LAREDO, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers found some unexpected greens when they came across nearly two tons of marijuana, valued at more than $700,000, making its way across the Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge along the border of Texas and Mexico.
“This is truly an example of our CBP officers’ hard work, experience and dedication to the CBP mission,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry, in a CBP press release. “I congratulate the officers in advancing the CBP mission and protecting the public from illegal narcotics.”
On Monday, June 26, a CBP officer selected a tractor trailer hauling lettuce for a secondary inspection. A canine search and inspection lead the officer and his colleagues to uncover 5,754 packages distributed throughout the truck, containing 3,707 pounds of marijuana. Authorities estimate the street value of the recovered drugs to be $741,186.
Officers seized the narcotics, and the case was then turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homland Security Investigations (ICE-HIS) special agents.
No word was forthcoming on the fate of heads of lettuce packed alongside the offending vegetal matter. Where will these wilted characters strike next, infiltrating our industry to pass along their unlawful cargo? ANUK will continue to report.
WATSONVILLE, CA – There’s more than just quality fruit that goes into maintaining a sought-after brand in consumer eyes. With berries that are continuously craved by today’s shoppers, Driscoll’s knows that mentality well. The company has announced a new campaign to further exemplify the strength of its brand and selections, adding the new, nationwide #BerryTogether initiative to its history of successful communication strategies.
As Frances Dillard, Director of Marketing and Global Brand Lead at Driscoll’s, recently told me, this new campaign builds on a promise undertaken by the company, with a new twist to tap into consumer demand.
“Last year, Driscoll’s announced one new global brand strategy that unified North, America, Europe, Australia, and China,” Frances tells me. “This year, we are continuing to evolve our brand strategy from a functional fruit, to one that creates a stronger emotional connection of happiness with our berries.”
Driscoll’s launch campaign #BerryTogether came to fruition through a unique and fun approach called experiential marketing; a trend that connects its brand directly with consumers. Combining live and in-person experiences with digital extensions, #BerryTogether is an integrated campaign designed to bring people together–right in line with Driscoll’s long-term focus.
The first U.S. communication strategy since its unified global visual identity system was unveiled, the #BerryTogether campaign will kick off in the raspberry-devout Twin Cities. The company will offer a 3D experiential art installation that will require people to come together to receive a berry reward, further reinforcing that berries are best when shared. Footage captured during the authentic interactions can be viewed here.
Driscoll’s will also host a national #BerryTogether sweepstakes, highlighting photos of favorite berry moments between family and friends. To enter, consumers need merely to use the hashtag #BerryTogether on Instagram or Twitter for a chance to win a family vacation to the rich soil of California.
“At the core of everything we do, is to deliver on our brand promise of ‘Only the Finest Berries,’” Frances says. “Our campaign further differentiates Driscoll’s in the marketplace as it taps into the power of our brand advocates to drive it. As the brand leader in fresh berries, we are fortune our consumers are willing to share the berry joy through all digital touch points including social media.”
In tandem with the new campaign’s launch, Driscoll’s also released the top 10 berry-loving metropolitan areas in the U.S. This syndicated category data reported by The Nielsen Company, indicated that Boston, Hartford-New Haven, and Minneapolis-St. Paul were the top three most berry-adoring markets in the country. The Twin Cities obtained top spot as the raspberry consumption capital of the U.S. with families enjoying 132 percent more fresh raspberries per household than the national annual average.
According to Driscoll’s research, other top markets included Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Buffalo/Rochester, Denver, New York, and more. Together, these 10 areas consume nearly 400 million pounds of fresh berries, more than 25 percent of America’s total berry consumption. Driscoll’s states that with national retail sales for all fresh berries continuing to grow at 7.6 percent and leading all produce category sales over the past five years, American’s continuously discover the joy in berries.
“We’ll have more fun surprises across the country in the coming month, so stay tuned!” Frances finishes.
Watch the video of the Driscoll’s social experiment in the Twin Cities when you visit here, and find more information on #BerryTogether and the top 10 berry-loving metro areas.
As Driscoll’s continues to innovate in the marketplace, stick with AndNowUKnow for all the latest.
