MONTEREY, CA - In this PMA TV exclusive, Ashley Boucher, host and PR Manager of PMA, takes us behind the scenes at the 2nd Annual PMA Tech Knowledge in Monterey, CA. At the conference, over 200 industry members came to talk about leveraging new technologies, and how Ag Tech innovations will streamline business operations, strengthen fresh produce safety, and ultimately help feed a growing population.
Featuring interviews with Cailtin Antle, Sales and Marketing Director of Tanimura & Antle, and Robert Verloop, Executive VP of Marketing for Naturipe Farms, this video gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the latest for the companies, and how they envision the future of tech.
The exclusive also includes interviews with the following tech visionaries:
- Dr. Bob Whitaker, Chief Science and Tech Officer, PMA
- Warren Bebb, CEO of Biolumic
- Katharine Rosser, Sales Engineer, FarmSolutions
- Mike Dodson, CEO and Co-Founder, Lotpath
- Anthony Zografos, CEO of SafeTraces and DNATrek
Watch the video above for all this and more on the tech-focused event.
IRVINE, CA - The California Avocado Commission provides a number of ideas for dressing up the simplest summer salads, as well as providing a complementary flavor to proteins, fresh fruits and spring and summer vegetables.
Jicama and California Avocado Salad
A blend of Latin-flavored ingredients, this recipe offers a contrast in flavors between juicy mango, crunchy jicama, and of course a Fresh California Avocado. Add spicy peanuts to top off a colorful side salad.
To see the complete recipe, click here.
Baby Head Lettuce Salad with Caramelized California Avocados
To start a meal with a richer texture, Fresh California Avocado slices present a signature salad element to a Baby Head Lettuce Salad.
To see the complete recipe, click here.
Dungeness Crab, Watermelon & California Avocado Salad
Using flavors like deviled jicama and Chervil Vinaigrette, the California Avocado Commission calls this dish an “architectural marvel.”
To see the complete recipe, click here.
For these and many more flavorful salad ideas that highlight Fresh California Avocados, you can browse the recipe database at CaliforniaAvocado.com/Foodservice.
And while you’re stopping by, you can also take advantage of resources available to optimize Fresh California Avocado usage such as:
- Nutrition
- Selection
- Storage
- Handling information
To complete a POS order form and receive The Magic of California Avocados recipe booklet, stop by the site or call 800-370-3782.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Raley’s Family of Fine Stores announced that it has hired retail veteran of more than 25 years Keith Knopf as its new Chief Operating Officer.
"I am a strong believer in delivering a personalized customer experience and involving team members in the company's vision," Knopf said, according to a Rocklin Today report. "It's exciting to join a company with values that align with my own."
Having worked as Vice President of Store Operations for Macy’s for 16 years, as well as working for nearly 8 years as the Senior Vice President of Retail Operation and Omni Channel Store at Kohl’s, this appears to be a jump into the grocery industry for Knopf. Holding a Master’s of Business Administration, Finance from St. Louis University, Michael Teel, President and CEO of Raley’s, seems confident it’s a leap Knopf will make successfully.
"Keith is the perfect addition to the Raley's family," Teel said, according to the report. "With a focus on operational efficiency, Keith is uniquely qualified to drive strategic initiatives and accountability within the organization. I have tremendous confidence that Keith's customer-centric approach will be extremely valuable as Raley's continues to grow."
Chief Operating Officer Knopf will be responsible for overseeing daily corporate operations, sales, merchandising, marketing and advertising for the California retailer.
MEXICAN COAST - Tropical Storm Blanca, the second tropical storm of the season, has appeared 400 miles south of the coast of Mexico this week, and is expected to reach hurricane speeds later this week.
The storm’s maximum sustained winds thus far are near 50 mph and the U.S. National Hurricane Center expects the storm will strengthen enough to become a major hurricane by Wednesday night or early Thursday.
Currently, the Weather Advisory Service is reporting that the tropical storm force winds extend up to 45 miles from the center of the storm, and the radius will widen over the next 24 hours. By Friday evening, Blanca should be a major hurricane with max winds of 120 mph or more, centering itself about 200 miles southeast of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
As we’ve previously reported, the first tropical storm Andres appeared only last week, quickly becoming a hurricane that is still traveling 900 miles west of Cabo San Lucas. Swells generated by Hurricane Andres are affecting the West coast of Baja California peninsula. The Associated Press reports that Andres is now headed toward cooler waters, with its maximum winds decreasing to near 105 mph.
The heaviest rain from Blanca will remain offshore, according to AccuWeather, increasing in moisture and leading to showers and thunderstorms across parts of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco this week. Flooding is also expected and will be localized.
Stay tuned as we bring you further updates on how these storms will affect the Mexican and Californian coasts.
HERMISTON, OR - River Point Farms is the recipient of Oregon Food Banks' “Hunger Buster” of the year award.
“At River Point Farms, we focus on minimizing food waste at all levels,” Jonathan Miller, Production Manager at River Point Farms Fresh Pack Facility, said in a press release. “The regular donations River Point Farms makes to the Oregon Food Bank are a very important and a key component to our sustainability program at every level of our company. We are proud to be a part of this partnership and look forward to continuing this for years to come.”
