SIERRA NEVADA - The Sierra snowpack is piling up, measuring in at anywhere from 120% to 130% of average capacity.
The California Department of Water Resources reports surplus in several locations, including:
- Alpha measuring at 129%
- Phillips Station measuring at 130%
- Lyons Creek measuring at 120%
Specific details of the measurements taken can be found in the chart below:
Though the water levels have vastly improved compared to previous years, DWR emphasized that California is not out of the woods. While the three regions that are continuously measured came in at 123% of historical averages through the season (October 1st to January 31st), the majority of the major reservoirs in the state continue to come in lower than historical averages for this point in the year.
Snowpack, experts say, is what is needed to help bring California out of its record drought. The more water content building those levels, the more snowmelt will run off and feed into the demands for water in the drier seasons of summer and fall.
California was first declared in a state of emergency for water in January of 2014, when Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. directed state officials to take necessary precautions for water shortages, followed by a statewide mandate to reduce water in April of 2015.
While these initiatives has cut water consumption by 26.3% across California from June through November 2015 compared to two years prior, and while this past season has brought more precipitation than we have seen in the last four years, DWR continues to encourage that water conservation be a priority.
“Conservation,” DWR states in a press release, “the wise, sparing use of water, remains California’s most reliable drought management tool.”
Surveyors continue to monitor the snowpack’s water content, which continues to look promising in comparison to this time in 2015.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on any and all weather patterns as they pertain to the produce industry, so stay tuned.
LEAMINGTON, ON – Pure Flavor’s new distribution center in San Antonio, Texas is now fully operational.
Coming in at 60,000 square feet, the new facility comes at a perfect time for the company, as Chief Financial Officer Jeff Moracci explains in a statement.
“The expansion was initiated in response to an increase in business activity in the southern region,” said Moracci. “Our improved supply chain and delivery capability will significantly enhance our operational efficiency and reduce food miles by providing shorter travel time and a better capability of handling with products coming from our Mexico operations.”
This distribution center marks a significant milestone in Pure Flavor’s supply chain transformation, but there’s still plenty more growth expected to come in the near future. Pure Flavor’s multi-phase greenhouse expansion, built near the company headquarters in Leamington, Ontario, is expected to pick as early as spring 2016, according to a press release.
For more on this expanding grower, shipper, and marketer of greenhouse-grown vegetables, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
BELLINGHAM, WA - The auction on Haggen’s “core” stores has been pushed back once again, putting the sale of the retailer’s most valuable locations back from this Friday, Feb. 5th to Feb. 11th.
Haggen had previously hired investment bank Sagent to explore selling the company for more than $1 million to help sell its stores, which can be bought by anyone. Even if these stores are sold, it does not necessarily mean the end of the Haggen name itself, according to the Bellingham Herald. The paper notes that an investor or buyer could come in and purchase the stores with the intention of keeping now well-known brand name.
As we reported previously, the company had filed for bankruptcy in early September, following a period of rapid growth when it purchased 146 stores (more than twice its original store count) from Albertsons in 2014.
Ever since, the retailer has since gone through several stages of the bankruptcy process, from pulling out of its new regions, to finally gaining permission from U.S. Bankruptcy Court to sell off its remaining core stores, 33 in total.
Reports on the pushed back auction date did not reveal a reason for the delay.
Haggen's next steps have yet to be revealed, so keep checking in with AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this and other influential moves in retail.
SWITZERLAND & CHINA - ChemChina has put its money where its mouth is against rivaling Monsanto in the bid to take over Switzerland-based Syngenta, having put a $43 billion bid on the table.
"In making this offer, ChemChina is recognizing the quality and potential of Syngenta’s business," Syngenta Chairman Michel Demaré said in a press release. It is a known fact that one of Syngenta’s largest drawbacks to accepting Monsanto’s numerous offers was that it felt the proposed amounts did not equate to its value. "This includes industry-leading R&D and manufacturing and the quality of our people worldwide. The transaction minimizes operational disruption; it is focused on growth globally, specifically in China and other emerging markets, and enables long-term investment in innovation.”
If accepted, Reuters reports that this would be the largest foreign purchase ever made by a Chinese firm as the country looks to secure better solutions for food.
As we have previously reported, Monsanto made a number of bids for the company last year, causing a stir in the market at the idea of the two powers joining. It actually bid $4 billion more than what ChemChina has proposed just days before abandoning pursuit of the acquisition all together.
Now, despite still needing shareholder approval, it looks as though Syngenta is lining up to accept ChemChina’s offer.
"Syngenta will remain Syngenta and will continue to be headquartered in Switzerland, reflecting this country’s attractiveness as a corporate location," Demaré added, and CEO John Ramsay appears to agree.
"This deal will enable us to maintain and expand this position, while at the same time significantly increasing the potential for our seeds business," Ramsay said. "It will ensure continuing choice for growers and ongoing R&D investment across technology platforms and across crops. Our commitment to cost and capital efficiency will remain unchanged."
Between the two suitors, many could see this as a lesser of two situation, in which both mergers could rock the boat on the ag market. Ramsay told Reuters, however, that regulatory oppositions seemed either minimal or unlikely.
