WEARE TOWNSHIP, MI - In Northern Michigan this week, a truck full of apples made one big turnover along US-31 in Oceana County. On Tuesday morning, a semi rolled over leaving 149,000 lbs of the fruit scattered along the highway.
According to local reports by Oceana County Press, the crash happened around 10 a.m. near Monroe Road in Weare Township. The trailer had been hauling 80,000 apples which were strewn in smashed crates around the scene after the accident.
The driver reports not knowing what caused the rollover. He sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
“It happened so fast,” driver Dennis Radford of Grand Rapids, MI, told the Oceana County Press. “I was driving along, hit the brakes, and I ended up here… Some rescue guys came right away, cut the seatbelt loose, and got me out.”
Following late-Summer's banana issues, could this apple spill be the start of the next saga in transport trouble? Stay tuned with AndNowUKnow as we continue bringing you the latest in fresh produce transportation news.
KINGSVILLE, ON- When it comes to product innovation and creativity, SUNSET® Produce is continuing to raise the bar, and this time with the company’s new Dill It Yourself™ Pickle Kits. SUNSET’s latest revolution in flavor created a “Big Dill” at the PMA Fresh Summit last weekend in Orlando. With rave reviews across the board, attendees delighted in the product’s convenience, ingenuity, and of course, flavor. And the icing on the cake? Fresh Summit honored the new Dill It Yourself™ Pickle Kits with a PMA Impact Award as well as a Best of Show award for Best Product Promo.
“PMA is proud to award SUNSET® with the Impact Award for the Dill It Yourself™ Pickle Kit,” shared George Szczepanski, Director of Business Development for PMA. “Consumers are looking for fun and easy ways to engage with produce, and responding to that demand with creative packaging and design is a way that we, as an industry, can work to increase consumption.”
The coveted PMA Impact award is based on marketing, food safety, supply chain efficiency/functionality, sustainability, and consumer convenience while the award for Best Product Promo recognized its unique merchandising displays. SUNSET® designed a portable island unit, which includes a self-playing video display to communicate usage to attendees in a fun, interactive way.
“The beauty is its simplicity,” shared CEO Paul Mastronardi. “Consumers are looking for convenient ways to take the pickling trend home, and this is the perfect solution.”
The SUNSET® Dill It Yourself™ Pickle Kit was created as a convenient at-home pickling experience, according to a press release.
With the pickling and fermenting produce trend at an all-time high, this product capitalizes on that growing demand by creating simple, flavorful homemade pickles overnight and comes in a sleek, eye-catching pail. Within the kit are SUNSET® mini cucumbers and a perfectly portioned spice packet.
Pickle-lovers simply need to rinse and slice the cucumbers, add water, vinegar, and spices, and refrigerate overnight…or a minimum of six hours. The result is fresh and crunchy homemade pickles, with incredible flavor; ideal for topping sandwiches or burgers, or just enjoying alone. And it puts the fun of the preparation process right in the consumer’s kitchen.
Congratulations to SUNSET on these coveted awards and for bringing innovation to a whole new level!
GREENSBORO, NC - The Fresh Market is looking to offer more to consumers at lower prices as it rolls out a fresh focus for the chain.
“This is a significant milestone in The Fresh Market’s brand evolution,” said Rick Anicetti, President and CEO of The Fresh Market, according to a release. “The reinvention of our stores will place an emphasis on delicious fresh fare, convenience, and health and wellness options."
A wave of “reinvention” will kick off in some of the retailer’s North Carolina stores on Oct. 26, adding more items to its inventory as well as a new logo and re-enhanced focus on fresh, saying that it remains a top priority with high-quality items simply sourced from the best providers across the globe. Stores will now provide over 250 local offerings, including local produce items from farmers across North Carolina such as Barbee Farms, Lively Orchards, and Patterson Farm.
The Fresh Market will also offer bolstered health and wellness, with even more assistance available to answer questions and offer recommendations to consumers.
The changes will filter slowly out of the initial launches in the retailer’s home state to other locations nationwide through early 2018, according to the report.
Most recently the chain added to its fresh reach with the addition of retail veteran Teri Miller, who was announced as the new Senior Category Manager for Produce last month.
As The Fresh Market continues to make moves to grow its name and its footprint, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA - Mann Packing has added another title to its holster, taking home a coveted Impact Award from this year’s PMA Fresh Summit for its new Nourish Bowls.
“We are thrilled to again be honored with a PMA Impact Award for packaging,” said company Chairman & CEO, Lorri Koster, according to a press release. “We know packaging is a critical component for a successful product in the cut-veg category and recognition for Nourish Bowls validates our mission to create stronger sales on the shelf.”
A perfect product for on-the-go consumers, Mann’s Nourish Bowls capitalize on trends for both bowl-based meals and diverse, ethnic flavor profiles found in foodservice.