The company donated 630,934 pounds of onions to the Oregon Food Banks’ initiatives, as well as 75,000 pounds to the regional Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) branch of the Oregon Food Bank. According to the release, the company’s generosity was enough to distribute to about 900,000 people in the state of Oregon during the 2014 year.
“We are so grateful to be able to partner with such a great company; because of the donations that we received from River Point Farms, CAPECO and the Oregon Food Bank were able to provide fresh produce to over a million food boxes last year,” Diana Quezada, CAPECO Community Resource Developer, said in the release. “Without these partnerships, our mission to alleviate hunger would not be possible. Our undertaking to provide fresh and quality produce to families will increase and we are certain that we can count on such a great partner like River Point Farms.”
River Point Farms also supports the Oregon Food Bank by connecting with other Oregon growers. In addition to its own donations, the company helps the food bank to source potatoes, blueberries, corn, and other produce to aid The Oregon Food Bank’s local programs to provide emergency food boxes, which provide a three to five day supply of groceries, hot prepared meals, or supplemental food parcels.
“River Point Farms believes it is imperative to give back to our local communities,” Carly Kwak-Bauch, River Point Farms Vice President of Sales, added. “About fifteen percent of Oregon Households are living with food insecurity. Since a major part of our mission is feeding people using responsible growing methods, donating to The Oregon Food Bank seems like a natural fit for us to support our local communities.”
The Oregon Food Bank has 17 independent regional food banks in Beaverton, Ontario, Tillamook, and Portland, as well as about 960 partner agencies to help nearly one in five households fend off hunger.
Both CAPECO and the Oregon Food Bank are organizations River Point Farms stated it will continue to support for years to come.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA - The Mexican Hass avocado company formerly known as AvoFruit Avocados has announced that it will now be rebranded under the name GreenFruit Avocados. The company says this name change is due to the expansion of its Mexican Avocado program in different global markets.
"By the name change, we hope to expand the company globally as well as keep up the good reputation for quality and customer service," says GreenFruit Avocados Vice President, Brian Gomez, in an email to valued partners.
Gomez continued that the business address will remain the same and that there will be no change in upper management, operations, or financial information.
GreenFruit Avocados specializes in the packing, shipping, and marketing of Avocados globally and directly to its clients. The company says the advantage of its programs is that it is able to control the harvest, cold chain management, traceability, and quality of fruit, making them a fully integrated avocado supplier.
LEAMINGTON, ON - Pure Flavor® and Enza Zaden® have announced a partnership giving Pure Flavor® access as one of the exclusive marketers to grow and market the Tribelli® branded mini pepper to North American consumers.
"We are extremely excited to be working with Enza. The Tribelli® mini pepper variety is virtually seedless and is a perfect snack size that the consumers are looking for," said Jamie Moracci, President of Pure Flavor. "We are also looking forward to being able to respond to the extensive demand in North America with these 100% greenhouse grown mini peppers."
Tribelli® is a recognizable brand in Europe, and signifies seed varieties and characteristics that Enza has instilled into these peppers. Taste, color, brix, and consumer awareness are all aspects under the Tribelli logo, and this will enhance the flavor profile under the Aurora Bites name from Pure Flavor®.
According to a press release, the two companies will be partnering to initiate special marketing campaigns and retail promotions in order to highlight the benefits of these exclusive varieties to the end consumer. Production of the Tribelli® Aurora Bites will begin this spring, and will be in full swing by fall.
"This new partnership allows Enza to extend the success of the Tribelli mini pepper in North America. In the past years Pure Hothouse and Enza Zaden have built a strong relationship based on drive for market innovation and cooperation. Following several months of careful preparation and research, Pure Hothouse has grown their mini pepper program considerably. With input from their producing partners and technical input from the Enza research side, we expect to see even more growth of this program in the years to come," said Freek Knol, Regional Manager for the Enza Greenhouse business in North America.
Pure Flavor® and Enza marketing team will be using social media outlets and a dedicated website to create consumer awareness and demand at store level based on consistent quality and taste.
BATON ROUGE, LA - J.H. “Jay” Campbell, 20-year-long CEO of the Associated Grocers (A.G.), has now passed the torch to long-time member Emile R. Breaux.
“The opportunity to transition to someone who I think is very capable of managing this business operation, but also to remain in with the company in a very new, very different capacity was exciting to me,” Campbell said, according to The Advocate.
A.G. announced last year that while Campell had not intended on retiring any time soon, Breaux, who has been a member since June of 1994, would succeed him when he chose to do so. Breaux has served as the association’s Vice President of Retail Operations since early last year.
“Jay Campbell made this look really easy,” Breaux told The Advocate’s Timothy Boone. “His ability to assimilate really mind-numbing details and make good business decisions is a talent I need to develop over the next several years.”
According to the association, a lengthy transition process was put in place that allowed Breaux to get familiar with his new responsibilities, and he noted that he and Campbell have a similar train of thought.
“For the most part, the casual observer won’t see any visible differences in the way this company operates,” Breaux said, according to the report.
