SALINAS, CA - They say that life imitates art, and nowhere is that more true than in the fresh produce industry. Many of the biggest fruit and veg players have likened their craft to that of a painter or sculptor. Moxxy Marketing has exemplified this philosophy through its products, recently being honored with a silver Davey Award from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA). The award was specifically earned by Moxxy’s work on the Peterson Farms Treats brand of sliced apples and apple sauce for school foodservice programs.
"We’re always suggesting ways to help our clients increase consumption of fruits and vegetables. Utilizing packaging to inspire interest is a great strategy, and these bag and lid designs engage students and encourage them to eat more healthy snacks," said Karen Nardozza, President and CEO. "We love when our clients are open to stand-out packaging, and our clients love the results."
Moxxy developed a line of whimsical sliced apple bag designs for school lunchrooms to feature throughout the year including winter, back-to-school, autumn, spring, and patriotic themes, among others. As part of the packaging program, Moxxy also developed an apple character named "Corey," who changes appearances with each theme, according to a press release. An extensive line of flavored apple sauce packages complements the sliced-apple bag designs, with Corey appearing alongside other fruit characters such as mixed berries, strawberry-banana, and watermelon. The agency’s designs were selected from more than 4,000 entries to this acclaimed annual awards competition.
"Our customers and their students have so much fun with Corey!" shared Sarah Schlukebir, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Peterson Farms. "Our customers appreciate how customizable the packaging is—new themes and designs are created throughout the school year, and unique designs have been created for some school districts—plus students love seeing what’s next for Corey while they eat more fruit with their lunches."
Brand leadership, customer satisfaction, and increased sales are the ultimate measure of successful results, and awards help recognize how smart strategy is realized through great design. Moxxy has received numerous awards from national and international competitions for its work on packaging, websites, brochures, and other sales collateral, tradeshow exhibits, and marketing materials. Prior awards have recognized design and communication excellence for bags, clamshell labels, and display-ready cartons (DRCs) for Josie’s Organics; wine labels for Paraiso Vineyards; and mini sweet pepper bags and DRCs for Uesugi Farms.
The Davey Awards are presented and judged by AIVA, a 600+ member trade organization focused on honoring creativity, facilitating the exchange of new ideas and trends, and promoting innovations in communications and design thinking. AIVA’s members are visual arts professionals hailing from a wide range of acclaimed media, communications, advertising, and marketing firms.
Congratulations to Moxxy Marketing on this incredible honor!
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - North Bay Produce, Inc. is encouraging its team members to put the pedal to the metal—of an elliptical. The produce provider is ready to face the New Year with new, healthy habits, and it’s encouraging its employees to do the same.
North Bay Produce has begun promoting its on-site gym, and has developed a wellness program that features healthy recipes using the company’s fresh produce.
“We are blessed to bring to market amazing fruits and vegetables every day,” Regional Marketing Manager, Sharon Robb, said. “When developing recipes, I love that I can focus on our fresh ingredients, making them the star of each dish. This sets the tone for a healthier finished recipe along with offering a serving (or two) of fresh fruits and vegetables!”
North Bay Produce has created a series of healthy recipes that feature fresh produce and dried fruit from the company, a press release states. The recipes inspire employees and consumers to come up with new ideas on how to use fresh produce, which is also an excellent way to showcase North Bay Produce products.
The provider’s new headquarters, built in 2017, also includes a full on-site gym and locker room, complete with individual showers. Having access to an on-site gym encourages employees to use the equipment, because it is so convenient.
“I love having access to a gym and locker room facilities at our office. It makes it so convenient to work out, and I can even squeeze in a workout on my lunch break,” Sarah Quackenbush, Sales & Export, commented.
In addition to the exercise equipment, North Bay Produce is encouraging its employees to get active and join its fitness challenge. The initiative challenges team members to be active at least twice a week for 30 minutes each session. The challenge runs from February 1 through April 30, and it will be promoted across the company’s social media platforms. To keep everyone motivated, employees are encouraged to send photos of their workout—pictures scenery, the gym, and fitness classes have all been shared.
The challenge is intended to provide a good starting point for keeping the company’s employees healthy and happy—North Bay Produce values its team members’ health and wellness above all else.
IRVINE, CA - When Amazon began teasing a new, separate-from-Whole Foods brick-and-mortar concept, the industry was understandably intrigued. Then last fall, the retailer confirmed the new concept and revealed further details about the Amazon Fresh format, along with several proposed locations. Now, Amazon has made major strides in Irvine, California, to cement its spot in the city as the first stage of growth for the fresh-forward format.
Amazon had previously secured a lease in the area, as well as several others throughout the state, including Woodland Hills, Studio City, Orange; and is actively scouting for locations in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The leases allow Amazon flexibility in the design of the new stores, The Wall Street Journal reported, with permission to make changes to the facade, electrical system, light fixtures, fire sprinklers, and an expansive kitchen.
