IRVINGTON, NY - BrightFarms, the No. 1 brand of locally grown packaged salads, is incorporating blockchain technology as a member of the IBM Food Trust network.
Food Trust, a blockchain-based information-sharing platform, securely connects supply chain data across the ecosystem to enable unprecedented trust and transparency. In addition to providing provenance insights, network members such as BrightFarms, are realizing benefits around optimized supply chain processes, increased freshness, improved food safety, minimized waste and fraud and more.
"BrightFarms is committed to providing our retail partners and consumers with the safest, cleanest and most responsibly grown produce. Local, controlled environment supply chains already maintain a higher degree of structural safety benefits when compared to field grown produce form the West Coast, and Food Trust will be a valuable tool for highlighting those benefits. We're giving our retail partners the trust and assurance that's needed in today's market." said Jackie Hawkins, Senior Manager of Food Safety at BrightFarms.
“By joining IBM Food Trust, we are establishing an enhanced level of transparency to guarantee greater trust for retail partners. With Food Trust, partners such as Walmart can easily and reliably trace our leafy greens to their source in a matter of seconds,” said Paul Lightfoot, Founder & President of BrightFarms.
BrightFarms is ready to begin deploying the technology to its retail partners that also opt into the network.
For more information about BrightFarms, visit https://www.brightfarms.com.
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) imposed sanctions on two produce businesses as part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). Alpha Family Farms LLC, located in Florida, allegedly failed to pay a $22,625 reparation award, and Sandifer Farms LLC, located in South Carolina, allegedly failed to pay a $172,156 reparation award. Both companies will have their PACA licenses suspended and will be barred from participating in PACA-licensed businesses or other activities without approval from the USDA.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Alpha Family Farms LLC, operating out of Royal Oak Beach, Florida, for failing to pay a $22,625 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Amanda Camacho and Christian Spataro were listed as members of the business.
- Sandifer Farms LLC, operating out of Blackville, South Carolina, for failing to pay a $172,156 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Bruce A. Barron and Phillip L. Sandifer were listed as members of the business. Another principal of the business at the time of the order was Michael C. Harris. He has challenged his responsibly connected status.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed 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.
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, 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 USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For more information, contacts, and to read the full press release, please click here.
CONYERS, GA - As the month of October progresses, PMA Fresh Summit shines over the horizon. Excitement builds as more news and developments surface leading up to the highly anticipated event at the end of the week, and Pratt Industries is an innovative company that will be showcasing again this year. Greg Smith, Business Development Manager, Agricultural Packaging, and his team are showing up in full force, shaping booth #1995 to be a must-stop-spot.
“We’ll have a large group of people at the show from our various facilities throughout the country,” Greg starts. “Many of our customers are based in California, so we look forward to seeing them in person, and we will have a large representation from our California locations.”
Pratt Industries, the fifth largest corrugated packaging company in the United States, is known for its innovation in fresh produce packaging and for its steady focus on increasing customers’ packing shed efficiencies and, as a result, reducing their costs through mechanical packaging automation. One way Pratt Industries innovates is with its sustainable packaging that addresses the needs of suppliers across the country.
“PMA gives us an opportunity to connect with and show our appreciation to our grower/shipper customers, so we hope to spend time with them while also sharing the unique message of Pratt’s agricultural packaging program with growers and shippers looking for a new or additional approach to their corrugated packaging,” Greg continues.
Fresh Summit is a pivotal event that brings businesses across the industry together to collaborate and innovate for a more sustainable future—something that Pratt Industries takes seriously. As the company’s presence continues to expand in California and the greater West Coast market, Pratt Industries is able to showcase its capabilities and services to these businesses in one easy location.
“We are looking forward to connecting with people and companies in California and throughout the country that are in need of our help,” Greg responds when I ask what the company is most looking forward to this year at PMA. “We’ve grown our business drastically over the last few years and have helped our customers by focusing intently on innovative designs and sustainability while providing exceptional, high-level service. That’s who we are.”
Sustainability continues to be a stronger and more prominent topic within the industry, and Pratt Industries aims to meet those expectations and standards. To find out more about what Pratt Industries has to offer, catch Greg and his team at booth #1995. For more news and updates concerning PMA, keep reading ANUK.
