SEGUIN, TX - Lunchtime is about to get a whole lot healthier—thanks to a special collaboration between retailer H-E-B and Dole Foods Company. All seven elementary schools in Seguin Independent School District (ISD) will now feature salad bars, giving a fresh and fun new way to eat fruits and vegetables, due to a generous donation from these two collaborators.
“H-E-B is committed to the well-being of Texans, and we have a responsibility to take leadership in improving the health of our communities,” said Hugh Topper, Group Vice President of Fresh for H-E-B. “In particular, investing in our children has the power to change the way future generations see the importance of health and wellness in their lives.”
In the Seguin ISD, 69 percent of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, a press release explains. The new, self-serve produce bars will feature a wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables to boost new choices for students at breakfast and lunch.
“With one-third of the nation’s children either overweight or obese, we need to look at new ways to encourage healthier eating,” said Bill Goldfield, Dole’s Director of Corporate Communications. “It’s important to start the nutrition conversation, and offer tangible healthy alternatives, as early in childhood as possible.”
Representatives with H-E-B and Dole were joined by leadership from United Fresh Produce Association, Chartwells, Seguin ISD, and local and state officials today to present Rodriguez Elementary School in Seguin with a new salad bar at a celebration event.
“We are all very excited about this new salad bar, which will reinforce nutrition education messages while providing students the ability to select from a variety of fruit and vegetable options each day,” said Stetson Roane, Seguin ISD Superintendent.
The salad bar donations from H-E-B and Dole were organized in conjunction with the United Fresh Start Foundation, a founding partner of the national Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative. To date, the initiative has facilitated the donation of salad bars to more than 4,100 schools nationwide, benefitting nearly 3 million children every school day. H-E-B’s Topper serves on the Board of Trustees of the United Fresh Start Foundation.
“We are pleased to partner with H-E-B and Dole to provide salad bars to schools in this area of the country, ensuring students here will have access to more fresh produce, and healthier options at lunch,” said Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association.
With salad bars empowering students to make healthy choices, kids are about to get much more excited to eat their fruits and veggies at school and beyond.
RIO RICO, ARIZONA - Matt Mandel, recent Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SunFed, has assumed the new role of COO of the Rio Rico, Arizona-based company. The title change was made official in mid-August, and has proved to be a smooth transition as Matt’s responsibilities have always wavered between sales, production, and trying to keep things running as effortlessly as possible.
When I ask Matt what he hopes to accomplish in the new role, he tells me that he wants to ensure that SunFed is able to continue on a path of growth while still delivering on its promise of Perfect Produce®.
“We put so much effort and heart into every box we ship, I want to make sure our partners are able to take advantage of that hard work and deliver the finest products to their customers,” he says.
In Matt’s new role, he will be focusing his attention back on the things that have always made SunFed great, operational excellence.
“We grow the best products and we want to make sure that all the gears in this beautiful machine are well-oiled and fine-tuned. I will be working with the CEO, CFO, and CIO to ensure all of the hard work that goes into the ground ends up pleasing our customers,” Matt says.
Matt started in the business during high school when SunFed first took root, working in the warehouse after classes, repacking hot peppers. After graduating from college and a brief stint in the world of IT and foodservice, Matt made the decision to join the family-run company with his father and SunFed President, Danny Mandel. More than 9-years later, Matt’s contributions continue to be essential to the growth and success of SunFed.
Congrats Matt, from your friends at AndNowUKnow! Next Siete Leguas shot, or five, is on us.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - Veg-Fresh Farms has been selected as the 2015 Supplier of the Year by fast-food giant Checkers Drive-In Restaurants.
“Veg-Fresh Farms is a long-term supplier who has been supplying our restaurants with quality produce at competitive pricing since the mid-1990’s,” explained Patti Dumars, the Senior Director Supply Chain Management for Checkers. “They are a company that makes all of our jobs easier because you don’t have to worry about them – they can always be counted on for excellent service.”
Checkers’ award recognizes vendors that are committed to service, with on-time deliveries, and outstanding quality and consistency, the company explains in a press release. At their annual conference on September 11, Checkers concluded the event by announcing its top vendors and suppliers at a dinner ceremony at the Hyatt Regency.
“They go above and beyond to take care of our brands. They conduct frequent visits to the growing facilities and to our distribution centers to monitor quality handling and service,” Dumars continued.
Even when Checkers was in the midst of distribution changes and seeking several new sources of supply for the second time in five years, Veg-Fresh Farms executed flawlessly and without interruption, Dumars concluded.
BELLINGHAM, WA – Haggen is looking to close 100 more stores in a full-scale exit from the Pacific Southwest market.
After months of struggling and a legal back-and-forth with Albertsons, the retailer has decided to realign its operations around 37 core stores and one stand-alone pharmacy in the Pacific Northwest as part of the Chapter 11 process.
