MEXICO – Residents of the Puebla Valley are being dusted with ash, thanks to Mexico’s most lively volcano, Popocatépetl. The infamous mount erupted twice over the weekend.
Rumbling to life once more, Popocatépetl emitted hundreds of short and low-intensity bursts of gas and smoke since Friday night. According to Science Times, the volcano has yet to emit any lava.
Ult 24 h:
— Volcán Popocatépetl (@Popocatepetl_MX) March 12, 2017
•125 exhalaciones
•2 explosiones
•1 sismo VT (Mc 2.7)
•0 min de tremor
Alerta «Amarillo 2» pic.twitter.com/HF41IpJ7DD
Mexico’s National Center for Disaster Prevention reported that the volcano first lit up and colored the sky with a brilliant orange color, intensifying each time the volcano let smoke loose from its belly. As we previously reported, the last time Popocatépetl unleashed its ashy gifts on the region was late last year.
Located around 80 miles east of Mexico City, surrounding regions to the volcano are under “yellow alert” as authorities advise citizens to protect themselves and their food from falling ashes. Authorities stated that the volcano is still erupting, though it may not be able to seen at this point by the naked eye.
Will Popocatépetl continue to spew ash, or is there more in store? AndNowUKnow continue to report as authorities keep a wary eye on the volcano.
KINGSVILLE, ON - While the winter months are still upon us, Mucci Farms isn’t letting the chill in the air slow them down. As we move through this first part of March, the new year is already looking to be a 2017 full of innovation and growth for the company.
Marketing Manager Emily Murracas and Grower Guy Totaro joined me to discuss one of their latest areas of investment and initiative, and what we can expect from one of the company’s most coveted crop programs.
Built in the fall of 2015, Mucci Farms’ lit culture greenhouses had their first harvest in March of 2016 and now brings a full program of Kingsville, Ontario-grown cucumbers year-round.
“We currently have 28 acres dedicated to growing seedless, mini, and cocktail cucumbers—better known as our Award Winning Cutecumbers ™, with 50% of the acreage under grow lights,” Emily shared with me. “Concentrated use of these lights takes place during the early hours of the morning before sunrise.”
This technology simulates sunlight by providing or supplementing the necessary light required to produce the necessary joules per day to the plants, Emily adds, allowing for year-round growth and more importantly, local production that keeps them “always in season”.
“Since the original build, Mucci Farms has innovated on their newer state-of-the-art greenhouses, constructing them 7.5 meters high, along with a substantial investment into the use of diffused glass which provides better distribution of natural light and less need to shade crops,” Guy told me, adding that research and development is also a major focus under this lighting technology as Mucci Farms is trialing over 60 different cucumber varieties in an effort to find the best flavor, yield, and efficiency in the world.
Innovation has been a focus for Mucci in all aspects of the business, prompting the company to build an 85,000-square-foot warehouse expansion with state of the art automation equipment, including the M-Track induction wire system for their harvesting carts. This technology has sensors and cameras installed into the carts to detect row numbers, directing each variety to the appropriate packing line automatically, allowing for maximum efficiency.
“Year after year, Mucci Farms is dedicated to providing fresh, flavorful, greenhouse grown produce with an emphasis on innovation and technology,’ Emily said. “And from what you can see from this recent project, our evolution shows no signs of slowing down.”
As we look toward Mucci’s upcoming spring program, as the warmer weather teases from the horizon, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest and greatest in our industry.
MEXICO CITY, MX – Amazon is extending the scope of its Amazon Prime services—vying for a place in Mexico’s competitive e-commerce market.
Mexico will be the 13th country in which Amazon is offering its premium member service, according to the Wall Street Journal. Prime members will have access to free one-day delivery in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puebla, and Querétaro for 449 pesos ($23 USD) a year.
The financial news source noted that the expansion will make millions of products from the company’s U.S. distribution centers available to its Mexican customers; customers can order U.S. products with free one-week shipping and will have access to streaming video services comparable to the ones Prime members in the U.S. enjoy.
Amazon currently operates two fulfillment centers north of Mexico City and is planning to open a third later this year. E-commerce rivals like the Argentinian retailer MercadoLibre, German-based Linio, and Walmart are Amazon’s biggest rivals in the region.
If Amazon can extend its toehold in the region—it currently accounts for 5.5% of the Mexican e-commerce market—then same-day grocery delivery services like AmazonFresh may follow shortly. Just this week, the company expanded its perishable delivery service to Southern Florida.
