NEW YORK, NY – Well known for bringing exploratory dishes and culinary trends to life through the cinematic spotlight, Anthony Bourdain is now looking to take his entertainment, authorial, and chef reach one step further. Announcing a new documentary film project, the renowned figure will now be bringing the food waste epidemic to the big screen.
“Wasted! The Story of Food Waste” will focus on the issue of wasted food on a global scale, an initiative and concern that has been heading the front of our industry as well. According to Variety, one third or approximately 1.3 billon tons of all man-made food goes to waste instead of being consumed. The issues, numbers, and prospective causes which associated with the initiative will be covered by Bourdain in the piece.
“Food waste is a problem that affects people and the planet, yet food waste is also a problem we can solve,” said Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “‘Wasted! The Story of Food Waste’ will show how everyone can make changes to minimize what we throw away.”
The globally illuminating documentary will be produced by Bourdain and the Rockefeller Foundation. Zero Point Zero Production, from Bourdain’s TV series “The Mind of a Chef,” will also partner on the project. The documentary will be directed by Nari Kye and Anna Chai.
Bourdain doesn’t have plans to stop just there, however, as he will call on his worldly chef associates to help divulge on the matter of food waste. Thus far, the following names have been noted as participating in the documentary:
- Massimo Bottura: Italian restaurateur
- Dan Barber: Chef, Author, and Co-Owner of Blue Hill restaurants
- Danny Bowien: Co-Founder of Mission Chinese Food
As food waste has become a pressing initiative both nationally and internationally, more noted names have been joining the list to combat wasted food and resources, Bourdain being just the latest. His partner on the project, the Rockefeller Foundation, has also pledged $130 million towards educating consumers and eliminating food waste in addition to supporting the film.
The documentary is currently in production and projected to release as part of film festivals in 2017.
As the project moves forward, and more noted Chef names are released as contributors, AndNowUKnow will have the latest.
PHILADELPHIA, PA & PIEDMONT, ITALY - One of the world’s priciest auctions took place earlier this month, and instead of affluent art traders gathering for an unearthed Picasso, or antique lovers clamoring for a 15th century armoire, this event saw some of the world’s top chefs going to battle over mere ounces of Alba White Truffle.
At simultaneous events 4,000 miles apart, in both Philadelphia and Piedmont, Italy, the culinary world joined for the 17th annual World Alba White Truffle Charity Auction. Bidders were faced with several truffles ranging in size from almost half a pound to close to one and a half pounds. And with NPR reporting an average price of $458 per shroomy ounce, this auction was certainly no joke.
The real prize of the night, however?
The Grande Truffle, a more than two and a half pound trove of deliciousness, that had bidders in Philadelphia and Piedmont going head to head via simulcast, scrambling to walk away with the rare gigantic treat.
After a tense cross-ocean throwdown, NPR reports, Dong Zhenxiang, Chef-Owner of world-renowned Da Dong Roast Duck in Beijing, China, won with a winning bid of €105,000, or about $112,000.
"I think that Americans are fascinated by truffles," says Mauro Carbone, General Manager of Italian tourism company Tu Langhe Roero. "The very thin skin of the truffle is influenced by the soil around it, so no two are the same. When you buy a truffle, it's your truffle. No one else will ever have one just like it."
The much-craved white truffle has had the culinary world enamored for some time now. A mushroom that is grown around tree roots, truffles traditionally cannot be cultivated in a farm environment, and used to be foraged by trained pigs.
NPR likens the white truffle's flavor to garlic, musk, and cabbage, calling for a simplistic, raw preparation. Chefs often shave white truffles over freshly made pasta, or pair with lobster and filet mignon.
"It's a perfect storm for a chef," says Patterson Watkins, Executive Chef for Philadelphia’s Di Bruno Bros. "This is what we all live for."
This wasn’t all for decadence, however. The National Italian American Foundation used $60,000 of the proceeds to support ongoing earthquake relief efforts following quakes that struck central Italy in August and October.
Will another produce item soon find itself in the $100,000 price range with its own dedicated auction? AndNowUKnow will be the first to let you know the hottest culinary trends.
SPRINGFIELD, IL – As the 56-year-old company looks to better communicate its vision and direction, The Tom Lange Family of Companies has a new series of logos and messaging. The new face of the company now spans its production, distribution, and logistics operations to present a synchronized view of message and appearance for Tom Lange.
With the new logos having been unveiled for over a month, I spoke with President Greg Reinauer to discuss the significant move, and where the company is headed next.
“The mission was to simplify the message and direction of our company,” Greg tells me. “Our business is based on vertical integration and three pillars within the supply chain. These new logos help us to define the value and services that our company provides.”
Tom Lange’s three pillars encompass all areas of the company’s endeavors. Thus, in perfect synchronization, the logos represent the following branches of the company and its far-reaching arms of operations:
- Seven Seas: Control of fresh produce through growing, packing, financing, importing, and exporting.
