LOVELAND, OH - This coming September, produce industry leaders will be grabbing their drivers and heading to the Oasis Golf Club in picturesque Loveland, Ohio to honor the memory of longtime industry leader Tip Murphy and raise money for a good cause. Proceeds from the Tip Murphy Golf Tournament will be used to bring more fresh produce choices to children across America, a cause near and dear to United Fresh.
“We are honored that the founders of the Tip Murphy Golf Tournament reached out to our Foundation to serve as the ‘Host Partner’ for the 2014 event,” said Tom Stenzel, President & CEO, United Fresh Produce Association. “Tip was a great man who passed before his time and we welcome the opportunity to remember Tip’s legacy while raising funds to support programs and activities that benefit the next generation of produce consumers.”
Three things attendees can expect:
1) Fun: Tournament participants will have the opportunity to play 18 holes of golf on the beautiful Oasis Course. Toss in a complementary golf cart, catered lunch, an awards reception, and numerous golf contests such as closest-to-the-pin and longest drive and you have a day which golf fans and non-fans alike will enjoy.
2) Supporting a Great Cause: Funds from this event will support the United Fresh Foundation’s mission of increasing children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The United Fresh Foundation aims to increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to children as a critical step in combating childhood obesity and launching a lifetime of healthy snack and meal choices. programs and activities to increase children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables. go Exclusive sponsorship and co-sponsorship opportunities are available. Click here to see these sponsorship opportunities.
3) Networking: The tournament will be a great opportunity to network with retail and industry colleagues.
To learn more about the Tip Murphy Legacy Golf Tournament you can visit the event website. All registration forms are due by August 29th.
Come celebrate Tip’s legacy of service to the produce industry with your friends and colleagues and support this wonderful cause.
Welcome to Behind the Greens. California Giant Berry Farms is bringing consumers one step closer to the farm with item level traceability now offered on the company’s strawberry clamshells. <hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Each package presents a code on the bottom of the clamshell that literally tells the consumer where those berries were grown and packed. California Giant knows how important it is for consumers to know ‘where’ berries come from, but now the Watsonville, California-based grower can tell strawberry lovers specifically where ‘their’ berries came from. The company offers the very popular one-pound clamshell and also features the larger family packs of 2, 3 and 4 pound containers as well.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Along with offering a daily window onto the ranch for the consumer, the new item level traceability also presents a way to work with the company’s trade customers in the event of a food safety crisis. These codes will assist with tracking back to the farm in the unlikely event of a recall or food safety incident involving California Giant. <hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Currently, the company is harvesting all along the coast of California from Oxnard up to Watsonville. Consumers will mainly see berries from Santa Maria, Salinas and Watsonville throughout the summer and into the fall. Quality and flavor is great this year and we expect volume to be ample for consumer promotions all summer long. Thank you for watching Behind the Greens.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
ASPEN, CO - This past June, Avocados from Peru made an impressive debut at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Influential members of the food industry were captivated by Avocados from Peru's full-color, rolling billboard, positioned on top of a luxury liner bus all to remind onlookers that Peruvian Avocados are in peak season and available across the United States.
“This prestigious event was the perfect atmosphere to launch our summer programming, and was the first time any avocado commission has utilized a 45-foot bus at this event to showcase their brand,” said Xavier Equihua, CEO of the Peruvian Avocado Commission (PAC). “We look forward to participating at the Classic again next year in an even a bigger format!”
According to a press release, Avocados from Peru also collaborated with the Peru Trade Commission to put on the “The Avocados from Peru Project.” At the event, renowned Peruvian Chef Ricardo Zarate put on a culinary demonstration in which avocados were front and center, featuring dishes such as Avocado Pan Con Tuna, Tacu Tacu Avocado Nigiri, Avocado, Sea Urchin Omelet Croquette, and a unique avocado cocktail.
Congratulations on the impressive first showing Avocados from Peru!
NEW YORK CITY, NY - Yesterday, ANUK reported on how the growing partnership between Silicon Valley technologies and Salinas' agriculture giants could dramatically increase the potential of the nation's farms. Today, we'll be giving you a look at Verizon's “Wireless Farming” technology, just one potential application of big data analysis. This technology harnesses Verizon's vast wireless network to beam data from specialized devices which can be implanted into tractors, farming equipment, or weather stations to centralized computer terminals. What does this mean for farmers? Verizon says it can provide real time, farm specific analysis, sent straight to your iPad or mobile device when you need it.
