VERO BEACH, FL - Seald Sweet is pushing their summer citrus program with a new line-up of sweet mandarin oranges: Mandarina's™. This new brand of oranges take its name from a sweet, little girl character named 'Mandarina' intended to personify the sweetness of the orange.
“The varieties which are specifically selected to be packed in the Mandarina’s™ brand packaging are the best of the mandarin category,” says Mayda Sotomayor, Seald Sweet’s CEO. “It is our commitment to retailers and consumers that only the best, juiciest and sweetest varieties are packed in this brand. We consider Mandarina’s™ to be the ‘crème de le crème’ of easy-peelers.”
Through bright colors on the packaging, an endearingly sweet mascot in Mandarina and kid-friendly graphics which decorate the packaging, Seald Sweet is striving to give candy-like appeal to Mandarina's™ through visual marketing.
“As part of the industry initiative to improve the health and well-being of our nation’s children, we want to appeal to young consumers with this brand,” says Kim Flores, Seald Sweet’s Director of Marketing. “Mandarina personifies sweetness, and helps emphasize smart snacking solutions with children.”
Seald Sweet’s Mandarina’s™ sweet mandarins will be available for purchase from August through October, with conventional clementines coming to stores June through August. Seald Sweet’s Summer Citrus line-up also features navel oranges, Minneola Tangelos, and Cara Cara (red) oranges.
YAKIMA, WA - Domex Superfresh Growers is expecting a large harvest this summer and is already communicating with retailers about market strategies for when their crop comes to market. Domex expects that August and September will be a perfect time to promote Washington apples and is eager to get a head start on the planning process.
Official estimates on the size of this year's harvest will not be available until August 11, but a Domex press release took care to note how “trees around the state are covered in an abundance of apples.” Early expectations have this year's harvest being similar in size to that of last year's, although this year's crop is expected to be ready for picking about 5 days earlier than 2013's. An early crop will allow promotable quantities of Gala apples to be ready for retailers to market by mid-August.
Two other 'critical areas' Domex recommends retailers focus on in marketing are the strong marks for shape, size, and eating quality this year's apples will possess due to a warm spring promoting healthy cell division, as well as an expected delay in apples coming out of the Eastern U.S. because of a cool spring.
Apples make up a very large share of national fruit sales, representing 10.5% of 2013's total fruit sales during the 3rd fiscal quarter, according to a press release quoting Nielsen data. This number actually rose to 19.6% in Q4. Of all apples Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji, and Honeycrisp make up the bulk of grocery sales, comprising 76% of dollar sales in 2013, a number up 11.3% from the previous year.
Congratulations Domex on a strong harvest!
COMMERCE, CA - Smart & Final sent waves through Wall Street Friday with its announcement of plans to file for an IPO. With 195 warehouse stores operating out of California, Arizona, and Nevada in addition to 52 Cash & Carry locations, Smart & Final intends to use the funds raised through its public offering to repay debt obligations and expand the Smart & Final Extra format, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The much larger Extra format stores have “typically resulted in significant increases in comparable-store sales and gross margin,” according to company executives who spoke with the Journal.
In order to file, Smart & Final says it could raise up to $100 million, although that number could change as they move closer to the offering date. So far the exact date of the IPO has not been released to the public, but the initial filing does list Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, and Barclays Capital as underwriters. Initial plans have 'SFS' as the stock symbol Smart & Final will be trading under.
In its overview of the company last December, Moody's Investors Service was quoted as saying Smart & Final “continues to demonstrate its ability to compete effectively and maintain margins in a tough economic and competitive business environment,” although it did criticize its “weak” credit metrics.
According to StreetInsider.com, Smart & Final has enjoyed comparable store sales growth in 24 of the last 25 years, with 4.2% comparable store sales growth in 2014's most recent fiscal quarter. It had 4.0% comparable store sales growth with $3.2 billion in sales during 2013's fiscal year, a 5.5% increase in sales from 2012.
Good luck to Smart & Final as it moves closer to its IPO.
EXETER, CA - Kelly Brothers, Inc. has launched Goldies™ Sweet Costa Rican Pineapples, its newest trademarked brand. The company has recently completed packing in Costa Rica and has plans to distribute to retailers this summer.
"We did the trademark because growers like that we are building a new, fun brand and marketing program in the U.S. We are building a more customized program for the growers. We are selling whole pineapples to processors now and have plans for retail distribution this summer,” Patrick A. Kelly, President of Kelly Brothers, told AndNowUKnow.
