WENATCHEE, WA - As the year closes, some of us are looking back and wondering just exactly where the time has gone—so many dinners, so many desserts, and so little time. Google has offered some valuable insight into how consumers have been spending mealtime: making apple crisps! The internet titan has released its Top Ten Google Search Trends for 2017, and in one of the top slots for the recipe search list is apple crisps. Coming in at the 2nd most Google searched recipe, the tasty treat has proven to be a must-have after dinner – or maybe for dinner depending on who you ask – for many alike.
Here to speak with me on what this signals for the fresh produce industry and the impact of apples on the consumer shopping list of today, is Brianna Shales, Communications Manager at Stemilt.
“We were just informed, being an apple supplier, that apple crisp recipes were a top searched trend in food. This news relates to Stemilt because one of the things we work really hard on is content development—coming out with recipes or blog posts or material that is centered around what people are searching for. This helps us continue to be an authority on apples,” Brianna shares with me.
Now is the prime time for promoting the apple crisps search trend, with holidays in full swing and parties aplenty. While the company promotes the popular dessert, it also looks to accentuate the quality of its apples with a re-envisioning of the recipe.
“The recipe that we are promoting with the Google Year in Search logo is a lightened up apple crisp recipe, so it doesn’t use as much butter or sugar to allow more of the apples’ sweetness to shine through. That is the unique thing about the recipe that we are going to be sharing,” Brianna tells me.
Well, that sounds incredible, but “Where do I sign up?!” might be a question leaping from customers’ lips. Always ahead of the game, Brianna anticipates this with a ready answer: appleforthat.stemilt.
The website is made to address every consumers’ apple confusion, where they can insert what recipe they want to make before being told what apple works best for their tasty treat. So whether it’s a traditional recipe handed down from grandmas’ grandmas or a lightened-up version to bring out the crispy sweetness of your consumers’ favorite variety, apple crisps are here to stay, and consumers can find the perfect apple for the occasion! Brianna tells me that this is an excitement that can be felt beyond the apple industry.
Folks around the U.S. are looking to fresh produce for their recipe needs, as zucchini and yams join the menu agenda. “I just think its really exciting as a member of the produce industry that different produce items also showed up in the top 10, so you had yams at number nine, zucchini at number five, and apples at number two,” Brianna tells me.
Zucchini also made the Top Ten Google Search Trends for 2017 recipe search as Brianna mentioned, landing at number five, so there certainly seems to be a sparked interest in zoodle mealtime know-how and other creative ways to serve up the squash.
To speak about zucchini sitting high at number five, I tapped Anna Ligon from Southern Valley, who is just as excited to hear about the rise in vegetable-focused recipe trends. “I think it’s great to see that vegetables and fresh produce are continuing to be a trend, and that everyone is trying to be more health-conscious. I think that’s great to see and good for our industry,” she tells me.
Another produce item familiar to holiday spreads is yams, which came in at number nine on the top recipe search list, as well. I took a moment to reach out to Gina Pettit of Country Sweet Produce, who explains the appeal of items like yams and sweet potatoes beyond this specifically cozy and feast-focused time of year.
“Sweet Potatoes are increasingly popular around the holidays, but have recently become an everyday item for consumers as they find more ways to incorporate them in different meals through out the day. And, just to clarify for the sweet potato vs. yams debate, all yams are sweet potatoes but not all sweet potatoes are yams! Healthy eating trends have put sweet potatoes on the map by substituting them in meals like sweet potato chili, sweet potato nachos, sweet potato noodles - and the popular sweet potato toast,” Gina shares with me. “These simple, yet nutrient packed recipes give consumers the opportunity to maintain their healthy eating lifestyle without sacrificing taste. Eat more Sweets!”
So, apple crisps and yams hit the top of the list? It certainly looks like consumers are looking for healthier ways to appease their sweet tooth cravings! What’s more is consumers seem to like a well-rounded healthy plate, balancing out those sweet recipes with their savory zucchini meals.
As consumers race to their favorite supermarkets this holiday season, this is a great reminder that they are looking to the fresh produce aisle for their recipe needs. Side dishes, center-of-the-plate, and dessert dreams are made of fresh produce in our Christmas story, and it appears that consumers are all for it! Here’s to an even more produce-packed Google search next year.
