KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO - Continuing to expand and enhance the company’s greenhouse operations, SUNSET® Produce recently wrapped up Phase II construction of its Coldwater Farms operations. The completed phase doubles the footprint of Coldwater Farms to 60 acres.
“The ability to grow fresh tomatoes in the middle of winter is something we are very proud of,” stated CEO Paul Mastronardi. “The location of Coldwater means we can pick, pack and ship the freshest possible tomatoes in the same day. This means we continue to deliver the highest flavor possible while also reducing food miles.”
With the new addition, Coldwater Farms will soon become a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program-verified farm in recognition of SUNSET’s environmental initiatives.
The Coldwater operations grow SUNSET® TOV and grape tomatoes 365 days a year. Open since 2012, this state of the art greenhouse uses advanced technology including energy curtains and grow lights to provide fresh, innovative flavors all year round. SUNSET® recently planted TOV, beefsteak and Angel Sweet™ plants in Phase II, with the first harvest slated for October in about 7 weeks. The new addition also features a diffused glass ceiling, which evenly distributes sunlight throughout Coldwater Farms.
“The diffused glass is pretty incredible because it’s simple but so efficient. When sunlight hits it, it gets distributed at different angles to cover the greenhouse with more light,” Christopher Gill, Director of Greenhouse Operations, states. “This means that plants are more exposed to sunlight and take in more CO2, which contributes to increased growth and better quality fruit year round. Anywhere you stand in the greenhouse you’ll never see your shadow.”
Similar to Phase I, Phase II includes automated harvest carts for efficient and ergonomic harvesting, the use of recycled water and fertilizer, and a rainwater irrigation system, according to a press release. The Coldwater operation’s strategic location contributes to SUNSET’s Green Grass Project™ by decreasing the amount of food miles and delivering fresh and flavorful product to the U.S. Midwest all year round.
Look for Michigan grown tomatoes at retailers across the Midwest.
Congratulations, SUNSET® Produce, on your continued growth and evolution!
CINCINNATI, OH – Rumors are building that Kroger could be contemplating a Market Basket acquisition. Considering that Kroger doesn't yet have a New England presence despite being the largest supermarket chain in the United States, a Market Basket purchase could make a lot of sense for the retailer. Doing so would instantly establish a strong foothold for Kroger in the region, something which CEO Rodney McMullen might find highly appealing.
The question is would Kroger be willing to consider a deal of this magnitude so soon after finishing its biggest acquisition in the last decade in purchasing Harris Teeter last January. This $2.5 billion deal already added 227 stores to Kroger's ledger. Would McMullen want to add more so soon?
Steve Watkins, a reporter for the Cincinnati Business Courier had a chance to ask McMullen exactly this question at Kroger's annual business meeting last June. His answer revealed that Kroger wouldn't be opposed to the idea of another acquisition, at least in principle.
“If some merger opportunity came up, in all likelihood we’d look at it,” McMullen said. “We’re always looking to grow.”
As AndNowUKnow has previously covered, if Kroger did enter the fray, its biggest competition would come from Market Basket's former President and CEO Arthur T. Demoulas whose latest $1.5 billion offer currently enjoys frontrunner status in talks.
Many however, including myself, wonder if Kroger might step in and take that title from Demoulas.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for further updates on the Market Basket situation as the news breaks.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA – The Allen Lund Company is continuing to support the ALS Association through donations and the Ice Bucket Challenge.
The company has raised more than $5,000 and has completed over 25 Ice Bucket Challenges between departments and offices with more donations to come. Check out Allen Lund Company’s Marketing Director, Nora Trueblood, taking the challenge below:
Allen Lund, CEO and President of the Allen Lund Company, said, "We want to thank so many in our company for taking part in the Ice Bucket Challenge. The participation has been impressive and the donations have been honorable. We have been blessed with so much, it is important to give back."
As of Tuesday, August 26, the ALS Association has received $88.5 million in donations compared to $2.6 million during the same time period last year. These donations have come from existing donors as well as 1.9 million new donors.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The USDA has lifted PACA reparation sanctions on Watermelons Inc.
The Howell, New Jersey-based company may now continue operating in the produce industry after applying for and receiving a PACA license. Charles F. Pagano was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee, according to a press release.