This is the second round of closures for the company, which last month announced it would seek to sell or shutter 27 stores in California, Oregon, Arizona, and Washington. In the weeks that followed, Haggen filed a lawsuit amounting to $1 billion in damages against Albertsons and reportedly parted ways with CEO Bill Shaner.
Shaner was hired in December 2014 for Haggen’s Pacific Southwest division as it anticipated its expansion into two new states.
Haggen’s footprint ballooned as it went from 18 stores to 164 after buying more than a hundred locations from Safeway and Albertsons.
Now, only 21 of those newly-acquired stores will continue operating along with 16 of Haggen’s historical stores.
The company is seeking approval from the Bankruptcy Court to conduct store closing sales.
According to a press release, Haggen’s historical stores have seen “strong sales growth over the past year,” while the 21 newly-acquired stores have “proven successful under the Haggen banner.”
John Clougher, CEO of Haggen Pacific Northwest, commented in a press release that these 37 identified stores “will have the best prospect for ongoing excellence.”
“Although this has been a difficult process and experience, we will remain concentrated in the Pacific Northwest where we began, focusing on fresh Northwest products and continuing our support and involvement in the communities we serve,” he said.
All employees of the non-core stores and the Pacific Southwest support office will receive 60 day notice of the pending store and office closures. During this process, all stores will remain open. Employees will continue to receive their pay and benefits through the normal course of business as previously approved by the court.
Approximately 11,000 people are currently employed at Haggen, according to the Seattle Times.
As we previously reported, Haggen and Albertsons are now “cooperating” to find employment for former Albertsons workers. As this was a prior restriction in the FTC Order with Albertsons, both retailers are seeking a waiver to secure work for displaced Haggen employees. The waiver, however, will require Commission approval, which the FTC is seeking to obtain on an expedited basis.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this developing story.
POMPANO BEACH, FL - Southern Specialties is launching a new series of print ads to run in industry publications, highlighting millennial interest with its “Fresh Generation” image campaign.
The new campaign promotes the company’s veggies and fruits as being “perfect for today’s Fresh Generation.”
“Our products hit the sweet spot for millennials interested in purchasing fresh produce,” said Charlie Eagle, Vice President of Business Development. “This campaign reinforces that fact to our customers.”
According to the company’s campaign, Southern Specialties’ veggies and fruits are “perfect for today’s Fresh Generation.”
Geno Valdes, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Southern Specialties explained, “When celebrity chefs feature produce like baby rainbow carrots, yellow and green French beans or purple asparagus, in their shows, it resonates with today’s shopper. Our lineup is available in a pack and size perfect for the generation that wants quick, easy, and healthy choices.”
Several of the ads will be printed in groups of two showcasing both bulk products, grown and imported by Southern Specialties, and the company’s Southern Selects value-added line, according to a press release.
“These ads are a departure from previous campaigns,” said Eagle. “We decided to use employees, friends and their families as models. They all fall within the target demographic group and enjoy the fruits and vegetables we bring to market. We had great fun doing the photo shoots and I think that shows in the ads.”
The company has produced a brief video of the photo shoots which can be seen above and on YouTube.
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - Robinson Fresh is expanding the Mott’s® brand with new additional options for retail, wholesale, and foodservice customers.
Mott’s® offers four pack sizes including 2 ounce bags of red organic apple slices inside a 5-, 6-, and 8-count clamshell pack as well as an 11 ounce bag of loose slices, according to a press release.
Robinson Fresh is also including pouches of Tajin seasoning in Mott’s® 6 count pack of slices in 2 ounce bags. For an extra kick of flavor, Tajin combines chili peppers, lime, and salt to create a bold seasoning that can be sprinkled onto fruit.
“Apples continue to remain a produce category leader as consumers embrace their portability, wide range of varieties and flavor profiles, as well as convenience,” said Drew Schwartzhoff, Robinson Fresh’s Director of Marketing. “These new products were developed in an effort to seek out new flavors and exciting ways to offer healthy snack options to consumers of all ages.”
These additions to the Mott’s® brand are just the latest in a series of new apple products, including retail packs of apple slices with cheese, caramel, peanut butter, and grapes.
DELANO, CA - With the debut of Sunview Vineyards’ proprietary Gem seedless grapes, the AndNowUKnow team had to come to the Delano, CA ranch and ask Marko Zaninovich just what makes them so unique, and learn a little bit more about the season at hand.
“Gem is a unique proprietary variety of Sunview Vineyards,” Zaninovich tells us. “This red seedless has a very large berry, is elongated, and most of all, it’s a brilliant red color. It’s a very crunchy berry. It's sugar is 19 to 21 right now.”
With picking for this variety lasting through September, Gem seedless grapes are expected to compliment an already great San Joaquin Valley table grape season.
“The grapes are full of flavor because the sugar is getting higher as we move along the season. We’ve been shipping grapes from the San Joaquin Valley since July, and will continue to do so into January,” Zaninovich shared.