With warm holiday wishes, we at AndNowUKnow wish you and your company every success this jolly season and beyond.
IRVING, TX – Home delivery and in-store pick-up is the new way to grocery shop, and retailers big and small are launching services across the country to meet demand. Hopping on the bandwagon of the grocery delivery craze, 7-Eleven is testing on-demand ordering for delivery or in-store pickup at select Dallas locations with its new 7-ElevenNOW smartphone app, with plans to roll out delivery in other U.S. locations in 2018. Embracing the digital transformation rocking the food industry at large, 7-Eleven plans to enhance its shopping footprint, as well as consumers’ digital shopping experience, both in-store and out.
“Today’s digitally savvy consumer expects a wide range of options right at their fingertips and 7‑Eleven is delivering on that promise,” said Gurmeet Singh, Chief Digital Officer, in a press release. “We continuously ask our consumers how we can make their lives better, and 7‑ElevenNOW is a proprietary solution to their on-demand needs. The app will enable our customers to get the products they want, when and where they want them, quickly and conveniently. This is redefining convenience.”
Via the app, customers can choose to receive direct delivery to their location—which, if selected, the app will auto-locate the nearest participating store and send it to a courier service, who then delivers to customers' homes—or pick up their prepared order at the participating store of their choice within the 7‑ElevenNOW footprint. Customers can choose from any of the retailer’s selection of snacks, cosmetics, gift cards, home goods, beverages, and more, as well as pay for both delivery and pick-up on the app.
“7‑Eleven has a legacy of innovation,” said 7‑Eleven President and CEO Joe DePinto. “We have been pioneering new trends in the convenience industry for 90 years. Our company was the first to offer coffee in to-go cups, operate 24/7, and provide a self-serve soda fountain. 7‑Eleven will always look for innovative ways to reach and excite our customers and maintain our leadership position in convenience retailing. Today, that means redefining convenience through digital innovation.”
7‑ElevenNOW is just one of several new services implemented by the 7‑Eleven digital team as part of a companywide commitment to providing value and delight for every customer experience. The digital team is also working on a full stack digital transformation, which includes the technology customers experience, as well as the technology that works behind the scenes to ensure seamless and effortless interactions. For more information about 7‑Eleven’s other innovations, visit 7-eleven.com.
As this new wave of convenience rocks convenience boats, will 7-Eleven hang ten amongst delivery behemoths Amazon and Walmart? AndNowUKnow will continue to report with the latest.
SEYMOUR, IN - Kroger is investing in its Ruler Foods brand, expanding the number of locations as well as giving the stores a revamped, produce-focused look. Ruler Foods, a discount format, has just opened two additional locations in Illinois, making 50 total number of locations for the banner across the U.S.
“We have high hopes for it and we’re pleased with the results so far,” Keith Dailey, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs at Kroger told the Cincinnati Business Journal. “The value shopper is a growing customer segment, one we think is here to stay. This concept store is helping us learn how to be relevant to value shoppers and create deep and lasting loyalty.”
The produce department has been moved front and center as well as expanded in the newly revamped Ruler stores, according to the Herald-Leader, and prices for fruits and veg have also been lowered. The source likens the remodel to those done by Aldi earlier in the year. As we reported in July of this year, Kroger tapped Aldi veteran Liz Ferneding as Ruler Division President, citing Ferneding’s talent and insights for value-centric and small-format stores.
The stores, which feature a new logo for the Ruler brand, are about 20,000-square-feet, about one-fifth the size of Kroger Marketplace stores. The Ruler division is headquartered in Seymour, Indiana, with now 50 stores operating in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.
LEAMINGTON, ON - With consumer tastes becoming increasingly interested in flavors and foods outside of the norm, Highline Mushrooms is celebrating a recent win for its latest launch. The company’s new Organic Mushroom Medleys were named Best New Product by judges last week in New York City.
