PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO - National and international leaders of the horticultural industry, agricultural growers, government officials, and supply chain innovators will be converging in Puerto Vallarta next month, for an event not to be missed.
The event you ask? AMHPAC’s 8th Annual Convention located at the Sheraton Buganvilias® Resort & Convention Center on August 27th-28th. So, mark your calendars and sign up now to meet with some of the industry’s pioneers, politicians, and up-and-comers.
“With this event, we are creating a space where members can meet, collaborate, and contribute on those issues that are affecting their business,” Alfredo Diaz, AMHPAC’s CEO, tells me. “AMHPAC is providing a program with topics that are priorities for the daily operations of our attendees. This makes the annual convention an ideal event for both the producer and the supplier of goods and services as well as a great place for creating new business opportunities and cultivating established relationships.”
As for the impact that Mexican produce has on the world market, Trade Information from Mexico's Tariff Information System via Internet (SIAVI for its initials in Spanish), shows that in 2014, 91.6% of all Mexican produce exports were destined to the United States. Canada was the second biggest destination for Mexican produce exports that year with 1.7%, Japan third with 1.1% and the remaining 5.7% is distributed between 87 other countries, Spain, Turkey, Guatemala and the Netherlands being the 4th through 7th places.
“That is out of a total of 9.1 million metric tons of Mexican fruits and vegetables. That clearly has an impact on the world market, but nowhere is our produce nearly as important as it is in the United States,” Mr. Diaz adds.
During the event, attendees will address topics that include organic agriculture, management of root-knot nematode, and social responsibility. Also on the ticket are topics ranging from Assurance Protected Horticulture, Leadership Development, Climate Change and its impact on protected agriculture, to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Sustainable Agriculture, and the Economic and socio-political environment of Mexico.
To kick off the event, the organization will be hosting its 2nd Annual AMHPAC Race on Thursday, August 27th with two categories: the 5K and 10K. To sign up, please a request to [email protected]. The annual opening will also be held on the 27th with dignitaries from around the country.
“One of the many highlights of this year’s Convention is AMHPC’s 4th Commercial Mission,” Mr. Diaz noted. “This event will allow Mexican growers the chance to meet with major traders as well as both retail and wholesale executives from the United States and Canada to inspire business opportunities and discussions.”
On August 28th, AMHPAC will hold its Annual General Assembly, an exclusive event for AMHPAC members, where owners of agricultural companies, as well as representatives of different input supplying and service companies, will gather to make decisions about the future of the organization and the industry.
When I ask Mr. Diaz what differentiates this event from the bunch, he tells me that this is the perfect setting to be face-to-face with the different sectors of the industry in a productive but relaxing atmosphere.
“It is an open forum for leaders who wish to share their opinions and make decisions on the direction this industry must take,” he adds. “Speakers with new proposals are also participating, and will help plant the seed of innovation.”
Here are some great stats to consider as you prepare for the event, and even if you are not attending THIS year:
- Protected Agriculture in Mexico is represented almost in its entirety by 3 products: tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers.
- According to AMHPAC´s estimates, tomatoes are the most popular crop under protection with about 65% of the country´s protected surface, followed by bell peppers with 18% and cucumbers with the remaining 17%.
- Mexico´s protected agriculture has grown considerably in the past few years, if we look at it from the market´s perspective, we can see that imports to the U.S. of Mexican produce, that is reported as grown under protected schemes, have increased exponentially.
- In 2012, USDA´s AMS reported Mexico imported a little over 2 million tons of tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers.
- Out of that 2 million tons of tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers, an average of 34% was reported as protected agriculture.
- By 2014, U.S. imports of those same products increased to 2.2 million tons, but the ratio between protected and open field production, stands at an average 49% of the total reported as protected agriculture.
- Cucumber imports to the U.S. have seen a rather large increase in volume and in protected to open field ratios. Reports show imports for 492 thousand tons in 2012 with 18% reported as protected, and by 2014 that went up to 580 thousand tons imported, and 41% of that reported as protected.
For those attending next month’s event in Puerto Vallarta, I’ll see you there. For those still on the fence, I hope this will help to tip the scales.
CINCINATTI, OH - Kroger will soon divide its current Southwest Division into two separate, interdependent supermarket divisions between Houston and Dallas.
Sources tell AndNowUKnow that Kroger announced its plan to split the division into two as part of its further growth in the region's market.
Southwest Division has reportedly seen a large margin of success in recent years, prompting the divide. Bill Breetz, current President of the now whole division, will continue to serve as the Houston Division President, overseeing operations in both Texas and Louisiana.
