CORAL GABLES, FL - Del Monte Fresh Produce has announced that its pineapple farms and canning operations in Kenya have been officially certified as Sustainably Grown.
Certified by SCS Global Services (SCS), this distinction is in accordance with the producer and handler requirements of its internationally recognized Sustainably Grown Standard v 1.3. As a result, certified canned pineapples will soon be able to feature the Kingfisher eco-label.
“We are very pleased that our efforts have been validated by a globally recognized independent certifier such as SCS Global Services that uses sound science as the basis for its stringent Sustainably Grown standard,” explained Hans Sauter, Vice President Corporate Research & Development and Agricultural Services of Del Monte. “The SCS sustainably Grown certification of our Kenya farms and canning operations follows the certification of our fresh banana and pineapple farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica earlier this year. We are very proud of this accomplishment and we are looking forward to expanding the certification program to cover more of our operations.”
According to a press release, this Sustainably Grown certification includes rigorous independent evaluation of the production, management, and distribution processes of the Del Monte farms and canning operations in Kenya. The certified Del Monte farms and canning operations demonstrated that they have established practices that guarantee the highest level of environmental responsibility, worker protection, social responsibility, and quality control. Del Monte explains that the certified farms and canning operations were evaluated under the following criteria:
- Sustainable Crop Production
- Ecosystem Management and Protection
- Resource Conservation and Energy Efficiency
- Integrated Waste Management
- Fair Labor Practices
- Community Benefits
- Product Quality
- Product Safety and Purity
“We congratulate Del Monte for this significant accomplishment,” said Dr. Stanley Rhodes, SCS’ Founder and CEO. “Achieving the SCS Sustainably Grown certification is by no means an easy task. This standard is based on comprehensive, multifaceted, science-based criteria that address all aspects of agricultural operations aimed at minimizing environmental impacts, providing a safe and healthy work environment, and protecting product integrity. The Del Monte pineapple farms and canning operations in Kenya were able to demonstrate that they have the processes and management systems in place to grow and process their products in a sustainable manner.”
Consumers in Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa will soon see the SCS Kingfisher eco-label signifying Sustainably Grown on certified products from Del Monte Kenya farms and operations.
BENTONVILLE, AR - While one marketing giant is stepping down, another one is stepping up. Walmart has announced that its Chief Marketing Officer Stephen Quinn will be retiring, and former marketing chief of Target, Michael Francis, will be joining the company as a marketing consultant at the same time.
Quinn, who has been CMO of Walmart since 2007, will be officially retiring January 31, Walmart spokeswoman Deisha Barnett told Reuters. He led the company's rebranding efforts in 2008 and was responsible for the tagline - 'Save money. Live Better."
As Francis steps in on January 1, the Wall Street Journal reports that his focus will be a broad revamp of the company’s marketing department. A source also told Nasdaq that he will likely work closely with Quinn's eventual successor.
"I'm committed to building on the strength of that brand, and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity," Francis said in a statement.
Francis served at Target for more than 26 years, reported Nasdaq, who then joined DreamWorks Animation SKG as the company's Chief Marketing Officer. Francis has also previously worked at J.C. Penney Co Inc , where he oversaw the retailer's marketing, merchandising, design, and global sourcing initiatives.
This isn’t the first executive shakeup Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has instigated in recent months either. In part of what analysts are calling his turnaround plan, McMillon recently announced that CFO Charles Holley would retire in 2015, and Steve Bratspies would become Chief Merchandising Officer.
According to Nasdaq, Walmart executives say this move is in part a way to attract more middle and upper income households, a goal that Francis helped achieve while at Target.
For more on Walmart’s restructuring moves, check back with AndNowUKnow.
WATSONVILLE, CA – Lakeside Organic Gardens is expanding its sales team with the addition of Hugo Raygoza and Jordan Stidham.
Raygoza, a 15-year Costco Wholesale veteran and lifelong Watsonville resident, is an experienced merchandising professional with experience in customer service and driving sales. The company says that his diverse background is a perfect match to help build its organic produce business.
Prior to joining Lakeside, Stidham spent 13 years in the hospitality business at Palapas, a local Santa Cruz County restaurant. He received a Bachelors’ Degree in Humanities and Communication from California State University Monterey Bay and a Master’s Degree from Liberty University.