- Tom Lange Company: Regional distribution throughout North America, spearheaded through the traditional Tom Lange offices.
- Lange Logistics: Transportation and warehousing of goods throughout the supply chain.
“Logos do not define a company, but rather help us build on our values and services. We differentiate ourselves in the marketplace by providing value throughout the total supply chain,” Greg elaborates on the addition of the new logos, and what they signify for the company. “Our people and our services are what make us truly unique.”
The inspiration for the shift in logos came of a need to streamline the representation of the company and its offerings to its associates, partners, customers, and the industry as a whole. Greg elaborates that after 56 years of business, the Tom Lange Family of Companies had expanded from its small Midwest beginnings into many different areas of the fresh produce and logistics business, and needed to hone its message to better communicate to all facets of the industry.
Tom Lange debuted the new logos and messaging, to great reviews, at PMA Fresh Summit.
“The traffic through both the Lange and Seven Seas’ booths was brisk, and the new logos generated much conversation about the multiple services that Tom Lange, Lange Logistics, and Seven Seas has to offer,” Greg tells me.
So, what’s next for the Tom Lange Family of Companies? Greg says that there are a number of initiatives in the works to increase the company’s offering of citrus and berries.
As Tom Lange Family of Companies continues to ramp up its offerings, stay with AndNowUKnow for the latest.
ROCHESTER, NY - Hiring sprees are popping up again, with Wegmans Food Markets looking to fill a couple hundred positions, both full- and part-time, in both Maryland and Virginia. It is not simply for the holiday rush, however.
"While a lot of retailers are looking for seasonal help this time of year, we're hiring new team members for year-round positions," Bob Farr, Wegmans’ Virginia Division Manager, said an announcement last week, according to the Baltimore Sun.
The retailer is hiring for seven stores in each state, 14 total, including the following Baltimore areas:
- Abingdon
- Columbia
- Gambrills
- Hunt Valley
- Owings Mills
Positions include entry-level managers and staff on culinary and perishable teams. Open departments include produce and prepared foods, as well as bakery, meat, deli, pizza, sub shop, and cheese shop.
Recently we reported that the family-owned chain could be looking to expand further, cracking into the increasingly competitive North Carolina market. Its first store in the state is slated to open in January.
With more than 90 stores in five eastern states, Wegmans assured that employees can expect opportunities for growth, competitive pay, and benefits, as well as formal development programs and on-the-job training.
SALINAS, CA – Premier provider of ready-to-use fresh veggies, Mann Packing, confirmed its commitment to community service, growing its profile locally while providing for families in need.
The company paired with the Boys & Girls Club of Monterey County (BGCMC) to support the Club’s Adopt-A-Family program.
“We are excited to support our county's youth during this holiday campaign,” said Gina Nucci, Director of Corporate Marketing at Mann’s and BGCMC board member. “Here at Mann’s, we’re always interested in opportunities to empower youth to thrive in school and lead healthy, productive lives. We’ve long been an advocate for youth development in Monterey County, and are proud of our partnership with the Club.”
The partnership will serve 1,100 youths and their families Thanksgiving meals at the Clubs’ five locations this week. In addition, 100 families will receive a special food box for the holiday school break.
“We value and depend on the support of corporate partners like Mann Packing,” said Michael L. Jackson, Ed.D., President & CEO of BGCMC. “Together we are making a positive difference in the lives of children, their families, and our community.”
This particular contribution adds to a series of charitable donations Mann’s has made this year. The company donated $10,000 during the BGCMC’s Great Futures Telethon recently, and makes an annual $15,000 pledge to the Club’s Health Lifestyles initiative.
Donations to the Adopt-A-Family program can be made on the BGCMC’s website.
MCALLEN, TX – With sights set on remaining at the forefront of industry opportunities, Triple H Produce has joined the virtual reality realm to give the industry a real-life view of its operations and ever expand the way its customers consider produce.
As Alicia Garza, Marketing Manager at Triple H Produce, recently told me, the company first broached the idea back in February before officially launching its own virtual reality experience at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to bring fields and facilities closer to our customers and potential buyers,” Alicia says of the company’s virtual reality endeavor. “We realized that many of the people we talk to, or that already buy produce from us, have never seen a real tomato or jalapeño plant before. With virtual reality we can change that, and give them firsthand experience in the field in under three minutes, without them ever leaving the room.”
As we've previously reported, the AndNowUKnow team has been on the virtual reality train since the technology first burst into the public sphere a few years ago. Bringing our own kit to shows and presenting new realms that can be explored through its immersive features, we have for some time found that it's undeniable that every buyer and grower in our industry has much to gain from this unique platform.
