SANTA PAULA, CA - In honor of Earth Day, Limoneira is putting the spotlight on sustainable farming practices. The company believes that the earth is humanity’s most precious resources and with that in mind is doing all things possible to protect it while producing citrus fruit for a global consumer base.
Limoneira is proud to share the following highlights for itself and its sustainability efforts:
- Limoneira is the largest-vertically integrated lemon supplier in the United States
- More than just lemons—oranges, grapefruit, and other citrus varietals are also found on Limoneira’s orchards
- Got guacamole? Limoneira is one of the largest avocado growers in the United States
- Limoneira’s distribution routes are global, feeding hungry consumers worldwide
- Limoneira has six solar installations across the company, located in Santa Paula, CA
- These installations produce a total 4.2M KW annually
- In doing so, they reduce 86,150 tons of CO2 over a 25-year period
- An additional solar project is planned which will add 2.8M KWs for a total of 7M KW annually; these solar installations will allow Limoneira to operate 50 percent off grid
- The company also stores energy–Limoneira uses a Tesla 400,000 KW Scalable Energy Storage System–which both reduces costs and improves reliability
- 12-acre facility diverts green waste from landfills; resulting mulch reduces water, herbicide, and fertilizer use strengthens tree roots and gets more nutrients to trees
- Limoneira water ponds uses patented technology that treats grey water to CA title 22 drinking standards
- In tandem with solar energy, Limoneira is using a combination of other 21st century technologies such as drones and GPS-moisture monitoring to produce delicious crops as sustainably as possible
- The company is a leader in providing Farm Worker Housing and uses drought friendly landscaping at these homes
According to a press release, Limoneira is working to build local sustainable communities. Currently, Limoneira is building a live-walk-work community named Harvest at Limoneira, which will include homes, a school, parks, and an athletic center, along with infrastructure and commercial space to support new jobs and investment opportunities for the community.
Find out more about Limoneira’s sustainability mission on its YouTube channel. To read the biographies of the global chefs and mixologists; nutritionists; and beauty, lifestyle, and green cleaning experts, who have partnered with Limoneira to share their knowledge with the customers of the company’s grocery and food service partners around the world, visit the Limoneira website. In addition, Limoneira’s YouTube and Instagram pages feature recipes, DIY cleaning, health tips, and citrus living ideas with Spokesperson and Healthy Grocery Girl Megan Roosevelt.
To stay in the know on all things citrus, visit the Limoneira platforms, and to stay in the know on the produce industry, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
RIVERSIDE, CA - In an effort to strengthen relationships and inform growers, Index Fresh has announced the next iteration of its Seminar Series—held May 8-10 in San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and San Diego counties.
“We believe it is our role at Index Fresh to host avocado cultural seminars to provide actionable material on timely and pertinent avocado topics,” said Keith Blanchard, California Field Manager, in a press release. “Topics for the seminar in May include soil science, pH and sulfur generators, and sustainability.”
Index Fresh noted in a press release that its seminar series, developed in 2011 in order to strengthen relationships with avocado growers, addresses pain points, introduces innovative ways for orchard care, and provides useful market information. Index Fresh has invited experts from around the world to speak on topics including: orchard rejuvenation, export markets, polyphagous shot hole borer, pollination, farm labor outlook, California water issues, managing avocado crop, and more.
To attend the May seminar, interested parties can contact the Index Fresh Field Team and learn more about the series at www.indexfresh.com/seminar-series. The schedule for the company’s subsequent October seminar will be announced in September.
For more fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
AUSTIN, TX - In the wake of the company’s recent summit that sought to ease worries from vendors, new rumors are swirling about Whole Foods’ next marketing move to boost sales. In light of the recent push-back the company has been dealing with after its merger with Amazon, CNBC reported that an Austin, Texas, store considered launching a new 10 percent Amazon Prime discount after gaining access to test marketing materials for the promotion.
Late Wednesday night, banners for the promotion were hung, only to be taken down in the early hours of Tuesday morning. No official announcement was made and finalized marketing material was not set, so the discount promotion remains speculative.
“We’re not testing this offer at any of our stores,” a Whole Foods spokesperson told CNBC.
One of the banners focuses on Amazon Prime members, stating, “blue signs mean special deals just for you, yes you,” according to the news source.
Most recently, Amazon has extended offers to engage with customers and its vendors, such as its Prime membership Visa rewards card that puts five points cash back, as well as its free delivery service on groceries from Whole Foods.