However, according to The Mercury News, Amazon has been quickly moving forward with the Irvine location, recently applying for a liquor license, though the retailer would not comment on the development of the site.
What will be the next step in Amazon Fresh’s planned expansions? And will this commitment to a fresh-focused store create more opportunities for suppliers in the area? Keep reading AndNowUKnow for more updates
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Back in August, Meijer announced that it would open a new, smaller format store called Woodward Corner Market. Set to open in Royal Oak, Michigan, the new format was touted as having a focus on fresh, local, and convenient foods. The company recently made an update to that report, claiming that the new store has officially opened, measuring up to its rumored 41,000 square feet.
"At Meijer, we are committed to being a good neighbor," Executive Chairman Hank Meijer said. "We are excited to join the innovative Woodward Corners by Beaumont commercial development and share our newest fresh market with the community."
According to a press release, this is the first small format store opened by Meijer in the Metro Detroit area. In addition to a fresher focus on food, the new store will only offer sustainable bag alternatives that are made to be reused up to 125 times.
"We've been looking forward to offering our new, local grocery store for quite some time," Store Manager Natalie Rubino said. "Woodward Corner Market is unique, and our team has been hard at work to ensure we have the best products on our shelves to meet the community's needs."
The market's first day of business featured a ribbon-cutting event with comments from Rubino, Meijer, Royal Oak City Commissioner Patricia Paruch, and Beaumont Health Chief Operating Officer Carolyn Wilson. The market also demonstrated its commitment to the community by awarding $5,000 donations to three community organizations: Yad Ezra, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, and the Royal Oak Youth Assistance.
The store offers a wide assortment of fresh and prepared foods, as well as an expansive international food aisle with eight ethnic backgrounds, including Middle Eastern, kosher, Hispanic, European, and Asian foods. Featuring open-air elements with 25-foot ceilings and a pedestrian-friendly design, the Woodward store also has an outdoor fresh produce and floral area to operate in warmer months. It is the largest tenant in the Woodward Corners by Beaumont commercial development.
"We knew it was important to have a grocery store in this development for our patients, families, staff, and, of course, our neighbors. We were impressed by this neighborhood market concept. We love that Meijer has committed to filling its shelves with local fresh and healthy products. That local connection was so important to us," Wilson commented.
Where will Meijer’s small concept be touching down next? Follow along with us at AndNowUKnow as we report on the latest.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously announced it had imposed sanctions on Texas produce company, RR & Tequila Limes LLC, under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) for unpaid produce transactions. The company has now satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $11,600 issued under PACA, and the sanctions imposed on RR & Tequila Limes LLC have been lifted.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The McAllen, Texas, company has met its obligations and is now free to operate in the produce industry. Victor Rivera was listed as a member of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. The USDA is required to suspend the license on a business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, the USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals.
The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 7,800 callers with issues valued at approximately $148 million. These are just two examples of how the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For further information, contacts, and to read the press release in its entirety, please check out the link here.
OXNARD, CA - Sustainability is no longer a buzzword in the fresh produce industry. Instead, it’s a crucial part of growers’ way of life and retail and foodservice operators’ way of business. For the industry, this ensures that there is a community of growers, buyers, and sellers of fresh produce for years to come. For Gills Onions, this encourages its team to constantly learn and evolve in ways that will preserve the earth and its health for many years down the road.
“Our commitment to sustainability is more than a decade old now. But one thing we’ve realized is if you think you are 100 percent sustainable, well, you’ve missed the whole point,” Megan Jacobsen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, told me. “There needs to be a continual conversation about sustainable practices. For Gills Onions, our sustainability story starts before the seed even reaches the ground.”
Gills Onions has undergone a multitude of initiatives to ensure its operations as a whole are sustainable. This has included implementing regenerative agriculture practices—which Whole Foods Market predicted would trend in 2020.
“How growers treat the soil is very important. When we feed our bodies fresh fruit and vegetables, we’re less likely to get sick—and the same thing goes for the soil. When you’re feeding the soil the right nutrients at the right time, you grow a really strong plant, the likelihood of root growth accumulates, and you have more healthy plants that are robust and reliable,” Megan explained. “In addition, healthy soil helps water and land conservation programs. We’re aiming to grow more onions on less land, with robust root systems helping us use less water, as well.”
A highlight of Gills Onions sustainability program is Onion Power. The company's plant can process up to a million pounds of raw onions each day, creating an average of 150 tons of onion waste. In collaboration with innovators across the United States, including UC Davis, Gills Onions developed and launched the Advanced Energy Recovery System (AERS) in 2009, which converts onion waste into ultra-clean, virtually emissions-free electricity. The AERS provides the equivalent of enough power to supply 460 homes for an entire year. It also eliminates 14,500 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions each year.
