PLANT CITY & DOVER, FL – Despite fearsome-sounding weather and freezing temperatures hitting the East Coast and Gulf States, the outlook for Wish Farms’ strawberry crop is looking bright. Though temperatures reached well below freezing—reaching record-breaking lows in the area—the well-prepared strawberry grower was up to the challenge of keeping these beloved berries intact and thriving.
“Last night in the Plant City/Dover, Florida area, temperatures got down to about 28° F,” noted Amber Maloney, Director of Marketing. “Our growers ran overhead irrigation—a process that protects the fruit by forming an igloo of ice—around the strawberries and strawberry blooms to avoid frost. Ice melted off about 8:30 a.m. this morning, so water was able to drain with no problems. The whole process was successful and very manageable for our growers. There has been no long-term damage reported at this time.”
And while temperatures are expected to remain exceptionally cold through the weekend, Amber said that the Wish Farms team is confident in its continued ability to bring high-quality berries to market in the coming days and weeks.
“Tonight, we expect very similar temperatures (possibly a little colder), but nothing we can’t handle,” added Amber. “The cold weather is slowing down the berry ripening process, so supply will be very tight for the next week until temperatures return to normal. Weather is forecasted to stay cold through the weekend, but we are hopeful that, by Tuesday, we’ll be back to a regular picking schedule.”
For more information, visit Wish Farms’ Pixie Blog Post and check out Wish Farms' Facebook Live video assessing its strawberry fields. For more updates on important growers in the fresh food world, stay up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.
ASHEVILLE, NC – Following the success of last year’s Live Longer with Earth Fare® campaign, Earth Fare has decided to further challenge the industry and consumers by releasing The Clean Plate: A Guide to Living Longer—Earth Fare’s own healthy lifestyle magazine. The magazine aims to provide consumers and shoppers with information, to which they may not be privy, regarding how products find their way onto the shelves, why what we eat matters, and how to adopt clean eating habits through Earth Fare’s Food Philosophy. The magazine will be available online and in stores, according to a press release.
“Navigating a complex food system is difficult,” writes Earth Fare’s CEO, Frank Scorpiniti in a letter to the reader. “We believe that food is key to living a happier, healthier, and longer life. Let The Clean Plate be your guide. At Earth Fare, we believe that healthy food should be accessible to all Americans. The Clean Plate not only showcases the breadth of selection available at Earth Fare, but also illustrates how best to incorporate those products into our everyday lives. One year ago, we made a commitment to help Americans live a happier, healthier lifestyle, and The Clean Plate demonstrates our commitment to educating Americans on the important health aspects of what we put in our bodies.”
Earth Fare will continue to support shoppers in making healthy, budget conscious, family-friendly choices not only through the new publication but through its high-quality, high-value food products. All of Earth Fare’s 1,100 private food brands use only non-GMO ingredients, free from high fructose corn syrup, artificial fats and trans-fats, artificial colors, artificial preservatives, artificial sweeteners, bleached and bromated flour, and are never administered antibiotics or growth hormones.
To stay up to date with all healthy innovations in the produce industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
IRVINE, CA - New Year, new item—or so it seems for Taco Bell. Adding Nacho Fries to the dollar menu on January 25, Taco Bell is showing that it is stepping into 2018 with fries front and center, according to its recent press release. After a successful test run in Bakersfield, CA, and in West Virginia last spring, the restaurant chain is excited to launch its Nacho Fries in full force later this month.
The new potato menu item will be crispy to the touch, with Mexican seasoning that is only made more tempting by a side of warm nacho cheese—perfect for the dipping!
The potato-starring Nacho Fries is the latest menu item from the restaurant chain, which is attempting to release 20 new $1 options on menus and in test markets nationwide this year. In addition to these new options, the chain is releasing 20 mainstay menu items this year for just a dollar, too. The new snack is hopping onto the company's dollar menu, which, according to CNBC, garnered $500 million in sales in 2017.
There will be different versions of the fried potato dish: a la cart for $1, Supreme for $2.49, Bell Grande for $3.49, and a box option for $5.
Excited fans can follow along with the release of the new menu item by using the official hashtag #NachoFries, and they will be even more amped to find out that surprises are on their way for loyal customers to enjoy following the release.
Will Taco Bell add more produce items to its menu in new and exciting ways? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you in the loop!
