FOWLER, CA - Few things satisfy thirst like freshly squeezed lemonade or a bite into a juicy orange or mandarin. Bee Sweet Citrus is celebrating the availability of its summer citrus varieties throughout the season’s festivities.
“With the 4th of July holiday right around the corner, families are looking for healthy, tasty snacks to provide to their children during their holiday celebrations,” stated Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Communications Monique Bienvenue. “Citrus fruits, such as lemons, mandarins, and oranges, are extremely versatile and are perfect for summer barbeques and other seasonal gatherings.”
Easy to use in a variety of ways, multipurpose lemons, mandarins, and oranges are cholesterol and fat-free, according to a press release. The latter two make for great toppings on parfaits and salads, and the former makes for a refreshing salad dressing. Citrus fruits are an easy addition to main entrees, fruit salads, and so many other dishes needing a crisp flavor or some added zest.
“If parents are looking for healthy alternatives to junk food, there are many citrus-themed recipes they can try that are not only healthy, but incredibly tasty too,” Bienvenue continued. “On a hot summer day, they can indulge in iced tea with lemon infused ice cubes, or even top a parfait with a few mandarin segments. The opportunities are limitless!”
The healthy snacks, with less than 50 calories per serving for all three types of citrus, offer Vitamin C and fiber and are a great addition to fun weekends at home or away on holiday.
Wanting more details on how you can get your hands on Bee Sweet’s summer citrus? Check out the company’s website: www.beesweetcitrus.com.
Looking for the inside scoop on the produce industry’s latest happenings? Stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
SOUTH KOREA - Despite Starbucks churning out new drink ideas of late like the Unicorn Frappuccino, Mango Dragonfruit Refresher, Strawberry Very Much Frappuccino, and more, nothing has been able to decrown the Pumpkin Spice Latte as the cornerstone of seasonal sensations. But honestly, the PSL might meet its match with the ABF. Grab your passports, summer officially means a trip to South Korea to get our hands on Starbucks’ seasonal menu item, the Avocado Blended Frappuccino.
The Starbucks Korea website describes the drink with this note: “Find the best way to enjoy the most trendy fruit of avocado in Starbucks! The visuals that seem to enjoy the whole avocado are fun to see.”
While the Avocado Blended—a take on Starbucks’ classic Frappuccino—is not a new item since it first hit South Korea’s coffee market in 2015, the drink didn’t start serving looks until this season, with the coffee chain recently giving it a makeover for its June 26 relaunch. Now, the Avocado Blended actually resembles its namesake, with a dark green circle around the rim—an homage to the peel—and a chocolate ball acting as a faux pit.
According to Bustle, the Avocado Blended is only available in South Korea locations, so I will be circulating an online petition to bring the Avocado Blended to the States—keep your eyes peeled!
For more ways companies are mimicking the looks and flavors of fresh produce, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Foodservice news in our own backyard? It’s a good day for us writers here at AndNowUKnow. The latest update in foodservice announcements comes from US Foods, who, according to Sacramento Business Journal, was awarded a California Competes Tax Credit to develop a center at McClellan Park. But will the company go through with plans suggested back in 2011 and file with Sacramento County for the proposed $71.6 million distribution center?
US Foods' Director of Media Relations and Issues Management, Sara Matheu, said in an email to Sacramento Business Journal that while the company has been approved for the credit, it has not yet decided whether it will proceed.
“Yes, the state has provided US Foods with an incentive proposal should we decide to expand within the state at a point in the future," Matheu stated. “However, we have not made any commitments at this time. It’s simply too soon to speculate.”
Since 2011, US Foods has owned about 35 acres on the west side of the former Air Force base, and planned to develop a 500,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center. Before the company started the project, it was bought out by its largest competitor, Sysco, and the McClellan site remained undeveloped. However, the Sysco deal collapsed in 2015, after the Federal Trade Commission expressed concerns that the merger would limit competition and violate antitrust laws, but US Foods still hasn’t submitted plans for the center to Sacramento County.
In its application, US Foods said it would spend $71.6 million on the project at McClellan and create 216 jobs. The company would receive the $7 million tax credit over five years while it met hiring and spending milestones.
According to the publication, the California Competes Tax Credit is one of the state’s only economic development incentives. In the latest round of applications, roughly 259 companies applied for the credit, of which only 29 were awarded, according to Sam Chiu, Spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
Will US Foods develop this new center? Will plans fall through? AndNowUKnow will stay on the case and make sure you know the latest details.
