PELION, SC - In some cases, moving forward does not necessarily mean moving away.
After taking an extended sabbatical, Nancy Shimabukuro has returned to WP Rawl, re-filling the post of Quality Assurance Manager.
“Coming back to WP Rawl is like coming home,” Shimabukuro said, according to a press release. “It is very important to me to be part of a company that puts its customers’ quality and safety at the forefront, so this was once again a great fit.”
Shimabukuro brings with her a thorough knowledge of the company’s needs, as well as an attention to detail that made for an easy acceptance when the position re-opened. Having graduated from Clemson University with a Master of Science in Food Science, she will now oversee successful completions of all second and third party audits, as well as support WP Rawl’s new product development process.
Shimabukuro will also be responsible for managing microbiological testing procedures and protocols and providing technical support to the field operations department.
Ashley Rawl, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Product Development at WP Rawl, is happy to have that list in the right hands. “Nancy has always been a great asset to our team and we couldn’t be happier to have her back,” he said. “With our new expansion in full swing, it is very important to us that our food safety and quality assurance practices are stronger than ever.”
Perhaps a well-anticipated return is just the beginning for what this company has in store.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Strawberries are in promotable volume and levels just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Anthony Gallino, Vice President of Sales for California Giant, tells us that retail pricing has adjusted from the high $20s, low $30s market seen in November and December. As of this month, prices are expected to remain in the $14 - $16 range for the time being.
On January 27, the USDA reported flats of 8 1-lb containers with lids medium-large from Oxnard, CA selling for $14.00 - $16.00.
From Central Florida, flats of 8-lb containers with lids medium-large were selling for $12.90 - $13.90, according to the USDA.
Production started slightly behind schedule, though volume is continuing to elevate to numbers seen during the same time last year.
“Strawberry volume is continuing to climb,” says Gallino. “With the cool nights we’ve been having, volume is back on typical normal levels.”
Movement is also starting to pick back up following the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, and all markets appear to be steady with good demand for the foreseeable future.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track this Valentine’s Day favorite.
NORTHEAST U.S. - The so-called “blizzard of historic proportions” didn’t quite pack as much of a punch as it was initially predicted, but many New England residents still felt the brunt of the storm.
New York City residents in particular breathed a sigh of relief as snow amounts weren’t quite as bad as what was previously forecasted. The National Weather Service predicted as much as 3 feet of snow, though the city saw approximately only 10 inches, according to Washington Post. Still nothing to scoff at, though.
“We’ve dodged the bullet,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN. “This is nothing like we feared it would be.”
Travel bans in New York, New Jersey, and some parts of Connecticut have since been lifted, but travel is still not recommended.
Not everyone was as fortunate. Coastal New England and Boston were blinded with freezing snow and ferocious winds, crippling travel in the area.
“We’ve had a pretty good night, but the main bulk of the storm is hitting us right now,” Mayor Marty Walsh of Boston told NBC’s TODAY. “We’re asking people just to stay in their homes today and just ride this one out.”
Blizzard warnings remain in effect for parts of four states, including Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Meteorologists forecast moderate to heavy snow to continue across eastern and northern New England on Tuesday. Lighter snow will fall from New York City southward into New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, according to the Weather Channel.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we track the aftermath of Winter Storm Juno.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – Last week, H-E-B received unanimous approval from the Historic and Design Review Commission to build a 12,000 square-foot grocery store in downtown San Antonio, Texas.
The San Antonio Business Journal reports that this new store will be H-E-B’s smallest at about one-sixth the size of its average stores, which range between 70,000 to 80,000 square feet.
William Triplett, Senior VP of Strategic Design at H-E-B, told the Business Journal that the retailer originally considered a 6,000 square-foot store, but opted to go a bit bigger.
“Everyone always likes a bigger store because it allows us to increase our variety and offerings,” Triplett said. “We tried to make (the downtown location) as big as we could with the land available after a reasonable amount of parking, space for truck docks and the gas station.”
The Texas-based retailer is now learning how to operate this new small store format, specifically in regard to delivery methods and stock.
