HUDSON VALLEY, NY - For me, there’s no clearer sign that autumn is fast approaching again than driving home on a weekday evening and seeing the soccer fields full of kids practicing—and lately, I haven’t seen an empty field. And with the coming of fall means the coming of apple season, aka the best sideline snack is back! For Hudson River Fruit, it’s not just any other apple season—it’s the company’s 55th!
With crop expected to start hitting retail by early September—just in time for games to kick-off—I caught up with Alisha Albinder, Owner/Operator of Hudson River Fruit Distributors to learn more.
“We’re coming into harvest over the next couple of weeks. So far, we’ve seen great quality and a healthy, clean crop with good color and volume. We’re super excited for this season to start and to continue supplying top-notch apples to our loyal customers.” Alisha tells me. "If you’re looking for the perfect fall snack, be sure to check out our Lil' Chief Brand Apples, which launched two years ago and have seen major growth and success with its 2 lb pouch bag. They are the perfect 'small-sized' snacking fruit, great for kids and adults!"
Alisha also tells me that exclusive club varieties like SnapDragon and RubyFrost are stirring up lots of excitement within the company and that retailers in the New York metro area, the Midwest, and the eastern seaboard are in for a real treat. This season, Hudson River Fruit is also pushing Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, McIntosh, Red Delicious, Cortland, and more.
“We are family-owned and operated and are 55 years in business this year, which is something we are so proud of. To make sure consumers know exactly who is supplying their apples and the story behind it, we offer retailers pop-up bins that emphasize the fact that we’re local and New York-grown. We love promoting our family farms in the Hudson Valley,” Alisha says.
And if you’re wondering what’s better than enjoying a crisp, juicy apple on the sidelines, it’s enjoying a locally-grown, crisp, juicy apple on the sidelines. I don’t make the rules.
For more crop updates, market insights, and produce coverage, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY - While many of us are wondering how the tariff disputes are going to impact our industry, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is staying cool, calm, and collected about the whole process, convinced of a happy ending to the currently tumultuous conversations had on the subject.
In a recent discussion with Fox News, Perdue likened the adjustment to Trump’s tariff strategy with China, the European Union, and others to weight loss—painful at first, but ultimately healthy. With a set of 10-percent tariffs on $200 billion worth of imported Chinese goods set to take effect on August 23rd, Perdue acknowledged the anxiety over their impact in the U.S.
“China has not been playing by the rules for years, and we’ve allowed, year after year, them to get away with that. And frankly, we’ve got barriers across the world, not just in China, but in the European Union. If we turned our farmers loose in America, they would own the market internationally,” Perdue expressed. “President Trump is saying, ‘Enough is enough. If you want free trade, let’s have fair trade,’ And that’s the ultimate goal of bringing people to the table: to say—even to our friends like Mexico and Canada—bring them to the table and say, ‘You know, it’s kind of tilted here, let’s level this playing field and allow our producers to compete competitively with yours, and we’ll be fine.'”
Perdue recognized that the tariffs are a touchy subject for Californian farmers, in particular. Having just recently visited the Golden State to see how the wildfires affected the agricultural community and its land, Perdue remains steadfast in his conviction that the farmers know Trump’s tariff plan will eventually make everything better. He nodded to future tariff talks with hopeful optimism for resolve with Mexico and Japan.
“Farmers get that. They’re patriots. They understand when people don’t play by the rules,” Perdue shared. “We’ve been the Boy Scouts internationally on the trade area, and we’ve played by the rules. And President Trump is trying to make sure that, in this game of international trade, others play by the rules, too.”
When Perdue was in California, he met with farmers to discuss their concerns about Trump's stance on tariffs and the new relief package for farmers that aims to assist during the current conversations, as well as immigration.
“We do get overlooked in comparison to the rest of the Midwest. It is difficult,” Jeannie Campos of Campos Brothers Farms told Perdue, according to GV Wire, expressing concerns that the company would not see much benefit from the proposed funds because it farms nuts. “We are not in a better positon, but in a different position from our fruit friends, because an almond doesn’t perish as quickly as fresh fruit.”
To this, Perdue reassured farmers that they are being heard.
