WENATCHEE, WA - Once bitten, forever smitten. It’s the tagline for one of New Zealand’s latest apple varieties, which is living up to its namesake as it weaves its way into the U.S. market. Pegasus LLC holds the exclusive North American commercialization and distribution rights, currently working with several sales agencies in North America as the variety gains popularity.
Don Zornes of Smitten™ Apple North America and Honey Bear Tree Fruit Sales Co, in Wenatchee, Washington, is coordinator of those efforts, and tells me that Smitten™ volume and demand stateside have continuously risen since it began growing commercially two seasons ago.
Now heading into the third, this little apple is ready to take on big brothers Envy and Jazz.
“Smitten is considered by many the 'Crown Jewel' of the world's leading apple breeding program: Plant and Food Research LTD of NZ, also known for Jazz, Envy, and Pacific Rose,” Don shares. “We’ve grown from 5,000 cartons the first year to 150,000 this year as our retail partners have continued to ask for them.”
With strong breeding lines from a breeder that has already launched several successes in the apple category, this is one breed Honey Bear Tree Fruit CO is proud to have partners bet on. A mix of the Gala, Braeburn, Falstaff, and Fiesta breeding lines, Smitten brings a flavor and texture Don assures me is like no other.
“Pegasus was formed by two pioneers of the new generation of patented high-quality varieties in search of ‘The World’s Best Apple,’” Don shares, explaining that Randy Steensma and Barclay Crane, Co-Owners and Managers, were at the forefront of growing and marketing Jazz, Honeycrisp, and Pacific Rose when the “Club Apple” concept evolved.
Like Honeycrisp before it, Smitten is what Don calls a “pure taste play”–all about eating quality with little focus on full-red color. Its appearance is described as having "rack distinction" with "natural wild apple" coloration and barrel shape.
Don says Smitten is also an “unforgettable crunchy,” holding crunch and taste in the store or home longer than any commercial variety, while featuring balanced apple taste between naturally high fruit sugars and hints of tart.
“Horticulturally Smitten is remarkable,” Don remarks. “It’s a naturally healthy sustainable tree that grows well, resists insects and diseases naturally, and produces prolifically without excessive training or manipulation. These characteristics play perfectly into the Millennial generation's attitudes toward favored products.”
For multiple reasons he describes Smitten as a “Millennial-friendly variety” –a forward-facing product and the “next chapter” of the apple-category paradigm shifts Honeycrisp and a progressively Millennial demographic represent.
Don tells me that word has spread quickly from Honey Bear Tree Fruit Co. existing retail connections with stores like Ahold, Loblaw, and Save Mart, to setting up meetings with a number of others in the buy-side that are curious about this new variety. In fact, he adds that no variety he's ever worked with in his 20 years in produce created so many unsolicited inquiries from major retailers.
With the latest loads of New Zealand Smitten imports already in, and a burgeoning domestic production due next September, the company is excited to start the 2017 marketing season this week. See for yourself by swinging by booth #601 at this year's CPMA Expo in Toronto. If you are remaining in the States, however, there is still a chance to catch the team at the Smitten booth #405 at the West Coast Produce Expo later this month.
Stay tuned as we wait to see what big waves this young apple might make in one of the key categories in produce.
LEAMINGTON, ON – NatureFresh™ Farms is taking its locally grown tomato program to new heights with its new OntarioRed™ Tomato Program, growing consumer trust and working to deliver the best quality regardless of season.
“Customers want consistency in what they buy,” noted Peter Quiring, President, in a press release. “Our mobile Greenhouse Education Center is helping tell the story of how we grow our vegetables but that only goes so far. When it comes to quality & flavor, we are making huge strides in the market with our TOMZ™ and OhioRed™ Program. With our greenhouse grown tomatoes from Leamington, ON we needed to take the same approach with our new OntarioRed Program. Same grower, same farm, from a brand you can trust. As a result, it helps us to connect the dots for our customers that we are the grower.”
