CHINA - You might be expecting an Apple Watch from Santa Claus this year, but how would you feel if he brought you an actual apple? If you live in China, this is way more likely than you’d ever imagine.
Apparently, while Christmas isn’t a public holiday in China, the country’s youth have picked it up and ran with it in a distinctly Chinese way. Sending apples as Christmas gifts is on the rise, and actually comes from a Chinese tradition to play with homophones.
Christmas Eve is translated as 平安夜, ping'an ye, which means a safe and peaceful night, according to Chinese news source gbtimes. The word for apple is pronounced very similarly, (苹果, píngguŏ), meaning “the fruit of being safe.” The rest came naturally.
The Christmas apples aren’t your typical fruit. Most come wrapped in colorful paper and decorated with gold ribbons or pictures of Santa Claus, gbtimes says, and some are adorned with cute Christmas messages printed directly on their skin. They also come with a much bigger price tag.
With the number of people grabbing hold of this tradition growing, the price of apples in China on Christmas Eve has soared way above the country’s typical prices. gbtimes shares that a single Christmas apple can cost up to 78 yuan ($12.18), while the prices of apples the rest of the year are only between 6 to 8 yuan per kilogram.
Does this inspire you to cross out “watch” on your Christmas list this year and go the healthier route? If not—maybe just indulge in a little holiday apple pie instead.
It was a year of shakeups, breakups, and makeups that resulted in knitting together some of our industry’s biggest competitors. Looking over the last year, our sister publication, The Snack Magazine, couldn't help but notice that some deals were bigger than others, changing up some significant numbers in the produce and retail industries.
Check out the full article in The Snack magazine by clicking here, or continue reading the full piece below.
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1. Safeway/Albertsons - $9.2 B Jan
The FTC had a challenge with this one, and so the industry waited. But by offering to sell assets to up-and-comers like Haggen to minimize their store count, the two were granted the go-ahead to create one of the largest retail chains in the U.S.
2. Ahold/Delhaize - $28 B - June
This was a quick, quiet deal that held more weight than it flaunted, perhaps because practice makes perfect. The two European-based retailers with footholds in the U.S. market tried to get together in 2007, but failed to reach a consensus. This time, however, it only took weeks for the two heads to agree and knit their names together.
3. Chiquita/Cutrale Safra - $1.3 B - Dec/Jan
Though this deal was sealed in January, the ripple effects continued well into 2015. Tender offer agreement negotiations went into January, as well as adjustments like Chiquita’s need to leave its Charlotte headquarters earlier than planned. In the end, all wrinkles were smoothed out between both parties, now becoming a single bi-national power.
4. Kroger/Roundy’s - $800 M - November
With this late-in-the-year acquisition Kroger entered the Wisconsin market and expanded its footprint in the Chicago retail sector.
Though the growing chain only paid $178 million to bring Roundy’s into the family, it stated that it valued the merger up to as much as $800 million, debt included. With this came several banners, including Pick 'n Save, Copps, Metro Market, and the urban Mariano’s.
Merger/Acquisitions that never were, but had us talking:
US Foods/Sysco - $8.2 B - June
There was a lot of back and forth as the two competitors tried to convince the FTC that this was a union that was for, not against, the market. The case did, however, end up in court, where Sysco finally determined that the reward was not worth the costs and walked away in June.
Monsanto/Syngenta - $47 B - August
The European company turned down a number of Monsanto’s offers, believing they undervalued its potential. Eventually, Monsanto walked away from the deal entirely at the end of August, days after making a final $47 billion attempt.
Looking back over the year, these are some of the moves that had the industry talking from open to close. What will 2016 hold for the influencers of the produce industry? We can't wait to find out.
SANDPOINT, ID - It’s been a big year for Litehouse Foods, not the least of which included the recent launch of its new Opadipity flavors. With new employee ownership, new labels, and new products, Maria Emmer-Aanes and Camille Balfanz took the time to tell me about how the company is keeping busy and on track for further growth.
“We’ve hit almost one billion consumer impressions, which is very exciting,” Maria, Litehouse’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, said, attributing the success to the year’s success in both product releases and recognition. “We’ve had a lot of innovation this year, and received a number of awards.”
The most recent releases are additions to the Litehouse Dressing and Opadipity dip lines, including a tasty, wide range of flavors:
- Litehouse Avocado Ranch with Bacon
- Litehouse Bacon Vinaigrette
- Opadipity Greek Olive
- Opadipity Spicy Asiago Artichoke
- Opadipity Cinnamon Swirl
The new flavors offer a wide range of intrigue for produce snacking, from dipping to use as a dressing, and has been a hit since its early October release, Maria tells me.