Triple H's video, viewable above, does exactly that–easily demonstrating how virtual reality's technology can effortlessly launch a viewer from their chair into a deeper and more visual understanding of the company's operations and offered categories.
Starting with an up close view of one of its associated growers, the video follows Alicia as she brings viewers up close with Berry Veg de Baja Owner Carlos Castañeda and his roma tomato operation in Baja California, Mexico. Carlos and Manuel, a food safety supervisor at the greenhouse, extend a personal feel of both the roma tomatoes being cultivated as well as an up-close view of the high standards which upholds Triple H's consistently high-quality offerings.
Virtual reality viewers are then instantly moved miles away to McAllen, TX, where members of the high-tech field trip gain a view of the dedicated team which moves the tomatoes through the supply chain, simultaneously providing a glimpse of a tomato’s journey that is not often seen but now understood.
Throughout the entirety of the experience, Triple H effectively demonstrates how virtual reality merges with our industry not only to propel greater opportunities between each facet of the industry–from grower, to shipper, to buyer–but to create completely new comprehensions, as well.
These new considerations presented by produce-centered virtual reality promise a new horizon of possibilities for our industry; for produce companies like Triple H Produce, and retailers alike.
Where will virtual reality take our industry next? AndNowUKnow will keep our finger to the pulse of this unique technology to find out.
COTTONWOOD, AL - McLane Dothan, a supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice to chains across the U.S., will be giving its Alabama grocery distribution center a $17 million expansion.
Located near Cottonwood, the 320,000-square-foot facility will be adding somewhere between 70,000 and 80,000-square-feet to the existing site, according to the Dothan Eagle.
“Investing in the communities in which we operate is integral to our success, so we’re thrilled to hear that support of our expansion in the Houston County Distribution Park was approved,” Mike Price, President of McLane Dothan, said in a written statement, according to the report. The expansion is expected to add upwards of 50 jobs to the local area. “We look forward to growing our footprint within the (industrial) park as well as creating more jobs, much like we have done the past 17 years.”
The McLane umbrella supplies convenience stores, mass merchants, drug stores, and chain restaurants throughout the United States. It operates more than 80 distribution centers, buying, selling, and delivering more than 50,000 different consumer products to 90,000 locations across the nation. Some on the list include:
- Walmart
- Sam's Club
- Walgreens
- 7-Eleven
- Target Stores
- Taco Bell
- Pizza Hut
- Sonic
Construction of the expansion is set to begin in January, and it’s expected to be completed in December, 2017.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Wonderful Company has received the 2016 Corporate Citizenship Award in the category of Best Community Improvement Program, recognizing its development efforts in the town of Lost Hills, CA, where more than 50 percent of households work at the Wonderful Pistachios plant.
“All of us at The Wonderful Company are honored to be recognized by the Chamber with their prestigious Citizens Award,” said Lynda Resnick, Vice Chair and Co-Owner of The Wonderful Company. “As a leading employer across California’s Central Valley, we are committed to giving back in the places where our employees live and work, and nowhere does that promise ring truer than in Lost Hills, where we’ve dedicated our time and resources to revitalizing the community and giving its residents life-changing opportunities and a renewed spirit of hometown pride."
The award, bestowed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center, honors businesses for their significant positive impacts in communities. And, having clocked in with an investment to date exceeding $15 million, Wonderful fits the bill.
With its investments, Wonderful has completed extensive community infrastructure, including:
- Paved roads
- Installation of sidewalks, bus shelters, storm drains and streetlights
- Revitalized the community park with two community centers, two soccer fields, a volleyball court, basketball court, playgrounds
Along with a broad range of community activities and events, the company has also helped build affordable housing, finance and build the town’s first sit-down restaurant, and recently received approval from the Kern County Board of Education to open a charter school in the community next fall.
“The Wonderful Company is a true community partner to the people of Lost Hills,” said Marc DeCourcey, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center. “Their strategic and sustainable investments in Lost Hills will positively impact the community for years to come.”
This awards program, in its 17th year, has illustrated how businesses can serve as a powerful source for good. The Chamber Foundation announced the winners of the 2016 Citizens Awards on November 17 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the awards program here, and visit here to discover more about The Wonderful Company’s work in Lost Hills.
For more on the good deeds of the fresh produce industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
YUMA, AZ - With the cool fall season bringing a host of seasonal and year-round fruits and veggie items to the table, I have been watching the produce department warm with autumn colors and Thanksgiving delights. One of those delicious staples for this time of year: dates.
Erin Hanagan-Muths, fellow date-lover and Director of Marketing for Bard Valley Date Growers, joins me to discuss the growing category and what makes the Natural Delights brand a holiday favorite, and a growing year-round one as well.
