WENATCHEE, WA – Stemilt is putting the pedal to the medal with an innovative retail demonstration that seeks to capture millennial attention.
Stemilt’s Blender Bike, a stationary bicycle that can power a blender, ventured across various Schnucks Markets stores on a four-day tour to promote the company’s Fresh Blenders and offer freshly-made smoothies to shoppers.
“I was really amazed how many customers told me they are currently juicing or making smoothies at home,” said Jocelyn Gerard, Stemilt’s Merchandise Manager. “In particular, the kids really seemed to be on board with drinking smoothies.”
Schnucks customers had the opportunity to hop on the bike and run the blender using bicycle power. The Simple ABC Smoothie recipe, which can be found on Stemilt’s website, was tasted by over 1,000 customers during the tour, according to a press release.
All in all, the Blender Bike traveled from Stemilt's Chicago headquarters to Schnucks stores in Champaign, Urbana, Montvale, and Edwardsville, finishing in St. Louis with stops at Schnucks’ downtown Culinara store and ending on Halloween at Des Peres.
“For Halloween, Schnucks Des Peres had a costume contest for Store Associates and this only added to the fun,” Gerard continued. “Witches, fairies, and even a Stemilt ‘apple’ took the Blender Bike for a spin.”
Stemilt’s Fresh Blenders are available year-round and are packaged in convenient grab-and-go re-sealable pouches. Each bag contains five pounds of apples in two flavor profile offerings, sweet and tart, and features a recipe and QR code linking to Stemilt’s website for more juicing and smoothie recipes. The company says that Fresh Blenders make a great tie-in with much of the produce department to create additional sales in kale, spinach, berries, bananas, and more.
Keep an eye out for Stemilt’s Blender Bike making its way to more retail stores near you.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that George Finch and John D. Honeycutt were both responsibly connected with Third Coast Produce Company Ltd., a Houston, Texas-based company that had been previously cited for failure to pay for produce.
Finch and Honeycutt had appealed their responsibly connected status to the USDA Judicial Officer and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, both of which upheld USDA’s determination, according to a press release.
Consequently, Finch and Honeycutt may not be employed or affiliated with any PACA licensee until October 2, 2016, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Both men also cannot be licensed in the produce industry until October 2, 2017, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
In late February 2012, the USDA filed action against Third Coast Produce Company Ltd. for failure to make full payment promptly to 21 sellers for 207 lots of produce in the total amount of $514,943.40 under the PACA. The produce was purchased during February 2010 through July 2010. The company was allowed to reapply for a PACA license on June 5, 2014.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. USDA experts have also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. The Agricultural Marketing Service, PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
YAKIMA, WA - It takes a lot to truly make a difference in one’s community—now trying doing it for 46 years in a row. That’s exactly what FirstFruits Marketing of Washington was being recognized for at the 17th annual “Make A Difference” banquet on Thursday, October 29, 2015, hosted by the Southeast Yakima Community Center and the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington.
Highlighting 46 years of serving the Yakima community and honoring companies and individuals’ commitment to making a difference in the lives of others, this year’s banquet is a result of an ongoing partnership between FirstFruits and the Southeast Yakima Community Center.
“We’re extremely honored and humbled to be recognized by the Southeast Yakima Community Center and the Opportunities Industrialization of Washington,” said Naomi Lule, CFO of FirstFruits Marketing of Washington and Chair of FirstFruits Marketing of Washington Missions Commissions. “We are fortunate to be able to be a major partner of this crucial work both in human input and in financial contribution.”
FirstFruits has donated $5,000 to create a computer lab for the grade school children of an impoverished neighborhood who spend after school hours at the center. According to a press release, several FirstFruits employees are also active volunteers with the organization teaching self-image through dance classes and participating in various events throughout the year such as the annual holiday meal at Christmas and the national night out event.