As we previously reported, Kroger has made significant investments in the Texas market. Now, the company has decided to build and expand on its team within the region as the next step in its growth strategy.
Kroger has not yet announced who will head up the Dallas Division, though the elected leader will reportedly report to Breetz throughout the transition period for the remainder of the fiscal 2015 year.
The Dallas Division will include store locations in both Shreveport and Alexandria, LA, while the Houston Division will encompass stores in Lake Charles, LA Some teams from Kroger will support a single division individually, while some will support both.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this developing story.
CORONA, CA - Veg-Fresh Farms’ fresh division, Good Life™ Organic, is adding organic red, white, and yellow onions to its product line.
Demand is expected to be hot for these new items this summer, as Ryan Galindo, a buyer for Good Life™ Organic, explains.
“The onion market has been strong this summer and with the continued growth in customer’s demand for organic produce, Good Life™ Organic onions couldn’t be launching at a better time,” Galindo said in a press release.
Good Life™ Organic will be offering its customers three sizes of organic onions, including 16/3 lb. bags, 40 lb. stickered cartons, and 50 lb. sacks.
Currently, production is being harvested in the Lancaster, Bakersfield, California area and will transition to the Pacific Northwest in October.
“Good Life™ Organic onions will be supplying the marketplace organic onions year round from California and the Pacific Northwest,” said Anthony Innocenti, Organic Category Manager for Good Life™ Organic.
All Good Life™ Organic labels include the USDA Organic seal and the QAI logo, which states that the produce has been certified organic by Quality Assurance International. Research shows that using the USDA organic seal is believed to be responsible for increased consumer trust and a willingness to pay more for organics, according to a press release.
Keep an eye out for Good Life™ Organic's newest items to be added to its organic line-up.
MODESTO, CA - It’s no secret that farmers have been looking for alternatives to normal water usage this summer, and for California farmers the situation has become even more pressing. This latest alternative does not involve out-of-state pipelines or new facilities, but instead looks to recycle water that already has gone down our city drains.
So far, cities such as Modesto, Turlock, and the Patterson-based Del Puerto Water District have partnered on the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program (NVRRWP) to build pipelines to send their treated wastewater to the Delta-Mendota Canal. The six-mile, $100 million pipeline to would be the largest water recycling project of its kind in the state.
"Crazy wouldn't adequately describe what we're going through here," Anthea Hansen, General Manager for the Del Puerto Water District, told NPR about the valley’s conditions. "Having zero water available — we've been in survival and crisis mode for literally 24 months now."
Currently, all of Turlock's and a portion of Modesto's recycled water leaves the region as it is discharged to the San Joaquin River. According to the program’s website, the NVRRWP will now allow Turlock and Modesto to send its treated wastewater to the Del Puerto Water District through a direct pipeline to the Delta-Mendota Canal. In turn, the Del Puerto Water District will then distribute the wastewater to farmers. As much as 30,600 acre-feet per year could be available as soon as 2018.
To disinfect the wastewater, the plant will use ultraviolet light once new equipment is installed – part of the district’s $150 million upgrade to meet new water quality requirements. It won't be drinking-water quality, NPR says, but will be clean enough to use on crops, according to state standards.
And all this change will not be cheap for farmers. NPR is also reporting that farmers will pay four to five times normal water prices, although this is not expected to be much of a deterrent.
The Modesto City Council has approved an environmental review for the project, but Turlock Irrigation District (TID) analyst Herb Smart noted to The Modesto Bee that while the TID strongly supports projects that reuse water, it has some concerns. Smart continued that this project will send water from one basin to another one, putting additional stress on the groundwater in the district’s boundaries and on the Tuolumne River water the TID sends to farmers.
In the Del Puerto Water District, however, farmers may see this method of water recycling as a better way to conserve. The project will still need many permits and approvals from the state, but if all goes according to plan, the taps could open up in three years’ time.
KINGSVILLE, ON - Mucci Farms’ new greenhouse is just days away from its first harvest of fresh, Ontario-grown Naked Leaf living lettuce.
Naked Leaf products are hydroponically grown and then harvested with the roots still intact and resting in a soil plug/small plastic cup. This means they’re still alive and growing when purchased. Both retailers and consumers benefit from the longer shelf-life, greater freshness, flavor, and leaf color than those on regular lettuce heads, according to a press release.