WOLCOTT, NY - The Snap is Back with Crunch Time Apple Growers’ SnapDragon® apples.
Check out What’s in Store.
Monster Crunch
One bite from the SnapDragon and you’ll understand why this unique apple sells so quickly.
Serious Snap
Developed by the apple craftsmen at Cornell University, using seeds from the popular Honeycrisp variety, SnapDragon is a crisp, extra sweet apple, bursting with juice.
Sweet and Spicy
A subtle hint of spice gives the SnapDragon its distinct, artisanal flavor.
Seek the Snap
Our sought-after apples have sold out every season since its inception. And though supplies are ample, high demand for our flavorful fruit means it won’t be here for long.
The Perfect Fresh Eating Apple
Our in-demand apples are perfect for those living the SnapDragon lifestyle and tracking down on-trend and always-healthy new items that pack a snap.
SnapDragon apples are available mid-fall through the new year, but with eye-catching packaging and point-of-sales material, supplies won’t last long. So snap to it with SnapDragon apples, and contact your representative today.
PHOENIX, AZ - Resuming its plans for rapid growth, Sprouts Farmers Market has added six more locations to its 2018 strategy. Spanning five states and slated to join the banner’s chain in the second quarter of 2018, this brings Sprouts’ new store count for the New Year up to about 30 across the U.S.
“Sprouts’ knowledgeable and friendly team members are the hallmark of our stores,” said Dan Sanders, Chief Operations Officer. “We’re excited to meet our new neighbors in Simpsonville and introduce them to our fresh, natural, and organic products at value prices across the store.”
The new Sprouts stores will open in:
- Augusta, GA
- Charlotte, NC
- Lincoln, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Simpsonville, SC
- Sparks, NV
These are in addition to the multi-state expansion announced last October, and the latest store in Simpsonville, SC, represents Sprouts’ 16th state and the grocer’s eastern expansion efforts, according to a press release.
The retailer’s plans to also open stores in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington state this year effectively bring its state count to 19 before 2019.
A list of stores by region, as well as locations coming soon, can be found at sprouts.com/stores/search.
Applications and immediate opportunities are listed at sprouts.com/careers. Each store will bring approximately 120 new career opportunities to its local neighborhood. Grand opening dates and hiring information will be shared at a later date.
NIXA, MO – Talk about a great start to 2018—ringing in the New Year in a new position is Jeff Patterson, the newest member to join Market Fresh Produce’s Business Development Team.
Patterson will join the St. Louis, MO, campus, where he will report directly to VP of Strategy, Mike Kemp. In his new role, Patterson will be in charge of generating new customers, building customer relationships, and driving new business across all U.S. markets. To do this, Patterson will leverage full suite of product services related to fresh produce.
With 35 years of leadership, merchandising, organization development, sourcing, and sales planning experience in the produce industry, Patterson’s expertise will guide his endeavors in his new role. His previous positions in the produce industry include retail and wholesale experience like BI-LO Supermarkets, Sav-A-Center Supermarkets, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Minyard’s Food Stores, Niemann Foods, Inc., and Nash Finch Company. On top of his career experience, Patterson went to Northern Illinois University and received his Certificate of Business from Rock Valley College.
As one of the fastest growing brands in the produce industry, Patterson's efforts will support the company's continued endeavors with its commodities like avocados, peppers, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and more.
From all of us at AndNowUKnow, congratulations to Jeff Patterson and Market Fresh Produce! We wish you every success in your endeavors during and after 2018!
RALEIGH, NC – With 14 years of produce industry experience under his belt, Jon Shriver joins L&M’s Eastern Veg Team. After spending the first 11 years of his career working east coast dry vegetables, specifically focusing on Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan depending on the season, Jon recently began focusing on business development and selling for Mexican vegetables, operating in Nogales, AZ, and McAllen, TX.
“We all are very excited to welcome Jon to the L&M veg team, his professionalism, high energy, commitment to service, and extensive business experience is a great fit for the company,” said Hurley Neer, Sales & Operations Manager for the Eastern Veg division, in a press release.
L&M focuses on planting strategically on its farms up and down the east coast in order to provide a constant supply of vegetables from seasonally correct regions, and Jon’s experience in these areas will be an excellent complement to L&M’s vegetable program.