Watermelons Inc. was formerly restricted from operating in the produce industry on August 14, 2014 for failing to pay a $19,318 award in favor of a North Carolina seller. Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals.
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.
Just the other day, I saw a Facebook Messenger notification come up from my boss on my smartphone, but it wasn’t a plain old text message. It was a call from Canada! I knew international calls were expensive, so I was surprised to see him call while he was traveling abroad. I asked him about it, and it turns out you can make international phone calls for free over Wi-Fi through Facebook Messenger! Here’s how you can do it too:
1) Download Facebook Messenger
If you haven’t already, download Facebook Messenger for free via the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
2) Choose who you want to call
Tap on “People” and scroll through your contacts list to see who’s available. In order for the call to go through free of charge, the other party must have Facebook Messenger installed, must have their phone number connected on their Facebook profile (see note below), and must be friends with you on Facebook. If you are not listed as friends and they have Facebook Messenger installed, you can still contact them through the app, but charges may still apply.
3) Dial
Tap on the person you want to call. After your selection, you should see a phone icon on the upper right of the screen. If it’s blue, tap on the icon and it’ll automatically give the person a call. If it’s grayed out, that person may not satisfy the conditions listed above in the previous step.
Note: To add your phone number to your Facebook profile, click on Settings while in the app. Tap “Edit” on the top left, and then add your phone number. Facebook will ask to verify your phone number, but after that’s done, you will have successfully added it to the app.
If you find yourself traveling internationally, this feature is another great way to contact friends, family, and business colleagues for free. I know I’ll be using it in the future.
NOGALES, AZ – The Governing Board of the Nogales Port Authority has reported substantial increases in traffic and overall commercial value of trade through the Port of Mariposa.
Bruce Bracker, Chairman of the Board of the Nogales Port Authority says that the dollar value of trade through the port is estimated at $20-$25 billion for 2011 and $30-$35 billion in 2014, according to a press release. This represents an increase of 50-75% in value.
"The growth in the dollar value of trade can be attributed to the continued increase in trade in high-value goods through the border in sectors such as aerospace, the automotive industry, and mining," said Hector Suarez, President of the Nogales Association of Customs Brokers.
American Customs reports show that the truck traffic volume has also increased. The volume of commercial traffic grew about 13% over a five year period, from 276,8777 trucks in 2009 to 311,669 trucks in 2013.
"In the next 10 years, the expansion of the international port will continue to contribute to the tremendous growth of our community," said Nils Urman, representing the Office of Community Development of Nogales. Urman is also a board member for Nogales Economic Development and Tourism and board member of the Nogales-Santa Cruz County Foundation for Economic Development, according to a press release.
"The increase in personnel at the port, together with the Mexican infrastructure investment will complement the investment made by the United States in our port and accelerate trade. Trading opportunities are both north and south, and we continue to see increases in export trade to Mexico," Urman added.
The state of Arizona is also maximizing on the importance of growth trends at the port by investing in the Road Map of Border Communities project, whose mission is to identify, prioritize, and advance policy and strategic action resulting in a roadmap for developing a thriving Arizona border region. For more information on that project, click here.
"We in the economic development of the community of Santa Cruz County, Arizona support the state's commitment to this process. We are encouraged by the project roadmap, which recognizes the importance of trade between the United States and Mexico in border communities, where Nogales is 85% of trade between Arizona and Mexico, or the equivalent of $42 billion of trade in the state during 2013," Urman said.
With yearly trade increases becoming the trend, the Mariposa Port will definitely be one to keep an eye on.
VENTURA, CA – LINKFRESH has been selected to provide field to fork whole chain management by Alsum Farms & Produce, a Wisconsin based grower, packer and shipper of potatoes and onions, through the Microsoft Dynamics® LINKFRESH ERP solution.
“We carefully monitor every aspect of our product from field to fork; from seed selection and planting, through growing and harvesting, to quality control and delivery. We need our information and management systems to mirror these critical processes and procedures to provide the same level of detail and accuracy in our business management data. LINKFRESH ERP will provide us with the desired end to end whole chain solution specific to our industry, on the solid foundation of the Microsoft Dynamics technology,” said Jan Braaksma, CFO for Alsum Farms & Produce.