Campbell’s been with the A.G. team since January of 1972, and told The Advocate that he has two achievements he is especially proud of in his two decades of leadership; helping to enhance the image of the independent grocery store and getting grocers to shift from being buyers of products to sellers.
“It’s all about how to make the customer experience more exciting,” Campbell said. “Some of our competitors do a dadgum good job of making you feel really good when you walk into their stores. Our stores have the ability to do that. We need to embrace that opportunity to make customers feel very special when they walk into the store.”
It is a legacy Breaux looks to continue. The new CEO reported plans to focus on existing businesses the company acquired over the past few years such as Dart Refrigeration and Table Fresh, stating that he wants to maintain A.G.’s strong position and ensure that its employees know the company will continue to be there.
MEXICO - Daniel Cardenas Izabal Senior has always wanted to give back to his community and it seemed that the best place for him to start was with his own growing operation Daniel Cárdenas Cevallos Agricultores en Copropiedad in Costa Rica, Sinaloa, Mexico. Grown under the Tricar family of labels, the company produces slicer cucumbers, organic and conventional European cucumbers, bell peppers, mini bell peppers, and saladette tomatoes.
In November 2013, Daniel established El Porvenir (The Future) Community Program to begin addressing social change in growing operations throughout Mexico. The foundation of the program lies in four cornerstones: Education, Healthcare, Housing Facilities and Lodgings, and Social Development.
“I want to improve the quality of life for our field workers and their families,” he tells me. “I think that the more we address their concerns and their needs, the better off we will all be, and the generations to follow,” Mr. Cardenas Sr. tells me.
Daniel's son, Daniel Cárdenas Cevallos Jr., has been essential in implementing his father's Community Program Plan on the company’s five farms along with Lilia Carolina López Ceniceros, Corporate Responsibility Consultant. The team has been raising the productivity of the company while increasing the level of satisfaction of the employees since the program’s inception.
"In terms of education, we give families financial incentives for outstanding students with excellent grades. There are also daycares with brain stimulation programs based on the Philadelphia Method, to stimulate brain and physical development for children," Lilia tells me. "We ensure that all of our students get to school on time by providing them with safe transportation like school buses. We also promote art and physical education with a very successful after school program to nurture all aspects of their well-being."
El Porvenir works with the local foundation Estrella Guía IAP as well as local artist Esther Velazquez to help build the program and its effectiveness.
With health and wellness top of mind, Daniel has also worked to establish four medical centers in four field lodgings, making it easier on the company’s field workers to get fast medical assistance.
"We provide our workers with nutritious and balanced breakfasts and lunches for all the 700 children attending one of our four daycare centers and also stimulate worker attendance by giving them monthly food gift bags," Lilia continues.
Also an integral part of the mission to improve the quality of life for the company’s workers are Daniel’s efforts to improve worker housing. Through El Porvenir, Daniel has been able to offer housing facilities that have been built to provide safer and more comfortable accommodations for workers with better illumination and ventilation.
"As part of our 6 year plan we will build two sports courts for the leisure and health of teenagers and their parents,” Lilia notes. “Our social development programs help parents and children reach their potential by assisting them with training and education on a year round calendar – not just during the harvest season."
The program has presently been implemented in five of Daniel Cárdenas Cevallos Agricultores en Copropiedad’s field lodgings: El Porvenir, La Cuchilla, El Cafetal and Acapulco and Pantulis.
"Putting people first has proven to be such a success at all levels of the business. We took our workers opinions seriously when we designed this program, in order to create a long-term project that has clear objectives and indicators," Lilia tells me.
When I ask Lilia what the most important thing is that she would like the industry to know, she tells me, "People need to know about the most progressive programs that care for Mexican field workers. Like El Porvenir, a lot of our efforts as an industry get overshadowed by the negative. We just hope to increase awareness and help raise the bar."
Congrats to the team behind El Porvenir as we keep social responsibility top of mind.
WENATCHEE, WA - Just in time for the Northwest cherry season, Columbia Marketing International (CMI) is introducing a new, first-of-its-kind cherry shipping box for its export customers.
Featuring a unique high graphic, pop-top lid, the box presents an idyllic scene of the Columbia River Valley, and easily pops open and folds up to create an instant retail display.
Marc Pflugrath, CMI’s Director of Export Sales, explained in a press release that the box was designed to reinvent the way that export markets display cherries.
“We wanted a box that would measure up to the exceptional quality of cherries we are packing in it,” he said. “Our cherries are hand-selected and optimally sorted and this new signature box showcases the biggest, sweetest, and most flavorful fruit on the market.”
According to a press release, an unseasonably mild winter followed by lots of spring sunshine has provided optimal growing conditions for the Northwest cherry crop this season. Flavor and sweetness for this season’s cherries are expected to be at peak levels.
“Size and fruit sugars should be optimal,” said B.J. Thurlby, President of the Northwest Cherry Growers. He went on to say that the warm weather has done a tremendous job of creating cell division in this year’s crop.
Initial feedback on CMI’s new pop-top lid for cherries has been incredibly positive, as retailers enjoy being able to display premium Northwest cherries without removing the lid.