CALGARY, ALBERTA - The newly created role of Thomas Fresh’s Director of National Accounts has been filled. The company has tapped Michèle McMillan’s industry expertise for the position, as it endeavors to expand and evolve moving forward.
“I am honored and excited to be joining the Thomas Fresh Team, as we strive to grow the business across Canada. I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead of me as I embark on the next stage of my career with this great Canadian company,” McMillan shared on the news of her appointment.
McMillan brings 37 years of industry experience to the table, including a variety of roles like Operations Management and Category/Procurement Management across the retail scene for two Canadian grocery retailers. Her most recent position was Director of Private Label Procurement for Bakery/Deli/Home Meal Replacement/Produce/Grocery Non-Food at Sobeys.
“We are pleased to welcome Michèle into our Thomas Fresh family. Her deep industry knowledge and dynamic experience in program development will be of significant value to Thomas Fresh on a national level,” CEO Roy Hinchey said in a press release.
McMillan’s passion for what she does can be seen within the 9-to-5 hours and far beyond. She has also held a position on the board for Canadian Produce Marketing Association for eight years. In her role at the organization, she has taken part in several committees as well as its Passion for Produce program, which is an educating and mentoring program that helps young industry professionals gain valuable insight into the workings of produce.
McMillan is also consistently involved in her community—she served on the Board of the Mississauga Food Bank and for 10 years has cycled in the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Ride for Heart event, which raised $110,000.
“The future looks bright for Thomas Fresh—our passionate and dedicated team has gained another fantastic addition,” Hinchey said.
Congratulations to Michèle McMillan and the whole Thomas Fresh team on this exciting next chapter!
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - The season’s crop from Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) is officially stateside and CEO Suhanra Conradie gave me the inside scoop on the company’s Cara-Caras, Navels, Easy Peelers, and Star Ruby varieties rolling into produce aisles this summer.
“There is a niche market in the United States for Cara-Caras, but the availability is limited. Cara-Caras started arriving in June and will continue to arrive until the middle of August. In terms of production and packing, we are more than 60 percent through our Navels season, and internal and eating quality is very good,” Suhanra shared with me. “As for Easy Peelers, all growers are finished with clementines and will soon start with later mandarin varieties. The feedback from the production area is that the quality is exceptionally good, with very good color and internals. This is, of course, is the area where the growth is predicted.”
Easy Peelers will start to arrive in limited volumes toward the middle of August, increasing in volume as September approaches. Suhanra noted that over the next two to three years, more mandarins from South Africa will be available.
In addition, Star Ruby has shown good, solid growth over the last few years and will continue to grow during the 2018 season. This variety has started to arrive since the end of June and will continue to arrive through the end of September. With good quality, too, Suhanra reported.
In terms of weather, it was reported in early 2018 that Cape Town could be one of the first major cities in the world to run out of running tap water, a crisis dubbed Day Zero. But, as of July 4, 2018, it was reported that Cape Town’s drought broke and the city appears safe from Day Zero through 2019.
“Looking back at how concerned we started the season and reviewing the position we are in now, we have been truly blessed. From the production side, growers are very thankful as dam levels have increased even more over the last weeks, and we even had good snowfall on the mountains,” Suhanra said. “In terms of the weather in South Africa, we have lovely weather—moderate, warmer, drier summers and cooler winters, with now being the main rainfall season. Overall, perfect for growing the world’s finest summer citrus!”
Along with Cara-Caras, Navels, Easy Peelers, and Star Ruby, SCSA is also looking forward to its Midknights, with more information on their season and quality coming soon.
For more on fresh fruit and vegetable field-to-store journeys around the world, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
OXNARD, CA - Mission Produce has expanded its customer service capabilities with the launch of its new division, Mission Foodservice. The company noted that foodservice has been one of the rapidly expanding sectors of its business, and it needed to establish a division to meet these demands.
Mission Foodservice will extend Mission’s current offerings of training and education, handling and storage support, ripening, and menu trends. It will be spearheaded by Bryan Garibay, Foodservice Sales Manager, and supported by Jason Payne, Mission’s newest sales representative.
“Jason Payne is a great addition to the team, and his expertise in operations and ripening will go a long way when servicing our customers,” stated Garibay in a recent press release.
Mission Foodservice has seven U.S.-based forward distribution centers (FDC) and has the capability to deliver product within 24 hours anywhere in the continental U.S. According to Mission, these FDC’s are state-of-the-art, avocado ripening centers, staffed with highly trained Mission experts dedicated to ripening fruit and meeting the complicated specifications that the foodservice industry demands.
With the creation of Mission Foodservice and recent success of their Emeralds in the Rough Grade 2 retail pack, Mission has decided to adopt Emeralds in the Rough as its Number 2 label across all channels.
