WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA - Where does the future lie and where do we want to be when it meets us? This is the question Tony Zuccato asks, based on the wisdom of having made a career of anticipating what’s next for the fresh industry. It’s been seven months since the Chief Operating Officer joined Prophet—a move he recently shared with me utilizes the past to foster what’s ahead.

“I was looking for the right opportunity that would allow me to bring my knowledge of the industry, my customer management skills, and to help a company grow. Prophet has done great before in the U.K. and in South Africa. Now, we have an amazing chance to grow in the U.S. and in North America. I was very impressed by the robust system; I love that the software is current, and that we can offer a huge benefit to the industry based on an already strong track record of success,” Tony explained.

While his 32 years of experience, just over 18 served most recently at Produce Pro Software, highlight a plethora of accomplishments, Tony said the biggest for himself was in recruiting, mentoring, and contributing to the growth of a team that grew significantly over the years. Potentially more impressively, the company achieved a 90 percent-or-more retention rate every one of Tony’s 18-and-a-half years. This achievement aligns beautifully with Prophet’s goals to show the U.S. why it has garnered such a following across the Atlantic.

“While we know that we're phenomenal at developing very clever software, we'd been on the lookout for a COO for the business—somebody like Tony who would have a great track record of implementing and managing teams and servicing produce people was exactly what we were hoping for,” Mick Heatherington, Vice President of Sales, said. “Tony has great knowledge of the industry and how to grow in exactly the way we are aiming to. We're absolutely delighted to have him; we feel it's one of the jigsaw pieces that we needed in place to really move the product on within the produce industry.”

As to the rest of the puzzle, Tony said Prophet has all that is needed in place once word of mouth spreads.

“Customers in produce specifically want a software provider that's going to be trained, ready, and available for their specific schedule. To be available when needed, improve what exists, but not to be nickel-and-dimed to do so, which is what Prophet offers. It's exciting to grow, to explore how we're going to try to meet that challenge, and, for me, it's a new beginning to go back in time carrying what I know now,” Tony reflected.

Discussing Prophet’s unique advantages for the customers, Tony and Mick discuss a “low code, no code” architecture which can be set up and implemented to the desire of the customer. The result is an in-depth understanding in order to custom-fit Prophet’s technology to a customer.

“Customers want a partner that's going to be there for the long-term. A company that only has success when the customers have success with the software. It's not just about the initial sale, how can you grow your business? This is why it is so important to invest in our technology and look to innovate, and Prophet has always done that—Prophet’s latest Workspace Technology is actually the third revision of the Prophet system that they've done over time!” Tony boasted.

Having some experience in technology spring cleaning, I can appreciate the company’s willingness to continually develop technology—especially as this is what is being asked of any prospective customers. It is indicative, Tony said, of the company at large as a partner.

“I'm excited by the ability to take the strengths we have and try to figure out how to grow and scale what we're doing. Ultimately, my passion, the reason that I get up in the morning, is because I really want to find the right people and help them; help them grow, help the company grow, and help team members come in and make a difference for the customer. That's what it's all about,” Tony concluded.

I can’t think of a better reason to start the work day, or more to ask for in those I share it with.

KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA - Innovation in the greenhouse category continues to take the industry by storm. As the 2024 Greenhouse Competition in Leamington, Canada, concluded, the winners were announced. Red Sun Farms^™ was proud to reveal that its Tatayoyo^® Sweet Peppers won First Place for Best Specialty Mini Peppers and its Sweetpeaks^® Long Peppers won the Chefs Choice Award.

“We are immensely proud of our Tatayoyo Peppers and the recognition they have received as the best-tasting variety. It is a great honor to have our efforts acknowledged by a community dedicated to achieving greenhouse perfection," said Carlos Visconti, Chief Executive Officer of Red Sun Farms. "At Red Sun Farms, we have always been committed to pushing the boundaries of agricultural innovation and practicing sustainable methods. These awards further reinforce the foundations of our company, highlighting the hard work and dedication of our team. This event not only brings attention to the greenhouse industry but also serves as an opportunity to educate the public about the origins of their food."