Will this promotion flesh out and become the next move Whole Foods makes as it continues to take shape under its Amazon ownership? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you updated with the latest!
MARLBORO TOWNSHIP, NJ - As an avid shopper of Trader Joe’s and consistent purchaser of delivery, I have certainly wished for a mobile option from the retailer. It turns out, thanks to sad reactions to a recent April Fools prank by the mayor’s office of a New Jersey township, I’m far from alone.
Marlboro Township’s Mayor, Jon Hornik, released a statement last week announcing the area would be privy to a “world-wide launch of ‘Trader Joe’s Mobile.’” Despite a few subtle hints, which I could only spot because I was in on the joke prior to actually reading the memo, it seems like an excited reveal of some great news for the area’s consumers.
If you don’t note that the move goes into effect on April 1st.
A number of comments on the post displayed excitement for the news, and despair for the realization that Trader Joe’s was not, in fact, suddenly within reach.
“Stop getting our hopes up Mayor! Obviously this a April Fool's joke, and so mean…” one reader wrote on Facebook.
“I'll admit it, the township got me hook, line, and sinker. Mostly due to wishful thinking I guess,” wrote New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio’s Erin Vogt.
Vogt posed hope, however, that the pain of the prank could yet spur Trader Joe’s to make our dreams come true. There certainly was a resounding reaction from the consumer-side that argued for a demand for such a move to be made.
Depend on AndNowUKnow to keep you up-to-date with all the validity of the latest produce industry news as we get through the aftershocks of the holiday for jokesters.
MONTEREY, CA - Offering digestible information about multi-billion-dollar fresh organic produce supply chain management industry—including day-to-day production, sales, and distribution—is 2018’s Organic Produce Summit (OPS). With the help of industry leaders from major aspects of the supply chain, the event includes two educational breakout sessions diving into both opportunities and difficulties seen in the organic supply chain.
“OPS attendees will have the opportunity to learn from six leaders within the organic produce industry,” said Susan Canales, President of the Organic Produce Summit. “Each speaker represents a company that has found success with their supply chain management, and their insights will benefit those actively involved in the supply chain, as well as those seeking a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities of providing organic fresh produce 24/7/365.”
Organic Supply Chain I—Opportunities and Challenges
- Panelists: Rod Braga, President and CEO of Braga Fresh Family Farms; Will Feliz, CEO of Wawona Packing Company; and Roger Pepperl, Marketing Director for Stemilt
- Moderator: Jan DeLyser, Vice President of Marketing for the California Avocado Commission
This session offers insight into the challenges and opportunities experienced on the growing side of organic fresh produce, exploring land use, labor and immigration, organic inputs, production and harvesting, and technology and automation.
Organic Supply Chain II—Opportunities and Challenges
- Panelists: Ken Reagan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for State Garden/Olivia’s Organics; Michael Castagnetto, Vice President of Global Sourcing for Robinson Fresh; and Rodney Bonds, Vice President of Supply Chain for Sprouts Markets
- Moderator: Jeff Jackson, Chief Marketing Officer for Tanimura & Antle
From transport to receiving, this session explores post-harvest problems and solutions and discusses food safety, audits, certification, processing and repacking, cold chain management and inventory, and rules and protocols.
According to a press release, OPS is also bringing more educational opportunities to the table with the following sessions at this year’s summit:
- Deep Dive - Organic Sales Analysis and the Why Behind the Buy: This session goes through data in sales, trends, and analysis for the organic fresh produce industry.
- Organics and the Media - New Landscape of Information: This session explores media coverage and purpose, as well as ways the industry can communicate benefits of the organic fresh produce industry effectively.
- E-Grocery and the Future of Organic Fresh Produce at Retail: This session provides insight into the blossoming e-grocery business, featuring leaders from Peapod, Instacart, and Sun Basket.
- Organic Ingredients - Creating New Opportunities in the Produce Department: This session dives into innovation, merchandising, and new global organic fresh product ingredient supply chains.
As part of the two-day OPS 2018 festivities, three keynote presenters for OPS 2018 are the following: Ed Carolan, President of Campbell Fresh; Dan Buettner, renowned journalist and Blue Zones discoverer; and Geoff White, President of OWN Brands. In addition to these opportunities, OPS 2018 offers field tours for retailers and buyers, a gala opening night reception, and a trade show featuring 13 producers and processors from the organic fresh produce industry throughout North American and the world.