“The Avocado Ranch with Bacon in particular has only been out a number of weeks and already we are getting great feedback,” she said.
Camille, Brand Manager, shared that the reception has been a warm one, with instant interest from retailers including Publix, Walmart, and Kroger.
“We’ll soon be going nationwide, and we’re really excited,” Camille tells me, saying that the avocado bacon combo in a dressing is a completely unique concept that uses flavor trends to bring new consumers to the produce aisle. “Avocado Ranch with Bacon is a hit, pulling people from center store to the perimeter that may not have been previously interested because there isn’t another flavor like this.”
Litehouse dressings are sold side-by-side with bagged lettuce, and are also a great compliment as fruit and veggie dips- perfect for the upcoming holiday parties and (before we know it) The Big Game.
Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for more big news coming soon from this growing company.
MIAMI, FL - Continental Fresh has announced a new and fully implemented, case-level labeling and traceability system. Also applying its Produce Traceability Initiative-compliant labels on each of its Atlas Fresh cucumber and winter squash cases, the company says this is something that has yet to be done by anyone else in the industry.
Amid recent outbreaks of salmonella on cucumbers from Mexico and the FDA’s new Food Safety Modernization Act, Continental Fresh has made it an priority to reconfirm its commitment to traceability for its products.
“We expect to be the only offshore cucumber importers in the country to have PTI case-level tagging originating at our farms in Honduras,” explained Albert Perez, President of Continental Fresh LLC. “We are also implementing this on all of our retail and process butternut and spaghetti squashes.”
Perez also noted that Honduran cucumbers in particular have come a long way in recent years in terms of quality and consistency.
“Customers have put great faith in our programs and each year more of the needs of the east coast are met by our products,” he said. “As a leader in the import of Honduran vegetables, we at Continental Fresh LLC hope that others follow our initiative in making it the premium choice in food safety.”
According to a press release, the import season for Honduran cucumbers runs from late December until mid-March, while Butternut and Spaghetti squashes are available from January through April.
For more information about Continental Fresh and its traceability programs, visit www.continentalfresh.com.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA – Renaissance Food Group (RFG) is expanding its team with the addition of John Cameron and Jennifer Elias.
Cameron, RFG’s new Director of Sales as of December 2015, brings over 25 years of perishable experience and sales management from his time at NatureSweet and Bland Farms.
While based out of the company’s Southeast region, Cameron will be responsible for directing RFG’s sales effort along the East Coast to align with the opening of its new fresh-cut facility in Jacksonville, Florida, scheduled for March 2016, according to a press release.
“Renaissance Food Group is very excited to have John on our team,” said Raina Nelson, Vice President of Sales. “He brings with him great experience in sales management, retail, and merchandising that will be a key role in our sales department as we expand our reach in the Eastern region.”
RFG has also hired former Campbell Soup Company and Ghirardelli employee Jennifer Elias to assist its Product Development team in creating and launching new items from its fresh kitchen facilities as its Manufacturing Director for Culinary Operations.
Having received her B.S. degree in Food Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Elias will utilize her background in research and development and regulatory compliance along with her experience in quality control and product development to help introduce new items into the market.
“Her knowledge will be an asset to RFG as we continue to grow and evolve our product set diversity, and as we develop our national kitchen programs,” said Vice President of Operations, Robert Aipoalani.
Elias will be based out of Renaissance Food Group’s California plant.
With both Cameron and Elias’ appointment, RFG is poised to hit the ground running as we hit the New Year.
CALIFORNIA - Hold tight California, the wet weather (be it rain or snow) that’s been seen the last several weeks is reportedly just the beginning.
The NOAA reports that El Niño will peak sometime in January-February of 2016, which means high tide events and a probability of higher-than-normal flooding for the West Coast.
While the report did not address what this could mean for other areas as far as precipitation, previous El Niños suggest even more stormy weather and (hopefully) building the snow pack and adding more runoff to help drought-stricken areas.
After the peak, the pattern looks to decrease throughout the spring, as shown in the graph below:
In addition to wetter-than-normal weather, El Niño also plays a part in higher tides on the West Coast, but there are other influencers.
Besides the El Niño pattern, other factors that climate scientists say are contributing to California's unusually high tides that are and will continue to occur include:
- Daily high and low tides occuring twice per day, with one high tide higher than the other and one low tide lower than the other.
- Perigean spring tides (King Tides) which occur six to seven times a year, when a new or full moon coincides closely in time with the perigee of the moon.
- Storm Surge (the abnormal rise in water level caused by a storm) over and above the predicted tide, which can cause extreme flooding in coastal areas particularly when coinciding with high tide.
