LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - Allen Lund has an exciting year in store, as the company celebrates its 40th anniversary in the business. Along with the company’s incredible milestone, Allen Lund is committing $40,000 to support a variety of United Fresh events throughout 2016 to celebrate the company’s legacy.
"Congratulations to the Allen Lund Company on its 40th anniversary of serving the fresh produce industry," said Tom Stenzel, President & CEO of United Fresh. "Their commitment to our industry over all 40 years has always been outstanding, and we look forward to celebrating with them in Chicago."
Kenny Lund, Vice President of Support Operations, notes that from day one when the company opened in 1976, Allen Lund made it their mission to be the best supplier of transportation services to the produce industry, according to a press release. Now the national third-party transportation broker has nationwide offices and over 400 employees. Additionally, the Allen Lund Company has a logistics and software division, ALC Logistics, and an International Division.
“We are not just arranging transportation; we are helping to provide healthy produce to families across the U.S. United Fresh has been right there with us and we are proud to share the mission with this great association,” Kenny said.
Congratulations to Allen Lund on this milestone achievement and for many more left to come!
NETHERLANDS – Levarht is starting a new joint venture in New Zealand to plant its first Hass avocado trees.
The project, titled “Heal Avocados,” began with the first planting in 2015. Over the next three years, the company projects that 25,000 trees per year will be planted. Hass avocados will be grown on a total of 617 acres on New Zealand’s northern island, according to a press release.
“We started this project due to demand from our customers in the U.S. and Asia. Demand for avocados has significantly increased in recent years and not for nothing,” said Frank Levarht. “This ‘super-food’ is full of various nutrients and also rich in fiber. We expect the demand for this exotic product to increase and we are excited to be the source for our customers when it comes to Hass avocados.”
Over the past sixteen years, Levarht, under the name Southern Paprika LTD, has had a joint venture project with ACL to cultivate bell peppers in New Zealand. The project has now grown to incorporate 54 acres of year round bell peppers for customers in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
MCLEAN, VA – Gladstone Land Corp. is at it again – the company said that it has acquired 6,190 acres of farmland in Saguache County, Colorado.
The real estate investment trust acquired the property for approximately $19.3 million in cash, or $3,117 per acre of farmland, and 745,879 common units of limited partnership interest in Gladstone’s operating partnership, OP Units. The OP Units issued were valued at $8.85 per share, resulting in a deal worth $25.9 million total.
The property consists of 39 pivot-irrigated fields, the majority of which is either existing organic ground or currently undergoing organic conversion, as well as a potato packing and storage facility and other farm-related buildings, according to a press release.
“We are very excited to enter into a new growing market in a new state for us. And we are delighted to have a new lease with such a well-respected farmer. We like the organic crops this farmer is growing and know the organic potatoes will be in high demand,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO. “This farm is located in an excellent farming area with plenty of water for irrigation. There are many active farmers in this area. Because this farm is organic it will be in high demand by farmers.”
At closing, Gladstone entered into a sale-leaseback agreement with Mountain Valley Produce, LLC, a vertically-integrated organic potato grower, for a 5-year, triple-net lease that provides for annual rent escalations and includes one, 5-year extension options. In addition, the company will issue two, 7-year bonds under its facility with Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”) for an aggregate amount of approximately $15.5 million. The bonds will bear interest at a fixed, weighted-average interest rate of 3.05% over their terms.
“We have only one farm and farmer here but an excellent farm and farmer,” Gladstone continued. “Some people would count this transaction as 39 farms because there are 39 separate fields. But we have no reason to run up the number of farms we have. We have more farms we are working on to consider adding to our assets this year so stay tuned and eat more potatoes!”
Gladstone now currently owns 46 farms, comprised of 23,000 acres in 7 different states across the U.S., valued at approximately $311 million. A full list of the company’s farmland portfolio can be found by clicking here.
ISSAQUAH, WA – Starting this month, Costco is planning to increase entry-level wages for its U.S. and Canadian employees for the first time since 2007 – a move that echoes Walmart’s $2.7 billion investment announced early last year.
During a conference call with investors, Richard Galanti, Costco’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, said that the company will increase its starting wages by a dollar and a half - from $11.50 and $12.00 to $13.00 and $13.50 an hour.
“You’re on your feet, you’re lifting cases, you’re pushing carts at these entry-level jobs,” Galanti told investors. “And so we thought it was time to do it.”
