RIVERHEAD, NY - With the new year comes a new look for Hapco Farms. The Long Island-based produce company has launched its new, redesigned website this week.
“The new site not only showcases the variety of produce we can deliver, but also the wide variety of services we can provide our clients,” said Eric Scannelli, VP of Sales and Marketing for Hapco Farms. “We are truly full-service, our customers not only get fresh produce, but services like packing, warehousing, category management, and distribution are available as well.”
According to Scannelli, the goal was to create a site that was not only visually appealing but easy-to-navigate and informative for both customers and prospects.
The company’s new website showcases its entire produce inventory, as well as seasonality and packing spec’s for each specific commodity. One exciting new addition to the site is the “Product Spotlight” section, which features a new category every month.
To see the new website and all it has to offer for yourself, visit www.hapcofarms.com.
STOCKTON, CA - High demands and low supply have banded together to create a tight market and record highs for December and parts of January this asparagus season. Grower Direct’s Asparagus Product Manager and 25+ year asparagus veteran James Paul took the time to tell me more about what retailers should be looking for and what to expect in the coming weeks.
“We are expecting the market to change in the next two to three weeks,” James said, explaining that while supply will continue to be on the lighter side there should be enough to help supplement the high demand by the end of the month.
“I think next week will still be light in supply. Historically the Caborca, Mexico growing region would usually be ramping up at this time, but the cold weather has created a situation in which growers are not getting the heat units to motivate the crowns to push asparagus. But we are anticipating more avenues for production to start opening up the last week of January, and even though they may not be up to full power they will certainly start to relieve this shortness in supply scenario.”
James did caution, however, that while supply will see some relief, he didn’t think it would make a huge impact on the overall market. “The market is going to continue to see very high demand the first week of February, and of course second week of February – everybody wants to do a promotion with asparagus for Valentine’s Day.”
The staggered start in Caborca, he said, will set back the peak about two to three weeks, creating a higher market than what would be the case historically.
To counteract this, he tell me, retailers should not be basing their promotions on previous years, but on the weather.
“It being an El Niño type year, we are going to continue to battle consistent storms throughout the region,” James says. “Where historically we would see Caborca start out strong and high, and maintain that throughout the season into the California season, this year we will see delays and some roller coaster reactions.”
The fields, he says, will be ready to rock n roll as soon as the weather is no longer holding them back.
James adds that he does expect there to be enough supply to meet those February promotions, and the delay should add a stronger spring yield for an even bigger asparagus holiday.
“If we’re three weeks late it doesn’t necessarily mean we go three weeks later in the season, it means with the late start we will see a steep peak in late February, early March and create some fantastic promotional opportunities in time for the Easter holiday, a great holiday for asparagus.”
Grower Direct currently anticipates the season to really take off towards the tail end of February into the front end of March, providing a lot of volume for the market.
BAJA CALIFORNIA - Tight supplies are leading to a high bell pepper market.
The situation that led to this tighter market began before Hurricane Patricia, one of the largest hurricanes on record, made landfall on the Pacific Coast of Mexico last October. While a majority of Mexican growers avoided the impact from the storms in Culiacan, Sinaloa, some farms were soaked with rain.
And as we saw last week, the heavy precipitation fueled in part from El Niño drenched parts of Baja California, but growers are thankful to report that the flooding has not impacted them.
While there have been some ups and downs with the weather, Mike Aiton, Prime Time’s Marketing Director, tells us that the company escaped the brunt of the damage from the floods.
“For a change, we dodged that bullet there this time around,” he explains. “We did suffer some problems several months ago there, but have since worked through them.”
Still, the increased precipitation is not helping matters on the production-side. Cloudy days and cold weather are having an adverse effect on the setting of flowers and pollination for new fruits, other growers share.
“With the cloudy weather and lower temperatures, there is talk that several growers are harvesting colored peppers as green peppers to take advantage of a good market, but if this happens, it just means there will be fewer colored peppers to come,” one grower explains.
The weather isn’t expected to be a problem in the long-term, as temperatures are expected to get back up to 90 degrees in the near future. The increase in temperature should help volumes come on and fill the supply hole that growers have had in the past couple of months.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for any further updates.