The OntarioRed Tomato Program will include three varieties—tomatoes on the vine, red beefsteak, and Roma varieties—available in a variety of pack formats to meet retailer demand.
“A grower knows his plants but knows his tomatoes even better. When you purchase an OntarioRed Tomato, it’s coming from the same grower every time. We guarantee it,” said OntarioRed Tomato Grower Isaac Braun—who oversees the various varieties involved in the program at NatureFresh.
The company’s press release noted that Braun is encouraged to see enthusiasm growing around supporting the Foodland Ontario theme.
“Foodland Ontario is an important promotional program that recognizes locally grown vegetables,” said Chris Veillon, Director of Marketing. “As a trusted fresh produce brand, growers like NatureFresh Farms can benefit from participating in Foodland Ontario programs that promote-Ontario grown tomatoes.”
NatureFresh Farms’ new OntarioRed Tomato Program will be featured at the upcoming CPMA Convention & Trade Show held in Toronto, Canada, May 10-11. The company invites all attendees to visit its booth #107.
For more on recent developments in the produce industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
OAKLEY, OH - Kroger is launching a pilot of a trendy dinner kit program, Prep+Pared, in four of its Ohio stores—the innovative packs come with everything required to make a meal for two.
While home delivery isn’t currently on the menu, the in-store offering looks like a strategic move to compete with online meal kit delivery services such as Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, and Peach Dish.
According to local news source FOX19 WXIX, Kroger’s Prep+Pared prices start at around $14 and include recipes such as:
- Japanese-Inspired Beef Bowl
- Chimichurri Steak
- Moroccan-Inspired Spring Vegetables
- Creamy Chicken and Bacon Alfredo
- Chicken Enchiladas Rojas
According to the source, the kits are currently available in four Cincinnati stores–Hyde Park, Oakley, Harpers Point, and Sharonville–though Kroger confirmed plans to roll the program out to more local stores, soon. Additionally, the kits can be ordered online through ClickList and picked up in-store at the Oakley and Sharonville locations.
The Washington Post reported in an article on the decline of the American home-cooked meal, that in 2015 less than 60 percent of suppers served at home were actually cooked at home. In the age of technology, revolutionary new solutions have been popping up to respond to consumer calls for convenience. As such, Blue Apron was founded in 2012, has been rapidly expanding in recent years, and is now lining up the pieces for an anxiously awaited IPO.
Will Kroger’s new program be enough to keep classic retailers competitive in this rapidly changing world of home cuisine? AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – California is coming off of its headline-making drought in style, as assessment of the state’s snowpack continues to report nearly double its normal levels. The state received its final assessment of the season, just in time for the warmer weather that’s beginning to roll through the state.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) performed its final snowpack survey on the first day of May, according to news source KCRA. Its results revealed that the snowpack still contains more water than it has for several years, as we’ve reported previously. Officials also stated that the snow is beginning to melt, marking an increase in flood risk for areas downstream of the snowpack and its reservoirs.
“The thing we’re looking out for is primarily the southern Sierra, where we have full reservoirs and in some cases a huge snowpack,” said Chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program Frank Gehrke, according to the Folsom Telegraph. “We want to make sure that we prudently manage that so we don’t cause any downstream issues.”
DWR stated on its website that the snowpack surveyed at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada found a Snow Water Equivalent of 27.8 inches, which is 190 percent of the May 1 long-term average of 14.6 inches.
"California’s cities and farms can expect good water supplies this summer,” said DWR Acting Director Bill Croyle. “But this ample snowpack should not wash away memories of the intense drought of 2012-2016. California’s precipitation is the most variable in the nation, and we cannot afford to stop conserving water.”
DWR stated that any melting snow from the snowpack will supply approximately one-third of the water used by the state. Some analysts are concerned that too warm of weather moving forward may make for larger than normal flows as the snowpack melts, according to Yale Climate Connections, though no problem areas have yet been released.
Could California see an influx of flood this spring, and will reservoirs overfill with the melting snow? AndNowUKnow will report as the news unfolds.