FirstFruits says its business is about coming together for a greater purpose and giving back under the servant leadership business model. Additional recent philanthropic endeavors include sponsoring Yakima’s Northwest Harvest’s “Carve Out Hunger” event where it raised over 69,000 meals and donated $5,000 to Convoy of Hope for South Carolina relief, FirstFruits adds. Even further, a percentage of FirstFruits profits are allocated by its employees to non-profit organizations annually.
WATSONVILLE, CA - To kick off the holiday season, California Giant Berry Farms is launching a Just Drizzle It holiday promotion and sweepstakes, teaming up with a number of other category companies to showcase a wide variety of freshly-made sauces, spreads, and dressings.
Partners in the promo include Cabot Creamery, Blendtec, and Scharffen Berger.
“We are excited about this partnership of berries, chocolate, and creamy cheeses to inspire our consumer followers during the holidays as they look to dress up their parties,” Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing at California Giant Berry Farms, said in a press release. "We can’t go wrong teaming up with cheese and chocolate!”
According to California Giant, the team up creates a flavorful, eye-catching seven course menu that looks to inspire consumers to ‘dress up their plates’ with ‘just a drizzle.’
Beginning just in time for your customers to start planning what they are going to serve for Thanksgiving, the promotion starts mid-November and runs through New Year’s Eve.
And to sweeten the offer, the Just Drizzle It campaign comes with an opportunity to enter a YouTube sweepstakes by downloading a free ebook with recipes to see drizzle ideas, as well as access to watching a step-by-step video on how to ‘decorate your plate.’
Each week from mid-November to New Year’s Eve, a new recipe will be featured as a teaser to over 600,000 consumer followers through social media channels.
Participation will allow consumers to be eligible to win a grand prize Blendtec Designer 625 Blender ($480 value) with a special delivery of assorted berries, chocolates, and cheeses from California Giant, Scharffen Berger Chocolate, and the Cabot Creamery.
With the opportunity for brand recognition this represent, all involved partners are reportedly very excited about the significant attention to increase consumption of all featured products.
For more marketing and campaign concepts to increase consumptions during the holiday season, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
LOS ANGELES, CA - New court documents from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court now reveal that over 130 Haggen stores are going up for grabs, with many of them going in an auction today out of Los Angeles, CA. Albertsons is eyeing as many as 36 of these locations.
Today marks the auction date for stores in the Arizona, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Bakersfield/Riverside markets, while the remaining stores on the list will be auctioned off as follows:
November 10, 2015 - 27 Stores
- Oxnard-Ventura, CA Market
- Santa Barbara, CA Market
- San Luis Obispo, CA Market
- San Diego, CA Market
- Las Vegas, NV Market
November 11, 2015 - 33 Stores
- Portland/Salem, OR Market
- Baker City/Eugene/Grants Pass/Klamath Falls/Medford, OR Stores
- Seattle, WA Market
- Aberdeen/Bremerton/Spokane, WA Stores
- Tacoma, WA Market
On Monday, Albertsons will bid for 10 locations throughout Arizona, the Bakersfield/Riversfield, CA market, the Los Angeles, CA market, and the Anaheim, CA market. Then on Tuesday, Albertsons will be bidding for 10 locations throughout Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Las Vegas, and Wednesday the company will be bidding on 4 stores in Oregon and 12 stores in Washington, according to the filing.
As we’ve covered previously, Haggen had expanded from 18 stores with 16 pharmacies to 164 stores in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona after last year's acquisition from Albertsons. Since Haggen’s bankruptcy filing in September, this is the first rumblings of Albertsons being interested in acquiring any of the company’s locations back.
Other companies who have submitted baseline bids for the Haggen stores include Sprouts Farmers Market, Smart & Final, Stater Bros., and Tawa, the operator of the 99 Ranch Market chain.
TORONTO, ON – NatureFresh Farms is concluding its #GreenInTheCity tour across North America with one final stop: The 95th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair at Exhibition Place in Toronto.
