MEXICO – An 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico off the coast of Chiapas late Thursday night, rattling Mexico and Guatemala.
The New York Times reported that the quake—which was felt by approximately 50 million people across Mexico—was the most powerful to occur in the country in a century.
The quake was felt as far north as Mexico City where residents reportedly fled from buildings as windows broke, walls collapsed, and tremors rattled the mega-city.
Southern states such as Chiapas and Oaxaca have reported extensive damage, and the Times reports that effects were felt as far as Guatemala, where several homes were reportedly leveled. Schools in 10 states and the country’s capital were closed as residents grappled with the after-effects of the quakes. And a preliminary study by Mexico’s National Seismological Service reported widespread devastation.
The U.S. Geological Survey also reported that, to date, there have been more than thirty aftershocks of note—ranging from 4.2 to 5.7 magnitude. And the Associated Press reported that roughly 200,000 remain without power as of Friday morning.
The earthquake struck just as Hurricane Katia begins to descend on the eastern shores of Mexico, according to an AccuWeather report.
Our thoughts are with those impacted. As we look to see what affects the quake might have on ag regions throughout the country, AndNowUKNow will continue to report.
VAUGHAN, ONTARIO - While September may bring cooler temperatures to North America, Longo’s is heating it up this month with a two-week-long Hatch Chile Festival. Bringing the wonderful world of Hatch Chile Peppers to consumers is no small feat, but the team at Longo’s is firing up the grill and the smoker to offer guests a taste of the popular category.
So, what inspired the company to debut this new festival? Mimmo Franzone, Director of Produce and Floral, shares the details.
“Over the past many years, we saw the excitement that Hatch has created in the U.S. and wanted to bring it north of the border,” Mimmo tells me. “At Longo’s, we're all about fresh, unique ideas and products, and a Hatch Festival fit the mold perfectly. Creating a theatre in our stores and engaging our teams and customers, is very important to us.”
These coveted green peppers are currently being harvested in New Mexico and are the perfect chili-loving balance of flavor and heat.
“The product is fantastic. Between flavor, appearance and the versatility of the pepper, you have an ideal vegetable to inspire dishes and appetites. Most importantly, we can have a lot of fun with Hatch Chiles,” Mimmo shares as he reflects on the category.
From now through the 17th of September, Longo’s will have roasts at 13 of its locations in the Greater Toronto area. It has also created two private label products that the company is sampling in all locations. In addition, the team is producing roasted peppers through Longo’s Central Kitchen and distributing them to all stores that will not be holding a roast, in an effort to reach all their customers.
Events and gatherings like this, within the community, are incredibly important to the Longo’s team.
“Just like when we procure produce, local is very important to us, as are the communities we serve,” Mimmo says. “We always have, and continue to, focus on them and try to keep them engaged by bringing fresh food ideas to the plate.”
It is going to be a spicy September for the Longo’s team and the Toronto community. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we bring you more initiatives from the retail industry, that inspire the evolution of fresh produce and engage consumers at large.
ST. LOUIS, MO - Market Fresh’s annual vendor summit welcomed and thanked attendees from multiple sides of the industry, including supplier NatureFresh™ Farms. The company invited the greenhouse grower’s Retail Account Manager, Richie Keirouz, to speak on how a healthy lifestyle goes beyond his work day with his team.
When he isn’t juggling tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers, Richie is an author and fitness coach, having founded his company Rich Body and published a book and documentary about integrating health into a daily lifestyle all within the past year.
“Market Fresh had heard about my business and that I had written my book, and asked me to come speak on that and how it ties into my career in produce,” Richie told me.
Aside from the clear-cut role eating fresh produce plays in a healthy lifestyle, his experience in coaching others on eating better has made clear to Richie how much transparency has become a key point to offer consumers.
“We are in an era where transparency and communication are key,” Richie told those in attendance, though he would say they should be defined by the roles we would normally use. “No longer should we be using the terms buyer, vendor, customer, or supplier. Instead, we should be calling our relationships by one term–partner.”