BOISE, ID - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved Simplot’s Russet Burbank variety potato, Innate, which is genetically modified to resist the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine. The FDA concluded that they are not “materially different in composition, safety, and other relevant parameters, from any other potato or potato-derived food or feed currently on the market.”
“We’re excited to continue momentum on our Innate technology platform,” said Haven Baker, Vice President and General Manager of Simplot Plant Sciences. “In our first two generations we have addressed the issues of plant disease, health, and quality by harnessing the strongest traits within the potato family and we’re now set to address global potato challenges.”
This comes just over five months after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the Innate Potato, the first step in getting a GMO product to market. Next up, Simplot will need to complete its registration with the Environmental Protection Agency, which will also be the final stage of approvals.
According to a Simplot press release, this second generation of Innate potatoes will provide potato growers, processors and consumers the following four benefits:
- Reduced bruising and black spots
- Reduced asparagine
- Resistance to late blight pathogens
- Enhanced cold storage capability
Each of these benefits were achieved by adapting genes from wild and cultivated potatoes.
“The Innate Gen. 2 potato is a major advancement in the potato industry,” said Duane Grant, potato farmer and owner of Grant 4D Farms in Rupert, Idaho. “Late blight disease can and does wreak havoc on organic and conventional potato crops and now we have an effective solution that should reduce fungicide use and reduce the millions of pounds of wasted potatoes each year.”
Late blight is caused by a fungus-like pathogen, and Innate Gen. 2 potatoes contain a gene from a South American wild potato species that provides natural resistance to certain strains of the pathogen. Simplot has estimated that Innate’s late blight resistance trait can result in a 25-45% reduction in fungicide applications annually to control late blight, and could reduce food waste by 986 million pounds.
SALINAS, CA - Earlier this week, members of the produce industry watched as two key influencers were recognized by United Fresh for their lifetime achievements.
As we previously reported, Rick and Tonya Antle were named the most recent recipients of United Fresh’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the first duo to do so.
“This is the first time we’ve honored two individuals together, and I can’t think of another couple who so fully complement one another in their contributions to the fresh produce industry,” Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association, stated previously on the decision.
The recognition is part of United Fresh's Midwinter Leadership Forum, which took place January 12th through today, January 14th.
Brother Mike Antle, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Tanimura & Antle, tells me that it was an award well-earned.
"My brother and sister-in-law are greatly deserving of this award, I can’t think of two people more worthy and I congratulate them both,” Mike said. “Thank you to United Fresh for recognizing their efforts and influence in the industry.”
Karen Caplan, President of Frieda’s Specialty Produce and long time friend of both Rick and Tonya shared how wonderful it was to watch them receive this honor.
“Tonya and I have been lifelong friends as her first job in the industry was at Frieda’s and that’s how we met,” Karen said. “Watching Rick’s eldest son Brian speak on the father-son relationship that has since fueled his produce career was one of the highlights of the evening.”
“It was really beautiful to watch him talk about his dad,” she added. “One thing he shared was about when he was young his very first job was laying sprinklers. His dad said ‘you need to work on Sunday.’” Brian, unhappy with the prospect, went out late Saturday night and came back to a note tacked to the back door from his father saying “the crops don’t stop growing on Sundays, so get your [expletive] to work.”
Karen added that there is no industry like the produce industry that successfully passes from generation to generation. Niece of the recipients and Sales and Marketing Director for T&A Caitlin-Antle Wilson looks to agree whole-heartedly.
“These are two people who I have looked up to my whole life, not just as family members but as professional role models,” Caitlin said of her aunt and uncle. “I’m grateful for the impact they’ve had, both on me personally and the industry as a whole, and happy to see them be recognized for that impact.”
We congratulate both Rick and Tonya, the dynamic duo that has so successfully helped to propel the produce industry and touch so many.
BATAVIA, IL - Looks like Aldi has chosen its New Year’s resolution for 2016—eat healthier! The chain has announced a slew of new commitments this week, including highlighting healthier items at checkout, expanding its organic produce selection, and partnering with registered dietitians for healthy menu plans.
“By introducing Healthier Checklanes and through a number of other initiatives, we are doing our part to remove temptation at checkout and stocking stores with even more nutritious options,” explained Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI. “At ALDI, we truly care about our customers, and we’re responding with guilt-free checkout zones and increased food options they can feel good about.”