From now until November 15th, NatureFresh’s Greenhouse Education Center will offer attendees an informative look at greenhouse produce and the importance it plays in the food chain.
NatureFresh President Peter Quiring said that The Royal is a fantastic event for the company to showcase its Greenhouse Education Center.
“It gives us an opportunity, first-hand, to help educate consumers about greenhouse-grown produce,” he said in a press release. “The 38 ft. trailer is a living attraction and allows us to physically demonstrate to consumers how tomato, bell pepper, and cucumber plants are grown in a greenhouse environment; it really helps put things in perspective.”
More than 300,000 visitors visit The Royal annually, which touts more than one million square feet of displays and competition facilities. Approximately 18,000 students are invited each year to see some of the educational exhibits on display, giving them an opportunity to experience the diverse aspects of the agri-food sector first-hand, according to a press release.
During the 10-day fair, NatureFresh’s Corporate Chef, Henry Furtado, will perform a variety of cooking demos as part of the company’s sponsorship of For Love Of Food Stage.
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this innovative and industry enhancing tour.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has barred Miami, Florida-based Pangea Produce Distributors for failure to pay for produce.
According to a USDA press release, the company failed to pay $262,199.48 to three sellers for 39 lots of produce. Consequently, the company can no longer operate in the produce industry until August 17, 2017, at which time it may reapply for a PACA license.
In addition, Rachel M. Badilla, the company’s Principal, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until August 17, 2016, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. USDA experts have also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. The Agricultural Marketing Service, PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - With the increasing demand for more fresh produce options, the Mexican agricultural sector is growing in leaps and bounds. To support today’s growth, and that yet to come, Scotiabank Mexico is working with growers to provide the much-needed resources to build their visions for the future while expanding their existing ones. The protected agriculture industry and open field are two of the main focuses, among several, with resources applied across the board.
José Luis Meza Villarreal (also known as Pepe), Executive Director of Scotiabank Agronegocios, took the time to speak with me about the opportunities within Mexican produce and the programs the team is offering to support the growing economy.
“Scotiabank's priority is to boost the productivity, safety and health of products we fund, be it in either the agricultural or livestock sector,” Pepe tells me. “Therefore, companies should focus on current and future consumer needs worldwide.”
Scotiabank is recognizing that the topic of obesity is an incredibly delicate conversation occurring around the world, thus healthy, balanced, and nutritious food is very important for families both in Mexico and abroad.
“Fruits and vegetables are one of the best choices we have today for answering the healthy eating question,”Pepe adds. “However, different studies, like those from the United Nation’s FAO, indicate that by 2050, we must produce between 60% to 70% of the food we produce today! We will have less arable land and less usable water to make it happen.”
For Pepe and the Scotiabank Ag team, it is the responsibility of farmers, ranchers, researchers, and many others to change the way they grow to achieve more with less.
“Of course, in addition to good agricultural and livestock practices, technology is essential to achieving this,” Pepe says.
When Scotiabank refers to technology, they are speaking of everything ranging from the first seed, to processes for pest control and nutrition management; basically the entire scope that comprises field-to-fork, including certified methods for quality and food safety.
“Another important focus for our clients is respect for the environment. We encourage the proper use and management of water through pressurized irrigation systems, use of organic fertilizer made from compost, reducing pesticide use via protected agriculture,” Pepe notes. “These are only a few examples of the many means we encourage for environmentally responsible growing.”
With all of this in mind, Scotiabank Mexico has been characterized in recent years as a key player in financing the food sector, especially within the agricultural industry.
So, what exactly are the benefits of working with Scotiabank? Pepe tells me that the way the program works along with its customer-centric focus has been fundamental in Scotiabank’s 38 percent annual growth over the last 6 years.
“Year to date 2015 we have grown our portfolio 38%!” Pepe says as he discusses the diverse ways Scotiabank interacts with customers in order to help them continue with their plans for growth, investment and strategy.
