WENATCHEE, WA - A week ahead of last year's harvest, Stemilt Growers has already begun harvesting and packing this year's apricot crop. Because of excellent weather conditions throughout the growing season, it plans to package 300,000 cartons worth of apricots this summer, a 35% increase from 2013.
“Weather has definitely been on our side this season, which is resulting in large-sized, clean, and very high-quality apricots. We’re harvesting Robada apricots now and will quickly move into our leading two varieties, Rival and Perfection. Stemilt will have promotable volumes to ship by the middle of next week, and encourages strong apricot promotions at retail from June 30th through July 14th,” said Roger Pepperl, Stemilt Marketing Director.
“The natural farming techniques used in organic production brings orchards into balance from a horticultural standpoint. This combines with the ideal climate in central Washington to produce larger apricots with great color and a true dessert eating experience,” said Pepperl.
Roughly 60% of Stemilt's crop is certified organic, according to a press release. The company markets its organic apricots under its Artisan Organics label. For smaller sized apricots, Stemilt plans to again utilize it's random-weight pouch bag “to increase purchase size and build incremental sales. It’s also a way for us to easily message the fact that the apricots inside are organic,” said Pepperl. It's larger fruits will be packaged in panta packs and tray packs.
The Douglas family, 4th generation fruit farmers operating out of central Washington, are responsible for the majority of Stemilt’s apricot crop. Their orchards are located in the Tri Cities, Columbia Basin, and the Wenatchee Valley.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Wal-Mart is testing a brand new concept store; a drive-through. And yes folks, this includes produce. The 15,000 square-foot facility will house 10,000 fresh and dry grocery products from cereal, chips and bread to fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and milk, according to thecitywire.com.
“We know at Wal-Mart our customers’ needs are changing. They want and need more shopping options and we have the means to give them low prices, wide assortments along with value and convenience in a seamless shopping experience,” noted Deisha Barnett, corporate spokeswoman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
The concept will allow customers to order their groceries online and schedule a time to pick them up. The building will have drive-up windows so customers will never need to get out of their cars, according to KTHV. In May, the city of Bentonville gave Wal-Mart the approval to begin building its first drive-through only location.
The new concept is one of several tests the retailer is conducting from storage lockers in metro Washington D.C., Walmart to Go pick-up and home delivery in Denver and San Jose, Calif., and the new convenience store located up the road from this new drive-through location. These new concepts are designed to provide convenience and are in no way meant to replace traditional stock-up trips that Wal-Mart’s supercenters provide. Those trips are valued annually at $585 billion and remain about 60% of the total grocery spend, according to Bill Simon, CEO of the company.
As of now, there is no word on when the test store will open or what the service will cost. Personally, I still enjoy my in-store grocery strolls, but with today's fast-paced environment, who doesn't love a little convenience.
In an effort to enhance customers’ benefits and continue to offer new ways to improve an evolving customer service strategy, Crowley and Customized Brokers have contributed to a pilot program with the Florida Perishables Trade Coalition. As a founding member of the Coalition, Customized Brokers hopes to broaden the scope of fresh produce imports into the state of Florida with items that include Peruvian citrus, apples and pears from Uruguay, as well as Argentinian blueberries. The programs would allow for the clearance of these cold-treatment perishables into Florida ports.
Nelly Yunta, VP Customized Brokers, tells AndNowUKnow, “With this program we are looking to give our customers another option and allow them to bring a new portfolio of products through Florida ports. As an organization, we are spearheading this project, which at present, only allows for grapes and blueberries. We are currently waiting for USDA approval to move forward with a future expansion.”
Customized Brokers, a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime Corporation, has been helping growers, importers and exporters around the world build their businesses by providing efficient service and compliance expertise with a careful attention to detail. With South Florida as strategic entry ports (via air and ocean) for agricultural products cultivated in Latin America, Customized Brokers is looking to evolve the future of the Crowley program.
In addition, Crowley and Customized Brokers have added a new state-of-the-art, cold storage warehouse facility to offer customers multiple humidity and temperature-controlled coolers to handle perishables. Located in Miami, CrowleyFresh is an innovative facility that can service cargoes arriving in South Florida from Latin and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Far East with destinations throughout the world.
Highlights of the service include:
-Presence in major ports of entry 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
-Expediting the importation process to make sure time and temperature sensitive cargo arrive to market at its peak of freshness.
- In the event that perishables are detained, a team of experts works quickly to provide unmatched guidance and communications to expedite the release process.
- Connect customers with appropriate laboratory, certification and fumigation services quickly, should they be required.
- In-transit facility for goods requiring temporary storage before heading to their final destination.
Another issue that is top of mind for Crowley is the proposed regulations from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to impose fees on treatments and increase overtime and inspection charges. Changes to the fees it charges are created to recoup the costs of conducting agricultural quarantine inspections (AQI) at U.S. ports of entry.
We also want to make sure that USDA in South Florida maintains its extended hours Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m representing a significant change from the previous hours of operation, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday only.
