CASTROVILLE, CA - Now is the time to be pushing artichokes, says Ocean Mist Farms, as Mother Nature brings us a fresh, attractive crop deeper into the summer than usual.
“Volume is up due in large part to the erratic weather we’ve had,” the company’s Artichokes Commodity Manager, Bob Polovneff, shares with me. “Now that we have had a number of higher temperature days the crop is coming around beautifully.”
The season kicked off to a late start due to that tumultuous weather, but has since brought promotable volumes as of late June and early July, especially for the Jumbo- and Large-sized artichokes.
“Quality at this time of the year is excellent and will continue to be excellent for a while,” Bob tells me, sharing that the current strength of Ocean Mist’s artichokes is set to last for at least six more weeks. Perfect for the remainder of the grilling season.
“The artichoke is a wonderful addition to a summer plate, whether consumers are grilling or simply sitting around the table with the family,” Bob shares. “The artichoke is amazing for outdoor cooking promotions. We’ve set up discussions with a few of our key retailers focusing on using the excellent sizing and quality to bring in more shoppers.”
In fact, though artichoke demand has traditionally slowed for the summer months in previous years, the strength and attractiveness of the late crop has been helping boost consumer desire for the plant.
“Artichoke demand usually tapers off in the summer, but we have been seeing rising demand as a result of our ability to offer quality product and attractive pricing,” Bob says.
With these promotable volumes around for just a month and a half more, Ocean Mist Farms is looking to spread the word on these POS tactics and see artichokes further boost retailers’ ring at the register. Interested parties can contact the Ocean Mist Farms Sales Team at (831) 633-2144 for further details.
FOWLER, CA - With one month in the books for Bee Sweet’s import program, the citrus provider said it is seeing a strong kick off to Summer, 2017.
“This season is off to a great start. We were able to start earlier than last year, which has allowed for a smooth transition of product,” said Sales Manager Joe Berberian.
When it comes to retail programs, he continued, “July and August should be great promotional months for clementines and oranges.”
One of the largest importers of Chilean citrus on the West Coast, Bee Sweet said in a press release that there was a surplus of California product to handle when last year’s season ended in July. This caused a large fluctuation of price during the transition of the two seasons that we will likely not see this year, thanks to the industry’s domestic Navel orange and mandarin crop having ended early.
“The eating quality of our imports is great, and we’re thankful for our Chilean partners for helping us to kick off a strong, successful season,” Berberian added.
With imports seeing such a strong start, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for all the latest updates and fluctuations in this and other produce markets.
HOUSTON, TX – Sysco is putting produce front and center this season, and bringing store periphery into the center of the plate in the latest issue of Sysco Foodie.
“Summertime is the perfect time to showcase produce on you menu,” Sysco notes in the latest issue of its quarterly magazine. “As temperatures rise, so does the interest in lighter, healthier eating styles.”
The foodservice provider also noted, in its “Produce Sizzles on Summer Menus” feature, that “trends toward ‘veggie-centric’ dishes and center-of-the-plate produce” are an excellent opportunity for foodservice operators to experiment with produce offerings that can “draw in customers while keeping cost down.”
With serving suggestions that run the gamut from Strawberry Pesto Caprese Salad to Ginger-Mint Julep with Fresh Pineapple, the company offers suggestions to entice even the most decadent of eaters, while still appealing to an increasingly health-conscious crowd.
Click here to peruse the latest issue of Sysco Foodie in its entirety.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report with more on produce-centric trends, fruit- and veggie-loaded serving suggestions, and more. Stay tuned.
RICHMOND, VA - Continually innovating to provide the highest quality product to its customers, packing solution provider Proseal has made a name for itself manufacturing and marketing machines tailored to the unique challenges of fresh food packaging. And while we all strive to be great, Proseal knows it takes a truly rigorous approach to providing the highest level of quality, service, precision, and rapid response.
Recently, I had a chance to catch up with the company’s Sales Supervisor Ashley Saxon, and ask her some questions about the company’s new test kitchen—an addition to the company’s Chesterfield, Virginia-facility designed to provide the utmost level of quality assurance to its customers.
“Our test kitchen officially launched in August of 2016. Before the test kitchen, we were still able to run tests many of our customers look for, but we now have a dedicated space and equipment that gives us the opportunity to do a myriad of tests,” Ashley tells me. “Last year we added an additional 4,000-square-feet to our existing 6,000-square-foot facility and the test kitchen was one of the main features of this addition.”
Ashley notes that along with the test-kitchen, the company was able to introduce a dedicated training suite and dedicated machine bays to accommodate full production lines and better execute factory approved testing to our customers.
“Our main goal with the test kitchen is to support our customers,” Ashley says. “We are able to provide them the necessary means to test new product or packaging without any capital investment. It also gives Proseal an opportunity to prove to customers the speeds and processes we are able to achieve through innovation.”
Among other details, Ashley tells me that the company’s test kitchen is equipped with its GTRe machine, capable of any and all possible forms of tray sealing, and equipment to test gas residuals for customers who introduce modified atmospheres into their packaging.
