SACRAMENTO, CA – Produce leaders are responding to California Governor Jerry Brown’s veto of Senate Bill 25 and approval of Assembly Bill 1897.
SB 25 would have changed the procedures in farm labor disputes to make it more difficult for California farmers to stall new contracts, and AB 1897 is a labor union-supported bill that will hold companies accountable for a subcontractor’s treatment of its employees.
In a letter to Members of the California Senate, Governor Brown said that he would not be signing SB 25. “The bill is designed to expedite prompt enforcement of contracts derived from mandatory mediation. Both contract enforcement and election disputes should be dealt with so the process is balanced and fair. This bill only addresses contract enforcement. We should look at the entire process before making further changes,” Brown said.
California Fresh Fruit Association President Barry Bedwell made the following statement this morning regarding Governor Jerry Brown's veto of SB 25:
"On behalf of the members of the California Fresh Fruit Association, I commend and thank Governor Brown for his veto of Senate Bill 25 (Steinberg, D-Sacramento). His veto of SB 25 preserves the ability to exercise fundamental due process rights and the authority of the Court to stay the enforcement of a mandatory contract borne out of binding arbitration while an appeal is pending. We strongly agree with the Governor that the process surrounding the Agricultural Labor Relations Act must be "balanced and fair". This bill only addressed the issue of contract enforcement while potentially limiting the legal rights of farmworkers and employers and therefore the Governor's veto was very appropriate."
Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif agreed, making the following statement about the veto:
“Governor Brown made a sound decision in vetoing SB 25. We are grateful that he saw the fundamental unfairness of this proposal. When a state mediator imposes a union contract on an employer, as the Agricultural Labor Relations Act provides, the employer has very limited opportunity to obtain a stay of its provisions from the court pending an appeal. This legislation would have raised the barrier so high that it would be practically impossible for any employer to ever obtain a stay. This is fundamentally unfair. By further removing the courts from the process, SB 25 sought to diminish the already limited accountability of the state mediator and the ALRB, and in so doing would have provided even more motivation to the union to run out the clock in good faith bargaining in order to get to Mandatory Mediation and Conciliation (MMC), more properly known as mandatory mediation and binding arbitration. We thank Governor Brown for making another difficult, but wise decision in this area.”
For AB 1897, Western Growers had a much different reaction. Tom Nassif said in a statement:
“We are very disappointed in the governor’s decision to approve AB 1897. This labor union-sponsored bill will unfairly impose significant liability onto an innocent third-party employer for violations of wage and other obligations of a labor contractor even though the third-party employer does not control the contractor. All employers should be ensuring a safe work environment, the payment of wages, and workers’ compensation for their employees, and California has in recent years strengthened these laws and increased enforcement to focus on bad actors. Creating liability for innocent third-party employers is unnecessary and harmful to our state’s job climate.”
As we previously reported, many California business leaders, including Nassif and Bedwell, spoke out against AB 1897.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we track what effects this bill will have on the California produce industry.
LINDSAY, CALIF. – September 29, 2014 – LoBue Citrus, a full-service grower, packer and shipper of California and import citrus, is celebrating its 80th anniversary by partnering with Katie’s Krops, a nonprofit organization that empowers youth across the country to grow a healthy end to hunger in their communities, one vegetable garden at a time.
The mission of Katie's Krops is to start and maintain vegetable gardens of all sizes and donate the harvest to help feed people in need, as well as to assist and inspire others to do the same. Once a year, Katie’s Krops hosts an annual grant cycle where youths, ages 9 to 16, apply to receive funding to start a Katie’s Krops vegetable garden in their community.
From November to January, LoBue will donate a percentage from every case of navel oranges sold to Katie’s Krops. The promotion will be supported at retail with specially-marked LoBue Family Legacy branded point of sale signage and social media.
“We are so proud to be partnering with Katie’s Krops,” said Norm Gatineau, vice president of sales and marketing at LoBue Citrus. “Giving back is very important to us and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate our 80th anniversary than by supporting such a wonderful cause.”
In 2008, then 9-year-old Katie Stagliano grew a 40-pound cabbage in her backyard and donated it to a soup kitchen where it help to feed 275 people. Moved by the experience, she started Katie's Krops, which currently funds 80 youth-run gardens in 29 states from which the fresh harvest is donated to the underserved. Katie has set a goal of expanding to 500 gardens across all 50 states by 2018. LoBue’s partnership with Katie’s Krops will help fund grants for these gardens and help Katie work toward her goal.
