SAN JOSE, CA - Selling 160 million pounds of produce annually, Chick-fil-A is one of fast-food’s biggest proponents of food safety in the fruit and vegetable industries. To learn more about Chick-fil-A’s thoughts on food safety, LGMA spoke with Dr. Steven Lyon, Manager of Supply Chain Safety for the company, and got all the details.
“What’s critical for us is that we find a program like the LGMA that uses academia, local government as well as industry buy-in and has them tie it all together so we ensure, literally, from farm to the back door of the restaurant that items are produced safely,” Lyon shared.
To see LGMA’s entire interview with Lyon, watch the short video below:
What started out as a single restaurant in Georgia in 1946, has grown into one of the nation’s largest fast food chains with over 1,900 locations in 42 states. Chick-fil-A is now one of the most successful chicken restaurant chains in the U.S, but in addition to chicken, menu items like Cobb Salad and Grilled Chicken Cool Wraps ultimately results in approximately 160 million pounds of produce being served at the chain each year.
Because of this commitment to both produce and the dining experience, Lyon says, “Food safety is critical to the dining experience” at Chick-fil-A. Furthermore, Chick-fil-A is such a believer in the LGMA program and its commitment to food safety, that the company uses LGMA’s program as a requirement for all its leafy greens.
JAPAN - Behold avocado lovers—McDonald’s has just released a new avocado muffin breakfast sandwich in its Japanese locations.
In the latest addition of, “why don't we have these here?” products, McDonald’s avocado muffin is a delicious looking meld of avocado, ham, lettuce, and a spicy sauce. This new sandwich also joins other avocado-centric items on McDonald’s Japan’s menu, including an avocado burger, an avocado-fried shrimp sandwich, and an avocado veggie burger.
"We’ve used avocados before in Japan on different sandwiches and they became quite popular with our customers, and this was a way to continue offering them avocados with a twist on breakfast," a McDonald’s representative told Mashable.com.
This isn’t the first time McDonald’s has forayed into upper scale and produce-centric territory in other markets. Just earlier this month, AndNowUKnow reported on McDonald’s Australia’s wilted spinach breakfast bowls and corn fritter with grilled tomatoes.
Will this eventually hit a U.S. location near you? It’s certainly not unheard of. McDonald’s restaurants in Southern California have been testing kale breakfast bowls since May, signaling to many analysts that produce may be making bigger and bigger impacts on the chain’s menus in the near future.
For all the latest on food trends influencing the industry, keep watching AndNowUKnow.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Recent store investments weren’t enough to overcome some of the headwinds Wal-Mart faced during its second quarter of the fiscal 2016 year.
Wal-Mart’s efforts to improve the store experience, increase wages for employees, and currency fluctuations pressured the retailer’s earnings this year.
Wal-Mart posted its fourth consecutive quarter of increased comp sales which rose 1.5%. Profits decreased 15.1% to $3.48 billion for the quarter. Customer traffic increased 1.3% for the third straight quarter. Total revenue was $120.23 billion, up from $120.1 billion in the same quarter last year, beating analyst expectations, according to USA Today and estimates from Thomson Reuters.
“The changes we need to make require investment, and we’re pleased with the steps we’ve taken,” Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon said during a conference call with investors. “We made continued progress towards our plan this quarter. Even if it’s not as fast as we’d like, the fundamentals of serving our customers are consistently improving, and it’s reflected in our comps and revenue growth.”
Wal-Mart has made a number of investments to improve its performance in the past few months, including beefing up its e-commerce operations and opening new fulfillment centers throughout the States. A new technology platform and pricing algorithms have also been employed to help deliver lower pricing than competitors.
In April, Wal-Mart raised the minimum wages for 500,000 full-time and part-time associates to $9 an hour. The company has also made investments in employee training giving its entry-level workers greater chance for promotion.
Charles Holley, Executive Vice President and CFO, said that Wal-Mart’s operating profit will continue to be pressured for the remainder of the year as a result of these investments in store associate wages and additional hours.
Other highlights from the Q2 2016 report include:
- Q2 diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.08. Currency exchange rates negatively impacted EPS by approximately $0.04.
- Neighborhood Market comps increased approximately 7.3%, with strong growth from new stores. Customer experience scores improved over last year.
- E-commerce sales globally increased approximately 16% on a constant currency basis. Gross merchandise value, or GMV, increased approximately 18% on a constant currency basis.
- Consolidated operating income declined 10%.
- Wal-Mart updated full year EPS guidance to a range of $4.40 to $4.70, from a previous range of $4.70 to $5.05. This range includes Q3 EPS guidance of $0.93 to $1.05.
Shares in Wal-Mart were down approximately 3% in early morning trading following the financial report.
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ - Capespan North America has signed an exclusive citrus distribution agreement with S. Surabian & Sons. The deal appoints Capespan North America as Surabian's exclusive sales and marketing agent for its extensive line of fresh, California citrus products.
