GILROY, CA — This year the 2016 Northern California pepper harvest started strong in July for Uesugi Farms. While green bell peppers and hot peppers were all on time, varieties such as mini-sweets, red bells, and yellow bells came in a week later. Additionally, heat ended the Bakersfield harvest early, while unseasonably cool weather swept into Northern California and created a short gap in supply.
“Even though the cooler weather last week slowed us down a bit, we’re expecting pepper production to speed up thanks to a warmer forecast this week,” said Pete Aiello, General Manager at Uesugi Farms, according to a press release.
The Northern California pepper harvest is expected to last through October or early November, at which time Uesugi Farms will move its operations down to the Coachella Valley to continue its production there. Uesugi Farms is a year-round supplier of a variety of peppers, sweet corn, and Napa cabbage. It also produces pumpkins and beans on a seasonal basis.
Northern California is important for the pepper season because of the moderate climate and long growing season. The region is especially important for Uesugi, since it is where the company has the most crop acreage, volume, and variety supporting its year-round supply of peppers. Some of the Northern California locations in which Uesugi grows and harvests include Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Hollister, Brentwood, and Lodi.
“It’s one thing to manage your production from various locations in and out of state, but when it’s right in your own backyard, you’ve got better control of the growing and harvest, and that’s one of the things we look forward to during the Northern California season,” said Aiello in the statement.
Uesugi Farms also expects increased pepper production compared to last year due to expanded acreage, which means even more tasty and refreshing peppers for its customers.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - In an effort to get more fruits and vegetables onto the plates of families across North America, Lori Taylor, Owner and Founder of The Produce Mom, has announced a new partnership with nationally-acclaimed food & lifestyle expert and author Chadwick Boyd, to bring recipe innovation, magazine-quality photography, and ease-of-use to both produce companies and the end-consumer.
With fresh produce top-of-mind, Lori and Chadwick took a few minutes to speak with me about the recent news, and the vision for their partnership moving forward.
“Increasing fresh produce consumption and inspiring busy moms and dads with creative and accessible recipes has been my passion,” Lori tells me. “This partnership will allow brands in the fresh produce industry to affordably secure recipe development and photography that is on-par with the standards for placement in major national food and lifestyle media.”
Through this new service, Lori and Chadwick will deliver content to marketers that upholds the integrity of their brands. Currently, three packages are offered:
- 5 recipes + finished photography
- 10 recipes + finished photography
- Custom–based on unique and specific brand needs
Also included in the service are how-to, storage, and entertaining tips depending on content. Packages start at $11,500 and include concept-creation, recipe testing, writing, art directing, food and prop styling, and photography. And, for a limited time only, new clients will receive special promotion across the Chadwick Boyd social media channels to support their campaigns.
Chadwick, who has been featured on Food Network, Today Show, Better Homes and Gardens, Lifetime, Huffington Post, and more, has the repertoire and ingenuity to bring a different level of food artistry, design, and engagement to the produce industry, Lori adds.
“In many ways, we are taking a page out of the CPG playbook. Consumers eat with their eyes, and food presentation is key,” she says. “Chadwick is already passionately connecting with brand managers across different sectors to get more fresh produce into all food channels.”
Chadwick works his magic these days from his test kitchen in New York City where he brings a level of NYC style and innovation that is rare to find in the fresh produce trade. Working hand-in-hand with Lori, Chadwick will create a platform of recipes that will both inspire new flavor combinations and food trends, and introduce a range of different preparation methods to bring greater value to produce marketers.
“I believe that great food and easy recipes with style, partnered with fresh fruits and vegetables, can be accessible to all,” Chadwick tells me. “This is what Lori and I are offering to the produce industry with this partnership. The breadth of experience and the brands that I have worked with have created a dialogue with food that, I believe, should be shared with at-home cooks across the country. And it only elevates this partnership that a large part of my focus and passion has been in fresh produce.”
