WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms has launched a twist to its back-to-school promotion this year. Called Fresh Start, the nearly 5-week program will let consumers choose which school will be the next to receive a salad bar from the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools program.
To cast your vote, click here.
“We are proud supporters of the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools program, which has placed over 4,000 salad bars in schools across the U.S. This fall, we’re taking the campaign to our consumer friends and hopefully building even more awareness about this national program to benefit kids at school,” says Cindy Jewell, VP of Marketing at California Giant. “Not only does the campaign result in one more salad bar placed into a school, it keeps the initiative top of mind with consumers.”
From August 17 through September 20, California Giant is encouraging consumers to get online and vote for a school they believe should receive a new salad bar. Just in time for back-to-school, the company says it is focused on helping to provide fresh options in the school cafeteria, and feels the meals consumed can greatly add to the success kids experience in the classroom.
According to a press release, California Giant has created a landing page on www.calgiant.com to support the month long voting with a form that will collect contact information from those who wish to vote.
All of the schools on the list have been approved for funding through Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools, and consumers are encouraged to cast their vote every day to help their local school. Once the votes are counted, the winning school will receive a new salad bar and a shipment of farm-fresh California Giant berries to celebrate.
In addition to this promotion, California Giant is also a premier sponsor of the 2015 Tour de Fresh ride in October, with a goal of placing up to 100 salad bars in schools during this school year.
FRESNO, CA - Heather Hammack, Famous Software's new President, has gone from 12-year-old tractor driver, to head of a 40-year-old tech company.
AndNowUKnow’s sister publication The Snack Magazine dove deeper into Heather's 16-year produce industry career to find out just what makes this pioneer tick.
Check out the full article in The Snack magazine by clicking here, or continue reading the full piece below.
Heather Hammack: Destined for Fame
When 12-year-old Heather Hammack first sat on a John Deere 4455 tractor with her older brother on her family’s farm, she had no idea that one day she would come full circle as a pioneer in the ag industry. Now a well-respected 16-year produce veteran and recently appointed President of Famous Software, Heather continues to honor her roots in the ag industry using the knowledge she learned driving that tractor every summer from adolescence through college.
Of course, working at Famous Software is an entirely different breed of ag work. Before Apple and Microsoft came Famous Software, a company that has been constantly innovating for the past 40 years. Known for being an industry that’s slow to adapt to change, it may come as a surprise that the ag industry has been so embracing toward Famous. The company offers top-tier technology with their Oracle-based solutions which allow Famous to offer its wide range of customers the accounting packages, business management tools, and more that apply uniquely to each specific company.
Since Heather began her career at Famous Software in 1999, the company has more than doubled in employees and revenue. When I ask Heather what it is that has made this possible, she answers simply—her team at Famous.
“These accomplishments can be credited to many people that came before me and the unbelievable team we have today, but I’d like to think I had some impact,” Heather adds. “I love what I do and I love this industry. This organization makes an impact on people’s lives and businesses every day, so it doesn't feel like a job. Enjoying what I do makes it really simple.”
With the company's wide array of customers now spanning over 1,400 uniquely different fresh produce and agriculture enterprises, Heather speaks fondly of her start with Famous. “When I started in Sales, I was only working within Fresno and Madera County, and as I evolved, both my footprint and responsibilities began to grow,” says Heather, with a hint of pride. “I went from Sales Manager in 2004, to Director of Sales and Marketing in 2011—it all just felt very natural to me.”
Now President of the innovative software company, when Heather speaks, you can tell the promotions haven’t gone to her head. Her humility is something that she mentions has been an asset in her career at Famous.
“I am who I am, and I’m genuine. I’m never trying to be something that I'm not,” she tells me. “My mother told me to be the best you, that you can be.”
"The title may get you in the door, but it’s up to you to build your credibility."
What makes Heather’s story particularly interesting is that while she has clearly found her niche with Famous, a job at an agricultural software firm is not at all what she anticipated for her career. After graduating high school in 1995, Heather headed off to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, for Agribusiness and a minor in Plant Protection. Her goal was to get a pest protection license and go into chemical sales, but as we know now, that’s not exactly how her future played out.
In fact, the very first Monday after graduating from Cal Poly, Heather got an unexpected opportunity from the company that she now heads today.
