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BAKERSFIELD, CA – At Grimmway Farms, community involvement isn’t just a cursory undertaking, but a crucial part of the company’s operations that have led to its stature as a premium produce provider in the industry. In this vein, the company recently participated in the “Pack to School” Giveaway for local students of Lamont, California.
“At Grimmway Farms, we are committed to giving back to our community and investing in education for our youth,” said Jeff Huckaby, President of Grimmway Farms. “When the Greater Lamont Chamber of Commerce asked for our help with its Back to School Supply Drive, we readily agreed to participate knowing that this cause would strongly connect with our employees.”
This past Saturday, volunteers from Grimmway Farms joined the Lamont business community to distribute hundreds of backpacks and school supplies collected by local business for the Back to School Supply Drive led by the Greater Lamont Chamber of Commerce. According to a press release, nearly 500 local school children were on hand for the event.
The Greater Lamont Chamber of Commerce coordinated the Back to School Supply Drive to ensure that area school children have access to the essential supplies needed for the upcoming school year. The event took place at the Lamont Weedpatch Family Resource Center, where students were allowed to pick and choose from donated supplies, giving them a “shopping” experience to connect each student with items appropriate for their grade level.
“We received everything from crayons to calculators, and a total of 780 backpacks. A few local hairdressers were onsite offering free haircuts to students as well. The Greater Lamont Chamber of Commerce appreciates Grimmway Farms, its employees, and all of the participating businesses for their generous donations,” said Jose Gonzalez, President, Greater Lamont Chamber of Commerce. “Because of their efforts and commitment, the children of Lamont will now be prepared to start the school year with essential school supplies.”
Grimmway Farms also initiated a friendly competition amongst seven of its Lamont/Arvin facilities to spur employee participation in the drive. The facility that collected the most donations for the drive will be rewarded with a personal ice cream social event hosted by Huckaby. The company itself also donated 330 backpacks and 800 carrot snack packs to the program.
“The level of employee participation in this school supply drive makes me so proud. I’m never surprised by our employees’ commitment to our communities, but I’m always impressed. Once again, our employees demonstrated that, at Grimmway, ‘giving back to the community’ isn’t a slogan; it’s part of our company’s cultural fabric.”
All proceeds benefitted the students of the Lamont School District, Vineland School District, Kern High School District, and more. Students were able to select from a wide selection of fundamental supplies that were collected over a weeks-long drive for donations. These supplies included, notebooks, pens, pencils, paper, binders, highlighters, rulers, and safety scissors. Extra backpacks and supplies will be donated to students in the Arvin community.
Other Lamont local businesses that participated in the drive were Dollar Tree, Recology, Self-Help Federal Credit Union, and Fastrip Gas Stations.
As companies continually invest in the communities that support and uplift them, stick with AndNowUKnow for all the latest.
SACRAMENTO, CA – After a lengthy review process, Governor Jerry Brown’s administration announced that it has approved California WaterFix. Know colloquially as the “Delta tunnels project,” the ruling will jumpstart a plan to bore tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in an effort to improve the supply of water throughout the state.
While the $17.1 billion plan has been controversial in many corners due to environmental concerns, the “Notice of Determination,” in which regulators affirmed that the project complies with the California Environmental Quality Act, “came as little surprise,” according to a Sacramento Bee report. The project, some 25 years in the making, has been building steam over the course of the last year, as regulatory agencies worked to approve the plan.
The project involves the construction of two 35-mile-long tunnels designed to re-route a portion of the Sacramento River’s flow in order to deliver water more reliably to Southern Californians, Bay Area residents, and San Joaquin Valley farmland.
The Sacramento Bee noted that, despite official state approval, a wave of litigation is expected to follow the announcement and slow the process considerably. And while some influential water agencies south of the Delta, like the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Kern County Water Agency, appear to have reached consensus on the project, representatives of the Westlands Water District—an agency that oversees large swaths of Fresno and Kings counties—have voiced concerns about project costs.
Additionally, the state filed a “complaint for validation” in Sacramento Superior Court last Friday, taking a step toward eventually borrowing the billions of dollars the project will require.
AndNowUKnow will keep you apprised of updates as the project continues.
