IRWINDALE, CA – Ready Pac Foods is expanding its fresh-cut solutions portfolio with Ready Pac® Baby Kale European Salad Blend.
“The Baby Kale European Salad Blend is a perfect fit for Ready Pac consumers who are ready to ‘up their game’ with superfoods, but need a little help navigating their options,” says Tristan Simpson, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Ready Pac.
Kale has made its way from unknown to mainstream through versatility and incorporation into everyday meal recipes. It is up 250% in dollar sales since last year, according to a press release. The International Dairy, Deli & Bakery Association’s 2013 issue of ‘What’s In Store’ states that 78% of consumers say nutrient-dense foods like kale have meaningful impact on health.
Simpson continued, “At Ready Pac, we view Kale the same way as we view our brand; complex and deeply nutritious…yet incredibly adaptable. We’re excited to see this product pique the interest of curious, health-driven consumers everywhere!”
The Baby Kale European Salad is available at Albertsons.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Brett Sill founded Morning Star Fresh Food Ministry in September 2013 with a simple cause in mind: bring fresh, local food to hungry Bakersfield families. While the reach of Morning Star has since expanded, its focus has not changed.
“I was crushed to find out our great city ranked #1 for food hardship in the nation! That means we have more families struggling to put food on the table than anywhere else,” Brett shares with Morning Star supporters on his website. “We are a non-profit, faith-based organization committed to feeding hungry children and families here in our very own community. These families range anywhere from fathers and mothers struggling to find work, working households fighting to make ends meet…to the disabled and the elderly.”
The mission of Morning Star is to “fight hunger and feed souls.” With $35 per month donations from countless supporters, Morning Star is able to package and deliver hundreds of family food boxes, each containing fresh meat and produce from local butchers and farms. Its list of suppliers has grown impressively since its founding, now including Country Sweet, Kirschenman Enterprises, Grimmway Farms, Bolthouse Farms, Pandol Brothers, King Pack, Big L Packers, Steve Co, Giumarra, Sunview Marketing, and John’s Quality Meats.
Those interested in contributing themselves can make a donation on Morning Star's website here.
Brett stresses that Morning Star does not just deliver food however. As a faith-based organization, Morning Star volunteers pray with the families receiving the food boxes and strive to use their faith to uplift their community.
Brett shares that his ultimate goal for Morning Star is to one day feed 1,000 Bakersfield families in need every month. From the looks of it, they're well on their way.
RIVERSIDE, CA - Index Fresh, a global leader in the packing and marketing of avocados, is welcoming Teri Morrison to the Sales department. Currently in the midst of celebrating the company’s 100th year anniversary, Index Fresh is positioning itself to thrive in the next 100 years by growing and evolving its team.
Teri comes to Index Fresh from Mission Produce where she spent the past 11 years learning the in’s and out’s of the avocado category.
“Teri was a very strong candidate for the position, right from the start. She is a true powerhouse. Teri’s knowledge of the category as well as her range of industry experience aligns with the value and vision we hope to share with our customers as we enter our next phase of growth,” John Dmytriw, Sales Director, tells AndNowUKnow.
In Teri’s new position with Index Fresh, she will be working with John and the Sales team to support new business developments with a focus on foodservice and retail accounts.
“I look forward to all that I will experience and learn from Index Fresh. I feel very blessed and I am grateful to have had such wonderful employment opportunities that have allowed me to understand and appreciate the many aspects our industry,” Teri tells me.
Teri started her career in the food industry many moons ago with Stater Bros. where she spent 22 years in positions ranging from cutting meat to assuming the role of Assistant Store Manager. During her time there she went back to college and subsequently graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a BS in Agribusiness Management.
Teri’s first produce opportunity was with Sunkist Growers where she worked in the company’s export department in the Japanese and Korean markets. After a few years at Sunkist, Teri worked at a Sunkist Packinghouse, Villa Park Orchards, where she learned a lot about packinghouse operations. Since then Teri has brokered citrus and worked for a small wholesaler off the LA market. All of these past experiences helped Teri to land a sales position with Mission Produce.
