GRAND JUNCTION, MI - Blueberry growers’ cooperative, MBG Marketing – The Blueberry People, has announced the appointment of Orrin “Larry” Ensfield as the company’s new President and CEO. This announcement comes on the heels of then CEO Bob Hawk turning his resignation in to the MBG Board of Directors, who immediately tapped former Vice President and COO Ensfield.
Board Chairman Bill Fritz commented, “The Board is very pleased to have someone with Larry’s industry and organizational familiarity to step in and take the reins as we continue through the 2015 harvest season and move into the future.”
Ensfield joined MBG in 2008, when he was hired as Director of Operations, adding his 30-years of experience at Campbell Soup Company’s agricultural division, and leading IQF plant operations at Coloma Frozen Foods. According to a press release, Larry has been instrumental in further development of MBG’s fresh market activity, and under his operating leadership, MBG successfully launched two IQF value-added facilities over the past two years.
In an address to the company’s employees, Ensfield stated, “I am honored to accept this position and I anticipate a seamless transition. With the support of the MBG Board, a strong management team, and our dedicated employees, I expect to serve our cooperative’s best interests with a focus on maximizing grower returns.”
In this new role, Ensfield will also serve on the Board of Directors of the Naturipe Farms family of companies on MBG’s behalf.
BOISE, ID - The five-year-long lawsuit between the Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) and the United Potato Growers (UPG) has come to a close.
According to a report from the Southeast Missourian, AWG and UPG have come to a settlement agreement in the amount of $25 million, to which U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in Idaho gave his preliminary approval late last week.
As we’ve previously reported, AWG filed an antitrust lawsuit against UPG in 2010, claiming that the group acts as a potato "cartel," controlling 80 percent of the potato market. According to the Courthouse News Service, the lawsuit also claimed the group used both physical and non-physical intimidation to compel independent growers to join, as well as conspiring to raise prices by limiting production with methods like restricting the number of acres planted.
The Southeast Misourian reports that the defendants continue to deny the claims, stating that they focused on helping their members navigate the fluctuating potato market while running an effective cooperative, and settlement negotiations have continuously tried and failed throughout the years that the case has carried on. With the estimated value of potato sales for the year of 2012 being about $3.7 billion and pages of documents from the defendant's side alone adding to more than 3.5 million pages (105 of which AWG gained access to in March), the closing of the case is no small feat.
Under the agreed settlement, anyone who purchased fresh potatoes without intentions for resale in a 10-year timespan from stores in the following states will be eligible for part of a $5.5 million reprimand:
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New York
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Anyone in the U.S. who purchased potatoes from the growing groups directly, or their members and subsidiaries, will soon be eligible for part of a $19.5 million reprimand.
In addition, the growers groups are barred from restricting acreage or taking other actions to reduce potato crops grown by members for seven years.
CALIFORNIA - AmazonFresh is now being made available to Amazon Prime members in select markets for a $7.99 per delivery fee, on top of its $99 per year Amazon Prime membership. This new pricing tier for AmazonFresh is being used as a way make the service more appealing to an audience that might not otherwise think they could afford the service. Prior to this change, the cost for an AmazonFresh Prime membership was a heftier $299 per year.
You can check out the pricing plans on the AmazonFresh website now, where Prime members who pay $99 per year to participate in Amazon’s long-running membership rewards program can now pay for AmazonFresh on a per-order basis. The website says that for orders over $50, the cost per delivery is now $7.99. The previous pricing plan I mentioned where users pay $299-a-year, also known as Prime Fresh, includes free delivery on orders over $50. Amazon recommends that customers who buy groceries more than twice a month are best served by Prime Fresh.
Those who subscribe to AmazonFresh will receive all Prime benefits in addition to the grocery sevice, including the free two-day shipping on millions of items, Prime Music, Prime Instant Video, Kindle Lending Library access and more. Currently, AmazonFresh is available in select zip codes within the New York metro area, Philadelphia metro area, Seattle, and both Northern and Southern California. The new pricing plan that allows Prime members to try the service without the more expensive subscription is currently only showing up for those in California, however.
In the other regions, the site instead notes that AmazonFresh is still free to all Prime members through September, after which they’ll be asked to sign up for the “upgraded tier of Amazon Prime,” which refers to the $299 annual fee.