FRESNO, CA - In an effort to bolster the future of potential young produce people, the California Table Grape Commission is once again awarding scholarships to the children of table grape field workers and students who want to study and work in the agriculture industry with an emphasis in the table grape industry.
For 2018, the following eight students in grape-growing regions of the state were chosen to receive scholarships:
$3,500 Two-year Field Worker Scholarships
Yaritzi Mariscal
- A graduate of Shafter High School, Yaritzi plans to attend Bakersfield College and pursue a career in nursing. Yaritzi is the first in her family to attend college and is an honor roll student and winner of the principal’s award.
Luisa Perez Rodriguez
- A graduate of Robert F. Kennedy High School in Delano, Luisa plans to attend Bakersfield College and pursue a career in radiological technology. Luisa is a four-year honor roll student, a four-year member of the soccer team, two-year member of the softball team, and is active in both school and church clubs.
$20,000 Four-year Field Worker Scholarships
Rosalinda Valenzuela
- A graduate of McFarland High School, Rosalinda will graduate with a 4.38 weighted GPA and will attend UC San Diego and pursue a career as a mechanical engineer. Rosalinda is the Vice President of the leadership class, President of the engineering club, a member of the softball team, and Captain of the school golf team.
Marisleysis Valdez
- A graduating from Robert F. Kennedy High School in Delano, Marisleysis plans to attend California State University Bakersfield where she will major in finance with a career goal of becoming a financial manager in the table grape industry. Marisleysis graduates with a weighted 4.30 GPA and is a four-year honor roll student who also tutors other students.
Aime Alarcon
- The class valedictorian, the student body President, and a member of the water polo and swim teams at Harmony Magnet Academy in Strathmore, Aime will graduate with a weighted GPA of 4.34 and plans to attend the University of Southern California with a career goal of becoming a superintendent of schools.
$20,000 Four-year Agricultural Scholarships
Lindsey Swall
- A graduate of Mission Oak High School in Tulare, Lindsay is the class valedictorian and will graduate with a 4.2 weighted GPA. Lindsay has been involved with Future Farmers of America (FFA) in leadership roles and in competitions. Lindsay will attend Fresno State and has a career goal of becoming a horticulturalist.
Brenden Wilson
- A graduate of Kingsburg High school with a weighted GPA of 3.97, Brenden is a four-year member of FFA, and a member of the school basketball and track teams. Brenden will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a career goal of applying mechanical technology to reduce physical labor in the fields.
Leslie Herrera
- A graduate of Wonderful College Prep Academy in Delano, Leslie will graduate with a 4.33 weighted GPA. Leslie is a member of FFA, the senior class president, captain of the soccer team, and member of the softball team. Leslie will attend UC Davis with a career goal of becoming a human resource manager for an agricultural firm.
Congratulations to all these future produce industry leaders!
SUMMERLAND, BC - When I was a kid, apple slices were the schoolyard snack everyone wanted to get their hands on. So, when I heard about Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.'s Arctic ApBitz™, I immediately fell back in time to summer days fueled by the goodness of apples.
This product, part of the company’s sustainability efforts, are made from its Arctic® Goldens that were either too big or too small for fresh slices. I chatted with Neal Carter, President of Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., to learn more about this unique product.
"Arctic ApBitz snacks are fry-cut and dried from our Arctic Golden nonbrowning apples,” Neal tells me, explaining that the company has always planned to create a dehydrated, preservative-free Arctic apple snack. "Acknowledging that not all fruit is suitably sized for slicing, we’ve been working on innovative ways to use our nonbrowning Arctic Goldens from this past harvest to give consumers more ways to eat more apples and the ability to maximize the benefit of our entire crop."
The product, which debuted to U.S. customers this last March on Amazon, became the number-one release in both the snack and dried fruit categories on the website. According to Neal, it’s receiving nothing but “rave reviews.”
“The dried apples have been designated as an 'Amazon’s Choice' product thanks to their strong star-rating and availability to ship immediately,” Neal shares with me. “We decided to make Arctic ApBitz dried apples initially available online via Amazon.com so that everyone in the U.S. would have convenient access to our sweet and crunchable Arctic ApBitz snacks.”
ApBitz snacks are made 100 percent from Arctic Golden apples. They’re preservative-free, with a unique, fry-cut style that makes them easy for toddlers to pick up or hungry adults to crumble over yogurt. In addition to its inherent yumminess, part of the product’s success is due to the company’s commitment to sustainability and reduction of food waste.