“In addition to the continued promotion of whole, pitted, and Organic Medjool dates, the Natural Delights brand will be promoting our Pecan Pumpkin Pie Spiced Date Rolls this holiday season,” Erin shares with me. “This offering is unique in the category and allows produce managers to participate in the wave of 'pumpkin' flavored items that takes over the rest of retail during the holiday season. Our limited edition holiday trays are also a hot item this season.”
Natural Delight’s Pecan Pumpkin Pie Spiced Date Rolls shipment volumes were up 43 percent and 89 percent respectively for the first two months of Fall from September and October, she adds. The item is on track to finish this year at over 30 percent growth in total volume for this SKU, according to the company.
“Natural Delights is one of the top brands of Medjool dates and accounts for 85 percent of the date category share of dollars and volume,” she adds. “The Natural Delights Medjool date brand has excelled in terms of growing consumer demand and driving repeat purchases for the category.”
During the 2017 holiday period, the Natural Delights brand will also be executing its final national consumer promotion for the 2016 calendar year, to help boost consumption and sales.
“Our highly-anticipated annual holiday recipe promotion, Naughty and Nice, celebrates the many ways Natural Delights can make holiday gatherings special,” Erin says. “Through national print vehicles like Cooking Light, Shape, and Bon Appetit, as well as targeted programmatic digital banner and social media advertising, the campaign connects with consumers who are interested in healthy snacking, fitness, home cooking, and holiday entertaining.”
Retailers can take part in the promotion by incorporating self-display shippers with promotional tie-in merchandising elements provided by Natural Delights. The Naughty and Nice promotion is the fourth in a year-long series of demand-generating activities that have delivered over 150 million impressions to health-minded consumers through a national consumer advertising campaign that spans print, digital, mobile, and social media channels.
Erin shares some stats that help reinforce the growth within the category:
- Medjool dates Volume% change has increased 35.7% in the last year.
- Medjool dates account for 71.6% dollar share of the entire date category
- Dates are a $41,618,336 category
So, how is the date category beginning to generate more demand throughout the year? Erin shares that while they have long been a secret weapon of elite athletes looking for sustained energy and muscle recovery, the average consumer didn’t view the fruit as an energy snack. Until now.
“Thanks to the research, educational, and promotional efforts driven by the Natural Delights brand, consumers everywhere are awakening to the amazing nutritional qualities, versatility, and flavor composition of the Medjool date,” she says. “The marketing efforts of the Natural Delight’s brands comes at a time when the category is experiencing dramatic shifts in the way we eat and what consumers value out of their food.”
Health-minded consumers and Millennial shoppers are racing towards healthy, on-the-go snacking options that help them sustain their energy levels, have minimal ingredients, are GMO-free, and contain no artificial flavors or colors. With the consumer basket changing and demographics shifting across North America, I’m looking forward to more date products popping-up in my local produce departments.
NEW KENSINGTON, PA - For its eye-catching and complimentary labeling, Yerecic Label took home top honors at both Flint Group’s 12th Annual Narrow Web Print Awards at LabelExpo and the TLMI Annual Awards Competition. Fresh off the heels of the Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute’s (TLMI) Annual Meeting in October, the awards celebrated Yerecic’s print quality and its knowledge of the industries it services.
“We are honored to be recognized for print quality by both the Flint Group and TLMI,” said Yerecic Label President Art Yerecic. “Recognition like this inspires and motivates the Yerecic Label family to continue to grow and achieve excellence.”
The company's Mint Mojito FlagTag! Label, printed for North Shore Living Herbs’ new potted herb line, earned accolades from Flint Group.
“The premium print quality we achieved on our recipe tags with Yerecic Label really allowed our finished recipe to pop on shelf,” said North Shore Living Herbs Director of Marketing Micki Dirtzu. “Our vision of capturing summer entertaining with fresh ingredients that consumers are looking for through offering a refreshing Mint Mojito recipe on our potted North Shore Living Herbs® Mint was a success.”
Yerecic's Eat Chicken National Chick Month label was also honored by Flint Group for the particularly clever way it used cross-promotion to help encourage impulse meal planning purchases at retail stores.
“The design of the label perfectly complemented our objective to bring Suddenly Salad and chicken together to the center of the plate, and the quality of the final graphics really made the labels pop,” said Ashley Wright of General Mills. “I even had people taking pictures of the labels in-store and sending them to me because they were so excited.”
After TLMI Annual Meeting, two of the company’s other labels were recognized for print excellence as part of the TLMI Annual Awards Competition. The Awards focused on innovation, technical achievement, and print quality.
The Pub Burger label printed for National Beef took home first place for the Flexographic Process Prime category, and also won Best in Class for the Flexography and Letterpress category. The label will subsequently be entered into the World Label Awards Competition and published globally in industry magazines.
Entrants of the competition were judged confidentially by a panel of knowledgeable and impartial experts from the label industry.
For more on developments in the produce labeling industry, including innovations and accolades, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.