LOS ANGELES, CA - The Wonderful Company’s latest innovation has finally arrived on the produce aisle scene! After months of anticipation, Wonderful Seedless Lemons are officially available seasonally at grocery stores across the U.S. and Canada and online at Amazon Fresh, now through May!
“We are excited to introduce Wonderful Seedless Lemons to consumers who will love this new premium variety of lemon that is naturally seedless and Non-GMO Project Verified,” said Adam Cooper, Senior Vice President of Marketing.
Originally discovered in Australia, the Wonderful Seedless Lemons variety is the product of one farmer’s quest to find the perfect seedless lemon. Using innovative breeding techniques for a number of years on thousands of lemon buds, said farmer finally developed a seedless lemon tree in his orchard, which eventually—literally—bore the fruit of his labors.
"They’re just as juicy and have all the flavor of conventional lemons, but with none of the annoyance of seeds, saving you time in the kitchen," Cooper emphasized.
To truly highlight how convenient the new variety is, The Wonderful Company made sure to time Wonderful Seedless Lemons' debut just right to align perfectly with the start of the holiday season. Because of the lack of seeds, consumers can take shortcuts when baking, cooking, and squeezing ahead of holiday entertaining.
According to a press release, The Wonderful Company commissioned a third-party study to survey lemon buyers. In this study, the company found that 83 percent were likely to purchase a seedless lemon while 81 percent believe lemons would be more convenient without seeds. Additionally, 79 percent stated they use lemons as an ingredient when baking and cooking, while another 73 percent confirmed they use lemons for making drinks. This encouraged The Wonderful Company to debut its new variety as a means of helping at-home chefs simplify the entertaining occasions—from concocting alcoholic elixirs or mocktails to baking and cooking.
“Consumers who love lemons will have fun discovering this one-of-a-kind variety that is easily identified in stores with an eye-catching branded logo and packaging, as well as colorful in-store displays,” continued Cooper.
The new brand, which joins the likes of Wonderful® Halos®, Pistachios, and Pom Wonderful®, will be supported by a robust consumer marketing campaign that will include in-store POS displays and digital and influencer marketing initiative—all highlighting the variety's unique one- and two-pound bags.
Congratulations to The Wonderful Company on this exciting new product launch!
HENDERSONVILLE, NC - With growth comes the need for a bigger space, and that’s exactly what BrightFarms plans to do in its aim to grow a network of sustainable, local farms. The greenhouse grower will be expanding into Henderson County in North Carolina with a new 280,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse. The new greenhouse will allow the purveyor of packaged salads to deliver up to two million pounds of local leafy greens and herbs to supermarkets in North Carolina and the surrounding states.
“Americans want produce that’s fresh, safe, and clean. It’s the reason that locally grown has become the number one purchase driver in produce for supermarkets,” said Steve Platt, CEO. “We are incredibly grateful for the support from Governor Cooper and the North Carolina Department of Commerce and look forward to bringing local, pesticide-free leafy greens to North Carolina and neighboring states.”
According to a press release, the North Carolina expansion is driven by strong demand from consumers and leading retailers in the region. Since its entry into retail stores in 2013, BrightFarms has driven incremental growth in the salad greens category for leading retailer partners in markets across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
“We are thrilled to welcome BrightFarms to North Carolina. Their sustainable farming will conserve water, land, and energy resources and improve the health of North Carolinians,” commented North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on the latest project.
BrightFarms’ new North Carolina greenhouse will join the company’s growing network of farm locations, which includes Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois, and Ohio. Each farm delivers fresh, pesticide-free baby greens to supermarket partners in as little as 24 hours of harvest. BrightFarms also offers a full portfolio of salad greens and herbs including baby spinach—the number one item for the brand.
For more exciting expansions in the world of produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - Just last week, we reported on the bulldozing of a Kern County hemp field that federal officials determined to be marijuana. As industrial hemp quickly becomes a lucrative business, the industry needs to be as well-informed as possible regarding the rules and regulations of hemp production.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the official publication of an interim final rule, which establishes the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. This program, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill, creates a consistent regulatory framework around hemp production throughout the United States. It went into effect October 31, 2019.