“My time with Mission was amazing and helped me gain the knowledge and insight I needed to comprehensively grasp and understand the avocado category,” Teri notes.
Congratulations, Teri and Index Fresh! Good luck as you enter the next 100.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Chelan Fresh Marketing has joined The Produce Mom's family of partners.
"We at Chelan Fresh are proud to support The Produce Mom,” said Kathryn Grandy, Chelan Fresh Marketing. “It's very exciting to witness the way her social campaigns and consumer marketing style benefit our brand. We have great respect for all fellow members of The Produce Mom Family and we look forward to working with The Produce Mom to increase the consumption of fresh produce.”
The partnership started with the primary goal of marketing the Rockit™ Apple, which was promoted on The Produce Mom’s blog, social media & WISH-TV/Indy Style news segments.
“I am very passionate about introducing consumers to new & exciting items in the produce department, such as the Rockit Apple,” said Lori Taylor, The Produce Mom. “The experience at Chelan Fresh was invaluable to me & all the followers of The Produce Mom. I love demonstrating to consumers the protocol & care that is necessary to bring a fresh produce item from the farms to our home kitchens. Our industry’s dedication to sustainability & food safety is beyond admirable.”
With the marketing a success, Chelan Fresh invited The Produce Mom to join its Annual Cherry Harvest Tour. The tour took place July 13-15 this year, and Chelan Fresh invited individuals representing positions of industry influence to participate in their Ag Tourism & Education program, according to a press release.
This year's guests included Registered Dietitians, Food Stylists, Bloggers, Consumers, as well as Policy & Commission Representatives.
DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES - The Delinanas Banana Plantation became the scene of a firefight last Monday, as 50 armed bandits led by Sukarno Sultan and Lingguna Sultan of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters clashed with Philippine troops in a battle that lasted over an hour according to local estimates. When the shots subsided, one of the gunman was dead and farm equipment belonging to Delinanas had been set aflame. According to the Tempo New the total cost of the damages were valued at $1,380,000.
In the wake of the attack Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command said he will be keeping his troops on high alert and that he plans to step up actions against the lawless bands which threaten the Philippine population, according to the Mindanao Examiner.
“We are doing our best to protect the socio-economic and industrial centers and secure our people and their ways of life from unnecessary threats and intimidation by lawless and criminal elements,” he said.
Abu Misry, a spokesman for the BIFF, said that the attacks were instiaged by the recent arrest of a Moro farmer and his son in Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao. Tempo News reported that for their part, Army officials deny having either of the men in custody.
Hopefully Monday's events will mark both the start and the end to the violence over this dispute. Whether or not we will be so fortunate however will be something that only time can tell.
RICHMOND, VA – Performance Food Group hired industry veteran Jim Hope to the new role of Executive Vice President of Operations.
Jim will report to George Holm, President & CEO. His primary responsibilities include focusing on PFG operations and procurement as well as overseeing the company’s internal initiative to strengthen operational practices, according to a press release.
Before joining PFG, Jim served in various executive leadership roles throughout his 26-year career with Sysco Corporation. In his time there, he served as a Corporate Financial Analyst, President and CEO of the Kansas City operating company, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and lastly Executive Vice President of Business Transformation, according to a press release.
He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in Austin. He is also a former board of trustee of the National Restaurant Association and has held key roles with the United Way in Houston.
Congratulations on the job, Jim!
FOWLER, CA - Stonefruit prices have been higher than average in California, but with good volume in a season in which some growers are experiencing a below average harvest, Simonian Fruit Company is ready to capitalize.
According to Jeff Simonian, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Simonian, smaller sized stonefruit are currently drawing a price point in the mid-teens with large sized stone fruit in the low-twenties, both of which are better than average.
“We've had a very good harvest so far this summer,” Jeff told AndNowUKnow reporters. “Right now we're in the middle of getting our mid season varieties ready for market, and everything going smoothly. Our fruits are coming in just like last year, and we're anticipating that they'll fetch a good price at market.”
