PHOENIX, AZ - Three is the magic number for Sprouts Farmers Market. The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation will award $3 million to nearly 300 local organizations that advance nutrition education, nutrition access, and wellness for children and adults, in communities where Sprouts Farmers Market operates.

"Our 32,000 team members want to see our communities thrive," said Jack Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer." Supporting local organizations that focus on wellness and nutrition access is an important part of what we do."

According to a press release, each of the grants will provide organizations with $5,000 to $10,000 in funding within three categories:

• Sprouting School Gardens
• Growing Healthy Kids
• Wellness Across the Lifespan

"Our goal is to help children and adults connect with vital resources, learn new skills, and improve their health and wellness," said Lyndsey Waugh, Executive Director of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation." We look forward to working with over 300 organizations to drive meaningful impact in our communities."

Approximately three million children participate in programs supported by the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation each year, and it expects to at least double grant programs for the second half of the year.

The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has awarded over $20 million in grants since 2015 to organizations that work on the front lines of nutrition education and wellness.

Full details can be found here.

For more updates on your favorite retailer’s strategic initiatives, stick with AndNowUKnow.

GERMANY - Reducing food waste is top of mind for industry members, including Aldi. In the retailer’s most recent move, it has committed to trialing the sale of crownless pineapples. With the crown of the pineapple often being thrown away by shoppers, the company will be removing the green leaves from its pineapples during the production process for recycling instead.

“At Aldi, we are committed to finding sustainable solutions that benefit both our customers and the environment,” said Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director. “This trial of crownless pineapples is just one of the latest innovative changes we’re testing out to minimize waste and reduce our carbon footprint.”

The removed crowns will either be used to cultivate next year’s crop or converted into animal feed, reducing food waste by an estimated 1,400 tonnes annually if the change is rolled out across stores, a press release stated.

By removing the crowns, Aldi will also be able to fit more of the product into boxes to be transported to stores, meaning a potential reduction of around 187 tonnes of cardboard annually if the trial is successful.

The crownless pineapples are now available in select stores in the Midlands, Yorkshire, and North East locations.

We'll report back on whether or not Aldi intends to take its this strategy Stateside, so keep an eye out for more reports from ANUK.

DENMARK - Mark your calendars for July 25, as a free webinar will be taking place for the greenhouse industry. HPNow will host a session on effective strategies for controlling waterborne pathogens in greenhouse environments, led by industry experts Cord Nunez and Arnau Verdaguer.

Waterborne pathogens pose a significant threat to greenhouse crops, potentially leading to reduced yields, compromised quality, and even complete crop failure, a press release stated. This webinar will address these concerns by exploring the benefits of Onsite Green Oxidation, a revolutionary technology that helps growers create a healthier and more productive growing environment.

Key webinar takeaways:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the prevalence and dangers of waterborne pathogens in greenhouse settings
• Learn how Green Oxidation technology effectively eliminates harmful bacteria and fungi from irrigation water, safeguarding crops from these invisible threats
• Discover the advantages of Green Oxidation for improved crop health, yield, and overall quality. This translates to stronger, more marketable plants and increased profitability for growers
• Explore practical tips and strategies for implementing Green Oxidation in your greenhouse operation. The webinar will provide a clear roadmap for integrating this technology seamlessly into your existing systems

This webinar is designed to be informative for anyone interested in safeguarding their crops and maximizing their greenhouse's potential. From seasoned growers with years of experience to those just starting out in greenhouse, this session will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies.

Reserve your spot for the free webinar here.

Greenhouse innovation continues to impress, and ANUK is here to bring you the latest.

WASHINGTON, DC - Continuing to set sustainability as one of its primary focuses, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is constantly developing new resources, education, advocacy, and opportunities for the fresh industry to engage on a variety of important issues.

“Sustainability is a subject where association members and industry have had significant conversations on issues like sustainability values across the supply chain, financial constraints, and the need for education and collaborative work, with IFPA Vice President of Sustainability Tamara Muruetagoiena serving as a valuable resource,” shared IFPA A-NZ Managing Director Ben Hoodless following the recent Hort Connections Conference in Melbourne, Australia.

During a Hort Connections plenary session, Muruetagoiena discussed the various influences on sustainability in the global fresh produce and floral community, a release explained.

IFPA founded the Alliance for the Sustainable Packaging for Food to engage with regulators, governments, researchers, and civil society organizations to ensure regulations achieve environmental sustainability without compromising food safety and product quality, and without increasing the industry’s carbon footprint.

“What’s interesting is that consumers’ concerns about the environmental impact of packaging are spread almost equally among a number of factors, ranging from air and water pollution to deforestation to marine litter,” Muruetagoiena stated. “Our goal is to continue to use the best science and innovation to create solutions that improve the environmental performance of plastics, increase recyclability and compostability, and discover efficiencies within the system for reusable packaging.”

Muruetagoiena also reflected on IFPA’s participation in COP28 in late 2023, where agriculture was included for the first time in the United Nations’ climate plans.

