NEW HYDE PARK, NY & SAN FRANCISCO, CA - A new, health-focused partnership has popped up on our radar, and it may just fuel produce demand by helping shoppers establish healthy eating habits. Instacart has teamed up with New York health system Northwell Health, which will leverage the industry ally’s platform to expand access to nutritious food and inspire consumers to make healthy, sustainable choices.

“Instacart offers families across the country the convenience of same-day delivery from their favorite stores, reaching over 98 percent of U.S. households. By partnering with Northwell Health, we’re leveraging our scale and Health tools to create impactful nutrition access and education programs that help solve real community challenges,” said Sarah Mastrorocco, Vice President and General Manager of Instacart Health. “Studies show that a healthy diet during pregnancy can greatly improve the health of both moms and babies and reduce the risk of several common complications. By offering our Fresh Funds stipends to give mothers more convenient access to nutritious food, and consumer tools that make Northwell Health’s expert guidance actionable, we’re supporting programs that help make our communities healthier.”

This strategic collaboration scales food as health programs to reach diverse Northwell communities, as Northwell will optimize Instacart Health tools to support unique programs that address social determinants of health including access to healthy food and transportation.

As a press release explained, the first program to launch integrates Instacart Health tools into Northwell’s Center for Maternal Health Maternal Outcomes and Morbidity Collaborative (MOMS) so that moms-to-be who are food insecure have improved access to fresh and nutritious food. With Instacart Health Fresh Funds, category-specific online grocery stipends, and Northwell’s Healthy Choices Storefront on Instacart, Northwell is providing moms-to-be with nutrition guidance and support during their pregnancies. The health organization is particularly focused on addressing maternal health in Black and Brown communities that have long-standing disparities in maternal care.

“We believe that Food is Health. And it’s important to us to meet the needs of the communities we serve, which is why we pursued an Instacart partnership,” said Michael Dowling, Chief Executive Officer of Northwell.

More information about the recent alliance can be found here. With this unique initiative creating healthier eating habits and expanding access to nutritious foods, we predict a rise in produce consumption and purchases.

Stay tuned as ANUK continues to bring you the latest industry news.

VALENCIA, CA - Valencia orange season has officially kicked off just in time for summer displays and back-to-school merchandising. Ensuring the variety lives up to its full potential, Sunkist Growers has developed new merchandising tips to help its retail partners sell larger value packs and create impactful seasonal displays. The California-grown orange variety is available now through October, uplifted by a strategic consumer sweepstakes.

“Valencia oranges are off to a good start this season, with volume up nearly 35 percent in June compared to the same time last year, according to Circana,” said Cassie Howard, Senior Director of Category Management and Marketing. “Valencia oranges are a summer favorite and perfect for juicing—this program will enhance their visibility and appeal in the marketplace.”

Citrus is an integral part of consumers’ shopping baskets throughout the summer, with Circana data revealing that consumers prefer to make in-store produce purchases, especially oranges. As the citrus maven shared in a release, building effective displays that put the Sunkist brand at the epicenter of the customer shopping journey is an effective solution for retailers to drive the category throughout the Valencia season.

A Sunkist-commissioned study revealed that over 15 percent of orange shoppers purchase the fruit on impulse. This further signifies the importance of establishing engaging and interactive displays in stores. This can be achieved with the help of Sunkist’s new ready-to-wrap merchandising offerings, which include bilingual Latin-inspired pallet bin wraps and a back-to-school-themed pallet bin wrap as consumers prepare for back-to-school shopping.

In addition to merchandising support, Sunkist is also unveiling an exciting back-to-school giveaway, offering families a chance to win a Sunkist-themed prize package as they prepare for the new school year.

“Back-to-school season is an important time for families, and we want to make it as enjoyable and stress-free as possible,” added Howard. “This giveaway is a way to give back to our loyal customers and help them better prepare for a successful school year with new ways to instill healthy habits into their kids' lunchboxes.”

Sunkist’s Back-to-School Sweepstakes will run through September 14, allowing citrus fans to enter to win a variety of awesome back-to-school prizes. With back-to-school shopping ramping up this month, this provides a great opportunity for retailers to engage with shoppers throughout the summer. In addition, QR codes on the bin wrap designs lead consumers directly to the sweepstakes to learn more.

With these strategies in play, it’s sure to be a lucrative Valencia orange season!

Keep reading ANUK as we report on the latest category opportunities.

WESTHAMPTON, NY - Two major developments are in place for Hapco Farms. In order to strengthen its East Coast infrastructure, the company is constructing new facilities in Massachusetts and Florida.