Triplett tells the Journal that he and his team are heading to Canada to meet with executives from Sobeys to learn the best practices for such a small store. Sobeys operates stores from around 30,000 square-feet all the way down to 4,500 square feet.
“We like reaching out to other retailers that are willing to share information,” Triplett added.
The new store will feature about 50 parking spaces, a gas station with four gas pumps and an outdoor dinning patio.
Construction on the new store is expected to begin in early summer and be completed by fall 2015.
GONZALES, CA - Misionero Vegetables created a new Sales Management position that was filled on January 19 by Earthbound Farm’s own Rick Dacey, according to a press release.
Having managed Earthbound’s operation spanning from eastern Canada down through Florida, as well as developing a private label Organic Value Added Salad program with Loblaw and Sobeys, this produce industry veteran’s arrival was well-accepted by the Misionero team.
“Rick’s extensive experience in sales and broker management makes him ideally suited for this position and a great asset to our sales team,” Dan Canales, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Misionero Vegetables, said.
Working most recently as Senior Business Manager for State Garden, a Boston-based company with 75 years in produce, Dacey will now be responsible for overseeing Misionero accounts extending from the Midwest, through the East Coast and up to Eastern Canada.
NEWARK, DE - The PMA Foundation for Industry Talent has honored Steven Bindas and Casey Kio for the fourth annual Tip Murphy Scholarship for Leadership Excellence.
The scholarship was created in 2008 to honor the life and career of produce industry veteran Tip Murphy and allows for industry professionals to engage in industry-specific professional development through both PMA and PMA Foundation programs. This award covers all registration fees and associated hotel expenses for all PMA Foundation leadership development programs, and is funded by supporters of the Tip Murphy Legacy Fund.
Bindas, Chiquita’s Retail Sales Manager, has chosen the PMA Foundation’s Emerging Leaders Program, which is designed to offer an intensive knowledge and relationship-building program focusing on equipping tomorrow's leaders with critical management and thinking skills, according to a press release. He says his career goal is to leave the same kind of lasting impact Tip Murphy has left on the produce industry.
“I am honored and humbled to win the 2014 Tip Murphy Scholarship for Leadership Excellence,” says Bindas. “This scholarship gives me the opportunity to participate in the Emerging Leaders Program, which is going to be a great tool for me to hone and develop my leadership skills.”
Kio, AMC Direct’s Sales and Marketing Manager, has selected the PMA Foundation’s High Performance Management Conference, a program designed for mid-level leaders.
“To be able to represent AMC Direct and our industry through this scholarship opportunity is sincerely humbling,” Kio says. “In a fast-paced industry such as produce, I believe it is vital to continue to develop and grow both personally and professionally.”
For more information about the scholarship or to apply in 2015, visit the PMA Foundation website.
PLEASANTON, CA & BOISE, ID – The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has granted approval to the Safeway/Albertsons $9.2 billion merger on the condition that the retailers complete the sales of 168 stores.
As we previously reported, Safeway and Albertsons agreed to divest the 168 stores throughout Montana, Wyoming, Texas, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, California and Oregon to four bidders in an attempt to win approval from the FTC.
In a statement, FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said, “Consumers everywhere rely on local supermarkets for their weekly shopping needs. Absent a remedy, this acquisition would likely lead to higher prices and lower quality for supermarket shoppers in 130 communities. This settlement will ensure that consumers in those communities continue to benefit from competition among their local supermarkets.”
Prior to the announced merger, Albertson’s LLC operated 630 supermarkets, New Albertson’s Inc. operated 445 supermarkets and Safeway operated 1,332 supermarkets, according to the FTC.
Under this proposed settlement:
- Haggen Holdings, LLC will acquire 146 Albertsons and Safeway stores in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington
- Supervalu Inc. will acquire two Albertsons stores in Washington
- Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. will acquire 12 Albertsons and Safeway stores in Texas
- Associated Food Stores Inc. will acquire eight Albertsons and Safeway stores in Montana and Wyoming
The FTC expects that Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. will assign its operating rights in the 12 Texas stores it is acquiring to RLS Supermarkets, LLC (doing business as Minyard Food Stores) and that Associated Food Stores Inc. will assign its rights in the eight Montana and Wyoming stores it is acquiring to Missoula Fresh Market LLC, Ridley’s Family Markets, Inc., and Stokes Inc.