According to a statement from the USDA:
"This rule establishes a new part specifying the rules and regulations to produce hemp. This action is mandated by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. This rule outlines provisions for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve plans submitted by States and Indian Tribes for the domestic production of hemp. It also establishes a Federal plan for producers in States or territories of Indian Tribes that do not have their own USDA-approved plan. The program includes provisions for maintaining information on the land where hemp is produced, testing the levels of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, disposing of plants not meeting necessary requirements, licensing requirements, and ensuring compliance with the requirements of the new part.”
Additionally, the interim final rule does not affect industrial hemp that was or is being cultivated under the 2014 Farm Bill programs. That industrial hemp remains subject to the requirements of the 2014 Farm Bill.
To learn more about the regulation, as well as submit comments regarding the program, click here.
Stick with AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow all things agriculture.
DENVER, CO - Wakefern Food Corp has recently partnered with Locai Solutions to launch CookIt at its The Fresh Grocer and ShopRite banners. The pilot has already officially debuted on ShopRite’s website and will hit The Fresh Grocer locations later this year. The technology is designed to introduce consumers to a new and more convenient way of shopping.
"The CookIt technology powers our Recipe Shop to send customers delicious and practical recipes based on the pantry staples they are already shopping for in-store. The technology simplifies meal planning and makes recipe shopping easier and more cost effective," said Steve Henig, Wakefern's Chief Customer Officer.
Combining customized menu planning and food shopping with one click, CookIt provides personalized recipes, ingredient recommendations, and meal costs to consumers based on the items in their online shopping carts, according to a press release. The personalized service takes into account shoppers’ dietary preferences as well as seasonal ingredients when suggesting recipes from a platform of 500+ for shoppers.
"We're excited to partner on CookIt with Wakefern under both its ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer banners," said Mike Demko, Locai's CEO. "They put a high value on what their brands deliver, and the addition of our CookIt product to their online shopping platform will further elevate the customer experience for both online and in-store shoppers."
CookIt is currently available under "The Recipe Shop" across all Connecticut ShopRite stores and will be rolling out to the remaining ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer locations within the next four months.
For more news on the changing world of grocery retail, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
ANAHEIM, CA - Duda Farm Fresh Foods didn’t pull any punches at Fresh Summit 2019, as it unveiled both a $5 million expansion of its celery facility as well as new and sustainable tray packs for its corn. Lucky for me, I bumped into Sammy Duda himself and heard all about the company’s exciting new initiatives.
“We’re having a massive expansion in Oxnard of our celery fresh-cut facility to meet the increasing demand that we’ve seen, which is a great opportunity for us. We’re very thrilled to be in that position to meet consumer and customer demand, it’s just been fantastic,” said Sammy Duda, Senior Vice President of Operations. “We’re very enthused that our varieties have resonated with so many customers, and we’re excited to have this $5 million expansion to meet those new expectations.”
With this monumental move, Duda anticipates that its expansive acreage will have no problems meeting the expectations of consumers. Along with its second announcement, the news suggests that the company is well positioned for the upcoming year.
“In addition to that, we’re expanding our tray-packed corn operations, especially around sustainability. We have a recyclable tray that we’re really enthused about to meet the increasing need to be sustainable in today’s marketplace,” continued Sammy. “So, we are really happy to be able to offer this tray-packed corn, and we think consumers and customers alike will be thrilled to see it.”
Congratulations to Duda Farm Fresh Foods on these exciting announcements! Return to the top of the page to see an exclusive video segment explaining all of this and more.
WASHINGTON, DC - Fall is here, November has begun, and daylight savings has ended, signaling the ‘Winter is coming’ vibe and the end of the 2019 year. As the new year approaches, what better way to look forward to 2020 than the FreshStart Conference? Already gaining ground as an experience to remember, United Fresh Produce Association is enticing attendees with its latest drop in events and guest speakers: Sharon Olson, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Y-Pulse®.
Y-Pulse is a food-focused youth marketing research firm dedicated to young consumer eating habits and trends. Olson will present during the 2020 FreshStart Conference’s education workshops taking place Wednesday, January 15. She will provide insight into the minds of kids and the strategies of the foodservice professionals who feed them, as it relates to food, nutrition, promotion, and marketing.
