ORLANDO, FL – Produce for Kids has reached a donation milestone, having raised more than $5 million in support of children’s charities.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that Produce for Kids has surpassed the $5 million mark in total donations raised,” said John Shuman, President, Produce for Kids. “When we started Produce for Kids 12 years ago, we never imagined that it would turn into such a year-round healthy eating resource for families or make the impact it has had in local communities throughout the country.”
According to a press release, 17 grocery store chains and more than 40 fresh produce companies supported Produce for Kids’ campaigns this year, raising $453,000 to support children’s charities in the local markets of its retail partners.
This year, the organization launched its first Power Your Lunchbox Pledge, a digital campaign to encourage healthier lunchboxes. The campaign garnered $5,000, 15 million media impressions and more than 20 million social media impressions. Next year’s pledge will run from August 3 to September 18, 2015.
Partnership opportunities for next year are open for produce companies at the following retailers: ACME Markets, Ahold’s GIANT and Martin’s Food Stores, Giant Landover, and Stop & Shop divisions; Associated Wholesale Grocers’ Major Savings, Advantage, Independent, Country Mart, Homeland and United divisions; Meijer Stores; Price Chopper; Publix Super Markets; and Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc.’s Pick n' Save, Copps Food Center and Metro Market divisions.
Produce for Kids is also launching a new longer-term kids club loyalty program at Associated Wholesalers, Inc. and Niemann Foods. This program will include in-store signage, shopper coupon booklets and promo item shipments.
Congratulations on this major accomplishment, Produce for Kids!
TEHACHAPI, CA – Canadian greenhouse grower SunSelect is shipping its first ever California-grown tomatoes out of its new 32-acre greenhouse.
The new state-of-the-art facility will produce sweet bell peppers year-round and cocktail and traditional tomatoes-on-the-vine. According to a press release, this facility makes SunSelect the only large-scale greenhouse grower in California to produce peppers in the winter.
“We chose Tehachapi for a few reasons, including the high light levels to promote uniform plant growth, the plentiful water and low humidity,” said SunSelect Co-Owner Victor Krahn. “And because the temperature in this valley is lower than surrounding areas, it is naturally free of many pests.”
With the first product ready to ship from the new greenhouse, construction on a second Tehachapi facility is already underway.
“We have started building an additional 32 acres, which will double our current size and significantly increase our year-round pepper volume,” said Len Krahn, SunSelect Co-Owner. Peppers grown in this second phase will be available in late 2015.
Check out this video from the company:
The company’s tomatoes-on-the-vine will be available by the end of October, and peppers will be ready about a week later. They will be shipped throughout the U.S., but the sustainability strategy focuses on the local California market.
“We are launching a new series of packaging that emphasizes the California origin of our new items,” Victor said, noting that the iconic California bear is featured on the packs. “We anticipate that a considerable amount of our early product will be sold here, and we are eager to build a local following.”
This new greenhouse has expanded SunSelect’s partnership with The Oppenheimer Group, which invested in the facility. Aaron Quon, Greenhouse and Vegetable Category Director for The Oppenheimer Group, SunSelect’s marketing partner, spoke on the impact the new facility could have.
“This is an important step in the evolution of the North American greenhouse category,” he said. “With SunSelect, we will be the first to offer U.S.-grown greenhouse sweet bell peppers year round. And with the addition of TOVs and cocktail tomatoes―combined with SunSelect’s BC production of peppers and cucumbers―we can deliver a full basket of high-demand items to our customers from SunSelect any day of the year.”
Congratulations on this new facility, SunSelect.
The following was copied verbatim from a pre-Fresh Summit press release.
St. Louis, MO (October 16, 2014) - Arcobasso Foods, a leading producer of custom dressings, sauces, and beverage drink mixes for the restaurant and food industry, will feature five new flavors of Panera Bread® dressings at the PMA Fresh Summit Convention and Expo October 17 – 19, Booth 1414. Arcobasso Foods also offers fat free, low fat, low calorie, low sodium and gluten free options in a selection of dressing flavors.