Brian Peixoto, Lakeside’s Sales Manager, said in a press release that with their addition, the sales team would be able to better focus on the needs of their customers.
“Hiring people new to the organic industry is something I strongly believe in,” said Peixoto. “Being able to train and mold someone into the employee we want to represent our company is much easier when you have a clean slate. We are looking forward to the future of our sales team and Lakeside Organic Gardens as a whole.”
Both Raygoza and Stidham are excited to start their new positions, and will be joining Brian Peixoto, Kyle Villhauer, Nando Marquez, and Randy Craney on Lakeside Organic Gardens’ sales team.
CALIFORNIA - It looks as though the Sierra Mountains are going to continue to look like actual winter as we approach Christmas.
A train of storms is traveling down the west, bringing wind, snow, and rain southward, AccuWeather reports, with the heaviest concentration of rain and snow to focus on Oregon and part of Northern California this weekend.
Moisture has already begun to collect, with parts of California receiving rain yesterday morning and the Sierra Nevada seeing up to two feet of snow, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Despite the addition to the snowpacks, it looks as though this round will not be as heavy as those that have preceded it.
"Storms will continue to move in from the Pacific Ocean next week," Brett Anderson, Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather, said in a report. "However, the storms will not bring as much precipitation and should have greater separation from one another, when compared to the past couple of weeks."
While the snow could let up into next week, the cold is said to stick around, which will create prime conditions for skiiers and snowboarders alike.
"The air that settles into the western United States next week will originate in part from Alaska and part from the Pacific Ocean," Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather Chief Long Range Meteorologist, said. "The end result of the air mass blend will deliver temperatures of 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit below average. For much of the interior West and in portions of the Rockies and Great Basin, this will be the coldest weather of the season so far."
The good news for this cold is that it will hopefully be able to keep the snow in place long enough to add to the snowpack, a continuing concern as the state focuses on conserving water.
"Once cold air settles into the Great Basin and the Intermountain West this time of the year, it is difficult to rout out," Pastelok said. "And, this certainly looks like a situation where the cold will linger with areas of fresh snowcover offering assistance."
Central and Southern California will also see continued cold temperatures in the next week, according to AccuWeather, with the pattern setting up multiple nights with a significant frost or freeze over the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, and the Inland Empire, as well as temperatures dipping below that of late November. This, too, will funnel down into Southern California’s Santa Ana areas.
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow weather patterns that could potentially impact fresh produce growth and transit as they develop.
SALINAS, CA - Mann Packing has announced a new promotion for the holiday season, all centered on the company's Culinary Cuts® Sweet Potato Ribbons or Butternut Squash Zig Zags recipes.
Accessible via Mann’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages using the hash tag #MannsMerryRecipes, the online promotion is running now through December 18. Customers around the country who submit a photo of their favorite Culinary Cuts® recipes will be automatically entered to win a 14-piece Kitchen in a Box cookware set to spice up their holidays. Entries will be featured on Mann’s various social media platforms and will be judged on presentation, creativity, and number of online votes.
“We are changing the way people think about eating healthy around the holidays by offering our customers better products in a way that is affordable and accessible,” said Kim St George, Director of Marketing & Communications at Mann’s. “With Culinary Cuts® and the collection of selected recipes in our Holiday Recipe eBook, we can now better serve our customers and Culinary Cuts® Club members by allowing them to create healthy and delicious meals conveniently and effortlessly during the holiday season.”
Along with Mann’s new holiday recipe promotion, the company is introducing it’s seasonal veggie tray in 18-ounce and 40-ounce versions; shipping now through January to Canadian customers nationwide.
“Our seasonal holiday trays are one of our best sellers with our fun and whimsical snowman graphics,” added Kim. “Not only do retailers benefit from increased vegetable tray sales during the holidays, but consumers are also provided with a unique winter-themed healthy vegetable tray for holiday entertaining.”
With more and more ways to get customers engaged, these new promotions and a third year of offering its Girlfriends Guide for Moms, Mann Packing is ensuring the holiday season will be a breeze. The seasonal ideas and recipes in the Girlfriends Guide for Moms give customers a chance to browse fun and festive recipes to add to traditional family classics. All recipes feature Mann’s pre-packaged, ready-to eat/use premium fresh vegetables.