“Today’s digitally-connected generation has a lot of information at their fingertips, making them savvy consumers and household influencers, especially when it comes to their food choices,” said Tom Stenzel, President and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association. “With more kids and families dining away from home, Sharon’s insights will help attendees draw connections to translate trends into meaningful business opportunities.”
According to the press release, attendees will hear from a reaction panel of foodservice operators that are making it easier for parents and children to choose fresh produce when dining. Whether produce is part of the main entrée, a side dish, or a fresh-focused kids’ menu, more restaurants are looking for ways to attract health-conscious parents and to show children that fresh fruits and vegetables can be tasty and healthy.
As a recipient of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) Sparkplug Award and two awards from the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS), Olson has over 35 years of marketing experience for the foodservice industry. She was also awarded a Child Nutrition Showcase award by the School Nutrition Association for groundbreaking original research on Vending Trends in School Foodservice. It sounds like Olson is the perfect person for the job to educate companies and attendees next year at the FreshStart Conference.
The annual event will take place January 14-16, 2020, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. Proceedings are expected to include the Growing Up Fresh golf tournament, the Bids for Kids silent and live auction, and the Gala Dinner. United Fresh will also hold all of its committee, council, and board meetings at the conference, which are open to all members to observe.
Stay tuned with us here at ANUK as we bring you more updates as they come.
MCLEAN, VA - Back in August, Gladstone Land completed phase one of its acquisition of a large pistachio orchard in Coalinga, California. The details may have slipped your mind, considering that the company also snapped up 413 acres of California berry farmland in September, followed by a Napa Vineyard acquisition that same week. This morning, the company announced that phase two of its pistachio orchard acquisition was complete. In this second phase, Gladstone acquired 1,100 gross acres of farmland for $37 million.
“This completes our $70 million purchase of nearly 2,000 acres of pistachio trees that are just reaching prime production, and represents a great example of our ability to do larger and more complex acquisitions,” said Bill Reiman, Managing Director. “We look forward to a long, prosperous relationship with our new tenant.”
According to a press release, this newly-acquired farm consists of 1,040 planted acres of mature pistachio trees. In the first phase, Gladstone acquired 1,000 acres of the land for $33 million. The purchase of this orchard also includes an eight-year, triple-net lease agreement with RTS Agri Business and Canoas Creek Pistachios.
“We have now acquired more than $250 million worth of farmland so far in 2019,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO. “This has been a record year for us so far, and it’s not over yet. Pistachio and almond prices have remained strong, and increased trade wars have had little impact on their overall demand. The addition of these crop types has increased the diversification within our farmland holdings and has provided a strong source of additional income to our already-existing portfolio of farmland primarily growing fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Congratulations to Gladstone Land on yet another successful acquisition!
TUALATIN, OR - When news dropped in May that the Oregon-based grocer, Basics Market, would be opening its third store, locals were understandably excited. But, with the retailer’s continued expansion and impressive new store, other retailers will soon take notice of the up-and-comer. Basics Market will be bringing its fresh-focused model to Tulatin, Oregon, this month. The regional grocer's format and natural foods focus is similar to larger retailers like that of Whole Foods, and with such strong local support, Basics Market may be poised for a significant presence in the Oregon market.
“Thousands of people pass by this location as they go about their busy lives. Our hope is that this store will be an oasis of meal inspiration and delicious ingredients, making it easier for people to get dinner on the table with foods they trust,” said Fernando Divina, President of Basics Market.
Divinia and Michael Wolff, Vice President of Operations, have helped to grow Basics Market since the beginning and continue to work closely with many local partners, including farmers, ranchers, food producers, and the Oregon healthcare community to develop Basics’ market model. Basics Market caters to its customers by forming partnerships directly with local producers to provide high-quality products at lower prices, while preserving nutrition and minimizing distribution costs and waste. The retailer designs its stores to have a small-format layout, where shoppers can find ingredients organized by delicious recipes that were developed by award-winning chefs and vetted by staff nutritionists for optimal health, according to a press release.