“Customers are able to do shelf-life testing as well as test new packaging (film and tray). They are also able to test new processes whether it be including modified atmosphere, skin packing, or vacuum gas,” Ashley notes, explaining that ultimately the process is about getting the best product and experience to the company’s customers. “Our goal is always the same—to provide our customers with the best experience in equipment, service, and communication. Our customers are our priority and we strive every day to ensure that their experience with Proseal is nothing less than perfection.”
Check in with us at AndNowUKnow for more on this and other important companies in the fresh produce industry.
WENATCHEE, WA – Fruit sales are booming as consumers look to freshen up their summers, and CMI Orchards is looking to make sure apples are a part of that mix with its branded apple, Kanzi®. As Kanzi nears its seasonal sales peak, CMI Orchards is offering retailers a premium selection to increase their summer sales and invigorate consumer excitement.
“Sales have doubled so far this season with Kanzi and we fully expect the strong sales of Kanzi to continue through August with our Southern Hemisphere imports,” said Robb Myers, Vice President of Sales, who also oversees the apple import program on behalf of CMI Orchards.
Over the next several week, the company stated in a press release, its imported Kanzis from New Zealand and Chile are expected to peak, driving incremental dollars into the apple category. Myers illuminated that over the past couple of years, retailers have really discovered how branded apples like Kanzi can energize the category during summer months. Kanzi is specially used to drive excitement.
“We know apples like Red Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Pink Lady create a foundation for the category. But we’re seeing retailers drive transaction size and incremental dollars by invigorating consumer interest in the category at a time when apple sales normally decline,” Myers continued.
CMI Orchards stated that Kanzi is one of the strongest growth apples in the industry, and has jumped in sales over 100 percent over the past year. According to data from Nielsen, over the past 52 weeks through June 1, Kanzi sales are up by 103 percent with more than 9,000 stores carrying the apple.
“Summer is a great time for retailers that have never tried Kanzi to jump in,” said Myers. “In summer, some consumers tend to abandon the category simply because many apple varieties disappear from shelves as the crops run out. Our customers’ sales results show that introducing import Kanzi can provide a strong boost in sales.”
Kanzi was also one of the only two apples that ranked in the top 20 for sales in U.S. supermarkets with dollar gain exceeding 100 percent. Last year in July alone, the company noted, nearly 1,500 supermarkets added Kanzi to their supermarket selections.
“It’s important to remember that Kanzi are one of the few next-generation apples specifically bred in Europe to produce the most intense-flavored apple available,” said Myers. “We’re seeing the same intense flavor with our import Kanzi this season and are really excited to get these apples in the hands of consumers.”
CMI Orchards noted that its imported Kanzi for the 2017 season are some of the best-eating apples from New Zealand and Chile that the company has received since starting imports five seasons ago.
“As with all newer varieties, the trees are young. As the trees mature they become less vigorous and vegetative, giving us Kanzi with incredible acid and sugar balance,” Myers elaborated.
Flavor intense Kanzi apples ride a tantalizing balance between sweet and tangy. Taste tests and demos have shown CMI Orchards that the supremely juicy apple and its intense flavor is coveted by consumers.
SALINAS, CA – Church Brothers Farms has announced the return of a familiar face to take over the grower-owned processor/shipper’s business development. Industry veteran Ernst van Eeghen has been appointed Vice President of Business Development.
"I'm thrilled with the opportunity to rejoin this great company and it feels like coming home,” van Eeghen said in a company press release. “I'm looking forward to driving the business forward under the leadership and vision of Brian and Jeff Church.”
As Church Brothers’ Vice President of Business Development, van Eeghen is responsible for building business relationships with new and existing customers in the United States and Canada. He will work out of the company’s Salinas, California, office and report directly to Jeff Church, Vice President of Sales.
The industry veteran had priorly served as Director of Marketing and Product Development for Church Brothers from 2007 to 2014. After leaving the company, van Eeghen worked as Director of Sales and Marketing at Germains Seed Technology in Gilroy, California, then Director of Marketing at Twang Partners in San Antonio, Texas. He was previously employed at Mann Packing, as well.
In addition to van Eeghen, Church Brothers has also announced the hiring of Mark Zahnlecker, formerly of IPG, and Sebastian Pagan—both in general sales roles. Chuck Church, son of Steve Church, has also transitioned from the company’s marketing department to sales, and is reportedly handling a range of accounts in his new role.
“As we continue to grow our company we have to grow our talent,” noted Jeff Church. “We’re very excited to strengthen our sales staff with these new hires as we move into the second half of the year.”
Congratulations to Ernst, Mark, Sebastian, and Chuck on your new roles! We at AndNowUKnow wish you and the entire Church Brothers team all the best going forward.
ISSAQUAH, WA – A significant boost in sales growth and same-store sales hasn’t lent the usual spike to Costco’s stock, and analysts are attributing it to the resonating effects of Amazon’s proposed purchase of Whole Foods Market.
