FUKUOKA, JAPAN - After 32 years, the U.K. has been unseated as having grown the world’s heaviest strawberry.
According to the Telegraph, Koji Nakao from Fukuoka, Japan, reached out to the Guinness Book of World Records after happening upon a massive strawberry while harvesting.
The Japanese farmer’s lucky find is a strawberry roughly the size of an apple:
- Weighing 250 grams
- 8 cm tall (about 3 inches)
- 12 cm long (almost 5 inches)
- 25 to 30 cm in circumference (9 to 11 inches)
This record-setter is reportedly a tasty mutant, having fused together from surrounding berries of the Japanese Amaou strawberry variety. Its predecessor, according to the Telegraph, was grown in Kent in the U.K. in 1983 by G. Anderson.
And what became of this sweet berry giant? It was enjoyed by Nakao’s daughter who told reporters that it was “delicious," as seen in the video above.
WOODRIDGE, IL - Welcome to What's In Store. Produce Pro Software is marking a landmark anniversary this year, making it 25 years as an integral part of the produce industry. Produce Pro Software now leads the industry as an all-in-one solution for software, operational consulting, and providing access to perishable industry experts. Produce Pro is continuing its expansion into a complete software solution that gives its customers a competitive advantage.
Since the company’s first customer, Caruso Inc., Produce Pro employees have been doing their best to make produce companies succeed with the best software solutions possible. The company’s client-base has now surpassed over 160 companies with over 5,000 users, and each one can rest assured that Produce Pro Software can handle anything thrown its way.
Over the last 25 years, Produce Pro has developed its own Warehouse Management software for scanning inventory through the warehouse, e-commerce/online ordering platform, and document imaging to scan, store, and send paper documents. In the past 5 years, Produce Pro Software released multiple mobile app solutions for customer ordering, delivery optimization with GPS and electronic signature capture, and a Food Safety app to replace the Food Safety binders. Produce Pro’s latest App the Quality Control App allows users to perform product inspections, capture product images and produce inspection reports. Thank you for watching What's In Store.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Michael Teel, Raley’s CEO and President, as well as grandson of its founder, Tom Raley, is now the majority owner of the company.
Teel is being transferred ownership from his mother, Joyce Raley Teel, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
“My grandfather saw the potential in this area 80 years ago,” Teel said in a statement, according to the report. “I want to continue that legacy, and continue to invest in the Sacramento region. It’s poised for growth and so are we. This is our home, and we’re here to stay.”
Teel was President and CEO of the company for an almost 14 year period ending in August of 2002, before returning to the post in 2010, where he has remained for the past five years.
While much of the financial details are being kept private, the company did report that it is still 100 percent family-owned, according to the report. With the transfer of Joyce Raley Teel’s ownership, her son will officially own 92 percent of the company, while the remaining eight percent will be shared equally between her 4 daughters.
Raley’s owns and operates 127 stores under four brands, according to the Sacramento Business Journal:
- Raley's
- Bel Air Markets
- Nob Hill Foods
- Food Source
Spokeswoman Chelsea Minor assured reports that both Joyce Raley and her husband Jim Teel are in good health, and that the change of ownership was a family decision. How this will affect the operations, however, was not addressed, so stay tuned.
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - If you didn’t get your fill of Southern flavor at this year’s Southern Exposure, you’re in luck. Southern Innovations Symposium, the newly named Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) Fall Conference, will be this September 17–19, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina, focusing on the organization’s key pillars of networking, education, and community outreach.
New to the conference this year is the Southern Innovations Bright Ideas Platform, essentially a mini version of a tradeshow, showcasing the best new and innovative ideas in produce. The Bright Ideas Platform will be held as part of the Southern Innovations Symposium on September 18 from 12:30pm to 3:00pm, and will give all attendees an opportunity to showcase and see new products and services that the industry has to offer.
“Charleston will offer our guests the best in southern hospitality, while providing some of the best networking and education in the industry. The new Bright Ideas Platform is shaping up to showcase the best and innovative ideas produce has to offer, and we’re looking forward to providing our members with a fresh intimate networking platform from which to build their relationships and businesses,” said David Sherrod, SEPC Executive Director.
The conference will host industry suppliers, retailers and foodservice attendees alike, and promises a new spin on industry exhibitions. According to a press release, the symposium will deliver events such as a general session, educational workshops, golf, inshore fishing, a Charleston plantation tour, team building for the ladies of Southern Roots, and the annual tailgate party. The weekend will also host special celebrity guests and a special donation to a local charity.
All SEPC member companies are invited to apply to exhibit at the Bright Ideas Platform, but with only 50 spots available space will be on a first come, first served basis. Applications will be reviewed by the SEPC Education Committee and will need to fulfill the following requirements:
- The qualifying product or service must be scheduled to release to market between March 23, 2015 - December 14, 2015.