In February 2015, Walmart announced that nearly half of its workforce at its U.S. stores and Sam’s Club locations would receive raises to at least $9.00 an hour. That number has now been increased to $10.00 an hour. The decision to hike up wages was part of a $2.7 billion investment that would also include better training for its employees. Since its implementation, Walmart has seen an uptick in customer experience and comparative store sales. At the same time, however, the investment has put a squeeze on its profit in recent quarters.
Galanti estimates that increasing employee wages will cost about $0.01 a share in its third quarter year-over-year, and about $0.02 a share in each of the next three fiscal quarters.
According to its financial report, Costco reported that its fiscal second quarter sales increased three percent, to $27.57 billion from $26.87 billion last year. Net income for the quarter was $546 million, or $1.24 per share, compared to $598 million last year, or $1.35 per share. Revenue increased to $28.2 billion, compared to $27.5 billion last year.
Shares of Costco fell $0.44 to $151.16 on Friday afternoon.
Costco currently operates 698 warehouses worldwide, including 488 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 90 in Canada, 36 in Mexico, 27 in the United Kingdom, 24 in Japan, 12 in Korea, 11 in Taiwan, eight in Australia, and two in Spain.
WASHINGTON D.C. - Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that the Pentagon has tapped ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt to head up what he has dubbed a Defense Innovation Advisory Board.
The purpose? To give government resources an edge in tech and innovations by bringing in top minds from the Silicon Valley, according to a Wired report.
Among many recent concerns for the government have been cyber security and innovation, even filtering into the produce industry when a state computer glitch meant that workers could not cross the border to aid in the summer harvest last year due to visas not being approved.
But as Schmidt, who is now the Executive Chairman of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., moves the Internet giant’s reach to the Pentagon, what will this mean for the technological power and prowess of the Pentagon?
Carter is not being quiet about his hopes that the new board will, in essence, streamline better, more innovative tools for the military and government safeguards. "If we don’t innovate and be competitive, we’re not going to be the military that the country needs and deserves," Carter told reporters, according to Reuters. "We should have done it a while ago."
Topics the board would be advising on include:
- Rapid prototyping
- Iterative product development
- Business analytics
- Mobile apps
- The cloud
It will be interesting to see what outcome Schmidt, and other recruits from the Silicon Valley, will contribute to in this new role.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Together with its affiliated growing operations, Ag-Mart Produce and Gargiulo, Procacci Brothers was recognized by the National Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Association (NMSHSA) for their continued support of the organization’s Summer Internship Program.
NMSHSA’s Summer Internship Program is designed to foster personal and professional growth for high-achieving former Migrant & Seasonal Head Start students currently enrolled in college. The program takes place over the course of seven weeks in Washington D.C., where students of all backgrounds are given the opportunity to build professional contacts and achieve career opportunities at non-profit organizations, federal agencies, and other positions on Capitol Hill, according to a press release.
During the NMSHSA’s biannual conference in Tysons Corner, VA, members from the organization and Procacci’s very own Lou Struble were presented with a framed photograph from acclaimed artist Celia Roberts’ portfolio of photographs that celebrates the grace and dignity of migrant farm workers.
“The National Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Association has had such a positive impact on the lives of our farm workers and so many other farm workers nationwide,” said Struble. “It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to support their fantastic internship program. The internship exemplifies the impact that NMSHSA programs have had on establishing the building blocks of success for the children of migrant workers.”
More information regarding the NMSHSA’s summer internship program can be found by clicking here.
BRAMPTON, ON – Get ready to start seeing more “Naturally Imperfect™” fresh produce.
Loblaw Companies Limited is going all-in on its popular no name® Naturally Imperfect™ line of fruits and vegetables, expanding its portfolio to now include the following items, all at an affordable price:
- Peppers
- Onions
- Pears
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
The Naturally Imperfect line was launched in March 2015, offering consumers smaller or slightly misshapen vegetables at a price up to 30 percent less than traditional produce options. Initially a trial run starting with apples and potatoes, the stellar consumer demand and wide success has precipitated the need to expand the line to include more options. Select no frills®, Real Canadian Superstore®, Zehrs® Your Independent Grocer® and Loblaws® stores across Ontario now carry Naturally Imprfect produce.
“When it comes to produce, Canadians know that beauty is more than skin deep,” said Ian Gordon, Senior Vice President, Loblaw Brands, Loblaw Companies Limited. “Our customers recognize that they get the same flavor and nutritional benefits in spite of appearances. The positive response to our initial offering of apples and potatoes demonstrated the opportunity to expand the no name Naturally Imperfect line and offer more selection at a great price to Canadian families.”
Produce involved in the Naturally Imperfect program would have been used in juices, sauces or soups, or may not have been harvested at all due to their small size.
