BERLIN, GERMANY - We aren’t entirely sure what affinity the illegal drug trade has for bananas, but the seemingly-innocent fruit has been caught in the crossfire yet again.
German authorities discovered 30 kilograms, or 66 pounds, of cocaine in several boxes of overripe bananas, according to the Associated Press.
The shipment was attempting to make its way in from Ecuador, according to the report, when harbor workers found an initial 15 kilograms of cocaine and alerted the authorities. Customs investigators of Hamburg, Germany, said they found and seized the remaining half of the attempted shipment. Officials stated that they estimated the cocaine to come out to a street value of about 1.5 million euros — or $1.6 million.
The case is still open and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities did not specify exactly when the cocaine was found, according to the Associated Press, nor have any arrests been made in the case so far.
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow this story for any further developments, so stay tuned.
CINCINNATI, OH - After 44 years with the Kroger Co., Senior Vice President for Retail Operations and Strategic Initiatives Marnette Perry has announced her intent to retire on April 29th of this year.
Perry has been a key contribution to the retailer over the years, having helped establish Kroger's now-ubiquitous Natural Foods centers and Floral departments in the early 1980s. Now the company is one of the top sellers of natural and organic foods, as well as one of the world's largest florists.
"Marnette's story is one we can all be proud of: she joined Kroger for a job as a part-time cashier while in college, and stayed for a remarkable career that spanned operations, merchandising, and executive leadership," Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of Kroger, said in a press release. "Marnette's significant contributions will leave an indelible mark on Kroger.”
McMullen added that the entire Kroger family thanks her for those years of service, wishing her and her family all the best in retirement. Her successor, the company stated, will be named at a later date.
Since joining on in that part-time front-of-the-store position in 1972, Perry has gone on to serve the chain in a number of leadership positions, increasing her responsibilities and influence. A few of the roles she has been include:
- Director of Produce Merchandising and Procurement
- President of the Michigan division
- President of the Columbus division
- Group Vice President of Perishables
- Senior Vice President of Retail Divisions, responsible for eight supermarket operating divisions and more than $40 billion in annual revenue
More recently, as VP of operations, Perry was integral in heading the team that led to Kroger's QueVision technology, a system that it says has dramatically reduced time consumers spend waiting at checkout.
She has been in her most current role since 2012, as well as serving as on the Board of Directors of Kroger Personal Finance and The Kroger Co. Foundation. Perry is also a past board member of the Network of Executive Women.
We wish Ms. Perry luck in this newest chapter of her life.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), press release, Harrison, NY-based company Porto Pavion LLC, has posted a $50,000 surety bond in order to obtain a license to operate in the produce industry.
Under the regulations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), the company was required to post a bond following its principal’s previous involvement in bankruptcy.
USDA will hold the bond for three years, providing assurance to the industry that the company will be able to pay for produce purchased and to conduct business according to PACA rules.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Google Express has joined the race to becoming consumers’ online destination for produce purchases.
The Internet giant’s delivery service announced this week that it will now be delivering fresh grocery items, something that has been on the company’s restricted items list, in hubs like San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The newest additions to the roster include produce, meat, eggs, and other perishable products formerly unavailable through the service.
WSJ reports that Google will take a different route from others in the market, including AmazonFresh, Instacart, even to an extent Skype, who has introduced a grocery delivery robot. Instead of its own refrigerated warehouse, Google announced that it will deliver directly from its retail partners to circumvent the common risks of the trade like damage and spoiling.
The company is teaming up with a number of big-name retailers, including Costco Wholesale Corp., Smart & Final, and Whole Foods to service the San Francisco area. In L.A., it will continue to deliver from Smart & Final and Costco, as well as upscale grocer Vincente Foods.
The elimination of warehouse use, the company said, expedited the process of making this a reality for Express.
In order to make way for the fresh additions to its service, Google has adjust some of its delivery options, including minimum order size and pricing, according to WSJ. Some of the adjustments include:
- Reducing consumers’ delivery window from four hours to two
- Raising the minimum order including fresh groceries from $15 to $35
- Instead of no charge for most deliveries of non-perishable goods, Google Express members will pay $3 per order for fresh-food deliveries
- Non-Express members will pay $5 an order
Google Express can now be found in most of the Midwest, as well as all of California, quickly moving it to one of the more accessible delivery methods for fresh produce. Membership costs $95 annually for consumers who seek to use it regularly.
