SALINAS, CA – D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California has been awarded Loblaw’s 2015 Vendor Development Partnership Award for the entire United States Western/Mexico Region.
“D’Arrigo is extremely honored to have received the Loblaw Vendor Development Partnership award for the entire US Western/Mexico Region. The award is a reflection on every D’Arrigo employee and the teamwork it takes as we strive to be the best grower, packer and shipper of high quality fruits and vegetables (conventional and organic) year-round. This award inspires us make every effort to continue to be sustainable and successful at all levels of our business,” states Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos, D’Arrigo Marketing and Culinary Manager.
This prestigious industry distinction was bestowed upon the company during Loblaw’s U.S. West Coast Grower Meeting held in La Quinta, California. John D’Arrigo, CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board, accepted the award on behalf of the company in a room full of personal and professional peers.
The award honors companies who understand and align with Loblaw’s principles pertaining to the environment, community, diversity, and the workplace, according to a press release.
D’Arrigo Bros. was recognized for leadership within the produce industry in the areas of Food Safety, Quality, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Being Customer Centric.
Loblaw, one of the largest retailers in Canada, owns over 1,400 supermarkets throughout the ten provinces and three territories of Canada.
AndNowUKnow congratulates D’Arrigo Bros. on this achievement!
MISSION, TX - After selling out its premier produce show last year, the Texas International Produce Association’s (TIPA) Viva Fresh Produce Expo is setting up for round two.
“The tremendous response from this past year’s Expo shows the importance of the Texas, Southwest and Mexico growing regions,” H-E-B’s Group Vice President, Hugh Topper, said in a press release. “This is a true regional Expo with an international flair that brings value to both suppliers and customers.”
And he is not alone. According to TIPA, a number of the state’s retailers have praised the event’s key benefits after seeing last year’s success, including:
- Highlighting the rapidly growing Tex-Mex operation and its importance to trade
- The strong educational programs with Virtual Field tours
- The ability to connect with grower-shippers in a more personal setting
“As an ex-retailer, I know from first-hand experience how important the ‘Gateways to the Americas’ is to the produce industry, especially with the amount of products that pass through and are grown in Texas each year,” Tommy Wilkins, Director of Sales for Grow Farms Texas and member of the Expo Steering Committee, commented. “More importantly, I am proud to be a part of such an innovative regional Expo.”
While technology innovations and education are a staple, the inspiration for the show was born of the increasing changes in parts of the Mexican industry like transportation, labor, and the availability of water continue. Together, these factors have helped to boost the country as a resource for fresh produce. In fact, according to TIPA, fruit and vegetable imports from Mexico to Texas are forecast to grow as much as 70% by 2023 in comparison to 2015, equating to nearly 360,000 truckloads annually, according to the most recent analysis by the Texas A&M Center for North American Studies.
“The Viva Fresh Expo provides ample opportunity to develop new business relationships and strengthen already established relationships in a personal setting,” United Supermarkets’ Produce Business Director, Joseph Bunting, said. “We look forward to connecting with suppliers from the Southwest, Mexico, and of course Texas the fastest growing produce corridor of the country.”
Not only does the show offer innovative tours and insights, but it also serves as a more intimate and affordable platform to allow vendors and customers to create meaningful networking opportunities.
“The educational program is outstanding, especially the virtual field tours that bring the farm into the conference room,” said Keith Durham, Category Manager of Fresh Produce at Brookshire Grocery Company. “This is a must-attend event to network with best-in-class growers, meet other buyers and learn about the challenges and opportunities of the Gateway to the Americas region while enjoying all the hospitality the Lone Star State has to offer.”
With the industry still buzzing about last year’s success, and the tradition to uphold that everything is bigger in Texas, Viva Fresh Produce Expo 2016 promises to offer more flavor, more opportunities, and more fun.
Along with the educational component, TIPA added that the expo will continue to be focused on the health benefits, style, and taste of Southwestern U.S. and Mexico-grown produce. To showcase this, the show will host chef-inspired events and receptions centered on regional-specific foodie flair.
While exhibitor space is sold out for the second year in a row, you can still attend and TIPA continues to offer complimentary registration for retail and foodservice attendees. Hosted at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Space in San Antonio, Texas, mark your calendars from March 30-April 2.
Go to the expo website at www.VivaFreshExpo.com to learn more about the show.
BOISE, ID – Albertsons is adding another seven new locations to its repertoire after clinching a deal to swoop Idaho-based grocer Paul’s Market for an undisclosed amount.
Four of these stores, listed below, will now be rebranded as Albertsons.