The newer flavors include Southwest Ceasar, Thai Chili Lime, Gorgonzola Blue Cheese, Tangerine Honey and Asiago Ranch. The flavors are part of a lineup of 14 total flavors that also include four 10-ounce dressing sizes. “The Panera brand is one that is highly sought after by today’s retail consumer,” commented Mark Miner, partner and senior vice president of sales for Arcobasso Foods. “The more options we can provide, the more customers can enjoy the flavors they love at home, improving sales of refrigerated dressings for retailers,” he added.
The Arcobasso Foods’ Panera Bread® lineup of refrigerated dressings includes five new flavors including Southwest Ceasar, Thai Chili Lime, Gorgonzola Blue Cheese, Tangerine Honey and Asiago Ranch as well as a selection of fat free, low fat, low calorie, low sodium and gluten free options.
ANAHEIM, CA - With a record number of attendees and exhibitors, PMA is finishing up a great Fresh Summit weekend. This latest and final episode of PMAtv captures the weekend experience, sharing highlights from the Floral Pavilion, the 130 new exhibitors who attended Fresh Summit for the first time this year, the PMA Foundation Emerging Leaders program, and much more! Check out the whole video for yourself below:
And don't forget to check out the rest of PMAtv's episodes if you haven't watched them already!
Day 3:
Day 2:
Day 1:
Congratulations on an excellent Fresh Summit weekend, PMA!
ANAHEIM, CA - Houweling’s Tomatoes has launched “Mastery Under Glass: From Seed to Harvest,” a new promotional video highlighting the company's use of use of technology, sustainable growing practices, year- round locally grown advantage and commitment to ensuring that Houweling’s box are packed exclusively with Houweling’s grown tomatoes.
Check out the video for yourself below:
“Today’s consumer more than ever wants to know where their food is from and how it was grown,” said Houweling’s CEO Casey Houweling. “There are lots of misconceptions of what hydroponic greenhouse growing is and at the same time, lots of misrepresentation of low-tech, protected agriculture as greenhouse. I believe we need to tell our story at a grass roots level with consumers so they can make an informed decision.”
With the global population expected to hit 9.6 billion by 2050, Houweling’s understands the importance of staying on the cutting edge of sustainable agriculture. “Mastery Under Glass: From Seed to Harvest” demonstrates its commitment to this technology which is allowing it to lead the way forward with year-round locally grown produce, grown using waste heat and C02 emissions.
“As an educational tool this video is invaluable to Houweling’s," CMO David Bell explained. "We would love to have every person in America tour our farms to see how and why we do what we do, but that of course isn’t feasible. In just over two and half minutes, consumers walk away with a clearer picture and that message is delivered directly from the CEO, not a pitchman.”
The company launched the video at Fresh Summit as well as through its digital media channels including its website, Facebook and Twitter pages, according to a press release.
Congratulations on the successful release of this new video, Houweling's!
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – Scot Rank, CEO of Wal-Mart de Mexico, announced that he is stepping down after five years.
According to Reuters, Mexico’s largest retailer is giving certain executive responsibilities to Wal-Mart de Mexico, also known as Walmex, Chairman and Wal-Mart Latin America CEO, Enrique Ostale after the company reported an 8% decrease in Q3 profit.
“These changes will allow us to build on the efforts that Scot has made for our company to be more simple, quick and client-focused,” Ostale said in a webcast.
According to Walmex, the company’s weak Q3 results came from poor performance at its Sam’s Club division and the effects of Hurricane Odile. Despite the dip in profit, Walmex saw a 4.3% increase in revenue.
The company will be announcing a new Walmex CEO at a later date.
Best of luck in your future endeavors, Scot!
ANAHEIM, CA - It was a big weekend for former Vons VP of Produce and Floral Dick Spezzano, who was named the Robert L. Carey Leadership Award winner and elected to chair the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent's Board of Directors during Fresh Summit.
Four former PMA chairmen chose Spezzano for the Robert L. Carey Leadership Award from an impressive field of candidates, noting his outstanding leadership history and commitment to the mission of PMA.
“This is a man who epitomizes what it means to give back to the industry in which he’s worked for over 50 years,” shared former Owner and CEO of Standard Fruit & Vegetable Co., Inc. and 2013 award winner Jay Pack. Pack presented the award to Spezzano during Fresh Summit weekend. “He believes in reaching out to youth – to build healthy eating habits early and to attract the best and the brightest young talent. Together with his wife Carole, he’s also set the bar by making a legacy gift to the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent. Talk about the power of commitment.”
