WASHINGTON - Pears are still in highly promotable shape as we head into the conclusion of this season’s harvest in Washington State.
Though growers are reporting that volume is slightly down from last year due to smaller fruit sizing, quality and taste are still in top shape with demand trending similar to last year.
Brianna Shales, Stemilt’s Communications Manager, says now is a perfect time to promote pears with the company’s Lil Snappers 3 lb. pouch bags to drive volume and dollars to the category.
“Given the smaller fruit size on pears this year, we’re excited about our Lil Snappers kid-sized fruit pouch bag program forpears,” Brianna tells me. “It was the #1 pouch bag brand for pears last season, moving seven times the volume over other 2 lb. options.”
The Lil Snappers 3 lb. pouch bag contains enough pears to put one pear in two lunchboxes for children every day during a school week.
“It’s a convenient pack for parents, but also works well for those shoppers looking for a smaller piece of fruit,” Brianna continued.
Stemilt is currently picking d’Anjou, red d’Anjou, and still has a few Bosc before the end of its harvest.
Chelan Fresh’s General Sales Manager Tim Evans is seeing a similar trend in quality as the company wraps up its Bosc harvest, noting that growing conditions will be “perfect” moving into fall with cool nights and warm days to finish.
“Quality and demand is very good out of the gate, with Bartlett starting very strong and early red pears moving well,” said Evans. “We’re seeing good demand on both domestic and export for d’Anjou pears. Overall, market conditions are very good to start, along with good movement.”
Though pear sizes were down from last year as a result of the warmer temperatures this past summer, Victor Ratia of Washington Fruit and Produce believes that retailers can expect promotable supplies and great sales to boot.
“A strong US dollar will present some challenges on export markets, but overall industry numbers indicate that we will have a very marketable amount of fruit and early demand for pears seems good,” said Ratia.
Washington Fruit and Produce expects to wrap up its harvest in two weeks, and is currently picking Anjous, Red Anjous, Bosc, Comice, and Forelles.
As of September 21, 2015, the USDA reported pear prices out of Yakima and the Wenatchee District in Washington State on size 70s and 80s at $26.00 - $32.90, size 90s at $24.00 - $32.90, size 100s at $24.00 - $24.90, size 120s at $20.00 - $22.90, and size 135s at $18.00 - $20.90.
For the latest news, keep checking in to AndNowUKnow.
MONTVALE, NJ - A&P employees got some welcome good news this week—the retailer has won bankruptcy court approval to sell 95 of its stores for $370 million, potentially preserving more than 10,750 jobs.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain approved the sale of 71 A&P stores to Acme Markets Inc. for $246 million and 24 stores to Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. for $124 million on Monday in a White Plains court. A&P has been working with the judge on its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors since July.
Acme and Stop & Shop expect to reach labor agreements with the union representing workers at those stores, A&P representatives told Newsday, keeping many or most of those workers employed.
Separately, A&P is seeking additional bids for 17 stores that Key Food Stores Co-operative Inc. had originally agreed to take over, court documents from the hearing show, and although the retailer is seeking higher bids for the 17 stores, Key Food has not ended its bid to buy them, a Key Food representative has confirmed.
Locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, including Mineola-based Local 338, Westbury-based Local 1500 and Mineola-based Local 342, have met with Stop & Shop, Acme Markets, and Key Food regarding their acquisition of A&P's stores.
"Both Stop & Shop and Acme have said that they will hire from the workforce," said Nikki Kateman, Local 338’s Deputy Director of Politics, Communications, and Special Projects. "We have also reached tentative labor agreements with the two companies that protect the workers' wages and benefits."
Other potential buyers have made bids on 39 of the stores Acme Markets sought to purchase and 16 of the stores Stop & Shop wanted to buy, Newsday reports, but Acme and Stop & Shop had the "highest and best offers,” says Stephen Goldstein, the Senior Managing Director of Evercore Group LLC, a financial advisory and investment banking firm, said in court documents filed Friday.
As we reported last week, A&P has extended for a second time the deadline for bid submissions on 177 stores. The deadline was originally set for Monday, Septemeber 11, at 5 pm.
Stores without successful bids are to be auctioned on October 1 and 2. Successful bidders will be announced October 3.