This will be a single phase project where the LINKFRESH solution is deployed to 40 users at the Wisconsin headquarters and will include Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 and the compete LINKFRESH ERP Suite from forecast demand, sales, supply, processing and logistics, to mobile warehousing, quality control and traceability, according to a press release.
Alsum Farms & Produce is a national distributor of potatoes and onions as well as a year-round distributor of over 600 types of fresh fruits and vegetables. The project has an expected completion date of Spring 2015.
ALASKA - If tales about 138lb cabbages, 65lb cantaloupes, and 35lb broccoli stalks sound far fetched to you, let me introduce you to the growers who put these produce giants on display at the Alaskan State Fair.
It's "definitely a freak show," the Alaskan State Fair's Crop Superintendent Kathy Liska told NPR. "Some things [are so big], you can't even recognize what they are."
What makes these veggies so massive you ask? A big part of the answer is the highly unique growing conditions created by Alaska's climate. Steven Brown, an Agricultural Agent at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, explained that Alaskan growers enjoy 20 hours a day of sunlight during the summer months. This gives Alaskan produce a longer photosynthesis window each day, resulting in more plant material and a sweeter taste.
"People often try our carrots here, and they think we've put sugar on them," Brown said.
Scott Robb, the grower who holds the largest cabbage record and 4 other world records for his produce, says that its not just a matter of climate however.
"Let's face it: You're not going to win the Kentucky Derby with a mule or a Shetland pony," says Robb. "If you don't have the right genetic material, you're never going to achieve that ultimate goal...If you were to go visit somebody who was growing a giant veggie for this fair, I think the thing that what would impress you is how much science and technology goes into this."
Of course in typical Alaskan fashion, there's also the matter of protecting the vegetables from the hungry gaze of a wandering moose. According to Brown he spent several sleepless nights guarding his cabbage plants from the creatures before constructing an electrified fence to keep them out. And I thought crows and pests were bad enough!
According to NPR there are two rounds of crop competitions in the Alaskan State Fair, with separate contests for pumpkins and cabbages. Grand prize winners are afterward donated to the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center.
AndNowUKnow would like to thank photographer Clark James Mishler and the Alaskan State Fair for generously allowing us to use these images in our story.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Four PACA violators in Florida, Texas, and Washington have been restricted from operating in the produce industry, according to a USDA press release.
Top Service Brokers, a Miami, FL based company, failed to pay a $13,678 award in favor of a Virginia seller. Bivieti Barrios was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
Patel Distributors, a Mission, TX based company, failed to pay a $5,256 award in favor of a New York seller. Farhan Mohammed was listed as a member of the business.
Oziel Trevino, operating as Diversity Produce, a Hidalgo, TX based company, failed to pay a $9,280 award in favor of a Texas seller. Oziel Trevino was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
Cry Baby Foods, a Royal City, WA based company, failed to pay a $245,045 award in favor of a North Dakota seller. Kelsee L. Shearer and Aaron K. Shearer were listed as members of the business.
In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims under the PACA involving more than $87 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed 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.
KAUAI, HI - U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren has overturned a Hawaii GMO regulatory law, Ordinance 960, on the grounds that it was preempted by state laws. The law which would have gone into effect in early October would have required farming and seed companies to disclose the pesticides used in their operations and created a buffer zone between the fields and homes, medical facilities, schools, parks, public roadways, shorelines and waterways.
Many Hawaiian growers who argued that the Ordinance placed "burdensome and baseless restrictions" on business are applauding this decision. Not all parties are as happy about this turn of events however.
"This issue is far from over," said Gary Hooser, the Kauai Council Member who co-introduced Ordinance 960. "One opinion from one federal magistrate does not settle the issue."
"By denying Kauai's law, the judge undermined efforts to create more transparency and more protections for farmers, workers and families from hazardous pesticides," agreed Paul Towers, Spokesman for the Pesticide Action Network.
According to the Wall Street Journal, over 11,000 acres of farmland have been leased by agribusiness companies for test farms and research facilities on the island of Kauai due to it's excellent year-round growing conditions.
As of this point, no appeal of Judge Kurren's ruling has yet been filed.