WATSONVILLE, CA - Any moment we share with Kyla Oberman is time well spent. We recently conducted a video interview with the Director of Marketing at California Giant Berry Farms, in which she revealed some exciting updates.

“California Giant offers a full line of organic strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. And this year, we are thrilled to announce that we are the first-ever strawberry operation to be Fair Trade USA Certified,” Kyla told us. “It builds upon the good work that our company has always done in ensuring strong worker welfare, strong compensation wages, as well as giving back to our communities.”

In addition to this key differentiating factor, California Giant has also achieved Bee Better Certification through the Xerces Society for its blueberry program.

“What's unique about our organic program is having a year-round availability of our strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries,” Kyla concluded.

Check out the exclusive video interview above for more from Kyla herself.

LAKELAND, FL - Publix reported its second quarter 2024 results yesterday morning, noting that its sales for the three months ended June 29, 2024 were $14.5 billion, a 3.1 percent increase from $14.1 billion in 2023.

A press release from the company did note that the estimate sales were negatively impacted by 1.1 percent due to the effect of the Easter holiday being in the first quarter of 2024. In 2023, the effect of the Easter holiday was in the second quarter.

“Our associates make a difference for our customers and communities every day,” said Chief Executive Officer Kevin Murphy. “I’m thankful for their efforts and commitment.”

Here are a few more highlights from the release:

• Net earnings for the three months ended June 29, 2024, were $972 million, compared to $1.1 billion in 2023, a decrease of 11.4 percent
• Earnings per share for the three months ended June 29, 2024, decreased to $0.29 per share, down from $0.33 per share in 2023
• Excluding the impact of net unrealized gains on equity securities in 2024 and 2023, net earnings for the three months ended June 29, 2024, would have been $940 million, compared to $1 billion in 2023, a decrease of 9.8 percent

For more of the financial report, click here.

AndNowUKnow will continue to cover retail news as it comes in, so stay tuned.

KIRKLAND, WA - SIMBA Solutions’ system collects real-time production, traceability, inventory, and shipping information using touch computers and barcoding—the provider’s newest order tracking capability. The result is a powerful system that will increase productivity, lower costs, and improve revenues.

With the SIMBA system, customers can automate work orders and cut sheets. They will be able to enter the details into SIMBA and track the status of the order using barcodes. They will know where the order is in the process, from pulling raw materials to production to finished goods. The barcode scanners can then be used to ship the final product to the customer.

Additionally, the process verifies correct inventory, according to a press release. The work order or cut sheet lists the raw materials needed to complete the job using FIFO (first in first out) methodology and includes warehouse locations for fast staging of orders, similar to the Directed Pick process. Barcode scanning confirms that the correct items have been pulled.

The benefits of an automated cut sheet and work order include:

• Knowing the status of each order as it moves through the plant
• Confirming correct raw materials are allocated to the order and the oldest is used first
• Staging jobs or moving the order directly into production, saving time on the floor
• Eliminating inventory errors and reducing labor by automating the process

SIMBA can unlock enormous value in the fresh food business up and down the production and distribution chain, and SIMBA provides a solution that any processor can implement, the release noted.

For more from the company, keep reading ANUK.

SALINAS, CA - Bengard Ranch recently welcomed a new President to its operation! The grower/shipper announced that Ken Silveira will step into the role.

“I am incredibly excited to be joining Bengard Ranch. Their legacy of quality is unparalleled in fresh produce. I’m fortunate to have worked with industry-leading companies throughout my career and Bengard Ranch’s assets offer the greatest opportunity and future possibilities of any I’ve ever seen,” remarked Silveira. “Surrounded by a strong Board, our long-tenured senior management team is looking to leverage the family’s 63 years of knowledge, experience, and success to compete at the highest levels of the industry. I thrive in family-owned businesses and Bengard Ranch’s rich culture and values are second to none.”

To the President role, he brings 35 years of fresh produce experience. He has a wealth of knowledge having served companies such as Inn Foods, Mastronardi Produce-West, and Tanimura & Antle. At the latter, he ended his tenure as the President and Chief Operating Officer.

Silveira also served on the Board of Directors at the Fresh Produce and Floral Council, Stemilt, Earthbound Farms, and as Chair of the International Fresh-cut Produce Association.

“Ken is an ideal leader to help guide us to the next level,” commented Bardin Bengard, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member. “His knowledge of the issues facing today’s grower/shipper community regarding retail consolidation, building customer relationships, and working with both the commodity and value-added sides of the business will serve him extremely well. Ken’s strategic insight and inherent management abilities will allow him to inspire our strong team and continue Bengard Ranch’s legacy of quality and excellence as we enhance our organization for future growth.”

Kirk Martin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, also noted what this appointment means for the company.

“On behalf of the Bengard family and the Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Ken to Bengard Ranch. We are extremely impressed with Ken’s extensive leadership experience, track record, and clear passion for this great industry,” Martin stated. “We are confident he is well positioned to bring extraordinary value to the company and will continue to drive success for future generations.”

Congratulations to Ken Silveira on this next chapter in his career!

SANTA MONICA, CA - To attract new consumers, Sensei Farms made a bold move. It decided to introduce new packaging across its line of leafy greens and salad mixes.

"From seed to shelf, we strive for innovation at every stage of our products," says Jessica Vasisht, Sensei Farms' Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "This focus allowed us to create a better, more impactful package that embodies the superior quality of our produce, without compromise."

According to a press release, this is the indoor-grown produce brand's latest step toward a more sustainable future.

The new design offers the same functional and food safety features retailers and consumers expect from conventional plastic clamshells but in an attractive and more eco-friendly form.

"Eco-friendly solutions often come with a premium on price, so we knew that barrier to adoption had to be removed," Vasisht continued. "This is a significant leap forward for our category and just the beginning of what Sensei Farms has planned."

Perforated panels allow the tray to be easily broken down and a removable liner keeps the paperboard clean for recycling. The company also noted that a "peel and reseal" closure helps keep the product fresh and provides convenient storage.

For more information, click here.

As always, AndNowUKnow will deliver the latest in fresh produce.

SALINAS, CA - We reported in April 2022 that a Taylor Farms Foodservice facility in Salinas, California, had been significantly damaged by a fire. Since then, we have seen the supplier come back even stronger while continuing to rebuild from the impactful event. Recently, those efforts were recognized with the Manufacturing Innovation Award from ProFood World.

“Rebuilding after the devastating fire at our Salinas foodservice facility has been a monumental journey for Taylor Farms, and I couldn't be prouder of our team's resilience and dedication that has allowed us to emerge stronger and more united,” Mark Borman, President of Taylor Farms Foodservice, told AndNowUKnow. “Our ability to adapt and grow is a testament to the hard work of every member of the Taylor Farms family.”

According to ProFood World’s reporting, the company decided to rebuild the facility on the same piece of land and began work immediately. While the construction got underway, Taylor Farms leveraged its diverse distribution footprint to continue fulfilling orders as usual.

Although many challenges were faced, the facility reopened on schedule in April 2023, just one year after the fire. Today, Taylor Farms has a state-of-the-art processing plant with a weekly production volume of 15 million lbs of fresh-cut produce. It’s one of the highest capacity plants of its kind in the industry, ProFood World stated.

We congratulate Taylor Farms on this award and its continued efforts to lead the industry.