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ORLANDO, FL - The March meeting of the National Mango Board (NMB) concluded with four new officers selected to lead the board for 2016, and one returning. Positions announced and selected were Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Ex-Officio, and Treasurer.
“We are confident of the leadership and guidance past officers have provided the board, and look forward to working with the 2016 officers as we continue strengthening and supporting the U.S. mango industry,” stated Manuel Michel, Executive Director of the NMB, in a press release.
The list of elected officers is as follows:
- Chair: Greg Golden of Mullica Hill, NJ
- Vice-Chair: Joella Shiba of Los Angeles, CA
- Secretary: Jorge Perez of Sinaloa, Mexico
- Treasurer: Chris Ciruli of Tubac, AZ (returning)
- Ex-Officio: Danny Pollak of Sea Girt, NJ
The NMB states that each elected officer has pledged to lead the board and uphold the NMB mission to increase mango consumption, research, and promotion throughout the U.S..
“Each officer and board member brings a wealth of experience, industry knowledge, and new ideas to the NMB,” continued Michel.
To learn more about the NMB and its Board of Directors, visit www.mango.org.
FORT VALLEY, GA – Due to a mixture of exact growing conditions, The George Peach Council (GPC) is gearing up for what it anticipates be one of the sweetest seasons yet.
GPC said that although the season got off to too warm of a start, January and February brought the cold temps needed for a good crop. Grower Coordinator Kent Hoots commented in a press release that the high heat expected this summer will complete conditions needed for a bountiful crop.
Duke Lane III, President of the GPC, noted, “Every year we wait for all of the elements that go into growing flavor-filled peaches to be in sync and the stars have aligned this year – 2016 is setting up to be the best crop peach growers in Georgia have seen in years.”
GPC will start its harvest season in time for Memorial Day, and expects good crops all through summer’s end. GPC credits their fortuitous season with 10,000 acres of “mineral-rich soil,” consistent temperatures, and high humidity.
“Our families have been blessed with the opportunity to grow our peaches in Fort Valley,” shared Will McGehee, Director of Marketing. “While it is the perfect place to grow, there is still an art to growing the best peaches.”
Find out more about the expected season ahead for peaches and all other relevant produce categories as we continue to report from AndNowUKnow.
IRVINE, CA - The Western Growers Association (WGA) and the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) have announced that they will file a joint friend-of-the-court brief to support a new lawsuit that challenges provisions of a law designed to provide employers who make back payment to piece-rate employees “safe harbor” from class action lawsuits.
Expressly requested by the United Farm Workers union (UFW), the provisions in question specifically exclude at least two farm companies targeted by the United Farm Workers (UFW) union on unrelated matters from AB 1513’s “safe harbor,” according to a press release. The two associations both assure that the provisions were specifically added to the legislation as the price of UFW’s acquiescence to the legislation (AB 1513, 2015).
“It is unseemly and shameful that the Legislature allowed the UFW to demand provisions that carve out two farm employers from a law that was otherwise thoughtfully crafted to get money to thousands of farm workers quickly and without subjecting employers to predatory class action lawsuits,” said Tom Nassif, President and CEO of WGA in a statement.
Nassif went on to explain that WGA is proud to take this action to help persuade the court to right this wrong, and extend AB 1513’s benefits to the thousands of farmworkers excluded by the UFW.
“While there rightfully remains indignation in regard to the way the carve out sections were negotiated, everyone should know that this legal action is specifically directed to only these unfair and unjust provisions that specifically target two employers and the ludicrous accusation of somehow being ‘bad actors,’” added CFFA President Barry Bedwell. “In fact and in practice, these employers are exemplary in their relationships and interactions with employees and they and their workers deserve the same opportunities this legislation affords to others.”
Bedwell also stated on behalf of the association that CFFA is pleased to do what it can to see that the action happens.
As explained in the associations’ joint statement, Assembly Bill 1513 was the product of lengthy negotiations between the California’s Brown Administration, labor unions, and individual agricultural employers. The legislation gained notoriety during the aftermath of two state appellate court decisions in 2013 that changed compensation practices for “non-productive time and rest and recovery periods” taken by employees compensated on a piece-rate basis. Under the prior state labor laws, those employers faced as much as four years of retroactive exposure to immense damages, penalties, and legal costs for practices that even state labor agency regulators deemed proper for decades before.
After all negotiations concluded and AB 1513 was presented to state legislature, in August 2015, the UFW pushed for amendments targeting companies Fowler Packing and Gerawan Farming, two employers that had previously been targeted by the UFW for unrelated issues.
The lawsuit challenging the UFW amendments will be filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of its clients, Fowler Packing and Gerawan Farms.
California Fresh Fruit Association Western Growers Association
IDAHO FALLS, ID - Wada Farms has announced two new executive positions for its marketing group—Kevin Stanger will lead as President, with Joe Esta joining as the newly appointed Vice President.
Wada Farms notes that Stanger is veteran produce industry executive, and credits him with helping establish Wada Companies' current marketing reputation.
“I am very excited for the future of our company and look forward to this next step of Wada Farms Marketing Group,” shares CEO of Wada Companies, Bryan Wada, in press release.
For its new VP, Wada Farms states that Esta stood out for his broad experience in business and brand development.
Wada Farms looks to over 50 years experience that Stanger and Esta will bring to advance the company’s growth in domestic and international markets. “I have great confidence in both Kevin and Joe,” continued Wada, “and know they will do a great job.”