“Regenerative agriculture is one sustainability practice that has garnered the attention of both retailers and consumers. Two-thirds of shoppers told us they are very or somewhat interested in this method,” Muruetagoiena added. “Whether it’s through no-till or reduced-till cultivation, the use of cover crops and crop rotation, drip irrigation, or integrated pest management practices, there’s been a growing public interest in how we grow the most nutritious food on the planet but also how we take care of the planet in doing so.”

The IFPA VP also weighed in on current consumer expectations, stating that “Multiple studies show that the health of the planet is one of the top important and top sustainability-related concerns in food and beverage for consumers globally; however, there is confusion about eco-friendliness in terms of labeling and packaging.”

The IFPA will host Sustainability Summits in Melbourne, Australia, on August 13 and Auckland, New Zealand on August 15.

“By increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, we can not only improve global health, but we can also decrease the environmental footprint of our diets. Members and industry can look to IFPA to establish best practices and guidance to the fresh produce industry specific to sustainable agriculture as we seek to grow a healthier world,” Muruetagoiena concluded.

To read more about the increasing momentum behind IFPA’s sustainability initiatives, click here. 

WENATCHEE, WA - If you are still reeling from the groundbreaking initiative CMI Orchards announced just a few months ago in partnership with Royal Family Farming, now’s your chance to really dig in. The Soil Center, an initiative seeking to make lengthy strides in regenerative ag, will be front and center for the grower at the rapidly approaching Organic Produce Summit (OPS).

“OPS is the only exclusive organic show—perfect for us to connect with customers seeking a full portfolio of organic apples, pears, and cherries. Specializing in high-flavor apples, we love showing customers the scope of all the options we sell and the creative ways we can help retailers market and promote organics!” says Vice President of Marketing Rochelle Bohm. “Not only is OPS essential for building industry relationships and gaining market insights, but it enhances our market presence by directly connecting us with retailers in search of top-tier organic offerings, positioning us to adapt easily to market trends. Participating highlights our commitment to quality and meeting the growing consumer preference for organic produce.”

And perfectly aligned with that commitment is the Soil Center initiative.

“Led by the Allred family, owners of Double Diamond Fruit, Royal Family Farming, and an ownership arm of CMI, the Soil Center revolutionizes soil health with innovative solutions and optimal ingredients. At its core is an advanced waste-processing system that upcycles byproducts from orchards, row crops, dairy, and beef operations into high-quality soil amendments. We're chipping removed orchard trees to feed the world's largest worm farm, converting liquid waste and wood chips into valuable worm castings used across our orchards and crops,” Rochelle explains.

Of course, as one of the marked providers of organic apples, pears, and cherries, CMI will also showcase its huge varietal selection. Ambrosia Gold®, Cosmic Crisp®, Envy™, Jazz™, KIKU®, Kanzi®, Smitten®, SugarBee®, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp apples; Bosc, D’Anjou, Bartlett, and Starkrimson pears; and Red, Rainier, and Skylar Rae® cherries will all be at the fingertips of visitors to booth #620.

“With our huge selection comes year-round options and pack types for every shopper, and a team ready to customize tools to make organics fly off the shelves,” Rochelle shares. “We're not just meeting the needs of health-conscious consumers; we're setting the benchmark for a healthier, tastier future with every organic piece of fruit we cultivate.”

It’s about that time to jet-set over to Monterey, California, to dive into all things organic, taking place next week, July 11–12.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - The Organic Produce Summit (OPS) is kicking off next week, and one supplier with its products on display will be Fresh Solutions Network® (FSN). The provider will be showcasing its Side Delights® organic potatoes and onions at the show alongside Basin Gold Cooperative and the Masser Family of Companies.

“We have exhibited at OPS since it began in 2016, and we are proud to participate in this show featuring our organic potatoes and onions,” said Kathleen Triou, President and Chief Executive Officer of FSN. “Organic-focused consumers desire purity in the food they eat. We provide transparency of our quality potatoes from where they were grown and how they were treated, from the farm to the store. Side Delights Organic potatoes are 100 percent non-GMO, USDA, and state-certified organic. The shopper-friendly packaging includes the top three most popular potato varieties—Red, Yellow, and Russet—and is available as a 3-pound offering in combo mesh, straight Poly, and BioFlexÔ sustainable bags. Organic onions are sold under the Side Delights Organic brand, including colossal, jumbo, and medium sizes of Red, Yellow, and White onions.”

The organic potato segment commands a premium in the marketplace and continues to grow with 5 percent of the potato category dollar share, according to a press release. Organic volume sales represent a 3 percent share of the category, up 2.4 percent versus the year before.

Taste and perceived quality are always among the top five reasons consumers buy organic produce. Post-pandemic, 72 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for organic, 78 percent are willing to pay more for locally grown produce, and 60 percent are willing to pay more for recyclable packaging, the release stated. Side Delights organic potatoes in the BioFlex package hit on all these “premium” qualities.

"As long as consumers want a high-quality organic option for potatoes, we will continue to grow it,” added Triou, “Our Side Delights brand extends easily into the organic space as it represents a quality potato, premium packaging at a competitive price.”

For more in the potato category, you know where to find us.