MONTEREY, CA - PMA Foodservice was a whirlwind of cyclists, get togethers, dinners, and reunions as the foodservice providers and buyers descended on Monterey, California. As my senses were delighted with savory, sweet, and everything between, here are some of the products that shine in my memory from the dynamic split floor.
Church Brothers Farms Chef-Ready Bell Peppers
Anyone who loves to dine out will tell you that the time it takes to get your plate is a make or break in the experience. Chefs and restaurateurs are operating on the fly, with every second saved making time for a quicker turnover. These pre-pitted bells are a brilliant way to help our leaders in the kitchen stuff, dice, or slice in moments rather than minutes.
Monterey Mushrooms Finely Diced Mushrooms
Convenience is much more than a consumer trend, and I can say from firsthand experience that dicing an already cut mushroom is one of my more dangerous kitchen undertakings. All I can say is: Thank you Monterey Mushrooms, on behalf of fingers everywhere!
Good Foods Guacamole Dip & HPP Juices
Admittedly, I am a sucker for guacamole, which the company offers in multiple sizes for foodservice needs. But while I came for the dip, I stayed for the juice—though it was also a tad necessary once I felt that spicy kick hit my tonsils. All produced with high pressure processing (HPP) for food safety and to boost shelf-life, this was a stop I was very happy I made.
Zespri® SunGold Kiwifruit
I thought I loved kiwifruit before, but as anyone who attended the Chef Talks: A Strolling Lunch can attest, there is much more you can do with them than stick them with a spoon, or even bite into the skin. The team used a pulled pork recipe and pickled SunGold kiwifruit (yes, pickled) to prove that we are still discovering new frontiers of this fruit. Innovative, to say the least.
Gold Coast Veggie Hash
I’m a traditional lover of potato hash, but I’ll admit I’m now willing to swap in my love of starch for this cubed blend of gold beets, kohlrabi, and fennel every once in awhile. The slight kick was reminiscent of kimchi and, unless the team forgot to tell me something, needed no added flavor to make this a tasty dish!
With more of the ANUK team browsing the 176 exhibits, stay tuned for more picks from what I would call a resounding success, to say the least.
Church Brothers Farms Monterey Mushrooms Good Foods Zespri Gold Coast Packing
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA – With continued investments to its operations, Allen Lund Company (ALC) has announced a promotion to the leadership of its Los Angeles office. The company has promoted Kelly Miller to Assistant Manager.
"I am excited to take on this new challenge. I appreciate Tracey's faith in me and my leadership abilities. I can't imagine working with any other team," said Kelly.
Kelly will join her new role and assume her responsibilities alongside the Los Angeles office's other Assistant Manager, Joe Brindle.
"Kelly has the experience, leadership skills, and customer service awareness that this position requires. She brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm that will continue to benefit our customers and her fellow co-workers. I am so proud of Kelly and all of her accomplishments with the Allen Lund Company," stated David Lund, VP of Sales & Branch Operations.
Kelly first joined ALC in 2001, accumulating a long career of transportation and industry operations experience along the way. During her time with the company, Kelly has been promoted from Transportation Broker, to Operations Manager, and now to Assistant Manager.
"As our Dry Freight Division's Operations Manager for the past few years, Kelly has excelled at taking on new challenges and responsibilities every quarter. She has proven her abilities as a leader. I am really proud of Kelly and I'm happy to promote her to Assistant Manager," stated Tracey Lewin, Manager of the Los Angeles office.
Congratulations to Kelly on the appointment, and to the rest of the ALC team!
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA – US Foods is making a notable investment into the size of its footprint. Nearly doubling its size in Prince William County, the distributor is expanding its facility in Manassas, Virginia.
“As a leading food distributor in Virginia, we are excited to be adding to our local workforce,” said Jim Sturgell, Area President for Metro DC, US Foods. “Not only does this expansion allow us to create more jobs, it allows us to strengthen our presence and leadership in this market and continue to provide exceptional service to our growing Virginia customer base.”
This project will include a 220,000-square-foot expansion and renovation to its current facility. According to a press release, this growth will expand the company’s usable floor space to more than 466,000-square-feet.
US Foods considers its Prince William County facility to be a strategic location for the company, and was the only site in the Commonwealth of Virginia under review for the project. US Foods plans for the expansion to be completed by 2018.