- 20 East Wyoming, Homedale
- 700 East Avalon, Kuna
- 10565 Lake Hazel, Boise
- 132 East Lake, McCall
An additional three stores, located in Caldwell, Mountain Home, and Nampa, have also been purchased by Albertsons.
Stan and Steve Zatica, Co-Owners of Paul’s Market, spoke briefly on the acquisitions and store closures in a press release on Monday.
“From the day that our family opened the first Paul’s Market store in 1955, we have been a proud Treasure Valley grocer, and we know that the folks at Albertsons share our values and commitment to providing the best to our communities,” the Zaticas said. “We sincerely thank our communities for 60 years of shopping with us, and we look forward to watching how these stores evolve to serve their customers for the future.”
Brad Street, Albertsons’ Intermountain Division President, also shared a few thoughts on the acquisition, noting his excitement for the opportunity to continue the legacy that Paul’s Market left behind.
“Over its many years operating retail food stores in the region, Paul’s Market has developed an outstanding reputation for quality, selection, and service,” he said. “We are excited to have the chance to add experienced retail employees to our ranks, as well as the opportunity to build on that foundation and earn the trust of Paul’s Market loyal customer base.”
The Albertsons Intermountain Division operates 84 stores in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, and Nevada.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Both parties expect to close the deal for these stores sometime in April.
COQUITLAM, BC - With the lemon plum season just arriving, Oppy is ramping up for increased volumes out of Chile and new packaging that will help draw consumers’ eyes to the unique yellow-red fruit.
“Until recently, industry volumes have been small, so lemon plums have occupied a fairly select niche,” said Evan Myers, Executive Director of South American Imports for Oppy in a statement. “It’s a really nice piece of fruit, and more growers are getting involved. That greater volume gives us the opportunity to offer it farther and wider this season.”
Oppy, which says it's the largest slice of the lemon plum crop in a press release, is shipping lemon plums now, and expects to continue through the second week in March. And with the introduction of lemon plums, Oppy will be providing a new, eye-catching one-pound pouch bag that demonstrates how the product will change color as it ripens.
Named for their color, lemon plums are tear-drop shaped, sweet-tasting, and juicy, unlike their citrus namesake, Myers said. He adds, “Their skin blushes to red as they ripen, so there’s no guesswork about when to eat them.”
Oppy expects the arrivals of lemon plums on both coasts through the first week in March.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Hispanic population here in the U.S. is growing exponentially every year and is a very important market to tap into, Adam Cooper, Vice President, Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds shares with me as we talk about what the brand and company have in store for 2016.
“We recently partnered with Havas Formulatin, a Hispanic public relations agency, launching a multi-faceted program that aims to improve the brand’s awareness and penetration among this important demographic,” Adam says. “The program will include media relations, community events and consumer and influencer engagement. Additionally, we have developed newly designed in-store displays for our retail partners. We’re really excited to see where we can take the brand as this is the first time Wonderful Pistachios has worked with an agency as Agency of Record for Hispanic Outreach.”
It has been a constant evolution for the ever-popular Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds brand in recent years, and as the company looks to reach into more focused demographics, it is noting major growth across the category. Recently, the company’s in-house agency, Wonderful Agency, created a commercial using beloved Emojis under our iconic Get Crackin’ campaign saying that “Emojis do it, with feeling,” which is proving to be another way that the company is creating excitement about pistachios and almonds.
While the flavor and health benefits speak for themselves in terms of marketing messages, the packaging element is always an important part of any product for the Wonderful brands.
“Wonderful Pistachios iconic black bag stands out in the produce department year-round, as one of the only true brands in that space,” Adam adds. “We have themed bins tied to every major occasion such as Thanksgiving, Holiday, July 4th and major sporting events. The themed bins and POS really do a great job at driving consumers in-store to our displays throughout the season.”
As we look to the coming year of key opportunities to increase sales, Wonderful Pistachios will be looking to promotional periods that include summer snacking as a part of summer barbeques and July 4th spreads. Additional promotional periods for Wonderful Pistachios include large-scale events such as The Big Game (mark your calendars for next year) and March Madness, which the company ties back to themed in-store bins and POS.
“We really push hard to be a part of these key events and a part of every game day gathering here in America,” Adam says.
Wonderful Pistachios are grown in Lost Hills, California, part of the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural heartland of California. As spring and summer get underway, Wonderful will continue to elevate the brands across its program as the company works with retail partners to build the consumer basket.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint against Florida-based Felda Vegetable Farms Inc. under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a USDA press release, the company allegedly failed to make payment to six produce sellers in the amount of $232,346 from March 2014 through June 2015.
Felda Vegetable Farms Inc. will have an opportunity to request a hearing, the USDA stated. Should the USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry for two years. Furthermore, its principal could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for one year and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
In the past three years, the USDA has 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.
