SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - This last weekend, firefighters in Southern California battled several wildfires. These wildfires in Kern County led to local evacuations and a brief closure of Interstate 5.

The Hurricane Fire, as it was dubbed, began Saturday in San Luis Obispo County. According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, it had burned 20,000 acres and was only 10 percent contained on Sunday, July 14.

South of Arvin, the Rancho Fire burned roughly 10,000 acres. Evacuation orders were also issued. Close to Twin Lakes, the White Fire burned roughly 3,412 acres; evacuation orders were also given to local residents.

The latest report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection explains that the Hurricane Fire is now 95 percent contained. The White Fire is only 33 percent contained, and the Rancho Fire is now 78 percent contained.

We’ll continue to keep our eyes on the wire regarding fire updates, so stay tuned to ANUK.

SACRAMENTO, CA - The Olive Growers Council of California (OGCC), on behalf of the CA table olive industry, applauded the 4-0 vote by the International Trade Commission (ITC) affirming that the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders first imposed on Spanish ripe olives in 2018 must remain in place.

“The U.S. Government and court systems have repeatedly confirmed over the last five years that the Spanish industry is still benefiting from unfair European Union (EU) subsidies and is still dumping its ripe olives in the U.S. market,” said Michael Silveira, Chairman. “If it weren't for the U.S. Government's ongoing AD/CVD orders on Spanish olives, American table olive production, and hundreds of family farmers and allied jobs would be in serious jeopardy.”

According to a press release, the ITC’s determination was based on its findings that a revocation of the olive AD/CVD orders is reasonably likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of material injury to the California ripe olive industry.

The ruling follows a companion determination issued by the Department of Commerce in late 2023 finding that a revocation of the AD and CVD olive orders would lead to a recurrence of dumping margins as high as 25.5 percent and CVD margins as high as 13.9 percent. These decisions were made in the context of the five-year “Sunset Review” procedures required under United States trade law and, because of the affirmative rulings, now extend the olive AD/CVD orders for another five years. The Musco Family Olive Company successfully litigated these proceedings on behalf of the California-based ripe olive industry.

After the U.S. issued its olive AD/CVD orders in 2018, the EU has worked to overturn the olive orders by challenging them in the WTO and politically pressuring the U.S. Government to terminate the olive tariffs.

“The EU and Spanish interests want the US Government to overturn U.S. trade law to allow the Spanish industry to go back to selling its dumped and subsidized olive prices with no consequences,” Silveira said. “That would only reinforce the EU's protectionist agricultural policies and, by eroding trade enforcement, would undermine American-grown production and U.S. food security.”

The U.S. Government’s AD/CVD orders on Spanish olives have given California olive farmers the time they need to reinvest in modern farming techniques.

We will keep you informed as we learn more about the circumstances of this ruling.

CHARLOTTE, NC - After a long history with the Walt Disney parks, Dole Packaged Foods and Dole Food Company continue to elevate the fanfare surrounding the iconic Dole Whip. In addition to launching a new, all-natural at-home recipe, Dole is also announcing its new online Dole Whip University (#DoleWhipU), which gives consumers the opportunity to earn a diploma in Dole Whipenomics.

“Sure, Dole Whips are a lot of fun and loved by just about everyone—but at Dole Whip U, we take the study of the iconic frozen treat seriously,” said Rachel Young, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing. “To graduate, students will be required to make 13 of the 14 Dole Whips on the Dole Whip Wonderland page and complete other homework. And those creating the 14^th Dole Whip recipe, Classic Dole Whip Popsicles, can even earn extra credit.”

To honor the 40^th anniversary of the 1984 debut of the Dole Whip, Dole has launched Dole Whip University to educate the public about the nutritional benefits of its DIY Dole Whips, a press release stated. Dole Whip fans who complete the full curriculum are eligible to download and print an official diploma. Young commissioned digital Dole Whip University logos and patches that can be downloaded and printed by alumni.

Additionally, Dole licensing partner BEAM Be Amazing just released two Dole Whip-flavored nutrition and health products that allow Dole Whip fans to contribute to the fight to end childhood hunger. When shoppers buy BEAM DOLE® Whip Pre-Workout or BEAM DOLE® Whip Vegan Protein between July 10 and July 19 through the BEAM website, BEAM, in partnership with Dole, will donate $5 to the No Kid Hungry campaign.

The new Strawberry Coconut Lime Dole Whip was created by Rachel Anderson, winner of Dole’s #DoleWhipLife Creator of the Year Contest in 2023. Anderson beat out dozens of other fans to become the official independent recipe creator for 2024.

In keeping with the spirit of the original frozen treat at the Disney parks, all Dole Food Company-created Dole Whips are made with fresh DOLE® Pineapples, DOLE® Bananas, or both.

For more from the press release, click here. And keep reading ANUK for more industry news.

BENSON, NC - Encouraging shoppers to cook with sweetpotatoes, the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission (NCSPC) announced the Sweet North Carolina Sweetpotato Sweepstakes.

“We are thrilled to promote a campaign that embraces the unique and versatile attributes sweetpotatoes have to offer,” commented Executive Director Michelle Grainger. “The Commission works diligently to provide consumers with different facets to express their culinary skills inside the kitchen. By creating a summer promotion, it will encourage people to not only try new recipes but take a deeper look at recipes with our superfood at their center and identify the many ways it can be enjoyed for any reason, any season!”

The contest asks consumers to submit their favorite recipe for the chance to win a free trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, including an in-person recipe photoshoot experience.