“We’re thrilled that US Foods has chosen to expand in Prince William County. It is our pleasure to see our home-based companies increase their footprint with the benefits of a strong employee base, strategic location, and solid value proposition that Prince William County offers,” said Corey A. Stewart, Chairman, Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
In addition to growing the foodservice distributor's size, the project will also create around 100 new jobs over the next five years. The Board of County Supervisors approved an agreement between US Foods and the Industrial Development Authority of Prince William County, agreeing to assign a $350,000 grant towards the construction of a new facility, and purchase of equipment from the County’s Economic Development Opportunity Fund.
“It is particularly rewarding to be able to simultaneously support our existing businesses, help generate new job opportunities for our residents and solidify Prince William County’s economic impact within Northern Virginia,” said Supervisor Jeanine A. Lawson, Brentsville Magisterial District, Board of County Supervisors.
The company noted that Prince William County's central location in the Mid-Atlantic allows for easy access to a large number of U.S. markets on the East Coast. This includes five of the ten largest MSAs, including New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, and Boston. These locations are all within a day’s drive of the US Foods distribution center. The facility also has access to two major U.S. Interstate corridors, I-95 and I-66, which are both connected by Prince William County Parkway (Route 234).
“Virginia's distribution base remains strong and continues to grow, thanks to leading companies like US Foods that choose to reinvest in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Terry McAuliffe. "This important project was very competitive, and we are proud that major companies continue to recognize the advantage of Virginia's strategic Mid-Atlantic location and extensive transportation infrastructure. As we celebrate another step forward in our ongoing efforts to build the new Virginia economy by promoting the growth of existing businesses, we thank US Foods for its continued partnership and growth in Prince William County.”
As US Foods continues its upwards trajectory, which strategic regions may be next for growth? AndNowUKnow will report.
ISSAQUAH, WA – Costco’s Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board has passed away. The company announced that Jeff Brotman passed early yesterday morning.
The company released in a statement that the thoughts of Costco’s board, management, and employees are with Jeff’s wife and family.
Jeff was a key figure in the internationally renowned company. According to Fortune, Jeff and his partner James Sinegal first opened Costco in 1983. Jeff, then a Seattle-based attorney, had the idea of opening a warehouse store that was more than just a business.
“Do the right thing,” Fortune reported was the company’s first motto, and still is moving forward.
The practices instilled by Jeff and James were integral to enrapturing loyal consumers with its brand, and ones the company still upholds. This maintained foundation has now led to 736 Costco warehouses, 225 of which are on international shores.
AndNowUKnow extends its deepest condolences to Jeff’s family, as well as all those affected by his passing.
YAKIMA, WA – With its 2017 apple and pear season fast approaching, Superfresh Growers® is primed to meet demand and provide both bulk and bagged promotional opportunities. The company has made plans to double the size of its organic crop in several varieties, creating ample promotional opportunities for Superfresh Organic pouch bags.
“Fruit will be down a size, but very clean,” said Mike Preacher, Director of Marketing, in a press release noting that cool temperatures during spring bloom slowed cell division, resulting in smaller fruit for both apples and pears. “This presents a great opportunity to promote bags, which contributed 12 percent growth in pear category dollars last year, despite an overall decline in the pear category. IRI Fresh Look data also shows us that apple bags drove 83 percent of apples sales dollar growth last year.”
The company noted in its press release, that it is expecting a normal sized crop, with fruit one size smaller than those grown last year, allowing the company to continue expanding its organic and conventional pouch bag line up. Pouch bags are a key driver of sales and growth in both the organic and conventional pear and apple category, and Superfresh pouch bags are self-merchandising, easy for retailers to use, and stand upright, calling attention to themselves with useful product information and attractive graphics.
“The bags came into market earlier to this year, and we have received excellent feedback,” noted Catherine Gipe-Stewart, Communication Manager. “At Organic Produce Summit in July, the retailer feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Organic pouch bags ensure the correct ring each time, and are filling a retailer need to ensure organic growth is registered at purchasing level.”
And the company reports excellent customer feedback for its convenient grab-and-go bags.
“Busy moms often write and call in, naming how small sized fruit in pouch bags is ideal for after school snacks and Saturday soccer breaks,” added Gipe-Stewart.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for updates and news from important providers in our industry.
PIKEVILLE, KY - Mastronardi Produce Ltd. has signed on to help Jonathan Webb, Founder and CEO of ag startup AppHarvest, realize his vision of bringing a renewed economic boom to the Appalachians via high-tech greenhouses.
“We are very excited to be partnering with AppHarvest and to support their plan of bringing high-tech greenhouse jobs to this Appalachian region and fresh, local, year-round produce to key markets,” said Paul Mastronardi, President and CEO of Mastronardi Produce. “AppHarvest shares our passion for developing local communities and our commitment to providing ‘fresh from the farm’ produce to our customers that we believe is critically important to our success.”