“We are trying to figure out an equitable, fair way to allocate this money,” Perdue responded. “First of all, it will not make people whole. It is like any insurance. If you crash your car, or your house gets burned, you never feel like you’re being made whole with insurance.”
For more updates on the tariff front and how it is expected to impact ag, stick with AndNowUKnow.
NOGALES, AZ - In order to celebrate 50 years, you really have to go all out. That’s certainly how The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) feels about its 50th Nogales Produce Convention and Golf Tournament, slated to be held November 1-3, 2018 in Tubac, Arizona. The convention will include numerous activities, panels, and educational sessions to bring the industry together.
“So many times, visitors to the FPAA convention have remarked that this is the most festive, fun event on their calendar. This year we are pulling out all the stops to make it even more special. We are planning folklorico dancers, a celebrity chef appearance, and more,” said President Lance Jungmeyer in a press release.
To kick it off, the FPAA will showcase remembrances from past events, as well as recognize and honor an individual who has been integral to the success of the gala event—which features a reception, dinner, dancing, entertainment, and more. The “Pillars of the FPAA” Award will be awarded to those who have volunteered their time and effort to the industry, as well as demonstrated innovation and integrity throughout their career.
“It is fitting, as FPAA celebrates its 50th Fall Convention, that this year’s Pillar of the FPAA has spent so many years helping plan the event,” stated Chairman Scott Vandervoet of Vandervoet and Associates. “We are extremely pleased to honor longtime association member Rosie Favela Cornelius as a Pillar of the FPAA.”
The convention will also feature helicopter rides over the Nogales warehouse districts, the Mariposa Port of Entry, and a flyover of the MMT Observatory in the Santa Rita Mountains.
In addition to all the excitement, there will be a suprise celebrity chef—to be revealed at a later date—to help the FPAA commemorate the 3rd Annual Culinary Showcase, Top Dishes Out of Mexico’s Top Produce. At this public event, guests will enjoy unique and tasty culinary creations from chefs and culinary teams, all featuring the wonderful flavors of Mexican produce. This event is sponsored by the FPAA and the Mexican Consulate of Nogales, Arizona.
The education sessions will be held on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 and allow guests to immerse themselves in the Nogales produce industry and the global initiatives and opportunities in the business.
The following is a snapshot of some of the sessions:
- Speeding up the Wheels of Commerce – U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to work to streamline commercial border crossings, all while keeping the nation secure. Learn more from invited speaker Bradley Hayes, Executive Director of the Office of Trade Relations at the Department of Homeland Security
- Produce Industry Ethical Charter – Responding to social and market concerns regarding worker social responsibility, the fresh produce industry has launched a broad Ethical Charter, spearheaded by the Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association. PMA President Cathy Burns will walk us through the responsibilities and benefits of this groundbreaking program
With nearly five decades of experience, the 2018 Fresh Produce Convention and Golf Tournament promises to not only live up to, but to exceed everyone’s expectations. This year’s 50th Nogales Produce Convention will be a historic event you won’t want to miss!
The FPAA Convention will be held at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, which is located a few miles north of Nogales, Arizona. Companies interested in registering should contact the FPAA office at (520) 287-2707 or visit www.freshfrommexico.com.
CHARLESTON, SC - US Foods is bringing brick-and-mortar service to a Southern restaurant mecca next month; the foodservice provider has declared an opening date for its sixth Chef’Store location in Charleston, South Carolina.
According to local news source The Post and Courier, the 59,000-sq-ft Chef’Store location will open in mid-September. An unnamed company spokesperson told the news source that the emporium for food and kitchenware will open in mid-September, and an employee told the news source, in an informal capacity, that the store will open on September 13th.
The Post and Courier noted, in an initial report late last year, that the store was planned for June of 2018. The new Chef’Store will offer wholesale food, equipment and supplies to the restaurant industry—with more than 350,000 brands being represented. It will offer wholesale food, equipment, and supplies to the restaurant industry and general public.
The new location joins Chef’Stores in Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC; Dallas, TX; Oklahoma City, OC; and Tempe, AZ and more than 60 US Foods distribution centers spread throughout 37 states.