For more on the company's expansive plans, view the Wall Street Journal's article in its entirety, here.
AndNowUKnow will keep you up-to-date with developments in this story as they occur.
RIO RICO, AZ - Spring has sprung for consumers, and with a new season comes a new span of opportunities to put produce at the center of the plate. One such selection that has customers filling up their baskets with plans to grill, bake, and more, is SunFed Produce’s vibrant offerings of eggplant.
As VP of Marketing Brett Burdsal, VP of Sales North America Craig Slate, and Executive Vice President and General Manager Mark Cassius recently told me, SunFed has seen an uptick in demand for its product not based on consumer palates alone—which are blooming—but for the specific quality of the SunFed brand.
“Increased demand for SunFed brand eggplant has truly has been driven by the quality of our eggplant.” Craig tells me. “Buyers are returning to SunFed this year because they saw our exceptionally high-quality last year, and saw that not only have we maintained the quality, but improved it. Having exceptional quality at the retail shelf increases purchase intent and reduces retail shrink. A real win for both retailers and consumers.”
SunFed is packing eggplant right now and will continue to offer supply through early June, before its summer production begins later in the month.
“Customers are communicating to us that SunFed is the preferred brand in eggplant in the Northeast region,” Mark adds. “We’ve done a phenomenal job with the aesthetic appearance and firmness of our product, making for a truly beautiful product. We’re proud to say we are delivering the most consistent high-quality eggplant on the market.”
With eggplant continuing to be the focus of many foodservice innovations, the company sees the offering’s importance growing for its buy-side customers. Tapping in on this interest, SunFed is finding increased possibilities in an assortment varieties, and what each has to offer. New to its program this year are trial harvests of organic specialties such as Graffiti, Japanese, and Italian.
“As vegetables take more and more of the center plate and as consumers continue to move towards healthy meat substitutes eggplant's appeal becomes very sexy,” says Brett. “We think its popularity and importance in the produce aisle will only continue to grow as more people rediscover and discover this wonderful, versatile vegetable.”
As demand for SunFed and its eggplants continues to grow, the company plans to continue to explore the diverse opportunities that the segment, its consumers, and various geographic regions have to offer.
On SEPC’s Southern Exposure show floor tomorrow? Stop by booth #723 to get a peek of SunFed’s selections yourself.
With more set in store for the success of the SunFed brand, count on AndNowUKnow for all the latest updates.
LEVERKUSEN, GER & ST. LOUIS, MO - According to a new report this week from Reuters, sources close to the deal believe that Bayer and Monsanto may be selling close to $2.5 billion dollars in assets in order to gain approval from federal regulators for the companies’ proposed $66 billion merger.
Since agreeing to merge in mid-September of 2016, both companies have made clear that they are willing to divest in order to gain regulatory approval. Reuters sources have revealed that Bayer’s advisors plan to deliver information packages to prospective bidders for the businesses as early as next week.
"This represents a major step forward for our Crop Science business and reinforces Bayer’s leadership position as a global innovation driven Life Science company with leadership positions in its core segments, delivering substantial value to shareholders, our customers, employees, and society at large," shared Werner Baumann, CEO of Bayer AG, upon both companies agreeing to the initial merger terms.
The sources were unable to reveal what businesses, if any, will be put up for sale, but Reuters confirmed that many antitrust and industry experts have been eyeing Bayer’s soybean, cotton, and canola seed assets, as well as LibertyLink-branded crops, as potential choices for divestment.
The people familiar with the matter shared that the assets will also likely be shopped to large private equity groups. However, Reuters warned this may limit competitive bids against other players in the agricultural supplies market.
The deal, should it be approved by regulators, is aimed to close at the end of 2017.
Bayer and Monsanto have yet to issue official statements, but AndNowUKnow will continue to update you as more information is revealed.
CASHMERE, WA - The Crunch Pak® team is keeping busy, rolling out a redesign for its new Multi-packs, as well as a consumer-focused campaign for the chance at a grand prize of “free movies for one year,” valued at $525.
“Our focus has and will continue to be about helping people incorporate healthier snacking options into their everyday life,” commented Senior Vice President Tony Freytag. “We are constantly evaluating our products to see how we can enhance them–innovation is in our DNA! So, when we identified a need for more compact packaging, we knew we had to create something to save space in the consumer’s fridge as well as shelf-space in the grocery stores.”