“Across the region, Verizon's wireless technologies are changing the landscape of agriculture which is helping farmers maximize yields, conserve natural resources, and increase operation efficiencies,” said Kim Spale, a Solutions Architect with Verizon.
This technology has already been used to create a wireless guidance system for farm equipment, which according to Verizon Manager Steven Bonitz “saves farmers time and labor costs...and is so accurate it actually increases the farmer's usable acreage.”
New Boundary Technologies collaborated with Verizon to use Verizon's wireless weather stations to create a centralized system capable of giving farmers weather analysis specifically tailored to their individual farms.
“Wireless Farmers” will be able to use these services to know the scientifically best time to plant, irrigate, and harvest their crops in order to maximize yields, and their profits.
Is this just the beginning?
To learn more about the potential of big data, check out our previous article on the subject here.
AUSTIN, TX - Construction crews, get ready. Whole Foods announced yesterday plans to substantially expand its offices in downtown Austin, as it works towards its long term goal of building up a corporate campus around its company headquarters. These current plans have been long in the making, and are the result of Whole Foods' acquisition of the 524 Lamar shopping center last May and its 2013 purchase of an additional property at 1009 West Sixth Street.
“It has long been our goal to maintain our downtown Austin presence long-term by creating a campus centered around our flagship store,” Whole Foods Executive Vice President of Growth and Business Development Jim Sud told the American-Statesman. “We believe the properties across the street will allow us to do this, while keeping us deeply rooted in the part of town we have always called home.”
Jamil Alam, a Managing Principal with Endeavor Real Estate Group, one of the groups representing Whole Foods in their expansion efforts, believes that the expansion is great news for Downtown Austin's economy. “Many of the office tenants and residents in downtown refer to the Whole Foods store as a primary factor in their decision to office or reside in downtown. Whole Foods decision to double-down on their headquarters at 5th (at) Lamar not only signifies their long term commitment to downtown Austin, but is an indication of how exciting and vibrant downtown Austin has become,” he said.
According to Sud, Whole Foods has long outgrown its current headquarters, which currently houses 800 workers. The expansion increases this capacity by roughly 2,000 personnel, giving Whole Foods some much needed flexibility as it grows over the next 5-7 years. If all goes according to plan, Sud envisions Whole Foods making full use of this new space.
NEW ZEALAND - Zespri is continuing to build its brand this summer by focusing on educating and building awareness of Zespri Kiwifruit, particularly Zespri’s health benefits, consistent quality, and the company’s commitment to sustainability and growing quality kiwifruit.
Currently selling in 53 countries across the world, Zespri is launching its new SunGold variety around the world this season. Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit is a deliciously sweet and juicy proprietary variety, with a light golden flesh and sweet taste, with a hint of tanginess. SunGold is an attractive, larger kiwifruit with a delicate texture inside and a smooth skin outside.
“Zespri has a strong commitment to research and development. This is a key part of what makes Zespri a leader in the produce industry,” Senior Marketing Manager, Michele Hoard, tells us. “All fruit labels on our Organic Zespri Kiwifruit are now fully compostable, which is an exciting part of our commitment to sustainability.”
Zespri notes that people are catching on to the convenient ‘Cut and Scoop’ method of eating kiwifruit. “Cut the kiwifruit in half with a knife and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. It’s an ideal snack and such a unique flavor,” Hoard says.
Hoard tells us that some of the challenges they face in the kiwifruit category are competing with local items. This can push kiwifruit to the back of the department. We know that when kiwifruit is cross-merchandised with berries or displayed in the front of the produce department sales increase up to 200 percent. “In the North American market, it can be difficult to locate the kiwifruit in the produce department. Supermarkets often stick kiwifruit at the back of the department without any point of sale material to identify it.”
Her suggestion to retailers, “Try merchandising the fruit front and center by the berries because it suggests to consumers to put kiwifruit in summer fruit salads, in fruit tarts, fruit pies, among other recipes.”
FRESNO, CA - Baloian Farms is gearing up for greater expansion with the completion of its recently renovated packing facility. Key improvements include the enclosure and cooling of approximately 42,000 square feet of the existing facility. These upgrades are meant to increase product quality and reduce the potential risk of contamination, as well as improve employee comfort.