For more fresh-focused news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
KAUAI, HI - Jeff Sacchini may have made the move to the mainland from beautiful Kauai, to take on a new adventure as the President of Daylight Foods, but his Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon in 2018 will bring him back to the island. Slated for September 2nd on The Garden Island, the event will also be reaching a milestone with its 10th anniversary.
Jeff joins me to talk about this epic and popular race and how it is more than an event, it has become a lifestyle and a challenge.
“Time flies when you’re having fun! We are already celebrating our 10-year anniversary and have definitely enjoyed the work that goes into the event and the cherished memories we have created,” Jeff tells me. “One thing we can say for sure is that we underestimated the scope of work, the time commitment, and how many resources are needed to pull it all together each year. It really takes a community of dedicated individuals to make it special. Fortunately, we have had the same folks, year after year, who really know what they are doing in all aspects of the weekend festivities, and I feel it shows in the quality of how our event is produced and organized.”
Running has always spurred thoughts and dreams for Jeff, throughout his life. The longer the run, the crazier the ideas… so, it is not far-fetched to say that this idea happened while Jeff was running on Kauai on a particularly glorious morning on the dirt road to Mahaulepu.
“As the sun was rising, my thought was simply this, ‘I wish everyone could witness this beautiful island and stunning scenery from my vantage point as a runner in an organized, world class event.’” Jeff reflects. “My only problem was, I had never organized a bake sale, yet alone a top-notch running event. But with the help of many, the idea morphed into a reality a few years later.”
Jeff shares that his wife and kids have observed/supported/participated in many of his endeavors both personally and professionally.
“Some have been great ideas, others not so much. There have been start-up business ventures, crazy trips, wild ideas, and worldwide adventures. Again, some memorable and others I want to forget,” he laughs. “But the ideas always came, and I was always willing to try…and my wife is always a willing partner to support and perfect many of them.”
Looking to find out more and follow the marathon, check out, www.thekauaimarathon.com; Instagram: @thekauaimarathon Facebook: The Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon, or email: [email protected] to get in touch.
I will leave you here with a few stats as we look toward September 2nd:
Age demographics:
- Oldest Full- 78
- Youngest Full- 16
- Oldest Half- 87
- Youngest Half- 9
Pounds of ice on the course on race day:
9,500 pounds
Gallons of water on course on race day:
1,600 gallons
Volunteers:
600 on race day
Good luck to all the participants and for those produce lovers who want to stretch their running legs, it is not too late!
SUMMERLAND, B.C. - When one door closes, another one always opens. For Okanagan Specialty Fruits™, developer of non-browning Artic® apple varieties, that means welcoming new hires to the management team after saying farewell to Co-Founder and previous CFO Louisa Carter when she retired earlier this year. The company has hired JF Gamelin as the Director of Sales, Joel Yaeger as the Facility Operations Manager, and Andrew Hofer as the Chief Financial Officer.
“We are extremely excited about the growth opportunities ahead of us at OSF,” explained Neal Carter, President of Okanagan Specialty Fruits. “The industry experience these new team members bring will play an integral role in reaching our goals and finding creative solutions to any challenges we may encounter along the way.”
In his new role, Gamelin is responsible for leading sales operations for Arctic apples and ApBitz™ dried apple snacks. What makes the addition of Gamelin in this role so exciting is his clear vision for driving sales and his ability to strategize the alignment of the company’s innovative product development and its expanding supply. With his master’s degree in project management and over a decade of produce industry experience, Gamelin is jumping into his role, and the company excitedly welcomes the addition of his work.
The company has begun to develop its own centralized fruit receiving, storage, processing, packing, and shipping facility in the state of Washington, and, there, Yaeger will tackle the development of this infrastructure. In his role, Yaeger will oversee day-to-day operations when its complete. He brings with him a bachelor’s degree in business management, as well as 28 years of food processing industry experience, and the company looks forward to seeing Yaeger’s work in action as they move forward with its Washington endeavor.