“This is a great win for us because it rewards our commitment to innovation in the mushroom category,” said CEO Aaron Hamer. “We’ve heard loud and clear from consumers and retailers that they want new products that are focused on traits like taste, convenience, and being natural and organic. With our Organic Mushroom Medleys we accomplished all three of those in one new product.”
With three medley options, consumers have their choice of:
- Steakhouse Style
- Pasta Perfect
- Sizzling Stir Fry
The organic medleys introduce consumers to new mushroom varieties and cooking ideas, according to a press release, as well as provide convenient meal solutions.
“Mushrooms are very in right now and providing a convenient way for the consumer to try
more exotic varieties but in familiar meal applications has resonated extremely well,” stated
Jane Rhyno, Director of Sales. “The fact that they are organic is what consumers have come to expect from Highline given our status as the largest organic grower in the world.”
Congratulations to the Highline team on this latest recognition!
LONDON, UK – Stepping up to lead the pack across the pond is Tesco. The company's recently-announced acquisition of major U.K. food distributor Booker was given the green light this week, when the retailer was given approval by the Competition and Markets Authority to purchase the wholesaler for 3.7 billion pounds, equivalent to 4.95 billion USD. This move, orchestrated by Tesco's Chief Executive Dave Lewis, is expected to brighten the company’s opportunities, as it steps into the 195 billion pound catering portion of Britain's food market.
This deal has been long in the making, with the announcement of this takeover being made in January, and the move will help Tesco to walk out of 2017 on a high note. The transaction is expected to go through all the channels for both companies’ shareholders in February.
Though some analysts argued that the retailer was overpaying for the takeover, others disagree, according to a recent Reuters article.
“Lewis’ hand has recently been strengthened by a healthy set of half-year results, which included the resumption of a dividend. That may well be enough to get the shareholder base on board with the deal,” said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Laith Khalaf in Reuter's report.
This move is expected to shift Tesco’s influence into Britain’s "out of home" food market, which, the new source reports, is an area growing faster than the "in home" market. Tesco will instantly earn access to Booker’s footprint in the catering industry, serving roughly 450,000 caterers and out-of-home customers, as well as retailers like Caluccios, Wagamama, and Byron. Booker also brings 200 cash and carry warehouses and the 120,000 retailers it supplies to the deal—including Premier and Family Shopper convenience chains run by the franchise’s operations.
Tesco’s takeover of all these beneficial aspects was provisionally cleared in November by the CMA after an investigation that started in May, to the dismay of some competing retailers who were hoping to divest some aspects of the takeover.
“Retailers have told us that they shop around for the best prices and service from their wholesaler, and we are confident that this will continue after Tesco buys Booker,” said Simon Polito, Chair of the CMA inquiry group, in the same Reuters article.
As of 11 pm PST on December 19th, 0.861 new Tesco shares and 42.6 pence in cash are being offered by Tesco for every Booker share. As of 1233 GMT, Tesco shares were up 0.3 percent, and Booker’s shares were up 0.5. On this note, though, Tesco shares are flat so far this year, while Booker’s are up 31 percent, according to Reuters.
As this transition pans out, how will we see other retailers and the produce industry at large shift to protect itself against competing partnerships? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you up-to-date with the latest!
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Sweet Spud Love, the new e-book released by The Produce Moms™ in collaboration with Wada Farms, tells the history and nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes complemented with twenty sweet potato recipes and shares Wada Farms' story. The Produce Moms intend the e-book to meet its community’s demand for an approachable guide to understanding and cooking sweet potatoes.
“Interest over sweet potatoes has grown in recent years, especially within The Produce Moms community,” said Lori Taylor, Founder & CEO of The Produce Moms in a press release. “Much of the content included in this e-book grew out of commonly asked questions we receive from our community. Our audience is looking for kid-friendly, nutritious, and easy-to-make meals and that’s what guided our selection of recipes.”
Both The Produce Moms and Wada Farms approached the collaboration with the intention of meeting existing demand and driving further engagement from their community. The e-book begins with a guide to the nutritional makeup and health benefits of the tuber and then continues with an A to Z guide that answers questions ranging from how a sweet potato grows to how one should store sweet potatoes at home. The book even features recipes for the family dog!