“We have such a strong presence in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Montreal, and New Brunswick, and with these latest additions, it strengthens our stronghold on the Eastern Seaboard,” commented Eric Scannelli, Chief Operating Officer, Hapco Farms. “This allows us to continue to provide our customers with the freshest of quality while at the same time giving our customers the ability to cover shorts and allowing customers to be at zero inventory at the end of the day.”

The packing facility in Massachusetts is a new venture, a press release explained, between Hapco Farms and Valley Spud. These two companies have formed a new company called Barnwood Valley Farms. Effective immediately, it will be packing local potatoes in addition to working directly with up to 20 local farms in the valley to distribute its produce to Northeast retailers and wholesalers.

Along with vast acreage, Barnwood Valley Farms will have a full packing facility on site, as well as greenhouses used to grow seeds for transplants.

For more information regarding this venture, click here.

The second development is a new carrot and onion facility down in Florida, which will bring production of those two commodities closer to Hapco Farms’ customers.

“The demand for carrots has been on the rise, and part of our overall mission is to continue to expand our growing opportunities domestically, closer to our Northeast customers,” Scannelli added.

Hapco will also be growing and packing yellow and red onions at this location. The release added that this facility will pack 1, 2, 3, and 5 lb carrot bags in the Fresh from the Start label or private label.

“This new facility is being built primarily for these new crops, with state-of-the-art equipment specifically for these commodities,” commented Andrew Fagan, Director of Operations at ADS Management, parent company of Hapco Farms. “It will be a busy few months, but we are excited to add another packing facility for our customers.”

Scannelli concluded that these moves represent the first steps of many toward future expansion.

“The fact that we are investing in these areas shows we are committed to the economic well-being of these regions,” he noted. “We will be hiring local residents, which will benefit the local economies all while giving us the opportunity to better service our customers with the high-quality products that consumers have come to expect from Hapco Farms.”

Keep reading ANUK as we cover the latest across the industry.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - Relationships are an important factor in the fresh produce industry, and the new Grocery Code of Conduct (the Code) is proof of this value. Represented by 10 organizations, including the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct (OGSCC) has obtained a commitment from all grocers and key suppliers to support the Code.

“We are delighted to finally have the entire food supply chain’s support for this Code,” said Ron Lemaire, President. “This Code will support industry’s efforts in strengthening our country’s food supply chain and CPMA is looking forward to working with all stakeholders to implement it swiftly.”

Initiated by the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture in 2021, the Code was proposed to improve transparency, predictability, and respect for the principles of fair dealing within the supplier/retailer relationship.

The development of the Code involved several industry representatives. The CPMA has been part of the process from the start as a founding member of the initial Working Group, and a member of the new Interim Board, a release stated.

Canada’s Grocery Code of Conduct is a set of principles that aims to promote reciprocal trust and collaboration amongst grocery value chain partners, contribute to a thriving and competitive grocery industry, and allow all parties to make informed business decisions.

With the support of the Canadian government, the OGSCC expects to implement the Code by June 2025.

Stick with ANUK for more industry news updates.

WATSONVILLE, CA - The highly anticipated Foodservice Conference, hosted by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), is approaching quickly, and what would the foodservice arena be without fresh berries? California Giant Berry Farms is bringing its high-quality strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry portfolio to the show, inspiring attendees with opportunities to harness this staple category.

“We’re thrilled to connect with foodservice professionals at the conference,” says Tom Smith, Director of Sales at California Giant Berry Farms. “We understand the unique needs of this industry and are committed to providing chefs and operators with the freshest, most flavorful berries, along with resources and inspiration to drive menu innovation and increase berry consumption.”

At the show, the fruit purveyor plans to focus on its year-round supply of fresh berries that represent the highest standards for quality and consistency, a press release explained.

With events like its popular Chef Invitational, California Giant Berry Farms is a longstanding advocate for the power of berries in foodservice. Through industry partnerships, the company remains dedicated to providing valuable resources and inspiration to help chefs unlock the full potential of berries on their menus, the release added.

“Recently, we concluded our 2024 Chef Invitational Academy, a program that brings together talented chefs and California Giant berries,” added Smith. “This collaborative environment fosters exciting new recipe development and trends, ultimately benefiting the entire foodservice industry and driving consumer demand for delicious and healthy berries. We are invested in our foodservice partners and thrive on elevating berries as a menu item.”

A stop by booth #617 will yield insightful conversations about the company’s portfolio of conventional and organic berries, as well as customized solutions to help chefs elevate their menus with crave-worthy berry dishes.

For more previews in the lead-up to the IFPA show, keep clicking on that little apple logo.