Because of these, the NOAA warns Californians living on the coast, as well as those that may transport to or through those areas, to be prepared for more flooding than usual in low-lying areas during El Niño’s peak between January and February of 2016.
As we have reported previously, El Niño is the warming of a certain patch of the central Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide. This has been associated with flooding in some places, droughts elsewhere, a generally warmer globe, and fewer Atlantic hurricanes.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report to the industry any and all weather patterns that could affect the production and transit of fresh produce.
GIG HARBOR, WA - Kroger has announced a new store concept just in time for 2016—Main & Vine.
Said to be focused on fresh produce, food preparation advice, and high-quality prepared foods, Main & Vine’s first location will be Gig Harbor, WA, just outside of Seattle. Little information is available about when the store will be debuting, but the Main & Vine website lists the opening date as, “soon.”
The store will offer customers “fresh, affordable” local produce and meat and local craft beer and wine, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier, featuring fresh food that it describes as, “unique culinary experiences and taste adventures, with tasty meals made fresh in our kitchen.”
A SEC filing from the company lists home delivery services as possibility from the new concept, as well as listed natural, organic, and fresh foods.
This announcement comes less than a week after Kroger finalized its buyout of Roundy’s, a grocery chain known for its urban format Mariano’s locations in Chicago. Analysts believe that more than likely, Main & Vine will also maintain a small format size that will work well in urban areas.
About Bob Mariano, Roundy’s President and CEO, and his possible contributions to the Kroger chain, Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, “[Mariano] has created an urban format that is resonating with customers and we expect to apply Roundy's experience to our stores in urban areas around the country.”
AndNowUKnow will keep the industry updated as more information about Main & Vine is announced, but for now, produce suppliers can look forward to a store that emphasizes all things fresh.
HOLLYWOOD, FL - Looking to add a splash of tropical paradise to your life this March? I sure am. Kicking off on March 3, 2016, this year’s SEPC Southern Exposure is moving to Hollywood, Florida and what a better way to fight the chill as winter winds down, than with the “Produce in Paradise” themed event. SEPC is pulling out all the stops again this year, so polish up on your business acumen and get your luau gear ready. For those beach-deprived like myself, the event is taking place at the Diplomat Resort & Spa, steps away from the sand on Florida’s pristine southern east coast.
"We are looking forward to a change of scenery in South Florida this year. The beach will provide a great atmosphere to host our 'Produce in Paradise' theme and we can’t wait to see all of our produce family in attendance,” David Sherrod, SEPC Executive Director, tells me. “The conference will continue to provide an intimate environment this year, allowing everyone to form and cultivate one-on-one relationships with their customers and suppliers."
Southern Exposure will be hosting 278 booths in 2016, up from last year’s 267 exhibitors. The show will also bring in a variety of retailer and food service professionals that will exceed last year’s numbers, so stay tuned as the team at SEPC finalizes the attendee list.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to this year’s beachside conference. Southern Exposure is like a big family reunion for us every year. We couldn’t do it without the support of our sponsors and attendees,” said Faye Westfall, DiMare Fresh Tampa.
The conference weekend will kick off on Thursday, March 3 with 280 golfers at the annual Tom Page Golf Classic at the beautiful Jacaranda Golf Club. Thursday evening will host an invitation-only dinner for the new 2016 STEP-UPP and STARS classes.
The 2016 STEP-UPP (Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals) class has grown this year with 12 new participants, up from 10 in years past. STEP-UPP provides an enriched learning experience for potential retail and food service produce professionals to develop a greater understanding of the industry through strategic orientation, personal leadership and hands-on field experience.
Each year, individuals are selected through an application and interview process based on leadership experience and interest in developing a career in fresh produce.
The 2016 STARS (Southeast Top Agricultural Recruits Scholarship) class program students will also be introduced at Southern Exposure. The Southeast schools that benefit from the STARS program are:
- University of Georgia
- University of Florida
- Louisiana State University
- Clemson University
- North Carolina State University
A total of ten agriculture major students are selected each year from amongst these schools (2 from each school) and receive $2,500 toward their education - all will be attending Southern Exposure to network for job opportunities and for an introduction to the industry.
Friday morning will provide the educational component of the conference with two industry informative workshops. The SEPC has a great line up of topics, so stay tuned for more information after the new year.
“We will continue to grow our educational programs this year with outstanding seminars and keynote sessions,” stated Sherrod. “Our STARS and STEP-UPP classes are also shaping up to offer some of the best resources and training in the industry”.
Get ready to hula the night away at the annual Opening Night Gala on Friday night. The evening will be fun-filled with great food, music and networking.