Lori notes that she has been in the industry for 11 years and during her time, she has noticed a need for better quality food resources and ideas that connect with at-home cooks and parents.
“My hope is to create a more authentic connection between produce brands and consumers while giving my audience new ways of incorporating fruits and vegetables into all their meals. In this way, it is a win-win to align The Produce Mom brand with someone who is the ultimate in recipe development,” Lori says.
At the end of the day, busy moms especially, like Lori, don’t have the time to read in-depth recipes and research trends.
“But, they also do not want to sacrifice flavor and health. I want to bring quality and creativity to everyday cooking without impacting an already busy schedule for parents,” Chadwick says.
So, what’s in store for The Produce Mom partnership with Chadwick Boyd? New recipe R&D, food styling, and high-quality content for the produce industry, The Produce Mom partners, and, of course, a bump in overall produce consumption if Lori has anything to say about it.
And that, she does.
SANTA PAULA, CA – As the company looks towards the release of its financial results for its third quarter of the fiscal year on September 8, Limoneira Company has reiterated some key points about the company's goals for 2016.
In a recent press release, Limoneira stated that the company is "not being affected by the current wildfires in California." The company’s operations span around 10,700 acres in both California and Arizona with agricultural land and operations, real estate, and water rights in the states.
The company’s guidance range and financial details for the 2016 fiscal year are expected to fall between the following ranges:
- Operating income: $14.6 million to $15.1 million
- EBITDA: $14.6 million to $15.1 million
- Earnings per diluted share: $0.28 to $0.33
- Earnings per diluted share excluding transaction costs connected to the Limoneira/Lewis joint venture: $0.33 to $0.38
Limoneira also stated that this year’s fiscal year will end on October 31, 2016, and expects to sell between 2.7 million and 3 million cartons of fresh lemons at an average price of around $23.00 per carton.
The company is also projecting to sell around 8.5 to 9.5 million pounds of avocados at approximately $0.80 per pound, during the same timeframe of the 2016 fiscal year.
Limoneira’s third quarter results, which will be released next month, will report the financial results for the quarter that ended on July 31, 2016.
As the company continues expand its offerings across the board, keep up with AndNowUKnow as we report on everything avocados and citrus.
KINSTON, NC, & ROANOKE, VA - Lidl has announced two more northeastern U.S. locations in the past few weeks, marking Kinston, NC, and Roanoke, VA, as its next conquests. This comes less than a month after the company announced a new distribution center and regional headquarters not too far away in Cecil County, MD.
Earlier this month, Lidl announced it has purchased land for a new 36,000-square-foot location in Kinston, NC. Local source WITN reports that the company has yet to announce an opening date for that location. This location is around 30 miles from a previously announced Lidl location in Greenville, NC.
Another location will be built in Roanoke, VA, after Lidl spent $2.1 million for the land, according to the Roanoke Times. In a site plan submitted by Lidl to Roanoke County's community development department, Lidl describes the planned store as a 36,000-square-foot grocery store with about 130 parking spaces.
About the company’s newly announced Cecil County, MD-based facility, Brendan Proctor, President and CEO, Lidl U.S., said, “This facility is an important step in building an efficient infrastructure that will allow us to deliver outstanding quality goods to our customers at the lowest possible prices. We selected Cecil County not only because it offers a central location for our distribution network, but also because it will be a great place for our employees to work and live.”
Prior to the Cecil County facility, Lidl had selected a U.S. company headquarters in Arlington Country, VA, with other regional headquarters and distribution centers located in Spotsylvania, VA, and Alamance County, NC. Its first stores are planned to open by 2018.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - El Popo has rumbled once again, triggered by yet another earthquake just one week after the last.
Mexico's largest volcano, El Popocatépetl, reawoke on Saturday and Sunday, with 78 low-intensity exhalations cued by a magnitude 1.8 earthquake. The ash and gas emitting from the mouth of the crater reportedly made slim-to-no visibility of El Popo, with a 12 kilometer (almost 7.5 mile) radius in place of no-entry.