The greenhouses will be developed in the Kentucky and West Virginia Appalachian region, according to a press release, which Webb said is a key part of his team’s commitment to bring the industry to the heart of coal country.
"We believe that Mastronardi Produce has the most talented and successful greenhouse team in the world and their SUNSET® brand is one of the top brands in produce today,” Webb commented. “Our partnership with them will set us up for success and allow us to build a scalable model in the region.”
The first project announced, what will become a 1.8 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art glass greenhouse, is in Eastern Kentucky on top of a reclaimed coal mine site.
“Jonathan has identified terrific pieces of land to erect the facilities and secured enormous support throughout the region. His dedication to this project is unmatchable,” Mastronardi said.
In partnering on the project, Mastronardi will lend not only its expertise but also be the exclusive marketer for AppHarvest.
With over 10,000 jobs having been lost in Eastern Kentucky since the decline of coal, Webb added, “The spirit of the region is unmatched, and we want to work alongside those hardworking men and women. Our goal is to provide economic development and opportunity for this region.”
The CEO added that Kentucky’s borders lie within a day’s drive of 65 percent of the U.S. population and income, calling it “a gateway to the Midwest and South.” As such, he said that building near these markets will significantly reduce transportation costs and will provide a much needed local produce option for these regions.
As further moves are made from this blossoming partnership, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
PROVIDENCE, RI – In an effort to expand its already robust New England presence and boost customer experience, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) has announced plans to open a new Shared Services Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island; the company additionally noted plans to hold a Finance Job Fair this month in order to staff its new location.
"This initiative is very important to us. We are thrilled to open offices in Lincoln just 15 minutes from our Providence headquarters,” said Rick Alberts, Vice President, Shared Services, in a company press release. “This expansion reinforces UNFI's investment in Rhode Island, enhances our customer’s experience, and will maximize career path opportunities for our associates."
In its press release, UNFI noted that the Fortune 500 company has grown significantly since its move to Rhode Island in 2009. Net sales of $9.1 billion, over the past year, represent growth of over 165 percent since the fiscal year that ended in 2008, and the company has grown to 33 distribution centers throughout the United States—with no plans to slow down.
In addition to bringing more jobs to Rhode Island, UNFI noted its community-focused agenda, with plans to engage Lincoln and the surrounding communities through its Helping Hands Committee.
“Each year our associates donate thousands of hours to people and nonprofits in need. Volunteerism is part of our culture, and we're looking forward to working with organizations in our new community," said Alberts.
The company’s Finance Job Fair will take place on Thursday, August 3rd from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Transition Solutions, 640 George Washington Highway, Building A, Second Floor, Lincoln, RI. At the hiring event, UNFI will interview candidates for opportunities in a variety of positions, ranging from entry-level to supervisor and specialist.
For more on fresh produce up and down the supply chain, check in with us at AndNowUKnow.
ORANGE COUNTY, CA - Zespri is a global company on the move. The kiwifruit giant, with unique origins in New Zealand, recently invited local media and the Newport Beach Mayor to celebrate the opening of its North American headquarters in Newport Beach, complete with a traditional Maori ceremony.
“The traditional Maori ceremony originates from New Zealand’s indigenous people,” Ben Hughes, Zespri’s Regional Market Manager for the Americas, in a company release. “Our guests were able to view prayers and blessings of the wooden carving, unveiled by James Tapiata. He explained the cultural significance and symbolism of the carving.”
Zespri CEO, Lain Jager, and Director, Bruce Cameron, welcomed the New Zealand Ambassador to the United States, the honorable Tim Groser, along with other distinguished representatives, to the unique celebration. Watch an excerpt from the ceremony below.
The beautiful Maori carving unveiled at the ceremony is representative of the prosperity and growth of the Zespri office, and its kiwifruit. The Delegation of Maori growers visited the office from New Zealand to participate in the blessing.
The ceremony came to a close with Newport Beach City Mayor Kevin Muldoon presenting Zespri with the Newport Beach City Proclamation. The New Zealand Ambassador to the U.S. also highlighted Zespri’s global success, the importance of free trade, and the amazing opportunity the U.S. offers.
Since opening the office, Zespri has made great strides in the U.S. market, with growth driven by the tropical, sweet SunGold variety of kiwifruit. Also amplifying the success of its U.S. presence are the Zespri Market Development Managers, who work directly with key retailers, and have helped expand distribution across the country, which in turn supports the value returns to the New Zealand growers.
The company has also seen great success from its recently launched “Celebrate the Sungold” campaign, highlighting a collaboration with famous music duo, Matt and Kim.