"I think the overall regulatory approvals will not be very challenging," Ramsay said, according to the report, adding that he expected antitrust regulators to acknowledge the limited overlap.
If acquired, Syngenta shareholders would receive the proposed ordinary dividend of CHF11 (US$10.93) in May of this year, a total of CHF480 (US$465) per ordinary share.
According to the release, a Swiss and U.S. tender offer will commence in the coming weeks with expectations that the transaction would be concluded by the end of the year.
While it is not over yet, the Syngenta board did unanimously recommended shareholders accept ChemChina’s offer, emphasizing that its existing management would continue to run the company as per the proposed deal.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this story as it develops further.
NEW KENSINGTON, PA – Yerecic Label is launching a new label design that utilizes both the outside and the inside of a clamshell or bag to maximize product visibility and increase consumer messaging space.
“One of the biggest trends we see in produce packaging right now is transparency,” said Kristin Yerecic, Marketing Manager. “BackFlip!™ combines the benefits of a clear label while taking full advantage of both sides to communicate to consumers.”
BackFlip!™, the new label construction, gives suppliers the ability to utilize the inside of the packaging to display additional messaging, such as recipes, storage tips, or photography featuring finished dishes.
Full color text and graphics can be added to the back of the label without additional material cost or covering the product, according to a press release.
Art Yerecic, President, said that BackFlip!™ takes consumer messaging in produce to the next level.
“One of the least utilized areas of the produce clamshell, the inside, is now an additional billboard for your product.”
You can request a free sample of this innovative new label design by clicking here, which directs you to the Yerecic Label website.
SALINAS, CA - Capitalizing on the growing market demand for organics, D’Arrigo Bros. has announced several expansions to its organic line of products.
“We have diversified our portfolio to include Andy Boy Organic Fennel (Anise) and Andy Boy Organic Broccoli Rabe,” said John Scherpinski, Director of Sales at D’Arrigo, in a company statement.
The company says consumers can expect the new Andy Boy Organic offerings of Fennel and Broccoli Rabe in stores soon.
And it isn’t just the two new products that is making for a bigger D’Arrigo organic line—the company is also adding on to its popular Organic Romaine Heart program.
“Due to the positive response from our Organic Romaine Heart category we have had to increase acreage for this year to keep up with demand,” states Matt Amaral, Director of Business Development.
As a result of the companies land equity, D’Arrigo Bros. is positioned to be a sustainable participant within the organic segment, a press release states. D’Arrigo is a 3rd generation company that has put emphasis on being great stewards of the land, as well as being committed to becoming a diverse and sustainable organic supplier in the industry.
For more information about D’Arrigo Bros., please visit www.andyboy.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Supervalu has announced President and CEO Sam Duncan’s predecessor today, with Mark Gross taking over for the retiring company head, effective February 5, 2016.
“I am thrilled to join Supervalu,” Gross said in a statement. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to help take the Company to the next level and to work with the Board and management team to set the strategic path for the future. I look forward to working with our great customers and the talented group of employees in this Company, including working with Eric Claus as Supervalu continues to explore and prepare for a potential spin-off of Save-A-Lot.”
Gross, formerly of C&S Wholesale Grocers, comes to Supervalu with nearly 20 years of retail and wholesale experience. During his time with C&S, Gross served as Co-President of the company’s overall operations, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, and President of its affiliated retail grocery operations.
“Mark is a talented, strategic and results-driven leader with a wealth of industry experience,” said Jerry Storch, Supervalu’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. “We are extremely pleased that Mark will be leading Supervalu and we look forward to working with him to drive the Company’s performance.”
Other topics mentioned in the press release include:
- Sam Duncan will be stepping down from the company’s 11-person Board of Directors effective with his retirement on February 29, 2016.
- Duncan will continue with the company to facilitate a smooth transition until that date.
- Gross will be appointed to the Board effective March 1, 2016.
- Bruce Besanko, Chief Operating Officer, will now report to Gross.
- Besanko will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the company’s Independent Business, Retail Food segments, and finance organization.
“I am proud of all that we have accomplished these past three years and thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to lead this great Company,” explained Sam Duncan in a press release. “Supervalu has tremendous employees, customers and licensees and I leave here knowing the Company is in good hands with a strong leadership team and a great foundation in place to build on.”
Gross’s expertise lies in consulting services to grocery distributors and retailers with respect to strategic and operational matters, which he did during his decade-long tenure at his firm, Surry Investment Advisors. He has experience in assisting grocery clients on several multi-billion dollar acquisitions and divestitures and consulted with private equity firms with respect to investments in food retail, distribution and consumer packaged goods sectors, according to a press release.
How will Gross’s experience lend to the company’s suspected plans of selling or spinning off its Save-A-Lot business? It’s too early to tell now, but AndNowUKnow will update you with the latest.
WATSONVILLE, CA – Over the past several months, Driscoll’s has been working tirelessly to ensure that proper working conditions are in place on the independent farms that supply its berries.