SALINAS, CA - D’Arrigo California is excited to announce and welcome Maya Capurro as a Sales Assistant and Morgan Tinari as a Marketing and Culinary Assistant.
Maya graduated from California Polytechnic State University in just 3 years. She majored in Agribusiness Management and as a student was active in the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), Food Distribution Research Society (FDRS) and was an Agribusiness Management Club officer. Prior to joining D’Arrigo California, Maya worked as a peer advisor to the Agribusiness Department at Cal Poly and served as a sales coordinator intern at Driscoll’s.
“We are pleased to have Maya join our sales team as she brings an energetic approach to our fast paced environment,” stated John Scherpinski, Director of Sales at D’Arrigo California. “Maya is young, smart and diligent with her work which makes her a stellar addition to the team. She is a go-getter that is eager to learn and contribute to the bottom line.”
At D’Arrigo California, Maya will be responsible for sales order data entry, customer service on the phones, collection of outstanding sales balances and interaction with customers at tradeshows.
“I enjoy working with a progressive sales team and a fast paced environment that challenges me daily. I value how D’Arrigo California is committed to growing, packing and shipping quality fruits and vegetables year round. The company prides itself on tight Andy Boy produce specs and I respect their high standards. I look forward to learning and contributing to the sales team and honing my customer service and data entry skills,” stated Maya.
Morgan is a graduate of St. John’s University located in New York where she majored in marketing at the Peter J. Tobin School of Business. At St. John’s, Morgan played soccer (NCAA Division 1) and had a very successful scholar and athletic career during her college experience. Most recently, Morgan was a social media associate at SLMD Skincare. She was responsible for the creative direction for SLMD’s social media platforms. Morgan also assisted with event planning and influencer outreach.
At D’Arrigo California, Morgan will be responsible to create, post content, videos and images on the Andy Boy and Eat Broccoli Rabe social media channels. She will assist with tradeshow logistics, event planning and influencer relations to augment the culinary recipes and videos on the Andy Boy website.
“I was motivated to join D’Arrigo California because of the company’s iconic Andy Boy label that stands for top quality and consistency,” stated Morgan. “I am delighted to be part of a multi-faceted produce company that will be celebrating 100 years of business in 2020 as a family of companies (which include their sister companies, D’Arrigo Massachusetts and D’Arrigo New York). It’s an exciting time to work for a 3rd generation family owned company and market their cross dock, consolidation, solar farming and most importantly their fresh fruit and vegetable commodities to inspire a healthy lifestyle.”
“Morgan’s savvy marketing skills will drive the content, image creation and design for the array of Andy Boy products we grow, pack and ship year round,” stated Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos, D’Arrigo California Director of Marketing and Culinary. “Her in depth marketing knowledge, coupled with her creative and collaborative nature will complement our marketing department and growing commodities.”
We invite you to stop by our PMA Booth #2069 to meet Maya and Morgan.
COLIMA, MEXICO - Super Starr International, Mexico’s premier papaya grower and shipper, maintains a pristine food safety record and continues to stay ahead of the curve with its state-of-the-art standards.
For three generations, Super Starr has farmed in the U.S. and Mexico to produce superior year-round papayas and winter honeydew by growing, packing and shipping in-house. Unlike other papaya/honeydew melon suppliers, Super Starr controls the quality of its fruit from planting the initial seed until it’s placed on store shelves.
“We are proud of the commitment to quality and food safety standards upheld by Super Starr,” said Lance Peterson, President and third generation farmer of Super Starr International. “By owning each part of the supply chain, we have complete control of our safety standards and are in strict compliance to assure our customers receive both safe and excellent tasting fruit.”
Super Starr’s papayas were the first to be approved and placed on the green-list for sale and consumption in a recent food safety outbreak attributed to another supplier/grower.
Super Starr offers retailers and customers year-round Royal Star, Maradol and Hybrid Papayas, as well as seasonal Honeydew melons from December through April.
Attendees of PMA’s Fresh Summit can stop by booth #2248 on October 17-19, 2019, to speak with Lance Peterson and taste the exceptionally sweet Royal Star Papaya. A unique proprietary variety exclusive to Super Starr. For more information on Super Starr International, visit www.superstarrinternational.com.
