In this business we are all starved for time. AndNowUKnow is a quick read and reliable source to keep me updated on the latest news in the produce industry.
CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger's Michigan Division President, Jayne Homco, is retiring after forty-two years of service.
Beginning her career at Kroger in 1975 as a store clerk in Kroger's Central division in Indianapolis, Homco worked through store management roles before relocating to the company's Dillons division in Kansas in 1998 as a Deli/Bakery Merchandiser. She went on to hold several leadership positions in Dillons and multiple Kroger divisions, before being promoted to Vice President of Merchandising for the QFC division in 2004. She was named to the same position for Kroger's Southwest division in 2007 and was promoted to her current role in the Michigan division in 2013.
"In her more than forty years with Kroger, Jayne has touched the lives of countless customers and associates, and her dedication to the community–especially her work with feeding the hungry, education, and women's health–has been an example to us all," said Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO. "We are grateful for Jayne's many contributions over the years and wish her and her family the best in retirement."
During her four years in Michigan, Homco was passionate about ending food insecurity, helping raise and contribute more than $7.5 million dollars to area food banks and rescuing more than 19.2 million pounds of healthy foods from Kroger stores. Homco also dedicated her time to Detroit's American Cancer Society and made women's health a top priority, as she led the division to raise more than $1.2 million under her tenure.
Homco’s successor Scott Hays joined Kroger in April of 2017 in his current role as Vice President of Operations. He came to Kroger from Albertson's Inc., where he began his grocery career in 1983 as a grocery clerk in Provo, Utah. He was promoted to Store Director and then held positions of increasing responsibility throughout Albertson's Inc.'s footprint, including:
- District Manager
- Area Vice President
- Division Vice President for the San Antonio division
"Scott has been a tremendous asset to Kroger since coming on board earlier this year," said McMullen. "His dedicated leadership is best exemplified by his passion for supporting our associates and customers."
Hays will become Kroger’s next President for the Michigan Division beginning October 1.
Congratulations to Homco on her a long and successful career, and the team at AndNowUKnow wish Hays all the best moving forward.
KINGSVILLE, ON - With Canada continuing on its celebration of its 150th, the country’s government has been shining a spotlight on its best and brightest in a variety of industries. To help showcase Canada’s superpower status in the booming greenhouse industry, greenhouse pioneer Mastronardi Produce Ltd. was selected as part of its WE ARE THE BEST series of features
“We’re very proud to be a part of WE ARE THE BEST to celebrate Canada 150,” shared fourth generation President/CEO Paul Mastronardi. “My family’s company prides itself on quality and innovation, so to be recognized across the country as the best in the business is truly an honor.”
A year-long nationwide campaign which pays tribute to the top companies and innovative leaders in Canada, the series is led by famed chef and television personality Ricardo, with each segment interviewing a prolific leader in a variety of Canadian industries. The result, according to a press release, is a 3-minute bilingual video which is released each week on Ricardo Media, CBC, and Radio-Canada.
Check out the video above to see Mastronardi Produce’s segment for yourself!
“Mastronardi Produce is an outstanding leader in their field,” stated Ricardo. “Paul Mastronardi leads an incredibly innovative company that clearly demonstrates their dedication to quality and flavor each and every day. They are, along with other Canadians producers, a true testament as to why we are the BEST!”
To learn more about the WE ARE THE BEST feature on Mastronardi Produce, you can check out the full spotlight on CBC here.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - John Vena, Inc. has announced that Emily Kohlhas will assume the position of Director of Marketing, effective immediately. In this new role, Emily is responsible for managing the John Vena, Inc. brand across channels, business development, and coordinating the strategic growth of products and services to enhance client relationships in foodservice, retail, meal kitting, and processing.
Kohlhas says she is ready for the challenge, reporting, “I am looking forward to focusing on strategic projects in product and business development, while enhancing the suite of marketing services we offer our customers and the support we bring to our growers. John Vena, Inc. has been connecting buyers with exceptional produce and passionate farmers from around the world for almost 100 years, so you couldn’t find a better foundation for sustainable innovation.”
