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MANTECA, CALIFORNIA - Come this spring, Van Groningen & Sons’ product lineup will be unveiling a number of new additions, including organic seedless and organic mini personal watermelons from California’s Imperial Valley, as well as a number of conventional melons.
“2016 will be our inaugural year starting with any organic items and we are very excited to introduce these two items to our customers,” said Ryan Van Groningen, Sales Manager, in the press release. In regards to the conventional conditions he added, “The taste and sweetness of these melons are making them more and more popular with consumers.”
New conventional varieties include:
- Orange flesh honeydew melons
- Galia melons
- Hami melons
- Canary melons
In regards to the organic additions, the business said it is bringing on these two new items in response to customer demand.
“Though organics might not take a lot of the market share in the melon category, select consumers are asking for these organic melons at the retail level and we are happy to support our retail partners with these products,” added Van Groningen.
Supplemental to the already diverse assortment of conventional melons, including seedless and seeded watermelons, mini personal watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydews, Van Groningen & Sons said that the organic produce will compliment business model of providing quality food.
Looking to diversify, Van Groningen & Sons has been family-owned and operated since 1922 and growing conventional melons since 1939.
COACHELLA, CA - Officially with 25 years under its belt, Prime Time International, now one of the largest year-round growers, packers, and shippers of multi-colored peppers in North America, has plenty to celebrate during its anniversay year. Today, Prime Time is known as “The Pepper People,” with peppers available every day of the year from its farms located throughout both the United States and Mexico.
With roots dated back all the way to 1991 by the name of Sun and Sands Enterprises, the company formed a partnership with C.H. Sales to act as their exclusive distributor in 1992. In 1997, the two companies merged and began doing business as Prime Time International, with Founders Carl Sam Maggio, Mark Nickerson, Chuck Hodges, and Skippy Tostado beginning their quest to specialize in the growing and marketing of a booming new category – colored peppers. While Mr. Hodges and Mr. Tostado have since passed away, Carl and Mark remain actively involved in Prime Time.
As said by Mark Nickerson in a press release, “We have handed the day to day operations over to Mike Way and Jeff Taylor who now join Carl and me as Prime Time’s four Managing Partners. Davidi Compton has ably assumed the responsibilities for all farming operations.”
With growing locations in California (Coachella, Bakersfield and Oxnard) as well as in Mexico (Baja, Culiacan and Jalisco), the company’s management has ensured the availability of green, yellow, orange, and red peppers 365 days a year. Prime Time is best-known for farming conventional field-grown peppers, organic peppers, and hothouse peppers, but also have a legacy of growing and marketing many seasonal items including cucumbers, sweet corn, watermelon, tomatoes, and green beans.
Adding orange, red, and yellow Sweet Mini Peppers over the years, Prime Time has been quick to responded to growing demand for these increasingly popular products. And as the demand for peppers has skyrocketed, Prime Time has increased its emphasis on the importance of quality assurance at all stages of development, from growing to packing and distribution.
“We did not do this alone,” Maggio was sure to note. “We are thankful to our dedicated team of employees, our hard working associates and vendors, and our growing list of loyal customers.”
To thank these dedicated and loyal customers, Prime Time is commemorating the anniversary by randomly placing highly visible red envelopes in its produce boxes throughout the summer. Those lucky winners who open the box simply need to complete the form and return it in the enclosed stamped, self-addressed envelope to Prime Time to receive a Prime Time limited edition commemorative pure silver coin and a polo shirt, the company says.
Winners will be listed in select Prime Time print ads, on the website, and on Facebook. This 25th Anniversary Giveaway runs from April until the end of Summer, 2016.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - With only weeks left until the kick off of its California conventional and organic grape programs, Anthony Vineyards’ Sales Manager, John Harley took the time to give me some insight into what’s to come.
“We figure we will start the first part of May and then go on from there,” John tells me, adding that the crop is looking good thus far. “Fortunately we’ve had some water and some rainfall and everything else that we needed, and the weather has been cooperating somewhat as far as temperatures.”
For that, John said that Anthony Vineyards is excited about the season, with quality on the horizon and some growth as far as crops.