SALINAS, CA - Taylor Farms, one of North America’s largest producers of salads and healthy fresh foods, is teaming up with THRIVE to further the future of ag tech and promote entrepreneurial efforts that drive innovation in the industry.
Taylor Farms participated in the annual THRIVE Demo Day, held at the CSUMB Salinas City Center on Wednesday, June 28. The THRIVE Demo Day is the capstone event for THRIVE’s eight-week startup accelerator—in which 10 entrepreneurs pitched their agricultural technologies to potential investors, business leaders, and media.
“Commitment, collaboration, and partnership are the three key things necessary to be innovative,” said Bruce Taylor of Taylor Farms during his keynote speech at the invitation-only event. According to a company press release, Taylor’s speech focused on the continued importance of real time collaboration between technology and farming companies.
Taylor Farms executive participation this year included:
- Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO, delivered a keynote at the event.
- Tom Bryan, CFO, was a THRIVE program mentor, provided his council and expertise to ag tech startup UAV-IQ throughout the eight-week competition.
- Ted Taylor, Head of New Ventures and Business, participated as a Demo Day judge.
From hundreds of applicants submitting to THRIVE’s open call in December of 2016, 10 high-potential startups were chosen to participate in the group’s eight-week program, receiving startup funding, one-on-one mentorship with agriculture and technology executives, office space at the Western Growers Innovation Center in Salinas, California, and a chance to participate in the culminating THRIVE Demo Day event. Technologies in this year’s cohort indicate the massive shifts experienced in the agriculture sector today, covering trends like cloud/SaaS, automated farming, soil and crop biotechnology, and food safety and traceability.
Participants in the program include:
- Arable from Princeton, New Jersey
- AgroSmart from Campinas, Brazil
- AgShift from Santa Clara, California
- EZ-Lab from Podavo, Italy
- Farm Dog from Tel Aviv, Israel
- Farmwise, from San Francisco, California
- MicroGen Biotech from Carlow, Ireland
- Tortuga Agricultural Technologies from Denver, Colorado
- UAV-IQ from Los Angeles, California
- 3Bar Biologics from Columbus, Ohio
Three finalists were give special recognition during the Forbes AgTech Summit on Wednesday afternoon, for outstanding achievement in categories including:
- Innovation: Tortuga Agricultural Technologies from Denver, Colorado, is an automated greenhouse production system improves freshness, shortens the supply chain, and enables better genetics, while reducing chemical and water use. Tortuga AgTech integrates labor-reducing robotics and automation, advanced sensing technologies, computational imaging, and a soilless grow system to grow specialty crops in geographically distributed locations, dramatically reducing shipping times and distances, minimizing wastage, and eliminating methyl bromide and other chemicals from the grow-process.
- Sustainability: MicroGen Biotech from Carlow, Ireland applies constructed functional microbiome technology to increase crop yield and health while protecting food safety by remediating pollutants and improving soil fertility. Microgen has developed a fast and efficient technology which allows identification of functional microbes in 4 months, as compared to years.
- Operational Excellence: AgroSmart from Campinas, Brazil connects farmers to a management system that monitors irrigation and other farming decisions with sensors, satellite imaging and weather forecast. Agrosmart improves productivity and optimize the use of resources in agriculture in Brazil, where irrigation consumes almost 70% of the country’s fresh water, 50 percent of which is wasted due to lack of knowledge and insight.
Awards were based on four different criteria, including: mentor feedback, due diligence, accelerator engagement, and quality of pitches on THRIVE Demo Day.
Since graduating from the program, many of the companies from THRIVE’s previous two cohorts have gone on to raise additional capital, become profitable, and deployed product with growers both in Salinas, California, and nationally.
Please Note: An earlier version of this article published that Blue Apron saw a 10 percent stock increase. This has been updated to reflect the most current numbers as published by cited news sources as of 3:15 p.m. PST.
NEW YORK CITY, NY - Blue Apron launched its Initial Public Offering yesterday at $10 per share, surprising the market after its previous announcement aiming more towards $15 to $17.
Offering 30 million common stock shares in its public debut, Blue Apron saw a 1 percent jump after the launch, according to Reuters, despite the one-third cut in its valuation, with shares rising 98 cents late Thursday morning.