“When I graduated, my brother had suggested I line up some ‘practice’ interviews so I would be prepared when the real thing came along. My very first practice interview ended up being with Kirk Parrish, the CEO of Famous Software,” she says.
Combining her love of both ag and tech, Heather’s leap of faith into Famous Software promised her a career that has challenged her and has made her feel not a day over 25.
A big part of what Heather loves about her job is working with Kirk, who started with the company in 1986 when it was only five employees strong. Since then, Kirk became both a partner and President of the company, as well as an avid farmer out of Madera County.
“Kirk thoroughly understands and appreciates the challenges of the fresh produce and ag industries,” Heather says. “He has given me a tremendous opportunity at Famous because he’s allowed me to do what I do. He works so well in a mentorship capacity and I am very, very lucky.”
When asked what makes Heather special, Kirk echoed this respect and admiration.
“Heather embodies two of our key core values at Famous Software: humility and competence," says Kirk Parrish.
"As a leader at Famous Software, she is respected by her peers because of her talent and her willingness to always lend a helping hand–Heather is truly a service based leader,” he says. “She possesses an uncanny ability to assess difficult situations, and is capable of developing balanced solutions. At her core, Heather is a problem solver. She is very thoughtful when working with our customers and equally at home when developing software solutions with our staff at Famous Software. Heather is a talented business professional that is able identify the details while not losing sight of the big picture.”
This mentor/mentee relationship has been an integral part of building the future of Famous Software. Heather currently manages Famous’ Company Strategic Planning Team, and participates on the Version 6 ERP Product Team, Famous Mobile Product Team, and the Famous Business Intelligence Product Team. With additions to both the company’s Business Intelligence programs and Mobile Product programs in the works, Heather says they are very busy back at the office.
After over ten years as a Famous customer, Church Brothers Produce CEO Steve Church has this to tell me about the new Famous President. “Over the last decade, we have done a lot of custom work on our Famous platform, with Heather as the lead. She has worked extremely well with us on large projects that have both improved our efficiencies and made Church Brothers better able to provide excellent service for our customers. When we first met Heather, she was a project manager, and as Famous has grown so has Heather. She’s a terrific leader for great software—we rely on both," he says.
Heather says her job is never truly done at Famous.
“This isn’t the place for people who are looking to check off a list. The demands of our customers are always transitioning."
She adds, "Our current system is serving our customers well, but of course they’re always going to need more.”
Another loyal customer, Chris Puentes, President of Interfresh, added, “Interfresh has been a long-time customer of Famous Software, and we consider them a technology partner of ours. Heather has been an instrumental part of our success with Famous, and we deeply value our relationship with her. Over the years, we’ve come to know Heather both personally and professionally, and find her a delight to work with. I am pleased to call her a friend, and we look forward to working with Heather for many years to come.”
Despite the intense focus Heather puts into her work, her life truly revolves around her family. From the father and brother that instilled her love of agriculture, to Heather’s husband Marc, and children, 7-year-old Ava and 4-year-old Brayden, family is both her number one priority and her biggest challenge, she says.
“It’s easy for me to make an impact at work, but at home it’s the complete opposite. Nobody listens to what I say!” Heather laughs. “When I’m traveling, the kids will give me things to take with me, like Hot Wheels cars or My Little Pony. I take pictures of them in all the different places I travel. I have a whole portfolio with pictures of the car with pilots!”
It’s the little things like these that, to me, embody Heather’s passion as both a professional and a parent. And after learning more about the produce powerhouse, one thing is certainly clear—the authenticity she prides herself on is only just beginning to pay off.
ST. LOUIS, MO - Monsanto is continuing its push to acquire Switzerland's Syngenta AG, raising its offer by over $2 billion by valuing the company at around $47 billion.
As we’ve previously reported, Syngenta has now rejected offers from Monsanto valued at over $45 billion twice now, saying that the offer, “fundamentally undervalues Syngenta's prospects and underestimates the significant execution risks.”
This latest offer, however, has analysts buzzing and Syngenta's share prices jumping. In after-hours trading, Syngenta's stock was up approximately 5 percent to $81.00 as of 6:17 PM EDT on August 24.