IDAHO FALLS, ID - The Idaho Advertising Federation has honored Potandon’s new website refresh, having presented creator Manwaring Web Solutions with its Star Garnet Award on March 24th, 2017. The award was presented to company owner, Jarom Manwaring at a ceremony at the Idaho Falls Country Club for the design company’s work on www.potandon.com.
“From a web design standpoint, Manwaring Web brings the total package,” said Ralph Schwartz, Vice President of Sales and Project Manager for Potandon’s website redesign initiative. “In addition to making the Potandon site mobile friendly and loaded with new content, Manwaring Web brought a catalogue of additional services to our company to help us develop our online presence even further than it already was.”
After experiencing the success of the Potandon site, the potato company once-again enlisted Manwaring Web to redesign its heavily-trafficked consumer website www.klondikebrands.com. According to a press release, the new look and feel of both sites has attracted new users, and also allows the company to showcase its capabilities to consumers, growers, and wholesale and retail customers nationwide. Potandon also hinted that a second phase of the redesign will take place later in 2017.
A one-stop shop web design firm located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Potandon said it was drawn to Manwaring Web by its decades of experience, seasoned programmers, and a level of support after the sale, calling it a hands down choice. To see both websites for yourself, visit www.potandon.com and www.klondikebrands.com.
WENATCHEE, WA – Apples have surely been making some moves in the produce department this spring. As retailers prepare for further sales opportunities through May and the start of summer, Stemilt Growers is offering some key insights on March’s performance with its Fruit Tracker™ Fast Facts video.
“The March data provides good insight to retailers as we near the summer months and focus shifts to seasonal fruits. As a year-round produce item, there are still opportunities to promote apples. Apple ads in the summer should focus on bulk and use bags as a sub feature. Intent marketing programs like Stemilt’s 3 lb. Lil Snappers® kid-sized fruits are great for driving sales, while larger 5 lb. pouches like our Apple Lover bags can also lift retail dollars,” said Brianna Shales, Communications Manager.
Apples boasted 6.3 percent of total produce dollars on average throughout the U.S. in March, according to a press release. Stemilt’s analysis of Nielsen retail scan data showed that the Central region was the only region to beat that average with 7.1 percent of produce volume coming from apples.
The category as a whole saw increased volume for apples when compared to last year, even though dollars were slightly down. Stemilt noted that this may have been due to a change in the bulk-to-bag ratio from the year prior, marking more bags sold in March of 2017 than 2016. As bulk commands higher retail prices, increased bag sales can lead to a decline in total numbers for the category.
Bulk apple volume fell 3.6 percent in March of 2017 compared to last year, but still made up for 58.8 percent of sales for the category. Bags made up the remaining 41.2 percent, according to Stemilt’s data.
“The season continues to extend for many club apple varieties, including that of our signature apple, Piñata®, which is now available through June. It’s hard to compare one year from the next when looking at club apples, and that’s important for retailers to remember. When it comes to club apples, there are key times to promote the top varieties and offering shoppers with variety will ultimately keep the apple category refreshed, and hopefully keep them buying apples,” said Shales.
Stemilt stated that its top performing varieties did not change between 2016 and 2017, though that may change moving forward as certain varieties wind down. Shales predicts that Pink Lady® will move up from its current position of sixth to overtake Honeycrisp in the top five as its supply lessens.
The leading apples for March, 2017 sales were as follows:
- Gala at 28.6 percent
- Fuji at 13.8 percent
- Red Delicious at 12.6 percent
- Granny Smith at 11.9 percent
- Honeycrisp at 10.4 percent
Stemilt found that retailers also sold more Envy apples in March 2017 than last year, but at a lower retail which was likely due to ad activity. Lady Alice, Jazz, and Piñata all saw retail price increases year-over-year of more than 3 percent. Stemilt’s signature variety, Piñata, had an average retail price per pound of $1.63 in March 2017.
March retail scan data also showed a slight uptick in the average retail price for all apples from February 2017. The average retail price per pound on apples moved up from $1.60 in February to $1.62.