As the Zespri presence continues to grow across the globe, make sure to stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
WESTERN U.S. - Weather officials are cautioning that all-time highs in the West might be defeated in the coming days, as a warm wave looks toward California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, and British Columbia.
“An abnormally strong ridge of high pressure will bring record-shattering heat to the Pacific Northwest,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said. “The heat will peak at midweek, around Wednesday and Thursday.”
The high temperatures could well mean multiple days in the 100s for California, specifically ranging from Fresno to Redding, as well as Reno, Nevada; Boise, Idaho; and Pendleton, Oregon.
It’s not exactly a record we want to see broken in produce, even if AccuWeather states some of the numbers have held the titles since the late 1800s in the northwestern U.S.
"The current heat wave in the Northwest may end up being the most notable event of the entire summer for the U.S.," commented AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.
Understandably, as temperatures are expected to climb 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above average as soon as Wednesday and Thursday, experts caution wear light-colored clothing, staying well-hydrated with water, and for those that must be outdoors to take as many breaks as possible in the shade or in air-conditioned indoors.
Likewise, the Agricultural Personnel Management Association’s (APMA) Executive Director Julia Belliard recently addressed the heat as well, asking that California employers please remember the required four steps to prevent heat illness:
- Train all employees and supervisors about heat illness prevention.
- Provide enough fresh water so that each employee can drink at least 1 quart per hour, or four 8 ounce glasses, of water per hour, and encourage them to do so.
- Provide access to shade and encourage employees to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least 5 minutes. They should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.
- Develop and implement written procedures for complying with the Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Standard.
Additional information can also be found on the Cal/OSHA website.
“The ridge should begin to weaken heading into Friday and Saturday,” Pydynowski said. “So while it will still be very warm with above-normal temperatures, the record-breaking heat should come to an end.”
The most notable heat looks to hit the I-5 corridor in Washington and Oregon. AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this and other current events in the produce industry.
LEVERKUSEN, GER - In the wake of sustainability concerns and initiatives, Bayer’s Jennifer Maloney and Kevin Adam recently took the time to discuss with me how the company’s newly-launched Grow On program helps growers communicate all they do to uphold their roles as stewards of the land.
“One of the things I kept hearing from growers was that they were constantly getting questions from consumers, retailers, and operators about their sustainability practices,” Jennifer shares with me, explaining that in her role as Food Chain Sustainability Manager she is focused on helping retailers, growers, and operators understand the impacts of current and rising consumer trends. One of those pressing movements is the curiosity of what providers are doing to care for and sustain the environment.
“Whether it’s environmental, social, or economic sustainability, it is advantageous for growers to communicate what they are doing to be sustainable,” Jennifer adds.
As a result, Bayer has created this multi-faceted program to not only help the growers to communicate any and all moves they are making to interested parties, be it retailers, foodservice operators, or the consumer, but to help in those sustainability movements.
The Grow On initiative looks to provide growers with tools to identify, implement, and communicate sustainable farming practices. This can include citrus, grape, pome and stonefruit, potato, tree nut, and the initiative provides vegetable growers with the resources needed to continue to sustainably produce safe, nutritious food for the growing global population, Bayer said in its initial press release.
It can also improve shelf-life and help to mitigate food waste by helping tackle issues in the field for specific products.
“For instance in cherries,” Kevin, who serves as Bayer's Horticulture Marketing Lead for North America, shares with me. “If you do a good job of controlling the diseases before they are actually harvested and maybe shipped overseas in export market you can reduce their loss or shrinkage, improving the amount of food that’s able to move to the consumer and they are able to consume.” He continued, “For the domestic market, it improves the amount of time they can store it when they get home.”
Bayer has done studies that show its practices in disease prevention can improve shelf-life by applying its solution package, prolonging freshness by anywhere from 5 to 15 days depending on the product.
A win-win for the grower and the buyer.
The company broke down areas in which it could help tackle sustainability issues, coming up with the following regimen:
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to manage pests with minimal environmental impact
- Optimizing plant water usage and water quality
- Improving soil health and plant nutrient uptake
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel use
- Ensuring safe work environments
- Reducing food waste by preventing pre-harvest loss and extending post-harvest shelf-life
“Growers use our products to help them be even more sustainable in these areas, so it became this sustainability tool for growers to use to meet their different messaging needs,” Jennifer concludes.
And with the majority of food waste occurring either at the beginning of the supply chain’s battles with Mother Nature like fruit drop, mold, or disease, or on the consumer end, these moves are key to helping ensure that the investment in each fruit and vegetable brings more return.
To learn more about the Grow On initiative, click here.