“We pride ourselves in being a one-stop solution for produce buyers and the food service industries. Partnering with The Produce Moms and collaborating on the Sweet Spud Love e-book is just one more way that Wada Farms is driving customer engagement and encouraging consumers to try sweet potatoes,” said Eric Beck, Director of Marketing for Wada Farms.
A free copy of the e-book may be found here.
BAKERSFIELD, CA – The whirlwind that has been 2017 is drawing to a close, and before we look forward to 2018 and the opportunities it offers, Gruszka Consulting is looking back on what this year meant for fresh produce. Reviewing the state of the fresh fruit and vegetables business in the U.S., Gruszka Consulting has offered up a host of insights from the first three quarters of 2017 in the company’s latest Fresh Produce Review with data from FreshLook Marketing/IRI. Here to break it down for us is the man himself, Founder Phil Gruszka.
“2017 saw the fruit category boom. Overall, the category consistently saw growth in dollar sales, with price per pound up in each of the eight growing regions across all three quarters,” Phil shares with me. "Specific categories within the fruit category, such as berries, avocados, cherries, and tangerines, were the fresh fruit stand-outs of 2017. Berries continued their trend of strong multi-year growth. Avocados were also very strong in dollar trends, having one of the highest dollar growth rates, but were down in volume due to significant increases in pricing during the year. Cherries and tangerines also made the list for having the highest dollar growth rates through the first three quarters of the year."
The vegetable category, on the other hand, saw almost an equal dollar and pound growth for 52 weeks this year. According to FreshLook Marketing/IRI data, the only product categories that saw above average growth this year were bagged salads and potatoes–which accounted for almost 22 percent of all vegetable pound sales, unusual for potatoes–while in pound sales, peppers and cucumbers also performed above average.
"While all regions are currently up in dollar sales, there was a decrease in price per pound in the mid-south and south central growing regions," Phil adds.
Up and running for five years now, Gruszka Consulting is a full-service California-based consulting business, specializing in providing marketing services for the food and beverage industries.
Will the vegetable category take the reins of 2018 for a strong year in sales, and will the fruit category continue to excel across the board? AndNowUKnow and Gruszka Consulting will continue to report as 2018 blossoms before us.
MCALLEN, TX – As consumer demand for year-round fresh fruit and veggies continues to grow, fresh and flavorful tomatoes in the winter months can be a real boon for produce departments looking to increase impulse buys and drive repeat purchases.
With this in mind, I reached out to Antonio Villalobos, Executive Vice President for GR Fresh, to find out more about the winter season and what we can expect from the company’s winter tomato operations in Culiacan, Sinaloa, and South Baja California, Mexico.
“For our different winter programs we grow in the states of Guanajuato, South Baja California, Coahuila, Sonora, and Sinaloa—mainly these last two. Planting began back in September, and we have already started harvest on several of the products we offer, including cucumbers, squashes, bell peppers, hot peppers, grape tomatoes, carrots, and tomatoes from South Baja California,” Antonio explained. “Culiacan Roma and round tomato harvest will start next week and will be the main region where supplies will be coming from this winter season.”
Though the early onset of winter shortened GR Fresh’s summer program, Antonio noted that winter weather has, thus far, been amenable to growing.
“There are always challenges involved with weather in this business,” Antonio said. “Weather has been kind to us so far, and growing conditions have been good. We expect good supplies and very good quality, which we are already seeing in the items where harvest has already started.”
Antonio added that GR Fresh has ample supply of cukes and squashes right now, but the company does not expect major volume on tomatoes until February—noting that after a slow start, prices are beginning to go up in many categories, and pricing has been relatively high for tomatoes throughout the start of the winter season.
To best capitalize on winter tomatoes, Antonio noted that retailers can keep prices low when supplies are high in order to move product. He also suggests cross-promoting tomatoes with complementary products to drive attention to the category.
“I would like to see our retail partners marry tomatoes at the store display-level with like commodities such as salads or salad dressings and also creative dining recipes and ready-made take home dinner selections centered around tomatoes,” said Antonio.