Checkout lanes are often precarious places to meander through, dodging chocolate bars, sodas, and candies of all kinds. Aldi has vowed to banish these items in its latest press release, and instead will highlight items like single serve nuts and trail mixes, dried fruits, and an assortment of granola bars.
“This time of year, I’m especially focused on looking for healthy options at the grocery store that my whole family can feel good about,” said Elizabeth Ward, Registered Dietitian, author, and ALDI Advisory Council member. “As a busy mother of three, ALDI is my go-to destination to get high-quality ingredients for well-balanced meals, all while saving time and money.”
ALDI has said these changes will be rolled out to all its nearly 1,500 locations by the end of 2016.
Changes will also be taking place beyond the checkout, the company says, adding “it’s clear that the shopping experience is no longer about ‘shopping the perimeter,’ where fresh and healthier items historically appeared in stores.” Aldi has announced it will be expanding its selection of fresh and organic produce in an effort to push healthy items “beyond the perimeter.”
Other updates Aldi will be implementing in this continued commitment to health include:
- Expanding the SimplyNature line of products, free of more than 125 artificial ingredients, as well as a gluten-free line of products under the ALDI exclusive brand, liveGfree.
- Highlighting nutritional facts on the front of its exclusive brand food packages for shoppers to easily find key nutritional information.
- Partnering with registered dietitians through its Advisory Council to provide tips, recipes and meal-planning ideas that make healthy eating easy and affordable for families.
Will consumers join Aldi in kicking off the New Year with a fresh start? AndNowUKnow will continue to update you on how the healthy retail landscape develops.
WENATCHEE, WA – Branded apples and pouch bag programs are continuing to be a huge contributor to CMI’s success in the category, according to a recently revealed Nielsen FreshFacts data report.
After compiling all fresh apple brands, varieties, and packages sold in nearly 19,000 supermarkets nationwide, excluding private label and unbranded apples, the report shows that CMI’s apple brands experienced a 41% dollar increase for the most recent 52-week period.
“On average, apples carrying a CMI brand drive an 8.5% higher price than the category average and 44% higher than unbranded apple packages,” said Steve Lutz, CMI’s Vice President of Marketing. “Those larger transactions go right back to driving year-over-year increases in retail performance.”
The biggest stimulants behind this increase were CMI’s pouch bag programs and branded apples, such as Ambrosia™, KIKU®, and Kanzi®. Each pouch bag and branded apple carries a higher than average retail price point and subsequently drives incremental dollars for retailers into their category.
And there are still many more significant opportunities to come, Lutz suggested in a press release.
“The reality is the vast majority of apple category dollars are driven by unbranded and private label products,” he said. “Unbranded apple sales declined by nearly 10% over the past 52 weeks while CMI brands jumped by over 40%. The evidence is quite compelling that this is the way every supermarket can drive incremental apple category performance.”
For more on CMI’s apple programs, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
MAMARONECK, NY – Nature Addicts, a fruit-centric snacking company, is debuting a line of new bite-sized products catering to the on-the-go consumer.
The company offers three all-natural flavors, utilizing an innovative recipe that retains the best of the fruits. Each flavor comes in a 1.06 oz resealable package.
“Fruit Sticks” comes in two different varieties – Apple Mango Passion Fruit and Apple Raspberry – each offering one serving of fruit per pouch, with no added sugars.
According to the company’s website, Apple Mango Passion Fruit took a little more than two apples, a big slice of mango, and half a passion fruit to create the unique flavor in this package. Its ingredients include concentrated apple puree, concentrated apple juice, concentrated mango puree, concentrated passion fruit juice, pectin (from fruit), citrus fiber, natural mango, and passion fruit flavor.
Apple Raspberry, similarly, took two and a half apples and a handful of raspberries. Its ingredients include concentrated apple puree, concentrated apple juice, raspberry puree, concentrated elderberry juice, pectin (from fruit), citrus fiber, and natural raspberry flavor.
Nature Addict’s second offering, “Fruit & Chocolate,” combines a thin layer of dark chocolate and fruits to create a guilt-free treat for chocolate lovers. Its ingredients include fruit filling (70%) (concentrated apple puree, concentrated apple juice, concentrated orange juice, pectin (from fruit), citrus fiber, natural orange flavor), dark chocolate (28%) (cocoa mass, cane sugar, fat-reduced cocoa powder, soy lecithin), acacia, cane sugar, and honey.