According to Reuters, investors have been pushing Syngenta to sit down with Monsanto to press for a more profitable offer. Cedric Lecamp, Senior Investment Manager at Pictet Asset Management, a Syngenta investor, told Reuters earlier this year he thought a deal could get done above 500 Swiss francs.
A report from Bloomberg seems to echo this sentiment, saying a Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd. survey found that 92 percent of Syngenta’s investors would like management to continue negotiations with Monsanto, and would accept a 5 percent higher offer.
Reuters reports that the new offer has also increased in the break-up fee to $3 billion up from $2 billion if the transaction is blocked by regulators or falls apart for other reasons. A source has also told Reuters that likely this won't be Monsanto’s final offer for the company, saying this may open further negotiations.
A representative for Syngenta, the world's largest maker of farming pesticides, told Reuters on Monday, "There is no comment to make." A spokeswoman for Monsanto also declined to comment.
ALLSTON, MA - Ahold USA is bringing a fresh format (emphasis on “fresh”) to the Allston, Massachusetts area, with the promise of less “ors” while shopping for produce and more “ands.” Bfresh, a concept that is “small in size but big on fresh, organic values,” could soon be here.
The Boston Herald reports that the project is one from Fresh Formats LLC, and the company is keeping details under wraps.
“Fresh Formats LLC is developing a new grocery shopping experience that will be introduced later this year,” Suzi Robinson, Brand/Retail Innovation Manager for Fresh Formats, told the Boston Herald, but would say no more about its latest fresh venture.
Though the lid has been kept tightly on details about Bfresh, it has launched a teaser campaign via social media.
Besides taunting tweets and Facebook posts telling Allston that its calls for fresh produce have been heard, the company also released a video asking the people what is missing from its food shopping experience.
The location for the new format launch, according to a Seeking Alpha report, also has a nearby Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market, which also have an emphasized focus on fresh formats and millennial trends like those reflected in Bfresh’s campaign. Though the Bfresh store won’t be an overly large one, it will reportedly be larger than the 3,000 square foot Everything Fresh located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
CHICAGO, IL - At this year’s United Fresh conference in Chicago, IL, Stemilt Marketing Director Roger Pepperl took the time to give me all the details on this year’s crop of Lil Snapper line of kid-sized apples and pears.
“Back-to-school is coming before you know it, and as we hit August, that becomes a big item for us and continues all fall,” Roger tells me. “We have a full category of assorted items in the Lil Snapper line, so we’re excited.
Stemilt is currently focused on its pears and Gala apples, which both feature packaging that includes a QR code to take you directly to the Stemilt website. Here, consumers can learn about the fruit, see tasty recipes, and play fruit-focused games.
To learn more about Stemilt’s upcoming programs and the Lil Snapper line, watch my full interview with Roger above.
LOXAHATCHEE, FL - Richard “Dick” Bowman, agriculture and real estate veteran, has joined J&J Family of Farms as its new Director of Farming.
“I am looking forward to working with J&J’s team of professional farmers as we continue to expand our operations and sharpen our focus to not only meet, but exceed the needs of our growing customer base,” Bowman said, according to a press release. “It’s an exciting time to be in agriculture, particularly with a company like J&J that values the farming operations that help them thrive.”
Bowman moves into the newly-created position with an extensive farm operations background, having owned Harvest Time LLC, Harvest Time Market, Beefy Trees (TreeFarm), Bowman Growers and Good Fortune Farm. He has also served in roles like Director of Palm Beach County Zoning Commission, Director of the Florida State Fair Authority, and Vice President of Palm Beach County Farm Bureau. This has given him a considerable background in real estate and agriculture that Lynn Rundle, Chairman of the Board for J&J Family of Farms, stated makes him perfect for this new role of Director of Farming as the company continues to grow and scale its farming operations.
“[Dick’s] professionalism, communication skills and attention to detail are some of the important strengths he brings to J&J, but it’s his hands-on experience in farming operations that will allow him to collaborate with farm managers for our continued success,” Rundle stated in the release.
J&J added that it has actively developed new farming partnerships and growing relationships as part of both its strategic expansion plans and growing customer demands. As part of that, the company now has a focus on extending its total production and offer more year-round availability of its core products, including bell peppers and squash.
PARSIPPANY, NJ - Kings Food Markets is shaking up its leadership team with the promotion of three executives, including naming a new Vice President of Produce and Floral.