AUSTIN, TX – It’s no secret that consumers go wild over avocados; from unconventional pairings, to favorite dishes, or scooped out plain with a spoon, the love of an avo fan is not to be taken lightly. It was in this exact frame of mind that West Pak Avocado launched its I Love Avocados campaign, bringing all avocado enthusiasts together in one shared interest.
“I Love Avocados came from the fact that we get told that by just about everybody we run into when we tell them what we do and what we sell,” Scott Ross tells me, the company’s newest Eastern Regional Sales Manager.
Originating with the company’s high-graphic and appealing packaging, the marketing campaign has now spread to encompass a variety of configurations that West Pak offers for its retail partners. West Pak offers any size count, size, or grade of avocados based on customer need, all adorned in the memorable “I Love Avocados” packaging.
“We decided to develop a campaign around that [love from consumers], so we could change up the category a little bit, bring some more attention to avocados,” Scott says.
Retailers can see a further boost to the sales of their West Pak avocados with engaging and colorful point of sale materials that the company offers. All centered around one of the most fun parts of being involved with avocados, Scott assures me, hearing people say “I Love Avocados.”
From one avocado lover to the next, what else differentiates the West Pak brand? Watch my brief interview with Scott above.
TEHACHAPI, CA - SunSelect Produce, marketed exclusively by Oppy, can now proudly boast that 100 percent of its harvest now qualifies to bear the socially responsible Fair Trade certification seal, having recently obtained certification at its operation in Tehachapi, CA.
“We have experienced the impact of Fair Trade certification as our BC program evolved through the last several seasons,” said Edith Gubiotti, Vice President of Human Resources and Administration at SunSelect, in a press release, noting that SunSelect’s Canadian operation became the first Fair Trade producer in the “global north” when it was certified in 2014.
While achieving the certification could have compelling commercial implications—especially with recent research indicating that more than two thirds of the shopping public now recognizes the Fair Trade seal—Gubiotti points to what matters most: The difference the certification is making in the lives of SunSelect’s labor force.
“Approximately 135 employees, including roughly 120 men and women from rural areas in Guatemala who travel to work with us annually, have used the premiums earned through the sale of SunSelect Fair Trade Certified™ peppers to address urgent needs in their communities and invest in future income for their families,” Gubiotti continued. “Recent updates to the Fair Trade standards give workers more direct access to income generated by the premiums.”
Fair Trade premiums are additional sums of money that go into a communal fund for workers and farmers to use as they see fit to improve their social, economic, and environmental conditions. Bringing the certification to SunSelect’s California greenhouses, which are dedicated to sweet bell peppers, tomatoes-on-the-vine, and specialty tomatoes, will touch the lives and neighborhoods of the roughly 300 individuals who pick, pack, ship, and undertake other responsibilities at their greenhouse operation in Tehachapi.
“The general public’s recognition of the Fair Trade seal is up from 38 percent in 2008 to 67 percent last year,” said James Milne, Vice President of Marketing for Oppy, SunSelect’s exclusive marketing partner. “Awareness is even higher in some segments, topping at 73 percent with Millennials, who generally exhibit strong sustainability ideals and values, and seek out products that align with them.”
“We are proud to partner with SunSelect in continuing to expand Fair Trade, most recently with the Fair Trade certification of their greenhouse in California,” said Nathalie Marin-Gest, Interim Director of Produce and Floral at Fair Trade USA. “We are excited to help bring these certified tomatoes and bell peppers to market, further empowering SunSelect’s farm workers to build sustainable livelihoods for their families and communities.”
With consumer awareness and appreciation of the Fair Trade Certified seal on the uptick, as noted in the 2016 NMI State of Sustainability in America study, SunSelect is well-positioned to make the most of the opportunity.
“The Fair Trade seal signifies high-quality products that are grown with care for people on both ends of the spectrum―the workers and the consumers―while respecting the world around us,” Gubiotti concluded. “The certification sets a high standard for responsible farming practices, fair treatment of workers, environmental stewardship, and great tasting products that can differentiate at retail because they align with shopper values. We’re very proud that every piece of produce grown in a SunSelect greenhouse is now eligible to wear the Fair Trade seal.”
SunSelect decided to certify its U.S. operation to further demonstrate the commitment to sustainable values it has cultivated for many years. By prioritizing renewable resource use, implementing rigorous carbon management practices―including proprietary GC6 green carbon capture technology and climate friendly production standards―and pioneering green packaging, SunSelect has earned its reputation as a sustainable leader.
