CHELAN, WA - At Chelan Fresh, we pride ourselves on providing the highest quality fruit—fresh from our family to yours.
From our farms to your fork, Chelan Fresh is bringing five generations and more than 30 years of organic farming experience to bear with its Cascade Crest Organics brand.
Here’s What’s in Store.
With cutting-edge organic growing practices, safe and sustainable farming operations, and using state-of-the-art packing technology engineered to ensure quality and consistency, Cascade Crest Organics' innovative farming and harvesting processes are primed to give consumers the best possible product.
Our customers can rest easy with peace of mind that our fruit is grown, stored, and packed with the utmost care and commitment to quality and food safety.
From in-demand apples like Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp, to staples like Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Anjou, Bartlett, and Bosc pears, we offer an array of organic treefruit in value-added, two-pound variety-specific pouch bags.
Our convenient, high-graphic Cascade Crest Organics pouch bags offer easy-to-read info on our fruit’s weight, volume, variety, and flavor profile.
With helpful usage tips and packaging designed to display our organic fruit’s handsome hues, Cascade Crest Organics pouch bags are ideally-suited to drive sales and take advantage of burgeoning organic apple and pear growth.
So, contact your Chelan Fresh sales representative today, and find out how we can be Better Together.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - Many folks in the New Orleans area, Gulf Coast, and Florida will have a happy body full of delicious, healthy, and fresh food after donations roll in from this year’s Fresh Summit 312,490 pounds of fruits and vegetables will be distributed to food-insecure patrons, making life a little easier for some.
The donation of food will help Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana and to banks helping hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast and Florida. The icing on the cake is that life not only tastes a bit sweeter after these donations, it also smells a lot lovelier after floral exhibitors donated potted plants to be distributed amongst food bank agencies for local hospitals.
“We’re so honored to receive this amazing gift from the exhibitors at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Convention & Expo,” said Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana Food Sourcing Manager Megan Nuismer. “Finding high-quality produce for those we serve is sometimes a challenge, and this donation will help us feed thousands of our neighbors in need across Louisiana. And ten trucks of this produce will be delivered by Feeding America to victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida.”
The contribution of fresh produce is the largest the Food Bank will receive this year. The organization provides 582 partners and programs across 23 parishes food and is the largest anti-hunger network in the state, proving it to be a leader in fighting hunger within Southern Louisiana. In addition to its drive to help those within the local communities, the organization is a member of the national Feeding America® network of food banks, which only further highlights its attention to those in need of nourishment locally and nationally.
PMA teamed up with Feeding America to donate produce to the Gulf Coast and Florida food banks to specifically address the needs of hurricane victims this year. Two of the organizations handing out the donations are The Houston Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
“The most vulnerable people in our community are still trying to regain their footing after Hurricane Irma,” said Dave Krepcho, President & CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. “We are thankful that the Produce Marketing Association is remembering our community’s situation with a donation of truckloads of fresh show-quality fruits and vegetables,” added Krepcho.
Exhibitors at PMA had the added options to send extra produce that was specifically noted for hurricane victims or make cash donations to any of Feeding America’s affiliated food banks.
“Now more than ever, Houston Food Bank is relying on the help of the community to take care of our neighbors in need,” says Brian Greene, Houston Food Bank President. “We thank the Produce Marketing Association and its compassionate members for the generosity to Houston Food Bank and the people we serve. Having access to produce can be a challenge for people in need, therefore donations like this is vital to our community.”
Year after year, this trend continues to benefit thousands of local residents by filling their stomachs with healthy foods and making them smile with beautiful flowers. Those who typically go hungry within the region receive between 250,000 to 300,000 pounds of fresh produce, which donated after the conventions draw to a close.
“After the expo closes, one of the most awe-inspiring aspects of Fresh Summit is our exhibitors’ generous donation of produce and floral items to the local food bank network,” said PMA CEO Cathy Burns. “It is really humbling to see their continued generosity each year, and to be a part of an industry that works so hard to help individuals and communities in need.”
As the amount of produce donated by PMA’s Fresh Summit stays steady, the convention proves to be perpetually beneficial for not only the industry, but also to the communities with whom it interacts.
BOISE, ID – Affirming its commitment to expansion online and on-ground, Albertsons Companies LLC has reported Q2 fiscal results for the period ending September 9, 2017. The company cited accelerated online growth and continued efforts to expand its Own Brands line as highlights of the quarter.