On Saturday, March 5, Southern Exposure will welcome NFL football legend Jimmy Johnson to the stage as this year’s keynote speaker.
The SEPC will also be honoring Joe Klare of the Castellini Company LLC with the Terry Vorhees Lifetime Achievement Award at the keynote luncheon. The award recognizes an individual in the industry every year who has not only been a long-standing SEPC member, but has shown exemplary professional and personal integrity and business ethic across their entire career.
Immediately following the keynote luncheon, the ribbon to this year’s exposition will be cut and the show will officially be opened for some of the best networking in the produce industry. Hosting growers, shippers and buyers from all over the country, the SEPC prides itself on the wide variety, yet intimate environment the show has to offer attendees.
Be sure to kick back and relax after the show at the Gator Moon Closing Reception. Steel drums and a relaxing atmosphere outside on the water at the Diplomat Landing will be a great way to end a great weekend until next year!
For the full agenda and to register for the conference, visit seproducecouncil.com.
See you all there!
VALENCIA, CA - As the organic agriculture segment to continue to grow at an unprecedented rate, Sunkist Growers is making moves to expand its organic offerings to meet the high demand from retail shoppers.
“Consumers are broadening their food choices, and we’re seeing that in the growth of organics,” Joan Wickham, Manager of Advertising and Public Relations for Sunkist, said in a press release. “With more acreage coming into production, Sunkist has a growing supply of organics to meet this increasing demand.”
According to Sunkist, IRI Worldwide Data noted that retail sales of organic citrus in the U.S. were up 14 percent in 2015, a rate three times as high as the demand for conventional citrus.
“Sunkist offers retailers both conventional and organic citrus to meet expanding consumer demands,” Julie DeWolf, Sunkist Director of Retail Marketing, added. “We also offer retailers tools to promote citrus in their stores and drive sales, including materials that educate consumers about our growers’ commitment to providing safe, quality fruit while also preserving the land for future generations.”
Among its wide organic offerings, Sunkist’s program includes:
- Navel
- Cara Cara Navel
- Valencia oranges
- Mandarins
- Minneolas
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Limes
Sunkist is also showcasing its Sunkist Family Story program, a project in which the company’s cooperative family farmers share their stories with the consumer.
A video featuring a snapshot of those stories can be viewed below.
The video is located on a microsite (located here) with imagery and vignettes, as well as social media content and retail point-of-sale materials. Combined with its strong supply of both organic and conventional citrus, this ability to bring consumers into the groves of Sunkist citrus allows it to supply retailers with their entire citrus program and a story for shoppers who want to know where it all comes from.
VENTURA, CA - LINKFRESH has announced the addition of several new software enhancements, introducing a host of features that include catch weight, case management, the incorporation of a global trade item number (GTIN), and enhancements to archiving. These new additions are compatible with the already popular LINKFRESH ERP on the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Platform, and offer functionality across mobile platforms.
“The new improvements we are incorporating into our software will make a big difference for suppliers, allowing them to manage their supply processes more accurately and precisely whilst also gaining greater visibility across the supply chain process,” explained Robert Frost, CEO of LINKFRESH.
Frost shared that in the wake of recent controversies and with more and more questions coming up about how supply chain processes can be improved, LINKFRESH’s new improvements are needed now more than ever. Frost predicts that these innovations will help suppliers improve traceability and efficiency simultaneously, reducing the capacity for human error and ensuring that any supply side issues which do occur can be quickly traced to their source.
According to the company’s press release, the following is an overview of the new enhancements for LINKFRESH ERP:
Catch Weight
A new catch weight capability allows operators to use ERP to measure their produce in both a base and secondary measure. For example, produce can be managed across the supply chain and invoiced in kilograms or pieces, creating both a primary and secondary invoice ledger and offers far greater versatility for suppliers.
Case Management
Case management, an enhancement which allows for individual cases to be managed through LINKFRESH ERP software, will means that specific case alterations can be instructed through the software. For example, taking part of one existing case and adding it to another will enable LINKFRESH to offer a level of micro-management not possible under a simple pallet management system.
GTINs
GTINs will allow for material in the supply chain to be allocated both an internal reference number and a universally recognized GTIN. This enhances the traceability of materials in the supply chain by giving them a unique reference number, and can be quickly and easily recognized by primary manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers. Adopting this allows LINKFRESH ERP to streamline workflow and improve communication in the supply chain between parties, improving transparency at every stage of the supply chain.
Archiving
The new archiving capability introduced into the latest LINKFRESH software allows for a cleaner, less cluttered approach to supply chain management, removing unneeded information from view quickly and easily.
For more information visit www.linkfresh.com or follow @linkfresh on Twitter.