Will Google’s patience in approaching this market pay off as companies seek to find the key to winning consumers’ trust in delivering fruits and vegetables? We shall see.
FALLBROOK, CA – Del Rey Avocado is welcoming Joseph Jauregui to its growing sales team.
The 11-year avocado sales professional will be responsible for executing Del Rey Avocado’s aggressive growth plan and expand the retail arena in which the company currently services. Prior to joining Del Rey, Jauregui was previously employed by Mission Produce.
“Del Rey Avocado is thrilled to have the opportunity to have Joseph join Del Rey Avocado,” said Bob Lucy, President. “We have never been more excited about our future at Del Rey Avocado.”
Del Rey is a year-round supplier of conventional and organic avocados. The company currently sources and packs avocados from California, Mexico, and Peru.
Jauregui’s years of experience exclusively selling avocados will be a huge asset in growing Del Rey’s program.
ORLANDO, FL - National Mango Board (NMB) has some new blood in its ranks after six new appointments made by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom J. Vilsack.
“The leadership that these members have provided has made a positive impact and will shape the future of the NMB and the mango industry for years to come,” explained Manuel Michel, Executive Director of the NMB, in a statement. “We also want to welcome the newly appointed board members and look forward to their contribution of ideas and dialogue. The sharing of knowledge and exchange of ideas is what strengthens the NMB programs and ultimately has a lasting influence on the mango industry.”
The six appointees, which include five new members and one returning member, consist of the following:
- First handler Patrick F. Dueire of New Castle, DE
- Importer Michael B. Warren of Parkland, FL
- Importer Susan Underwood of Saint Petersburg, FL
- Importer Sergio Palala of San Carlos, CA
- Foreign Producer Tomas Paulin Quezada of Colima, Mexico (returning member)
- Foreign Producer Jacqueline Abuhayar of Guayaquil, Ecuador
According to a press release, new members will serve three-year terms beginning immediately upon appointment and ending on December 31, 2018; with the exception of new importer from district III whose term will end December 31, 2016.
In a statement, NMB thanked each exiting member who had completed their term on the board. The exiting members are:
- Danny Pollack, Chairman, of Sea Girt, NJ, who will serve one year on the Executive Committee as an Ex-Officio
- Ronnie Cohen of River Edge, NJ
- Mariana Gonzalez of Hidalgo, TX
- Eddy Martinez of Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Jean Sapp of Lehigh Acres, FL
- Bill Vogel of Los Angeles, CA, who was serving one year as Ex-Officio
For more on the National Mango Board and its members, visit www.Mango.org.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA – The greatly esteemed Frieda Caplan documentary, “Fear No Fruit,” is continuing to make a splash for the produce industry – this time at the upcoming Sedona International Film Festival.
As one of the top independent film festivals in the nation, the Sedona International Film Festival provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to present Frieda’s monumental journey in agriculture to hundreds of movie-goers in Arizona this weekend and early next week.
The documentary will be screened in Sedona, Arizona, on Saturday, February 20, at 3:00 pm at Mary D. Fisher Theater on Monday, February 22, at 12:10 pm at Harkins Sedona 6 Theater.
Tickets are still available. Click here to purchase passes today.
Directed by Mark Brian Smith, “Fear No Fruit” chronicles the life of Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, the first woman entrepreneur on the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market in the 1960s, according to a press release. The documentary features interviews with other well-known industry members, including Rick and Tonya Antle of Tanimura & Antle, Dick Spezzano (formerly of Vons), and many more. Between introducing the Kiwifruit to America in 1962, to taking the business to the next level with her two daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, at the helm, Frieda has over five decades of influence and impact on American and international cuisine.
Check out the trailer for the documentary below.
Can’t make the screening? Don’t fret! The film is also available on DVD on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, BestBuy.com, and KinoLorber.com, and as a Netflix DVD rental. Streaming and digital download are also available on iTunes, HuluPlus, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, Xbox Video, Vudu, and Vimeo on Demand. Additionally, the film is available for educational and community screenings via Kino Lorber EDU.
WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses in California, Florida, and Utah for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- R.C. Harvest Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, CA, for failing to pay a $15,953 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Richard Meaglia and Michael Rambeau were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
- Old Fashion Honey Corp., doing business as U.S. Food Logistics, operating out of Delray Beach, FL, for failing to pay a $350,718 award in favor of a Chilean seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Agustin Salinas was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.
- Halfmoon Farms LLC, operating out of Salt Lake City, Utah, for failing to pay an $8,066 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Bradley D. Andrus, Kevin D. Gulledge, Thomas E. Stewart, Janet S. Workman, and Jeffrey A. Zappitello were listed as members of the business.
USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts have also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
MORGAN HILL, CA – The golden beet is trending in produce aisles and restaurant menus, being utilized in everything from juice, to salads, to side dishes. Sakata’s new golden beet, the Touchstone Gold, looks to capitalize on the demand for this unique item with its bold color and sweet flavor.
After submitting Touchstone Gold for a third-party analysis conducted by SCS Global Services in August 2015, trained professionals ranked this golden beet as the highest among the competition in terms of physical characteristics including external color, uniformity, firmness, and juiciness in raw testing results, and, similarly, ranked highest in overall flavor balance in pressure-cooked form, according to a press release.
In fact, Sakata says that both raw and pressure-cooked forms of Touchstone Gold prevailed in overall appearance, aroma, texture, and quality.
“Touchstone Gold has a richer, more vibrant exterior color than competing golden beets,” said Laura Ann McLoud, Sakata’s Beet Breeder. “It holds its color better after harvest, and has a sweetness that gives it a richer flavor than the competition. These beauties are literally edible treasures.”
The sensory analysis involved sowing, growing, and harvesting Touchstone Gold samples in unison with top competitive varieties. The yielded beet samples were then tested for color, flavor, texture, and sweetness.
Sakata is continuing to analyze data from researchers to further strengthen its beet program in both yield and consistency in the field.
“Sakata Seed America is very excited to be in discussion with Renee Prasad, Professor from the University of the Frasier Valley, on beet storage,” said Delita Pardue, Sakata’s Beet Product Manager. “Renee has conducted beet storage trials in BC Canada over the past couple of years. And we are reviewing her data for our beet material.”
For more on Sakata’s extensive beet line-up and genetics, check out the following links and tools.
Beet Bulletin ft. Touchstone Gold Sensory Analysis
BENTONVILLE, AR - On the heels of a mixed-at-best fourth financial quarter for 2015, it has been revealed that Walmart has a new plan to improve its fresh food programs by creating hundreds of additional management positions at its U.S. stores.
Already with 30 newly hired field managers on the books, people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Walmart has plans to hire hundreds more over the next three years. Each new manager's job will be to take on 10 Walmart stores and train workers there to take steps to improve the fresh food offerings in stores, the people said.
The plan was first revealed at a non-public annual meeting of suppliers last week in Indianapolis, the people told Reuters.
Walmart's Senior Director of Communications, Lorenzo Lopez, confirmed that the company was in the process of hiring managers, explaining that it was in an effort "to help ensure quality and consistency in our fresh operations." He did not comment on the number of people who would be hired.
Walmart’s Q4 2015 financial report saw consolidated revenue declined 1.4 percent to $129.7 billion and the company cutting its sales outlook, sending its shares down nearly 4 percent, according to CNBC.
The retailer posted fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.49, compared with $1.61 a share in the year-earlier period. Walmart also reported thats its operating income fell 16 percent to $6.6 billion during the quarter.
"We are seeing momentum in our Walmart U.S. business as we continue to lap positive comps, and our international business is healthy and growing,” said Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon in a statement. “We are pleased with fundamental trends that are allowing us to improve our stores, add critical capabilities and deepen our digital relationships with customers. Our initiatives are making it simpler and more convenient for customers to shop at Walmart."
Other highlights from Walmart's Q4 2015 financial report include:
- Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.49.
- Comp sales at Walmart U.S. were positive for the sixth consecutive quarter, up 0.6%, driven by the fifth consecutive quarter of positive traffic.
- Walmart International net sales were $32.7 billion on a reported basis. On a constant currency basis, net sales were $37.4 billion, an increase of 3.3%.
- Globally, on a constant currency basis, e-commerce sales and GMV increased approximately 8%.
Walmart's earnings came just one month after the company said it will close 269 of its locations, affecting anywhere up to 16,000 of its employees.