REEDLEY, CA - With summer upon us, Bravante Vineyards, Bravante Produce's table grape operation in the San Joaquin Valley, is gearing up for the 2018 harvest and is ripe for the retail picking. As we move toward the season start, I tapped Steve Shearer, who recently joined the team as Sales Manager of their table grape program, to talk about the company's excitement about this season and opportunities available for retailers.
“Our plan is to start the last week of June in San Joaquin Valley. This season, we will have 17 different varieties that we will be harvesting—so we have a pretty good mix to offer retailers,” Sales Manager Steve Shearer tells me. “Our goal is to have all three colors from start to finish. It should be around mid-December when we are completely shipped out of everything.”
For July alone, the company has the following varieties available: Arra Fire and Flame for red seedless, Ivory and Princess for green seedless, and Summer Royal for black seedless. The varieties available change as the months progress, with crops available for shipment until about halfway through December, but what stays the same is the quality of produce that comes off the vine.
“We want to bring high-end, premium product from the field, to have the best table grapes and to do it right, and to work directly with retailers. We’re partnering with the right people,” Steve shares with me.
Shipments leave the company’s Fowler and Madera, California, facilities throughout the season, making their way into partnering retailers’ locations. To make sure the company gains access to retailers stocking up on premium produce, Steve tells me that Bravante is also continuing to grow its team, bringing in more expertise in exporting, and going directly to retailers to build relationships that last. The company is creating a synergy between all aspects of business to create well-supported and developed relationships with retailers.
“Historically, we have done a lot of export business. As we continue to grow and increase our volumes, we want to build partnerships with the right people. We want to work with retailers that are looking for premium product. There is a lot of potential. As we are doing more outreach, we are getting great reception from retailers looking for an incredible product. We want to get out of the transactional business and into partnerships with customers that want to grow with us through the years and want to have great product on the shelves," he tells me.
Bravante packs its premium-quality grapes in any style that best fits retailers’ needs—from high-graphic bags, which are the go-to for most locations, to clamshells, the company makes packaging requests happen to keep its partnerships healthy and strong.
As the heat of summer unfolds into the breezes of fall, it’s reassuring to know that premium quality grapes are not going anywhere. The seasons may change, the varieties Bravante offers do, too—but its availability of premium-quality grapes is steadfast.
FOWLER, CA - Bee Sweet Citrus announced the retirement of Steve Gullihur, a member of the company’s sales team for the past 12 years.
“Working as a part of the Bee Sweet sales team has truly been a rewarding experience,” Gullihur stated in a company press release. “There’s so much that goes into building relationships with your customers, and everything that we do is a team effort.”
A Southern California native, Gullihur grew up removed from the produce industry, and it wasn’t until he moved to the Central Valley to study at CSU Fresno that he began to consider a career in agriculture.
“While I was a senior at Fresno State, I worked on the campus dairy unit as a relief milker and interned with Farmer’s Home Administration (FMHA), which is a loan agency for farmers,” said Gullihur. “Upon graduation, I applied for a buying position with Grand Union and that’s how I got my foot in the produce industry.”
Gullihur worked for Grand Union for 16 years, and later worked for Priority/Crown Jewels. Eventually, he saw a posting for a sales position at Bee Sweet Citrus and applied for it. Over the past 12 years, Gullihur has managed over 20 accounts for Bee Sweet Citrus and has described his time working for a family-owned and operated company as memorable and rewarding.
“I remember looking at the job posting on Blue Sky and thinking that it would be a great fit,” said Gullihur. “Shortly after applying, I received a call and was later interviewed by Joe Berberian.”
“Steve’s personality and work ethic have been an incredible asset to our sales team,” added Berberian, Sales Representative. “The relationships he has developed over the years has helped Bee Sweet to grow and we wish him all the best during this next phase of his life."
When asked what he will miss most about work, Gullihur responded with, “the personal, daily relationships” he has built over the years. He noted that after working for 12 years with his colleagues, they have become family.
“Bee Sweet Citrus is grateful for all of the years that Steve has worked as a member of our team,” said President Jim Marderosian. “There are not many experienced people like him in the produce industry, and we are fortunate to have Steve close out his career with the Bee Sweet team.”
Gullihur and his wife will be moving to Wisconsin in June, where they plan on fixing up their new home and enjoying the new weather and scenery.
Congratulations to Steve on a successful career in the produce industry!
