HAWAII COUNTY, HI - GMO Papaya growers in Hawaii County can breathe easy in the aftermath of Judge Greg Nakamura's judicial injunction preventing the public disclosure of the location of their farms. The court battle started when two growers, Ross Sibucao and a second unnamed plaintiff, sued Hawaii County arguing that the disclosure requirement would unfairly expose them to vandalism and economic damages.
The registry requirement being challenged in court is just a part of a larger law which Hawaii County adopted last December banning the open-air use and testing of GMO crops. Margaret Wille, the Kohala Councilwoman who authored this legislation, told reporters at West Hawaii Today that she was satisfied with Judge Nakamura's decision.
“It addresses the concerns without undermining the right-to-know laws,” she said.
Since its passage, the ban of open-air GMO crops has been incredibly controversial in Hawaii. Judge Nakamura's injunction will be in effect for a 30 day period while a larger lawsuit works its way through the U.S. District Court in Honolulu. This lawsuit challenges the broader question of whether or not Hawaii County had the legal authority itself to ban the open-air growing of GMO crops and is certainly a battle Hawaii growers will be closely following.
For updates on this story stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
MOSES LAKE, WA – In a surprising and frankly somewhat puzzling turn of events, Washington State Potato Commission Director Chris Voigt has found himself in the midst of a scandal because of his support of U.S. congressional candidate Dan Newhouse. After looking into the matter, Voigt seems to done nothing and yet he is currently being investigated by the Washington State Executive Ethics Board over accusations that he used state tax funded resources to support Newhouse's political run. Allegedly Voigt sent politically themed emails from his Potato Commission account and used a company car to deliver campaign signs.
Tim Kovis, Newhouse's campaign manager characterized the accusations as a pathetic example of “flinging mud everywhere and praying some of it sticks...Chris is a volunteer and the campaign had an understanding with him that he would support Dan with his own time and resources."
Voigt argues that this is exactly what he did. He points out that he could not have even used state resources to aid Newhouse because the Potato Commission is not a state owned enterprise.
“All potato commission assets are owned by the potato growers, not the state,” Voigt said in a statement. “Our building, our computers, our pens and pencils, any intellectual property [are] all owned by the potato growers, not the State of Washington...The potato growers of Washington own the domain name ‘potatoes.com.’ This is not state property, and any e-mails were sent during my personal time.”
As for the company car he allegedly used to deliver campaign materials, Voigt explains that the cars were not purchased with state resources and were owned by the Potato Commission.
“A deduction is taken out of my paycheck every pay period for some personal use of the Potato Commission vehicle,” he said.
The trouble started for Voigt when Dan Newhouse's political opponent Clint Didier released a series of emails Voigt allegedly sent using his Potato Commission email, although it has not been confirmed that these are the same emails which the Ethics Board is investigating Voigt for. Didier's Campaign Manager Larry Stickney wants to go so far as to bring the matter to the attention of the Federal Election Commission.
“We’re consulting with an attorney about it,” he said. “Nationwide, these type of groups have become more politically active … We believe they are out of line.”
According to iFiberOne News, if found to have committed an impropriety, Voigt could face up to a $5,000 fine per violation. If what Voigt says is true however, it would be surprising if this matter is ever allowed to get that far.
Whatever is decided in the end, you can count on AndNowUKnow to bring you the news as it breaks.
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Harry Stigter, Nature Fresh Farms Grower, joins AndNowUKnow to discuss the company’s growing processes and environmental protections. From heating to technology and water recycling to biologicals, Nature Fresh is working from day one to ensure the best quality produce out of its 30 acres of TOVs, 66 acres of peppers, and 30 acres of specialty tomatoes.
BANCROFT, WI – RPE is continuing its partnership with Chef Joey Elenterio for a third year. Elenterio has developed a signature dish featuring Tasteful Selections potatoes for the PMA Foodservice Chef Demo Lunch on Saturday, July 26.