This product is easy to showcase on retail shelves, thanks to its slot hang tabs and 10 units displays.
Created in 2009 by food fanatic Bertrand Jacoberger, Nature Addicts says it is committed to “bring nature up to date using unique technologies that keep the fruit whole and offer wholesome products ideally suited to our hectic lifestyles.”
These new snacks are now available and can be found at a number of retailers, including Fairway Market, Kings Food Markets, Oliver’s Market, and more.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – NatureSweet® is bringing back its highly anticipated SunBursts® Snacking MVP campaign to help boost tomato sales pre-Super Bowl.
Both retailers and consumers can get involved in this program between January 4 to February 6, 2016, to win prizes and ramp up excitement for SunBursts tomatoes.
“As in the 5 years past, this year’s Snacking MVP Contest with Sunbursts® creates excitement by incenting Moms and party hosts everywhere to create & discover new snack recipes for game day watching parties with in-store offers," Lori Castillo, Senior Brand Manager, tells me. “This year, we added a NEW on-line campaign element with a recipe contest that drives trial and purchase by encouraging consumers to buy SunBursts® in-store, and use our delicious sweet snacking tomatoes as part of their football watching snack options for contest entries.”
“Always vine-ripened and hand-picked at the peak of freshness, each tomato is tested for sweetness and color long before it makes its way to the table for friends and family to enjoy – all the more reason why people can trust in NatureSweet to help make game day party preparations a pleasure,” the company said in a press release.
For retailers, the Snacking MVP’s 2016 Sales Contest rewards entrants with two tickets to the winner’s choice of one regular season 2016 professional or regional collegiate football game, according to a press release. Entrants are judged on SunBursts displays featuring the appropriate program signage and reported year-to-year sales increases.
Consumers can submit their best original SunBursts appetizer for the chance to win a $500 prepaid gift card and prime placement in the recipe search function on Food52, a website dedicated to featuring recipes from around the world.
Six winners will be chosen as Community Picks on Food52, two will be chosen as contest finalists, and one grand prize winner will be chosen to receive a $1,500 prepaid gift card.
As the hype for Super Bowl 50 reaches its peak, now couldn’t be a better time to get involved in NatureSweet’s SunBursts Snacking MVP campaign.
LUBBOCK, TX - This year marks The United Family’s United Supermarkets’ centennial anniversary.
In the last century, the now Texas-based chain has grown from a single United Cash Store in Sayre, Oklahoma, into a multi-banner retailer with 66 stores in 36 communities throughout Texas.
“Reaching our 100th anniversary is a remarkable accomplishment, and a true testament to the hard work and dedication of all our team members through the years, as well as our loyal guests in each of our communities,” Robert Taylor, CEO of The United Family, said in a press release. “Most importantly, this celebration is a tribute to the Snell family, because without their vision and leadership, United wouldn’t be the beloved supermarket it is today.”
In commemoration of this milestone, the company has organized a slew of events throughout the year to benefit and improve the communities it serves.
“The company has been very fortunate for an entire century to have owners as well as leaders who believe in the core value of supporting communities and doing the right thing,” Taylor added. “In honor of that legacy and to kick off our next 100 years, the 100th anniversary of United Supermarkets will be acknowledged and celebrated in each of our 36 communities in Texas and New Mexico.”
The celebration starts off this Saturday, January 16th, with each of its 66 stores hosting a birthday party and giving away a total of 100,000 free cupcakes.
Other slated moves to help the community and keep the party going are a school donation program, Shop to Support Schools, later this month and a donation of 100,000 pounds of apples to Food Banks in the communities it serves in April.
Other events in the pipeline, beginning May 31st, are The United Family’s 100 Days of Giving, donating $100,000 in $1,000 increments to local non-profits, as well as an additional donation of 100,000 pounds of food this summer.
“Giving back to our guests has always been a cornerstone of United Supermarkets, and that emphasis will continue as The United Family enters its next century,” Shelby Crews, Senior Community Relations Manager for The United Family.
She and the company conveyed that these programs, as well as dozens of ongoing initiatives, will mark a memorable 100th anniversary.