According to a press release, the contest is currently live with hundreds of sweetpotato lovers expressing which recipe speaks most to their flavor profile.

To increase the visibility of the sweepstakes, the Commission is collaborating with several recipe content creators who pride themselves on creating recipes that can fit within a healthy lifestyle. The campaign features a licensed nutritionist, a mother, recipe photographers/developers, and cookbook authors who specialize in capturing vibrant imagery and videos.

For more information, click here.

AndNowUKnow will report on the next thing in produce marketing, so stay tuned!

WATSONVILLE, CA - Primed for growth and striving for constant evolution, GEM-Pack Berries has been making strides across the fresh produce industry in invaluable ways. As we approach the 2024 International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference, Michelle Deleissegues, Senior Vice President of Marketing, GEM-Pack, joined me to discuss what is on the horizon for the company and what advantages are impacting its customers today.

“At GEM-Pack Berries, we cultivate and harvest a beautiful lineup of conventional and organic strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, including proprietary varieties,” Michelle shared with me. “Our intention is to deliver nutritious, delicious, and beautiful berries that are consumers’ dietary staple year-round, paired with the personal and top-notch service our customers have come to expect from our team of berry experts.”

As a family-owned and farmed, vertically integrated, full-service berry operation, the GEM-Pack team is uniquely positioned to truly cater to its customers’ needs.

“GEM-Pack has seen incredible growth in the past two years with our mergers with Red Blossom and Well-Pict. Our product line-up is deeper and broader than ever, thanks to synergies we have created in the fields and office. We are primed to grow into new or expanding categories like foodservice,” Michelle detailed.

With the amazing growth recently, the company has also added more organics, more proprietary varietal offerings, and combined teams to ensure uninterrupted service to support the volume.

“We are still the hands-on, hustling team that made our customer service favored by customers throughout the industry. Our capabilities and reach have expanded, but our intentions are consistent with our roots and family-farmed, can-do attitude,” Michelle wrapped up.

While this story has reached its conclusion, the GEM-Pack Berries’ vision and execution have so much more yet to tell. Visit booth #1102 to learn more about the team and its program.

CASHMERE, WA - When it comes to foodservice solutions, sometimes you are a company that follows a map, and other times you are the one making it. Crunch Pak® is one of those leading-edge companies creating value-added solutions for its customers and building a map one fruit slice at a time. As the International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference quickly approaches on July 26–27, Andy Kimbrel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, joined me to discuss the platform and advantages of being a Crunch Pak customer.

“Crunch Pak has bolstered its focus on the foodservice channel,” Andy begins. “We have been investing heavily in our facilities and automation, providing best-in-class products and service to this customer base. The result is cost-saving solutions on new and existing products while also delivering innovation which includes ripe and ready-to-eat sliced pears.”

With a vision and mission to increase the consumption of fresh produce and healthy snacking since the company was founded, Crunch Pak’s concentration on foodservice has become central to its growth. The company has been broadening its reach of the outfit’s trusted sliced-apple programs and other best-selling snacking solutions.

“Ripe and Ready-to-Eat Sliced Pears will be our focus at the event,” Andy details. “The team at Crunch Pak has been working on this for over 20 years. Partnering with the best growers, shippers, and packers in Washington State that provide a consistently great raw product that results in a repeatable good eating experience.”

These pear solutions are available in 14 oz and 2 lb resealable trays. Pears are peeled and sliced, eliminating a lot of labor and fruit waste. Crunch Pak takes the guesswork of ripping out of the equation, making it easy to add to a food service program or school lunch.

“As a trusted provider of sliced apples and healthy snacking since 2000, Crunch Pak’s long-lasting relationships with some of the largest QSRs in the country are a testament to the quality, food safety, and customer service that we take pride in daily,” Andy concludes.

To learn more about Crunch Pak's slicing capabilities, visit booth #623 at the IFPA Foodservice Conference. We look forward to seeing you there!

RIO RICO, AZ - So much of the produce trends and product popularity that reach consumers happens at the foodservice plate. With the International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference slated for July 25–26 in Monterey, California, companies far and wide are preparing to wow buyers with their vision and execution for the segment. Looking ahead to the coveted event, Malena Produce joins me to discuss the details of its platform and what attendees can look forward to.

“At Malena Produce, as a grower/shipper of greenhouse-grown produce, we understand the importance of being part of the foodservice segment, as it plays a crucial role in our industry,” Christian Torres, Sales, shares. “Ensuring a steady flow of fresh and high-quality produce is key to meeting the demands of customers, as it directly impacts the quality and consistency of the meals served to consumers.”

And Malena knows service, bringing 70 years of high-quality, fresh, and reliable produce to the market.

With such an exciting milestone anniversary on the books this year to celebrate, the company will be sharing its expertise, learnings, and vision for 2030 to ensure its legacy.

“We will have a major focus on new and special varieties for our 2030 vision. It is an exciting time at Malena Produce,” Christian expresses. “We are always striving for continuous improvement, implementing rigorous quality control measures and stringent food safety protocols to ensure that only the best produce reaches our customers. From field to table, Malena Produce’s commitment to quality is evident in every step of the supply chain. Our dedication to excellence makes Malena Produce a trusted partner for foodservice providers who prioritize quality in their offerings.”

With strong relationships with Mexican growers throughout its network and streamlined logistics to further boost value, Malena is ensuring that a wide variety of fresh produce is always available to customers.

To learn more about the program and help the company celebrate its 70^th anniversary, stop by IFPA Foodservice booth #1100.