"We remain focused on our customers' needs by providing full, fresh, friendly, and clean stores and have accelerated the expansion of our ecommerce and digital offerings," said Bob Miller, Chairman and CEO. "With the expansion of home delivery and click-and-collect, together with the acquisition of Plated, we are making progress in serving our customers wherever, whenever, and however they want to purchase food. Our identical store sales continued to improve sequentially over the last two quarters, as deflationary pressures have lessened and our merchandising plans were tailored to meet our customers' needs. In addition, we continue to add innovative products to our Own Brands portfolio as we increase penetration."
Albertsons noted the following positive takeaways from a quarter that saw the company investing in continued ecommerce growth:
- Accelerated growth of online business
- Enhanced digital and online offerings
- Growth in Own Brands penetration
- Converted IT Systems of 82 Albertsons bannered stores
- Acquired Plated, a premier provider of meal kits
- Opened 17 new and acquired stores and remodeled 80 stores year to date
- Supported local communities in hurricane relief efforts
While Albertsons seemed optimistic in its expansive agenda, fiscal highlights from the quarter were mixed. The company cited an adjusted EBITDA of $485.2 million or 3.5% of sales—compared with $573.7 million or 4.1% of sales from the second quarter of 2016. Net sales decreased 0.2% to $13,831.7 million from $13,856.1 million last year.
Same store sales for Q2 2017 declined 1.8% compared to an increase of 0.1% for the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The company noted, however, that its 2017 results represent a sequential improvement from a decline of 2.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and a decline of 3.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, Albertsons noted, identical store sales were impacted by a lack of food price inflation and making selective investments in price to increase sales.
Gross profit margin decreased to 27.0% for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to 27.2% for the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Excluding the impact of fuel, gross profit margin decreased 10 basis points—a decrease the company attributed to selective investments in price and an increase in shrink expense as a percentage of sales.
For more information, see highlights from Albertsons' SEC filing here.
CHICAGO, IL – Peapod joins major companies Kraft Heinz, Hillshire Brands, and McDonald’s in an exodus from the suburbs to the city. According to a Crain’s report, the online grocery delivery company announced today that it is moving its headquarters to downtown Chicago. The company is looking into occupying one full floor of a recently renovated 1.1 million-square-foot building along the Chicago River.
“Since Peapod was founded in Chicago in 1989 as the country’s first online grocer, we have always considered this city our home,” said Walt Lentz, President, in a statement. “Moving our headquarters downtown will allow us to become a bigger part of the Chicago business community and invest in the city’s diverse pool of talent while also growing our business throughout the country.”
Since being vacated by multiple companies over the past couple of years, the current owners – a group led by investors Joseph Mizrachi and David Werner – have put millions of dollars into renovating Peapod’s potential new home base with a new lobby, outdoor lounge, winter garden, and fitness center. This move could also make Peapod a neighbor of Amazon’s, who is also looking nearby as a possible destination for its second headquarters.
Between its Chicago area headquarters, Peapod has around 300 corporate workers, and Crain’s reports a Peapod executive affirming that the company would be consolidating its corporate workforce into one big office in the city in a move designed to attract and retain talent.
Will Peapod's move reap benefits for the online grocer? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
CHICAGO, IL – Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) wants to help keep your fresh produce on shelves longer with the help of Hazel Technologies’ developing revolutionary resolution. A $600,000 development grant from the USDA through SBIR will enable the organization to continue to explore the fresh produce export marketplace to enhance technology so that the world—and your business—have less food waste.
“The USDA awarded this grant based off endorsements from growers who have tested our technologies,” said Aidan Mouat, CEO and Co-Founder of Hazel Technologies, in a recent press release. “Our early grower-packer partners have been able to reduce labor costs, increase grower returns, and access new markets with our products. We are humbled to be awarded this second-phase of funding from the USDA to further our research and expand our credibility.”
The SBIR program is extremely competitive and is an effort to support small businesses wanting to use innovative solutions to protect the environment. Not only is it hard to make it into the program, but getting to the second-phase can be just as difficult. Recipients into the second-phase are eligible only if they have been awarded the first-phase and show signs while within that first-stage of being credible amongst the industry. Hazel Technologies’ proved credibility within the industry by investing in trustworthy relationships with companies such as DFI Marketing, establishing them as a promising solution.
This is not Hazel’s first rodeo in the award ring. In 2016, the company received $100,000 grant money from the USDA to develop its Hazel℠ suite of technologies, a line of easy-to-apply packaging inserts designed to protect post-harvest fresh produce quality. Fresh produce such as tomato, melons, tree fruit, kiwifruit, and avocado have all benefited from these developments from the USDA endorsed company.