“The days of avocados being solely used for a particular cuisine have passed. Avocados are now becoming a part of everyday meals and not just used as a garnish, guacamole, or avocado toast,” stated Brent Scattini, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Our Emeralds in the Rough product speaks to this and the avocado connoisseur who understands a good avocado is not based on a perfect outer layer, but what’s inside,” continued Scattini.
According to a recent report released by the Hass Avocado Board on Consumption Habits, 64 percent of consumers order dishes that contain avocados and 50 percent believe restaurants that offer avocados are healthier than others.
“Avocados are making their way to center of the plate and becoming an everyday essential,” stated Patrick Cortes, Director of Sales. “We know the foodservice industry needs a larger supply of avocados. Our global reach, sophisticated network, and expertise will provide on time and in spec avocados that are ready to be sliced, diced, mashed or pureed.”
Mission will be attending the PMA Foodservice Conference and Expo in Monterey, CA, on July 28 and 29. The company will highlight its expansion within the foodservice industry and unveil new Emeralds in the Rough packaging.
“Mission Produce is beyond excited to share the launch of this division with buyers and suppliers. We know this evolution will be the answer for many foodservice distributors who are looking to provide the world’s finest avocados to their clients,” said Scattini.
For the latest in produce happenings, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
JACKSON, CA - If you’ve seen Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, you have a rough idea of how I learn about the fundamentals and foundations of cycling, fresh produce, and how the two came together from Anthony Gallino.
Anthony has been championing cycling’s power to promote produce longer than he has held the title of Vice President of Sales for California Giant Berry Farms, having initially pitched the idea of what marketing in the circuit could do for our industry to the California Strawberry Commission more than 15 years ago.
“I thought it would be a cool marketing idea and had about five kits or so made back in the late 90s,” Anthony tells me as we drive behind nearly 20 cyclists sporting every kit from California Giant and Church Brothers, to Taylor Farms, Jazz Apples, and some Tour de Fresh jerseys from previous years. “There were none of these at the time. I went to the Strawberry Commission first, which was a one-year deal, back in 2001. California Giant took on the sponsorship in 2002.”
If you’ve followed my previous coverage of the event, you know that I liken the produce and cyclists mentalities often, so it didn’t surprise me when Anthony told me he and Cindy knew who to start with when looking to get Tour de Fresh off the ground.
“I knew there were some people riding in the industry. Church Brothers had a group, Adam Linder, and a few others. Some only signed on for the first year and some have been with us all the way through,” he tells me, and I ask about those first days. “It was first called Ride into PMA, but we knew we needed something different. I remember we were sitting in Cindy’s office where we’ve hashed out so many ideas, and we finally came up with Tour de Fresh.”
Just a couple of nights ago, Anthony told the group as a whole that it was Cindy who told him he needed a name and a good cause to attach to the idea he loved of a produce crew riding into a convention together. Salad Bars for Schools was that cause, and more than $600,000 raised later, Anthony tells me he hopes to see it continue on ever stronger.
“I would love to see this continue to grow, not necessarily in riders but in sponsorship and support—it’s a great cause. I’d also love to see more involvement from the customer side of our business, like retail and foodservice, because not only is it a great thing, but it does help the bottom line,” he says.
When he mentions this, I reaffirm my shock at the numbers Tom Stenzel shared with us the night before, and how placing over 5,000 salad bars in schools at $3,000 a piece has not only helped turn the next generation onto fresh fruits and vegetables, but to generate more than $30 million a year in fresh produce purchases. As for Tour de Fresh itself, the bar remains high as Anthony shares the team’s next milestone marker.
“The goal is to hit the million-dollar-mark in the next couple of years,” he says, and as interest and miles continue to rack up, I have no doubt they’ll hit it.
Day two is under way and Mother Nature has brought the heat down on our caravan. As we look to keep the riders cool and the donations coming, keep checking in for more from the road of the 5th Annual Tour de Fresh.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Tesco is preparing a new chain of discount stores, a move many see as a direct offensive against Aldi and Lidl, according to Bloomberg. Reports of recruitment opportunities in the new store format could be found on LinkedIn and the stores would be located at sites in Immingham in northeast England, and Chatteris, about 80 miles north of London. Tesco acquired these sites prior to CEO Dave Lewis taking over in 2014, and have remained untouched since.
“Tesco will be competing with Aldi and Lidl in what they do best,” Berenberg analyst Dusan Milosavljevic said by email. He also suggested that the move will need need to be bold, as “half-measure, trial-like” store openings are often doomed to fail.