“Not only do we take pride in pampering our products, we also take great pride in the way we treat our employees,” said Jeremy Lane, Baloian Sales Manager. “Creating a positive working environment for our employees that yields the quality we are known for is a win-win for everybody.”
The upgrades come just in time for Baloian’s local mini-sweet, baby bell, and green and red pepper season, as well as all repack and value-added packing operations.
According to a press release, the new enclosure allows for the addition of expanded cold storage, as well as processing areas that could be used if Baloian Farms pursued certifications for ready to eat products. Lane remarked that the facility “keeps us on our path of growth and innovation and we’re excited about the possibilities.”
WEST DES MOINES, IA – Hy-Vee is taking a step into the Twin Cities by opening its first store there.
Finance & Commerce reports that the Iowa-based grocery chain has a tentative deal for an 80,000 to 90,000-sqaure-foot store on a former Kmart site. The New Hope City Council approved the deal to sell 13.3 acres to Hy-Vee. The site will also feature a 3,000 square-foot gas station, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
“Our commitment to excellent customer service, health and wellness, and culinary expertise is unlike anything in the market to date,” Hy-Vee Chairman, President and CEO Randy Edeker said in a statement. “Minnesota and its residents have long been important partners, and we are proud to extend that partnership into the Twin Cities area.”
Currently, Hy-Vee’s closest store to the Twin Cities is in Faribault, MN and is about 60 miles from the new proposed location.
The Business Journal also reports that Hy-Vee is already in talks for more stores in the Twin Cities.
SALINAS, CA - Salinas and Silicon Valley are joining hands to bring the revolutionary applications of big data to America's farms, and the result could mean expanding harvests, higher yields, and big, big profits. This union however is born as much from necessity as from dreams of dollars.
According to Nobel laureate, Norman Borlaug, there is a desperate need for a larger food supply to meet the growing demands of a booming global population. Borlaug put it in stark terms to Forbes writers: “In the next 40 years, farmers will have to grow as much food as they have in the last 10,000 years — combined.”
This, however, is where big data comes in. “Like many industries today, the agriculture industry is being transformed by the use of data, in all its variety,” said Deborah Magid, Director of Software Strategy in IBM's Venture Capital Group. “Data is everywhere, and over the next few years, innovative new uses of information in all aspects of farming — from yield optimization, to food safety and quality, to distribution, to water management, fertilizer management, connected vehicles and even whole new methods of growing food — will be adopted. It’s already happening.”
The list of companies jumping on-board this “Smart Farm” revolution is an impressive one and includes industry titans such as Dole Foods, Chiquita, Driscoll Berries, Taylor Farms, Ocean Mist Farms, JV Smith and Tanimura & Antle. Many have already been impressed by the results, even if the technology in use is still in its infancy in relation to where it could be in the next decade.
Brian Kocher, Chiquita’s Chief Operating Officer, told Forbes, “We have experienced substantial changes in growing conditions over the last years. It is clear that time-tested agricultural practices are no longer sufficient for an expanding population and we must be smarter and more efficient using increasingly scarce resources such as water. The intersection of agricultural and technical science is rapidly improving yields and efficiencies, and we believe the initiatives to link agricultural innovators with technology innovators will yield substantial benefits for both the population and the planet.”
There's big money at stake in this business. Research from the International Data Corporation, estimates that the 'Internet of Things' could grow from a $1.9 trillion industry in 2013 to a $7.1 trillion industry by 2020 (note: According to Forbes, the IDC “defines the Internet of Things as a network of networks of uniquely identifiable endpoints...that communicate without human interaction using IP connectivity...). Even bigger however are the number of lives at stake. Just remember Borlaug's quote, and remember that by 2050 Earth's farmers will be tasked with feeding a population expected to exceed 9 billion.
It's an immense task, but with the help of big data, Salinas stands ready.
Peter Quiring, Nature Fresh Farms President and Owner, joins AndNowUKnow to discuss recycling, traceability, and its greenhouses.
In terms of recycling, Nature Fresh grows in coconut fiber for one year and then sells it to be used in potted plant mix and recycles its water for sterilization and reuse. It also uses bees for pollination and good bugs to fight bad bugs instead of using pesticides.
The company also has a labor tracking system to track information like who picked what at what time and where. That information is uploaded daily and is available in the bar code on the case level for traceability.
The greenhouses provide more than enough light in the summer and daytime, but to counter times without much sun, the company is currently making advancements in lighting. It uses lighting in the wintertime and at night, both times when electricity is more available.