As a condition of the settlement, the divestitures to Haggen must be completed within 150 days of the date of the merger, to Supervalu Inc. within 100 days, and to Associated Food Stores Inc. and Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. within 60 days.
Additionally, the settlement includes an Order to Maintain Assets, which will help to ensure that Albertsons maintains the stores until they are divested, and the appointment of a monitor to oversee the merging parties’ compliance with their obligations under the settlement agreement.
The Commission voted 5-0 and will publish the consent agreement package soon. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through February 26, 2015. At that time, the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest on this developing story.
SALINAS, CA - Music, candlelight and... spinach?
The Church Brothers says to add its exclusive Heirloom red spinach to your Valentine's Day checklist.
Now shipping nationwide just in time for February 14, the company is encouraging food service operators to add a vibrant splash to their salads for the holiday.
According to a press release, the family-owned producer’s Heirloom winter-variety spinach will be available exclusively in entirely red color, or half red and half green.
Below is a short video detailing the growth and signature differences of Church Brothers' Heirloom red spinach.
“We’ve been growing Heirloom red spinach since 2010,” Brian Church, Vice President of Agriculture Production, said. “The texture of the leaves is similar to traditional green spinach. However, being an heirloom variety, the spinach grows in wild like ‘clusters’ that gives it varying lengths of soft stems.”
The spinach is described with an earthy flavor, with which the company provides a number of ideas and uses. Triple-washed and ready to go.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Driscoll’s has promoted Keith Refsnider to Global Food Safety Program Director. Refsnider is a food safety expert according to a press release, and will be tasked with both coordinating Driscoll’s Food Safety programs and collaborating with business units across the world.
“Next to delightful flavor, Driscoll’s has made food safety the single most important focus of growing delicious berries,” said 
Tom O’Brien, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Legal Affairs and External Engagement. “Our goal is maintaining and exceeding one food safety standard for Driscoll’s across the globe. We look forward to Keith’s continued contributions in helping us expand our global knowledge.”
Leading up to this promotion, Refsnider has led and developed Driscoll’s North America Food Safety Program beginning in 2004. Prior to Driscoll’s, Refsnider has acquired food industry experience in several areas, including research and development, quality control, operations and food safety and regulatory compliance.
In addition, Refsnider has worked as a panelist, speaker, and trainer internationally, distinguishing himself as a technical food safety expert. He currently serves on the Produce Safety, Science & Technology Committee with the Produce Marketing Association, the United Fresh Food Safety and Technology Council, the California Strawberry Commission's Food Safety Committee, and the GLOBALG.A.P. USA National Technical Working Group.
CHINA – Staff members at Dalian Yidu, a major Chinese fruit and vegetable logistics and cool store provider, have been arrested by Chinese customs for allegedly importing prohibited fruit.
Sources tell AndNowUKnow that Liu Zhi, Chairman of Dalian Yidu, and his import department staff have been summoned by the authorities to cooperate with the government in this investigation and will not be allowed to speak to the public until the investigation is completed.
The National Business Review is reporting that Zespri is keeping a close eye on the situation. Dalian Yidu is Zespri’s sole importer for North East China, though it only deals with 5% of its kiwifruit volume in China.
3 News quotes a Zespri spokesperson as saying, “Dalian Yidu imports many New Zealand and global agricultural products and the company deals with less than five percent of Zespri’s China volume. Zespri’s NZ supply season to our markets, including China, finished quite a while ago and Zespri has no financial exposure to Yidu.”
The Bay of Plenty Times reports that following the arrests, all fruit imported to Shanghai by Dalian Yidu, including more than 150 containers of Chilean cherries and over 200 containers of Peruvian Red Globe grapes, have been seized, and the company’s bank accounts have been frozen.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this developing story.