“We are so proud to promote these key department leaders within our company,” Judy Spires, President & CEO of Kings Food Markets.
The executives promoted this month are Director of Seafood Sales and Merchandising Arthur Goncalves, Vice President of Deli Sales and Merchandising Scott Zoeller, and Director of In-Store Prepared Foods and Chef Operations Rick Michener.
Goncalves, an 18-year-long Kings Food veteran, has been promoted to Vice President, Produce and Floral. According to a press release, he has held several positions throughout his career with the retail chain, beginning in store operations as an Assistant Store Manager and progressing to Director of Seafood Sales and Merchandising. Under his leadership, the Seafood Department Team was recognized as Kings’ Department of the Year.
Zoelle, who joined the company in December of 2004 and has also served in numerous positions, moves up to Vice President of Deli, Meat and Seafood this month. Kings Food stated that has contributed to tremendous growth in prepared foods, deli and cheese by building a successful team.
Michener has now been promoted to Director of Seafood Sales and Merchandising. In just four years with the company, he has moved up through three different positions in Kings’ business and operations divisions. Michener has, according to the company, been instrumental in helping to bring new and creative concepts “from vision to execution.”
Spires added that she is certain Kings Food is even further positioned for growth and innovation in the future, stating that its employees continue to raise the bar, constantly looking ahead to what’s next year after year.
MCLEAN, VA - Gladstone Land Corporation is entering into a new territory with the purchase of two farms in Nebraska.
The two farms consist of 2,559 acres of farmland with 2,101 pivot-irrigated farmable acres, in Rock and Holt Counties, Nebraska. The total purchase price for these two farms is $11 million. This equates to approximately $4,298 per acre of farmland.
Gladstone entered into a leaseback agreement with the seller for a 3-year lease that provides for annual rent escalations, according to a press release.
“With our first Midwest acquisitions, we are continuing to diversify our portfolio of farmland properties, as well as the crops being grown on the land we lease to our tenant-farmers,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO. “Our objective is to acquire prime farmland and become long-term real estate partners with the farmers on the land. We believe these two farms have excellent soil and plenty of wells for irrigation.”
As a result of this acquisition, Gladstone currently owns 38 farms nationwide that produce a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains. These 38 farms are comprised of 14,027 acres in six different states across the United States, valued at approximately $242 million. These states include Arizona, California, Florida, Oregon, Michigan, and now Nebraska.
“We are excited to expand into the Midwest with our first acquisitions in Nebraska,” said Bill Hughes, Managing Director. “We are looking forward to a long-term relationship with a well-established tenant, and we plan on diversifying our crop portfolio by adding potatoes, edible beans, and alfalfa as complements to a traditional corn-and-soybean rotation on these farms.”
The company expects to close another deal on an additional farm before the end of September.
Gladstone’s most recent purchase in late June included two farms in Florida for approximately $15.8 million.
For more on Gladstone, where it’s headed, and David Gladstone’s approach to acquiring farmland, check out our interview by clicking here.
GREENSBORO, NC - The Fresh Market posted an increase in net income and strong operating margins during its second quarter in 2015, but it just fell just shy of meeting Wall Street estimates.
The Fresh Market’s second quarter net income increased 53 percent to $17.5 million, or $0.36 per share, compared to $11.4 million, or $0.36 per share, during Q2 2014. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $0.40 per share for the quarter, according to NASDAQ.
Net sales increased 4.7 percent to $442.1 million, while comparable store sales decreased 1.0% to $392.7 million, according to the financial report. NASDAQ reports that analysts estimated $458.34 million for the quarter.
Sean Crane, Interim CEO, said even though changes in pricing and promotional investments made during the second quarter were less effective than anticipated, the financial health of the business continues to remain sound as the retailer delivers some of its strongest adjusted EBITDA margins and returns on invested capital in the industry.
“We are committed to increasing our profitability as we work to stabilize and improve our future comparable store sales,” said Crane. “As we move forward, we remain focused on our initiatives to build The Fresh Market brand, elevator our in-store experience and food offering, and capture greater operational efficiencies.”
The Fresh Market opened six stores during the second quarter, including two stores in Texas, and one store each in North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and New York. During a conference call with investors, Crane said he was encouraged by the early response to these grand openings and expects that store remodels and refreshes will improve the customer experience and future sales.