The high prices are being fueled by an export market which continues to be strong as well as robust demand. Furthermore, Simonian has been fortunate to escape many of the water and weather issues affecting some stone-fruit growers this season, and has been able to fully benefit from the strong market for their fruits as a result.
Will these prices continue to rise? If demand stays strong and the weather and water conditions plaguing growers hold, they very well could. To find out for sure growers will have to wait for the market to develop, but so far conditions seemed primed for an increase.
Even with everything on their docket right now however, the people at Simonian are already looking ahead at their champagne grape harvest in the Central San Joaquin Valley and planning for the coming pomegranate harvest. Currently, the company is packing their yellow nectarines, yellow peaches, and plums.
“Pomegranates are less than 2 months away from starting for us as well,” Jeff said. “Once we start pomegranates in September, we’ll pack until November, and then ship through as late as February.”
All of Simonian's produce will be available to retailers in a variety of packaging options including clamshells, euro’s, RPC’s, bags, and both 1 and 2 layer options.
All in all, it seems to be yet another good summer for this successful California fruit grower.
The Simonian Fruit Company produces and markets premium quality apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums, pomegranates, persimmons, and grapes. They have been family owned since 1960.
Congratulations on a great harvest Simonian!
UNITED STATES - China, the largest foreign grower of apples, could soon have access to the U.S. produce market if recent actions by the USDA are any indication of what is to come. According to The Hill the USDA proposed last Thursday to lift the restrictions on apple imports from China despite the existence of 21 pest varieties that could pose a risk to U.S. domestic crops.
“We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fresh apples (Malus pumila) from China into the continental United States,” read the USDA report. “All apples from China would also be required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that all conditions for the importation of the apples have been met and that the consignment of apples has been inspected and found free of quarantine pests. This action would allow for the importation of apples from China into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.”
If this proposed change goes into effect, could increased supply lead to a drop in apple prices? While each situation is of course unique, anytime there is a vast increase for the supply of a good, there is the risk of a decrease in price. It is certainly a situation which growers and retailers will want to monitor closely.
For those interested in having their voices heard the USDA is accepting comments from the public for a 60 day period on their website.
LIMA, PERU – From January through May of this year, exports of fresh blueberries from Peru totaled $5.3 million, which is an increase of 428.4% over last year.
This percentage is based on numbers from the Peruvian Agricultural Producers Guild Association (AGAP). Andina, a Peruvian news source, reports that exports from January through May last year totaled $1 million. This means that the exports this year quintupled both in value and in weight.
This is a very good sign because Peruvian blueberry exports for 2013 were at $17.4 million, which was significantly over the approximately $1 million in exports for 2012.
Aside from the huge increases in blueberries, other products have been increasing in the Peruvian export market from January through May as well. Andina reports that watermelons are up 121%, strawberries up 147%, melons up 151%, figs up 151% and passion fruit up 64%.
Peru's total fruit export achieved a growth of 51.6%, up from $374 million to $567 million, according to numbers from AGAP.
In recent months, fresh grapes from Peru have seen a 78.8% increase, avocados increased 48.3% and mangos increased 26.8% over 2013.
DELTA, BC – Heinz Wehner, a member of Village Farms Board of Directors, is retiring. He has served in this role since 1998 and is a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.
Before this role, Mr. Wehner served in several management positions with Chemagro Corporation and Mobay Corporation, both subsidiaries of Bayer A.G. in Germany, according to Wehner’s company profile. Prior to Village Farms, his most recent position was President of the Agricultural, Animal Health and Consumer Products Division of Bayer Corporation.
In a press release, Village Farms thanked Mr. Wehner for his guidance and contributions to the development and growth of Village Farms over the past 18 years.
In another new development for Village Farms, the company has closed its previously announced $5.2 million acquisition of Maxim Power, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maxim Power Corp., according to a press release.
The new name of the acquired company will be VF Clean Energy, Inc., and the facility will continue generating power under a long term preexisting agreement with BC Hydro. Its focus will be to improve the sustainability profile of Village Farm’s greenhouse operations.
Good luck on the retirement, Mr. Wehner, and congrats Village Farm on the completion of your acquisition!