“Securing a strong and reliable package of premium California citrus, complemented by our unparalleled import program, will allow us to serve our retail partners confidently and consistently, fifty-two weeks of the year, while delivering value to our grower-base in Chile, South Africa, Peru and California, upon whom we depend for our success. Surabian is the perfect fit for us,” said Capespan North America President and CEO, Mark Greenberg.
According to a press release, Capespan’s new deal also means that the company’s and Alliance International`s customers will have an uninterrupted supply of products under Capespan`s OUTSPAN™ brand for their traditional citrus products like oranges, lemons and grapefruit. Easy-peeling clementines and mandarins will be marketed under Capespan North America’s CLEM GEM™ brand. Capespan North America will also distribute products under Surabian`s traditional brands ESCHOL™ and BUY & BUY™.
Sam Surabian, the company’s principal added, “It is with great enthusiasm and optimism that we look forward to our partnership with Capespan North America. Our affiliation with them will enhance the distribution of our products throughout the US and, through its global network, worldwide. We owe our growers the best marketing solution available and we are confident Capespan North America will ensure we provide it to them.”
The deal will provide Surabian and its grower/partners with direct access to Capespan's network of retail and wholesale customers across the USA and Canada, as well as access to the Capespan Group's distribution companies throughout Europe, the UK, Asia and the Middle East.
PUERTO VALLARTA - AMHPAC’s 8th Annual Convention, located at the Sheraton Buganvilias® Resort & Convention Center on August 27 and 28, is right around the corner. So, in preparation, we thought that a short checklist might help you get started with your planning.
Here are 10 things you need to bring to the AMHPAC convention:
- Fresh attitude — AMHPAC promises a host of new perspectives
- Business cards and brochures
- Sunglasses, sunblock, and sandals — It averages about 90 to 93ºF on some days, especially during August and September and it is very humid.
- Umbrella — On another note, the rainy season also begins in these months… Get a quick snapshot of the weather by visiting Puerto Vallarta's weather report.
- Sport outfit and tennis shoes (if you participate in the race)
- Camera
- Hit List — Who you want to see...
- Portable Charger
- Advil and Pedialyte®
- A palette for Tequila
The team at AMHPAC is hoping to make your 8th annual convention unforgettable, offering attendees the chance to rub shoulders with national and international leaders of the horticultural industry, agricultural growers, government officials, and supply chain innovators. Look forward to an atmosphere of casual business but with high impact, as well as traders and retailers on a large exhibition floor sponsored by suppliers.
For more information on what to expect, check out the program at a glance by visiting AMHPAC's website here.
See you all there in a few weeks. Till then!
HERMISTON, OR - River Point Farms and Keystone Fruit Marketing are entering into an exclusive partnership for Hermiston Sweets™ and Hermiston SweetReds™.
As part of the agreement, Keystone Fruit Marketing will have exclusivity to sweet onions from River Point Farms. River Point Farms’ sales teams will continue to market other yellow, red, and white whole, peeled, and fresh cut onions to foodservice, retail, restaurant, and industrial customers throughout North America, according to a press release.
“Keystone has the reputation of being best in its class,” said Bob Hale, President and CEO of River Point Farms. “Formalizing our relationship with sweet onions means that more consumers across the world will have access to our unparalleled standard of produce.”
Kurt Schweitzer, President of Keystone Fruit Marketing, said he was thrilled to be an exclusive marketer of River Point Farms’ sweet onion varieties.
“Bob and I have the same expectation of quality standards, which makes this a very exciting partnership,” he said.
Both Hermiston Sweets™ and Hermiston SweetReds™ have undergone the same rigorous growing and sampling processes as Keystone’s Walla Walla, Vidalia, and Peruvian sweet onions. Consumers will now have access to these sweet onions year-round as a result of this partnership.
SALINAS, CA - In preparation for future growth, Moxxy Marketing has moved its office into a larger space in downtown Salinas.
Now located at 380 Main Street, the new office is triple the size with a sophisticated, mid-century modern flair, according to a press release.
The move comes at a time when Moxxy Marketing has experienced a surge in growth. The new office can comfortably accommodate staff and clients, which range from businesses in agriculture and professional services, as well as education, government, and nonprofits.
Since its start in the industry, the company has expanded from a staff of four, when Terry Feinberg joined with Karen Nardozza in 2012 and rebranded to Moxxy, to a staff of ten today.
“I asked Terry to join me to share running the business and relieve my workload, but our clients have really responded to our fun atmosphere and serious results, and the growth has just intensified,” said Agency Principal Karen Nardozza.
“We were just flat out of room and had to meet in the new space, giving a few clients a sneak peek while we were still painting and furnishing it,” said Principal Terry Feinberg. “We understand it’s because of [our clients] we’re enjoying such success and in our new space we can serve them even better.”
