SALINAS, CA – Mann Packing Company, Inc.’s Cubed Butternut Squash got some spotlight attention recently, having been featured on an episode of the popular Food Network Canada show Food Factory.
"We have a dedicated team working to create a product that combines healthy choices and great taste,” Gina Nucci, Director of Foodservice Marketing at Mann’s, said in a press release. "Our butternut squash is peeled, cubed and ready to cook, and is fantastic anytime, particularly during the chilly winter months.”
This isn’t the first time one of Mann’s products have been featured on Food Factory. It is the third time one of the company’s products has been on the show.
In past episodes, both Mann’s Broccoli Cole Slaw® and Mann’s Crinkle Cut Sweet Potatoes have been showcased on the broadcast.
America viewers can tune in on Thursday, January 21st at 12:00pm EST to see Mann’s Cubed Butternut Squash feature on the FYI Network’s Food Factory USA.
Mann Packing added that consumers can also get an edited version of the show’s behind-the-scenes look at how Mann’s Cubed Butternut Squash is produced. Watch the video below to see how the produce is made from peeling and chopping to washing and packaging.
Mann's Butternut Squash from Mann's Fresh Vegetables on Vimeo.
Congratulations to the Mann Packing team; can’t wait to watch!
NOGALES, AZ – The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is making preparations for its upcoming Spring Policy Summit next month, and wants industry members to look forward to the many informative discussions that will be had at the event.
From March 15-16, 2016, the summit will invite all association members and all relevant players to seek answers to the following issues in the produce industry, according to a press release:
- How are Mexico and Canada responding to the new U.S. food safety regulations? How are these NAFTA countries aligning into the same path and working together to provide a secure food supply with solid systems to satisfy the needs of a growing population?
- How can industry work together with U.S. authorities to facilitate and expedite cross-border trade, including infrastructure improvements and pre-clearance programs?
- What are the threats and opportunities of the Trans Pacific Partnership?
- How can the industry benefit from changes to banking regulations that will allow business to grow, yet still accomplish federal goals to stem illicit activities?
Some of the key players that will be in attendance this year include Mike Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods of FDA; Enrique Sanchez Cruz, Director in Chief of SENASICA; Richard Aesenault, Executive Director of Food Systems of CFIA; Victor Mendez, Deputy Secretary of Federal DOT; and John Halikowski, Director of AZDOT.
“This is an exciting and unique opportunity to voice our concerns and hear from the key players,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer. “We are looking forward to the participation of our members as we continue to pursue the strengthening of our industry, each and everyone’s business, and the economic growth of our community.”
Jungmeyer added that participating in the exchange of ideas, suggestions, and concerns regarding these industry issues can only benefit “our overall comprehension and ease the path to compliance in the operations of our business.”
A preliminary agenda from this year’s Spring Policy Summit can be found at the FPAA website, or by clicking here.
BOSTON, MA - Shipping containers, believe it or not, are a growing trend in the past few years. You can buy a shipping container house, shipping container art, and there’s even a hip pizza restaurant down the street from our office that resides in a shipping container. Now the latest—a shipping container farm.
Freight Farms, an indoor agriculture company that has been taking on the trend since 2010, is bringing in the use of hydroponics and other indoor farming methods to grow plants without soil and incorporating new types of technology to reduce workload and waste.
"The food system needs to be designed around technology and equipment that's available today," Brad McNamara, Freight Farms' CEO and Co-Founder told the Associated Press. "It was designed 100 years ago without the right technology to reach the level that it needs to. The whole system needs to be modernized."
The "Leafy Green Machine," the name of these shipping container farms, will help farmers produce a consistent crop, the company says, claiming it can produce roughly the typical yield of an acre of farmland while using 90 percent less water, no pesticides, and just 320 square feet of space.
Leafy Green Machine also features climate control options, automated lighting, irrigation systems, and even mobile apps to help monitor and maintain crops remotely.
"Starting a farm is a lot to ask of one person," company President and other Co-Founder, Jon Friedman, told the news source. "So we've put together a system that gives even a novice the tools to produce thousands of plants and get them to market."
Pricing for the Leafy Green Machine includes an $82,000 base price for the 2016 model, as well as an estimated $8,000 to $16,500 a year in electricity, water, and growing supply costs, according to AP, but this hasn’t deterred buyers so far.