Currently the programs offer a number of seedless options as May kicks in, including:
- Organic and Conventional Sugraone
- Organic and Conventional Flame
- Organic and Conventional Black Beauty
To see all that John had to say, watch the brief video above.
SOUTHEASTERN U.S. - The southern United States is facing another bout of severe storms this week, with forecasters predicting hail, thunderstorms, and flooding for Texas and beyond.
"Storms will initiate ahead of a cold front late Wednesday afternoon across eastern Texas and spread northeastward into the Ozark Mountains and central Mississippi Valley into early Thursday morning," explained AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions Storm Warning Meteorologist Alex Avalos.
According to AccuWeather, these storms will be capable of producing mainly large hail and thunder storms, but it is possible for a tornado to appear as well. Flooding will also be a concern in some areas, especially after the region saw several similar downpours in the weeks prior.
While the severe weather will trail off early Thursday morning before moving further east, away from Texas produce, Tommy Wilkins, Grow Farms’ Director of Sales, says this may cause a bit of trouble for a few of the region’s key categories.
“When you start seeing these spring time storms, you worry about hail because it can damage crops like citrus and cabbage,” Tommy shared with me. “A lot of companies are also right in the middle of their onion harvest. A storm in the middle of an onion harvest can possibly cause damage or setbacks. You’re really going to have to wait and see—these storms can change direction quickly, so it may not end up hitting the production areas.”
While it is still up in the air exactly what the effects of the storm will be, AndNowUKnow will update you with any news on the matter.
NEW YORK, NY - Apollo Global’s proposed acquisition of The Fresh Market has sparked an investigation into the retailer’s Board of Directors.
“The investigation focuses on whether Fresh Market’s Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders by failing to conduct a fair sales process and whether and by how much this proposed transaction undervalues the company to the detriment of Fresh Market’s shareholders,” New York-based Farqui & Farqui, a national securities firm and conductor of the investigation, stated in a press release.
As we recently reported, The Fresh Market had happily announced its acceptance of Apollo Global’s offer at $28.50 per share for stockholders, coming out to a tender agreement totalling about $1.36 billion.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Apollo, which follows a comprehensive review of strategic and financial alternatives that generated interest from numerous parties,” Rich Noll, The Fresh Market’s Lead Independent Director, had said in a statement announcing the company’s acceptance, adding that the Board of directors had found the offer maximized its value for stockholders “after an open and thorough process.”
Farqui & Farqui argues, however, that the current offer comes short of at least one analyst target price of $44 per share, and the 52-week high of $41.70 per share, according to the release.
The investigation is being made by Juan E. Monteverde, a partner at the firm. AndNowUKnow will continue to report as more developments come to light.
MISSION, TX - The second annual Viva Fresh Produce Expo is nearly upon us, kicking off with its Viva Fresh Open on Thursday, March 31 to benefit the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Urban School Grant.
"We are thrilled to partner with the Texas Department of Agriculture in support of the Urban Schools Agricultural Grant Program," Bret Erickson, President & CEO of the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA), said in a press release.
The Urban Schools Agricultural Grant Program helps elementary and middle public school students understand and appreciate agriculture, plus learn about water conservation and nutrition, through hands on projects like school vegetable gardens.
“The vast majority of today's youth do not have a strong understanding of where their food comes from,” Erickson added. “We are seeking to change that through the funding of projects such as school vegetable gardens which help teach students about horticulture, plant and soil health, and agricultural production systems, not to mention the added benefit that kids get excited about eating more fruits and vegetables."
The golf tournament will be held at the TPC AT&T Canyons Course at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort as part of the Viva Fresh Produce Expo, promising an exciting start to the show.
Starting at 1:00 pm, the event will be presented by Bebo Distributing, Inc and Wonderful Citrus and wrapping up with a performance by rising country music star Lauren Corzine at the 19th Hole Celebration from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, sponsored by SunFed.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Lauren Corzine as the live entertainment for the 19th Hole Celebration,” Craig Slate, VP of Sales NA at SunFed, commented in the release. “It’s going to be a great way to kick off the 2016 Viva Fresh Expo and celebrate a fun tournament that benefits an organization that’s making a difference with kids.”
Entry to the 19th Hole Celebration is free for golf tournament players, with tickets available for all other expo guests at the door for $40.