WASHINGTON D.C. – Chicago, Illinois-based La Galera Produce LLC, has posted a $100,000 surety bond to employ James Navilio under regulations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a USDA press release, Navilio was the President of Michael J. Navilio & Son Inc., Chicago, Illinois, a company which failed to pay reparation awards issued against it under the PACA.
The surety bond was posted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to employ Navilio. According to the release, the USDA will hold the $100,000 bond for four years, providing assurance to the industry that the company will be able to pay for produce purchased and to conduct its business according to PACA rules.
Any PACA licensee wishing to employ individuals who have failed to pay a reparation award, or have been subject to a USDA disciplinary action, must post a USDA-approved surety bond.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The USDA has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a press release from the USDA, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Super Berry Man Inc., doing business as Villegas Produce out of Los Angeles, CA, for failing to pay a $33,539 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Roberto Villegas was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.
- G & D Enterprises of Weldon LLC, operating out of Weldon, NC, for failing to pay an $8,355 award in favor of a Georgia seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, James D. McCully and Gwendolyn M. McCully were listed as members of the business.
- LRCSL LLC, operating out of Greenville, TX, for failing to pay a $40,475 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Lance L. Logan was listed as a member of the business.
The USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it, as well as impose restrictions against those Principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, Partners, members, Managers, Officers, Directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. Our experts also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
WENATCHEE, WA - Stemilt successfully brought together 12 popular food bloggers at its “Meet the Grower” dinner, a precursor to Seattle's International Food Bloggers Conference, and its signature Piñata® apple variety was the star of the plate.
“The 'Meet the Grower' dinner was a continuation of our work in connecting our proprietary products, like Piñata® apples, with influencers in the food world,” Roger Pepperl, Marketing Director for Stemilt, said in a press release. “It was a great evening filled with excellent food and conversation about farming, Stemilt, and up-and-coming, consumer-favorite varieties like Piñata® apples. We enjoyed helping these well-known bloggers kick off their weekend in Seattle for the International Food Bloggers Conference and sharing with them the passion our company has for growing wholesome and flavor-first fruits.”
The dinner, which was held on the eve of the conference last weekend, September 17th, took place at Beecher’s Loft, overlooking Pike Place Market and the waterfront in Seattle, Washington. According to the company, its signature Piñata® apples were the star ingredient of Chef Ericka Burke’s menu.
“This was my first time tasting and cooking with Piñata® apples and I was totally impressed,” Burke, who is also of Seattle’s Volunteer Park Cafe, Chop Shop Cafe & Bar, and Canal Market said, according to the release. “The fruit has a unique flavor profile and tropical essence that stands out, and I love that it’s grown in the Northwest. Piñata® is going to be one of my go-to apples to use in the kitchen.”
Kicking off with a warm welcome from Pepperl and fifth generation grower and Sales Director Tate Mathison, who shared some of his family’s Washington state farming history with the guests, as well as the varieties Stemilt has brought to market the last several years.
Attendees enjoyed a four-course menu including:
- A red pear and heirloom cucumber salad
- Roasted butternut squash and Bartlett pear bisque
- Pork tenderloin with celeriac puree
- White chanterelle mushrooms and candied Piñata® apple-fennel salad
- Piñata® apple pie with brown butter ice cream dessert
Bloggers documented their dining experience with Stemilt throughout the dinner by using the hashtag #stemiltfruit, as well as the company’s social media handles. Some those in attendance included Alyssa Brantley, blogger of real recipes for everyday families Everyday Maven, Lynne Feifer of Phoenix, Arizona-based 365 Days of Baking and More, and Holly Nilsson of Spend with Pennies, which features comforting family recipes, household tips, and more.
The “Meet the Grower” blogger dinner also helped kick off the new season of Piñata® apples, which we reported in our recent apple update are currently coming off the tree in Washington State, expected to be available in November.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The Golden Gate Wholesale Product Market, one of the largest and busiest produce terminals in Northern California, has announced a major renovation plan, with goals of making a series of infrastructure, environmental, food safety, traffic, and sustainability improvements.
“The Golden Gate Produce Market plays a vital role in the Northern California’s economy, and the improvements announced today will lay the foundation for the Market’s future growth and success,” said Peter Carcione, President of the Golden Gate Produce Market. “This investment in the Market expands our capability to bring the highest-quality fruits, vegetables, and organics to serve the diverse tastes of the region, and it builds on our long history of supporting California’s agriculture industry in a sustainable manner.”