“Each day at Gills Onions, we are learning more about sustainable ag practices and how we can protect the environment. By nurturing the land where our farmers grow our onions and conserving our resources, Gills is able to consistently produce onions of the highest quality without compromising valuable resources,” Megan added.
And, these days, you can’t have too long of a conversation about sustainability without solar popping up—another sustainable solution Gills Onions has incorporated into its operations.
As more growers follow in the footsteps of Gills Onions, AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the produce’s biggest sustainability pioneers.
MONTEREY, CA - The year has only just started, but the calendar is already filling up with events and shows to bring leaders of the produce world together. Come July, the fifth annual Organic Produce Summit is set to take place in Monterey, California. The lineup for this year’s festivities already looks to be an event to remember.
First up on the itinerary is the educational seminar featuring Steve Lutz, Senior Vice President of Insights and Innovation for Category Partners, and Laura Batcha, Organic Trade Association’s President. Tonya Antle, Co-Founder of the Organic Produce Network, will be moderating the Organic Fresh Produce Sales Data and Analysis session.
Lutz will update OPS attendees on the latest organic retail sales data, analysis, and trends while providing an overview of increased sales opportunities.
“How are consumers aligning their increased demand for organic fresh produce into actual purchases at the store? What are the key purchase barriers and ways to convert potential customers into consistent buyers? We will explore the trends and opportunities that lie ahead for all OPS attendees,” Lutz said.
Organic Trade Association’s President Laura Batcha will also be discussing research done in conjunction with the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) on messaging to organic customers. She will also be touching on the development of a toolkit for organic industry members to use based on the findings of the research.
“As organic fresh produce sales continue to grow and outpace conventional produce sales, there is outstanding information and data to be shared among OPS attendees on where opportunities for further growth lie, as well as areas where new customer acquisition can come from,” said Antle.
The fifth annual OPS's exhibition space is already sold out, according to a press release. This year, 152 of North America’s organic fresh produce growers, shippers, and processors exhibiting their products to over 250 retailers and buyers. Field tours at several of the nation’s leading organic producers are also available for qualified retailers and wholesalers at OPS. sweetgreen’s Co-Founders Nicolas Jammet and Jonathan Neman will be one of three keynote presenters this year along with a host of educational seminars.
Among other educational sessions on tap for OPS 2020 are:
- Obstacles and Opportunities for Organic in Foodservice
- Is Regenerative the “New” Organic?
- How Do Independent Retailers Handle Organic?
The announcement of the first educational session announcement is part of six breakout educational sessions for OPS attendees. For more information on how to attend, click here.
Keep checking back to AndNowUKnow for more updates as the event draws nearer.
VANCOUVER, CANADA - As the weather stateside spreads a chill, the Southern Hemisphere is heating up, and in this ideal winter growing region, import programs are well underway. Oppy is one company grabbing hold of southern growing opportunities as a way to follow up to an excellent domestic season.
“We are coming off a California season which featured very good demand in the autumn months and we’re hoping this will transition into the import season,” Director of Import Grapes and Stonefruit, Bill Poulos, commented. “Because Oppy has an increased number of new varieties, more than ever before, with a better eating and size profile from South America, we are optimistic that these excellent grapes will be leaving store shelves in good volumes all winter and spring.”
This is the time of year when many growers and retailers are transitioning from domestic table grapes to imported grapes—often from South America. Oppy follows the same pattern, and with its extensive and long-standing connection with South America, the company has positioned itself as one of the top importers of Peruvian and Chilean table grapes in the world. Diversity of growing regions is key, and while Chile is facing a drought that could impact crops, Oppy has an extensive presence in the rest of the Southern Hemisphere that can fill the gaps.
While its operations in Peru and Chile are its primary source of table grapes—accounting for 98-percent of Oppy’s Southern Hemisphere volume—the distributor also grows and imports grapes from Brazil and South Africa.
“Currently we have grapes from Brazil and South Africa en route and although they are smaller than Oppy’s more established programs from Peru and Chile, they do equip us with a distinct differentiation,” Bill stated. “Indeed, having this diversity in sources provides us with a resilience that empowers Oppy to weather fluctuations in the market and is something that we are looking to increasingly build and develop into the future.”
The ample volume of fruit imported from Peru has given retailers an alternative choice during the winter months of December, January, and February—a time when table grapes have traditionally been in short supply. The evolution in the grape category has added to the surge in supply, as new varieties offer better yield and size. The entire foundation of how the table grape category is marketed is being rewritten as a result of the significant change in product mix. In response, Oppy has changed its SKUs from traditional to newer varieties, emphasizing the larger and sweeter grapes that consumers demand.