As the company welcomes these two assets to its team, it said goodbye to Louisa Carter earlier in the year, after she served more than two decades developing Arctic apples. According to a press release, the company has brought Andrew Hofer on deck to hold the Chief Financial Officer role she left. Proving to be a perfect fit for his new role, he grew up on an orchard in British Columbia and has since become a Chartered Accountant.
“Starting this company with Louisa has been such an adventure and I couldn’t have done it without her,” says Carter. “Her retirement is very well-deserved, and I know I speak for the whole team when I say how much her contributions were valued and will be missed.”
Congratulations to the Okanagan Specialty Fruits team on these promising new additions to your team, and to Louisa Carter on this exciting new chapter!
OXNARD, CA - Where would a produce department be these days without the popular, flavorful, and vibrant mango category? I dare not ask. And with Freska Produce International, you may never have to. Currently harvesting in Northern Mexico with Kent and Keitt varieties to carry retailers through most of September, Freska is bringing an extensive mango program tailored to its customers and the consumer.
Managing Principal Gary Clevenger joins me to share the hallmarks of the program so far this year, and why sales will shine with a great mango program.
“Quality has been very good this year and we are seeing increased consumption with our customers once again,” Gary tells me. “Mexico is approximately three million cartons ahead of last year at this time, and while prices were above average through May and June, they have come off a bit to more normal levels for this time of the year. It is an ideal time for sales and promotional opportunities.”
As Freska’s mango program wraps up in Mexico during September, the company will be transitioning to its Ecuador operations where the region will run through January 2019 with Ataulfo a.k.a. Honey Mangos, Tommy Atkins, Hadens, Kents, and Keitts. This transition currently looks to be two weeks ahead of schedule. Peru will begin shipping in December 2018 with mostly Kent varieties and will run through March 2019.
“With Freska’s year-round supplies, organic offerings, and now Fair Trade certifications, we have positioned ourselves with all the tools to provide great service to any retailer,” Gary says. “We continue to employ our own QC staff to oversee the packaging of our labels which provides our customers assurances of quality and consistency. Recently, we have also been offering dried mangos with some of our partners in Mexico and look to grow this business in the next year.”
As Gary shares with me, mangos have doubled in consumption over the past few years, and with it being one of the most eaten fruits in the world, it is no wonder Freska is seeing the popularity and consumption go up year after year.
“The nutrition and year-round availability play a key role in this but, ultimately, it is the flavor that drives customers back for more purchases and the versatility in uses is endless,” Gary concludes.
Shopping list made? Check. Mangos included? Always.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart announced the results of its second quarter fiscal 2019, noting robust revenue growth—well in excess of analysts' expectations—and touting the success of grocery and e-commerce initiatives.
“Thanks to the hard work of our associates, we had a great quarter with strong results and momentum across the business,” said Doug McMillon, President and CEO. “We’re pleased with how customers are responding to the way we’re leveraging stores and e-commerce to make shopping faster and more convenient. We’re continuing to aggressively roll out grocery pickup and delivery in the U.S., and we recently announced expanded omni-channel initiatives in China and Mexico. Customers have choices, and we’re making it easier than ever for them to choose Walmart.”
The company noted the following highlights for the quarter:
- Total revenue was $128.0 billion, an increase of $4.7 billion, or 3.8%. Excluding currency, total revenue was $127.8 billion, an increase of $4.4 billion, or 3.6%
- Walmart U.S. comp sales increased 4.5%, the strongest growth in more than ten years led by the performance of grocery, apparel, and seasonal. Strong comp sales were supported by traffic and ticket growth as each exceeded 2.0%
- Walmart U.S. omni-channel saw significant progress with an expanded online assortment, including 1,100 popular new brands. Grocery pickup is now in more than 1,800 locations, and the company is on track to reach about 40% of the U.S. population by year-end with grocery delivery
- Sam's Club comp sales increased 5.0%, the strongest growth in six years
- Net sales at Walmart International were $29.5 billion, an increase of 4.0%. Excluding currency, net sales were $29.2 billion, an increase of 3.1%. Comp sales were positive in the four largest markets
The New York Times reported that Walmart’s revenues exceeded Wall Street expectations and saw the company’s erstwhile flagging stock soar this morning. And Seeking Alpha noted that Walmart’s stellar performance has had reverberations throughout the retail sector—boosting even rival retailers like Target and Costco.