According to a press release, all funds raised from the Greenhouse Competition go to R.E.A.C.H. International, a charity that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to build schools and clinics, drill wells for fresh water, and care for impoverished children in Africa.

As the company noted, Red Sun Farms is happy to support this charity not only through its involvement in the competition but also through its continued sponsorship of this event.

"After 17 years, it is wonderful to witness the enthusiastic embrace of the competitions by the Greenhouse Industry in Essex County, which eagerly anticipates the event each year. The impact of the funds raised has been immeasurable. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and contestants, we have raised over $250,000, supporting hundreds of children's education, building infrastructure, and enhancing the health and wellness of the communities we serve in Uganda,” added Art Barron, President of R.E.A.CH. International.

Congratulations to Red Sun on this achievement!

BENTONVILLE, AR - With the knowledge that today’s consumer is tech-savvy and has elevated expectations for the way they shop, Walmart is elevating the shopping experience with adaptive retail innovations across its platforms. This includes increased drone delivery integration, a GenAI-powered shopping assistant, and the expansion of its InHome Delivery service.

"Driven by our commitment to help our customers live better, we're constantly working to create shopping experiences that are convenient, engaging, and personalized,” said Tom Ward, Chief E-Commerce Officer. “This experience needs to be cohesive, interconnected, and seamlessly integrated into their everyday lives. By consistently pushing the boundaries, we're continuing to lead the industry in service of our customers."

First up on the retailer's innovation blueprint is drone delivery. The retailer first began trialing drone delivery in 2021, and since then, the service has grown rapidly. To date, Walmart has completed over 30,000 drone deliveries. Earlier this year, the company eclipsed a key milestone, making drone delivery accessible to up to 75 percent of the Dallas Fort-Worth population. To further elevate this offering, Walmart has set its focus on bringing the ordering experience directly to the Walmart app.

The integration will be done in phases as more drone delivery sites launch and drone providers receive additional regulatory approvals to fly more goods across greater distances, a press release explained, noting that creating a more seamless shopping experience on the Walmart app is the next evolution of Walmart's investment in drone delivery technology.

Also revolutionizing the retail experience is Walmart’s GenAI search experience, which debuted on Walmart.com and launched in-app earlier this year. The advanced capability of GenAI enhances the shopping experience by enabling customers to browse based on specific use cases, generating more relevant and cross-category results. Now, the retailer is beta testing a GenAI-powered shopping assistant, which will engage shoppers in natural, free-flowing conversations and guide them to make the best choice for their unique needs, faster. Over time, the service will evolve to include more advanced features and capabilities, eventually serving a trusted shopping companion.

Last but not least, the company has expanded the reach of its InHome delivery service. Back in January, Walmart revealed plans to enhance the service with Replenishment, which utilizes a personalized algorithm to predict customer needs and automatically place items into the cart with InHome orders to be delivered straight to customers’ pantries and refrigerators.

As the retailer continues to advance its shopper experience strategies, ANUK will be here with the latest updates.

KINGSVILLE, ON - Imagining the headquarters for Mastronardi Produce^®, I picture some shifting needed around dedicated award space in the near future. On the heels of eight top honors the greenhouse grower received from international award programs earlier this month, the team reported it has also been showered with 20 more awards at the 17^th Annual Leamington Greenhouse Competitions.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to be a part of this event that recognizes excellence in greenhouse grown produce. We take great pride in continually striving towards innovations in the industry, so for our team to be recognized for their dedication to quality and flavor is a testament to their hard work,” said Paul Mastronardi, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Leamington Greenhouse Competition is one that we look forward to each year as it’s a great opportunity for our industry to unite in support of a great cause such as R.E.A.C.H International. As gratifying as it is to win awards on the world stage, it is very significant and rewarding to win so close to home.”

Among the latest accolades, the company celebrated receiving the top three Overall Best in Competition awards for Best Tomato, Best Pepper, and Best Cucumber. Additionally, it took home ten first-place awards. While SUNSET^® won Best Overall Tomato, specialty tomato Valentino^, was the top-scoring product overall out of 184 competition entries. The titles made for a company record since the competition began in 2007.