While the Board continues to interview candidates for the CEO position, the company is also looking for an associate to replace Marc Jones, The Fresh Market’s Senior Vice President, Chief Merchandising and Supply Chain Officer. Jones is leaving the company, effective immediately.
“We appreciate Marc’s contributions over the years,” Crane said during the call. “A search is already underway for his replacement, as we are targeting an individual who will help us accelerate the improvement of our pricing, selection, and merchandise offering.”
The Fresh Market recently hired 20-year supply chain veteran Maria Ross to the newly created position of Vice President, Supply Chain. Ross will be responsible for overseeing The Fresh Market’s supply chain, including procurement, warehousing, logistics, and transportation management.
The Board of Directors also authorized a $200 million stock repurchase program, which Jeff Ackerman, CFO, said reflects the company’s strong, debt-free financial position and continued confidence in its long-term growth opportunities.
In conclusion, Crane said that the company’s long-term outlook is positive and that he believes The Fresh Market is taking the right steps to improve its operating model.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow The Fresh Market’s financial performance in Q3 2015 and beyond.
OCEANO, CA - What is Kohlrabi? That is the first question I asked Bejo Seeds and Farm Stand Fresh after seeing this unique cabbage/turnip look-alike when I spoke to the team in Monterey last month. To my surprise, it is actually in the same family as kale. Which made me beg the question, could this versatile and delicious item climb the same popularity ladder that kale has over the past few years? I think yes.
Technically, kohlrabi is an incredibly nutritious vegetable with an excellent source of Vitamin C, and does not oxidize when exposed to air, so it makes an excellent kids' snack right alongside the carrot and celery sticks. Visually and flavorfully, the item is unique and delivers a flavor akin to radish/potato/broccoli, so you can see the opportunities here.
Bejo's kohlrabi varieties can take you right through the season, from early-maturing Kongo to the giant, later-maturing Kossak. Bejo also offers the organically-produced Korist and the purple-skinned Kolibri. For the marketing arm of the Kohlrabi, Farm Stand Fresh Foods (FSFF) has introduced the item to foodservice and retail customers as the trend takes hold.
For Bejo, the company’s new and innovative varieties do not stop at Kohlrabi. Jeff Trickett, Sales and Marketing Director of Bejo Seeds, Inc., tells me, “Bejo has a number of interesting vegetable varieties which we feel have application to current produce trends. Kale has obviously taken off with consumers and Bejo is the dominant supplier of bunch kale in North America. We believe that Kohlrabi via our giant variety Kossak will have significant opportunities as both a raw snacking item and in cooked dishes. We also have unique types of cabbage which eat more like lettuce with sweeter and finer leaf textures and therefore, can play a strong role in healthy eating. There are about 20 different potential projects waiting for activity.”
FSFF is a highly experienced team of consumer product specialists who have built and grown some of consumers’ favorite food brands. Jose Marrero, Chief Marketing Officer for Farm Stand Fresh Foods, tells me, “We always start with the consumer in mind, understanding what they are looking for (and not finding consistently) when considering fresh produce, and then matching that need with the right product in the right form. Bejo’s seeds, which produce healthy, nutritious and flavorful varieties of vegetables with some key differentiating characteristics unmatched in the market today, are the key to delivering on those needs.”
FSFF then works closely with its retail and foodservice partners who have a very close pulse on what the consumer is responsive to and develops the marketing plans to generate consumer interest and trial.
Jeff also tells me that consumers are looking for healthy, nutrient dense veggies to place into their diets but that they also want help in terms of how to prepare these items in tasty ways. “Consumers are looking for veggies that provide good eating performance… so in addition to appearance, they need good flavor, texture/mouth feel, recipe performance, etc. Bejo is bringing new veggies to retail produce that deliver the attributes consumers are looking for.”
Bejo breeds all of its varieties using traditional methods enhanced with the latest tools and science. Bejo does not develop or market any GMO products. So all of the varieties are proprietary hybrids, developed naturally, marketed by Bejo via partner firms such as Farm Stand Fresh Foods.
Looking forward to what’s to come! Thank you, Bejo and FSFF, for a new flavor profile to add to my repertoire!