The activity, according to news source Express, has some asking if the increased seismic activity over the past week and a half could be a prelude for “the big” eruption, one that it hasn’t had taken place in over 15 years.
The last time El Popo demonstrated its full power was in 2000, necessitating the evacuation of about 41,000 people.
The local population continues to be on alert since the volcano first rumbled to life earlier this year, when it emitted enough ash to necessitate shutting down local air traffic and halting some transportation in the Mexico City area.
Thus far, however, no such measures have been necessary. AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the story for any further developments.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Growers worldwide will not soon forget their experience at the ARRA Open Field Days this past week. International participants convened in Bakersfield, CA, as Giumarra Vineyards held their annual field days event from August 14-16, culminating in a final symposium on the 17th.
“The ARRA Open Field Day gives growers from around the world the opportunity to see, taste, and evaluate the ARRA varieties on the vine. It also provides a valuable forum for growers to network, compare techniques, and learn about updated protocols and growing technologies,” said Mimi Corsaro-Dorsey, the VP Marketing and Director of Export Sales at Giumarra Vineyards Corporation.
Held at the GIUMARRA Experimental Vineyards, the event helped growers understand and license unique ARRA grape varieties, the most commercial being the ARRA 15, 27, 28, 29, and 32. Attendees visited tasting stations to judge the flavor, sweetness, and crunch of the fruit, and were able to evaluate the latest innovations from the company in both the field and cold storage facilities. The breeder, Mr. Shachar Karniel of ARD provided information on the different varieties, including production data and protocols. The sensory activities provided participants an in-depth experience to improve their understanding of the product.
Additionally, representatives from South America, South Africa, and Europe held sessions to discuss protocols for their individual regions, allowing attendees to walk away from the memorable event with insight on improved farming practices and marketing opportunities worldwide.
Giumarra Vineyards is a major breeder of new patented table grape varieties, and one of the largest employers in Kern County, California. Its grape varieties are bred to create table grapes which are highly-productive, labor-free, have a long shelf-life, and provide unique taste experiences.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - What are your rights and responsibilities if the Department of Justice (DOJ) shows up at your door? This is the question a session at the United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Conference is hoping to answer for you and your business.
On the heels of the DOJ launching its new approach to investigating and enforcing laws under the Food, Drugs, and Cosmetic Act, “The Food Police Are Coming – Liability Concerns and DOJ Enforcement,” gives industry members a chance to hear from agency officials directly to see how they choose cases to investigate, and what factors determine whether criminal prosecutions are pursued. The session will take place on September 13, from 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
“This session is one of six educational workshops on critical industry issues being offered during the produce industry’s annual march on Capitol Hill,” shared Robert Guenther, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, United Fresh Produce Association. “Join hundreds of your fellow industry leaders from across the country in Washington to meet with your representative and discuss how current legislation impacts your business.”
The DOJ session features a panel with both Jeff Steger, the DOJ's Assistant Director of the Consumer Protection Branch, and Doug Fellman, Partner, Hogan Lovells US LLP. The moderater will be United Fresh Produce Association’s own President and CEO, Tom Stenzel. According to Guenther, Steger will focus his words on the department’s approach to enforcement, while Fellman plans to translate what that means for the fresh produce industry.
The Washington Conference will also offer the other five following educational sessions:
- Does the Farm Bill Really Matter to Me?
- Environmental Stewardship Vs. Overwrought Federal Regulations
- Labor Shortages Threaten Future Growth
- Restoring Support for Fair Trade for Fresh Produce
- Fighting for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables on Capitol Hill
For more information on the 2016 United Fresh Washington Conference and to register for yourself, click here.
JAPAN – A trio of tropical weather systems are circulating around Japan, bringing transportation and travel in and out of the country to a halt with more severe weather on the horizon.
The first of the storms, Typhoon Kompasu, landed on Hokkaido late last night, bringing heavy flooding and rains to the area. The storm brought upwards of 6 inches of rain to some areas, according to CNN.