“It’s always a joy to work with a product you love,” said Chef Elenterio. “Potatoes are already fun and versatile to cook with, but the great flavor and small, uniform sizes of Tasteful Selections take it to another level.”
Chef Elenterio’s latest creation to showcase Tasteful Selections is his Simply Amazing Baby Potato Salad that incorporates fresh vegetables, lots of color and a bit of kick, according to a press release.
“Four years into our adventure with Tasteful Selections, we are always excited to see what new ideas Chef Joey has for our potatoes,” said Russell Wysocki, President and CEO of RPE. “His cooking embodies the creativity and healthy choices we want our potatoes to inspire.”
Chef Elenterio is currently executive chef at Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco. He received 1 Michelin Star in both 2011 and 2012 during his tenure as executive chef at Chez TJ in Mountain View, California, and has been honored in Zagat’s 30 Under 30 and with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Rising Star Chef award, according to a press release.
The dish will be presented at the Foodservice Chef Demo Lunch on Saturday, July 26 and will be at Booth 58 at the PMA Foodservice Expo. Tasteful Selections bite-sized potatoes and RPE’s full line of potato category products will be on display at the exposition on Sunday, July 27, at booth number 58.
WATSONVILLE, CA - As produce departments fill with the latest fruit and vegetables of the season, Well-Pict Berries is welcoming its first year of production on two new proprietary strawberry varieties. The 9271 and 3108 varieties are exclusive to Well-Pict’s Watsonville, California growing operations and are presenting excellent quality and consistent supply as the harvest continues through the summer.
"These two new proprietary strawberries offer high flavor profiles, light and fresh berry aroma as well as large berry size with a firm conical shape and large shoulders. Great skin integrity and color make them a great item for produce departments,” Dan Crowley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, tells us.
Typically, Well-Pict’s Watsonville harvest winds down around October when the shorter days take over from the dog days of summer and inclement weather comes over the horizon. At this point, the company transitions to Oxnard where it will be harvesting its Fall crop proprietary 4053 strawberry. But, stay tuned for a twist.
“For Well-Pict’s Spring crop, variety 269 has really been our tried-and-true workhorse variety and as we continue to invest in R&D. Next year, we will be introducing two new proprietary varieties to Oxnard. The 324 and 3024 include the same high flavor profiles and are very complimentary to each other. Variety 324 comes in early and paves the way for 3204,” Dan notes.
Next year, the company plans to have a 100% split in acreage throughout its Oxnard operations.
Well-Pict’s variety development begins with choosing the perfect “parent” plants. Tens of thousands of unique seedlings are evaluated each year as the company searches for the finest in flavor and size, color and shine, and even the best in performing against pests and disease. New varieties are “fingerprinted” and patented for future identification. Over a four-year period, a single seedling becomes millions of identical disease-free plants.
For more than 40 years, Well-Pict and its partner farms have been overseen by knowledgeable growers who employ only expertly trained field crews and the latest technologies.
Congrats, Well-Pict, on your newest additions to the berry category!
VANCOUVER, BC - Oppy, the provider of delicious New Zealand JAZZ Apples, is stepping up to the plate with its Crunch to Contribute fundraiser, a social media campaign which will leverage the great appearance and flavor JAZZ apples in order to raise money for diabetes prevention. Apple lovers looking to do their part can upload a photo of an Oppy JAZZ apple to this site. For every apple picture uploaded, Oppy will be contributing a $1 donation to either the American or Canadian Diabetes Association.
“New Zealand JAZZ apples are exciting consumers’ taste buds while engaging their hearts,” said David Nelley, Apple and Pear Category Director for Oppy. “A fresh, crunchy JAZZ apple is an incredibly refreshing summer snack. And with a few quick clicks, people can post a fun photo while helping others.”
This is a cause close to the Canadian based grower's heart, especially considering that nearly 7% of Canadians suffer from diabetes. According to a press release, that number is even worse in the United States where 10% of all residents are affected by the disease.
