SCHILLER PARK, IL - Sun Belle’s Founder and President Janice Honigberg took the time to discuss with us how the company is working with biodynamic-grown blueberries from Chile.
So what is biodynamic agriculture, exactly?
“Biodynamic agriculture is a method of organic growing,” Janice tells us. And it doesn’t stop at blueberries. This autumn the company will also be working with biodynamic grown cranberries as it expands its work within the category.
To find out more about this alternate organic growing method, its certification, and more, watch our entire interview with Janice in the 59 second video above.
SALINAS, CA - The 2015 Forbes Reinventing America: The AgTech Summit in Salinas, California is finally here. With the event kicking off this evening, some of the produce industry’s most innovative companies are preparing to team up with the best of the Silicon Valley as they look to tackle the world’s most critical challenges in farming and food production.
Among those in attendance for the Salinas, CA event will be Driscoll’s Berries, a sponsor and partner of the 2015 Forbes event.
“Driscoll’s has always been an innovator and leader in transforming ideas to real business solutions,” Kevin Murphy, Driscoll’s CEO tells me. “As the fresh berry market leader, we want to continue that tradition and by supporting these types of events we help create an environment of innovation for our industry."
Kevin Murphy will be part of the panel entitled, Farm to Table: The Changing Path to the Consumer on Thursday, July 8th, and this will be a session not to be missed. Driscoll’s is well-positioned to profit from online grocery shopping and the company believes this channel offers a great opportunity to continue building its brand.
The full schedule for the summit includes:
Driscoll’s is currently leveraging relationships with FreshDirect, Ahold PeaPod, Safeway, FruitDay in China and other key retailers worldwide. For the company, providing great tasting berries is the most important thing to the consumer, and delivering as well as preserving the cold chain will be critical in these new business models.
As the speed of emerging technology continues to change the agricultural landscape, Driscoll’s sees these new tech opportunities being employed at all levels of the supply chain. In addition, with scaling global consumer demands, there will be an increased focus on the need for good land, good water, and efficiency of farming.
For Driscoll’s, technology is embedded throughout the supply chain from tracing the company’s berries from farm to table, all the way to data collection platforms to improve yields and manage resources like water. Equally important to Driscoll’s is improving the human labor factor–allowing farm workers to work more efficiently, effectively, and with improved tools.
For those attending the Forbes Reinventing America: The AgTech Summit in Salinas, California, we will see you there!
LEAMINGTON, ON - Pure Flavor has been plenty busy in the past few months, and on the tails of an exclusive marketing agreement for peppers with Enza Zaden, the company today announced another exclusive agreement. Sakata’s mini San Marzano style tomato will be now be marketed under Pure Flavor’s Marzanito™ name.
“Pure Flavor is on a mission to continue pushing for the best flavor experience for the end consumer,” says Jamie Moracci, President of Pure Flavor. “A lot of people talk flavor, but very few develop, allocate resources, and commit to it becoming a reality. This variety is proof that we’re serious about flavor!”
Available throughout North America, this exclusive variety has been in development for many years. Marzanito™ is balanced with sweetness, a tender flesh, and a meaty inside, making it an ideal cooking tomato.
“This variety has a distinct flavor and offers characteristics which cannot be found in other tomatoes,” adds Matt Mastronardi, Chief Marketing Officer for Pure Flavor. These mini San Marzano style tomatoes will also be an important tomato SKU to add to produce departments, Mastronardi is sure to include.
“At Sakata, our team is passionate about our efforts to create varieties that will challenge and shape the future of the industry,” said Kimberly Nerli, Senior Protected Culture Manager of Sakata Seed America. “Creating viable solutions for both growers and consumers remains the central focus of the specialty tomato program, while always keeping in mind the importance of creating a powerful flavor profile across our entire portfolio.”
Sakata has developed a diverse line of specialty tomatoes that includes rounds, grapes, and cherries in a variety of sizes and colors. Pure Flavor notes in a press release that this extensive line illustrates Sakata’s understanding of the needs of the North American market and its passion for delivering above and beyond industry standards.
BOISE, ID - Following earlier rumors last April, Albertsons Companies, Inc. is planning for an initial public offering of stock, according to a regulatory filing on Wednesday.
The filing indicates that the company expects to raise $100 million from the offering, though that figure may change as it is only an estimate used to calculate a filing fee.
The IPO is led by Goldman Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley & Co., and Lazard Frères & Co, according to the filing.
As of June 20, 2015, Albertsons Companies, Inc. operates 2,205 stores across 33 states under 18 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, and Carrs. Out of those 2,205 stores, Albertsons operates 456 stores, while Safeway operates 1,247.
The company also operates 30 distribution centers and 21 manufacturing facilities.
The map below represents Albertsons Companies’ regional banners and combined store network, as of June 20, 2015.