“Jon’s knowledge and experience on the east coast as well as Nogales is a perfect match with L&M’s full vegetable program,” said Greg Cardamone, General Manager for Vegetables and Potatoes. “Jon will incorporate his experiences with our team on expanding customer program business, adding further value to our farms, and delivering that value to our customers.”
L&M has been growing vegetables for over 30 years with farms in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Michigan, in addition to seasonal Mexican veg, overall working to provide customers with uninterrupted year-round supply.
Congratulations, Jon Shriver on the new position! For more news like this, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
CALIFORNIA – After a huge ridge of atmospheric pressure peaked off the West Coast, pushing potential rain out of the bay and up north and causing one of the driest Decembers on record, rain has finally returned to the Bay and much of the rest of California on Wednesday. Though Californians hope the rain will continue, meteorologists are still uncertain.
“I would say the storm door is cracked open a little bit,” said Steve Anderson, Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in an interview with The Mercury News. “It’s not wide open. But we’re finally getting the high pressure out of here so systems can start coming into the west. Not a whole lot. Just enough to settle the dust.”
Meteorologists predict just two-tenths to half of an inch of rain in most cities, although costal ranges and the North Bay mountains may see more according to The Mercury News. But, with a second storm expected on Friday and another, more substantial fall Tuesday or Wednesday next week, the North Bay can look forward to the possibility of more substantial rainfall.
This dry December follows a recent trend, with last December having been the second driest on record in San Jose and the fourth driest in San Francisco. But this year has been especially dry, with San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco all receiving 2.5 times less rain that just last year. With Wednesday’s rain perhaps the fates have turned, as even sunny Southern California may have a chance of rain in the coming days.
CHARLESTON, SC – This week winter weather hit the East Coast hard; a rare winter storm brought record-low temperatures to the Southeast United States, while the rest of the coast—from Virginia to Maine—prepared for the eventuality of a “bomb cyclone”—a violent cold weather phenomenon approaching the strength of a category 1 hurricane.
According to a Reuters report, the governors of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina have all declared a state of emergency—warning residents of unsafe travel conditions, the threat of widespread power outages, and unseasonable and potentially dangerous freezing temperatures.
The U.S. National Weather Service issued a series of blizzard warnings, extending from the Chesapeake north to the Canadian border, with winter weather advisories—including freeze and hard freeze warnings from Florida to Texas—blanketing the vast majority of the Eastern half of the U.S. And, a CNN report noted that severe weather alerts are in place for each and every East Coast state.
Already, ground and air travel have been affected, with runways at the Charleston International Airport in South Carolina reportedly closing on Wednesday, and Highway Patrol officers reporting a number of accidents throughout the region.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report of the ways in which this and other severe weather formations affect the produce industry.
SALINAS, CA – With the New Year upon us, consumers scramble to maintain their resolutions and their waistlines: Tanimura & Antle has started a New Year–Fresh Start program, which will run January 9th through January 30th, to help consumers start the year off with healthy choices. The promotion features Tanimura & Antle’s Artisan Lettuce and Artisan Romaine and aims to attract both trade and consumer audiences.
The promotion will not only feature the new eye-catching package label (a crisp, classic font, in white on clear minimal packaging) but will also include consumer sweepstakes, incentives for retailer participation, store signage, blogger-influencers, and, of course, social media.
“Tanimura & Antle Artisan Lettuce and Artisan Romaine have emerged as two of our most popular products over the last few years and are among our key differentiators as a company,” stated Jeffrey Jackson, Chief Marketing Officer. “Historically, Tanimura & Antle promotions have proved to engage consumers and build brand equity in our Artisan product line.”
From information on the packaging label, consumers may arrive at a landing page that includes not only entrance to the sweepstakes (which offers consumers high odds of winning prizes such as a FitBit Blaze, a reusable grocery bag, a sports water bottle, and a salad bowl kit), but also a section where they may download healthy eating tips to start the New Year off right.
“One of our own New Year’s resolutions as a company is to continue to explore ways we can support and partner with our customers in a way that is mutually beneficial to the objectives of both parties,” said Ashley Pipkin, Senior Manager of Marketing. “We’re excited to start 2018 by supporting our retail partners with this promotion and to have the opportunity to connect with our consumer fans.”
The company plans to share inspo and tips throughout the promotion and will collaborate with four blogger-influencers on Facebook Live events, blog posts, and more healthy eating content.
To keep up to date on all the freshest marketing tips stay tuned to AndKnowUKnow.