“Oppy offers a wide range of table grape varieties that mirror the overall trend in the industry, most notably we are transitioning out of older varieties into a different direction based on the ever-changing needs of the consumer,” Bill told me. “We are seeing a transition from seedless grapes into more premium varieties that have higher brix levels. The sizing of the grapes is also much larger than the varieties that they are replacing.”
This season, for the first time, Oppy is marketing several new SunWorld Innovations varieties, including Sables, Midnight Beauty, Scarlotta, and AUTUMNCRISP®. Oppy also provides other new varieties, including Sweet Celebrations, Timco, Jack’s Salute, Flame, and many more. Refining its product mix based on the needs and demands of its customers is of chief importance to Oppy, and its insightful marketing strategies help retailers make the most of the booming category.
“There will be opportunities in February and March for both red and green ads when timed with certain occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, for example,” Bill explained. “We do feel that April, as it has been for the last several years, will continue to be an excellent opportunity to run promotions on new varieties of reds from Chile.”
What does the future hold for the table grape category? Keep reading AndNowUKnow to find out.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - C.H. Robinson has honed in on strategic growth opportunities of late, initially by bringing on a new Chief Financial Officer in August and a new President for Robinson Fresh in December. With its most recent announcement, the logistics company will advance its expansion from a different angle, acquiring the major distribution company Prime Distribution Services from Roadrunner Transportation. The agreement is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.
“Prime Distribution Services is a high-quality growth company that brings scale and value-added warehouse capabilities to our retail consolidation platform, adding to our global suite of services,” said Bob Biesterfeld, C.H. Robinson Chief Executive Officer. “Prime has an outstanding track record of success, a talented and experienced team, and a focus on delivering great value to its customers and carriers.”
According to a press release, Prime had $108.7 million in total revenues for the fiscal year 2019, and C.H. Robinson intends to purchase Prime for approximately $225 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to be slightly gradual in 2020 and will be financed through cash on-hand and funds drawn from C.H. Robinson’s existing credit facilities.
“Prime Distribution brings capabilities and synergies to our North American Surface Transportation business and allows us to provide a strategic advantage for our customers delivering to retailers,” said Mac Pinkerton, President of North American Surface Transportation of C.H. Robinson. “We are excited to welcome the talented team at Prime to C.H. Robinson, and we will work hard to create even more value for our combined set of employees, customers, and carriers.”
Prime Distribution Services provides a comprehensive suite of retail consolidation solutions, including distribution, fulfillment, and inventory management, and currently operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roadrunner Transportation. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Plainfield, Indiana, Prime employs approximately 270 people and has five fulfillment and distribution facilities totaling approximately 2.6 million square feet across the U.S., currently serving approximately 140 customers.
“In joining C.H. Robinson, Prime begins an exciting new chapter,” said Bill Vechiarella, President of Prime Distribution Services. “We believe this combination will position us well to continue to provide excellent service to our customers and foster growth by leveraging C.H. Robinson’s scale, expertise, and core service offerings.”
Once the deal closes, C.H. Robinson will integrate Prime Distribution Services into its North American Surface Transportation division and single global, multimodal technology platform, Navisphere®.
To see how C.H. Robinson continues to grow in 2020, stick around for reports from AndNowUKnow.
ENGLAND AND SPAIN - While it certainly has not abandoned its stateside expansion plans, Lidl is adding extra momentum to its growth in Europe. The grocer recently invested in a slew of new projects, including its first zero-emission store, a massive $110 million-dollar facility in Ireland, and plans to open dozens of new stores in France. Now, Lidl has set its sights on strategic expansion in England and Spain—opening 55 new stores in the former, and erecting the Mediterranean’s largest logistics center.
"As part of ongoing national expansion plans, our dedicated property teams are working hard to identify suitable locations across England, Scotland, and Wales,” a Lidl spokesperson commented to SurreyLive. "This is for both new stores where there is demand for a Lidl, and existing stores that we would like to remodel for customers, which may require a relocation to do so.”
The grocer has selected Surrey and Hampshire in England as regions where it plans to build the 55 new stores, looking to establish a stronger presence in the market in those areas. Lidl is still somewhat flexible on the selection of locations, and is looking for cities and towns with the infrastructure to support a new grocery store, including access to parking and/or public transportation and size requirements, among others listed on Lidl’s website.
Elsewhere in Europe, Lidl has targeted Spain as a new source of growth, and its latest facility will serve to establish new infrastructure that can support further expansion. The grocer’s new logistics center is said to be Lidl’s most advanced, sustainable, and strategic logistics facilities in the region, according to CdeComunicación, Logística. The news source reports that Lidl invested over $60 million (55 million euros) in the new facility. Spanning 51,000 square feet, the logistics center will dedicate nearly a third of its space for cold storage. The facility has the capacity for more than 30,000 pallets and has 140 unloading docks.
Where in Europe will Lidl target next? Keep reading AndNowUKnow.