Could a rising retail tide be lifting all boats? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
READING, PA - Giorgio® Foods will be showcasing its latest BLENDABELLA™ Portabella mushroom blends at Natural Product Expo East 2018 in September. The product line will be supported by a strong social media presence by implementing a BLENDABELLA Summer Blogger Recipe Challenge, as well as generating content on BLENDABELLA’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to support the brand at retail.
“Our social media goal is to engage, educate, and encourage an open dialogue of ideas and uses of BLENDABELLA Portabella mushroom blends with consumers,” stated Brian Loiseau, SVP of Sales, Marketing and R&D. “We have seen significant retailer interest for this product, and we want to make sure that we are supporting our retail partners as strongly as possible with shopper awareness and trial.”
The blends are made with diced portabella mushrooms, veggies, and herbs that provide consumers with an assortment of recipe options. The line comes in three flavors:
- Zesty Mexican
- Coconut Thai
- Rustic Tuscan
According to a press release, BLENDABELLA is low in calories, fat, and carbohydrates, and rich in flavor and versatility. All three flavors are vegetarian friendly, naturally gluten free, and available in 12 oz jars.
The BLENDABELLA Summer Blogger Recipe Challenge lets food bloggers use, share, and experience their BLENDABELLA Portabella mushroom blends in a personal way in the comfort of their own kitchens. The company noted that the blogger challenge will further increase BLENDABELLA’s social media presence. In fact, the challenge is intended to provide enormous amounts of user-generated content to be shared across BLENDABELLA’s social media pages and its website where there are already over 100 recipes listed.
50 food bloggers from across the United States are participating in the recipe challenge and will compete in the following three categories:
- Appetizers
- Side Dishes
- Entrees
The BLENDABELLA Summer Blogger Recipe Challenge began on July 1st and will end on September 30th. Winners will be announced in the middle of October.
Social media content for BLENDABELLA’s social media platforms will include BLENDABELLA recipe videos designed to educate consumers on how to use the mushroom blends in a fun and visual way. Product giveaways will also be initiated along with Facebook geo-targeting focusing on consumers who live in and around retail locations where BLENDABELLA is sold.
At Natural Products East Expo, BLENDABELLA will be located at booth #9022.
For the freshest news in produce, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
SCOTTSDALE, AR - Arizona is officially the land of self-driving cars and the grounds on which Walmart and Kroger have chosen to compete to launch online grocery pilots. A few weeks ago, Walmart announced a new partnership with Waymo to integrate self-driving cars into the grocery delivery experience. This week, Kroger joined the race, announcing its own partnership with Nuro, a maker of driverless delivery vehicles, to test grocery delivery using Nuro’s robots.
“We’re excited to launch our autonomous vehicle delivery pilot with Fry’s in Scottsdale,” said Kroger Chief Digital Officer Yael Cosset. “Kroger wants to bring more customers the convenience of affordable grocery delivery, and our pilot with Nuro will help us test and learn to understand customer acceptance of autonomous vehicles in our seamless offering. We thank Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, and the Scottsdale community for being terrific partners and for supporting customer-focused innovation.”
According to a press release, Nuro’s self-driving Toyota Prius fleet will begin same-day and next-day grocery delivery from one of Kroger’s Fry’s Food Stores locations to consumers’ homes today, August 16. While the Prius fleet has seats for humans to ride along in case of an error or emergency, Nuro will also begin testing custom R1 driverless vans that have no seats for humans this fall.
"Arizona is home to some of the most innovative autonomous vehicle testing," said Nuro Co-Founder Dave Ferguson. "We're proud to contribute and turn our vision for local commerce into a real, accessible service that residents of Scottsdale can use immediately. Our goal is to save people time, while operating safely and learning how we can further improve the experience."
While Walmart is shuttling shoppers to and from grocery stores in self-driving cars in the name of grocery delivery, will Kroger beat its competitor to the punch and streamline the process with its driverless, passenger-less vehicles? AndNowUKnow will continue to report as the name of grocery continues to change.