According to a press release, the terminal’s enhancements will be state-of-the-art, and will include new solar/energy efficiency upgrades, cold chain food storage management, and worker safety systems, as well as smoother traffic flow within the South San Francisco facility.
“This renovation is the most extensive in the Market’s 53-year history and is designed to meet the changing needs of businesses located at the market and their customers who shop there,” said Board Member Steve Hurwitz. “By strengthening the Market’s infrastructure and advancing its commitment to sustainability, we will create a better experience for everyone who works at or visits the Market.”
Twenty-three independent and family-owned businesses operate at the 742,000 square-foot facility, including wholesalers, jobbers, commission merchants, brokers, foodservice distributors, processors, and one restaurant. More than 15 million packages move through the market each year, according to the company, which employs 475 workers and is open to the public.
These enhancements were decided upon after extensive market research and feedback with customers and businesses at the market, a press release explains. To advance the Market’s long-term goals and its commitment to sustainability, the seven-member board approved the following:
- The installation of solar panels to be complete before the end of 2016 that will dramatically reduce the Market’s need to draw energy from the power grid
- A new recycling/composting partnership with South San Francisco Scavenger to further reduce waste
- Upgraded electrical, water and sewage systems
- Improved traffic flow within the facility
- A number of worker safety upgrades, including better lighting and loading dock safeguards
- Improved cold chain storage management to ensure quality, freshness and food safety
- A makeover of the building’s exterior, including new signage, and expanded parking
The solar implementation is expected to have a significant positive environmental impact and reduce the market’s overall carbon footprint, the company says. The market’s new 1,322 kW solar installation is estimated to generate more than 2,015,648 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, while the use of a similar amount of conventional energy generated using fossil fuels would create greenhouse cases equal to that of 127 homes, 293 cars or the burning of 1.4 million pounds of coal annually, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
BELLINGHAM, WA - Despite the shots fired between Haggen and Albertsons in recent weeks, reports have come in the Washington-based chain is now seeking to sell back more than $12 million worth of assets to Albertsons and Safeway.
As we previously reported, Haggen is in talks with Albertsons to negotiate rehiring former employees to mitigate layoffs even though the two are at the beginnings of a billion dollar lawsuit. Now the Puget Sound Business Journal reports that the retailer is also looking to sell Albertsons Safeway back $3.57 million in inventory, plus $8.9 million in “records and good will.”
According to the report, the transfer to Albertsons would involve assets from 13 Haggen stores that are already located near its competitors banners.
Additionally, a spokeswoman for Haggen confirmed to the Puget Sound on Friday that the company has already slated more stores for closing on top of the previously announced 27 that are getting either sold or closed.
This latest development comes after a series of turns since Haggen bought 146 stores from Albertsons in order for the latter to proceed in its $9.4 billion merger with Safeway, including hiring an outside consulting agency to evaluate the performance of all Haggen stores and deciding to restructure itself around 18 core locations.
AndNowUKnow will continue to bring further updates with this story, as well as all other retail news influencing the produce industry, so stay tuned.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - After 35 years of devotion and dedication to the business, Mike Barber, Director of Sales at Procacci Brothers, has announced his retirement.
Known for his extensive knowledge of the produce industry and his ability to substantially grow Procacci’s banana business, Mike’s prowess was greatly admired during his many years at the company. It is with his retirement that Procacci remembers his ascent up the produce ladder, and celebrates his greatest accomplishments.
“Procacci Brothers, and I personally, would like to express our deepest gratitude to Mike Barber for 35+ years of dedicated service to Procacci Brothers,” said Mike Maxwell, President. “We wish Mike and his family many, many years of health and happiness in his retirement.”
Mike joined Procacci Brothers at 30 years old, and already he had proven his expertise in banana procurement. In 1978, two years before he joined Procacci, Mike and a long-time friend partnered together to operate a produce company in Dominica, West Indies. It was here where he was tasked with using his Spanish language skills to gain access to underutilized growers in the Dominican Republic. Mike had secured the proper licenses and permits and the company began making regular shipments of mixed produce to their customer bases in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten.