The above has been pasted verbatim from a LoBue Citrus press release.
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - Robinson Fresh has launched a new interactive and promotional marketing campaign, dubbed 'Hail to Kale,' to help retailers educate and engage with their consumers as National Kale Day kicks off this week.
As the exclusive marketer of Glory Foods® bagged kale greens, Robinson Fresh is encouraging retailers to ‘Hail to Kale’ in their stores on October 1. The company will provide participating retailers with Glory Foods® branded point-of-sale posters and social media templates in order to drive retail sales and brand awareness. POS materials, for example, ask consumers to share their “royal portrait” on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #hailtokale.
Annual retail sales for this trending superfood have grown more than 450% since 2010, according to a press release.
Robinson Fresh will also promote National Kale Day and the Glory Foods® brand on LinkedIn and Twitter at @WeSpeakFresh in order to build consumer awareness of the holiday and provide information about kale’s benefits, as seen in the company’s consumer and commodity insights page.
MADRID, SPAIN - Locus Traxx has announced that it will be bringing its range of innovative logistics products, like the SmartTraxx Portable and SmartTraxx GO units, to Madrid's Fruit Attraction trade fair this Fall.
For more on the SmartTraxx GO check out ANUK's BTG exclusive on the innovative product.
With the opening of its European office in Belgium earlier this year, Locus Traxx has been striving to expand its European presence. The Fruit Attraction trade fair offered Locus Traxx a premier stage for raising awareness about its products, and the company is seizing on this opportunity to introduce its SmartTraxx GO real-time monitoring device to the Spanish market.
“The device is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, its activation is as simple as pulling a tab, it allows to you to know the location and temperature of the product at any time and the best part is if there is a problem you’ll be notified in real time,” explained Ray Hoffman, Managing Director of the European venture of Locus Traxx Worldwide. “The objective is to provide the shippers and owners of the product with a reliable and completely transparent source of information on how their fruits and vegetables are handled.”
Hoffman intends to use Fruit Attraction as a venue to meet and get to know the principal fresh produce growers and shippers in Spain, sharing with them how Locus Traxx products can increase the the transparency and security of their operations.
“Our main goal is introduce the Spanish industry to our exciting new way of monitoring perishable products in real time,” said Hoffman. “We also want to get to know them, their businesses and their needs, as we are always open to customising our services to our customers’ specific needs.”
He continued, “Spain is one of the leading fruit and vegetable exporters in Europe and therefore it is a top priority for us to increase the visibility of our company in Spain and have the players in the Spanish market discover the unmatched advantages of our temperature and location monitoring solutions.”
So far, the industry's reaction in Europe has been very positive, increasing Hoffman's confidence in the future growth prospects of the booming company.
“People have given an incredibly positive reaction to our real time monitoring solutions as they address many of their problems and concerns in real time,” he said. “We are looking to grow our Spanish partner base and have more and more companies in the Spanish industry benefit from it.”
Congratulations on these successes, Locus Traxx!
PELION, SC - WP Rawl is partnering with National Kale Day to bring new promotional materials to retailers and consumers, as well as three nationwide events to celebrate the increasingly popular leafy vegetable.
“As we head into our busy season this month, we are very happy to kick it off as a sponsor of National Kale Day,” said Ashley Rawl, Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Product Development at WP Rawl. “We are committed to growing the kale category in various ways and we believe this partnership is a great way to increase the visibility, and ultimately consumption of kale.”
WP Rawl and National Kale Day will share new recipes through a National Kale Day-Kale Up! eCookbook available on WP Rawl’s Facebook page, as well as how-to videos, and even a “What Kind of Kale Are You?” quiz, according to a press release. Retailers will also have access to ad slicks and POS materials to promote the event.
Over two hundred attendees will revel in a Raw Kale Tasting Bar this Wednesday in New York as WP Rawl kicks off its flagship event. In Atlanta, Queen of Kale will celebrate with a tasting party and live event from 4 to 8 pm at Om Point Yoga/City of Life Café where attendees can try Nature’s Greens Tangy Citrus Kale Yeah! Salad, and much more. Additionally, more than 300 school children in Hickory, NC will celebrate with free kale samples courtesy of WP Rawl and Nature’s Greens.