Tesco may name the chain Jack’s, in homage to its founder Jack Cohen, according to This is Money, which reported that the company may begin opening the stores in September.
The alliance between Tesco and French supermarket Carrefour SA has already been made to slash Tesco's prices and increase its leverage with suppliers. Will this new format give Tesco an additional leg up on its competition? What moves will Aldi and Lidl make next? AndNowUKnow will continue to report the latest.
BOISE, ID - Opening the first store of its kind in the Hawkeye State, Albertsons is trying on a new look for its retail locations. The chain is testing the waters with a new, luxury-focused format that focuses on fresh produce and meats, breads and cakes, and Asian fruits like dragon fruit and jackfruit.
The location opened Friday, July 20th at 1219 Broadway Ave., in Boise, Idaho. To put it simply, this store puts fresh front and center in new and unique ways.
“This store is everything we talked about and more,” President of Albertsons Intermountain Division John Colgrove shared, according to the Idaho Statesman. “If you’re looking for basic items, this might not be the store for you. But if you get excited about food preparation and want to find things that aren’t in every other store, this is the place for you.”
The chain is testing this location to see if it will implement the approach in other stores. After an Albertsons that was located across the parking lot from the new location was torn down—having served the community from 1959 to last April—the chain focused on its fresh take on grocery service, as it created the two-story, $7.2 million building. The goal at the new location is to hone in on new, foodie-focused goods.
The second story provides dining space and high-end perishables, the news source relays, putting the chain in the same playing field as Whole Foods, a competitor that sits just three-fourths of a mile away on Broadway. To bring in more excitement, the location will host local bands to entertain customers in the dining space upstairs. In addition to the upstairs, there will also be a deck on the north side, where customers can purchase a meal and eat it right there, restaurant-style.
“We’re at the cutting edge of innovation,” Colgrove said. “When we talk about how important this is, it’s really important to leap forward, to always find new ways to satisfy our customers’ needs.”
The company will also provide plant-based prepared meals from Plated at the location, since Albertsons purchased the meal-kit provider last year. Six other Boise Albertsons stores also recently began to sell Plated options.
How will this new take on retail change the way shoppers look for fresh produce and more? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated as the industry continues to evolve.
CHILE - The 2018 Chilean mandarin season is underway, with Citrus from Chile announcing the first shipments of W. Murcott and Tango varieties departed for the U.S. and Canada early July. And with this season looking to reach historic highs—volumes are expected to surpass the 100,000 ton mark for the first time ever—Citrus from Chile is anticipating a great year as it continues to meet rising market demand.
“Growth in the mandarin category has been incredible. Just six years ago, in 2012, we exported 22,000 tons of mandarins and now we expect exports to surpass 100,000 tons,” said States Juan Enrique Ortúzar, Chairman of the Chilean Citrus Committee. “Our industry made a strong commitment to developing the mandarin category and it has resulted in Chile becoming the main supplier of easy peelers to North America. We continue to invest more resources in R&D and marketing, so we can continue to supply North American retailers with the premium quality they expect and support them in their sales efforts. Our goal is to continue growing in a market that is expanding and where consumption continues to increase.”
According to a recent press release, the forecasted volume of 101,000 tons represents a 32 percent increase over last year—which only saw 76,373 tons. Monserrat Valenzuela, Manager of the Chilean Citrus Committee, reported the improving water situation, including recovered water reservoirs in producing areas and higher availability of irrigation water, in Chile has been a large factor in increasing volumes. As a result, the company was able to ship 64 tons to the East Coast and 21 tons to Canada to kick off the 2018 season just a few weeks ago.
This year’s retail promotions will run from August through October, with supplies available through October. Digital coupons, in-store sales and display contests, produce manager incentive programs, usage images and videos, new point-of-sale and recipe cards, and more are available to retailers interested in promoting this landmark season.
For more details on season kick-off’s and other produce-related events, keep following AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA - Taylor Farms recently announced the opening of two employee training centers dedicated to the advancement of its employees. As our industry continues to evolve, the company noted that it is prioritizing the implementation of automation and robotic initiatives throughout its operations. The new employee training centers are designed to help team members transition into working alongside more sophisticated equipment and advance employee’s skill sets.
“Our business is constantly evolving and we are now entering a new era centered around automation,” said Mark Borman, COO, Taylor Farms Foodservice Division. “Automated technologies are reframing the traditional, labor intensive role and these training centers are investments in making sure our current employees have the resources to learn and grow along with our company.”
Taylor Farms invested more than $1 million in a 4,500-square-foot facility in Yuma, AZ, and a 2,200-square-foot facility in Salinas, CA. The centers currently offer training around programming, engineering, and machine operation.