Congratulations to both Kevin and Joe on their new appointments from all of us at AndNowUKnow!
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Instacart, the San Francisco-based grocery delivery service, has let go of all its drivers in the Minneapolis just six months after entering the region.
“Given the market’s size and geographic layout, we’ve found it difficult to efficiently provide enough opportunities for delivery drivers to receive orders,” Instacart wrote to the area’s drivers in an email last Friday, according to BuzzFeed News. “As our market has evolved, we’ve found that the delivery driver service is not the best fit for the Minneapolis market at this time.”
This is not, however, to say that the company is giving up on the market as a whole just yet.
An anonymous source close to the company reported to BuzzFeed that it is still operating in the area and “growing rapidly,” but that those currently taking the orders placed by consumers online will also be the ones to deliver them.
As for Minneapolis drivers, currently listed as independent contractors, the dismissal goes into effect April 3rd.
As we reported previously, Instacart moved into Minneapolis as part of a new partnership with Target last September, one of several new retail partnerships the company has made in the last year.
Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on this and all other changes influencing the buy-side.
COLIMA, MX – Sicar Farms (formerly known as Limex Sicar) reports that it is staying solid with steady company growth, despite some uncertainties that have popped up in the lime category.
“Sicar Farms is a family business with strong roots in the ag industry,” Dan Edmeier, Vice President of Sales, said in a press release. “The company concentrates on building strong, sustainable relationships with national and regional retailers by staying focused on year-round supply with consistent quality and service.”
Sicar attributes its year-round sales to its vertically-integrated structure, CEO Luis Gudino said, commenting, “Our structure has enabled us to grow from 499,000 cases in 2011 to the 5.7 million we expect this year.”
The company reported a 57.5 percent growth in limes from last year, marketing more than 3.5 million cases. As for growth, it listed the following projections and plans for expansion:
- 48 percent growth in 2016, to 5.7 million cases
- Increase current 5,000 lime acres to 10,000 over five years
- Expand current lemon acreage to 2,000 acres
“Sicar Farms remains proud to be a company its customers can rely on during good times and bad,” continued Edmeier. “With the consolidation taking place in the citrus world, Sicar stands ready to support its customers.”
Sicar Farms has 35 years of growing experience in Mexico, and 15 years of lime marketing experience in the U.S.
NORTH AMERICA - It’s high pricing in the bell pepper market as supplies continue to remain tight and the spring gets underway. Growing regions enter a period of transition over the next six weeks and may see further decrease across supplies, shippers tell me. For some companies, supplies will wind down from mainland Mexico and the new west coast growing areas in Baja and the Coachella Valley will work to get going.
“Hot house production in Canada will begin during this period and will be able to take some pressure off the western production. Florida and the entire southeast seem to still be trying to shake off the severe weather events of the past few months and their production, while limited, will improve weekly,” Mike Aiton, Prime Time’s Marketing Director tells as we talk about how all of these factors have combined to drive prices up as availability has decreased.
He adds that larger size fancy green bell peppers are currently being quoted in the $40 range. New crop production of red, green, yellow and mini sweets for Prime Time will be heavy beginning in mid-May, just in time for great promotional opportunities at seasonal price levels for Memorial Day.
“Getting to that point will be quite an adventure,” Mike says.
For Nogales, AZ-based SunFed, supplies continue to remain light as weather early in the season continues to play itself out in odd behavior from the plants.
“As temperatures have warmed, production still remains irregular with multiple crops showing production stresses from earlier climatic events. This is two years in a row where the month of March has shown abnormal supplies,” Mark Cassius, Executive Vice President and General Manager for SunFed, tells me. “Volumes are down roughly 20% from March 2014. Could this become the new norm for March production trends?”
Mark also agrees that Canadian production will cause a slight increase in supplies, however it’s not quite spring yet in the great white north and inclement weather the next few weeks could derail the early production momentum, he notes.
As the transition continues, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more updates on the bell pepper market.
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MILLEN, CA – The SEPC’s second annual Terry Vorhees Golf Classic boasts new event programs to enliven the already bustling event, and an education-minded partnership with Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH).
“This year’s Terry Vorhees Golf Classic is going to be a great networking opportunity for the produce industry,” said David Sherrod, Executive Director of the Southeast Produce Council. “We’re excited to add on the educational component with Produce for Better Health to give insight on how we as an industry can continue increasing consumers’ fresh produce consumption.”
The Golf Classic is a two-day event beginning on May 18 at the Grandover Resort in North Carolina, opening with an educational workshop by PBH President and CEO, Elizabeth Pivonka.
Pivonka will share PBH’s 2015 State of the Plate report, and discuss the projected growth and issues to consider regarding fruit and vegetable consumption at the supermarket level.
“The future continues to be bright for the fresh produce industry and I look forward to sharing this with the SEPC attendees. We also very grateful that a portion of the proceeds from the Terry Vorhees Golf Classic will benefit our efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption,” said Pivonka in a press release.
Other programs slated for the SEPC charity event, include:
- Welcome reception
- Silent auction benefitting PBH and Victory Junction
- Networking-style game night
- Scramble-format golf-tournament
- Special appearances by celebrity guests
The SEPC stated that it remains confident in its ability to deliver a well-rounded event of education and entertainment. “All of our programming and resources are built upon offering the produce industry networking, community and education, and this event is no exception,” added Sherrod.
To find out more about the SEPC’s Terry Vorhees Golf Classic, visit seproducecouncil.com.
Southeast Produce Council Produce for Better Health Foundation Victory Junction