In another specialty category, this time for berries, Mastronardi’s team took home first place for SUNSET WOW^® Berries moonberry^™ blackberry. WOW Berry dreamberry^™ strawberry was an award winner as well as a Chef’s Choice Winner. Together, the wins meant over a third of the Chef’s Choice Awards overall.

Held in Leamington, Ontario, this past June 7, 2024, the Leamington Greenhouse Competitions showcases some of the best greenhouse grown produce from leading North American growers, according to a press release.

It is a promising and worthy celebration for the company’s ever-growing collection of SUNSET® and BerryWorld® brand products. Earlier this month, Mastronardi Produce also competed in the renowned International Taste Institute’s Superior Taste Awards in Brussels, Belgium, earning eight Superior Taste Awards:

• Campari^® Cocktail Tomatoes
• Angel Sweet^® Grape Tomatoes
• Bahama Bombs^® Grape Tomatoes On-the-Vine
• Aloha^® Tomatoes
• Summer Dream^™ Raspberries
• WOW^® dreamberry^™ Strawberries
• WOW^® moonberry^™ Blackberries
• Berryworld^® XL Blueberries^™

Mastronardi Produce confirmed it has now won over 200 awards at the Leamington Greenhouse Competitions since 2007 and was the first fresh produce company to earn a Superior Taste Award in 2010.

With the timing pairing well with June’s being National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, the team concluded this made for an extra layer of sweetness to these accolades.

Congratulations to Mastronardi Produce on such a successful kick-off to this fresh-focused month!

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - June 4 marked the annual joint advocacy event, Farm to Plate 2024, hosted by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC). During the spring event, produce industry leaders met with targeted stakeholders working on key files for the fruit and vegetable sector to emphasize industry needs, such as stabilizing food prices with strategic sector support, supporting sustainability initiatives, and establishing financial protection measures for produce sellers.

“The produce industry plays a key role contributing nearly $15 billion each year to Canada’s GDP,” said George Pitsikoulis, CPMA Chair. “This joint advocacy event provides us with unique opportunities to connect with elected federal leaders and voice our industry’s concerns. We are delighted with the productive discussions we had with government representatives and look forward to continued collaboration to address the industry’s challenges and enhance its global competitiveness.”

At Farm to Plate 2024, attendees met with representatives of the Senate, the House of Commons, and the four major political parties to discuss these critical issues.

According to a press release, this included the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board, the Honourable Senator Rob Black, Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry; Member of Parliament Kody Blois, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food; Robert Ianiro, Vice President of Policy and Programs at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and Evelyn Soo, Executive Director, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Directorate, CFIA.

“The regulatory burden and ongoing inflation are some of the critical issues threatening food security in Canada,” added Marcus Janzen, FVGC President. “As growers, it was crucial for us to engage with the Government to find effective solutions that prioritize Canadians’ access to food, which is a basic human need. We need strategic support to stabilize food prices and ensure the sustainability of our industry."

The CPMA and FVGC’s next joint advocacy event, Fall Harvest, will take place November 18–20, 2024, on Parliament Hill.

For more event updates, keep clicking on that little apple logo.

MILLEN, GA - The recipients of the 2024 Fresh Chefs Scholarship, presented by the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC), have been announced! The industry organization has awarded Tairan Lockett and Peter York with $1,500 scholarships toward their educational goals for the upcoming year.

"The vision of the Southeast Produce Council is to cultivate the future of produce," shared David Sherrod, SEPC President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our providing much-needed funds to these aspiring chefs like Tairan and Peter is a commitment to that vision. We are excited to host them at Southern Innovations and to provide opportunities in their chosen profession."

The innovative SEPC Fresh Chefs program is open annually to any full-time college or secondary education student pursuing a degree in culinary arts or restaurant management.

In addition to the scholarships, each recipient will also be invited to attend SEPC’s Southern Innovations conference and expo on September 12–14, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, a press release noted. SEPC will cover hotel and travel expenses to the event and will also provide an SEPC Fresh Chefs jacket for each recipient. During the event, the recipients will have the opportunity to network with hundreds of produce industry grower/shipper members as well as the nation’s leading retailers and foodservice distributors.

To read more about SEPC Fresh Chefs or other SEPC educational programs and scholarships, click here.

Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!