SunSelect products are marketed under the Outrageously Fresh brand.
Between SunSelect and Divemex Oppy offers Fair Trade Certified sweet bell peppers year-round.
BALTIMORE, MD - Tessemae’s isn’t done boosting its operations with key and powerful hires. The company’s impressive portfolio of consumer-loved dressings and spreads now has the extensive experience of Scott Figura and Dan Wasser to help take Tessemae’s to the next level.
Scott is joining the Tessemae’s executive team as its new Senior VP of Supply Chain. In his new position, Scott will pair his already extensive food experience with a new focus on Tessemae’s operations as the company looks to accelerate its growth. Most recently, Scott led the Global Supply Chain’s Capability & Productivity team, and was focused on building system knowledge and operational excellence.
“We connected with Scott while he was heading his own consulting company during his retirement, and we knew that he would be a great addition to our executive team,” says Brian Vetter, COO. “He brings deep operational experience and a true passion for getting things done right. Scott will help us build the foundation required to support and continue the forward momentum that we are experiencing, in addition to positioning our supply chain operations as a competitive advantage in the ever-evolving organic, clean food retail space.”
Scott has a record of leading organizations to deliver strong business results by developing capable people, building organizational strength, and implementing sustainable business solutions. Scott first broke into the food and beverage industry with Pepsi, before transitioning to Coca-Cola to gain 20 years of experience working all areas of supply chain leadership. Scott also served as in officer in the U.S. Navy.
Tessemae’s is also bolstering its future growth by adding Dan Wasser as SVP of Business Insights. In his new role, Dan will focus on leading the company’s insights and analytics. His addition comes at a key time for Tessemae’s as the company continues its unprecedented growth in the industry. Dan will lead the team in value-added insights, promotion and pricing analyses, and in helping Tessemae’s retail and foodservice customers drive their sales and profits in those categories in which the company competes.
“Dan Wasser is a true industry leader, from being one of the early employees at IRI to the VP of Insights at Fresh Express,” Brian tells me. “His experience ranges from startup to big company success, and he’s done it all with a smile on his face. We are beyond excited to welcome him to our team as we continue to service the millennial mom and her family with fresh food solutions.”
Dan brings 14 years of industry experience to his role from time spent at Fresh Express and Chiquita, heading up their Category Management, Insights, and Planning teams. During this time, he was responsible for information and planning teams, working in collaboration with sales, marketing, innovations, supply chain, and finance. Dan also spent 16 years with Information Resources Inc working his way up to VP of Client Service, in addition to time spent with smaller Internet-based organizations.
Dan has a B.S. in Marketing and Economics from Illinois State, and an M.B.A. from DePaul. He serves DePaul’s Marketing Advisory Council, is a member of their Alumni Sharing Knowledge group, and an active participant at the College of DuPage CIS Board of Advisors.
As we recently reported, these new hires are just the latest in a string of strategic hirings by the company. Tessemae’s recently welcomed Kellen Kubo, Mike Shields, and Shawn McLaughlin to its team as well, ramping up its focus on customer service, fresh service, and future growth.
Congratulations to Scott and Dan, and the rest of the growing team at Tessemae’s! We look forward to your growing presence in the industry.
BOISE, ID - As retailers across the nation work to fortify their strategies in the wake of the Whole Foods and Amazon acquisition, Albertsons has announced plans to tackle the new entity on its home turf—home delivery. In an interview with The Idaho Statesman, Albertsons CEO Bob Miller outlined how the company plans to approach new competition in the new era of retail.
“We’re aggressively rolling out home delivery,” Miller told the source. “At the end of this fiscal year, we’ll be in eight of the ten biggest markets in the U.S. We’re going to spend lots of money on home delivery. A place like Chicago, we’re number-one share in the supermarket sector... We’re going to work hard on home delivery, even though Amazon is, too, and lots of other people. We think we can compete in that space, because somebody can order the complete variety from our store.”
The company, which recently halted plans for its Initial Public Offering due to the news of the Whole Foods acquisition, said it will be offering more click-and-collect services.
The company is also currently making big investments in its current brick-and-mortar business.
“We’re aggressively remodeling our stores. We’ve touched over 200 stores last year, we’ll do over 200 more this year,” Miller shared with the source. “We’ve now remodeled every store in the Treasure Valley except for Broadway—and we’re going to build a new store there. We’re going to build 18 new stores this year. We’ll spend more than $1.4 billion this year in capital.”
