WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) filed an administrative complaint against Smile Onion 7 for alleged violations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

The company, operating from Maryland, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 15 produce sellers in the amount of $1,017,919 from October 2022 through December 2023.

Smile Onion 7 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 as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

For contact information, and to read the release in its entirety, click here.

SALISBURY, NC - After maintaining a strong presence in the Garner, North Carolina, market for nearly five decades, Food Lion is continuing to nourish this community with the addition of another store location. The new store officially opened to the public today, July 24, welcoming shoppers with an easy, fresh, and affordable omnichannel shopping experience.

“Our Garner community has always trusted us to nourish their family, and my team and I are excited to bring them this new store to provide convenience and more features,” said Tom Beauchesne, Store Manager of the new Garner Food Lion. “Our neighbors can count on us to help nourish them and their families while providing an enjoyable shopping experience, excellent product quality, and exceptional value.”

Features of the new store include an extensive assortment of fresh produce, elevating the shopping experience with a walk-in garden cooler to ensure the freshest produce available, along with in-store prepared cut fruit. In addition, the new location offers a variety of affordable and easy meal solutions that are ready-to-eat, ready-to-cook, or ready-to-heat. The store also boasts a wide selection of organic, gluten-free, and plant-based items, as well as a self-service food bar and other freshly made prepared food items.

Convenience is another key feature of the store, as the new Food Lion location offers self-checkout lanes, as well as the retailer’s Food Lion To Go Pickup or Home Delivery services.

As part of the company’s ambitious sustainability strategies, the newest Food Lion features a refrigeration system that lessens its environmental impact, along with energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the store to help reduce the chain’s overall environmental footprint.

More information on the new store can be found here.

As always, leave a tab open to ANUK for the latest retail news.

WATSONVILLE, CA - Blueberries were the star of the show during California Giant Berry Farms’ inaugural California Giant Chef Invitational Academy. The unique program was designed to empower and inspire the grower’s past Chef Invitational winners while elevating blueberries on menus.

"We designed the Chef Invitational Academy to be more than just a culinary skills workshop," says Tom Smith, Director of Sales at California Giant. "We recognize the importance of chefs not only creating exceptional dishes but also effectively sharing their passion with the world. Equipping them with the tools for personal branding and food photography empowers them to become true champions of their work, and blueberries, inspiring their audiences to explore the endless possibilities our fruit offers."

Held in the greater Portland, Oregon area, the immersive four-day event transcended the traditional invitational setting. Luis Reyes (Sysco, 2018 winner), Travis Peters (The Parish, 2019 winner), Sam Blackburn (Sodexo, 2020 winner), Derek Seigfried (Gordon Food Service, 2022 winner), and Steven Halliday (Gordon Food Service, 2023 winner) all gained invaluable firsthand experience.

Under Chef Rosalyn Darling's insightful guidance, the Top Chefs embarked on a multi-faceted culinary expertise workshop.

According to a press release, this engaging experience not only sparked fresh inspiration and elevated their culinary skills with berries, but also empowered them to become true blueberry advocates.

Exclusive tours of California Giant's blueberry operations also provided the Chefs with a comprehensive understanding of the journey berries take from field to table.

“The tours of California Giant's blueberry operations transformed my perspective. Witnessing the dedication and innovation across all farm sizes, from small family-run operations to large-scale producers, provided an invaluable understanding of the tremendous effort that goes into every berry,” said Blackburn, Senior Technical Culinary Support Manager with Sodexo’s Operational Excellence Team. “This appreciation will influence my approach to incorporating California Giant berries into my dishes, allowing me to showcase their high-quality products and the effort that goes into bringing them from field to table.”

The Academy serves as an extension of the California Giant Chef Invitational, fostering valuable partnerships with past winners and driving increased use of blueberries in menus across the country.

For more from this impactful program, keep reading ANUK.

ORLANDO, FL - Healthy Family Project recently partnered with Coborn’s to collaborate on a Produce for Kids marketing campaign across Coborn’s, Cashwise, and Marketplace Foods stores.

“Our Kids Cook at Home video series is designed to inspire kids to feel confident in the kitchen making healthy recipes,” said Jessica Talbot, Health and Nutrition Manager, Coborn’s. “Our partnership with Healthy Family Project aligns with the Coborn’s mission to educate and increase produce consumption in the next generation of shoppers.”

According to a press release, the healthy eating-focused campaign will provide $6,000 to local Boys & Girls Clubs.

Produce partners include the following: Dole Fresh Vegetables, Envy™ apple, Kids Choice Watermelon, Samsons Grapes, Shuman Farms RealSweet® Onions, and Tasteful Selections. They will be featured in stores from now until August 16, and in-store signs spotlight a QR code that leads to a free digital cookbook.

Two cookbook recipes will be highlighted in a Kids Cook at Home Facebook cooking class hosted on Coborn’s Facebook page and led by its Registered Dietitian, Macey Brickweg.

This is the second Produce for Kids campaign with Coborn’s. The 2023 campaign raised $3,000 for local Boys & Girls Clubs.

ANUK will keep you in the loop on the latest in fresh produce, so stay tuned.

WENATCHEE, WA - With back-to-school season upon us, it’s time to kick promotional opportunities into high gear. CMI Orchards is here to help, recently introducing Ambrosia Gold® apples in HERO® packaging.

“We’re empowering kids to think big and do good with a positive overall message: The Power to be a HERO is in your hands™,” Joel Hewitt, Vice President of Sales, noted. “Adding Ambrosia Gold to the HERO snack apple lineup gives parents a delicious, nutritious option for school lunches.”

According to a press release, Ambrosia Gold is also one of the best-selling and most popular branded apples available in the United States.

“Back to school is a key shopping period. Offering parents solutions for convenient, healthy snack and lunchbox options at this time of year is a win-win for busy families and retailers looking to drive incremental sales,” explained Danelle Huber, Senior Marketing Manager. “Besides—introducing kids to great-tasting varieties at an early age builds lifelong apple lovers and healthy eating habits!”

Huber went on to note how to maximize the promotion through point-of-sale (POS) signage and by tapping into various cross-promotional opportunities. Pop-up display bins and 7x11 signage for retailers are available to create a back-to-school destination.

“Pairing HERO snack apples with other back-to-school essentials, such as nut butters, juice boxes, and granola bars can drive higher basket sizes and overall sales,” she said. “Cross-merchandising enhances the personalization of the shopping experience for parents, making it even easier for them to grab everything they need as quickly and conveniently as possible.”

Keep reading ANUK for the latest in all things fresh produce.