Safeway and Albertsons completed their merger, worth approximately $9.2 billion, in January. The Federal Trade Commission granted approval to the merger on the condition that the retailers divest 168 stores.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Albertsons had sales of $27.2 billion in fiscal 2014. That figure is boosted to $57.5 billion in sales with the addition of Safeway’s financial performance. This makes Albertsons Companies the second-largest traditional supermarket chain in the U.S. behind Kroger Inc.
In the filing, the company states, “Our operating playbook has enabled us to accelerate identical store sales growth. The Legacy Albertsons Stores have delivered positive identical store sales growth in each of the past 16 fiscal quarters. In fiscal 2014, we delivered identical store sales growth of 8.2% across the SVU (Supervalu) Albertsons Stores, and 9.1% across the NAI (New Albertsons) Stores, compared with negative 4.8% for each of them in fiscal 2012 (prior to their acquisition). Our Safeway stores delivered identical store sales growth of 3.0% in fiscal 2014, compared to 1.4% in fiscal 2013, and we believe that implementation of our playbook will enable us to further accelerate our sales growth.”
In our most recent edition of The Snack magazine, we examined how suppliers may be affected by Safeway-Albertsons decentralized model. For more on that story, click here.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow Albertsons’ initial public offering.
UPDATE (JULY 8, 12:37 PM PACIFIC): At 3:10 pm ET, trading resumed on the New York Stock Exchange after it had been suspended for nearly four hours.
NEW YORK CITY, NY - At 11:32 am local time the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) came to a screeching halt. About ten minutes later it was announced that all open orders have been canceled.
According to Tech Crunch and CNBC reports, a computer glitch is what brought the exchange to a stop this morning.
“We’re currently experiencing a technical issue that we’re working to resolve as quickly as possible,” an NYSE Spokesperson announced, according to Tech Crunch. “We will be providing further updates as soon as we can, and are doing our utmost to produce a swift resolution, communicate thoroughly and transparently, and ensure a timely and orderly market re-open.”
Though the Department of Homeland Security is involved with the situation, no cyber attack is reportedly suspected. At 12:28 pm NYSE confirmed via its Twitter account that the glitch is internal and not from any kind of security breach.
While new deals are canceled, stocks on other exchanges do continue to trade at this time including NASDAQ and BATS Global Markets.
According to Joe "JJ" Kinahan, Managing Director at TD Ameritrade, business continues as usual despite the market being down. “I think it’s a credit to the system,” Kinahan told CNBC on a call this morning as he commented that the process is being handled very well. “10 years ago this would have been a major problem, but now it’s a seamless event.”
Market Maker for J. Streicher & Co. Mark Otto appeared to agree, according to Reuters, stating on the NYSE floor that the situation is under control and traders were just waiting for word. “There's no sign of panic at all.”
Reuters reported that the NYSE accounted for about 13.4 percent of all equities volume last month and 12.5 percent as of yesterday according to BATS Global Markets data.
NYSE President Tom Farley told CNBC live that it does plan to have the system back online from 2:45 to 3:00 p.m. local time today, and will continue to update the media on the situation as it develops. Previously the NYSE decided that it would announce any additional plans at 2:30 pm local time if the system was not back up by then.
CASTROVILLE, CA - Starting this week, Ocean Mist Farms will be shipping its first Ocean Mist Organic fresh produce items out of its cooler in Castroville, California.
The organic product line is shipping nationwide, and includes more than fifteen items such as beets, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, fennel, iceberg lettuce, kale, leeks, parsley, red leaf, green leaf, romaine, and spinach.
Announced last May, Ocean Mist Farms formed a strategic alliance with Lakeside Organic Gardens to grow for one another and expand their respective organic product lines.
Ed Boutonnet, CEO of Ocean Mist Farms, noted that the purpose of the strategic alliance is to meet the increasing shopper demand for organic produce in a press release.
“It’s important to the future of our business that we respond to the changes in the marketplace and meet the needs of our end consumer; adding organic produce to our product list is part of meeting that need,” he said.
All of Ocean Mist’s organic items will be marketed under the Ocean Mist Organic label.
For further updates on Ocean Mist’s organic line, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
MONTVALE, NJ - The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P) is providing consumers with fresh, locally grown produce, partnering with over 30 local farms in four states to do so.
“Farmers work extremely hard year round to provide their products to the community,” Eric Kanterman, Chief Merchandising Officer of A&P, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to offer our customers seasonal produce fresh from the farm in their neighborhood.”
Through the new program, the retailer will offer over 35 varieties of vegetables, including cabbage, carrots, onions, and tomatoes, plus apples, peaches, blueberries, and other fruits and berries while seasonally available. The farmers enabling A&P to do this will be local growers in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
One of those teaming up with the company is Dandrea Produce, who will not only provide fresh foods but also a farmer to meet with customers in 11 A&P locations during a “Farmer’s Market.” This farmer will educate consumers on local produce, according to the company, including when the best time to buy that produce is.
“I am proud to see our family’s fresh produce on the shelves of A&P’s family of supermarkets, and on the plates of local residents,” Steve Dandrea, VP of Sales and Marketing of Dandrea Produce, said in the release. “This collaboration with A&P allows us to expand our reach to customers who may not be able to travel to our farm.”