Kohlhas has been with the company since 2015 as the Sales & Marketing Coordinator, according to a press release, during which she has taken on a number of initiatives, including design of an enhanced program of collateral support, growth of brand presence in print, establishment of a strong B2B social media program, and development of a strategic marketing plan. She has represented the company at trade and other events, and regularly conducts specialty produce trainings for clients, students, nonprofit partners, and other guests.
“Emily has strong knowledge of specialty produce and the skill to communicate that information in various ways,” says John Vena, President. “During her time with us, she has stepped up to give the marketing department structure and strategy, while also producing content that our customers find exceptionally valuable. I am confident that she will drive innovation in our organization and we are pleased to welcome her onto the leadership team.”
Previously, Kohlhas held positions in communications, marketing, and event planning for Fair Food Philly, the Vetri Community Partnership, and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia. She has worked on the biodynamic farm of a Michelin-starred restaurant, guided trail rides on an off-the-grid ranch, and served in an acclaimed vegan restaurant. She lives in Center City, Philadelphia, and her writing and photography have appeared in numerous publications, including Two.One.Five Mag and The Pennsylvania Gazette.
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Joseph Aiello & Sons Inc. satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a USDA press release, the Albany, NY, company has met its obligations and is now free to operate in the produce industry. Joseph J. Aiello Jr. was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
USDA is required to suspend the license of a business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named responsibly connected individuals. USDA will only reinstate the license of a business to an active status if all reparation awards are satisfied and if the license is not terminated.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. Its experts also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $140 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
GUADALUPE, CA - Eat Smart® brand provider Apio, Inc. has joined the number of companies lending a hand to Hurricane Harvey victims. The company donated 24,000 salads, or approximately 70,000 salad servings, to those in need.
“The hearts and minds of all of our employees are with those affected by this devastating disaster," Molly Hemmeter, President and CEO of Landec, Apio’s parent company. To distribute these salads to those in need, Eat Smart partnered with Houston Food Bank. "We want to thank the Houston Food Bank for partnering with us to distribute fresh vegetable salads to those in need during this difficult time.”
The delivery arrived at the Houston Food Bank on Friday, September 1st, according to a press release.
Regions of Texas and Louisiana have been hit hard by Hurricane Harvey, which reached land Friday, August 25 as a Category 4 hurricane, and has deposited record amounts of rainfall, causing massive flooding and infrastructure damage.
Hurricane Harvey has been reported as one of the most severe storms to hit U.S. land since Charley in 2004. Up to 25 trillion gallons of water were forecasted before the storm's end, with 13 million people under flood watches and over 450,000 residents expected to seek FEMA assistance.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on key developments associated with Harvey and other influential weather occurrences.
ISSAQUAH, WA - As transportation and logistics continue to make the produce industry go round, labor practices within the supply chain are coming into the spotlight as consumers migrate towards ethical and sustainable brands. According to USA Today, Costco Wholesale has halted all business with California trucking company Pacific 9 Transportation.
Earlier this month, four prominent senators sent letters to 16 retailers calling on them to lead the charge against the “shameful” labor practices revealed by an investigative report released in June. That report stated the transportation company has been accused of unfair labor practices towards its drivers. Soon after, Costco Wholesale dropped Pacific 9, noted as one of the largest port trucking companies in Southern California.
In addition to Costco, other companies responding to the investigate trucking practices include Walmart and Hewlett-Packard.
Walmart pledged in a response to the senators that it would cancel contracts with any trucking company that did not provide “assurances” it was following fair labor practices.
“The stories profiled in that article are deeply concerning,” Walmart Executive Vice President Jay Jorgensen wrote of the USA Today Network investigation. “Any motor carrier that fails to comply with law, such as those alleged in the article, would be in violation of our contract and would therefore be subject to cancellation.”
How will shifts in awareness continue to impact our industry up and down the supply chain? Stick with AndNowuKnow as we continue to report.