Freight Farms has sold 54 Leafy Green Machines to clients like Google's campus in Mountain View, CA, Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY, and Four Burgers, a restaurant in Cambridge, MA.
McNamara and Friedman suggest their product particularly for leafy green crops like lettuce, kale, cabbage, Swiss chard, and herbs like mint, basil and oregano. They also note that direct selling to local restaurants and community markets is one of the main uses for the Leafy Green Machine so far.
With the Leafy Green Machine pulling all eyes to this trend, will we be seeing even more indoor agriculture innovations in 2016? Be assured that AndNowUKnow will update you with the latest.
CINCINATTI, OH - Lynn Gust, President of one of Kroger’s grocery chains Fred Meyer, has announced his retirement after 45 years of service.
"Throughout his distinguished career, Lynn has always led by empowering, encouraging and supporting others," explained Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and CEO. "Lynn is widely respected throughout our company and industry for his passion for people, the food business, and the communities we serve. The entire Kroger family wishes Lynn and his family all the best in retirement."
The official switchover will go into effect January 31, with the current President of Kroger's Central Division, Jeff Burt, being promoted to take his place.
"Jeff is a strong, dynamic leader who brings out the best in our associates," McMullen continued in a press release. "His enthusiasm for serving our customers combined with both broad and deep experience in our business – including in the Pacific Northwest – will serve our Fred Meyer team well. We are grateful he agreed to take on this important role."
Starting his career with Kroger in 1970, Gust began as a parcel clerk at Fred Meyer’s and worked his way all the way up through the company’s food management program, and eventually to a variety of leadership roles.
Under Gust’s leadership, Fred Meyer reached $10 billion in annual sales for the first time and was recognized twice as one of Oregon's "Best Places to Work" by the Portland Business Journal, Kroger’s press release stipulates.
The new company President, Burt, has served 30 years within the Kroger structure. Beginning as a management trainee in 1986, Burt quickly rose to other roles like Store Manager, Produce Merchandiser, and Vice President of Merchandising and Operations. His previous work involved him serving as Corporate Vice President of Deli/Bakery Merchandising and Procurement, Group Vice President of Perishables Merchandising and Procurement, and most recently as President of Kroger's Central division since 2013.
With new chapters opening up for both Kroger and Fred Meyer, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for continued updates.
PARMA, ID - Bayer is looking to drive repeat sales for its customers this coming year, with the introduction of two new proprietary seed varieties, the Warrior and Embasy watermelons. These new varietal debuts align with the company’s goal to increase quality and flavor for the grower all the way to the end consumer. Under the Nunhems brand, Bayer offers high-quality seed varieties for 25 fruit and vegetable crops.
Produce Chain Specialist, Matthew DeCeault, and Kike Rossell, Bayer’s Product Specialist Watermelon NAFTA, join me to discuss the new varieties along with the advantages and benefits that are translated to the growing community.
“Warrior is our seedless watermelon most comparable to our incredibly popular Superseedless series. Warrior is early and provides consumers with consistently high brix, firm flesh, and flavor,” Matthew tells me. “Just like the Superseedless, its performance in fresh-cut applications is top-notch. It provides consumers with a juicy-crispy eating experience. Warrior produces mainly 45-ct melons so it fits perfectly with most retail programs to kick off the season.”
Kike tells me that with the new Warrior variety in the lineup, Bayer can continue to deliver the very highest quality. “Warrior starts very early in the season and consumers can count on a consistently fantastic eating experience on shelf, from start to finish, while retailers will see repeat sales.”
Additionally, Warrior has a strong plant that will help to get a good stand in the field to support an abundance of fruit, Kike adds.
“Warrior provides IR to Fusarium races 0 and 1, which help the ability of the variety to produce high yields. Being a 45-ct + variety, Warrior delivers excellent yield to the grower of fruit that will fit the market demand in size and quality,” he says.
The new Embasy watermelon is Bayer’s take (in the superseedless type) on the darker-skinned wider striped watermelons growing in popularity with consumers across the U.S. This melon delivers high brix, firm flesh, and fantastic flavor along with a superior rind pattern.