The Bag in a Bag, available to retailers soon, offers individual, portable plastic bags that were previously packaged in plastic clamshells. According to a press release, the new approach offers a greater overall design that will appeal to consumers and buyers alike.
“We feel confident that consumers will be eager to get their hands on our new Bag in a Bag products for multiple reasons,” Freytag said. “We are saving them time by pre-slicing their apples, making the bags portable for on-the-go snacking, and their kiddos will want to enjoy their afternoon snack with their favorite characters–it’s a win, win for everybody.”
Dedicated to providing innovative snacking products that are high-quality and meet consumer needs, the company said it was a natural transition to meet the rising demand of convenience snacking.
The Bag in a Bag offers a larger, more breathable bag for storage in places the clamshell would not have fit before. With handles for on-the-go shoppers, as well as high-resolution graphics, featuring Disney and Marvel characters, Crunch Pak said it is confident the Bag in a Bag will stand out on the shelves.
Another way Crunch Pak is looking to appeal to families is the newly-launched Movie Magic Sweepstakes.
Between March 1 and April 12, participants will be able to enter the sweepstakes for the chance to win the grand prize of free movies for one year. Participants will also have the chance to win weekly, deluxe gift baskets filled with:
- A $25 Fandago gift card
- Blu-ray and digital copy of a “fan favorite movie”
- Popcorn
- Vouchers for free Crunch Pak products and swag
“Snacking occasions in many households are on the rise, and nearly impossible to avoid while watching movies with friends and family,” said Krista Jones, Director of Marketing. “People reach for our products while on-the-go, so why not include them as part of a delicious and healthy movie snack?”
With the support of major food influencers, including Aimee from Shugary Sweets and Jocelyn with Inside BruCrew Life, the brand expects thousands of entrants to the sweepstakes, helping Crunch Pak to continue to nurture consumer connections with recipe inspiration, new offers, and more retailer-specific content.
For more inspiration, check out Crunch Pak’s blog The Sliced Life, or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
NORTH TEXAS - Fresh produce is at the center of a new strategy for the Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport (DFW). In efforts to spur the airport’s presence as the preferred hub for the passage of perishables, DFW plans to bring a 37,000-square-foot facility to its location.
“There are tremendous growth opportunities for domestic and international cargo customers to ship perishables through DFW to 180 markets,” said John Ackerman, Executive Vice President of Global Strategy and Development, according to Air Cargo World. “This new facility will increase our handling capabilities and open new doors for all our cargo and logistics partners to ship high-value, temperature-, and time-sensitive products through DFW.”
The new facility, slated to open this June, will feature 14,000-square-feet of refrigerated storage space, specifically to house perishables including fresh foods and flowers. The transfer facility will be ran by AirLogistix USA, and allow DFW to control warehousing temperatures for its perishable products.
Ackerman also stated that DFW handles about two-thirds of Texas’ air cargo, which increased by 8 percent in 2016 over the year previous. In January of 2017, the tonnage for the facility has already risen by 18 percent compared to January 2016.
This new cargo strategy was born after the airport analyzed approximately 600 different tradelanes, and found 30 percent throwing up opportunities in comparison to other airports, according to The Loadstar. DFW’s new facility is part of a long-term strategy for the airport, and will continue to bolster the airport’s increasing volumes.
According to the airport’s latest figures, DFW handles more than 794,600 tons of airfreight per year. The airport services 22 major cargo hubs throughout the world.
How will this move further position Texas in the world of fresh produce? AndNowUKnow will report.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - In response to the demand for a more authentic Hispanic grocery shopping experience, Southeastern Grocers is building up its number of Fresco y Más banner stores. The company has unveiled 5 new locations in the competitive South Florida market, making for a total of 11 for the banner.
“As Fresco y Más continues to evolve in South Florida, we are meeting the expanding consumer demand of providing more communities with an authentic Hispanic grocery store,” shared Ian McLeod, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, upon the announcement. “As we continue to listen and learn from our customers at all of our Fresco y Más locations, we are developing new stores that reflect exactly what our shoppers are looking for; More Savings. More Service. More For You.”
A key part of the Fresco y Más banner is its refreshed produce department, according to a press release, which features a farmer’s market setting and a wider selection of tropical fruits. In total, more than 500 new Hispanic items are available across several of the store’s departments.