After he and his family moved to Philadelphia, PA, Mike was hired by Procacci Brothers in 1980. According to a press release, Mike’s contributions during his 35 years with the company include, but are not limited to:
- Introducing fresh herbs, miniature vegetables, and edible flowers to the Philadelphia market
- Establishing Procacci Brothers’ Organic Produce Program, which made a wide variety of organic produce available to countless produce shoppers in the Northeast for the first time
- Expanding Procacci’s tropical produce offerings to include a wide variety of West Indian and Caribbean roots and fruits
- Creating the company’s first Chinese and Middle Eastern vegetable program
- Developing contracts with exporters in Mexico to initiate direct shipments for a wide variety of Mexican produce, long before importing tropical produce from Mexico was commonplace in the U.S. produce industry
This extensive list was only made possible by Mike’s capability to take initiative and get results. He traveled the world as an agent for Procacci Brothers, going to places such as Guatemala to evaluate mango production and quality, Costa Rica, Ecuador, nearly every sourcing region in Mexico, and West Africa to explore sourcing pineapples.
Mike plans to spend the rest of his time working together with his wife Rosa, who he met in Venezuela, to care for their large collection of tropical plants, visiting the many friends that he and his wife have made over the years, and spending time with his family and “playing with my grandchildren every day.”
AndNowUKnow would like to wish Mike the best of luck as he begins this next important chapter in his life.
FRESNO, CA - After a long fight about the power of an employee vote, Administrative Law Judge Mark R. Soble of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) ruled against Gerawan Farms employees’ 2013 decertification vote of the United Farm Workers (UFW).
The decision was issued yesterday, September 17th, and came as a tough blow to advocates for Gerawan Farms and its employees, like the California Fresh Fruit Association.
“While we are certainly disappointed in the judge’s decision and respectfully disagree, we must say that this reasoning that totally ignores the wishes of the clear majority of employees was anticipated given the history of the manner the ALRB has previously handled this case,” Barry Bedwell, California Fresh Fruit Association, said in a statement following the announcement, according to a press release. “We continue to believe that most reasonable and independent observers see this process as seriously flawed and one that does not address the core issue of the employee’s true wishes as to union membership.”
According to the release, Judge Soble based his decision on an environment that he felt made it “impossible for employee true choice when it came time to vote” because of “[the] employer’s unlawful support and assistance” during the events that led to the decertification vote of the UFW’s ability to make determinations on the employees’ behalf.
The decision also specifically referenced the support that was provided by the CFFA on a trip to Sacramento, assisting Gerawan Farming employees by providing aid with transportation, t-shirts and meals for a trip to state their case in October, 2013.
The judge stated that this, which he viewed as a violation of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, contributed to his final decision.
The support the CFFA provided, according to the statement, was done on behalf and at the request of other members, not at all connected with Gerawan Farming membership, that felt there was an important issue of having the employee’s true voice heard.
In a followup response to inquiries if the CFFA felt there had been a violation of ALRA section 1155.4, which the judge named in his ruling, Bedwell stated, “Absolutely not."
Because Gerawan has been a member the Association for years, as well as many other California farmers, Bedwell said that the CFFA's support for the workers was in response to the views of other Association members who have no involvement in this election, but felt there was an important issue of having the employees’ voices heard by the Board and by members of the California Legislature.
"Section 1155.4 concerns attempts to influence other employees, which was not the case here," he continued, saying that CFFA members are entitled to expressing their views.
Bedwell concluded in his statement that the CFFA hopes the Agricultural Labor Relations Board will review and overturn this decision, doing the “right thing” by counting the ballots.
MONTEREY, CA - Ocean Mist was showcasing a number of products while visiting the PMA Foodservice show, but the standouts were its organic line and superfood brainchild Kalettes™.
Joe Feldman, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Ocean Mist, took the time to discuss the company’s moves to keep trendy with these consumer-demanded items.
“With Ocean Mist Organic, we started with 15 products,” Joe tells me, including the company's signature artichokes.
Another item being showcased was Ocean Mist’s largest increase in staying relevant, Brussels sprouts.
On the note of Brussels sprouts and relevant trends, Joe said, is produce buzz Kalettes. “A cross between kale and Brussels sprouts, which are both super foods and both on trend within user and consumer demand.”
To see our full interview with Joe, watch the short video above.