As we reported recently, the new Cauli-Rice Curry bowl, a mix of finely chopped cauliflower, chickpeas, and savory vindaloo-style curry sauce, just joined Smokehouse Brussels, Sesame Sriracha, Southwest Chipotle, and Monterey Risotto in the innovative line.
The company touts bringing to the fresh cut-veg category what single-serve salad bowls have done for the packaged salad segment, having gained over 12,000 points of distribution since the launch last April.
Now it has been selected by a panel of judges who chose amongst entries in areas such as marketing, food safety, supply chain efficiencies, sustainability, and consumer convenience.
Congratulations, Mann Packing, on this latest award.
SALINAS, CA - Enza Zaden is on the move in both size and portfolio, announcing double the square footage for its Salinas, CA, headquarters and new varieties to position it for growth in the organic sector.
“Our building expansion allows us to offer significantly increased inventory of diverse crops, which is important to growers across the U.S. but especially here in the Salinas Valley, where we have a dedicated team on the ground to directly service regional growers,” said Ton van der Velden, President and CEO, Enza Zaden USA, in a press release. The new 43,000-square-foot building sports a sustainably-focused design, as well as an industrial-quality seed processing, storage, and distribution center.
“From water and energy efficiency, to effective use of regional and recycled materials, to the state-of-the-art quality of the indoor environment, these companies helped us to meet our sustainable construction goals,” said Mike Moline, the company’s Building Expansion and Seed Operations Manager. An additional phase taking place next year will bring more than 700 solar panels to enhance energy efficiency as well.
On the heels of the new, modern building, the company announced an exciting new partnership venture for its organic arm, Vitalis, with Wholesum Harvest, featuring tomatoes grown with Vitalis organic seed, and marketed by Wholesum under the unique “Vitalis Born, Wholesum Raised” label.
“This partnership reflects our belief in organic seed as the first input to an organic production system, and our capacity to leverage our extensive research operation to develop cultivars with the traits most needed by organic growers,” said Erica Renaud, Regional Business Manager, Organics & Herbs Vitalis Organic Seeds, Enza Zaden North America, Inc.
The new headquarters’ industrial seed processing facility includes full organic handling certification, and offers extensive local inventory for both organic and conventional seed.
CINCINNATI, OH – Towards the end of the summer, speculations circulated that Kroger might be looking to expand its supermarket presence by acquiring hundreds of Rite Aid stores. But, the deal may not come to fruition, according to recent reports.
As we’ve covered previously, Kroger was said to be in moves to acquire the stores as Walgreens looks to sell as many as 1,000 Rite Aid shops in order to acquire the chain. More recently that number has narrowed down to 650 stores as the two look to seal a $17 billion deal, but Kroger’s, or another shopper’s, purchase of the remaining locations could be key to the FTC’s approval.
The New York Post reported that sources close to the situation said that the FTC told Kroger the 650 store operations couldn't be moved into its grocery stores, closing stand-alone locations.
“The FTC is trying to preserve the stand-alone stores,” an anonymous source said, according to the New York Post. “But Kroger might want to integrate. What happens to Rite Aids it buys that are near Krogers?”
Kroger did not comment to the news source on whether or not it would move forward, but it met with several hedge funds last week to report that it is currently figuring out its “special sauce” in expanding.
We will continue to report on this and other key moves for growth as details emerge.
ORLANDO, FL - This year’s PMA Fresh Summit challenged the industry to innovate and inspire, and as far as I could tell, industry members answered the call in spades. So many items, labels, and packages stood out, and here are a few I want to ensure everyone else gets a chance to see as well:
WestPak’s AvoMonsters
Messaging to children in a way that is cute but not alienating is a tough line to walk, and I think this newly-launched brand does the trick. Not only does it, in the purest form, put a face to the fruit, but once this hits the shelves I can imagine kids will be seeing monster eyes in the seeds of their avocados.
Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ New Celery and Blue Cheese Cups
I’m a football fan, so I couldn’t help being drawn to the goal post balloons at Duda’s booth. But while I might have come for the decorations, I stayed for the blue cheese. This latest flavor not only tickles the taste buds, but entices consumers with the the chance to win tickets to The Big Game, which returns to the Lone Star State and NRG Stadium in Houston, TX, on Feb. 5, 2017. Definitely a snack of choice for tailgaters!
Earthcycle™ Moulded Fibre Top Sealable Packaging
Sustainability and a Top Seal offering are both hot trends in the industry, and this particular pack comes with a rumored 20% boost in sales. Not only does it offer the quality and quantity, the graphics are colorful and fun, managing to message while still giving you a clear view of the product itself. What’s not to love?
Pure Flavor® Mini Munchies
So I seem to have a soft spot for packaging that may or may not be geared for the generation succeeding mine. But can you blame me when you look at this packaging? This not only draws the eye but the stomach as well, as you catch a glimpse of the crisp-looking cucumbers (conveniently in the mouth of hungry munching monster.)