“For small agricultural businesses, the federal government is a key, initial investor to help them get great ideas into the marketplace,” said NIFA Director, Sonny Ramaswamy. “The feasibility and scalability of these business concepts are evaluated through our peer review process, and businesses get to keep their intellectual property rights as they commercialize their ventures.”
Funds from the most recent dole are being used to generate more data with current trial partners, conduct academic studies on performance, and expand operations in a new office space in the Western Growers Association Innovation Center in Salinas, California. By teaming up with The Western Growers Innovation Center, Hazel Technologies aims to create new technology for crop quality and resolve issues identified by the industry.
“The Western Growers Innovation Center strives to foster innovation to address the most important grower issues like crop protection, labor supply, and water use,” said Dennis Donohue, Consulting Director of Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology at Western Growers Innovation Center. “We’re excited to have Hazel Technologies join our residents and continue to provide our industry with innovative solutions to help address these issues.”
As the funds pour into Hazel Technologies’ research, their findings will preserve their prominence in the industry’s developments.
Stay tuned into AndNowUKnow for the most recent developments in fresh produce news!
COACHELLA, CA – After nearly fifty years in our industry, veteran Director of Marketing Mike Aiton will retire from his position at Prime Time International. Effective November 1st, Aiton will step down from his role with the organization with which he served since 2009.
“Mike is very well liked in the agriculture community and he’s known throughout the produce industry as a true professional,” said Way. “When Mike came to Prime Time in 2009, he really changed our course. His calm demeanor, tireless work ethic, and incredible sense of humor changed Prime Time forever.”
The company noted that Aiton’s expansive career and vast produce marketing experience runs the gamut—from retail grocery to production agriculture, and everything in between. Aiton began his career in the produce industry with the Denver, Colorado-based retail chain King Soopers. There, Aiton started in the management training program, eventually rising to the top of the organization and spending 14 of his 20 plus years in retail as Director of Produce and Floral for King Sooper.
In 1991, Sun World International recruited Aiton to be its Director of Marketing. Aiton, his wife Debby, and their seven children left their home in Denver and moved to the Coachella Valley where Aiton would go on to spend the majority of his 18 years at Sun World as the Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
In 2009, Prime Time brought Aiton on board as Director of Marketing to promote new business development and strengthen existing customer relationships. The company noted in its press release that Prime Time’s Partners all agree that over the past 8 years, Aiton’s extensive marketing and industry expertise has proven to be invaluable for the company.
“I thought I was a good merchandiser until Mike Aiton joined our team,” recalled Carl Sam Maggio.
Mark Nickerson expressed a similar sentiment, noting that Aiton will be missed.
“I not only have found Mike to be an extremely knowledgeable resource of information but more importantly a very reliable, honest, and humble person,” said Nickerson. “It's been my sincere pleasure having the opportunity to work with Mike these past years.”
The company noted that Aiton will be sorely missed, and Aiton expressed similar sentiments attributing his prodigious success with Prime Time to the strength and reputation of the company.
“When I made calls, went to meetings and put together deals, I was always backed up 100 percent by the company,” noted Aiton, in a press release. “I was truly the beneficiary of Prime Time’s accomplishments. The commitment to quality and belief in doing all things right opened up a lot of doors for me when I said, I’m from Prime Time.”
For Aiton, the biggest challenge in retirement may be “learning to sleep past 4 AM. That’s the time I’ve been getting up for the past forty years,” he noted.
And while Aiton may be retiring, Way noted that he is still very much part of the identity of Prime Time.
“Mike may be done in day-to-day work, but we will continue to consult with him as needed in the coming years,” said Way.
Prime Time wished Aiton an abundance of good health, happiness, and enjoyment during his much-deserved retirement years, and AndNowUKnow feels the same way. Congratulations, Mike!
ORLANDO, FL - Jewel-Osco’s very own Michael Vesely is celebrating his award as the 2017 Mango Retailer of the Year. Vesely, who was gifted the award by the National Mango Board (NMB), was named the winner on October 20th during a reception at PMA, which is the Board’s Annual Mango Industry Reception. Heavy hitters in the industry were present, including many of Jewel-Osco’s suppliers and the National Mango Board’s own board members.
With this honor, the Board is recognizing Jewel-Osco’s ongoing efforts to be leaders in mango support within the industry. The Midwest retailer’s success lauds its sales and volume performances. Jewel-Osco beat out over 100 of its competitors for the award, according to a press release, having proven to be both a regional and national mango volume per week sales champion.