Based on these needs, Scotiabank builds a package tailored to each of its clients, including but not limited to:
- Credit for working capital (short-term)
- Credit for CapEx (long-term)
- Currency Exchange
- Hedges for exchange rates, commodities and interest
- Cash management
- Checking
- Electronic banking
“Having a team of experts in the agricultural sector - growth prospecting, technical representatives and credit specialists - without a doubt, is one of the principal advantages of Scotiabank Mexico,” he adds.
While Scotiabank Mexico has a presence throughout the entire country, the best way to contact the company’s agricultural department is via email at [email protected] or with its executive team via telephone at (55) 5123 1762 or (55) 5123 1742.
“I want to highlight that we are the recipients of the “Premio Nacional Agroalimentario” (National Agricultural Award) for our outstanding services, portfolio, and customer service; the highest award available in the category of goods and services given by the President of Mexico,” Pepe says. “Also, on November 12th, we will receive the “Premio Nacional TIF, as for the best service provider to the entire beef chain ”
Scotiabank has been in the fruit and vegetable business for over eight years, in both open field and protected agriculture. Stay tuned as we follow its progress and growth.
LAKE TAHOE, CA - While we are far from making a dent in California’s drought, early season snow is on the horizon once again and offering some hope as we look for the state’s snowpack to build. Snowpack is essential to the water supply in our state and we have our fingers crossed that this is a sign of things to come.
According to the National Weather Service, rain and snow will begin on Sunday in the Sierra Nevada’s with snow levels to start at 6,000-6,500 feet before slowly falling. On Sunday evening, the main front will move in with snow levels falling to near the valley floor after midnight. The report also states that most of the precipitation is slated to fall as snow above 5,500 feet.
We are looking at snow levels of up to a foot near the Sierra Crest moving into Monday, and lake level could see near 4 inches.
For an 18-year skier and snowboarder who works editorial in agriculture, the prospect of snow covered Sierras this winter is a win-win for me. According to the Sac Bee, Boreal Mountain Resort opened Friday and Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe in Nevada opened earlier in the week. Mammouth is one of the handful of resorts to open as well.
The Reno Gazette Journal reported that on Tuesday night this week, across much of western Nevada and parts of the Tahoe Basin, the areas saw up to an inch of snow with snow totals likely higher south of Pyramid Lake toward the Pah Rah Range and across Interstate 80. AccuWeather notes that this new storm follows the first widespread mountain snow of the season in the West, with totals of 1 to 2 feet of snow on part of the Sierra Nevada, Colorado Rockies and portions of northern Nevada.
Stay tuned as ANUK continues to do our rain dance here in California.
MONTVALE, NJ – On Thursday, A&P managed to win the bankruptcy court’s approval to sell another eight locations.
Judge Robert Drain of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, NY, approved deals to hand former A&P locations over to retailers including PSK Supermarket Inc., Food Emporium, CVS Pharmacy, and more, according to the Wall Street Journal.
As we previously reported, approximately 100 A&P stores still remain unsold because of “unfavorable locations” or “bad leases.” This is 50 percent more un-auctioned stores than experts previously estimated.
If A&P is unable to find buyers for the remaining locations, thousands of employees will be in danger of losing their jobs as the last locations close their doors on Thanksgiving Day.
A&P is still working to preserve as many jobs as possible, the Wall Street Journal reports, as well as finding new owners for its remaining stores.
In addition to these last few locations, A&P announced that it would sell all intellectual properties relating to A&P®, Pathmark®, Waldbaum’s®, Super Fresh®, Food Basics®, and Best Cellars®, as well as private label product brands, including America’s Choice®, Woodson & James®, Green Way™, Jane Parker®, Via Roma®, and Live Better® among others.
The company filed for bankruptcy for the second time in five years last July. A&P generated total gross sales of approximately $6.5, $5.8, and $5.5 billion in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow any further sales of A&P stores.