HOUSTON, TX - A Village Farms tractor-trailer hit the road to bridge the 600 mile span of land that separates Village Farms’ greenhouse in Marfa, TX, from Houston, with plenty of donations in tow.
“Texas is a big state and many of us here at Village Farms have loved ones in Houston and the surrounding East Texas areas impacted by this storm, our hearts go out to them and so this is the least we can do to show we care,” said Jan Korteland, Regional Facility Manager of Village Farms in West Texas.
Village Farms’ employees pitched in on Labor Day despite the national holiday to help pack ten thousand-plus pounds of fresh tomatoes for relief efforts.
The company said in a press release that the distance to the heart is much closer than the 600 miles between locations. The trailer, loaded with fresh produce, went to the Houston Food Bank.
Village Farms is one of the largest greenhouse growers of locally-grown fresh produce in Texas. The company's hand-picked vine ripened, sustainably grown greenhouse tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are sold in major retailers all over the state. The Village Farms team is hoping its donation to the Houston Food Bank will help keep Texas strong.
MILTON, NY - National Apple Month is fast-approaching, and Hudson River Fruit is looking to help retail partners harness those autumn dollars with visual storytelling to tap into consumers' demands for a local, family grown product.
Alisha Albinder, 4th generation Owner-Operator, tells me that the company is launching a new in-store pop-up bin that does just that.
“Shoppers look for produce that has been locally grown and family farmed, and our new display bin shares our story by featuring large, high-resolution images of our farms in harvest, as well as, highlighting that it is grown on a family-owned orchard in New York,” Alisha shares.
The company knows all about keeping things local, Daniel Albinder, COO shares, explaining that much of what Hudson Rivers does aligns with the communities needs. The farm is located in a beautiful region of the mid-Hudson Valley, an area well known and well ingrained with agricultural history.
“With sustainability being such a key practice, we began taking wood from old trees that were being cleared and giving them to a local restaurant that uses a wood fire grill. Similarly, much of what could go to waste from the packing house goes to a local family-owned cider company, Minard Beverage,” Daniel says. “Wherever we see an opportunity to recycle, we look to be more sustainable.”
With much in the works, Alisha tells me to stay tuned as there is more to come from the family-owned business. Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for all latest.
SAN DIEGO, CA - For the month of September, Organics Unlimited will spearhead the GROW month initiative focusing on partnering with retailers and consumers to create consumer awareness of its social responsibility programs. Since 2005, through retailer and distributor support, GROW organic banana purchases have provided over $2 million in aid. This program promotes sustainability, education, and health programs and benefiting underserved communities in banana growing regions of Mexico and Ecuador through the sale of organic bananas.
“We’re particularly excited this year as our social responsibility programs have expanded health care services for even more people to create additional positive change,” said Mayra Velazquez de Leon, President and CEO of Organics Unlimited and GROW. “During GROW month, we want more consumers to connect with the meaning of truly making a significant difference in the lives of the less fortunate. We want them to develop a greater understanding of the significant impact their GROW banana purchases have and recognize that they really can help change lives.”
Retailers can participate in GROW month throughout September and raise awareness of GROW’s humanitarian work by purchasing GROW labeled organic bananas and sharing hashtag #GROWmonth on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Organics Unlimited has created a GROW month toolkit of items that retailers can use in-store and online. For additional materials and retailer support, contact [email protected]. Consumers will also see outdoor advertising that promotes GROW organic bananas in select U.S. cities.
A percentage derived from the purchase of each box of GROW organic bananas is earmarked for the GROW fund. These funds are used for youth educational programs, health clinics and dental and vision care in Mexico; clean water and early childhood education programs in Ecuador; and environmental initiatives in the San Diego-Tijuana border region.
Consumer demand continues to grow for organic produce that is sustainably and ethically grown, but also contributes to positive social change. Since its founding in 2000, Organics Unlimited has been committed to providing a truly organic and sustainable product to consumers in the United States, Canada, and Asia.