"This award is very special to me as I was on the PMA Board of Directors for ten years while Bob was the association leader,” Spezzano said graciously after accepting the award. “Under Bob's leadership, I learned many things and especially the art of giving back to an industry that has been good to me."
As noted above, Spezzano was also elected Chairman of the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent’s Board of Directors. According to a press release, this position will place him on the PMA Executive Committee, along with PMA CEO Bryan Silbermann and PMA President Cathy Burns.
In addition to his responsibilities with PMA, Spezzano also serves as the President of Spezzano Consulting Service, Inc.
Congratulations on the new position and award, Spezzano!
CHARLOTTE, NC – Chiquita Brands International has announced that it will reject Cutrale/Safra’s latest offer.
As we previously reported, the Cutrale/Safra Group, which has been the main competition to Chiquita's proposed merger agreement with Fyffes, upped its buyout offer to $14/share for all of the company's outstanding stock.
In a letter to Cutrale/Safra, Chiquita said that its Board of Directors has unanimously determined that the revised offer to acquire all the outstanding stock of Chiquita for $14.00 per share in cash is inadequate and not in the best interest of Chiquita shareholders.
The letter stated, “The Board continues to strongly believe in the strategic merits and value provided by the revised ChiquitaFyffes transaction, given the revised exchange ratio. With updated projections, revised synergy estimates and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, we believe the Fyffes transaction is meaningfully more valuable for Chiquita shareholders.”
The letter also noted Chiquita’s disappointment that Curale/Safra declined its recent invitation to work together and improve the offer.
The company stated in a press release that the ChiquitaFyffes transaction maintains shareholders' ability to realize significantly greater value than $14.00 per share, without losing any control premium that shareholders may receive in the future and is a better offer. It suggested that shareholders vote for the Fyffes merger.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to bring you the latest on any Chiquita merger updates.
LEAMINGTON, ON – Nature Fresh Farms™ has hired Chris Veillon to lead its marketing efforts.
“We are excited to add an experienced marketing professional like Chris to our expanding team at Nature Fresh Farms,” stated Peter Quiring, President. “We have seen our business evolve considerably over the last few years and in doing so, we are putting more effort in to connecting with consumers via strategic marketing efforts.”
Chris, a seasoned marketer with a successful track record, has more than 17 years of senior marketing communications experience across a variety of industries, according to a press release. At Nature Fresh, he will be marketing an array of tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers and seasonal lettuce.
“I am very excited to be joining the Nature Fresh team and look forward to helping grow the company,” said Chris. He is going to be based in the company’s Leamington, Ontario Head Office.
Congratulations on the new position, Chris!
TAMPA , FL – IFCO Systems is partnering with Sealed Air, one of the leading providers of Diversey™ cleaning and hygiene solutions and supplier of the detergents and disinfectants which IFCO uses in the cleaning process of its RPCs. Under the terms of the new partnership, Sealed Air will be ensuring the sanitation of all IFCO RPCs with an integral cleaning and sanitation program, as well as providing on-line monitoring of IFCO’s global cleaning processes.
“As the global leader in reusable plastic containers for the shipment of fresh products, IFCO is also a leader in food safety,” said Wolfgang Orgeldinger, CEO of IFCO. “IFCO employs the most rigorous and stringent standards in the selection of its cleaning agent and equipment suppliers in order to ensure top performance.”
In addition to its commitment to food safety, IFCO strives to keep its sanitation protocols up-to-date in the constantly changing industry. In each of its 48 service centers across 19 countries, it has implemented a series of best practices, including:
- Global detergent and equipment standards and guarantees
- Cleanliness and quality standards which exceed regulatory requirements
- Maintenance of critical wash process parameter data with pallet level traceability
- Use of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems
- Third-party auditing in accordance with ISO
- Retailer and producer handling best practices
- Product withdrawal and recall procedures
- Continuous improvement programs
According to a press release, IFCO has over 200 million RPCs in circulation, and handles all phases of the RPC logistics chain, from distribution, to cleaning, to re-entry into the supply chain. IFCO RPCs are folded, collected, and transported to one of its service facilities for sanitation and re-use preparation after each retail use.
Congratulations on this exciting new partnership, IFCO!