WENATCHEE, WA - As soon as the weather turns warm, my hand never leaves the cherry bag! To satisfy consumers’ cherry cravings, Stemilt’s 5 River Islands™ cherry brand and premium Rainier cherries are back and better than ever. Available this season in larger sizes and with delectable dessert qualities, Stemilt is helping retailers create memorable eating experiences for shoppers before the California cherry season wraps up in mid-June.
“While the volume of the 2018 California cherry crop was underwhelming for growers and retailers alike, both fruit size and qualities have made for overwhelmingly positive shopper experiences,” said Marketing Director Roger Pepperl. “That will continue in the final weeks of the California season because of two special offerings now available from Stemilt: California-grown Rainier cherries and 5 River Islands brand dark-sweet cherries.”
With harvest currently underway for Stemilt’s Rainier cherries, retailers can look for a premium pack available now through June 9th full of cherries peaking on large sizes with nice color and exceptional flavors, Pepperl noted.
“Carrying our California Rainier cherries in stores the next two weeks will bring incremental sales to the produce department,” continued Pepperl. “Opening shelf space now with these incredible eating fruits will also help in a seamless transition to Washington State’s Rainier cherry crop. It’s a great experience to offer your stores and your shoppers.”
According to a recent press release, this is the second year of availability for 5 River Islands cherries, which come straight from the California Delta, a well-known region of islands and waterways that are all connected by five rivers. For the 5 River Islands brand, Stemilt only packs large-sized and high-quality Lapins, a dark-sweet cherry variety, from the Delta region that are available in limited quantities now through mid-June.
“5 River Islands cherries share the story of the Delta region and how its waterways, lush soils, and California sunshine help us grow big cherries with world famous qualities,” Pepperl explained. “This story resonates with shoppers and helps retailers tie items in their produce department back to the source. Making freshness and quality standout is the way to build impulsive cherry sales, which turns into repeat sales when the consumer enjoys the eating experience at home.”
Selecting only the largest fruit with the most dessert-like qualities for its 5 River Islands brand, Stemilt offers these delicious cherries in clamshells and pouch bags. Stemilt also revealed that high-graphic branded cartons are ideal for merchandizing this specific brand and story at store level and supports stores with digital assets to boost cherry sales.
“The size and qualities of Rainier and 5 River Islands cherries make now a great time to share these special items with your shoppers,” finished Pepperl. “Retailers can earn dollars for their cherry category now, while building memorable experiences for shoppers that keeps cherries in the cart as the summer continues on.”
For more of the latest produce industry news like this, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
UNITED STATES - These days, it almost feels like there isn’t an aspect of business Walmart hasn’t tackled. In an effort to streamline its workings, the retail giant has added real estate to the running list of responsibilities for its top U.S. executives and is reorganizing other executive positions as a result.
According to Bloomberg, Executive Vice President of U.S. Central Operations Mark Ibbotson will take on the company’s realty division. In his current role, Ibbotson is in charge of the company's fresh operations, as well as online grocery pickup and activity management, according to the company's website. An internal memo that Bloomberg News obtained offered insight into the move, which also includes more shakeups in executive command. Now, Head of Real Estate JP Suarez will go to the international side of Walmart—there, he will be Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer.
These changes are effective June 2nd and include a company alignment of the team overseeing its employee training academies with its human resources division, informally known as the People Department.
This is the most recent step the company has made to reduce the complexity of its operations, while also reducing its costs. To that point, the company cut jobs at its Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters, closed 63 Sam’s Club warehouses, and consolidated its U.S. business down to four divisions, rather than its previously subdivided six divisions. In addition to these efforts, the company removed 3,500 store co-managers and added more roles that monitored fast-growing areas, such as online grocery shopping.
Judith McKenna, who is now running Walmart’s international business, is another example of the company’s quickly rising Walmart management team. Alongside McKenna, Ibbotson is one of several Britons who has climbed the rankings within the company’s management roles after taking on senior positions at Asda—which is currently being sold to its previous rival, Sainsbury's—according to the news source.
Ibbotson will take on the real estate division—which includes 3,100 employees and a $8 billion budget, according to the company’s website—as well as oversee innovation, employee communication, online grocery pickup, and asset protection divisions.
Suarez’s new role marks a return to international business, where he served as general counsel and Head of Business Development, previously. He initially joined the company in 2004, and he now replaces Scott Price, who left the company for a senior position at United Parcel Service in December.
