OVIEDO, FL - Duda Farm Fresh Foods is bringing its fan-favorite Dandy® Celery Dippers™ line to the foodservice arena, announcing the launch of a new 5 lb bag for foodservice customers just in time for the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Foodservice Conference.

“Knowing how valuable our traditional fresh-cut celery items have been to our foodservice customers, it only made sense to also offer them the additional option of our 2-inch celery dippers,” said Nichole Towell, Senior Director of Marketing and Packaging Procurement at Duda Farm Fresh Foods. “There is a unique versatility to dippers that can easily be implemented into existing menu items, but also opens the door to some new creative applications. We look forward to seeing everyone at the show and discussing the benefits of these petite-sized celery sticks.”

Duda launched its popular celery dippers lineup to retail audiences last fall and, after impressive success, saw the opportunity to bring the unique 2-inch, fresh-cut celery sticks to foodservice operators, a press release explained.

The supplier will be showing off the new 5 lb bag size during the Foodservice Conference at booth #901.

Similar to all Dandy® branded celery items, this new product is grown from the company's proprietary celery varieties and is processed with water jet cutting technology for a clean cut, then shipped within 24 hours to ensure consistent quality and flavor.

Get a closer look at the brand’s newest foodservice offering at booth #901 during the IFPA show.

And keep reading ANUK for the industry’s latest.

BOSTON, MA - This week’s foodservice focus among industry trailblazers is continuing to drive innovation and ingenuity at the forefront of fresh, with companies like Tive helping customers streamline their businesses while addressing the mounting challenges in today’s fresh food landscape. To discuss more about the company’s efforts is Rajah Nagarajah, Director of Sales, Tive’s Food Team, who laid out the vision for the company going into the International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference.

“At Tive, we are unwavering in our commitment to supporting foodservice shippers, retailers, and logistics partners in their digital transformation journey. Our cutting-edge real-time visibility solutions empower customers to optimize operations, reduce food waste, enhance traceability, ensure food safety, and deliver an exceptional customer experience,” Rajah shared with me. “Tive’s had a relentless focus on innovation, and that’s enabled us to continually expand our product and service offerings, providing flexible, scalable solutions that meet the diverse needs of foodservice operators.”

As Rajah added, by leveraging advanced technology and industry expertise, Tive helps its partners navigate the complexities of modern supply chains and achieve their goals with greater efficiency and confidence.

“Our driving vision is to build trust through transparency and reliability. When it comes to serving fresh produce customers, we are a trusted partner that provides bespoke solutions for maintaining optimal product conditions and maximizing profitability throughout the entire shipment and delivery cycle,” Rajah detailed. “Utilizing Tive’s comprehensive real-time data from our patented multi-sensor trackers, businesses can make informed decisions that improve supply chain efficiency, customer experience, and their bottom line.”

And the added value of the company’s platform keeps coming. Tive’s immediate alert system and 24/7 Live Monitoring service provide even more peace of mind, empowering teams with the insight they need to address potential issues before they result in product loss.

“With Tive, fresh produce customers can confidently navigate the complexities of modern supply chains, ensuring their products reach their destination in peak condition,” Rajah explained before launching into the specific program highlight to be showcased at the Foodservice Conference. “A standout service will be Tive's Solo Lite, the newest addition to Tive’s industry-renowned trackers. Solo Lite was designed with logistics and cold chain professionals in mind, and offers a cutting-edge, cost-effective solution for tracking shipment locations, temperature, and humidity, with global connectivity across 186-plus countries. Solo Lite provides best-in-class coverage, critical alert monitoring, long battery life, and recyclability—at a price point that’s attainable to businesses of any size.”

Rajah digs in a bit deeper.

“Reducing damage, improving product quality, and ensuring on-time deliveries starts with real-time insights, and that’s exactly what Tive provides—a suite of solutions to fit your unique shipment needs,” he stated.

From the cost-effective and paper-thin Tive Tag, to the Tive Solo 5G tracker, to the company’s robust solution for continuously monitoring shipment temperature, humidity, and location at the item level—impactful responses abound.

Check out booth #310 at the IFPA Foodservice Conference this week to learn more!

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

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

The company, operating from Florida, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to four produce sellers in the amount of $413,737 from February through May 2023.

Peak Seasons Produce LLC 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.

WASHINGTON, DC - As humans, we start building habits from a very early age, and that includes establishing an affinity for certain foods. Highlighting the importance of driving produce consumption among younger generations, research from The Foundation for Fresh Produce has revealed that toddlers are currently the only age group meeting the recommended levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. To address this issue and continue its commitment to child nutrition, the organization is launching its first-ever month-long campaign in partnership with leading U.S. retailers and food industry partners.

“The Foundation’s research underscores the crucial role that early childhood produce consumption plays in establishing lifelong healthy eating patterns,” says Emily Holdorf, Registered Dietitian for the Foundation for Fresh Produce. “With our partners, we are committed to providing practical hacks and promoting consistent produce habits and messaging to ensure children maintain their recommended consumption levels as they grow.”

The campaign, Hacks for Healthy Back-to-School Habits, is designed to promote simple and engaging food, cooking, and meal prep “hacks,” with the goal of instilling healthy eating habits in children as they head back to school.

According to a press release, nine retail partners nationwide will engage children and their families with innovative strategies to integrate more fruits and vegetables into their daily routines. These retailers include Coborn’s, Fresh Thyme Markets, Hy-Vee, Inserra Supermarkets, Meijer, Natural Grocers, Schnucks Market, The United Family of Stores, and Weis Markets.

“Making it easy and fun for kids to consume more fruits and vegetables is the key to success when it comes to building lifelong healthy eating habits for children,” says Katie Calligaro, Director, Marketing and Communication for The Foundation. “While we know the majority of children consume meals prepared by their school’s nutrition program (which are required to follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans), the meals and snacks prepared at home play a critical role in boosting fruit and vegetable consumption.”

Other elements of the campaign include cooking demonstrations, virtual classes, in-store displays, social media posts, produce incentive coupons, and more.

“Providing tools that streamline messaging for retailers can help elevate fruits and vegetables in a way that consistently resonates with consumers,” Calligaro added. “The more they hear it, see it, and experience it, the more likely they are to repeat it, which is what creates a habit.”

More information about the new campaign can be found here.

As always, keep clicking on ANUK for the latest industry updates.

ORLANDO, FL - Today is National Mango Day, and the National Mango Board is commemorating the occasion with the launch of a brand-new website. Designed to be a one-stop shop for all things mango, the website boasts a host of interactive features such as an online scavenger hunt.

“We’re bursting with excitement to unveil our innovative website and celebrate National Mango Day with such a fun and interactive activation,” commented Dan Spellman, Director of Marketing. “It’s peak mango season and the best time of year to savor the incredible flavor and diversity of fresh mangos. Fans are sure to experience the joy of mangos as they explore the new site and interact with the gamification elements we’ve added throughout.”

With peak mango season in full swing, the National Mango Board is dedicated to helping everyone discover the joys of this delectable and nutritious fruit.

According to a press release, both the online scavenger hunt and subsequent social media giveaway serve as the centerpiece of the new website launch.

Those who successfully navigate the website and complete the scavenger hunt will be entered to win a lineup of epic prizes inspired by the summer games podium. Just like the games, there will be coveted gold, silver, and bronze medal prizes. The social media contest will run from July 22 through 29.

On its website, the National Mango Board also features an assortment of delicious mango recipes, juicy trivia, and engaging augmented reality (AR) filters on Instagram Stories.

Stick with ANUK for the latest deets on how our industry is wooing consumers.