Moxxy’s signature bright orange logo accents the natural features of the space, while distinctive furnishings accompany the exposed brick walls, redwood beams, and atrium skylights.
BROOKS, OR - Curry & Company has started its 2015 sweet onion harvest in the Pacific Northwest, and will be marketed under the ‘Curry & Company Sweet Onions’ label.
“Onions have come full circle for us in Brooks, OR. In the 1940’s, this was the predominant onion growing region in the state, but over the years, onion production greatly declined in this area, in part because of the moister climate,” Matt Curry, President of Curry & Company states. “However, by working closely with the seed company, we have identified sweet onion varieties that thrive in western Oregon."
The company’s program features sweet onions grown in western Oregon, predominantly in the Willamette Valley region of the state. Packed at their Brooks, OR warehouse, the onions are available from August to April. Curry & Company Sweet Onions are available in a full range of sizes and consumer packages including bags, bulk, and bins.
According to a press release, Curry & Company has worked closely with its seed supplier to identify the seed varietals that work the best with the rich soils of the Willamette Valley. Advanced growing techniques, transplants, and proper timing have all helped Curry & Company build a sweet onion program in this region.
Curry continued, "We have done several taste tests, and our Curry & Company Sweet Onions have always come out on top, we are excited for consumers to experience these delicious onions nationwide, and are excited to once again be growing onions ‘in our own backyard.’”
In 2014, Curry & Company launched the Lake Labish Sweet Onion, named after the lake that was drained over 100 years ago to create the company’s farming region. After a successful season, Curry & Company decided to expand upon this success, capitalizing on the Curry & Company brand with its account base.
SACRAMENTO, CA - In an effort to promote locally-grown fresh produce, General Produce is partnering with Fat’s Family Restaurant Group to host “On the Plate” during this year’s Farm-to-Fork Festival on September 26 in Sacramento.
“The Sacramento Farm-to-Fork Festival is a celebration of community and a chance to appreciate the locally grown, produced, and sourced foods of our great region,” said Tom Chan, CEO of General Produce. Chan said he was proud to showcase local products prepared in signature recipes from each of Fat’s four locations from the following vendor partners.
- Van Groningen & Sons
- Ratto Brothers
- Vierra Farms
- Premier Mushrooms
- Lundburg Family Farms
- Salle Orchards
- Mary’s Chickens
“As consumers crave a better understanding of where their food originates and of how it is produced, we are privileged to share the stories of the families who grow or raise the rice, the poultry, the walnuts, the fresh greens, etc.,” said Linda Luka, Director of Marketing and Communications for General Produce.
Luka noted that the focus is on fresh and seasonal and its stories are about authentic and local. “It makes sense to partner with long-time, like-minded family operations to set the table at this year’s Farm-to-Fork Festival,” she continued.
In addition to the live cooking demonstrations, attendees will have the opportunity to taste specially prepared dishes, receive cooking tips and recipes, win prizes, and most importantly, meet the farmers who supply the California ingredients.
PROSSER, WA - Washington State University (WSU) is now partnering with Digital Harvest Corp. to test a drone with the goal to provide safer and less expensive cherry harvesting that prevent fruit losses. The drone would mainly be used to blow rainwater off of cherry orchards, which can potentially cause quality loss in cherries.
“Traditional helicopters can be cost prohibitive and problematic, and there is not any hard data on the effectiveness of helicopters and orchard sprayers for rainwater removal,” said Lav Khot, Assistant Professor of Biological Systems Engineering at WSU’s Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS) in Prosser. “We hope our research will show the efficacy of the RMAX and also analyze data to share with tree fruit growers.”
According to WSU, rain can cause splits in the skin of cherries and other similar fruits, making them more susceptible to premature decay and making them “unmarketable.” Currently, growers can use hovering helicopters to dry off cherry crops after a rainstorm, but this can be both costly and can be dangerous.
WSU will now spend the next few months testing the Yamaha RMAX UAV, an unmanned, 11-foot helicopter, as an alternative to these manned helicopters. If trials are successful, the device will be tested in the field specifically for removing water from tree canopies to prevent fruit cracking.
You can watch a two-minute flight demonstration video below.
Originally developed in Japan, where there are approximately 2,500 in operation, the RMAX has been used for spraying rice crops since 1997, WSU reports. In the future, Khot said he would love to see research into the effectiveness of the RMAX for targeted spray and chemical dispersal applications.
“In Japan, it is common for family farms to pool resources to utilize the RMAX to spray their fields,” he said. “We could foresee the same partnering with farms in the Pacific Northwest.”
The UAV weighs 141 pounds and has a load capacity of up to 61 pounds. The two corporations had to work with the Federal Aviation Administration to obtain exemptions to fly and test the device for research purposes.