How will Walmart’s executive shakeup and business-wide rearrangement address industry shifts and needs, and will this boost the company’s sales as a result to more streamlined direction? AndNowUKnow is looking for answers, and we’ll continue to bring the latest industry news.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Fresh Growers Direct satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a recent press release, the Brooklyn, NY, company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. Yusufov Yuval was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to impose sanctions on a business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals. USDA also requires any unlicensed company that fully satisfies all unpaid reparation awards to obtain a license if it continues to operate in the industry.
The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,400 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 8,500 callers with issues valued at approximately $151 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
COACHELLA, CA - Richard Bagdasarian, Inc., worldwide marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables grown exclusively in California’s Coachella Valley, is off to the races for its 2018 season, giving retailers a taste of several new table grape varieties, as well as strong yields in green and red peppers and eggplant.
Richard Bagdasarian’s Coachella grape and veg seasons both kicked the first week of May, Vice President of Marketing Franz De Klotz tells me when I check in with him to see what new developments are on the horizon for the company.
“We’re very excited for our grape season this year, as we are introducing several new varieties. Bagdasarian will now be offering retailers Midnight Beauty, Sable, AUTUMNCRISP®, Sweet Sapphire, and Jack’s Salute for the first time,” Franz says. “We had a late start this year due to some unusually cool temperatures, but we’re expecting our Coachella Valley grape harvest that will go through the week of July 16th.”
In addition to the grapes the company is so proudly offering, the company also sells green and red peppers, as well as eggplant through its vegetable marketing company, Pasha Marketing LLC.
Franz tells me that this season’s vegetable crop is going strong with optimum yields and quality, and due to some reduced output in Mexico and the Southeastern United States, the Coachella Valley has seen a boost in favorable market conditions for the categories.
“The vegetable market in Coachella has been strong since we got started on May 1st. Adverse weather conditions in Sinaloa, as well as Georgia and Florida, have presented us with a great opportunity to sell to customers all over the United States.”
In addition to a kick off of excellent season’s in both grapes and veg, May also gave Richard Bagdasarian the opportunity to invite a group of retailers to the Coachella Valley to see the company’s unique operations.
“As part of this year’s West Coast Produce Expo, we offered a farm tour to retailers during which we showed our guests the Coachella branch of the All American Canal. The All American Canal is the delivery system for water from the Colorado River that we use to irrigate all of our crops in the Coachella Valley,” Franz says. “Afterwards, we looked at one of our vineyards and shared all of the different practices we employ to bring our crops to harvest. It was well-received by all in attendance.”
One of those practices Richard Bagdasarian uses to ensure an excellent harvest is packing and cooling immediately after harvest, Franz explains.
“All of our property is within a five mile radius of our packing house. As temperatures increase in the valley this becomes crucial as we are able to get the product picked, packed, and cooled very quickly,” he notes. "This results in a longer shelf-life for both our customers and end-users.”
With grape harvest slated to last into mid July and vegetable harvest still going strong, there’s plenty of time to get your hands on high-quality product from Richard Bagdasarian and Pasha Marketing. For more on the Coachella season as it progresses, keep your eyes on AndNowUKnow.
OTTAWA, ON - Over 75 classrooms across Canada will dive into the pleasures of working with produce as Chef for a Day takes center stage on May 30th. Established by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), the campaign encourages healthy eating habits and food skills, and it is part of the organization’s Freggie™ Children’s program. This special day is a way for educators to make healthy eating more approachable and easy as students make healthy lunch from start to finish. Students get to eat what they create and learn how healthy eating habits fuel their growing bodies.
“We know that the development of proper food skills is an essential foundation for healthy eating, and that the best way to learn is with a hands-on experience,” President Ron Lemaire said. “We’re hoping this event can provide awareness at the community level as to the benefits of teaching children to cook and sending them to school with more nutritious lunches.”
For teachers looking for guidance on how to best showcase this exciting day’s festivities, blueprints for the event are supplied, which enlist local chefs, dietitians, and keen parents for their assistance. According to a press release, the focus on health, food safety, and great taste will be seen at every event, as the day includes students at every step. Since its piloting phase in Nova Scotia in 2015, the program has since launched into a full-on national program that caters to the needs for each school.
“It can be extremely challenging for teachers to execute one-off educational programs with limited funding and resources. With the easy to follow blueprints and gift cards to purchase ingredients, CPMA has developed a winning combination to get more kids engaged in healthy eating while respecting busy schedules,” Kim Hickman, Community Dietitian, Health Promotion Unit, Government of Yukon, added. “This program is a wonderful way to get kids engaged and excited to make healthy meals.”