As always, Culinary Cuts® Club members regularly receive coupons and unique recipes for Culinary Cuts® products. For more information, please visit Mann’s website at www.veggiesmadeeasy.com.
MISSION, TX - Viva Fresh Expo, the hot show that sold out its debut, is back for 2016 and has just announced details for the kick-off of its second annual Viva Fresh Open, entitled “Swing for the Future.”
“We’re excited to be continuing the Viva Fresh Open in conjunction with the Viva Fresh Produce Expo,” Craig Slate, GM of the Texas Division at SunFed, said, according to a press release. “The tournament provides a great opportunity for expo participants to join together for some camaraderie, networking, fun competition and to support a great cause at the same time.”
Last year’s tournament successfully raised $10,000 for Matthew McConaughey’s foundation Just Keep Living, which sets up fitness and wellness programs in public schools for students that may not otherwise have access to learning about the mind and body connection.
“Giving back to the community is something that we’re all passionate about,” Bret Erickson, President and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, added. “Being able to raise funds at this tournament is not only beneficial for our communities and future, but a great networking extension for our Viva Fresh Expo.”
Presented by Wonderful Citrus and Bebo Distributing, the tournament is slated to take place at JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa’s famous TPC golf course on Thursday, March 31, 2016. Registration includes both tournament entry and an awards reception to recognize the first and second place teams, with proceeds going to benefit a chosen non-profit organization.
Players and expo attendees are invited to join the 19th Hole Celebration, held at the TPC San Antonio at the JW Marriot Resort, with live music and games after the award ceremony concludes at 6:30 p.m.
In addition to the tournament, Viva Fresh incorporates innovative ideas and growing technologies while presenting an opportunity for quality connections and networking within the industry.
For more information on the Viva Fresh Open Golf Tournament and sponsorship opportunities, go to www.vivafreshexpo.com.
WILMINGTON, DE – Agriculture chemical giants DuPont and Dow Chemical are said to be in advanced merger talks, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Wall Street Journal reports that an announcement could be made within the next few days, but there is no guarantee that a deal will be struck.
Combined, the two companies would be worth approximately $120 billion, each representing a market capitalization of about $60 billion. The two companies would also have more than $90 billion in combined sales.
News regarding the mergers and acquisitions of big name agriculture chemical companies such as Monsanto and Syngenta has been emerging as of late. Though none of these deals have yet to come to fruition, it has been frequently reported that DuPont’s new Chief Executive, Edward D. Breen, has held discussions with other executives at rival agriculture companies.
As we previously reported, DuPont and Dow’s agricultural operations combined would total about 17% control of the global market in pesticides, putting them in third place behind Syngenta and Bayer, according to Morgan Stanley.
The Wall Street Journal also reports that if the merger between DuPont and Dow were to be approved, it would be followed by a three-way breakup of the combined company, splitting into agrochemicals, material sciences, and specialty products. No other details about the terms of the deal have been announced, however.
The deal has been described as a “merger of equals,” meaning that there wouldn’t be a big premium for either set of shareholders, the Wall Street Journal said.
According to Reuters, Dow shares closed up 12 percent to a record high of $56.97. DuPont saw a similar boost in its shares, increasing 12 percent to $74.49.
For now, we will have to continue to wait and see if this potential merger becomes a reality. For more on this story as it develops, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
CANADA - Will McDonald’s soon be saying goodbye to the Big Mac and hello to a Lentil & Sweet Potato Hummus Wrap with Kale? It might sound like fiction, but believe it or not, McDonald’s Canada is taking steps to make this a reality, opening its first ever produce-centric McCafé location.
Complete with fruit and veggie laden salads, soups, and wraps, as well as traditional coffee and pastries, this new McDonald’s concept is a step in what the company says is a way to better connect with consumers in urban areas.
"We’re putting the café in McCafé and making the brand a destination in its own right," John Betts, President and CEO of McDonald’s Canada, said in a statement. "The new standalone McCafé locations allow us to build on our strong coffee credentials and create even stronger connections with our brand by offering our guests the more complete cafe menu they’ve been asking us for."
McCafé will open its first location at Union Station in Toronto, but has plans to expand into other primarily urban neighborhoods.