“An estimated 40 percent of apples are wasted due to superficial browning, and Arctic apples can benefit nearly every segment of the supply chain by reducing waste and offering improved product quality through our unique nonbrowning traits,” Neal states. “Arctic ApBitz dried apples are the continuation of these efforts, ensuring that no apples are wasted, and helping us in our commitment to sustainability."
For those wondering if this product might ever hit retailers’ shelves, you needn’t wonder anymore. Neal explained to me that given the positive feedback from consumers, he suggests that retailers reach out to Okanagan if they’re interested in carrying the hot new snacks.
The company also plans on ramping up a social media campaign for the summer, titled #BitzofSummer. The contest, beginning June 29th, will have participants share photos and videos of themselves enjoying ApBitz snacks on social media. The winner will receive a trip to the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.
For the latest in innovative produce products, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
FRANCE AND ENGLAND - Sometimes it seems as though our industry is almost playing a tournament of chess, with businesses battling it out with impeding competitors to find out who is the winner of the day. Ultimately, these matches bring about a new take on how business is being done altogether, as can be seen in the new alliance between Boulogne-Billancourt-based Carrefour and Welwyn Garden City-based Tesco. Expected to be formally agreed upon within the next two months, the two powerhouse retailers are teaming up to demand better terms from major suppliers, as the global purchasing alliance tries to drive down costs.
“I’m delighted to be entering into a strategic alliance with Carrefour. By working together and making the most of our collective product expertise and sourcing capability, we will be able to serve our customers even better, further improving choice, quality, and value,” Tesco Group Chief Executive Dave Lewis says, according to a press release from the company.
Competition is fierce when faced with the encroachment of Germany-based discount retailers Aldi and Lidl and the expansion of U.S.-based e-tailer Amazon. The new alliance between Carrefour and Tesco, which have combined annual sales of $170 billion, wants to keep prices down, according to Reuters. The partnership will most likely gain a better deal with Nestlé, Danone, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and more. As retailers continue to partner up, like Britain’s second-ranked Sainsbury’s recent purchase of third-ranked Asda, Tesco sought strength in numbers by looking across the English Channel to Carrefour.
Analysts, however, gave the new alliance a forewarning against price wars, positing that the move could be detrimental to the companies, the news source conveys. The two, together, are looking to strengthen their relationships with their suppliers over the course of the governed three-year operational framework for the alliance, the press release explains.
“This strategic alliance between Carrefour and Tesco is a major agreement, as it combines the purchasing expertise of two world leaders, complementary in their geographies, with common strategies. This agreement is a great opportunity to develop our two brands at the service of our customers. This international alliance further strengthens Carrefour allowing it to reach a key milestone in the implementation of its strategy,” Chairman and CEO for Carrefour Group Alexandre Bompard shares in Tesco’s press release.
Will this strategic alliance trigger other companies to find others with which to align, and how will the partnership change the pricing game? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated with the latest developments.
COLUMBIA, MO - As plant-based meats continue to trend, the demand for options grows. Beyond Meat, responding to this need, has announced that it more than tripled its manufacturing footprint from 30,000 to 100,000 sq.ft. This new facility, located in Columbia, Missouri, will also generate more than 250 jobs and will help support Beyond Meat’s line of plant-based meat products that includes The Beyond Burger and Beyond Sausage, as well as provides for increased growth across new product launches moving forward.
“We first came to Missouri in 2009 to access the outstanding research being conducted at the University of Missouri,” stated Ethan Brown, CEO and Founder. “We have been investing in, and growing together with, Columbia, Missouri ever since, and I’m pleased to announce this latest manufacturing investment—our largest to date. Our expansion not only brings more jobs and opportunity to this special community but also furthers Missouri’s position as a leader in the production of plant-based meat.”
The brand’s investment in the local community serves as a reminder to its deep roots in the area. According to a press release, Brown tapped into research that was taking place at the University of Missouri when he was first exploring the notion that protein didn’t need to be made using an animal. This research eventually provided one of the technical foundations for Beyond Meat’s visionary approach to building meat from plants.
Like the products it produces, the state-of-the-art facility has an eye for sustainability, from high-efficiency lighting to new water recirculation systems that reduce consumption by nearly 80 percent.
“This expansion in our production capacity will help us to meet the considerable increase in market demand we have seen for our new and innovative product offerings,” said Mark Nelson, COO & CFO. “Our expanded 100,000 square foot manufacturing footprint will provide the scale we need to service our rapidly growing retail, foodservice, and international customer base.”