Follow the latest happenings on National Kale Day by using #KaleDay 2014 and #NaturesGreens on social media.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Software engineer Kevin Systrom is best known as the social media visionary who co-founded Instagram with his partner Mike Krieger, but now he'll have a new title to affix to business cards and nameplates: member of the Board of Directors for Wal-Mart. What exactly though is a social media guru like Systrom doing at Wal-Mart?
The answer lies in the increasing effort of retailers to connect with customers through online media. The tech savvy, smartphone-wielding members of Generation Y are entering their prime earning years, and many of these consumers demand their retailer of choice have an online presence that goes beyond a simple website. Wal-Mart is hoping that Systrom, who will also be serving on the company's Technology and eCommerce Committee and its Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee (CNGC), can give it a leg up on the competition in this regard.
“Kevin’s entrepreneurial background and his technical and digital expertise will be invaluable as we further connect with customers and deploy new capabilities through e-commerce and mobile channels,” said Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton. “Wal-Mart is investing in e-commerce capabilities through talent, technology and fulfillment. Kevin’s passion and deep knowledge of social media align with our focus to engage customers through our digital and physical channels.”
For his part, Systrom shared his excitement for joining the Wal-Mart team and having an immediate effect on its ongoing operations.
“Wal-Mart has had a profound impact as a global leader in retail,” Systrom shared in a press release. “It’s an honor to join the Wal-Mart Board and have an opportunity to help provide more convenient and flexible ways for people to shop.”
With his appointment, Systrom became the 15th member of Wal-Mart's Board of Directors. He holds a B.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University and was recently named one of Fortune's 40-under-40 and TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.
Congratulations on your new position, Systrom! I'll be looking forward to reading more about your work with Wal-Mart as we move forward.
Bancroft, Wis.—RPE Inc. is continuing its delicious partnership with Chef Joey Elenterio to develop a surprise signature dish for the PMA Fresh Summit Convention and Expo on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20, 2014. RPE’s specialty potato brand Tasteful Selections is also in its second year of supporting Katie’s Krops, whose founder Katie Stagliano will be at the RPE booth, number 2888, during the expo.
Chef Elenterio, who joined Wayfare Tavern as executive chef last year, received 1 Michelin Star in both 2011 and 2012 during his tenure as executive chef at Chez TJ in Mountain View, Calif. The up-and coming talent in Bay Area cuisine has also been honored in Zagat’s 30 Under 30 and with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Rising Star Chef award. Chef Elenterio worked as executive chef of Tanglewood in San Jose, Calif. before starting as sous chef at Chez TJ in 2009, where he was promoted to executive chef in 2011. Chef Elenterio will be crafting a new Tasteful Selections dish on Saturday and Sunday at RPE’s booth.
“It’s a pleasure working with a product you believe in,” said Chef Elenterio. “Tasteful Selections potatoes are so versatile, colorful and cook quickly and evenly, so I never run out of new ways to prepare them.”
Katie’s Krops founder and Chief Executive Gardener Katie Stagliano will be at the RPE booth to meet and talk with members of the produce industry. Founded in 2008, Katie’s Krops has funded 75 gardens in 27 states and continues to add more gardens each year. For her work fighting hunger, Katie Stagliano received Clinton’s Global Citizen Award in 2012 and became the award’s youngest recipient at just 14 years old. Most recently, Katie is one of three individuals followed the upcoming documentary The Starfish Throwers. Katie will be at RPE booth number 2888 Saturday from 12 to 1:30 p.m. and from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and also on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
“We’re excited to be partnering with these young leaders, Chef Joey in the culinary scene and Katie in the philanthropic world,” said Russell Wysocki, president and CEO of RPE. “Their creativity and passion for food is unparalleled. We hope their work inspires our customers and consumers as much as it has inspired us.”
At PMA Fresh Summit, Tasteful Selections is also unveiling the newest addition to its line of specialty bite-sized potatoes: organics. The Ruby Sensation, signature flavor Honey Gold, and Sunrise Medley varieties already loved by Tasteful Selections consumers are now also available in limited quantities in the brand new organic line of potatoes. Tasteful Selections’ new organic line will be featured in the New Product Showcase as well as at RPE’s booth all weekend.
Find out more about Tasteful Selection at RPE’s new product showcase and all of RPE’s product lines, including Old Oak Farms, Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, at booth number 2888. Tasteful Selections, LLC is a joint venture of RPE, CSS Farms and Plover River Farms Alliance, Inc. They are a vertically integrated grower, shipper, marketer of premium specialty potatoes with unique attributes for size and flavor.