Soren Bjorn, Executive Vice President of Driscoll’s of the Americas, recently spoke to me on the complex issues that surround the company’s Worker Welfare initiative and its commitment to provide all of its farm workers with clean, healthy, and respectful working environments.
“Our growers are independent, but we take full responsibility for everything that happens in our farms because it’s our brand on the packaging. There’s a clear expectation from our consumers that we need to have accountability for everything in our chain of command,” Soren tells me. “The biggest thing that we can achieve in a short period of time is to ensure that everyone who works in our supply chain is treated with respect and that they have a voice in their community.”
In 2015, Driscoll’s formalized and publically published global Worker Welfare standards, which represent additional criteria that apply where local, state, or federal laws do not exist, are not consistently enforced, or provide lower protection to the workers, according to a press release. An independent, third-party auditing firm ensures that these standards are being upheld in all 22 countries where Driscoll’s operates.
This year, Driscoll’s launched a small pilot program with Fair Trade USA to bring to market Fair Trade-certified organic strawberries and organic raspberries that are grown in Baja, Mexico. Select Whole Foods and Costco locations are already getting behind this program to give back all additional funds generated from the sales of these berries to the farmworkers. Through a democratic vote, these funds can be invested in much-needed community projects, like educational stipends, environmental training, healthcare services, clean water, or other social services not provided by local governments.
“One element of our pilot program is that we are implementing a hotline that all farmworkers can go to whenever they have any concerns,” Soren continued. “Real change can only happen if we start a dialogue with our workers and identify what the issues are, so we can go in and work on those issues.”
This is just one small step as part of a much larger issue that needs to be addressed in the industry, Soren assures me. But these efforts are not going unnoticed, and Driscoll’s is continuing to have conversations with NGOs and several international organizations to demonstrate its commitment to continue improving how farm workers are treated.
“The biggest challenge now is to create an infrastructure where we can start a dialogue,” Soren says. “Our hope is that we can lay a foundation where we can give confidence to our employees that we are going to listen to them and not retaliate if they complain. We are committing ourselves to improving our business and our practices, and in so doing, we can begin solving the issues our workers are facing today.”
To read more about Driscoll’s sustainable business practices, click here.
By implementing this Worker Welfare initiative, Driscoll’s is one of the many companies leading the way in giving farm workers a voice and the opportunity to work in a safe, healthy environment.
FOWLER, CA - With cold and flu season officially knocking on our doors, Bee Sweet’s marketing team is taking to social media to help consumers combat illness through the company’s new #EatMoreCitrus campaign.
“The only way to successfully get over a cold, or to help prevent one all together, is to strengthen one’s immune system,” explained Monique Bienvenue, Bee Sweet Citrus’ Director of Communications. “Fortunately for us, citrus is a great source of Vitamin C and other essential nutrients necessary to help strengthen one’s immunity.”
Using a variety of social media platforms, the Bee Sweet marketing team plans on utilizing the hashtag, #EatMoreCitrus to help spread knowledge to consumers about the health benefits associated with citrus. The company is seeking to help spread awareness about the importance of healthy eating, as well as the benefits of incorporating citrus into one’s diet.
“Citrus is more than just a tasty snack, it’s a delicious super food that can help do wonders for your body,” added Bienvenue. “Whether you’re in need of additional Vitamin C or an extra boost of energy, citrus should be your go-to snack.”
According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, adult men need 90 mg of Vitamin C, while adult women need 75 mg of Vitamin C per day, says Bee Sweet. On average, one medium sized orange provides 85% of one’s recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, which can help assist one’s immune system to properly protect the body from disease.
And Vitamin C isn’t the only benefit citrus fruits can give us—they are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, Vitamin A, folate, and potassium. For more information, check out www.BeeSweetCitrus.com.
MISSION, TX - The Viva Fresh Expo, which only premiered last spring, has sold out its exhibit hall for the second year in a row.
“Once again the response from retail and foodservice buyers and directors continues to exceed our every expectation,” Bret Erickson, President and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA), host of the show, said in a press release. “From H-E-B, Walmart, Kroger, Ahold, Wegmans, Albertsons, to Sysco and US Foods, we have more buyers signed up compared to this the same time period last year.”
TIPA added that it continues to offer complimentary registration for retail and foodservice attendees, as well as complimentary travel for buyers as part of its heavy emphasis on offering members the opportunity to establish quality connections.
“The importance of the Southwest, Texas, and Mexico growing region is a key reason why we have and continue to receive such as positive response from retail and foodservice buyers, directors, and category managers,” Jimmy Bassetti, President of J&D Produce and Chair of the Retail and Foodservice Attendee Committee, added. “This is a regional expo that extends international boundaries bringing value to both suppliers and buyers.”
Held at the beautiful JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas, the show will also focus on fun education for members, including virtual field tours at farms and facilities in both Texas and Mexico without having to leave the grounds.
Additionally, TIPA emphasizes that the Viva Fresh Expo looks to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in order to empower the produce industry through several events, including a don’t-want-to-miss health and wellness keynote speaker presentation.
The Expo takes place March 30 – April 2, 2016. To learn more, go to the expo website at www.VivaFreshExpo.com.