For the latest in produce news and new plant-based foods, keep following us at AndNowUKnow.
CHELAN, WA - Each year, at Chelan Fresh’s orchards, cherry blossoms usher in the coming of spring.
Buds bursting with vibrancy signal Chelan Fresh’s cherries will hit shelves soon, delighting our retail customers and end consumers alike with exceptionally-sweet flavor. Here’s What’s in Store.
This year, our proprietary Orondo Ruby lands in stores by late June with our sweet cherry programs arriving in early June to ensure ample supply as the season heats up.
Cherries are the perfect snack for picnics, camping trips, hiking, baking in seasonal treats, and featuring in entertaining spreads. Our Chelan Fresh cherries are available from mid-June through the first of August—allowing summer festivities to stay sweet throughout the summer months.
Consumers can stock up, enjoy fresh for the season, and freeze our sweet cherries for later, prolonging summer sweetness through the later half of the year.
Thank you for watching What’s in Store.
NOGALES, AZ - Nogales has secured a new win for the produce industry. The Arizona State Transportation Board announced it will invest in a $134 million build-out and expansion of State Route 189, a major avenue for fresh produce, and The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is celebrating.
“The road improvement should speed roundtrip delivery from the port of entry to some warehouses by 20 minutes or more per truck, giving companies a valuable incentive to locate their operations in Nogales,” said Lance Jungmeyer, President of the Association.
SR 189, also known as Mariposa Road, is a main thoroughfare for trucks crossing the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales on their way to area warehouses, according to a press release. The project will be completed in two phases over the course of several years and will include enhancements to the entire length of SR 189, including adding a flyover ramp connecting SR 189 to I-19, which eliminates stoplights and left-hand turns that currently hamper movement of heavy trucks onto the interstate.
“This is the culmination of many years of hard work in unifying support from groups across Arizona about this important roadway,” Jungmeyer continued. “From Flagstaff to Phoenix to Tucson, communities were all talking about the importance of funding this much-needed expansion. We are always looking for ways to speed up the produce superhighway that is Nogales, and this funding is an important step in our continued success.”
Jungmeyer added that SR 189 is “the artery that drives our economy by facilitating the movement of trucks and passengers into and out of Arizona.”
“…we are excited about the positive benefits this will bring to our members in the form of faster, safer, more reliable deliveries to their warehouses. Ultimately this will be a major win for our customers and the end consumers because we will have faster deliveries of the fresh, high-quality produce that is synonymous with Nogales,” he concluded.
More information on the Arizona State Transportation Board project can be found on the group’s website here.
Also worth celebrating at FPAA is the promotion of Allison Moore to Vice President, who Jungmeyer said is extremely important to the industry.
“I am surrounded by intelligent, committed, passionate people that I get to work withon a daily basis, whether it’s coworkers, our members, peers in other trade associations, or government officials,” said Moore upon her appointment. “How can you beat working with and learning from so many people on issues ranging from local infrastructure projects to food safety to international trade? Solving problems and helping people are really the foundations of my job, and I love that.”
Congratulations to Nogales, FPAA, and Moore—all fabulous things to celebrate.
SANTA PAULA, CA - Nodding to the importance of hydration during these hot summer months, Limoneira wants consumers to get excited about drinking enough water, which is necessary to stay cool. Keeping things interesting, the company announced six new water recipes. Limoneira spokesperson Megan Roosevelt shared the details on the company’s YouTube channel.
The recipes are as follows, and as easy as cutting up the ingredients and putting them in water!
- Orange/Lime/Lemon Water - All citrus contains Vitamin C, as well as B vitamins and potassium
- Lime/Cucumber/Mint - Mint is wonderful for digestive health, and has the added bonus of being an on-the-go breath freshener
- Strawberry/Basil/Lemon - Basil also works to freshen breath while both lemons and strawberries are wonderful sources of Vitamin C
- Strawberry/Lime/Cucumber - Limes contain Vitamin C alongside important minerals like Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium
- Grapefruit/Cucumber/Mint - Grapefruit can also operate as an appetite suppressant
- Lemon/Lime/Blueberry - Blueberries are high in fiber, and rich in antioxidants
In addition to being amazing additives to zest up drinking water, citrus fruits are naturally water-dense—meaning consuming them is a great way to stay hydrated.
For a helpful demonstration, you can watch Megan create the jazzed up waters below here on the Limoneira YouTube channel.
For the latest in food trends, be sure to keep following us at AndNowUKnow.