“Embasy’s distinct dark rind compliments its rich crimson red flesh so that those halves, and quarter cut watermelons, display beautifully on shelf. Like Warrior, its 45-ct size is a great fit for many retail programs,” Matthew says as he speaks about the positive feedback so far from growers, retailers and consumers. As consumers make note of the high quality & consistency of dark-skinned watermelons, Bayer anticipates their continued growth in the marketplace for years to come.
“It is very tasty, sweet, crunchy and firm, delivering an excellent eating experience beside the nice color of the rind and the flesh,” Kike says. “It has a strong plant which together with its IR to Fusarium race 1 allows a very good stand in the field and helps for getting higher yields like the Warrior.”
When I ask the team why growers should take advantage of the new watermelon seeds, they tell me that Bayer’s Nunhems brand new watermelon varieties provide consumers with a consistently superior eating experience over a full season.
“A huge focus for Bayer has been ‘bringing on’ the flavor and both the Warrior and Embasy melons deliver. Warrior provides consumers with high quality earlier in the season while Embasy’s attractive rind and great eating experience keeps consumers coming back for more,” Matthew says. “Growers also get peace-of-mind as the genetics in the variety backs up all the breeding work. It produces a fruit early enough in the market to profit from better prices and when the demand is higher for the crop.“
Bayer’s motivation behind this program is to provide innovation and traits that are needed by the grower to improve their return. This goes hand-in-hand with delivering to the end consumer, an excellent fruit that will be an eating experience to continually satisfy the taste buds of the watermelon lovers everywhere.
NORTH AMERICA - The Big Game is coming quick, and while many eyes will be focused on the commercials, and perhaps the game itself, this is also a time when tastes are focused on avocado-fueled treats.
“We’re very excited about having very good supply for Super Bowl demand,” Doug Meyer, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, of West Pak tells me. “Quality has been good, we’ve been very pleased with the performance of the avocados on the shelf.”
Jan DeLyser, VP of Marketing for the California Avocado Commission (CAC), said that we’re looking at record levels before kick off with good quality.
“Volume from all sources will be at a record high with Big Game Consumption estimated at 139,404,900 pounds or 278,809,800 avocados to be consumed during this year’s festivities,” Jan said. “That compares to 123,146,548 pounds consumed in 2015.”
Good news considering that trends are proving to lean towards the fruit not just for the Super Bowl, but for the entire month of January.
“What we are really seeing is that the entire month of January shows good demand,” Doug said. “Super Bowl is more of a finale to that high demand, with the healthier eating after the holidays.”
For avocados coming out from our neighbors to the South, Rob Wedin, VP of Sales and Fresh Marketing for Calavo Growers Inc., explained that the weather has been good to the fruit.
“December’s weather in Mexico was sunny and clear, and we are in the middle of the season, so the avocados have a mature appearance and delicious flavor,” Rob tells me. “The avocado volume that will be produced for the NFL play-offs and Super Bowl is expected to be another record this year at 25% greater than 2015.”
So what does this mean for the retail end? Well for one, the opportunity to promote local, Jan says. “With this year's fruit maturity, sizing, and eating quality some growers will be harvesting in support of key account promotions for the Big Game promotions, it is a wonderful opportunity for retailers in California to promote local since the game will be played in Santa Clara, CA.”
With that, CAC recommends merchandising and more merchandising, with displays and P.O.S. to draw attention to avocado displays. Cross merchandising with other guacamole fixings is also recommended to help build that higher basket ring.
George Henderson, Marketing Manager for West Pak, said that the company will internally be hosting social media events to help build on the high demand the season brings. “We have some internal events we are putting together. We are also expecting some extra weight with this being the 50th year for the Super Bowl and we’re excited to see what avocados will add to that popularity.”
And this month is reportedly just the beginning, with volume expected to build through March for California avocado growers. “We expect to see peak availability from April through July, with harvest continuing into the fall,” Jan said.
AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you up to date as the demand for healthier foods and a produce-centric football snack kick off even more for the avocado market.
West Pak Avocados California Avocado Commission Calavo Growers
WENATCHEE, WA - Nearly one year after Stemilt Growers launched its “Kitchen Council” program in April 2015 to build engagement with consumers, the company is reflecting back on all it has achieved.