Taylor Farms Chef Crafted Salads
There is just something about getting a chance to experience an item that you’ve only written about. This creative concept from the innovative kitchen of Taylor Farms, brings the culinary capabilities of a chef to the consumer’s kitchen. And as anyone who has glimpsed my previous picks knows, I’m a sucker for convenience. This item was right up my alley, and I’m sure many consumers will agree.
Suavva's Cacao Fruit Juice Line
New to my eyes and to my taste buds, this was an interesting twist on minimizing food waste while still getting a punch of nutrients. Before PMA Fresh Summit, I loved the cocoa bean for its contribution to my lifelong love of dark chocolate and its cute appearance in the most recent Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Now, however, I have discovered a new love for the item in a juice that uses almost the entirety of the fruit. It saves on food waste, it’s low in calories, and has a pulpy texture I couldn’t get enough of. This is a juice I hope will soon crack into the California stores.
I can't imagine a more exciting way to close in on 2017, and I can't wait to see what our ever-innovating industry comes up with next in the months to come. See you in New Orleans!
West Pak Avocado Duda Farm Fresh Foods Pure Flavor Taylor Farms suavva
ORLANDO, FL - Over the weekend former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion, Holly Holm, made an appearance at Potandon Produce's booth and attempted to bruise a sack of J.R. Simplot’s White Russet™ potatoes.
“Holly was the perfect person to prove the point that White Russet™ potatoes are hard to bruise, providing the best available russet potato quality for consumers and a major waste savings,” said Doug Cole, Director of Marketing and Communications at J.R. Simplot Company, according to a press release.
Unfortunately for Holm, the White Russet potato stays fresher-looking longer, with up to 44 percent less bruising and reduced black spots. The variety has been developed over the past 14 years, selecting for traits that will aid consumers, growers, and retailers in keeping the produce looking fresh.
Holm is a world-class athlete and mixed martial arts fighter who held numerous boxing titles prior to turning to mixed martial arts. She is considered by many to be one of the best female boxers of all time and is the only person to have won world championships in both boxing and MMA.
It was an exciting weekend at PMA Fresh Summit, stay tuned with AndNowUKnow to discover which other companies knocked it out of the park.
MENLO PARK, CA- As if Facebook wasn’t already equipped with an incredibly expansive reach, the social media giant announced today that it is putting its toe in the water within the foodservice sector with the launch of its new food ordering service.
According to the company newsroom, “You can now order food from restaurants directly from their Facebook Pages. Simply click ‘Start Order’ on any restaurant’s Facebook Page that uses Delivery.com or Slice.”
Delivery.com allows orders to be made online from coveted local businesses while also helping diners discover new ones. These include restaurants, wine and spirits shops, grocery stores, and laundry and dry cleaning providers. Slice provides a tracking service.
In addition, Facebook is launching a Recommendations feature whether you are looking for a great place to eat or a local service or business. According to Facebook, when you write a post looking for advice on local places or services, you’ll have the opportunity to turn on Recommendations for that post. With that feature turned on, friends can comment on your post with suggestions, and members will see all of the responses mapped out and saved in one place. A Recommendations bookmark on Facebook also allows users to ask a new question or help friends.
These features are only a couple of many that Facebook is beginning to roll out in the U.S. today with more new features to be launched over the coming months as the company looks to “make it easier to get things done, make confident decisions and communicate directly with businesses on your time and terms.”
As the traditional foodservice and retail channels see an influx of new players and opportunities, it will be interesting to see how the consumer responds and what innovations and services rise to the top.
IRWINDALE, CA - Get ready White House politicians, Ready Pac Foods is coming for you in the name of healthier eating. The company is starting a new movement to petition the U.S. government to create a 28th amendment—the Freedom to Eat Healthier. As part of Ready Pac’s mission to ensure all Americans have the freedom to choose healthier options, the company is donating up to $10,000 to support U.S. Regional Food Banks.
“It gives me great joy to know that we as a company are making a difference in the lives of consumers by giving them the freedom to eat healthier. Providing fresh and healthy options that are accessible and affordable is what our company’s mission is all about, and is at the heart of everything we do,” explained Ready Pac’s CEO, Tony Sarsam. “Through the #FreedomToEatHealthier campaign, we hope to not just meet, but exceed our donation goal of $10,000 in support of the important work of our U.S. Regional Food Banks.”
According to a press release, for each petition signature or social media post with the hashtag #FreedomToEatHealthier, the company will donate 50 cents to help get healthier foods into the hands of those who need them. Achieving 100,000 signatures also ensures an official response from the White House on any given petition.
From now, until November 13, 2016, consumers who wish to participate can sign the petition online at http://bit.ly/28thAmmendment, and post a picture showing them enjoying their favorite Ready Pac Foods product using the hashtag #FreedomToEatHealthier.
For even more details on this unique campaign to promote healthy eating, please visit www.readypac.com/FreedomToEatHealthier.