The future seems bright for this expanding brand. Loblaw produce teams are continuing to work with partners to further grow the offerings. The company says to keep an eye out for more Naturally Imperfect products before the year is up.
CALIFORNIA - Whereas many experts had thought our bout of El Niño-influenced storms were over, it looks like rains are back on the forecast for the upcoming weekend and beyond, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
“Sunday is the big day,” Meteorologist Kathy Hoxsie from the NWS explains. “We have a chance of rain on Saturday, probably a few sprinkles here and there and then we’re expecting the heavier rain to come. Midnight through noon (Sunday) is really the focus.”
Forecasters from the NWS station in Oxnard have already issued a special weather statement and hazardous weather outlook regarding the rain and big surf that will accompany the storm front moving down from Northern California, which has already seen some sprinklings of rain in the northern valley and the Sierra.
Up to 3 feet of total snowfall is expected in California's Sierra Nevada above 7,000 feet, according to The Weather Channel, with snow levels starting at 7,500-8,000 feet Saturday evening before falling to valley floors Sunday morning.
The rain could then move into the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Antelope and San Gabriel valleys tonight, and linger into Monday, the Los Angeles Daily News reports, predicting the valleys could get up to 3 inches, with 2 inches expected at higher elevations.
NWS Meteorologist Stephen Harrison reports that a second set of storms will also moves in on Monday, and a third is slated to arrive the following weekend.
“This is a one-two punch,” Harrison said of this weekend’s event. “And if we are starting to get into a pattern of rainy weather, it would be good news.”
These several storms are coming off the heels of a particularly dry February, causing the snowpack to go under 100 percent of average for the first time this year. While there is nothing definitive saying this will help the snowpack, analysts are hopeful this will be the extra boost California needs.
For more on this story as the weather system passes through, keep watching AndNowUKnow.
POMPANO BEACH, FL - It’s a time of growth for Ayco Farms, from new operations to additional team members.
Already an established company shipping all types of melons out of Central America, including Cantaloupes, Honey Dews, Minis, and Seedless Watermelons, as well as varietals like Juan Canary, Gallias, and Orancellos, Ayco will now be be producing domestically grown melons in the west for the first time in its history.
To round out the company’s annual rotation portfolio, it will be kicking off in Yuma, Arizona, in the May/June part of its season, transitioning up to San Joaquin Valley for the summer program, according to John McGuigan, Vice President of Ayco West, and the one who will be running the marketing for the western arrivals.
With so much in such a short time, Ayco has also expanded its sales team in order to successfully take its new melon products to market. Kellie Weaver, who has years of category experience from previously working with Dulcinea Farms, has joined Sales Representative Susie Rea in Ayco Farms’ Southern California offices.
“I could not be happier to have Kellie representing us in the market, and taking her well known customer service skills to add to our first class production partners to form a new and exciting part of our portfolio out here on the west coast,” John commented. “We look forward to a great first year, and building year on year to become a successful supply partner to west coast customers.”
John added that Ayco will have significant weekly volumes of all products out of its exclusive growing areas, and will be packing its Ayco and MiniMe® labels to build continuity with its own production in the off-shore season.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Today kicks off the SEPC Southern Exposure, and Frieda’s Specialty Produce announced that it is eager to inspire attendees with new food experiences at the intimate event.
“We’re definitely bringing the love to Southern Exposure this year with our tasting samples of Purple Power Breakfast Bowl,” Karen Caplan, President and CEO of Frieda’s, said in a press release. “Purple sweet potatoes have been gaining popularity year over year—led by fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious shoppers—and we’re seeing no sign of slowing. Combining the purple sweet potato’s popularity with the latest foodie trend of power bowls and smoothie bowls, we came up with this fresh, antioxidant-packed breakfast bowl recipe.”
Attendees will get to experience this for themselves Saturday morning, March 5th, on the show floor, where the Frieda’s team will be offering samples of its exclusive Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, featuring the company’s new Millennial-friendly brand.
“Our new brand has a fun, young vibe that appeals to Millennials without alienating Baby Boomers,” Karen said. “Our wording has a sense of humor, making our specialty fruits and vegetables a lot more approachable and less scary for shoppers.”
The new brand will be showcased along with the Purple Power Breakfast Bowl, which is also featured in the latest episode of the Frieda’s Quick Bites video series, short clips and quick tips with produce.
Don’t miss the chance to see how the Frieda’s team is looking to inspire new food experiences for retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice distributors. Grab a taste at booth #1200 this Saturday.