’s VP of Operations. "From truckload to TMS and cross dock to consulting, we have grown to provide all support necessary to efficiently move food product wherever needed. We appreciate the recognition of our efforts as we make this list again. I am proud of our employees, who do the fine work to make this possible. Thank you also to Food Logistics for working to build this list of fine companies."
Food Logistics is a publication exclusively dedicated to reporting on the movement of product through the global food supply chain. According to a press release, the Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list serves as a resource guide for third-party logistics and cold storage providers whose products and services are critical to global food and beverage companies operating in the supply chain.
"Leading 3PLs and cold storage providers that support the global food supply chain are increasingly tasked with providing more value for their customers while simultaneously controlling costs," said Lara L. Sowinski, Food Logistics’ Editorial Director and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. "Companies that earned a place on Food Logistics' 2018 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list demonstrate their ability to meet the current marketplace demands with the latest innovations and technology combined with customer care and collaboration.”
Congratulations to the Allen Lund Company! For more news on produce industry companies slaying the game in their field, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
MONTEREY, CA - In a parallel universe, I imagine that avocados are used as currency because they are a necessity these days… well, who knows? This could happen now that avocado toasts have taken menus by storm everywhere. The words leaving lips everywhere are, “Must. Have. Avocados.” I digress. Good Foods is proving that it is at the top of its game and ahead of this trend’s curve with its new releases for foodservice—the first ever foodservice items for the company.
“We have our chunky guacamole and our new pulp for foodservice. So, think about the avocado toast craze—this is the solution. And then we also have an avocado salsa that is fresh tomatillos and fresh avocado. And they're all made 365 days a year, fresh and ready-for-action in both single-serve formats and foodservice pouches,” Founder and CEO Kurt Penn shares with me.
But the company has more to bring to the restaurant table than its new avocado-centric offerings. The company is also bringing salad dressings to dishes in a big way—one that will have purists excited to dive right in.
“The dressings are new, also. We basically challenged our culinary team to create fresh dressings from fresh herbs that have never been heated or chemically treated,” Kurt explains. “So basically we're making kitchen-fresh dressings, but offering them to foodservice operators throughout the U.S. so that they don't have to do that work in the kitchen.”
For more insight into Good Foods' latest releases, check out the video above!
Stick with AndNowUKnow for more exclusive peeks behind the industry’s curtain.
WILLIAMSVILLE, NY - Tops Friendly Markets, grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania, and Vermont, announced recently that it has promoted two team members, David Holtz and Adam Crossley, to leadership positions.
David Holtz, who was formerly the company’s Consumer Insights Analyst, will now serve in the capacity of Manager, Decision Analytics. In this role, David will be responsible for providing direction and leadership to the team to ensure delivery of timely and quality analysis to the merchandising and marketing departments. This will be accomplished by leveraging technical knowledge of merchandising systems, data warehousing, statistical modeling, and reporting analytics tools to provide value-added insight in support of merchandising and retail operations strategic business objectives.
Since he joined the Tops team in 2009, Holtz has held the positions of Data Integrity Coordinator and Pricing Analyst, according to a press release. David is a graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego, where he earned his degree in Human Resource Management. He is a resident of Orchard Park, NY.
Adam Crossley has been with the Tops team since 2014 and has now been promoted to Store Manager for the Tops located at 121 East Main St., Westfield, NY. Previously, Adam worked at various locations—most recently as an Assistant Store Manager at the TOPS located at 1800-2000 Washington Street in Jamestown, NY.
Congratulations to both David Holtz and Adam Crossley!
BENTONVILLE, FL - Recently filed papers with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office suggest that Walmart shoppers may soon be able to enjoy the in-store experience from the comfort of their own homes—collapsing the brick-and-mortar/online divide through the use of virtual reality.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the retailer recently filed for two patents—available here—detailing plans to create a “virtual show room” and fulfillment system connecting consumers’ VR headsets and sensor-filled gloves to a 3D, virtual Walmart store. Customers would wander the aisles, selecting individualized products that would be immediately selected and shipped via a fully-automated distribution center.
These two patents are the latest foray into VR technology. In February of this year, Walmart acquired Spatialand, a startup that specializes in VR software. Spatialand currently operates under the rubric of Walmart’s in-house incubator Store No. 8, which hosted a “v-commerce gala” last year.
According to Bloomberg, Walmart has filed for over a dozen VR patents, but has only recently shifted from using VR as an internal business solution to using VR as a commercial channel.
Just this May, Walmart revealed a slew of patent filings aimed at in-store innovations—including filings for a “smart” shopping cart, wearable productivity-tracking devises, in-store drone assistants, and a variety of other forward-thinking technological advancements.
How long will it be until we’re able to walk the aisles remotely, have our shopping carts answer store layout questions, and see shelves stocked by drones? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the future of fresh food retail.
PORTERVILLE, CA - Homegrown Organic Farms recently announced the newest member of the Homegrown team. Mark Sandell is now operating as a Senior Account Manager for the company’s sales teams.
“I’m excited to be joining the team here at Homegrown and continue to help serve both customers and growers,” stated Sandell in a company press release. “The growth of the organic marketplace has proven itself as more than a fad, and I look forward to continuing to build upon that growth as a member of the Homegrown team.”
Mark Sandell comes to the company with over 30 years of industry experience. Most recently he worked with Pacific Organic as a National Account Manager. He plans to use his extensive industry experience to enhance the overall mission, vision, and values of Homegrown Organic Farms. His initial responsibilities will involve learning Homegrown’s system of operations and then his attentions will shift to focus specifically on sales and account management.
“We are thrilled to have Mark on board,” said CEO Scott Mabs. “I believe his years of experience in the organic industry will be a great addition to the team and will only help further the mission, vision, and values of Homegrown.”
Congratulations from all of us here at AndNowUKnow to both Mark and the Homegrown Organic Farms team!