Mucci Farms says its Naked Leaf – Green Butter Head Variety has a delicate crisp, with a mild sweet flavor. It’s available in several different pack sizes, including single, double clamshells, as well as individual sleeve with handle. Retail ready displays will also be available.
Be on the lookout for Ontario Grown Naked Leaf Living Herbs, coming soon from Mucci Farms. Varieties that will be available include Basil, Watercress, and Arugula available in 2 oz. and 4 oz. sleeves.
Whether they’re used for salads, lettuce wraps, or other recipe ideas, Mucci Farms’ website offers a number of creative ways to utilize Naked Leaf living lettuce’s large, uniform leaves for your next meal.
GREELY, CO - It’s officially time for cabbage and carrots in Colorado this month, and Hungenberg Produce has already began harvesting on its 5000 acres.
“There’s nothing better than the smell of fresh carrots moving through the building, we are all excited to start harvest season,” Jordan Hungenberg, Co-Owner of Hungenberg Produce tells me.
This season had been slightly delayed, Jordan says, with almost 8 inches of rain hitting the Colorado soil. But despite the late start, quality for both the cabbage and carrot crops are looking excellent.
The carrot season lasts nearly 5 months, beginning around July 10th and lasting until early December. During this time, Hungenberg processes, and packages around a half million pounds of carrots a day. Cabbage season, on the other hand, starts in July and continues up until the end of October. Hungenberg Produce packs four thousand cases of red and green cabbage each day.
Hungenberg Produce packs a number of different bag sizes in its 120,000 square foot facility. For both cello and baby carrots, the company packs 1, 2, 3, and 5 pound bag sizes. Production in the facility also includes both value-added snack packs, carrot chips, and matchstick carrots. All of this is done with safety at top of mind through Hungenberg’s PRIMUS GFSI certified food safety program.
Hungenberg carrots and cabbages are both already available for retailers to purchase. Stay tuned for more from the Colorado-based company.
MONTVALE, NJ - After several months of speculation, Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in five years.
“After careful consideration of all alternatives, we have concluded that a sale process implemented through chapter 11 is the best way for A&P to preserve as many jobs as possible, and maximize value for all stakeholders,” said Paul Hertz, President and Chief Executive Officer of A&P. “And while the decision to close some stores is always difficult, these actions will enable the Company to refocus its efforts to ensure the vast majority of A&P stores continue operating under new owners as a result of the Court-supervised process.”
The company has already lined up deals with three grocery chains that would acquire 120 of its stores employing 12,500 employees for nearly $600 million, USA today reported early this morning. Ahold also announced this morning that its Stop & Shop branch will acquire 25 of these locations at a cost of $146 million.
The grocery chain filed for bankruptcy protection in a federal court in the Southern District of New York, citing about $2.3 billion in debts and listing $1.6 billion in assets, according to USA Today. A&P also has two loans totaling $270 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, taking on an additional $420 million in junior-ranking debt as part of its exit from bankruptcy in 2012. At the time it had lost around $123 million on sales of almost $1.6 billion in its latest quarter, according to a regulatory filing.
Without the proposed sales, A&P will have "no choice but to liquidate their business in a fire sale and piecemeal fashion," Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Chief Restructuring Officer Christopher McGarry said in the filing. "The best and only viable path to maximize the value of their business and preserve thousands of jobs is a strategic chapter 11 filing to facilitate sales free and clear of liabilities.”
The company has several sources of secured financing, according to USA Today, including investors represented by U.S. Bank ($677.1 million) and Wells Fargo Bank ($561 million). A&P listed supplier C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. as its largest unsecured creditor with $39.4 million in claims. The next four largest unsecured creditors are McKesson Drug Co. ($8.4 million), Facility Source LLC ($6.7 million), Coca-Cola Enterprises ($4.8 million) and Mondelez Global LLC ($3.2 million).
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. has 296 supermarkets and other stores under several brands, including A&P, Waldbaum's, SuperFresh, Pathmark, Food Basics, The Food Emporium, Best Cellars, and A&P Liquor.
CALIFORNIA - Former Hurricane Dolores has brought rain to the southern region of California, and lots of it.
According to the National Weather Service, the area is seeing rainfall levels of “super historic” amounts for the month of July, usually the driest of time of the year, and it has yet to stop falling. Major cities in the area like Los Angeles and San Diego are among those being effected, with flash flood watches in effect for the Southwest Desert.
The Weather Channel also reported that this is not the only region effected by the now-regressed tropical storm. Neighboring states are seing some wetter weather as well.