Whether they come in the form of fresh-cut or case sales, mangos enjoy the spotlight at the retailer's stores, offering continuous year-round mango promotions with tailored seasonal opportunities for multiple varieties. With multiple forms of messaging, ranging from print and online magazine to newsletters and posts, Jewel-Osco has proven to be a powerhouse in marketing by reaching millions of potential mango customers in the market for the goods. Further, they offer access to specialists within fields. From produce teams to registered dietitians and marketing groups, Jewel-Osco has covered all of the territory necessary to make its mango sales flourish while catering to questions anyone within the industry might have.
“Being selected as the Mango Retailer of the Year has been a tremendous honor; second only to seeing year over year sales increases,” stated Michael Vesely, Senior Produce Buyer at Jewel-Osco. “The NMB provided us with many tools to help create retail excitement. The displays our teams have built using the NMB’s Point of Sale materials have been amazing. Working with the NMB’s retail account managers Katie Manetti, Tim Beerup, and Wendy McManus have really energized the team and shown them what mangos can do for the produce department. We look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with not only the NMB but also with our valued vendor community.”
Taking home the prize for his company, Vesely is reaping the rewards of his hard work. Just like any doting parent would nourish the success of their offspring, Vesely made sure to highlight mango merchandise for consumers without deflating the same amount of love the retailer shows other categories. The goal was to catch the attention of new buyers with on-going promotions–a plan which has since proven successful for the retailer.
“Having a Midwest retailer as the recipient of this prestigious award is a testament to mango growth in the U.S.,” stated Valda Coryat, Director of Marketing at the NMB. “This sends us a clear message–there is a mango for all seasons and they are gaining momentum in this under-indexed consumption area of the country. We look forward to our continued work with Michael and the Jewel-Osco team, as well as all our retail partners in helping them achieve mango success.”
The National Mango Board award comes after a year-long drive for sales and consumer interest led by Vesely. To that, we say this: go, mango!
To learn more about the National Mango Board, visit them at mango.org. Or, you can take a peek into the life and times of Jewel-Osco at jewelosco.com.
Either way, keep checking back with us at AndNowUKnow for more produce news!
NEW ORLEANS, LA - Watch out for more Chilean fruit in the fresh marketplace following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) at this year’s Fresh Summit.
“It is imperative that we continue strengthening and adding value to the Chilean fresh fruit industry. Not only does it provide the North American market with important counter-seasonal fresh fruit supply, the fresh fruit sector also contributes significantly to the economy of Chile. Working with an industry leader like PMA gives our members additional access to the information and resources they need to stay competitive. At the same time, our experience will add to the work being undertaken by PMA in Chile,” said Ronald Bown, Chairman of the Board for the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, in a recent press release.
The Chilean Fresh Fruit Association booth held a ceremony on October 20th, where both organizations had representatives sign an agreement. This signals a burgeoning partnership between the two organizations is in the works. The relationship is one where information and expertise shared will establish events and industry publications with valuable knowledge for members, connections for members with their respective associations, and opportunities for ASOEX to be leading volunteers at PMA.
With 59% of fruit exports hailing from ASOEX’s domain, Chile makes for a strong partner with PMA, as it is one of the largest exporters in the Southern Hemisphere. Further, 845,000 tons, or 34 percent of all Chilean fresh fruit exports, give North America the dominant market share of all total global fruit exports leaving Chile’s borders.
"The importance of Chile to the global fresh fruit industry is undeniable. This MOU demonstrates PMA’s commitment to both enhancing the benefits we can provide to the fresh produce industry in Chile and sharing our expertise for mutual growth," said Nancy Tucker, PMA Vice President of Global Business Development. "We look forward to working with ASOEX to connect members with ideas and insights to grow our industry and increase demand for fresh fruits."
Bown will join the country's PMA council come November, where he will stand amongst other PMA member companies who are to be established as Chile’s councilmembers. It is in this role that Bown and his fellow Chilean councilmembers will create value for members and tackle industry problems. When paired with the newly hired Chilean Association representative, Andrés Rodríguez, who has hosted new events in the country, the council says it is set to strengthen its presence in the country.
For more news on the budding partnership between PMA and ASOEX, stay tuned into AndNowUKnow.