In general, the cafes will be much smaller than McDonald's restaurants, and offer "on-the-go" menus to give customers a quick option for coffee and snacks. The "on-the-go" menu includes items from the new McCafé Bakery, such as croissants, a mini chocolatine, and pastries made with real fruit. Consumers will also find the new McCafé Bakery menu in McDonald's restaurants nationally in Canada.
Will we see McCafés hitting American soil anytime soon? McDonald's often tests new menu items in foreign markets like Canada before bringing them to the U.S., Business Insider reports. One notable example would be Australia seeing the debut of the brand's coffee line, McCafe, before it hit U.S. soil.
All in all, it’s clear McDonald’s is increasingly making moves to bring more fresh produce to its menus. For the company's next moves in this area, check back with us at AndNowUKnow.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Select retail chains are taking note of the health-fueled trends gripping consumers, changing the checkout format that typically houses candies, chips, and sodas.
As we perviously reported, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores has been testing what it calls “family-friendly lanes,” the Sacramento Bee reports, a format that pushes produce and healthier items at checkout. Now it is practiced throughout all 114 of its California stores.
“It’s an evolution about customers’ interests and demands, and how those are growing and changing,” Chelsea Minor, Director of Relations and Public Affairs for Raley's said, according to the report. “It was a big change for us recently to take that to the checkout stand.”
Raley’s is not the only one looking to change the impulse wave in the produce industry’s favor. Target also launched a recent pilot testing a similar format in 30 stores throughout Dallas, Denver, and Minneapolis.
While the ever-growing popularity of bringing home healthier food would make this appear to be a typical step forward in the evolution of retail formats, Sacramento Bee reports that other stores have pulled back in the past due to fear of losses as during the transition period.
Retail Analyst Jackie Gray of Willard Bishop, a consulting group in Chicago, Illinois, said in the report that those starting the trend risk taking a financial hit because consumers are not looking for those items in the checkout lanes.
“It’s difficult to replenish, and it’s not where people are looking for those items,” Gray said.
While it might be a tough market to crack, it would be an impactful one. The checkout line reportedly brings in about 1.5% of whole-store profits each year, about $5.5 billion, according to research by Front-End Focus.
For now, however, Raley’s gives individual stores the freedom to integrate health-fueled lanes as they see fit, from one aisle to all, or mixed with the typical candy and gum options.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the status of this trend as it continues to seek traction in the typical retail format.
IRVINE, CA - Western Growers has called for industry members to urge the California Senate to take immediate water conservation action before the predicted rains of El Niño hit.
How? By calling the office of Senator Dianne Feinstein to express the need to capture and store as much El Niño storm runoff as possible in the coming months.
“Please, DO NOT wait to call. Western Growers members can turn this situation around if we pick up the phone and call NOW,” the association stated in an email.
As we previously reported, the warming of a certain patch of the central Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide (associated with flooding in some places, droughts elsewhere, a generally warmer globe, and fewer Atlantic hurricanes) have been linked to bringing wetter-than-normal weather patterns to areas of the U.S. Western Growers is pushing for legislative action to take advantage of those patterns before they arrive to preserve as much water as possible for drought-stricken California.
The association urges the industry to call, and when doing so to follow this protocol:
- Provide your name and city before making your key points.
- Use your own words
- Reinforce that legislation giving flexibility to the water agencies is needed now, before the El Niño rains come and huge amounts of runoff are lost.
- This is an issue that has been negotiated extensively.
- That more hearings/process puts further risk into more runoff loss.
The email encourages those who want to get involved to offer any additional arguments, as well as to remind the Senator’s office that tens of thousands of farmers, and hundreds of thousands of their employees, are desperate for immediate action, and that California has huge amounts of empty reservoir space south of the Delta that "can only be filled by allowing more storm runoff to be pumped from the Delta."
Western Growers also stated that this would not amend the Endangered Species Act or the fish protection rules in the Delta, confirmed by the Obama Administration.
Senator Feinstein’s office can be reached at any of the following numbers/locations:
- Washington, DC: 202-224-3841
- Fresno: 559-485-7430
- Los Angeles: 310-914-7300
- San Francisco: 415-393-0707
- San Diego: 619-231-9712
For more information, contact the Western Growers Association at www.wga.com.