To learn more about Gem seedless grapes and to see AndNowUKnow’s exclusive interview with Marko Zaninovich, watch the full video above.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Tis' the season where everyone has pumpkins on their minds—even drug smugglers.
Federal law enforcement authorities in Philadelphia seized 363 pounds of cocaine concealed in cases of Costa Rican pumpkins and squash last week.
The eighth largest cocaine seizure in the Port of Philadelphia’s history, the 363 pounds of cocaine has a street value of more than $6 million, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“This significant cocaine seizure illustrates how corroboration between partner law enforcement agencies keeps our communities safe,” said Susan Stranieri, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “Narcotics interdiction remains a Customs and Border Protection enforcement priority. We’re pleased to have stopped this deadly shipment from entering the U.S.”
Shaped in 384 long, thin packages and laminated into the Halloween crop's boxes, the cocaine arrived aboard the M/V Santa Maria on its way to a distributor in the Bronx, NY.
CBP officers worked with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which are continuing a joint investigation.
Gary Tuggle, Special Agent in Charge for DEA Philadelphia Division commented that by law enforcement agencies working together and using all the available resources, a major blow to the drug-trafficking organizations was dealt.
“This is an immense amount of cocaine found cleverly stashed in the shipment of produce,” added John Kelleghan, HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge. “It’s a testament to our combined local and federal law enforcement efforts that we were able to find this shipment. With HSI’s transnational investigative network working with the DEA, we will continue to track down those who tried to smuggle these narcotics into the country.”
Authorities have yet to make any arrests, and an investigation into the pumpkin smuggling continues.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - Aldi, the European-originated discount retailer, has begun the first steps in its previously announced store expansion in Southern California.
The chain is looking for about 50 managers to fill the positions for 11 locations that have been released, with positions starting at $18 per hour and going up to $23 per hour with tenure, according to The Press Enterprise.
The company said that employees will average 33 to 40 hours a week, as well as being eligible for benefits, including health and dental insurance.
The company previously announced its intentions to expand, with these 25 new Southern California locations between March and July of 2016.
The first 11 of this expansion into the Southern California markets can be found below:
- 1638 East Second St., Beaumont
- 15080 Summit Ave., Fontana
- 4020 Highland Ave., San Bernardino
- 78-601 Highway 111, La Quinta
- 18289 Collier Ave., Lake Elsinore
- 30163 Haun Road, Menifee
- 12630 Day Street, Moreno Valley
- 72543 Highway 111, Suites A & B, Palm Desert
- 5200 Ramon Road, Suite B5, Palm Springs
- 625 E. Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino
- 34000 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa
According to the report, Aldi is hosting hiring events next week for the open managerial positions. These meeting are slated to take place at the following times and places:
- 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at the Riverside Convention Center, 3637 Fifth St., Riverside
- 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 at Pins N Pockets, 32250 Mission Trail, Lake Elsinore
- 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 at Hilton Garden Inn, 1755 S. Waterman Ave., San Bernardino
- 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 at the Yucaipa Community Center, 34900 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa
Applicants are required to have a high school diploma or GED, the ability to lift 45 pounds, and must be able to work anytime between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. any day of the week. For more information those interested can go to www.aldiuscareers.com.
The retailer recently said in a release that it intends to continue its accelerated growth, anticipating to serve more than 45 million customers per month by 2018.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - It's time to start planning on how you’ll be celebrating “Frieda Rapoport Caplan Day” this year.
Los Alamitos, California, has proclaimed October 15, 2015, as “Frieda Rapoport Caplan Day,” to celebrate the accomplishment of its longtime resident, the founder of Frieda’s Specialty Produce.
Los Alamitos Mayor, Richard Murphy, presented Caplan with the proclamation at the September 21 city council meeting, making sure to highlight Frieda’s “hard work and dedication to the produce industry and the city of Los Alamitos.”
“One of the nice things is that three of our clients have their stores in Los Alamitos – Ralphs, Sprouts, and Vons-Safeway,” shared the always congenial Frieda. “Do not forget to look for your exotic fruits and vegetables!”
To commemorate the occasion, a press release states that the Los Alamitos City Council will host a free public screening of Fear No Fruit, Frieda Caplan’s documentary, on Frieda Rapoport Caplan Day, at the Los Alamitos Community Center. Frieda, along with daughters Karen Caplan, President and CEO of Frieda’s Specialty Produce, and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, Vice-President and COO, will be present for a post-screening meet and greet with the local community, the company shared.
“[Caplan] is such a champion in her industry, you would not know the things she had done until you come and see the movie,” says Council Member Warren Kusumoto.
A resident of the small northern Orange County city since 1958, Caplan still lives in the same home she shared with her daughters and late husband, Al Caplan. In 1994, daughters Karen and Jackie relocated Frieda’s Specialty Produce from Los Angeles to Los Alamitos.