Teachers are seeing the benefits of the program, as students learn how to love produce by working with it themselves.
“Students gained confidence in their cooking skills and ability to make their own lunches. Vegetables do taste delicious!” said teachers from Evole Van Belleghem who participated in the Fall 2017 Chef Day.
For more fresh produce news and industry happenings, check back with us at AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA - On the heels of its first year anniversary as an employee-owned company, Tanimura & Antle contributed $21.7 million dollars to its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Tanimura & Antle is one of the first grower-packer-shippers in the U.S. to share company ownership with all qualified, domestic employees.
“Tanimura & Antle was built on a culture of respect, partnerships, and relationships with our employees and customers,” said Scott Grabau, Chief Executive Officer. “I cannot think of a better way to maintain and build upon the culture that has made us so successful than by putting the rewards back into the employee’s pockets. This newfound ownership will surely benefit the employees, company, and customers as the pride of ownership is reflective in everything we do.”
According to a company press release, Tanimura & Antles created the ESOP under the leadership of Rick Antle on February 10 2017, to recognize the company’s greatest asset: its employees. Just over one year later, the Board of Directors (including both family and independent directors) approved a $21.7 million dollar first year contribution on behalf of the employees. This first payment allowed the employee plan to allocate shares of stock to eligible employees valued at nearly 18% of employee eligible wages earned during 2017. The Tanimura & Antles Board and Senior Management wanted to recognize every employee-owner’s hard work and dedication with a significant and meaningful amount, the company explained.
Although available to all eligible employees, the majority of the contribution goes to the company’s farm and harvest employees as they make up the lion’s share of the workforce.
“For these employees, such a large start towards a company sponsored retirement plan, in addition to their preexisting 401(k) Plan, is a game changer,” added Grabau. “Labor is, and will continue to be, one of the industry’s greatest challenges. We are proud of the employees who chose to join the Tanimura & Antle family and look forward to adding new employee owners each year.”
For the latest in fresh produce news, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
JM International Produce Inc.
Operating out of Los Angeles, California, this company has been restricted for failing to pay a $23,154 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jawaid Ismail was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
SLP Trading Corporation
Operating out of Los Angeles, California, this company has been restricted for failing to pay a $12,297 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jose Garcia and Viridiana Garcia were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business
New Direction Services
Operating out of Staten Island, New York, this company has been restricted for failing to pay a $24,160 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Wendy R. De Shong Neuhalfen was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
The Fruit Club
Operating out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this company has been restricted for failing to pay a $108,384 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Matthew Kleinsasser was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
WILLIAMSVILLE, NY - Tops Markets is making ground in its bankruptcy case after settling a major pension dispute that could have cost the company more than $180 million, according to a report by The Buffalo News. While the deal, struck between Tops, C&S Wholesale Grocer, and Teamsters Local 264, still needs to go before a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge for approval during a hearing on June 21, the settlement would resolve one of the retailer’s biggest financial hurdles.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement in principle with the Teamsters, which will allow us to provide important benefits to Teamsters’ members,” said Tops Public & Media Relations Manager Kathleen Romanowski. “It represents an important milestone in our financial restructuring efforts.”
If approved, the deal allows Tops to forego an expense of $100 million and resolve an ongoing disagreement of the last four years that has affected the retirement funds of more than 600 workers at a grocery warehouse in Lancaster that Tops acquired in December of 2013. As part of the deal, Tops, C&S Wholesale Grocers, which supplies about two-thirds of Tops’ merchandise, and the Teamsters, who represents the warehouse workers, will contribute a total of $15 million, which averages about $25,000 per eligible employee. This money will help replace part of the pension benefits that the warehouse workers would have accumulated since the end of 2013.
While the payment will not fully reimburse the warehouse workers, the Teamsters union is working on economic models to determine the best way to use the funds to offset the impact on workers, said Teamsters Local 264’s President Brian C. Dickman in a letter to workers.
As part of this economic model, the Teamsters is working on saving up its finances by providing the settlement with a cash infusion through the payment of the withdrawal liability that had been in dispute. According to The Buffalo News, C&S Wholesale Grocers will pay Tops’ obligation that is currently valued at nearly $95 million in today’s dollars. Tops has already paid $29 million toward that obligation, and, as a result, C&S will pay about $65 million to cover the rest of the money owed to the pension fund.
Will Tops Markets’ continue out of the bankruptcy trenches? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest in retail.