For updates as the season progresses, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
MCLEAN, VA - Organics are once again growing in Gladstone Land Corporation’s portfolio of farmland with the addition of a new organic almond orchard in California for approximately $5.9 million. The orchard will now be Gladstone Land’s under a 20-year, triple-net sale-leaseback agreement that consists of a fixed cash rent, plus a variable rent component based on the annual gross crop revenues earned on the property.
"We are excited to add another organic, high-yielding farm to our farmland holdings. Recently, pricing for organic almonds has been at a premium of more than 100 percent over that of conventional pricing, with forecasted demand continuing to outpace supply,” explained President and CEO David Gladstone, in a statement, in which the company also announced it would be expanding its existing credit facility with MetLife, increasing the overall size from $200 million to $275 million.
“In addition, the expansion of our credit facility with MetLife should allow us to continue to acquire additional farms and increase the overall diversity of our farmland holdings,” added Gladstone. “Our hope is that the additional income from this new almond orchard and the added ability to acquire more farms from the facility expansion will allow us to continue to increase the distributions we pay to our shareholders. Please keep eating plenty of almonds and other healthy foods!”
As of September 30, 2017, the company’s estimated net asset value was $14.15 per share. Gladstone Land currently owns 73 farms, comprised of 63,014 acres in 9 different states across the U.S., valued at approximately $534 million.
"We are pleased to announce the addition of another almond orchard to our farmland portfolio," added Bill Reiman, Western Managing Director. "This farm is 100% organic and is currently in peak production, which should ensure excellent returns for us in the coming years. We have a long-term lease in place with a tenant whom we have a strong and established relationship with. We are always willing to help our current tenant-partners with their farmland needs."
As Gladstone Land continues to keep its eyes on new land acquisitions and diversifying its portfolio with fresh produce, AndNowUKnow will update you with the latest.
WENATCHEE, WA – Most kids who dream of making their way into outerspace don’t actually get to fulfill their interstellar aspirations; making the star trek, however, is a certain produce item customers know and love. CMI Orchards’ Envy™ apples are being sent within a shipment from Washington State to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a resupply mission to the International Space Station.
“We are delighted that our Envy apples were included aboard the latest SpaceX Dragon flight, resupplying the astronauts on the International Space Station,” said George Harter, Vice President of Marketing at CMI Orchards. “We think Envy is one of the best apples on the planet. Now they are the best apples in the universe too.”
The Wenatchee-based McDougall & Sons’ and Enza-approved growers within the evergreen state grow Envy apples, which were included in the 4,800-pound supply shipment sent to the space station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Liftoff for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was December 15th, and the commercial cargo mission launched for the cosmos from Space Launch Complex 40.
“As our retail customers have discovered, Envy apples are wonderfully unique,” said Harter, according to a press release. “Having the opportunity to support the important mission of the astronauts aboard the International Space Station with our Envy apples is a terrific honor. We think Envy is one of the best apples from the T&G apple breeding program in New Zealand. We’re so excited to be growing Envy here in Washington State.”
The crunchy texture of this variety pairs nicely with the incredible sweetness every bite offers. These dynamic apples are available beyond consumers’ wildest astronaut dreams, with increased production and supplies on our very own third rock from the sun.
“CMI’s Envy production is up 56 percent this year. This means more opportunities for supermarkets and consumers to make the Envy discovery," said Harter.
With so much production, consumers from all corners of the globe are able to take a bite out of the trend that is… ahem… skyrocketing. News of the apples’ launch is exciting because it is seemingly proving the company’s philosophy in a very literal way.
"For years, we've stated that sweet, crisp, and slow-to-brown Envy apples are 'out of this world', and now they literally are,” joked Chris Willett, Operations Manager for T&G Global, owners of the Envy apple brand. "But seriously, it is humbling for our Envy apples to be included in this mission, and we hope that they provide the International Space Station crew with a refreshing and healthy taste of home while they’re orbiting more than 200 miles above us.”
The talk of the town—well, solar system—is Envy apples, which are a registered trademark of brand owner T&G Global and are grown and marketed in the U.S. by CMI Orchards, Rainier Fruit Company, and Oppy. While some of us are trying to plant our feet firmly within the industry, it appears that Envy apples are shooting for the stars and landing on the International Space Station. Happy travels!