“As the first year of the Kitchen Council comes to a close, it’s great to look back and see how our talented bloggers used Stemilt fruits and branded products in fresh and new ways to help inspire our growing network of consumers to enjoy our apples, pears, cherries, and summer fruits,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt's Communications Manager. “It was a successful year for this new program and we look forward to expanding the Kitchen Council in years to come.”
Each month, Stemilt sent its fruit to three bloggers to create original content, whether it be a recipe, a tablescape, or even tips and tricks. This content was shared throughout Stemilt’s online and social media channels including The Stem blog.
According to a press release, more than 40 blog posts, 30 original recipes, and 75 social media mentions from the bloggers have reached more than one million consumers and helped garner over 75,000 pageviews to The Stem in 2015 since the introduction of the “Kitchen Council.”
Members of the inaugural “Kitchen Council” program and their top post of 2015 include:
Coryanne Ettiene
Ettiene is a food and lifestyle expert featured everywhere from AOL, Huffington Post, Kitchen Daily, More Magazine¸ Better Homes and Gardens, and Traditional Home. Coryanne lives in Dallas, TX, with her husband, three children, a dog, cat and two feisty chickens.
Her most popular post was this Egg Free Cherry Ice Cream Recipe.
Holley Grainger, MS, RD
Grainger is a former Nutrition Editor for CookingLight.com and MyRecipes.com, and has instructed millions of home cooks how to make simple, healthy, family-friendly meals. Featured on hundreds of TV and radio segments nationwide, Holley lives in Birmingham, AL , with her husband and two daughters.
Her most popular post was her Grilled Shrimp Tostadas with Pinata Apple & Mango Salsa.
Sally Kuzemchak, MS, RD
Kuzemchaka is Registered Dietician, educator, author, and mother. Sally has been published in Parents, Prevention, Self, Family Circle, Fitness, Shape, Health, Eating Well, Ladies’ Home Journal and The Chicago Tribune.
Her top post in 2015 was a Homemade Apple Vinaigrette published in May in honor of National Salad Month.
As a thank you to the brands she’s partnered with over the past year, Grainger recently hosted a giveaway to help her readers kick off the year with a healthy lunchbox. Stemilt provided both d’Anjou pears and Piñata apples for the giveaway. Piñata is Stemilt’s signature apple variety, and showcases a classic apple flavor with a tropical twist.
For more information and additional blog posts from the Kitchen Council, visit www.stemilt.com/blog/.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA – The Allen Lund Company is promoting two key associates to Business Development Specialist.
Matt Christ from Allen Lund’s Los Angeles office and Casey Fletcher from the Dallas office are both rising up the ranks to further the company’s initiatives and ensure that customers continue to remain satisfied with the service they have come to expect, according to a press release.
Christ, now a six-year employee with Allen Lund, began his career in the company’s Rochester office in 2010 and later transferred to the Los Angeles Refrigerated Department in 2011. In a statement, he said that he looks forward to continuing to help the office grow.
“Ever since Matt landed in the LA office from the Rochester, NY office, he showed an innate ability to sell and he had early, unprecedented success as a broker in the perishable sector,” said Tracey Lewin, Manager of the Los Angeles Sales office. “We are proud of him and look forward to his continued and growing success in his new role as Business Development Specialist here in LA.”
David Lund, Vice President of Sales and Branch Operations, complimented Christ, saying that he “understands the importance of making sure the customer is happy, which will aid him as he devotes his full time to new account sales.”
Fletcher, now a three-year employee with Allen Lund, began her career working as an intern before becoming a full-time Broker in May 2015.
She said that she is excited for this opportunity and looks forward to her new role as Business Development Specialist.
“We believe in and are looking forward to Casey bringing the same passion, and commitment that she has exhibited in her collegiate sports career,” said Scott Fletcher, Manager of the Dallas office.
Eddie Lund, Vice President of Sales and Branch Operations, added that Casey has the knowledge, enthusiasm, and personality to succeed in this new role.
“We are excited about this promotion because of the upside given Casey’s go-getter attitude,” said Lund.
AndNowUKnow congratulates Matt and Casey on their new roles.
NORTH AMERICA - It’s no secret El Niño has been bringing a slew of storms to North America this year, and Mother Nature will likely have many more up her sleeve.