Goldies are grown in Costa Rica year-round on farms from Sarapiqui to San Jose, according to a press release. Its flavor profile is fresh, sweet and has a small part of acid that identifies Costa Rica's premium fruit.
Kelly Brothers hope to add new life in a produce category item that should be fun. “When you think of pineapple you think of the tropics, sun and surf. Just having a great time and just loving life,” Kelly added, and Goldies’ logo was designed to reflect that. “Our new label and box will bring color and excitement to any pineapple display.”
Kelly Brothers will be at the Fresno Food Expo on July 24, 2014 to display its new box designs and some other fun facts about picking pineapples.
Chelan Fresh is providing a more convenient way to enjoy cherries with its Cup O’ Cherries offering. The two-compartment lid now allows consumers to appreciate these healthy stem-free dark, sweet variety of cherries with just one hand. Simply tilt the cup back, take a cherry, and discard the seeds in a specialized compartment on the side of the lid. This helpful packaging makes it easier to bring cherries in the car with no mess. This dark sweet variety comes in an 11 and a half row size and are seasonally grown during the last three of weeks of July and the first week of August in Washington state. Try this unique, on-the-go cherry eating experience. If you’d like to see your product in this video segment, please send samples to 2020 L Street, Suite 320, Sacramento, CA 95811.
WASHINGTON, DC – The USDA has cited Liborio Markets #11 Inc. for failure to pay for produce.
The company failed to pay $189,522 to 11 sellers for 213 lots of produce. As a result of this PACA violation, the company cannot operate in the produce industry until May 2016. At that time, it can reapply for a PACA license, according to a press release.
Enrique J. Alejo, John Alejo, Enrique M. Alejo and Randy B. Alejo-Medina, the company’s principals, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until May 2015, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims filed under PACA involving more than $87 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
ORLANDO, FL - The National Mango Board (NMB) is working closely with key members of the food industry to have more mangos added to foodservice menus.
“Educating the foodservice industry on how simple and fun it is to cook with mangos is key to increasing mango usage in foodservice,” said Megan Mckenna, Director of Marketing at the NMB. “We want to inspire chefs, and consequently consumers, to try mangos in new and exciting ways; mango flavor and texture complement many menu options, the possibilities are endless!”
The NMB has been working on several fronts to promote mango consumption with much success. Its encouragement to food service publications to feature fresh mango products and mango recipes in their Q1 issues resulted in over two million impressions.
The NMB speaks frequently with restaurant chefs about the viability of incorporating mangos into their menus and dishes. As a result of their efforts On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina permanently added Mango Chicken Salad to the menus at its 160 locations. It also puts on in-kitchen demos at restaurant chains across America, such as Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes and California Pizza Kitchen, allowing them to personally showcase the versatility of the mango product.
Another promotions done by the NMB was its Mangover Your Menu Recipe Contest which awarded a grand prize of $1,500 to the person who developed the best mango themed dish. Chef Michael Garahan, chef consultant and child nutrition advocate, won with his Shrimp & Mango Gumbo.
The NMB also plans on attending the The Flavor Experience Conference and Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators Executive Conference to further promote the use of mango products in food.
Keep your eyes open for mangos on a menu near you.
ST. LOUIS, MO - Monsanto is looking to bring America's farms into the age of big data, using technology they acquired in the takeover of The Climate Corporation, a weather mapping firm previously owned by two former Google employees. This wave of innovation however has many farmers and industry leaders questioning the wisdom of integrating farms and big data, raising concerns about whether Monsanto can be trusted to be a responsible steward of this new information.
It starts with FieldScripts, Monsanto's crop analysis database which pairs billions of files of data on seed types and crop yields with historical weather patterns. In much the same way a baseball team's hitting coach might look at weather conditions and a variety of statistics to give his slugger a boost at game time, FieldScripts converts Monsanto's wealth of data into highly specific recommendations on which crops a farmer should plant, in which plots of land, in order to enhance crop yields, according to the Economist. FieldScripts can even specify the exact depth and spacing requirements at which a seed should be planted in order to maximize productivity.
Robert Franley, one of the original developers behind Monsanto's first controversial batch of genetically modified seeds, calls FieldScripts technology “another potential transformation of the company.”
Monsanto is then able to load this data gathered by FieldScripts into their Precision Planting seed drills through a simple iPad app in order to ensure the proper implementation of FieldScript's highly specific recommendations.