“We are currently trying to address these issues as they will have an effect on rates that are transferred to customers,” Yunta tells us.
It is shaping up to be a fruitful year for customers of the Crowley family of companies.
WASHINGTON, DC - Under regulations of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), Professional Produce, operating in Vernon, CA, has posted a $75,000 surety bond with the USDA in order to employ Jeffrey Duncan.
Duncan, a former President and Stockholder of Perfectly Fresh Consolidation Inc., Norwalk, CA, was previously named in a PACA action and was found to have repeatedly violated PACA regulations during his time with the company.
The USDA requires that any PACA licensee that wishes to employ persons who have failed to pay a reparation award, or have been subject to a USDA disciplinary action must post an approved surety bond.
The USDA will hold the $75,000 bond for four years, providing assurance to the industry that the company will be able to pay for produce purchased and to conduct its business according to PACA rules and regulations.
In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims under the PACA involving more than $87 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
VARDAMAN, MS – Excessive rain has forced Mississippi farmers to push back sweet potato planting.
Vardaman, the self-proclaimed sweet potato capital of the world, harvests millions of pounds of sweet potatoes each year, according to WTVA.
“The trend for sweet potatoes continue to grow,” said Mississippi Sweet Potato Council Executive Director Benny Graves. “The consumers and market tells us they want more sweet potatoes.”
With recent rain, it may be difficult to reach that demand. “We’ve had a little bit of excessive rain here the last couple of weeks,” Graves said. His estimate was about seven inches. “We’re in a little of a rain delay for about two weeks.”
Mississippi farmers hope to plant 20,000 acres of sweet potatoes this year. So far, they’ve only planted 40%, WTVA reportes.
“Odds are getting against us more and more,” Graves added. “We’d like to get our crop in by the end of June, so we hope the weather will let us do that.”
Weather.com forecasts a 20 to 40 percent chance of rain every day for the next 10 days in Vardaman.
What will this mean for Mississippi sweet potatoes? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more information as this story develops.
LEAMINGTON, ON - In an effort to promote healthy living, Pure Flavor® sponsored the Leamington Triathlon and Kids of Steel Triathlon this past weekend.
This sponsorship is an extension of Pure Flavor®’s ongoing commitment to support healthier living and eating for our children, our youth and our future.
“Within the last couple years, we have focused on the snacking category, starting with The Snacking Series™ and Veggie Snack Pack line. We continue to try new seeds to enhance the whole snacking experience,” said Jamie Moracci, President. “We are extremely appreciative of the recognition we are receiving on our premium products. We are very excited to have received the Kid’s Choice Award, Best Overall Cucumber Award, and Best Mini Seedless Cucumber Award at the Greenhouse Competitions.”
Pure Hothouse Foods® welcomes everyone to contribute to increasing awareness of healthier lifestyle choices amongst children by visiting http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/eat-aliment/index-eng.php , http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/ or by contacting the Pure Flavor® Sales Team.
PHOENIX, AZ - Sprouts could see upwards of around 1,200 U.S. stores in the next decade and a half, if its growth plans stay on course for the natural foods-retailer. Currently at about 170 stores, the company has begun targeting more traditional supermarkets such as Kroger Wal-Mart, by rivaling them on their produce prices by as much as 25%, according to Bloomberg. Natural-food stores that include Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have also come within its competitive circle.
A Bloomberg Industries study of 148 brand-name items reports that Sprouts is undercutting Whole Foods’ prices by nearly 13%. The chain has taken market share from Whole Foods, Kroger and Wal-Mart since 2011, according to a New York-based ITG Investment Research report last month.
Sprouts revenue jumped 26 percent to $722.6 million in the first quarter as it opened new locations and same-store sales gained about 13 percent.
In regards to the 1,200 store mark, CEO Doug Sanders, noted in an interview at an Atlanta-area store that was slated to open this week, “That was the low end, the most conservative estimate.” He continued, “We’re able to appeal to a much broader customer.”
Sprouts may increase its store count by as much as 14% yearly, which means it would reach the 1,200 stores it forecast within about 15 years. The CEO noted, expanding to as many as 1,500 stores isn’t out of the question in that time and that growth will come from building stores rather than through takeovers.
“We just don’t have anything under review from an acquisition standpoint,” he said. “When you think about our box size and some of the industries that are in transition right now, whether its books or office supplies or electronics, we fit in a lot of those boxes, so I think there is going to be a lot of opportunity for us to expand organically.”
Sanders attributes the company’s ability to open more stores in a market than your typical natural-foods store due to the retailer’s broad appeal. More grocers, like Wal-Mart and Kroger, are selling organic and natural goods as Americans increasingly seek healthier food.
It's defintely an interesting time to be a consumer and a reporter.
Clear Lam Packaging - Growth in fresh-cut, ready-to-eat produce is fueling demand for new packaging innovations that enhance produce protection, extend shelf life and promote healthy eating through better merchandising. Here are a few of the new packaging technologies from Clear Lam Packaging, Inc.