He explained that there has never been a more crucial time to come together to both, overcome current challenges and create new solutions that will make the future of our industry “even better for the generations ahead.”
Market Fresh’s Vendor Summit gathers multiple sides of the industry from around the U.S. and Canada. This year’s event took place at the Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, with over 50 produce partners in attendance.
“The 2017 Market Fresh Produce Vendor Summit we hosted was a great success! We held the event in St. Louis with an agenda that gave our partner/growers and Market Fresh staff the ability to socialize, discuss business, and grow together,” Kaylyn Bender, Director of Marketing for Market Fresh, shared with me.
As more and more members of our industry look to various ways to elevate produce, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for all the latest.
CINCINNATI, OH – The Kroger Co. is reporting sales growth in digital revenue and Q2, according to a press release. The company’s net earnings of $353 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, and identical supermarket sales growth, without fuel, of 0.7% in Q2 2017, which ended on August 12. Kroger's net earnings for the second quarter last year were $383 million, or $0.40 per diluted share. The company’s adjusted net earnings for the second quarter last year were $454 million, or $0.47 per diluted share.
Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen commented on the latest report, stating, "Through innovation, Kroger is redefining the food and grocery customer experience based on our core strengths. Our second quarter results demonstrate the progress we've made. We returned to positive identical supermarket sales growth in the second quarter. We had strong growth in both loyal and total households. Traffic is up, unit movement is up, market share is up, and our customers' price perception is excellent and continues to improve. We have and always will put the customer first in all we do."
Details of Second Quarter 2017 Results:
- Total sales increased 3.9% to $27.6 billion in the second quarter compared to $26.6 billion for the same period last year.
- Gross margin was 21.7% of sales for the second quarter. Excluding fuel, ModernHEALTH and the LIFO charge, gross margin decreased 30 basis points from the same period last year.
- Kroger recorded an $18 million LIFO charge in the second quarter of 2017, compared to a $12 million LIFO charge in the same period last year.
- Digital revenue up 126%, driven by ClickList
The company expects capital investments excluding mergers, acquisitions and purchases of leased facilities, to be in the $3.0 to $3.3 billion range for 2017.
"As our business continues to improve, we remain committed to delivering on our guidance in 2017 and believe we have the ability to grow identical supermarket sales and market share in 2018. In this dynamic operating environment, we will continue to provide annual guidance as we have done for many years but will no longer provide longer-term guidance," McMullen said.
Despite rebounding numbers, Business Insider reports that Kroger’s stock took a hit in the wake of the company's financial report, attributing the results to some skepticism from investors as retail competition heats up.
Kroger expects Q2 2017 ID Sales of 0.5 to 1.0%. As retailers continue to push produce, AndNowUKnow will keep reporting.
WENATCHEE, WA - Owner and president of Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers Dalton Thomas has announced that he plans to retire after more than 50 years as a leader in the Northwest treefruit industry.
Since beginning his long and successful produce career in 1965 as a USDA inspector of apples, pears, cherries, potatoes, and onions, Thomas has made an impression on a number of industry operators. Not long after his start, Thomas began working for Oneonta in 1966.
The youngest son of the company Founder, the late Paul “Tommy” Thomas, Dalton acquired his father’s interest in the operation and took on the responsibilities of Owner/President in the 1970s, according to a press release.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work for, work with and learn from one of our industry’s great leaders,” Marketing Director Scott Marboe, associated with the company for 30 years, said. “Dalton leaves a legacy behind, but he also leaves the company in the hands of individuals poised to take it to the next level for the future.”
“Dalton built a very successful company through the strength of his vision and then hiring the right people to execute that vision. He has assembled a great team of professionals who are at the top of their game,” said Kevin Moffitt, President and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest in Milwaukie, OR. He added that one of his biggest impacts in the pear industry was partnering with Diamond Fruit Growers in Hood River, OR, one of the oldest and largest pear packers in the country.
“This move helped Oneonta fill out their apple portfolio with a strong mix of all pear varieties. Dalton and his sales and marketing team’s partnership with Diamond has been very successful and beneficial to the coop’s grower members,” Moffitt concluded.