While we previously reported the company planned for its IPO to raise $586.5 million, the decision to opt for its lower projection brought it to $300 million, which the company said would be focused towards expanding.
Blue Apron said that since its launch in 2012 through March 31 its has delivered more than 159 million meals to U.S households, representing roughly 25 million paid orders, as reported by USA Today.
Other details included:
- Revenue growth from $77.8 million in 2014 to $795.4 million last year
- A more than tripled customer base since 2015, with more than 1 million customers ordering 8 million meals every month, according to a report from research firm S3 Partners
The meal kit business continues to rise in competitiveness, however, with delivery pilots launching out of Amazon, Uber, and even brick & mortar grocers.
With a business model that looks to “eliminate the middlemen” for consumers, this latest move is one that could bolster sustainability of that model, according to Managing Partner at tech investment company Goodwater Capital Eric Kim in a Blue Apron report.
"...How they plan to use these IPO proceeds to create that moat [around their business], other than spending on marketing, will be critical to how enamored Wall Street becomes with the stock," Kim noted, according to USA Today.
With so many moves occurring in the retail and foodservice scape, keep checking in with AndNowuKnow for all the latest.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Meijer celebrated the groundbreaking of its new Bridge Street Market this week, a new 37,000-square-foot, first-of-its-kind urban store format intended to deliver a convenient, fresh neighborhood grocery option. The new small format store will be "focused on fresh-food service," and feature fresh produce, full grocery offerings, a deli, fresh-cut meat, a bakery, along with basic cleaning items and paper products.
"We are eager to share Bridge Street Market with the Grand Rapids community and are excited about what our team will be able to accomplish through this location," President & CEO Rick Keyes said in a company press release. "We believe in the West Side’s heritage and authenticity, and are excited to have a core presence in the heart of such an inspiring part of our city. We think there’s no better place to launch this new neighborhood market than in our hometown and on the West Side."
Keyes also told local news source MLive that the new small format store, initially announced earlier this June, could become a prototype for future stores. At only a fifth the size of its traditional Meijer stores, the new format could signal a shift in company strategy toward convenience-focused shopping.
"Our customers are asking for this," Keyes told the news source. "We think there are a lot of communities that would benefit from a Bridge Street-type market."
According to the company’s press release, the new community grocery store will anchor a development spanning a city block located amidst the city’s current hub of collaboration and mixed-use development, and will reside alongside apartments, a parking deck, and an office and retail building. The mixed-use project commenced with the demolition of the site's original buildings in May, clearing the way for future development.
Will Meijer extend its new format to urban communities across the Midwest? AndNowUKnow will continue to report with updates as they develop.
BALTIMORE, MD - Taking on the charge of bringing the $6 billion condiment category to the next level, salad dressing maverick Tessemae's has developed a new, full line of organic condiments to be merchandised in the produce department. From buffalo sauces, mayonnaise, and mustards, to BBQ sauce and ketchup, these products seek to give milennial moms and beyond healthy and delicious alternatives to existing condiment options.
“The millennial mom is dictating a majority of the food trend changes today that will continue over the next decade,” CEO Greg Vetter said. “She wants a clean, delicious tasting option for her family and that ranges from organic produce all the way to fresh condiments. You shouldn't have to compromise on ketchup for your kids just because 'it's always been done this way'. Our condiments change the way you view what's good for you.”
Tessemae's has secured multiple Kroger divisions as the platform to debut the new condiment line, according to a press release with the Ketchup, BBQ, and Mayo being merchandised next to the company’s existing dressing line in the refrigerated produce section. According to a press release, both Target and Meijer will continue to carry Tessemae's condiments, and the company has planned to aggressively roll-out with other key retail partners as the year goes on.
Both organic, vegan, and with zero added sugars, the Ketchup and BBQ sauces fill a niche often passed up by many in the market. Tessemae’s noted that these products are have been championed by diabetics, the paleo community, and the Whole30 community, and after being introduced on Tessemaes.com, both products quickly rocketed to the top to become the company’s #1 and #2 sellers.
Tessemae's is also continuing to respond to the demand for its organic Mayo, a rare sugar free option for consumers. With high-quality ingredients including cage-free eggs, fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt, the Organic mayo follows organic ketchup and BBQ as the third best seller on Tessemaes.com.