- The qualifying product or service must be new to the Southeast market area.
To register for the Southern Innovations Symposium or apply to exhibit at the Bright Ideas Platform, visit seproducecouncil.com.
NEWARK, DE - At this year’s PMA Foundation Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference, attendees in the executive track of the event were tasked with discussing several types of mentoring initiatives for a new program being designed to support leadership among members of the fresh produce industry.
As they continue to build the foundation of this program, Alicia Calhoun took the time to share with me a few insights into the initiative as the program begins to take hold.
“Mentors are known to be role models, advisors, problem solvers, and supporters. The PMA Foundation mentoring initiative will ignite a movement of new leaders and will provide an opportunity to create and foster meaningful relationships that will meet the needs of our industry members. The PMA Foundation will support our industry members by providing connections that will help them deepen and broaden their network, build their competencies, build confidence, and gain leadership skills,” Alicia tells me.
At this year’s event, the attendees in the executive track discussed a range of different mentoring options from Face-to-face, Group, and Virtual, to Blended and Reverse. They decided on three that resonated the most. From there, a polling software was used to poll all attendees on the mentoring approach they would like to see implemented.
In the end, a blended approach pulled ahead as the front-runner. This approach may include both face-to-face and virtual mentoring which allows the opportunity for both customization and flexibility.
“This will allow those who participate in the initiative to customize their mentoring experience to meet both their personal and professional needs. The full scope of the program will be developed in the coming months,” Alicia notes.
Alicia, along with the PMA Foundation staff, will be driving this initiative. An advisory group of industry members, who are a subset of the women who participated in the executive track at the conference, will also be assisting in the program development.
Additional details, including the qualifications for participation, will be determined as they flesh out the full scope of the initiative.
Stay tuned for more updates on the new PMA Foundation Mentoring Program!
BRONX, NY - Meet the new BaldorFood.com. Baldor has announced the launch of its new website, with a new look, a new focus on transparency, and a new eCommerce experience designed directly for industry members.
“We’ve gone transactional!” the company exclaims in its release.
On the new website, Baldor lets you sort content by what items are at the peak of their season, what items are local to you, and what items are currently being featured. You can also now personalize your experience on the website by viewing your own menu, favorite item, and previous orders.
BaldorFood.com shows its products via a product card, including detailed information about size, pricing, and exactly where the products are grown. Farmers’ inventories are published on the website also, letting you know what’s in stock and available that moment. You can even shop and organize by which specific farms you’d like to purchase from.
Having this much access to specific farmers’ information could be a vital asset to those seeking transparency in their food. Everything you need is right at your fingertips.
SALINAS, CA - Mann Packing is rolling out a new product geared specifically towards foodservice operators, its fresh cut Golden Roasteez™ golden beet squares.
According to Gina Nucci, Director of Foodservice Marketing, the Golden Roasteez™ are cut into 3/4 inch cubes to give them optimal “bite” texture after having been roasted.
“Cubing first, then roasting, allows for great caramelization and appealing presentation,” Nucci said, according to a press release. “Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of beets and is the best cooking method for most menu applications.”
Nucci also added that the golden variety doesn’t bleed as the red does, and with a more uniform appearance the company is pushing this latest item specifically towards foodservice operators to be paired with salads, pizza, risottos, or pastas, as well as a substitute for potatoes in a hash or healthy side style.
Dataessential MenuTrends Fall 2014 reportedly recorded that 22 percent of independent restaurants have beets on the menu.
“We saw the increasing popularity of beets, and decided to provide chefs a convenient method to achieve a consistent and visually appetizing menu ingredient,” Nucci said in the release. “Sweet, delicious, and easy.”
According to the company, its Golden Roasteez™ are a fresh produce item that has never been frozen, with a 16-day shelf life from time of packing.
NEWARK, DE - The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has announced the launch of its Eating by Example program, designed to increase produce consumption by starting within the produce industry. Six passionate produce professionals, including Caitlin Antle Wilson of Tanimura & Antle, Matt Mandel of SunFed, Cassie Howard of Sunkist Growers, and the rest of the Produce Marketing Association Foundation Emerging Leaders Program graduates, are leading the charge for this industry-focused program.
Eating by Example encourages industry members to pledge to do just that – eat by example, and it’s easy to sign on. Visit www.pma.com/eatingbyexample and add your name and company. No registration fees or check-ins!
“We all know how wonderful produce is: Its diverse flavors, exciting applications, and fun colors make it unique. As produce people we are fortunate to work with it for a living. And as such, we lead the charge to make sure everybody enjoys great tasting fruit and veggies every single day,” PMA shared on its website. “We propose an important part of increasing produce consumption is leading – in this case eating – by example! We have the opportunity and the power to show everybody how it’s done. So let us all, as produce businesses, come together and lead the way.”