Typhoon Mindulle landed today on the east coast of Japan, around 50 miles south of Tokyo. AccuWeather reported that torrential rains and strong winds gusting at 78 mph caused the rare closure of the Narita Airport in Tokyo.
As heavy rain totaled 3-6 inches in Tokyo, and 12 inches in the greater metropolitan area, over 400 flights were canceled in Tokyo airports, with roads also closed for flooding.
Authorities report that Japan can expect further rain and flooding with Tropical Storm Lionrock, which is currently hovering off the southwest coast of Japan. CNN reported that meteorologists expect the storm to be upgraded to typhoon status by Thursday. Lionrock is expected to avoid much of Japan’s land mass, but will pass by Japan’s southern islands as it heads for Okinawa.
Since their landfalls, Kompasu has been downgraded to a low pressure system on the northern coast of Japan, and Mindulle has been weakened to just a tropical storm.
As the storms continue to swirl off the Japanese coast, and transportation remains on a temporary halt, AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest.
ISSAQUAH, WA – Costco members saw another hiccup last weekend as the retailer makes for a transition with Citi’s Visa program.
A number of members received an email on Friday informing them that their credit cards accounts were closed, in a mixup that Citi told Business Insider was due to a systematic error.
Originally the card carrier had intended the emails to be sent to those whose Costco memberships had lapsed to alert them they could no longer use their Costco Anywhere Visa cards, according to the news source, but the error sent it to other cardholders who are still active.
As a result, some members reported emails not addressed to them with the last four digits of another account number listed, causing concerns of an account hack.
Costco responded Saturday with an email to all affected customers, stating "Your account and the cards for any existing authorized user(s) are open and available to use. We apologize for any concern or inconvenience this may have caused and please be assured your account has not been compromised."
While it has been a struggle for members, with some threatening to cancel due to long waits and difficulties in obtaining information from Citi, Costco continues to perform and looks to be continuing a slow-paced gain in previous months.
As of this morning, the company’s stock is trading at $168.05 USD, up .02%.
As for the issues that have been occurring, Citi reports that, to date, it has seen more than 337,000 new account acquisitions, far exceeding expectations since Costco made the switch in June.
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the retailer’s progress, as well as other fluctuations in the market as they pertain to fresh produce.
RENO, NV - A new cloud-based transportation management system (TMS) is launching at PMA Fresh Summit this year. Nevada-based Progistix® is excited to launch Freightflow®, a TMS designed specifically for the produce industry.
“Freightflow combines critical business components and key capabilities into a unified, easy-to-use platform that ensures reliability, security and scalability,” remarked Kyle Jaster, Chief Technology Officer at Freightflow, according to a statement. “We believe the tools and data we’re offering can help any business succeed— without any start up investments.”
Freightflow began as a shared vision between two logistics and produce veterans, Butch Peri and Bud Floyd. Born of a desire for a more efficient platform to reduce repetitive tasks and reconcile incompatible business systems, the goal was simple: to develop an easy-to-use TMS solution accessible to small and medium businesses.
Peri and Floyd assembled a team of software experts to develop a scalable system using the newest cloud-based technology. Freightflow’s overarching platform integrates ERP business software with transportation tools to provide complete supply chain visibility from a single platform. Features include load management, customer billing, document storage, and analytics.
According to Jaster in the release, a recent partnership with Truckstop.com will provide customers direct access to carrier contact and policy information, certificates of insurance, limits and expiration dates, along with DOT safety ratings and authority data on more than 200,000 carriers. “Combining the power of Freightflow with Truckstop.com will make it even easier to add qualified carriers to your preferred providers,” he said.
Freightflow experts will be on hand at PMA Fresh Summit in Orlando, FL, to provide demos and discuss the benefits of its cloud-based solution to those interested in managing their complex, dynamic logistics and trade operations. For an appointment, contact Bud Floyd at 1-845-TMS-2345.