Stemilt says that retailers looking for a refreshed apple section have no further to search than promotions with Pink Lady and Fuji apples.
“Pink Lady is a high sugar, high acid apple that has the unique feature of developing more complex flavors in storage,” said Shales. “The best is yet to come with this apple and Stemilt has a variety of promotional opportunities to highlight it at retail.”
The company noted that Pink Lady is the last variety to harvest each year out of Washington state. Stemilt finds that its quality in the spring and summer is second to none.
As the season moves onward, what other data will Stemilt unveil? AndNowUKnow will report.
OVEIDA, FL – Duda Farm Fresh Foods has announced the reorganization of key leadership positions at its operations in Oxnard and Salinas, California, as well as Oviedo and Wellington, Florida, and the promotion of several employees to new executive and managerial roles.
“We are pleased to make these promotional announcements for our key management team leaders for Duda Farm Fresh Foods,” noted Dan Duda, President and Chief Operating Officer, in a company press release. “All are extremely dedicated, professional, and very deserving of this recognition and advancement for their careers. We are confident that these promotions and new reporting relationships will position our company strongly for the future, ensuring our success and growth continues for many years to come.”
Promotions included:
- Sammy Duda from Vice President, Western Operations to Senior Vice President, National Operations
- Mark Bassetti from Senior Vice President Customer Development to Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Development
- Dean Diefenthaler from Vice President, Western Farming to Vice President, Western Operations
- Amy Kinder from Senior Director, Food Safety to Vice President, Food Safety and Sustainability
- Alberto Cuellar from Director, Global Business to Vice President, Global Business
- Larry Pierce from Director, Celery Research to Senior Director, R&D/Plant Breeding
- Manuel Alcala from Director of Harvesting to Senior Director, Field and Harvesting Operations
- Greg Lewis from Production Manager to Director, Western Production
- Nichole Towell from Director of Marketing to Senior Director, Marketing Services
- Jeff Goodale from Manager, Business Development to Director, Domestic Sales
We at AndNowUKnow congratulate the whole Duda team on the occasion of these recent appointments and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
SALINAS, CA - Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Convention & Tradeshow is days away, and the Mann Packing team will be there to showcase the new Bacon Maple Delight Nourish Bowl™ flavor profile, along with the its Single Cut Leaf Lettuces, Kale Beet Blend Veggie Slaw, and expanded line of organics.
The company will feature its Nourish Bowls in the New Product Showcase, an option that appeals to a wide demographic and, since launching December of 2016, have gained over 3,000 points of distribution across Canada. In the U.S., the line has gained over 28,000 points since launching in April of 2016.
As we previously reported, the new Bacon Maple Delight bowl expands the line with a fresh twist on a traditional favorite, complete with nutrient-rich Brussels sprouts, kale, and kohlrabi, with real bacon and a sweet maple glaze.
As for Mann’s new Single Cut line, previously under the Simply Singles® banner and grown on a U.S. family farm before being washed and ready to use, includes:
- Better Romaine™
- Better Green Leaf™
- Better Red Leaf™
- Mann Packing’s proprietary Better Burger Leaf® lettuces
Last, but certainly not least, is the company’s new Kale Beet Blend. A product the company calls a “colorful twist” on top sellers Power Blend and Broccoli Cole Slaw, the combination of kale, golden beets, kohlrabi, and red cabbage stands out on the shelf and offers exceptional versatility, according to a press release.
The complete line of Mann’s veggie slaw blends, including Kale Beet Blend, Broccoli Cole Slaw, Power Blend, and Rainbow Salad, can be prepared tossed, blended, or roasted, creating its own category in value-added veggies for the produce aisle.
All this will be on display in booth #1320 in Toronto, May 9th through 11th.
As a champion of the CPMA’s Half Your Plate (HYP) initiative, Mann’s said that it will also sponsor the popular 2017 HYP Hockey game in partnership with the Canadian Women’s National Team, as well as featuring the HYP logo on bags of its Canada-distributed Sugar Snap Peas. The company is also celebrating #Canada150, a movement to recognize Canada’s 150th anniversary, with drinks and giveaways.