Todd Fryhover, President of the Washington Apple Commission in Wenatchee, said, “I have known Dalton since I started in the business in 1985. We often competed against each other during the charter days when the industry loaded break-bulk vessels for the Middle East and Europe from Pier 90/91 in Seattle.”
Fryhover also said that Thomas would be missed as a board member with key insights who saw the value of increasing international promotional activities for the benefit of the entire industry. He added that his international expertise can’t be replaced.
“Dalton is 100% dedicated to the Washington tree fruit industry, his growers and employees,” Fryhover added. “He has no expectations of others that are above what he comes to expect of himself. When you consider the known names of the industry like Grady Auvil, Bill Zirkle, and Bill Evans, Dalton Thomas is on par in the development of international tree fruit business for our industry.”
Reggie Collins, VP and Director of Chelan Fresh Marketing in Chelan, WA, who Oneonta named as a “worthy competitor,” said he’s known Thomas for over 40 years. “My father and Dalton had a business relationship decades ago when Oneonta sold fruit for Beebe, and my father had the utmost respect for him. You can use all kinds of words—generous, loyal, trustworthy, wise, and insightful—to describe him. But one thing’s certain: He’s the one you’d like to be in the trenches with. I mean that both personally and from a business side. I could always go to Dalton and get the true story about what was going on in the industry. He’s benefited this industry with his wisdom and strength. I can’t say enough good things about Dalton.”
Collins said that both he and the industry will certainly miss him, and as a parting thought, added, “I never could figure out why Dalton wouldn’t hire me.”
As Thomas closes out a successful career, the company said that its ownership will remain within the family. Congratulations to the outgoing leader on this newest chapter.
SEATTLE, WA - As Amazon continues to gain footing following its high-profile acquisition of Whole Foods, it is looking to fortify its current position by building a second headquarters in North America, which it is referring to as HQ2. Projected to cost more than $5 billion, and accommodating up to 50,000 staff, the company has put out a call for proposals to regional governments as it seeks to identify a location for the massive project.
“We expect HQ2 to be a full equal to our Seattle headquarters,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon Founder and CEO, according to a press release. “Amazon HQ2 will bring billions of dollars in up-front and ongoing investments, and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs. We’re excited to find a second home.”
In choosing the location for HQ2, Amazon has stated a preference for:
- Metropolitan areas with more than one million people
- A stable and business-friendly environment
- Urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent
- Communities that think big and creatively when considering locations and real estate options
The project would initially need more than 500,000 square feet and up to 8 million square feet beyond 2027, Amazon said.
How will this move impact business moving forward? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to report.
VISALIA, CA – There is an exciting partnership between Pro Citrus Network, Inc. (PCN) and exclusive marketer SeaView Packing Inc., a Coachella, CA-based grower and packer of citrus, to enhance its year-round citrus portfolio.
“Continuing to increase our year-round citrus offerings was key in making the decision to collaborate with SeaView," said Jacquie Ediger, Vice President of PCN, according to a press release. "Being able to offer our customers more year-round high-quality citrus items is our focus.”
This collaboration with SeaView allows PCN to have a solid supply of citrus from the desert, which in turn gives them more year-round availability of several commodities, including lemons.
“We are excited to be able to offer our own PCN branded citrus from District 3, and are looking forward to working with SeaView," said Allan Dodge, CEO and President of PCN. "Their history of growing and packing in this district will bring a great value to our customers.”
SeaView operates out of a state-of-the-art, 31,000-square-foot packing, cooling, and storage facility.
The company’s President, Dennis Jensen, expressed excitement for the new venture, stating, “We look forward to working with PCN. Their strength in growing regions other than ours and the reputation of their brand made it an easy decision to partner with them.”
AndNowUKnow wishes PCN and SeaView Packing a bright future in this newfound partnership.
CONCEPCION DE BUENOS AIRES, MEXICO – Avocado growers in the state of Jalisco have banded together to break a whopping record for world’s biggest guacamole—producing three tons—or 6,600 lbs—of the luxurious dip.