• Flexible, stackable and reclosable, the PrimaPakTM Packaging launched with the first commercial applications in North America last fall. Clear Lam is highlighting new applications for the produce aisle, along with packaging closures and benefits for preserving freshness and extending shelf life. The revolutionary PrimaPakTM Packaging System replaces rigid trays, cans, bottles, jars and select flexible packaging. Produced on proprietary vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) equipment from custom rollstock, the PrimaPakTM technology improves the package cube 30 percent or more compared to PET jars. Lightweight, the PrimaPakTM package uses less plastic than traditional rigid packaging. Each benefit offers opportunities for cost savings and sustainability improvements throughout the supply chain. Because the PrimaPakTM package merchandises on six sides, it offers improved brand visibility and marketing impact. Applications include sliced fruits and vegetables.
• Peel and ReSeal Lidding Film developed by Clear Lam eliminates the need for pre-formed rigid plastic lids and shrink bands resulting in a 30 percent or more weight savings. The film is hermetically sealed to a tray allowing for the use of modified atmosphere to help extend shelf life. By eliminating pre-forms and shrink bands from the supply chain, the Peel and ReSeal Lidding technology helps reduce truck shipments, improving fuel consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Recent applications include award winning Country Fresh Sliced Apple Trays.
• Snap Apart Multipack Packaging – To meet growing demand from health-conscious consumers, Clear Lam produces rigid rollstock for a snap-apart package that provides portion control for cut fruits and vegetables served in multi-packs. Produced in Clear Lam’s Forming Films division, the new rollstock is designed for horizontal form-fill-seal (FFS) equipment and can be produced with traditional petroleum-based resin or with bio-based materials. Clear Lam enhances the rollstock with compounded additives produced by its CL Polymers Division to achieve consistent snap-apart strength. Clear Lam works closely with processors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the unique needs of each application are met.
Clear Lam Packaging, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of engineered flexible and rigid packaging materials used for a variety of foods, industrial goods and personal health care products. Founded in 1969, Clear Lam operates three manufacturing plants in the United States and China and employs over 500 people. Vertically integrated from design to manufacturing, Clear Lam specializes in innovative, printed films and rigid rollstock. Clear Lam is focused on developing packaging that meets consumer needs and that supports its customers’ long-term sustainability initiatives.
TAMPA, FL – IFCO had reached a milestone this fiscal year; 1 billion annual reusable plastic container (RPC) shipments from producers to retail locations throughout the world. This number represents more than 20 years of growth for IFCO RPCs.
“We are excited to share this momentous achievement with our customers, partners and employees,” said Wolfgang Orgeldinger, CEO of IFCO, “Our growth is a testament to the value IFCO RPCs offer the fresh supply chain in each of IFCO’s 29 countries of operation.”
RPCs help reduce environmental impact, food waste, and supply chain costs for retailers and producers across the world. The yearly environmental impact of shipping 1 billion RPCs instead of cardboard is equal to the elimination of CO2 emissions of nearly 75,000 vehicles, the solid waste generated by over 400,000 people and the water consumed by nearly 600,000 people, according to a press release.
IFCO owns and operates its RPC business in North America, South America, Europe, and Africa, and operates via joint venture in Asia.
Congratulations on reaching this milestone IFCO!
WASHINGTON, DC - The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing proposed changes to fees charged to recoup the costs of conducting agricultural quarantine inspections (AQI) at U.S. ports of entry.
APHIS is proposing the adjustment of hourly rates charged for employees performing work associated with AQI activities on Sundays, holidays or other after-hours period. This marks the first proposed change in overtime rates since 2002. These rates would be raised to match the anticipated costs of providing services through 2018, according to a press release.
The proposed AQI fee structure will also adjust current rates to ensure that no one party is paying more than the costs of the services they incur. Since this proposal aligns fees with actual costs, some fees will go down while others go up.
APHIS is proposing to lower fees for international air passengers from $5 to $4 and railroad cars from $7.75 to $2. It is also proposing to raise fees for inspections of commercial aircraft from $70.75 to $225, commercial maritime cargo vessels from $496 to $825, commercial trucks with a transponder from $105 to $320 a year and commercial trucks without a transponder from $5.25 to $8 per crossing, according to a press release.
APHIS is also proposing to add a $2 fee per sea passenger to make up costs associated with inspecting cruise vessels and passenger baggage as well as adding a $375 fee to recover the costs of services for monitoring the application of or providing treatments to imported cargo to minimize risks.
APHIS has been using Department of Homeland Security funds to make up the difference in cost in services, and these fees adjustments are expected to fully fund the actual costs of running the AQI program.
The AQI program is responsible for inspections conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection of conveyances, cargo and passenger baggage entering the country as well as APHIS’ analytical and scientific work to track pests overseas, focus inspections at ports of entry and develop the import regulations that protect U.S. animal and plant health from foreign pests.
This proposal will be available for a 60-day comment period, and APHIS will consider all comments as it works to finalize the changes to the fees.