In light of these stark numbers, Nelley took care to explain that “regular physical activity and healthy eating are important for all of us, particularly those at risk of or living with diabetes. JAZZ apples can help in several ways. Being high in fiber, they add a healthy benefit to snacks and recipes. And through Crunch to Contribute, we can make funds available for investment in programs that support people living with diabetes and may help curb the growth rate of the disease in the future.”
Oppy's Crunch to Contribute campaign will last until the end of September, and it hopes to raise $20,000 for diabetes prevention in that time. Consumers looking to get more involved are encouraged to spread the word through their social media channels and of course to keep snapping those pictures!
TEWKSBURY, MA - It feels like Market Basket has been a newsroom fixture ever since Arthur S. Demoulas organized the ouster of his cousin and much beloved Market Basket President and CEO, Arthur T. Demoulas last month. This week is no exception with news breaking that Market Basket workers have issued a new set of demands to the company's new CEOs Felicia Thornton and Jim Gooch. They have made it clear that they expect an answer by Thursday, July 17th at 4:30pm.
According to the Boston Herald, the list of demands read:
- Bring Arthur T. Demoulas "back with full authority, non-negotiable
- A non-answer will be considered a no.
- A group meeting must be held by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, informing us of your decision.
- We will not work for anyone but [Arthur T. Demoulas].”
Thornton and Gooch released a joint statement in the wake of the news saying, “This morning, several employees informed us that they require an answer on their demands by the end of day tomorrow. When we attempted to acknowledge their concern and respond on the status of the request, these employees instead left the meeting. We also are aware of a memo they issued, although it was not immediately given to us by these employees. This behavior is not appropriate nor is it in keeping with Market Basket’s culture of respect.”
Appropriate or not, the protesting employees are committed to their cause. They have already posted protest signs in and outside of the company's headquarters in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, according to the Boston Globe. So far, they have not informed the press about what their plans are if Thornton and Gooch refuse to give in to their demands, but a statement from Tom Gordon, a Market Basket manager with 39 years of experience with the company, may hint at it...
“They can’t run this company without the team at headquarters,” he said.
With emotions this high on all sides, there's no telling what may come next. No matter what happens however you can count on AndNowUKnow to keep you updated on any developments, so stay tuned.
Also, if you'd like to read about the events that lead up to this powder-keg of a situation, you can check out our previous articles here and here.
ATLANTA, GA – Competition in the Atlanta grocery market continues to grow. Last week, Instacart added Whole Foods Market to its grocery delivery services there.
Instacart delivery is also expanding its services to Smyrna, Vinings, Cabbagetown, Reynoldstown, Sandy Springs, and Dunwoody as well as parts of East Atlanta.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Instacart users in Atlanta can now order groceries from Costco, Kroger and Whole Foods and have them delivered in as little as one hour. Interestingly, you do not have to be a Costco member to order from Costco through the service.
Instacart is currently offering new users a free delivery on their first order of $10 or more. Taking a line from Amazon Prime, Instacart also offers Instacart Express, an annual $99 membership that gives free delivery on all orders of $35 or more.
Atlanta is the latest addition to the new markets in which Instacart is currently operating.
Adding more competition to the market, Sprouts Farmers Market continues its growth in the Atlanta area with the grand opening of its second store there. This is just one of the markets that Sprouts plans to grow
Sprouts may increase its store count by as much as 14% yearly, which means it would reach the 1,200 stores it forecast within about 15 years. The CEO noted, expanding to as many as 1,500 stores isn’t out of the question in that time and that growth will come from building stores rather than through takeovers. For more information on Sprouts’ planned expansions, check out our previous story by clicking here.
UNITED KINGDOM – A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows that organic crops contain up to 60% more antioxidants than conventionally grown ones.