“Each store’s new Hispanic-focused product assortment and features, including a full-service Latin butcher shop and new Cocina, are our commitment to providing a shopping experience that reflects the cultural connection we strive to make with our Hispanic customers,” continued McLeod.
Along with the new openings, Fresco y Más is also highlighting a new “Low Price every day” program, including more than 800 popular products at a discounted cost. Easily found in store with distinctive green and yellow arrow signage, the company said these prices will be at the same low price for at least 6 months.
Other enhancements throughout the new Fresco y Más stores include:
- A full-service Latin butcher shop (Carniceria)
- A new “Cocina” (kitchen) offering freshly prepared family favorites made from scratch
- New Dollar Zone, where customers can get over 600 everyday essentials for $1
- Renovated bakery department offering an expanded selection of Hispanic pastries and local baked goods
- All-new café serving authentic Hispanic breakfast, pastries, drinks and hot and cold sandwiches
- An additional Wall of Value section featuring weekly specials on popular items
- A new custom façade and vibrant yellow colors with bi-lingual signage throughout the store
First launched in Hialeah, FL, in June 2016, followed by five additional stores opened in December, Fresco y Más now includes 11 locations throughout South Florida. This new launch includes the following stores:
- 3701 NW 7th St., Miami, FL 33126
- 1630 W 49th St., Hialeah, FL 33012
- 3401 NW 18th Ave., Miami, FL 33142
- 6500 W 4th Ave., Hialeah, FL 33012
- 1201 E 10th Ave., Hialeah, FL 33010
How will this influx of Hispanic-focused stores transform the South Florida retail landscape? Keep watching AndNowUKnow as we delve in deeper.
SALINAS, CA – Mann Packing is heading to SEPC’s Southern Exposure with the most recent addition to its line of Veggie Slaw Blends, the new Kale Beet Blend™. The company will feature its new offering along with its award-winning line of Nourish Bowls™, and a variety of foodservice items at the event—held this week, March 9 through 11 in Orlando, FL.
“Our robust line of Veggie Slaw Blends is creating its own healthy destination center in produce. These products are a great opportunity for grocers to capitalize on consumers’ demands for freshness and convenience,” said Gina Nucci, Director of Corporate Marketing, in a press release. “They look great on shelf and, with point-of-purchase signage, in-store demos, and online promotions, we’re already seeing strong consumer engagement ahead of the summer season.”
The company said the new Kale Beet Blend—a mix of kale, golden beets, kohlrabi, and red cabbage—is exceptionally versatile and can be served on its own or incorporated into original dishes like salads, smoothies, and other meals. Mann’s latest promotional video offers a variety of serving suggestions.
Mann’s award-winning Nourish Bowls will also be featured at Southern Exposure. Samples of the company’s Cauli-Rice Curry, Sesame Sriracha, Monterey Risotto, Smokehouse Brussels, and Southwest Chipotle bowls will be offer at the Mann Packing booth #314, throughout the three-day event.
For more on all things produce, check in with us at AndNowUKnow.
YERINGTON, NV - The Peri and Nunes families–two of the largest family-run operations in the fresh produce organic sector–are nearing the opening of the Yerington, Nevada facility announced last December.
Construction on the state-of-the-art cooling and distribution center first broke ground in early September, 2016 and is on track to open in May, 2017.
“The Peri and Nunes families’ 40-plus years of cooling experience and industry knowledge has gone into developing a best-of-class facility in terms of cooling mechanisms, temperature control, product flow, and industrial safety and food safety,” said Tom Nunes.
Slated to service retailers, processors, wholesalers, and other buying organizations throughout North America, the two entities said in a press release that sustainability and positive economic impact are two major goals of the new operation.
“This venture is a great example of the success we’re witnessing across Nevada. I am proud to congratulate and thank this hometown company for investing in the region and bringing good paying jobs to Lyon County,” said Nevada Governor, Brian Sandoval. “The commitment of these two-family run companies shows their ability to creatively and strategically meet the demands of the marketplace. Nevada is proud to be a part of this vision and the positive impact it will have on our community.”
Not only did this combined operation bring over 800 jobs to Lyon County to date, but both assure there is more job growth projected upon completion of the new distribution facility.
Stay tuned as we continue to track this and other key moves for growth throughout the industry.