“Our Mayo is made just as it should be, using the same real ingredients you'd use to make it at home,” says EVP of R&D, Kristen Dittami. “Alternate and vegan mayos have been getting a lot of attention lately, and our mayo deserves to share the spotlight. It is the first truly clean label refrigerated mayonnaise: free of gums, sugar and unnecessary preservatives. The result? It's also the best tasting mayo on the market.”
Tessemae's is confident the company is on the fast track for a huge growth spurt this year, helped by their original mission to simplify food and amplify life. The company assured in its release that it will not change any formulas or add ingredients that don't belong for the sake of appeasing investors.
“The condiment category in the U.S. is now over $6 billion dollars in sales, but has not experienced the growth that we think it can because there has been no real innovation,” added Vetter. “We are here to disrupt that with true, clean label offerings that have a very unique flavor profile which consumers love.”
Want to learn more about the new condiment line and the rest of Tessemae’s unique brand of products? Check out Tessemaes.com and stay tuned for more coverage.
LEAMINGTON, ON - Westmoreland-Topline Farms has been pursuing an ambitious agenda for growth and innovation as of late, with forward-thinking sustainability initiatives and steady work toward an expanded organic product line. I recently had a chance to catch up with Account Manager Jimmy Coppola and ask him about the company’s current focus on organic growing and goals for the immediate future.
“Our main focus is to enhance the quality of life of others through safe and healthy food choices, and we continue to do so by growing, packing, and shipping high-quality, flavorful produce to all our partners so they can help us in our effort,” Jimmy tells me, noting that the provider of greenhouse-grown tomatoes, bell peppers, seedless cucumbers, and specialty produce has plans in the works to continue growing its organic line—with new products slated for next season.
“We are expanding our organic offerings. We currently grow, pack, and distribute organic cluster tomatoes and organic grapes tomatoes,” says Jimmy. “Next season we look to continue expanding our organic offerings and will soon include organic cucumbers, organic beefsteak tomatoes, and organic mini cucumbers.”
And after recently completing an impressive solar panel installation at the company’s Leamington facility, Jimmy notes, the company’s growing practices are more sustainable than ever.
“We recently completed our rooftop solar panel installation which helps with our sustainability initiatives in generating electricity that we can use and any excess is available for surrounding businesses, houses, and greenhouses to utilize,” Jimmy says. “This is helping us offset our carbon footprint and will ensure we continue to do so well into the future.”
The company will be showcasing its organic offerings and other gourmet greenhouse produce at booth #410 at next month’s 2017 PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo, held July 28-30 in Monterey, California.
For more on this and other exceptional companies in our industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Move over Big Macs and Whoppers, there is a new beef contender in town with the added flavor of mushroom to give it a boost. Fast food chain Sonic has announced that the latest tasty treat to grace its menu will be the “Slinger,” a beef burger infused with mushrooms.
“We wanted to offer a flavorful and juicy blended mushroom burger, the first of its kind for a major [quick service restaurant] brand, that offers improved sustainability,” said Scott Uehlein, Vice President of Product Innovation and Development at Sonic, according to a press release.
Housing the powerhouse flavor and health benefits packed into each mushroom, the Slinger will be made with 25-30% of each patty comprised of one of more our familiar produce pals. This mix of mushrooms into a regular meat patty is known in the industry as “The Blend.” As our own mushroom friends have told us, this new innovation makes for thicker and jucier burger, with less fat and calories than a more traditional version.
“Because it is still mostly beef, this burger has a broader appeal versus a completely vegetarian burger patty. We have a strong test process where every new product is thoroughly tested for operational impact and consumer appeal, including in-market testing with advertising and merchandising,” said Uehlein. “If the product performs well in the market test, it will be considered for a national launch.”
The new burger will also be paired with mayo, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and melted American cheese, all served on a brioche bun. Sonic also noted that there is an alternate version available with bacon, mayo, and cheese.
As some may remember, the Mushroom Council and James Beard Foundation previously made headlines with “blended burgers” when they announced a joint venture in the Blended Burger project. This initiative challenges chefs to create recipes through a nationwide contest to create recipes that include at least 25% mushrooms, keeping the momentum moving for this new produce creation.