For more information on the Viva Fresh Open Golf Tournament, visit vivafreshexpo.com.
MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA - The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is building upon its current health and wellness campaign, Love One Today, with a newly developed foodservice marketing program and website.
This new foodservice movement is expected to raise awareness about the benefits of highlighting fresh avocados on restaurant menus. The campaign will include nutritional research education, innovative menu ideas, and will connect and inspire operators and professionals at a variety of industry events.
“We’re very excited about the launch of our foodservice program, which will work tirelessly to increase the presence of fresh avocados on menus in healthy, transformative ways,” says Executive Director of the Hass Avocado Board, Emiliano Escobedo in a press release.
In coordination with its commitment to healthier menu options, the board’s newly designed foodservice website was created to be a go-to platform for information regarding nutritional benefits, inspiring usages on menus, and highlighting chefs who are currently using this nutritious and versatile fresh avocado fruit in healthier dishes.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on providing professionals with the tools needed to ensure their customers are benefitting from the flavorful health benefits of fresh avocados, and the new website embodies that,” added Escobedo.
With hopes of better understanding the market, HAB conducted menu analysis, finding that two-thirds of surveyed professionals use avocados more now than two years ago, and more than half expect to increase their usage over the coming two years. Additionally, the company’s research discovered avocados most commonly used in entrees, but saw growth in appetizers.
To encourage this trend, HAB will establish relationships with chefs who, rather than contrasting the fruit as supplementary background flavor, are already highlighting avocados on the forefront of their healthy dishes. Executive Chef Justin Morrow of Canyon Ranch, for instance, emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables.
“We see avocados as part of a healthful, balanced way to eat. When we use avocados, we really try to emphasize the fruit itself – meaning that we don’t hide it behind a lot of other ingredients,” said Chef Morrow. “For example, we’ll top a black bean bowl with an avocado mash that just has a little bit of lime, onion, salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavor.”
The HAB hopes that Adding to the Love One Today campaign will help to vitalize its foodservice program and further its health and wellness mission, ultimately leading to the growth of avocados as a nutrition menu item.
NEW YORK - Former Long Island banana importer Thomas Hoey Jr. was convicted of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from employees Friday, March 18th.
Prosecutors charged Hoey of stealing upwards of $750,000 from the retirement accounts of those who worked for his company, according to CBS New York and the Associated Press, for his own personal uses, including travel, luxury meals, and other lavish expenses.
Hoey’s defense attorney argued that the former executive had used the money to attempt to rescue the company, according to the New York Daily News, promising to appeal the verdict that was delivered in Manhattan's U.S. District Court.
The conviction means another 45 years in prison for Hoey, who is already serving time for charges in an unrelated drug case, which names him for illegal distribution and carries a potential 11 to 13 years in prison. Prior to those events, Hoey was heir and owner of Long Island Banana Corp.
Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for all the latest produce industry news.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a government-ran agency, has announced it will be picking up the pension plans of more than 21,000 retirees of the now shut down A&P retail chain.
“PBGC is stepping in because A&P has sold the majority of its assets in bankruptcy proceedings and most of the buyers declined to keep the plans going,” the agency said in a press release. “The agency will pay all pension benefits earned by A&P retirees up to the legal maximum of $60,136 a year for a 65-year-old.”
The PBGC will be taking over the following plans:
- The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Inc. Plan, which has 14,783 participants and a $109.4 million shortfall. PBGC will cover $105.6 million of that shortfall.
- The Pathmark Stores Inc. Pension Plan. The PBGC will cover that plan's entire $182.3 million shortfall.
- The Delaware County Dairies Inc. Hourly Employees Pension Plan, which owes participants $100,000 in benefits. The PBGC will cover that amount.
Following A&P’s file for bankruptcy in July of last year and the sale of all of its locations, the company was able to raise more than $900 million to pay off loans and debt. However, as Lohud.com reports, a shortfall of a combined $291 million has kept A&P from being able to fulfill all its promised pension benefits.
While the PBGC will be picking up the three plans listed above, the remaining New York-New Jersey Amalgamated Pension Plan for A&P Employees has not been terminated and will be administered by UFCW Local 464A in Little Falls, and Acme Markets Inc.