With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting this year’s El Niño among the strongest on record, those on the North American continent, and California in particular, will be dealing with conditions that may impact your business in more way than you might think.
How you’re affected depends on your specific supply chain, but C.H. Robinson’s Director of Air Freight Services, Matt Castle, shared on the company’s blog three possible areas your business might feel the pressure from El Niño.
To read the full blog post, click the green button below.
El Niño's Effects on the Supply Chain
1) Speed of Delivery
“While surfers rejoice because of the epic waves El Niño is bringing to California’s beaches, those same swells are magnified deeper at sea and could potentially cause problems for ocean vessels carrying your goods,” writes Castle.
The hazardous conditions El Niño may inflict would likely cause ocean liners to have to change their course and cause major delays. Even when your goods make it to port, you’re still potentially at risk for even more delays on stormy roads. These record amounts of rain California has been receiving can quickly wash away roads and railways.
2) Mode of Transportation
Another side-effect of El Niño weather effects is capacity shortages. Castle refers to what often happens during capacity shortages as, “a snowball effect.”
“From a domestic standpoint, if a mudslide or tornado wipes out the rail lines, then intermodal shipments are shifted to trucks,” Caste shares. “When truck capacity gets tight, shippers switch to less than truckload (LTL), and when that fails they move to air freight and charters.”
The same sentiment applies to global shipping. When ocean shipments are hit with delay after delay, shippers will switch to air shipping keep inventories in stock and shelves full.
3) Budget
As you might guess, both delays and capacity constraints will take a few chunks out of a business’s transportation budget. Worst case scenario, multiple shipments may need to be switched from via ocean to air at the last minute to avoid empty shelves. Or even worse, your carriers may start rejecting shipments for more profitable loads, Castle suggests.
“Your transportation budget starts to break down,” Castle explains. “The longer these conditions last, the tougher it can be to maintain your budget.”
So now that you know some of your risks, what can you do to make sure you’re ready for whatever El Niño throws your way?
“When market-changing events that are out of your control occur—like El Niño, winter weather, or a port strike—it’s easy to feel as though there’s nothing you can do to help protect your supply chain,” Castle writes on C.H. Robinson’s blog. “The key to riding out a situation like El Niño is to have a supply chain that is flexible enough to adapt.”
Castle suggests an efficient and accurate inventory process. You need to know what products need to be air shipped and what can wait the extra week to arrive via ocean. Use real time tracking and tracing capabilities to see delays as they occur (sometimes before), and schedule an extra LTL shipment to keep shelves stocked for another week.
When you know what you’re dealing with ahead of time, you may even set yourself up as a favored shipper with carriers and possibly better acceptance rates. Castle says all of this is possible when you have a logistics provider who has the industry knowledge, carrier relationships, and advanced technology to get the job done.
To read Castle’s entire blog post, visit C.H. Robinson’s blog here, and for continued updates on how El Niño may affect you, keep watching AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY – After seizing control of Darden Restaurants back in 2014, activist investor Starboard Value is now cutting back its stake in the company by about 11%.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the sell-off comes just as the restaurant owner saw a “significant appreciation” in Darden’s stock price. The publication reports that Darden’s shares have increased by approximately 16% in the past twelve months.
Starboard said in a regulatory filing that it intends to remain a large shareholder in Darden. The investor’s stake now stands at 10.3 million shares, or 8.1% of Darden’s outstanding stock, down from 11.6 million shares, or 9.1% of stock, as of a November 27 filing, according to the Wall Street Journal.
After Starboard had overturned Darden’s entire Board of Directors in October of 2014 and placed Starboard CEO Jeffrey Smith as the company’s Chairman, the restaurant operator seemed to completely turn around its poor financial performance in the year prior. In its most recent quarterly report, Darden beat Wall Street expectations and increased sales for the sixth consecutive quarter.
The increased performance is due, in part, to Darden’s progress in revamping its Olive Garden brand. As we previously reported, CEO Gene Lee said, “We continue to make progress on our operating fundamentals of culinary innovation, attentive service, and engaging atmospheres while continuing to focus on disciplined cost management. This progress is a direct result of our hard work and commitment to creating memorable guest experiences in our restaurants.”
For more on Darden Restaurants, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.