SEATTLE, WA – A recent Reuters report has uncovered widespread efforts to limit the scope and services that Amazon and its recently-acquired Whole Foods banner can introduce in-store. According to the report, large retailers such as Target are exercising legal rights on a local level to stop Whole Foods from introducing services like Amazon lockers intended to drive sales, growth, and bring new customers to Whole Foods locations.
“Across the United States, large retailers including Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Best Buy have legal rights in many lease agreements that allow them to limit what Amazon can do with nearby Whole Foods stores, and where it can open new ones,” the news source reports, citing interviews and documents that reveal bans on Amazon lockers and delivery operations at Whole Foods locations near Target stores—and even stores in other industries that rival Amazon, stores including Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond.
While Reuters noted that, because many of these deals and documents are private and confidential, the news source could not reveal the extent to which rival companies and even, in some cases, local municipalities have worked to restrict Amazon’s brick-and-mortar efforts, these restrictions appear to be widespread.
The report details a 16-page memo obtained from Miami, Florida’s Pinecrest Place mall in which Target required an affiliate of national landlord Regency Centers Corp to ban "lockers, lock-boxes, or other type of storage system that is used to receive or store merchandise from a catalog or online retailer." The report issues many more restrictions, too, apparently aimed at stymieing Amazon’s collaboration with Whole Foods, including a provision which bars mall tenants from operating "a fulfillment center in connection with receiving, storing or distributing merchandise from a catalog or online retailer."
Likewise, Reuters noted that discount grocer Lidl included verbiage to "prohibit the operation of pickup facilities" near a proposed Lidl site in Long Island, New York.
Target issued a statement to the news source, noting that the chain is "focused on what's best for the company and delivering on the reasons our guests love Target. Our more than 1,800 stores across the country are a strategic asset and a vital part of Target's future."
Could ongoing efforts to prohibit Amazon from introducing in-store services be effective in limiting the growth of the retailer’s brick-and-mortar operations? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO - Mucci Farms announced the completion of Phase 2 of its 36-acre strawberry farm expansion and subsequently announced that Phase 3 construction is underway, with production to begin in the Fall of 2018. The full project will total over 1.5 million-square-feet of high-tech glass exclusively growing strawberries–the largest in North America.
“Our strawberry program is being met with a great deal of enthusiasm from current and potential retail partners because of our emphasis on premium flavor and consistent supply,” explains Danny Mucci, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Mucci Farms currently owns over 200 acres of greenhouses, 30 of which grow lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers year-round.
Since partnering with Dutch Growers Tom Bastiaansen and Joost van Oers in January 2016, Mucci Farms has seen accelerated growth and a greater demand for greenhouse grown strawberries. Looking to offer locally grown strawberries during the winter months, Phase 3 of the expansion will include state-of-the-art lit culture technology.
“As with all of our new greenhouses, the new 24-acres of strawberries will also include the use of diffused glass, which reduces stress on plants by providing even sunlight,” says Bert Mucci, CEO. “We will continue to use high pressure fogging systems to cool down the greenhouse in the hotter months and also install the swing gutter system which allow for the amount of maximum plants per square meter.”
Marketed under the Smuccies™ Sweet Strawberries brand, Mucci Farms strawberries are an award-winning triple threat, according to a press release, recognized by multiple industry associations for Best Packaging, Best New Fruit, and Best Kid Centric product. The momentum continued this past weekend at the Product Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Conference & Expo in New Orleans. After being a finalist for three consecutive years in the Sensory Experience Contest, Mucci Farms won the Kids Choice Award for their Smuccies Layered Strawberry & Mango Dip.
“Overwhelming, is the best way I can describe how our Smuccies are being received. Super sweet, clean, on the shelf within 24 hours of harvest, and grown in an environment that is unaffected by inclement weather,” says Joe Spano, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Even better, they are grown locally in Ontario so that consumers can enjoy summer fresh strawberries during the holiday season.”
A ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the first harvest from the Phase 2 expansion will take place at 684 Road 2 East, in Kingsville on Thursday October 26th at 10:30am. Media passes for the ribbon cutting event can be obtained by emailing [email protected]. CEO Bert Mucci, Vice Presidents of Sales and Marketing Danny Mucci, Joe Spano, Vice President of Operations Gianni Mucci, and CFO Mat Walsh will be available for interviews after the ribbon cutting. Media will also be given an opportunity to take photographs of the harvest.
Look for the Award-Winning Greenhouse Grown Smuccies Sweet Strawberries in multiple pack styles availablen in-stores now, and for more produce industry news, AndNowUKnow will continue to report.