According to a Reuters report, the effort involved 1,000 student chefs and locals mashing approximately 25,000 avocados and serving the chartreuse spread to thousands of eaters from throughout Jalisco. The Governor of Jalisco was on hand to receive recognition from representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records.
Part entertainment and part political, the event was intended to convey a message to guacamole-loving North Americans about the benefits they have wrought from NAFTA—as negotiators from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. descended on Mexico City last weekend to discuss changes to the 23-year-old trade agreement.
News of the event comes less than a week after many of the most prominent U.S. and Canadian produce providers joined together to form the Produce Coalition for NAFTA, applauding efforts to continue and modernize the trade agreement while also voicing concerns about changes to NAFTA that could be deleterious to the produce industry as a whole.
Will guacamole writ large have the intended effect, impressing upon North Americans the merits of a robust trade agreement? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
WENATCHEE, WA – Stemilt Growers are more than excited to have their fruit on display at the Minnesota State Fair. More than 1.9 million fair-goers experienced a summer treat thanks to Stemilt Growers partnering with Produce Exchange’s Artisan Organics™ branded “fruit” stand, which was located at the event in late August and through Labor Day.
The annual fair is a big deal in the Midwest, so much so that Stemilt saw it as a unique opportunity to showcase its tree-ripened organic summer fruits, including peaches and nectarines through a unique partnership with frequent fair vendor, Produce Exchange.
Roger Pepperl, Stemilt’s Marketing Director, felt that joining the festivities would be a unique and fun way to share Stemilt’s world famous fruit.
“Peaches and nectarines scream summer and so does the Minnesota State Fair. What a great way to celebrate the last bits of the season than by adding in Stemilt Artisan Organics fruits with one of the largest state fairs in the country,” states Pepperl. “And a fruit stand is such an unparalleled way to show off our products–it’s definitely not our norm.”
Stemilt’s Artisan Organics peaches and nectarines are grown as 100 percent certified organic. Stemilt’s organic crop comes from southeastern Washington State, where, according to a press release, the arid climate is ideal for growing high quality, large-sized flavorful organic fruit. Stemilt started farming organically back 1989, and took its entire peach and nectarine crop organic in 2009.
The Minnesota State Fair ran from August 24 through September 4, and was filled with food, fun, and a whole lot of entertainment. Big names included Stevie Nicks, Toby Keith and comedian Jim Gaffigan.
“The huge is event and we enjoyed sharing our products with everyone in that area,” states Pepperl. “It was fun to see our fruit distributed in a new and unique way for this annual event that creates so much regional excitement.”
AndNowUKnow will keep you posted on everything fruit!
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO - With the locally grown movement continuing to grow its hold on consumers’ hearts, DelFrescoPure® is making moves to make sure it is expanding its strawberry supplies in step. The company has announced it has entered Phase One of an expansion plan that will add ten acres to its greenhouse strawberry production, set to com online by November 2017.
“Within the past two years, we decided to enter the greenhouse strawberry production as an experiment and have succeeded beyond our expectations!” said Carl Mastronardi, President. “The flavor profile, sweetness level, and overall customer feedback has been overwhelming. This encouraged our team to continue with our production, brand development, and expansion plans.”
According to a press release, the expansion will feature innovative technology that will allow for growing in all seasons. Through the use of energy curtains and grow lights, Del Fresco plans to provide a half million square-foot controlled microclimate for growing its strawberries. The company has dubbed the project, ‘Canada’s largest greenhouse strawberry controlled environment with grow lights.’
“We decided to experiment with another category–berries–and what an achievement! We offer summer tasting berries all season long,” added Ray Mastronardi, Vice President of Sales.
For both its local and national retail partners, Del Fresco’s greenhouse-grown strawberries are branded under the ‘YES!Berries Your Everyday Snack!™’ label.
Want to learn more about the YesBerries program and all Del Fresco has to offer? Visit YesBerries.ca, or contact [email protected].