Wanting more OPS 2018 details? Check out the website: www.organicproducesummit.com.
Wanting more industry news? Stick with us at AndNowUKnow!
UNITED STATES - President Donald Trump had some harsh words for online—and, more recently, on-ground—retailer Amazon this week. After an Axios report published Wednesday, March 28, 2018, suggested that the President “hates” and “is obsessed with” Amazon, the President took to Twitter in an effort to articulate his anti-Amazon position.
“I have stated my concerns with Amazon long before the Election,” tweeted President Trump the following day. “Unlike others, they pay little or no taxes to state & local governments, use our Postal System as their Delivery Boy (causing tremendous loss to the U.S.), and are putting many thousands of retailers out of business!”
That same day, in a CNBC report, former Walmart CEO and current Darden Restaurants board member Bill Simon even suggested that Congress should begin looking at breaking up Amazon.
"They're not making money in retail, and they're putting retailers out of business," Simon told CNBC. "It's anti-competitive, it's predatory, and it's not right."
An editorial published by The Wall Street Journal that day rebuffed the President’s complaints, explaining that “the executive branch can’t do much to hurt Amazon” and noting that Amazon collects billions of dollars in state sales tax throughout the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal also observed that the allegations that Amazon may have an unfair competitive advantage are “quarter-baked” and noted the symbiotic nature of the relationship between the U.S. Postal Service and the online retailer.
“Though imperfect, the deal is mutually beneficial,” said the The Wall Street Journal editorial board. “The Post Office arguably needs Amazon more than Amazon needs the Post Office.”
Will the President’s comments continue to foment anger at the online retailer? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
PLANT CITY, FL - Wish Farms and its magical mascot Misty the Garden Pixie begin shipping their berry sweet summer treats this month, with shipments out of Santa Maria, California, beginning April 2nd and Salinas, California, shipments following shortly after.
Though high volumes are a few weeks behind after the challenging March weather, Amber Maloney, Director of Marketing, is happy to report that the company expects the crop to bounce-back by the end of April with steady volumes of excellent quality berries.
“The Cabrillo and Monterrey varieties have historically yielded us nicely shaped and great tasting berries. We expect that to continue this season,” Amber says. “Supply is currently tight. Demand exceeds supply for the Easter holiday and going into April. Coupled with high demand, prices have gone up substantially within the last couple of weeks, but there will be plenty of promotable volume before Mother’s Day; a popular holiday to push strawberries.”
When I ask Amber how retailers can tap into the popularity of strawberries to drive sales for upcoming spring and summer holidays, she explains that sampling events are a wonderful way to get berries moving.
“Sampling events are an effective way to excite the shopper’s senses right there in the store,” she elaborates. “We’ve found that when a consumer has the opportunity to sample strawberries and has a positive in-store experience, it energizes even the most skeptical consumers to make a purchase. One tactic we’ve seen used effectively is tie-in merchandising. When products are displayed in close proximity to berries, it is a great way to get the consumer’s attention. When these pairings are readily available it provides a shopper with some inspiration, generally making the decision to purchase easier.”
With summer glimmering on the horizon and blue skies in sight, it will soon be a great time to market strawberries as a refreshing reprieve from warm weather. And, with all of the holidays summer brings, opportunities to sell large volumes of strawberries abound.
To stay in the know on market and crop conditions across the produce industry, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
AUSTRALIA - I’m 100 percent an impulse purchaser when it comes to fruit and veg. While I note appearance, I’m really looking for the best vibes and which items are going to be stars on my dinner plate later in the week. And if I had walked into the produce aisle of a grocery store in Wilbinga, Western Australia, in February, I would have left with a star of all stars, a berry to beat all berries, a blueberry of epic proportions.
At 12.38 grams, 0.436 ounces, this Australian blueberry, larger than a quarter, took the cake as the World’s Heaviest Blueberry, according to the Guinness World Records—and no it wasn’t Violet Beauregarde hanging out in the produce aisle, someone checked.
For reference, the typical blueberry weighs 0.75 grams give or take, which means the World’s Heaviest Blueberry was sixteen times heavier than your everyday, run of the mill berry. That’s a whole lot of berry.
A blueberry so hefty, it has me imagining some of the best crooners of our time—Fats Domino, Louis Armstrong, Elivs Presley, Little Richard—skedaddling to the nearest grocery store to belt out “I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill” to a new muse.