Investor’s Business Daily reports that despite 7% sales growth in June to $12.17 billion and 6.5% in same-store sales growth for the month excluding gas prices and currency, Costco shares fell 0.6% to 157.09 in the stock market today after trading at 161.35 soon after the market open.
Despite the slip, investors continue to have faith that Costco will hold its own, according to the report, which noted that the retailer’s June results did bolster Wall Street's confidence.
"We also think the results indicate Costco can coexist with large hard line competitors like Walmart and have limited cannibalization from Amazon," wrote Managing Director at Stifel Financial, Mark Astrachan, late Wednesday.
Highlights Stifel noted for the five-week period in June include:
- U.S. same-store sales growth of 6.3%, above consensus of 3.7%
- Core Canada comps rising 6.8%
- A growth of 7.1% for other international comps
Costco currently owns 734 warehouses worldwide, with 511 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
BMO Capital Markets analyst Kelly Bania called Costco’s U.S. comp including 4.5% U.S. customer traffic "particularly impressive," adding, "considering the continued challenging trends experienced across other parts of retail and Amazon fears."
With the retailer’s July sales results due August 2nd, and its over Q4 report the first week of October, AndNowUKnow will report how the Street receives Costco as the buy-side continues to shake out.
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative action under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) against Fresh Growers Direct.
According to a USDA press release, the company, operating out of New York, allegedly failed to make full payment to five produce sellers in the amount of $244,508 from August 2015 through June 2016.
Fresh Growers Direct will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry for two years. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for one year and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
The PACA Division, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to the PACA including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
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.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - The exclusively Mesilla Valley-grown, highly sought-after Hatch chiles are back. The pepper is available fresh once a year, answering the desire of chile pepper fans everywhere with a zesty, bold flavor.
Frieda’s Specialty Produce wants to help the buy-side harness that heat with a new 8/2 lb retail pouch.
“These pouches help retailers reduce shrink and increase sell-through at the register,” said Alex Jackson Berkley, Senior Account Manager. “With Hatch Chiles looking identical to Anaheim chiles, this bag will help retail buyers accurately track sales, and cashiers to accurately ring up product. Plus, the package educates shoppers on how to roast the chiles for ultimate flavor.”
With a special kick to the pepper by being roasted over open flame, Frieda’s said in a press release that many retailers host in-store chile-roasting events to build excitement and provide shoppers with an authentic New Mexico Hatch chile festival experience.
“This is the perfect time to start planning for your Hatch program to increase summer sales,” said Berkley. “August is the only time of year when Hatch chiles are available fresh for roasting, and serious Hatch chile fans go crazy for them. Frieda’s has organized in-store roasting events since 2011, and retailers see the Hatch chile halo effect through sales across all departments. Shoppers who buy fresh or roasted Hatch chiles will also pick up cheese, chips, and beer to enjoy with their chiles.”
As is ever the exciting twist with produce, weather is always a factor on supply for Hatch chiles. Allen DeMo, Director of Procurement and Sourcing, gave insights on how the crop looks for next month.
“Our team just visited our partner growers in New Mexico last week and we learned that, while the recent heat wave affected the early crop, we are still on track for the August start,” DeMo. “The Hatch chile supply is looking good for the season.”
Available in August and only for a limited time, the Frieda’s team can be contacted today to pre-book the ever-popular Hatch chiles.
CITRUSDAL, SOUTH AFRICA - The vessel of citrus has come in, Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) announced proudly as it looked towards a strong seasonal kick off.
The company has teamed up with sophisticated supply chain partners such as Holt Logistics and the Port of Philadelphia, a key partnership it said will help it provide a steady supply of fresh, sweet, and delicious citrus to the U.S. during summer months when domestic supplies are not in season.
“We are proud partners of Summer Citrus from South Africa. Their dedication to this market has been steady, bringing excellent summer citrus here for the past 17 years,” said Leo Holt, President of Holt Logistics, in a press release. “They are a strong member of the Delaware River Port community having a steadfast commitment to the safe, fast, dedicated, and direct vessel program that lands their product in a superb condition. The Liberty Bell rings in the summer in Philadelphia when the South African orange sunshine arrives.”
The first shipment contained mostly Navel oranges and Easy Peelers, with the second arriving this week with more fresh, peak-of-season citrus to consumers.
The company is in the midst of boosting its unique brand identity not only off of its growing momentum since key strategies were laid down in March, but with its three-month-long consumer promotion, Swing into Summer, due to kick up part two from July 15th to July 31st.
“We’re excited that Summer Citrus from South Africa producers have once again teamed up with Seatrade to bring dedicated shiploads of fresh and delicious citrus from sunny South Africa to eager consumers in the U.S.,” Howard Posner, General Manager of Seatrade USA, said.
The addition of influencer partnerships during this promotional period, SCSA said, provides exponential brand reach, with recipes and summer inspiration to help encourage shoppers to eat more citrus during these summer months.