PMA wants to show everyone that this industry walks its talk. Share the message using #EatingByExample in your social media feeds.
“I congratulate these six industry members for seeing an opportunity and bringing it to us—a program for members, from members. Check out the website to learn more about them and how they transformed an idea into an action,” said Bryan Silbermann, Chief Executive Officer of PMA.
Also involved in Eating by Example are three equally passionate fresh produce professionals and proud PMA Foundation Emerging Leaders Program graduates: Elena Hernandez of Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Kathleen Elliott of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Kim Saxer of Monsanto Company.
So sign up and start sharing your love for increasing produce consumption with #EatingByExample!
DELTA, B.C. - Village Farms International, in partnership with the Swedish Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, is funding a study on the capturing of carbon dioxide from landfill gas.
“Once again as a company Village Farms has aligned itself to be on the forefront of clean technology,” Michael A. DeGiglio, President & CEO for Village Farms, said about the project, according to a press release. "We are pleased to be a part of this initiative with the potential for far reaching positive impacts not only for business but for people and the environment.”
The study, according to the company, will be conducted at a local sustainability consultancy firm called Hallbar Consulting, and will look at the feasibility of driving the greatest possible value from Vancouver’s landfill gas through the capturing and use of available carbon dioxide in the Village Farms’ greenhouses in Delta, B.C.
The Swedish Institute the company is teaming up with is reportedly a world-leading applied research and development institute, and the project itself has gained the support of the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF), providing adaptation funding by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Other providers include:
- The B.C. Greenhouse Growers Association
- B.C. Food Processors Association
- Air Liquide
“We are proud to support this ambitious and innovative initiative,” Ken Bates, IAF Chair and a crop and dairy producer in Delta, said in the release. “As farmers we know the value of reducing or re-purposing waste and we congratulate Village Farms as they help create value for BC agriculture while enhancing environmental impacts.”
According to Village Farms, the potential for capturing and using carbon dioxide from Vancouver’s landfill gas would provide long-term cleaner air benefits for the region and its inhabitants, while also helping to position Vancouver as one of the greenest cities in the world. Should the study yield positive results, the capturing and utilizing of carbon dioxide reportedly could be of great benefit to Village Farms, and potentially other local greenhouses, plus food and beverage processing businesses in the B.C. area that use carbon dioxide.
The company reportedly hopes local food and beverage processing companies will have the opportunity to purchase locally-made, renewable carbon dioxide, reducing the importation of carbon dioxide into B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
OAK BROOK, IL - McDonald’s has announced they will be shuttering 700 locations in total for 2015 during a period of falling sales and stock prices for the company.
As we’ve previously reported, the credit agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded its rating on McDonald’s from ‘A’ to ‘A-’, and McDonald’s shares were down to 1.7% at $96.13 after the fast-food chain unveiled its turnaround strategy. According to the Washington Post, most stores have seen plummeting customer attendance for the past two years. The Post reports that in the first three months of the year, sales fell about 3 percent and profit fell 32 percent.
McDonald’s has been trying to change its image to keep up with options that are perceived to be healthier, such as Chipotle and Panera, even recently adding kale to the menu in its Southern California locations. But could McDonald’s business trouble actually be because the company is TOO healthy? Some analysts are saying the real problem with the company’s menu is that its in “health limbo”: Neither healthy enough, nor indulgent enough to get customers in its doors.
“The hot stocks have been the ones that I do not look at and say those are the healthy options. The ones that have done well are the triple burger beef things with the six pounds of bacon on it.” Brian Sullivan of CNBC said. “I wonder if McDonald’s is losing share because it is not unhealthy enough.”
Jack in the Box has released items like the nacho cheese and jalapeño popper packed “Hella-Peño” burger and chicken nuggets smothered in cheese and bacon, but the companies stocks have also almost doubled over the past year, from 55 points in May 2014, to over 99 points in March, according to Google Finance.
Google Finance also reports that Taco Bell’s Yum! Brands stock has also risen from 75 points in May of last year, to 93 points this week, amidst product launches like the Sriracha Quesarito, a burrito-quesadilla hybrid covered in hot sauce, and Captain Crunch doughnut holes filled with milk-flavored icing.
These menu items are being marketed towards people who are not concerned with the health of the product, but the taste.
“At the end of the day, for these restaurant chains, it’s got to come down to craveable food,” said Bob Derrington, Senior Restaurant Analyst for Wunderlich Securities. “Value and convenience is what [McDonald’s] does best, but whenever they stray into premium, it typically doesn’t work very well.”
So keep an eye out, you may start seeing that new kale salad coverered in nacho cheese.