The new Tulatin store will feature seasonally-rotating meal stations, cooking demos, and nutrition classes, along with a wide range of unique features.
Some of these features include:
- A Discovery Kitchen classroom with state-of-the-art cooking facilities and a full schedule of free classes, including hands-on workshops, interactive demonstrations, and nutrition classes, taught by Basics Market’s culinary and nutrition mentors
- Fresh, seasonal produce is delivered daily to ensure peak nutrition
- Organic, locally-made brands from Basics Market’s founder, Chuck Eggert, including Lulubelle’s milk products and Gwendolyn’s Organic Eggs
- A bar and bottle shop featuring a selection of regional wines, craft beers, and creative libations to be added in November
The grocer’s first location opened in Portland on campus at the Faubion School, and a second store was opened last year in Northeast Portland. Following the opening of the Tulatin location, Basics Market has a fourth store planned to open in Portland’s Pearl District this winter.
Will Basics Market’s expansion in the increasingly-popular Oregon market encourage other, larger retailers to make a move? AndNowUKnow will keep you updated.
SALINAS, CA - One company that is always making moves is foodservice giant Sysco—and, quite literally this year, a move is on the books. The company has just transitioned into its new Sysco produce office in Salinas, California, in order to establish a presence in the downtown area, which helps to make the region’s team feel like a bigger part of the community.
“We are constantly looking for ways to improve work-life balance,” Vice President of Produce Julie Olivarria tells me, adding that the team had been in their old building for more than 15 years, and the area had grown congested over time. “The new office is a more central location that shortens the commute for the majority of our associates. The new building also allows us the ability to offer a few more amenities than were available to us at the former building. With so many businesses nearby, it offers the team flexibility in walking to lunch or to run errands rather than having to drive. Not to mention, it was great for the city of Salinas to improve a building that was long in need of it.”
Situated in a prime downtown Salinas location, the 19,000 square-foot, fully re-modeled building with a full-size basketball court, workout room, showers, and lots of meeting space, is now as much a destination as it is a workspace. Sysco partnered with a local investor and worked together to improve the building both inside and out.
“Salinas is one of the largest growing areas for several commodities,” Julie shares. “Being this close to the source, it is not uncommon for suppliers to bring new items to us and for our entire team to get a first glance at them. It is a very exciting time!”
Sysco will be celebrating the move this fall with a Grand Opening on Friday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with Joe Gunter, the Mayor of Salinas, and Brian Todd, the company's Senior Vice President from its Sysco Corporate office in Houston, Texas.
Congrats to the entire Sysco produce team on the move and the new digs! Keep checking back with AndNowUKnow as we bring you more from the innovative foodservice company in the year ahead.
ANAHEIM, CA - Fresh Summit is just an event that keeps on giving! After wandering through all the stalls, booths, and smells, I found my way at the Oppy booth where Angie Hanson, National Brand Activation Manager for Envy™ and Jazz™ apples for Turners & Growers Global and Oppy, greeted attendees with all smiles and energy.
“We’re really excited! Envy just started shipping recently, and it’s a big season for us because we have a lot of volume coming online out of Washington,” Angie starts. “We’re going to be up about 50 percent year-over-year, and in the next six years, we will be up about 150 percent versus this year.”
With such high sales, Oppy is positioned to have a strong 365-day program in the very near future. Envy boasts a high Brix, great quality, and it’s eating fantastically. All this led to Envy boasting another great perk.
“We also did some great independent research this spring that validated our apple is preferred for flavor, texture, appearance—really just overall likeability,” continues Angie. “It delivers the ideal eating experience for an apple, and we tested versus the Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp®, Gala, and Fuji.”
As Envy gains momentum and popularity, the variety is poised to drive year-over-year category gains in dollars and volumes. Retailers can cash in on this opportunity with 2 lb bag options for both Envy and Jazz, conventionally and organically. The bag programs this year feature rich colors and see-through window to showcase the luscious colors of the apple as well as shipper units and tote bags.
Scroll back up to watch the full video featuring Angie herself, and keep in touch with us at AndNowUKnow.