So far farmers in only Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Minnesota are able to purchase access to the technology, but already those making use of Monsanto's technology testify that it has increased crop yields by roughly 5% over the previous two years.
Kip Tom for example, a 58 year old farmer working out of Indiana, remarked to Wall Street Journal reporters that after testing Monsanto technology on his farm for the previous 3 years he “would not plant 1 acre without it.”
Not all farmers are as comfortable as Mr. Tom with the implications of Prescriptive Planting however. The American Farm Bureau Federation and many of its members worry about how to define ownership of what many farmers consider highly personal data on their livelihoods and homes.
As Jerry Demmer, a 61-year-old farmer in Minnesota, argues “It's our data...[but] I'm not sure how we're going to protect that.”
There are also concerns that Monsanto could use their FieldScripts technology as an excuse to raise seed prices as they did after the introduction of genetically modified seeds, technology which greatly contributed to the 166% inflation-adjusted price increase of seed since 2005.
Regardless of the controversy of the technology, Monsanto will have to work quickly to secure a hold on emerging Prescriptive Planting market however. A partnership between Du Pont and John Deer as well as the Land O'Lakes farm supply co-op are both working furiously to get their own Precision Planting technologies to market. For now all we can say is that the future of planting in America is beckoning.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for further updates on this developing story.
SACRAMENTO,CA - Last week, the CGTFL hosted its June Board of Directors quarterly meeting in Sacramento with another round of rave reviews and hot topics. The event’s discussions included California water issues (groundwater management, future water supply/availability); AB 1522 – Employment: paid sick days; Heat Illness proposed standard proposed revisions; legislative update on the status of AB 1897 labor contracting: client liability; and an informational update on DLSE interpretation of non-productive time requirements.
The League held a legislative reception, followed by a dinner, on the evening prior to Thursday's Board meeting, at Esquire Grill restaurant. Members of the Board of Directors, as well as League guests, were joined by more than 35 legislators and regulators, including Cal/EPA Secretary Matt Rodriguez and Undersecretary Gordon Burns; Agricultural Labor Relations Board Chair William Gould and Board members Cathryn Rivera Hernandez and Genevieve Shiroma, as well as General Counsel Sylvia Torres-Guillen; Republican Assembly Leader Connie Conway; and State Water Resources Control Board member Dorene "Dee Dee" D'Adamo.
The meeting on Thursday, led by Chairman David Jackson, included the approval of the following companies: trial grower member High & Mighty Farms; and associate members Coldwell Solar, Inc., Shandon Valley Transport Solutions, Best Label Company, Inc., Keystone Fruit & Vegetable Company and Compac Sorting Equipment, Inc.
In addition, the League's 2013/14 FY audited financials were approved by the Board and are available upon request from the board. For any questions in regards to the League's Board of Directors meeting, please contact Director of Membership Megan Jacobsen. [email protected]
Congrats on another successful meeting of industry leaders!
MISSISSAUGA, ON – Wal-Mart Canada has appointed Dirk Van den Berghe as President and CEO. Van den Berghe will begin this role August 1st and will report to Shelley Broader who was promoted to President and CEO of Wal-Mart’s EMEA Region, according to a press release.
"We're very pleased Dirk will be leading Wal-Mart Canada as we celebrate 20 amazing years of saving Canadians money so they can live better," said Ms. Broader. "Under Dirk's leadership, Delhaize has been successful in several countries, and his vast experience will allow us to strengthen our growing food business in Canada and complements our highly-successful general merchandise operation. One of Wal-Mart's greatest strengths is having exceptional leaders to drive our continued growth, and Dirk is a prime example of this talent."
Van den Berghe is bringing 30 years of international experience across Europe, Asia and the United States. He was previously CEO of Delhaize Group’s Belgium and Luxembourg operations.
"Wal-Mart Canada is a remarkable and intensely customer-focused business with a track record of growth and performance," said Mr. Van den Berghe. "I'm honoured to have the privilege to lead this dynamic business and team and serve our customers through Wal-Mart's nearly 400 stores in Canada and its online business walmart.ca. I look forward to working with our 95,000 fantastic Canadian associates to continue to build on this success."
Adding to his international retail background, Van den Berghe has two decades of experience teaching international business at universities across Europe, Asia and the U.S. and more than a decade of experience as an international trade commissioner for the Government of Belgium, according to a press release.
Congratulations on the new role Dirk!