“[Former Hurrican Dolores] enhanced the threat of thunderstorms with heavy rainfall from the Four Corners into the Desert Southwest, including parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, western Colorado, Nevada and the deserts and mountains of southern California,” the Weather Channel reported.
The cumulations of rainfall for the 5 p.m. PST of July 18th to 5 p.m. PST July 19th timeframe, per a report compiled by Roland Clark, Owner of Weather Mission and Forecaster for Weather Advisory Service, Inc., included the record amounts listed below:
Other cities in the region included:
This sudden shift in the month least expected to see rain is being completely contributed to moisture generated from former Hurricane Dolores. As we previously reported the hurricane had been projected to develop into a major hurricane with the potential to impact the Southern California and Arizona weather before regressing back to a tropical storm. While it was said that Sunday may see record amounts of rainfall, the amount is still surprising.
"It looks like there's a good chance the monthly record is going to go up," Joe Sirard, a Forecaster for the National Weather Service, told the Associated Press. "Really, this is super historic."
Though Dolores itself has dissipated, rip tides on the Southern California coast and lighting warnings continue as the region still sees the effects of last week's Pacific hurricane.
Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow the latest industry news.
NOGALES, AZ - Del Campo is proving its commitment to social responsibility with this latest globally recognized seal.
The company has received certification from the Rainforest Alliance, ensuring that its tomato and pepper farms are well-managed and are growing food responsibly.
“The Rainforest Alliance certification requires our tomatoes and pepper farms to pass rigorous environmental, social, and economic standards set by the Sustainable Agriculture Network and we are extremely proud that our farms have received this globally recognized certification,” Juan Jose Ley, General Manager of Del Campo y Asociados, said in a press release.
Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farm and forest operations meet comprehensive standards that protect the environment and promote the rights and well-being of workers, their families, and communities, according to a press release.
“These programs and certifications help us ensure we are going above and beyond our compliance requirements for our customers and our consumers,” said Diego Ley, General Manager of Del Campo Supreme. “We know the success of our company starts with our employees and we will continue to provide the best quality life and work environment we can.”
The Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal is yet another addition to the company’s sustainability achievements. For the past six consecutive years, Del Campo’s farms have received the ESR Social Responsibility award.
SALINAS, CA - Summer is here, and to celebrate, Naturipe Farms has launched its “#EatTheRainbow Recipe Challenge” influencer outreach program.
Naturipe is challenging five food bloggers to create a full day-part menu themed by the color of the rainbow. These bloggers from across the country will be encouraging healthy eating to their audiences by developing a “rainbow” of unique recipes, featuring creative pairings featuring both peak of season blueberries and strawberries. The #EatTheRainbow Recipe Challenge began on July 13th and will continue all the way through August 16th.
“This promotion has been fun to work on because our bloggers love the challenge and consumers love having new, out of the box recipes to try.” said Kyla Oberman, Naturipe’s Director of Marketing. “While domestic berries have been in the market for a few months, they are at their peak during the summer. By encouraging different usage ideas and new recipes such as this, consumers are inclined to keep fresh berries on their grocery lists.”
Participating Bloggers include: This Gal Cooks, Spoonful of Flavor, Recipe Runner, Healthy Nibbles & Bits, Beyond Frosting.
Each week of the challenge, Naturipe and the participating bloggers will feature a new colorful berry recipe on their respective blogs and social media platforms:
- Week 1 (July 13th - 19th): Breakfast themed “red”
- Week 2 (July 20th - 26th): Salad themed “orange”
- Week 3 (July 27th - August 2nd): Dinner themed “yellow”
- Week 4 (August 3rd - 9th): Dessert themed “green”
- Week 5 (August 10th - 16th): Beverage themed “blue/purple”
At the end of the five week promotional period, each of the blogger’s custom recipes will go head-to-head in a battle against each other for a chance to win Sur La Table gift cards. Consumers can determine the winner by voting for their favorite #EatTheRainbow recipe via Naturipe’s Facebook page.
Naturipe's and This Girl Cooks' Blueberry Brie Pastry Recipe
According to a press release, all of the participating bloggers will be co-hosting a #EatTheRainbow Twitter party with Naturipe on August 17th at 9:00PM EST/6:00PM PST. You can RSVP for the event at http://twvt.us/eattherainbow.
You can follow Naturipe Farm’s Blog, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to stay up-to-date on the #EatTheRainbow Recipe Challenge! The challenge recipes will be featured each week, along with tips on how to get creative and unique with fresh berries.