As retailers continue to double down and invest in strategy, follow along with AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on the latest.
DENVER, CO – Chipotle is under fire from consumers and investors this month. The fresh-focused fast food chain has suffered a slew of breaking headlines in recent months, causing the company’s stock to plummet. And now a group of investors is filing suit, according to Denver Fox affiliate KDVR, claiming that the company deceived them.
In the lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court of Colorado, shareholders claim that Chipotle led customers to believe that the company had fixed problems with food safety after several Chipotle patrons at roughly a dozen Chipotle locations contracted norovirus and e.coli in 2015. Shareholders claim that Chipotle hid information about persistent food safety issues from the public, resulting in artificially-inflated stock prices.
Had these shareholders been appropriately apprised of information, they claim, they would not have invested in the company and are thus seeking to be compensated for damages resulting from Chipotle's recent downturn.
Last week, a Chipotle location in Virginia was forced to close its doors after customers became ill, and the Virginia Health Department confirmed an outbreak of norovirus. And shortly after, customers in Dallas documented an incident wherein rats or mice allegedly fell from the ceiling of a Chipotle.
Despite bad press, though, some are looking at Chipotle’s depressed stock prices as an opportunity to invest in a sound business model. Yahoo! Finance’s Kyle Woodley recommended buying the stock in an article published last Friday, citing recent managerial streamlining, a willingness to expand, and a fresh-focused business model that jibes with food trends.
For more on all things fresh produce, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY – After launching an IPO late last month with shares valued significantly below earlier estimates, and with stock prices continuing to decline, Blue Apron may be headed to court for breach of its fiduciary duties to shareholders.
In a press release distributed July 18, Harwood Feffer LLP announced that law firm was “investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Blue Apron Holdings, Inc” including, but not limited to, claims that the company’s “board of directors has breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders, grossly mismanaged the company, and/or committed abuses of control.”
Since a modest one percent jump the day of the offering, Blue Apron’s stock—which launched at $10 per share, just two thirds of its initially estimated value of $15 to $17—has been steadily declining in value. As of the market’s close on Friday, July 21, Blue Apron shares were valued at $6.55.
Some, including news source Reuters, have pointed to the infelicitous timing of the IPO as the reason the meal kit provider’s stock has underperformed. Blue Apron’s IPO launched immediately after Amazon announced plans to acquire Whole Foods, and that announcement resulted in an industry-wide leveling of competitors’ stocks.
Subsequent news that Amazon has filed for its own meal kit trademark may have further complicated Blue Apron’s path forward, though the company's stock prices seem to have stabilized since Tuesday of last week, and shares appear to have made moderate gains in after hours trading this weekend.
Whether Harwood Feffer’s investigations will result in a lawsuit is not yet clear. For more on the situation as it develops, stick with AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY – In a tantalizing development for tech-watchers, Elon Musk—Founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and recently the Boring Company—announced via Twitter last week that he received government approval to build a “Hyperloop” between New York and Washington, DC—an underground transportation system that could convey people and cargo between the two cities in only 29 minutes.
“Just received verbal govt approval for The Boring Company to build an underground NY-Phil-Balt-DC Hyperloop. NY-DC in 29 mins,” Musk tweeted. He quickly followed with the clarification: “City center to city center in each case, with up to a dozen or more entry/exit elevators in each city.”
According to tech news source Futurism, the purported approval is only verbal at this point, and Musk may still have to deal with red tape or reneging on the part of officials. Later tweets also intimated that similar projects were in the works for Texas and the West Coast.
“First set of tunnels are to alleviate greater LA urban congestion,” Musk tweeted in response to a follower. “Will start NY-DC in parallel. Then prob LA-SF and a TX loop.”
Musk had previously expressed desires to build Hyperloop routes worldwide, and the Boring Company recently completed the first segment of its Hyperloop system in Los Angeles. Musk first reported his desire to tackle underground transportation in December of last year, tweeting: “Traffic is driving me nuts. Am going to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging... I am actually going to do this.”
How will these developments in transportation affect the future of fresh? Could in-season produce be delivered in a matter of minutes across states and even continents? AndNowUKnow will continue to report with updates.