For more on the latest fruit defying norms, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
ONTARIO, CANADA - Fields of flowers are not the only thing blooming this season. Westmoreland-TopLine Farm's local program is expanding to better assist customers’ needs throughout the year. To learn about this step and more, I reached out to Account Marketing Manager Jimmy Coppola.
“Our local and winter programs offer the same great, flavorful selection year-round. We tailor our winter program to reflect our offerings come local season so that our partners can expect the same great items 365 days a year,” Jimmy tells me.
Of the wide array of produce, Jimmy explains that the company’s lineup includes beefsteak, cluster, Roma, cocktail, grape, and cherry tomatoes; bell, long sweet, mini sweet, and some hot peppers; seedless, mini seedless, and cocktail cucumbers; and eggplant, among others.
In addition to these items, the company’s organic line is expanding, Jimmy shares. And the company has big plans for the increased acreage, with even more exciting news regarding the full spectrum of its current line.
“We have increased our organic offerings, as well. Very soon, we’ll have an organic item for almost every item we grow. We also have expanded our acreage on our sanZano ‘San Marzano’ style greenhouse Roma tomato, which is definitely something everyone will want to be sure to try,” Jimmy reveals.
To accommodate such a broad-ranging list of produce, the company has plans to expand its local operations after just recently acquiring 160 acres of land, with a first phase build of 24 acres that will be in production in the fall of 2018.
“The ever-increasing demand for consistently high-quality produce will help offset the increased acreage,” Jimmy explains.
The excitement swirling around the program's growth can only be matched by the consumers who will turn to their foods as they curate their own special happenings this coming season.
SALINAS, CA - As we’ve reported, tumultuous weather has hit the Golden State hard, challenging growers to adapt to the circumstances and tightening markets for retailers. I spoke with Dan Canales, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Processing for Ippolito International—as the company transitions its veg commodities from Yuma, Arizona, to the Salinas Valley in California—to discuss how the team is not only adapting, but finding a conceptual sunny spot in which it can thrive.
“From a Yuma perspective, it was almost too good,” Dan says of the season’s quality. “The above-normal temperatures for almost all of November through February created a surplus of product, with commodities running one or two weeks ahead of our budgeted harvest dates. On the positive side, we had very nice quality and above-normal yields and weights.”
But the frost that followed delivered the grower some challenges, which Dan explains caused the epidermal peel and after effects.
“Too much volume on the front end of the season caused everyone to be ahead of schedule by almost one to two weeks,” he shares. “Salinas was also having too nice of weather for the early plantings and bringing product on. Everyone was bracing for low markets without much disruption, then the freeze hit in Yuma and now the rains up North and along the Southern California coast, which are enough to disrupt things.”
Dan further explained how the two weather systems impacted crops.
“From December through most of February we had many days and nights with significant above-normal temperatures. Crops that were budgeted around April 9th were running a good 7 to 10 days ahead of schedule. In late February, the weather made a 180 degree turn. Winter finally arrived with very cold days and nights pushing crops from being ahead of schedule to probably on budgeted harvest date schedule in Yuma,” Dan continues. “The three different rain events over the last three weeks have made it very challenging to stay on budgeted planting schedules up North, both on direct seeded and transplants. We have been fortunate with our very diversified ground base in Monterey County—although significantly challenged, we have been able to get all of our budgeted plantings and acres in on scheduled dates, or very close to them. It is a little too early to tell how the recent heavy rains will impact our crops, but with more favorable weather this week in the Salinas Valley, disruption may be minimal."
Despite all of these seemingly traumatic forces propelled by Mother Nature, Dan reports that the season looks to be back on track.
"We’ve had a nice little bump in the market pricing over the last several weeks on a few items and that has helped," Dan says. "Although it won’t entirely wipe away the long duration of low pricing and accumulative lost acres from the beginning of the desert deal we all went through, it all helps."
“Yuma season, for the most part, is now back on track with the exception of a couple of items that may be a week ahead or a week behind,” Dan continues. “From a Salinas Valley perspective, we look to be on track on paper, but we will be getting updates as we get closer to transition."
Ippolito's Salinas Valley Asparagus program started at least two weeks ahead of schedule in February due to unseasonably high temperatures, Dan explained, but lettuce, romaine, and cauliflower have all been pretty good, and though brussels sprouts have been trading at historical low prices, the prices are now creeping upward with asparagus trading at a nice level as well.
To stay in the know on the produce market and the forces that shape it, keep reading AndNowUKnow.