It’s all happening in booth #1320. See you there!
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - The events that followed a routine onion shipment had drug smugglers in tears this past month, when Saudi authorities liberated more than 1 million narcotic pills hidden amongst the produce.
The drug of choice for these criminals was Captagon, which, according to Forbes, is one of several brand names for the drug compound fenethylline hydrochloride—essentially an amphetamine. Customs Director Ali Al-Otuw at the northwestern Saudi port of Duba said more than 1 million Captagon tablets were found in an onion consignment in a truck on a ferry. Al-Otuw confirmed the pills were concealed in the middle of onion bags to the Saudi Press Agency.
This was just one of the several drug busts that occurred at the Duba Port that day, according to source Arab News. Around 1.3 million additional Captagon tablets were found inside wooden boards in another truck, and another 1.6 million were seized from a truck carrying marble-cutting machines.
Is the pungent produce item poised to become drug smugglers' new go-to choice? If any more undercover activity occurs with onions at the forefront, AndNowUKnow will be first to report.
STELLARTON, NS - Sobeys' parent company Empire Co. Ltd. announced a new initiative designed to deliver $500 million in annualized savings by 2020.
The initiative, entitled “Project Sunrise,” is designed, according to a company press release, to allow Empire to reinvest in its business and grow its sales and bottom line.
“We have an aggressive goal to transform our organization, better serve our customers, empower our employees, and assuredly move from defense to offense in the market. To do this, we need to unleash the talents and scale we already have at our disposal,” said Michael Medline, President & CEO. “The future Sobeys will operate with a simpler, leaner structure, more efficient core processes and tools, and will better leverage its $24 billion national scale. This will free us up to be extremely nimble, thrill our customers, and grow market share. Results of this transformation will take time, but we are committed to seeing them through given the compelling prize.”
The company noted that cost savings will come from the following:
- Collapsing multiple, independent regions into a largely national, functionally-led structure. This will simplify the way the company conducts business and will result in a reduced workforce
- Simplifying how the company collaborates with vendors while leveraging its purchasing scale as a $24 billion national company
- Driving enterprise-wide efficiencies and productivity initiatives
The company’s three year plan is, the press release noted, a clear response to Empire’s business performance over the last 18 months and to Medline’s priorities, which include changing the company’s trajectory, re-engaging with customers, and “making difficult decisions that had not been made in the past.”
"We understand and appreciate the impact that change of this magnitude will have on our employees, but are committed to moving with unprecedented velocity to make tough decisions and execute changes while not putting service to our customers at risk,” said Medline. “We have been very careful to balance significant change to our organization with awareness of the risks associated with a major transformation. We will focus on making these bold changes while at the same time ensuring we stabilize performance, particularly in Western Canada.”
As part of the initiative, the company will immediately begin restructuring its leadership and office staff (store-level Sobeys employees will not be affected). The company also announced new, largely national and functionally-led organizational structure and leadership appointments, including:
- Jason Potter has been appointed Executive Vice President, Operations
- Lyne Castonguay has been appointed Executive Vice President, Merchandising
- Pierre St-Laurent has been appointed Executive Vice President, Quebec
- Vivek Sood has been appointed Executive Vice President, Related Businesses
- Rob Adams will remain General Manager, Discount Format
The company also noted that the role of marketing has been elevated to report to the CEO with a dedicated team, to reflect the emphasis placed on the voice of the customer, brand management, and digital innovation. The company is currently conducting an external search to fill this role.
“Our new structure reflects a manifest change for the business,” said Medline. “We have made deliberate choices throughout. For example, we are elevating key functions, such as marketing, in order to more effectively communicate with our customers. We are balancing potential risk to our unique Quebec and Discount businesses, by keeping them distinct, while harmonizing the way they operate nationally. We are ensuring focus on the core grocery business by separating out related businesses, like pharmacy and fuel, into a distinct functional structure.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on these sweeping organizational changes, their cost-cutting consequences, and the future of Sobeys.