KINGSVILLE, ON - This year’s Greenhouse Competition in Leamington was as fierce as ever with greenhouse growers aiming to be crowned among the best of the best, but one company in particular stood out.
Coming home with 65 percent of all tomato awards, Mastronardi won all People’s Choice Awards for tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, as well as six Hottest Tomato awards and five Perfect Pepper titles, according to a press release.
“We’re very excited this year’s competition was so successful,” said CEO Paul Mastronardi. “It’s especially rewarding to win all the People’s Choice awards, as that is the best indicator that consumers really love SUNSET® flavor.”
For the second year in a row, SUNSET® Zima™ won the award for Best Tomato Overall. A newcomer, SUNSET’s new Tomato of Yore™, also took top honors at the competition and it was only just introduced at United Fresh two weeks ago.
“Tomato of Yore™ is an incredibly flavorful beefsteak,” continued Mastronardi. “We instantly knew it was a winner and we’re happy to see that others think so too.”
SUNSET’s Sweet Twisters™ were also named both People’s Choice and Kid’s Choice for best pepper, while Campari® was named Best Cocktail Tomato. Campari®, known for its balanced sweet and acidic flavor profile and deep shade of red, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The fact that it has won Best Cocktail Tomato yet again is a testament to the strength of the brand and its distinct flavor.
The annual greenhouse competition is hosted by R.E.A.C.H. International, a locally funded charitable organization, with proceeds going toward the funding of schools and clinics in Uganda.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - The Allen Lund Company (ALC) is continuing to invest in the future by taking on four high school student interns for the 2015-2016 year as part of its ongoing partnership with Verbum Dei High School’s Corporate Work Study Program (CWPS).
“Being a part of the corporate work study program with Verbu Dei is rewarding in so many ways,” Pamela Koerber, Human Resources Coordinator for ALC, said in a press release. “These young men gain valuable work experience and are treated just like our regular work employees, becoming a part of the Allen Lund Company family.”
This marks the ninth year that ALC has partnered with Verbum Dei High, giving students entry-level clerical jobs at ALC’s headquarters where they work five full days a month on a rotational basis. According to the company, the program allows them to gain real-world work experience within its Carrier Resources, Marketing, Human Resources and Sales Departments while still carrying a full academic load.
The company has seen great success with the practice, according to the release, having hired back several students that have participated to come back and work during school breaks and as interns during the summer.
MORRO BAY, CA - With the finger lime season having just kicked off on June 1st, Shanley Farms is busy preparing for the rest of its 2015 season to grow in both volume and demand. I spoke with Administrative Assistant Lauren Taylor about how Shanley sees the future of the thriving commodity.
“The demand for finger limes in our off-season was high, so we anticipate moving an even greater volume than last year. As people learn about finger limes and their versatility the market demand grows,” Taylor tells me. “The market is definitely growing and reflective to how people understanding what a finger lime is exactly. Once people try a finger lime and get that burst of citrus flavor they are sold!”
As the company’s finger lime trees mature, they start producing much higher quality of fruit, Lauren says. Even at the beginning of its season, Shanley is already expecting high quality as they move into peak season during September-November. This great quality has occurred despite the harsh weather the company has been experiencing in California.
“Like many growers throughout California, the drought has made production more difficult,” adds Lauren. “Shanley Farms has efficiently allocated resources to maintain sustainability for all of our crops. The finger lime trees normally do not do well in freezing temperatures, but we did not experience any frost at all during the colder months.”
With more returning customers and more demand, the company expects to delve into new markets soon. This current season will last through January, Lauren says, adding that Shanley has also developed a machine to mechanically extract the citrus pulp. Shanley hopes to debut that pulp in the form of Citrus Caviar later this summer.
WOONSOCKET, RI - CVS Pharmacy, one of the largest drugstore chains in the U.S., is adding a new category to its inventory: fresh foods.
According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the chain has added a new brick to its road of healthier intentions - having cut off selling all tobacco items nationwide last September. Now it is adding a host of fresh foods and healthy snacks to its store content.
The report stated that company executives made the latest changes as a result of customer demand.
"Consumers used to eat three meals a day, and now they tend to be snacking through the day, and they're really looking for a convenient location which gives them access to healthier foods," CVS Executive Vice President Helena Foulkes told Crain.