Furthermore, the Mushroom Council released a third-party study that estimated that a producing a pound of mushrooms has less of a carbon dioxide footprint than a pound of beet, making it a more sustainable option for buy-side vendors.
As of right now, the Slinger is slated for a 60-day trial in markets yet to be released. The burger is set to launch in August.
Will the Slinger be gracing our menus any time soon? Fingers are crossed tight at AndNowUKnow that the tasty selection will be slinging itself our way soon.
DOWNERS GROVER, IL - Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is serious about growth for the second half of 2017, going so far as to appoint two new executives to fill some of its top roles in the company. The Illinois-based chain announced that it will add Schnucks alum Mark Doiron as Chief Merchandising Officer, and former Roundy’s head financier Carol Okamoto as Chief Financial Officer.
“We are excited to have Carol and Mark join the Fresh Thyme family,” said Chief Executive Officer Chris Sherrell upon the announcement. “They both bring with them extensive experience that will help align our processes to become more efficient, and support our continued growth and success.”
Mark Doiron, Chief Merchandising Officer
Doiron, Fresh Thyme’s new CMO will bring more than 30 years of experience to his role, having most recently served as Chief Merchant and Supply Chain Officer at Schnuck’s Markets. In this new position, Doiron will be responsible for all procurement, merchandising, and supply chain, reporting directly to Sherrell. Prior to his work with Schnucks, Mark also garnered experience as President of a frozen food distribution company and Chief Supply Chain Officer for all of Delhaize’s operations in the United States. Doiron began his career with Ahold Delhaize-owned Hannaford Brothers.
Carol Okamoto, Chief Financial Officer
Now appointed CFO, Okamoto will be responsible for overseeing all finance functions for Fresh Thyme, including Accounting and FP & A, Pricing, and Information Technology. Okamoto most recently was the CFO for Roundy’s Supermarket, a division of Kroger. Carol’s experience stems from Controller positions with True Value, as well as Crate and Barrel. According to a press release, she’s been able to gain knowledge of supply chain operations for warehouses and transportation, accounting, accounts payable, and risk management over her career.
Founded just three years ago, the organic and natural foods-focused retailer has gone literally from 0 to 60, or more specifically, 62 locations. In just the next few months, Fresh Thyme predicts its numbers will rise even higher to 70, and by 2019, the retailer shared with AndNowUKnow that it plans to reach 150 locations.
AndNowUKnow would like to extend our congrats to both appointees on their new executive positions!
WENATCHEE, WA - CMI Orchards has announced the appointment of Danelle Huber to the marketing team. In Huber’s new role as Marketing Specialist, she will be assigned to manage key retail accounts, developing promotions and creating programs to assist CMI customers in strengthening apple, pear, apricot, and cherry categories.
“My passion is with the apple industry. In working with the Washington Apple Commission and then Van Doren Sales, I developed a great respect for the team at CMI," Danelle commented in regard to her excitement to be returning to the fresh fruit industry. "I’m so excited to have the opportunity to join this phenomenal organization and to build on the knowledge I’ve gained by working with extraordinary industry professionals like those at the WAC and Van Doren.”
According to George Harter, Vice President of Marketing, Danelle brings years of experience in apple marketing to CMI Orchards, having previously worked with the Washington Apple Commission on international marketing programs.
“We are very pleased to have Danelle join our team,” said George in a press release. “We think her unique skills and experience will be a strong addition to CMI as we work to drive sales for key retail partners. We have no doubt she will be a valuable member of our team as we continue to grow and build our business to better serve our customers.”
Danelle refers to CMI as America’s apple brand leader, with 7 of the top 15 managed varieties including Jazz™, Ambrosia™, Envy®, Pacific Rose®, KIKU®, Kanzi®, and Smitten®.
“Additionally, CMI has the number one selling 2 lb apple pouch bag for all organic and conventional products—Daisy Girl Organics™ Gala apples—which is a truly remarkable accomplishment for the company,” added Danelle. “I am thrilled to work with the team at CMI to continue to build on the momentum of these thriving programs and help our partners profit from their ongoing retail success.”
From the entire staff at AndNowUKnow, we hope Danelle and CMI the best in their future endeavors!