NOGALES, AZ - It’s no secret that food safety and contamination has been an unfortunately frequent topic in covering the fresh produce industry as of late. To help temper this hazard of the job, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) has announced the incorporation of a Table Top Food Safety Exercise to the approaching Spring Policy Summit 2016.
“While the produce industry has taken great strides to improve food safety, any company may suddenly find itself at the center of an investigation by FDA and CDC,” said Lance Jungmeyer, President of the FPAA, according to a press release. “We hope to give a glimpse into how to be proactive in this kind of situation.”
To do so, the exercise helps participants learn about, and even interact with, the decision-making process that determines if a particular food may be responsible for an outbreak, as well as what necessary steps to take to keep this occurrence under control.
“This is a great opportunity for participants to comprehend the process behind every recall, take preventative actions, and respond timely and appropriately to protect consumers and their business,” Jungmeyer explained.
Moderated by Dr. Ian Williams, this exercise gives members a chance to analyze hypothetical food safety evidence in groups. They will then consider the same scenarios the CDC and FDA have to face when determining how to contain the outbreak.
Dr. Williams is both Chief of the Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch at CDC and has been involved in identification and recall of multistate outbreak investigations, bringing in depth experience to the program.
The FPAA’s Spring Policy Summit happens next month, March 15th-16th. This activity will happen on Wednesday, March 16th, as part of its busy agenda covering a number of highly relevant topics, including transportation, infrastructure, international trade, and border banking.
To see a complete description of the two-day event, go to www.freshfrommexico.com.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The USDA has imposed sanctions on three companies for failure to pay reparation sanctions under PACA.
The following businesses and individuals are currently barred from operating in the produce industry, according to a press release.
- Evelyn Menjivar, d.b.a. Joan’s Food and Produce, a Richmond, Virginia-based company, has been restricted for failure to pay a $30,176 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Evelyn Menjivar was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
- Fresh Is Best Wholesale Produce Company, a Plant City, Florida-based company, has allegedly failed to pay an $8,514 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Warren G. Jones was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business. Another Principal of the business, Jeffrey T. Newsome, was named at the time of the order, but he has challenged his responsibly connected status.
- Global Foods International, an Irvine, California-based company, has failed to pay a $6,072 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Sivoush Nayyeri was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder 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 may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
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.
STELLARTON, NS - Sobeys' Quebec business unit has found its new President in 19-year division veteran Yves Laverdière. Laverdière is being appointed in place of former President Claude Tessier, who announced his leave from the company to be the new Chief Financial Officer of Canadian convenience store Couche-Tard.
As mentioned above, Laverdière served for 19 years as a senior leader within the Quebec business unit which he will now head. Most recently, Laverdière served as the Senior Vice President of Merchandising for Sobey’s IGA banner.
“Yves is a well respected, experienced food executive who understands all aspects of our business in Quebec,” explains President & CEO of Sobeys, Marc Poulin, in a statement. “He is well positioned to continue advancing our Joy of Eating Better strategy and executing our plan to serve the needs of our customers throughout the province. His expertise and insight will also prove of great value for our company as a whole.”
Laverdière will be reporting to Poulin and in addition to his duties as division President, will serve as a member of the Sobeys Inc. Leadership Committee. A company press release stipulates that his appointment is effective immediately.
MONHEIM – Bayer has acquired proPlant, a German-based plant health diagnosis and infection level warning service provider, for an undisclosed amount. The purchase will help strengthen Bayer’s presence in the digital farming space, further providing farmers with practical decision-making aids.
“The acquisition of proPlant will extend our technology platform, on the basis of which we are developing new digital solutions for sustainable, resource-efficient agricultural production,” said Liam Condon, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and Head of the Crop Science Division.
proPlant will operate as Bayer Digital Farming GmbH “in the future,” a press release states. No additional details were given.
A new company under the name proPlant Agrar- und Umweltinformatik GmbH will be established to continue existing activities that are not relevant for Bayer. Thomas Volk has been appointed as Managing Director of this company.
Under the management of Andree-Georg Girg, Bayer Digital Farming GmbH develops and markets IT solutions for the European agricultural sector, including plant protection applications for almost all major arable crops.
“Digitalization can give farmers timely, field-specific information, from selecting the right crop varieties and finding the right fertilizer dose as accurately as possible through to determining the ideal time for crop protection measures and recognizing plant stress factors at an early stage,” Condon explained.
Bayer concluded that it plans to strengthen its activities in the future market of digital farming through further strategic investments, and is committed to long-term research and development collaborations with leading technology providers.