The company also mentioned that this move could help spike sales outside the pharmacy that have dropped since tobacco sales ceased, adding fresh and refrigerated foods to about 500 of its 7,800 stores throughout the U.S., according to the report. CVS will also be adding healthier snacks chainwide, replacing the prime real estate front-store chips and candies with nuts and healthier items, moving the less nutritional ones to the back of the stores.
This is far from the first drug or supply store to venture into a fresh food and grocery format. As we’ve previously reported, 7-Eleven and Shoppers Drug Mart have both gone to the fresher side of sales, as well as Walgreens, Rite Aid, and more. Adding fresh foods and produce to inventory provides healthy items to a growing customer demand, as well as provides customers with a more “one-stop-shop” situation with more to buy in one location.
CVS Pharmacy is further incorporating fresh food to up its focus on the Hispanic demographic. According to Crain, the drugstore chain began adding groceries to select areas with few grocery options a few years back, and is now adding a dozen stores in the Miami area called CVS/Pharmacy Y Mas as the next step to those earlier trials.
Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow to see how this new strategy plays out.
MCLEAN, VA - Gladstone Land Corporation has announced it has recently entered into two purchase and sale agreements to purchase a total of five farms for approximately $35 million. These five farms include 3,519 aggregate acres of irrigated cropland in both California and Florida, and are expected to sell at a price of nearly $9,446.01 per acre.
"All the farms we own and are evaluating for purchase have very strong water sources and are in regions that, in our opinion, are at minimal risk of having any water restrictions imposed that would impact these farms," said David Gladstone, President and CEO of the Company. "If we are able to complete these mentioned transactions, it would double our total acreage and provide a strong boost to our operating revenues. We are encouraged by the year to date results of acquisition efforts."
The company also has its eyes on six additional properties that total 5,476 acres. These six locations are currently under signed non-binding letters of intent, and are throughout Colorado, Florida, Georgia and Nebraska. While the purchase price is continuing to be evaluated, it should be worth approximately $23 million, or nearly $4,200.15 per acre, according to a press release.
The company is working towards completing these transactions within the next couple of months; however, each purchase is subject to customary conditions and termination rights for transactions of this type, including a due diligence-inspection period, and there can be no assurance that these acquisitions will be consummated.
NOGALES, AZ - Ta-De Produce is launching a new artisan label of a fresh, purple garlic variety, grown out of the Rio Sonora valley.
“Natural garlic is not bright white. Ours has the unique striped coloring associated with a heritage-style product,” Robert Bennen, President of Ta-De, said in a press release. He added that many of today’s consumers are aware that white imported garlic is typically bleached, and this label specifically targets those “savvy consumers looking for better ingredients.”
Garlic is one of the few produce items noting substantial growth during the past few seasons, according to the press release, and Ta-De’s new purple variety is exclusively branded Rio Sonora Rose by this grower-shipper.
“Many commercial and home chefs prize the brighter, fresher flavor of the purple garlic,” Bennen said. “The fact that it’s grown so close to home is a bonus.”
Ta-De Produce’s launch of fresh garlic also has a new brand image. Grown a couple hours from its Arizona warehouses, the product is recognized by its deep purple striping, as well as having an average higher brix content than imported white garlic and robust size.
The Rio Sonora Rose’s 2015 crop began in spring, still available in 30-pound boxes. Ta-De also has plans in the works for expanding its production in the garlic variety, as well as into organic, next week. According to the company, it makes a good complement to its expanding lines of Asian cooking greens and reported a sold-out situation last season.
FRESNO, CA - President and CEO of Volm Companies Daniel Mueller took some time with AndNowUKnow to talk about the company’s newest distribution and service center in California.
“We have a great customer base here in California, and we decided that this is a logical next step for us to be able to go forward and to service our customers here the way we have everywhere else in the U.S.,” Daniel tells me.
The company’s ultimate goal is to be its customer’s “MVP”- Most Valued Partner. The services Volm provides with its automated equipment and packaging, Daniel said, has given it the ability to do that very well where these facilities have been raised. And now he is pleased to bring those services to the company's California consumers.
As we previously reported, the new California facility is 11,000 square feet of mostly warehouse space with a few offices available for field service technicians, account managers, and warehouse staff.
To see all that Daniel had to say, watch the 51 second video above.