“I’ve never had the opportunity for a job like this. I thought everything was done manually,” said Erika Torres, employee of Taylor Farms. “I got to the training facility, saw the robots and couldn’t believe it. I’m very interested in getting this education and advancing with the company. I’m going to take advantage of these opportunities.”
The company noted that this move stems from Taylor Farms’ desire to provide high quality fresh foods across North America. By educating its employees—who prepare these products—on the advancements in the agriculture industry is crucial to the company's mission.
TAMPA, FL - Sustainability is increasingly important to the produce industry and typically includes environmental practices built on the principles of “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” While these efforts to be greener have been ongoing for decades and all three “R’s” contribute to a successful program, the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) sees an opportunity for perishable food industries, such as produce, to achieve both environmental and economic returns through an emphasis on reuse, particularly in the form of reusable packaging systems. To communicate this message more broadly, the RPA has launched a new campaign to encourage retailers and growers to “switch, save, and sell with reusable packaging.”
“The Switch, Save, and Sell campaign communicates and demonstrates that reusable packaging is today’s way to distribute perishable food,” Tim Debus, President and CEO, tells me. “We have consolidated available information into one central industry hub—SwitchToReusables.org—to support the broader rationale and science behind reusable packaging systems in the food industry.”
Launched in May, the digital marketing campaign highlights the benefits of Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) through the website, digital ads, and social media to generate awareness and encourage site traffic, where visitors will learn more about the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of reusable transport packaging applications for food.
"While RPCs have a longstanding track record in North America, there have been a lot of recent advancements in product design and functionality. We felt it was timely to once again draw attention to both the economic and environmental benefits of RPCs, especially given the current challenges to waste management and recycling initiatives,” Tim says.
In addition to preventing solid waste, RPCs deliver unsurpassed quality and freshness due to superior product protection and temperature control, provide attractive, consumer-preferred display options, and generate cost-saving opportunities across the supply chain.
“This is why the switch to RPCs will save money and sell more product to satisfied consumers,” Tim explains.
Although the launch features RPCs, Tim shared that the campaign will expand to support all aspects of modern day packaging and distribution systems. For example, automation and data-capturing technologies will increase deployment in food operations, and reusable packaging products are well-suited to optimize the performance of both. Thus, the campaign website information will increase in tandem with the growing number of options, and reasons, to switch to reusable packaging.
“The campaign is unique because it is an industry message that is supported by our membership, rather than a singular company brand message,” Tim shares with me. “We’re taking an industry approach to encourage greater adoption of reusable transport packaging, and for those who passed on the reuse advantage years ago, we’re asking for a second look for today and for the exciting future ahead for reusables.”
The RPA is a non-profit trade organization that advocates for the common business interests of the reusable transport packaging supply chain and promotes the use and value of reusable packaging systems. For more information on the Reusable Packaging Association campaign, or for more reasons to tap into RPCs, visit SwitchToReusables.org. For more of the latest from companies doing their part to better our industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
LOS ANGELES, CA - 4Earth Farms is bringing a new look to town as the company aims to appeal to both the retail customer and the organic consumer at large. Recently debuted at the 2018 Organic Produce Summit in Monterey, California, 4Earth Farms introduced the company’s new 4Earth Organic Stand Up Pouch Bags.
This new bag will provide solutions to many of the challenges retailers have been looking for, according to Director of Sales, Dave Hewitt.
“We received some great feedback at the Organic Produce Summit on these new handle bags. The benefits are endless: they do a great job of showing off the product with their large window, the refreshed graphics look bright on the shelf, retailers will get the correct ring at the register, and for those customers who don’t have dedicated organic space, these packs make it easy to comply with organic merchandising regulations.”
Mark Munger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, shares that these new bags are all about the consumer experience.
“We are in the business of selling produce, so the produce needs to speak to the consumer—not just packaging. Consumers are telling us and retailers that they want to see more of the produce they are purchasing. Our new bags have large clear windows and muted coloring, which puts our produce in the forefront,” Mark says.
Aside from their consumer appeal, the new bags also allow total flexibility and for 4Earth to pack a variety of different product in a variety of different configurations. Besides day-to-day merchandising, this pack is perfect for opportunity buys, featuring ad items, or when 4Earth needs to adjust pack size to meet a particular price point.
“4Earth Farms has built its reputation on providing year-round quality organic produce to our customers. We want to add to that reputation by also being known as a solution provider,” Mark continues. “These are just the first of many exciting new additions to the 4Earth Farms organic line… so, stay tuned!”
With 25 years in the business of giving back to its community, the planet, and its employees; family-run 4Earth truly embodies its tagline People, Produce, Planet. To read more about produce industry business know-how, stay with us at AndNowUKnow.