Newcastle University led a team of international experts in this study. They analyzed 343 peer-reviewed studies on the compositional differences between organic and conventional crops. A press release from Newcastle University said that the team discovered a change to eating organic fruit, vegetables and cereals or foods made from them provide additional antioxidants equivalent to eating between 1-2 extra portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
The study also shows significantly lower levels of toxic heavy metals in organic crops. Cadmium, one of only three metal contaminants which the European Commission has set maximum permitted contamination levels in food, has almost 50% lower levels in organic crops.
Newcastle University’s Professor Carlo Leifert, who led the study, says, “This study demonstrates that choosing food produced according to organic standards can lead to increased intake of nutritionally desirable antioxidants and reduced exposure to toxic heavy metals. This constitutes an important addition to the information currently available to consumers which until now has been confusing and in many cases is conflicting.”
The researchers also found pesticide residues were three to four times less likely in organic foods. Charles Benbrook, a Washington State University researcher and the lone American co-author of the study, said, “This study is telling a powerful story of how organic plant-based foods are nutritionally superior and deliver bona fide health benefits.”
The Newcastle release also states that these results contradict those of a 2009 UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissioned study that found no substantial differences or significant nutritional benefits from organic food. The FSA study made its conclusions on only 46 publications about crops, meat and dairy, while Newcastle based its data from 343 peer-reviewed publications on composition differences between organic and conventional crops.
Professor Leifert, Professor of Ecological Agriculture at Newcastle University, said, “The main difference between the two studies is time. Research in this area has been slow to take off the ground and we have far more data available to us now than five years ago.”
Additionally, Dr. Gavin Stewart, a Lecturer in Evidence Synthesis and the meta-analysis expert in the Newcastle team, added, “The much larger evidence base available in this synthesis allowed us to use more appropriate statistical methods to draw more definitive conclusitions regarding the differences between organic and conventional crops.”
The authors of this study welcome the continued public and scientific debate on this important subject. The entire database generated and used for this analysis is freely available on the Newcastle University website for the benefit of other experts and interested members of the public.
UNITED STATES - Telekensis and mind reading sound more like something out of the Jetsons than the modern retail market, but some exciting new technologies from companies like Neurosky and Emotiv are already making it a reality, one with some incredible possible retail applications.
Tan Le, Emotiv's CEO, showcased what her company's new tech could do in a interview since posted online. Even with the technology in its infancy, you can watch her move a toy car with nothing but her mind.
"I actually imagine a blue cube," she explained when asked about the thought process behind moving this toy car. "I imagine moving this little cube into the distance. That trigger is sent to the car and it drives it forward."
What does a toy car have to do with retail? Instead of a car imagine an employee navigating an unmanned forklift through a warehouse, or a grower plowing their field with a riderless, thought-powered farm plow. Imagine a customer needing assistance reaching something on a high-up shelf and a manager, from the other end of the store, effortlessly assisting them within seconds. Telekenetic-like techology, if advanced to this state, and Tan Le is very confident that this is possible, promises to increase worker safety, boost efficiency, and lead to ever better levels of customer support and satisfaction.
Emotiv isn't the only company on the market for thought-powered tech however. Applications are already being developed for Google's latest rollout, Google Glass, which are able to actually read customer's brainwaves, and assess their level of concentration or interest by analyzing them. MindRDR is one such app that harnesses this kind of tech to allow Google Glass wearers to take pictures with nothing but their thoughts.
Imagine now for a second a Google Glass wearer walking though a supermarket and pausing next to a pumpkin display. It's near Thanksgiving and the pumpkins catch their eye. A retail oriented Google Glass app could hone in on this brain activity and perhaps prompt the wearer with a store promotion for the product they might not know about, or perhaps a personalized savings deal, or even a pumpkin pie recipie that could further incentive a purchase. The possibilities are truly endless.
To learn more about where the industry could be going with these types of technologies be sure to stay tuned to ANUK. We'll keep you updated.