RPE, a second generation family farm, is a category leader and key grower/shipper of year-round potatoes and onions. RPE prides itself on maintaining a high level of business integrity that includes commitments to environmental sustainability, as well as category innovation and retail solutions.
The above has been pasted verbatim from a RPE press release.
HARRISONBURG, VA - Fresh culinary herb supplier Shenandoah Growers is welcoming Steve Wright, former Director of Produce and Floral at Tops Supermarkets, as the company’s new Vice President of Sales. He will be responsible for managing all fresh product line revenues and building an industry leading customer-driven selling and service organization, according to a press release.
“Steve has a stellar track record of success in the industry and shares our common culture of integrity, passion and customer centricity, said Philip Karp, EVP and CMO. “His produce vision and outstanding leadership abilities will pilot the selling organization in close partnership with our customers to maximize profitable growth opportunities across all items.”
Shenandoah has also added new facilities for integrated growing, packing, and logistics in Georgia and Texas. Both facilities are expected to phase in operations over the coming months.
“In keeping with the company’s mission of providing the best tasting products and exceptional service to our customers in an increasingly dynamic and multi-regional platform, we aim to stay ahead of anticipated growth,” said Timothy Heydon, CEO. “Steve adds another dimension to our talented leadership team, and the new facilities are in line with previously announced expansion plans. We are excited to continue to take steps to position the company for the next decade of growth in the market.”
Congratulations on joining Shenandoah, Steve!
UNITED STATES – The U.S. Postal Service wants to expand its daily grocery delivery service across the country. This expansion would build off of the test program that the USPS is currently running with AmazonFresh in San Francisco.
The Washington Post reports that the Postal Service sent in a proposal for the expansion to the Postal Regulatory Commission on Tuesday of last week, seeking approval from the panel. In the proposal, the agency says that it wants to begin testing on October 24. The test process would last up to two years, and the USPS could choose to make it permanent anytime in that timeframe.
The USPS wants to work with retail partners to deliver “groceries and other prepackaged goods” to homes between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m., with participating grocery stores dropping off orders at post offices between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m.
“Ultimately, the Postal Service expects this will generate more package deliveries that do not currently move within the postal system,” the agency said in its proposal. “Grocery deliveries are expanding across the nation, with several different types of companies beginning to offer this service in recent months.”
The agency says in its proposal that it wants to develop “a long-term, scalable solution to enable expansion of customized delivery to additional major metropolitan markets across the nation.”
The Wall Street Journal reports that the USPS expects the test to bring in more than $10 million a year.
Postal Regulatory Commission spokeswoman Gail Adams told the Wall Street Journal that the three-member panel will rule on the USPS request after seeking public comment.
If the panel rules that the USPS can expand this program, it will be very interesting to see what effect this could have on the future of grocery delivery. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to monitor this proposal.
AUSTIN, TX - Whole Foods Market may have just finished opening 5 new stores across the United States and Canada, but don't let that fool you into thinking the retailer plans on taking its foot off the gas any time soon. According to The Times Picayune, the natural foods retailer plans on beefing up its store base with 40 new locations next year alone. Guru Focus goes even further, revealing that the retailer plans to fly by the 500-store mark by 2017.
Co-CEO Walter Robb doesn't just think of growth in terms of store expansion however. He explains that his strategy to staying relevant in the ever-changing and fiercely competitive retail market is comprehensive, keying in on all the aspects that matter for a successful national chain. Just one part of this strategy is a continual focus on offering the best price point possible on the market.
"You've got to be relevant on price in order to get your message across about quality," Robb said.
In this regard Whole Foods has enjoyed a lot of success. It has even gone so far as to become a “discount option” in some New York markets, as ANUK revealed in a previous story.
Robb also discussed Whole Foods' focus on innovation, including its partnership with the delivery service Instacart, new rewards program, as well as the launch of the first national marketing campaign in the company's history.
"There comes a time when you have got to defend your brand," he shared. "If you don't go out there and get your message out about who you are, the market will define it for you."
Only time will tell how successful Robb's future growth strategy will be, but it is hard not to share his optimism for the retailer when you listen to the confidence with which he speaks. For Walter Robb and many of the Whole Foods faithful, the future is an exciting place for this retailer.