New Jersey growers participating in A&P’s programs include:
Also partnering with A&P, based out of Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania are:
- Magee Farms (Delaware)
- Sheppard Farms (Delaware)
- Piedmonte Farms (New York)
- Torrey Farms (New York)
- Bright Farms (Pennsylvania)
When in season, locally grown produce will be available at A&P, Food Basics, Pathmark, Superfresh, The Food Emporium and Waldbaum’s.
YERINGTON, NV - Embracing the national movement to ‘eat brighter!’, Peri & Sons is offering consumers a Sesame Street® branded package of premium onions.
The company will be offering their white, yellow and red onions in 2lb, 3lb and 5lb packs printed with large colorful images of Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Ernie characters. While the bags’ front side aims to connect with kids, the bags’ back side provides facts adults can feel good about, like recipe tips and info on nutrients and health-promoting phytochemicals.
Kids are known to wrinkle their noses at onions, but Peri & Sons is hoping to aid families in their effort to incorporate more healthy veggies into their home-cooked meals.
If you’d like to see your product in this segment, please send samples to 2020 L Street, Suite 320, Sacramento, CA 95811.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Since 2012, each of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District's 22 schools were gifted salad bars by the United Fresh Start Foundation, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California Foundation, and a host of local produce industry donors through the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools program. This year, to pay that kindness forward, Jennifer Gerard of the district’s nutrition program has decided to cycle 275 miles in four days for Tour de Fresh to put salad bars in other districts as well.
You might ask why she’s doing this, but Gerard would be quick to tell you that every school should offer fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a nutrition education program that fights childhood obesity and encourages healthy eating for future generations.
“We’re so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools to bring more fresh produce into our district,” said Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Director of Nutrition Jennifer Gerard. “We believe in supporting other schools through Tour de Fresh because we’ve seen the positive impact that this program has on our students’ health and education—we want that for every school.”
Gerard now is riding on behalf of Natural Delights Medjool Dates from Hickory, NC, all the way to Atlanta with a personal goal to raise $5,000 to place at least two salad bars in California’s Upland Unified School District, according to a press release. As previous recipients, Monterey district employees have been able to see, first-hand, the positive impact that salad bars have had on thousands of students in the Monterey Peninsula area.
“Our children spend the majority of their day at school, so it’s important that we provide them with the tools to make healthy decisions when they’re not at home,” said California Congressman Sam Farr. “When we support a movement like Tour de Fresh and Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools, we’re setting the next generation up for success.”
Presented by the California Giant Foundation, the 2014’s inaugural Tour de Fresh raised over $142,000 and with the help of the United Fresh Start Foundation, placed more than 40 salad bars in 11 states, from California all the way to the District of Columbia. To learn more about last year's event, you can watch the video below:
For 2015, Tour de Fresh and its participants aim to privately finance 100 or more new salad bars in school districts across the country.
“Jenn reached out to us, completely unsolicited, to ride in Tour de Fresh in support of other schools,” said California Giant Berry Farms’ Vice President of Marketing, Cindy Jewell. “We’re seeing the impact of Tour de Fresh come full circle because of Jenn’s commitment to supporting the cause after seeing its success of salad bars in her own district.”
United Fresh Start Foundation President Tom Stenzel also weighed in on the program, saying it’s tremendously gratifying to see school leaders across the country step up to support salad bars in their districts.
“Schools are finding salad bars a real solution to meeting demands for increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, while learning to ‘take what they want, and eat what they take’, thus minimizing plate waste,” Stenzel added. “Kids get to try a variety of new products, and can always find different fruits and veggies to enjoy.”
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and riders are encouraged to join until all 55 slots on the roster is filled. For more information, email Brock Nemecek at [email protected].
Additional information about Tour de Fresh can be found at www.TourdeFresh.com and on the organization’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
WENATCHEE, WA - There’s always a peak growing season for every category, and this week is finally it for some cherry growers in Washington state. CMI, for one, is saying retail buyers are now being presented with the best cherry sales and promotion opportunities of the entire season.
“This is the week,” says Steve Castleman, Senior Vice President of Sales at CMI. “We are hitting our seasonal high point for cherry availability and promotional pricing right now.”
After this week, CMI expects to see cherry volumes statewide to drop off.
“Our CMI warehouses received a huge volume of cherries that were harvested over the holiday weekend. It’s the big receiving rush that we expect to see every year,” Castleman continued in a press release. “Using harvest history as our guide, we see this week as one of the final opportunities for retailers to buy cherries at the peak of the season.”
There will of course still be cherries in the market for several weeks, Castleman adds, but the seasonal peak this week is much earlier than normal. “We knew the crop was early. But from what we’re hearing from our own horticulturists and other orchardists around the state, after this week the cherry supply will begin to decline.”
According to CMI, now is the time for retailers to jump on cherries and get the best quality and pricing of the season.