WASHINGTON, DC - This morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses as part of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). Each company failed to meet their contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased product from, as well as failed to pay reparation awards issued under PACA. As a result, the below listed companies have had their PACA licenses suspended and are now barred from engaging in PACA-licensed business without approval from the USDA, according to a press release.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Academy Fruit Company LLC, operating out of Clovis, California, for failing to pay a $104,195 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jayson Paul Scarborough was listed a member or manager of the business.
- MLC Berries Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, California, for failing to pay a $39,099 award in favor of an Oregon seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Miguel Campos was listed as the officer, director, and/or major stockholder of the business.
- Old West Export Inc., operating out of Visalia, California, for failing to pay a $187,393 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Frances Murillo and Dave Muse were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
- Peerless Enterprises Inc., operating out of Gainesville, Florida, for failing to pay a $6,440 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Eric Pleiman was listed as the officer, director, and/or major stockholder of the business.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed 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.
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, 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 USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For more information, contacts, and to read the full press release, please click here.
ALPHARETTA, CA - This week, Aptean, a global provider of software solutions, acquired produce industry ally and tech solutions provider Linkfresh. The move positions Aptean for more growth in the food industry by diversifying its portfolio and geographic reach of cloud-based solutions. Aptean will also be leveraging Linkfresh’s fresh food know-how to optimize niche food organizations with the necessary features and functions.
“Since its inception, Linkfresh has dedicated itself to servicing the needs of organizations in the fresh produce, protein, and egg sectors,” said Jeremy Wardell, General Manager of Linkfresh. “We help organizations run their businesses more effectively because we understand their unique challenges. Combining our industry, functional, and technical expertise with the experience and capabilities of Aptean allows us to provide a stronger offering to our customers, delivering increased value and ensuring they consistently exceed their operational and revenue goals.”
According to a press release, Linkfresh provides enterprise-wide ERP software solutions designed to help customers, including growers, packers, producers, and distributors of produce and protein items, control all aspects of their fresh food business. Furthermore, Linkfresh offers a the fresh food industry the tools needed to understand profitability, drive growth, and run operations more effectively—expertise Aptean will be pulling from as it hurtles both companies toward more growth opportunities.
“Acquiring Linkfresh expands our market-leading solutions for food organizations,” said TVN Reddy, CEO of Aptean. “The additions of Linkfresh’s dedicated focus and expertise in fresh foods, as well as its strong U.K. footprint, solidifies Aptean’s position as a provider of choice to food and beverage companies across North America and the United Kingdom.”
Both organizations share a mutual commitment to developing market-leading SaaS solutions utilizing Microsoft technology. The acquisition of Linkfresh will help extend Aptean’s core competencies to serve more distinct areas of the marketplace as it continues undergoing digital transformation.
For more produce industry acquisitions, expansions, and shake-ups, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA - DelFrescoPure® is growing YES!Berries Your Everyday Snack!™ strawberries inside 17 acres of cutting-edge greenhouses, all while leveraging decades of greenhouse growing experience to become the first grower in North America to grow SCS Certified Pesticide Free strawberries.
The Pesticide Free certification is conducted by SCS Global Services (SCS), a third-party certifier of environmental, sustainability, and food safety claims. In order to get certified, companies must offer full disclosure of pest management practices, sit through an evaluation of pest management practices, on-site “worst-case” sampling of products, and laboratory testing to confirm that there are no pesticide residues present at levels above laboratory detection capabilities.
“Consumers are demanding more, and rightfully so,” stated Carl Mastronardi, President. “Delivering delicious, nutritious snacks all-year-round is no longer enough. They want to reduce their risk of exposure to pesticide residues in foods they consume, and rightfully so. This certification independently assures consumers that our greenhouse-grown strawberries do not have pesticide residue.”
According to a press release, DelFrescoPure has taken its expertise in integrated pest management—normally reserved for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers—and applied it to growing strawberries. The results, the greenhouse grower noted, are pesticide-free, delicious strawberries that are available year-round.
YES!Berries Your Everyday Snack! strawberries are available in retail stores across Canada and the United States.
Congratulations to DelFrescoPure on this achievement! To see the greenhouse grower at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit, stop by booth #2259.
MURRIETA, CA - After weeks of anticipation, the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit event is finally (almost) here! Whether it be packing, rehearsing, or traveling, industry exhibitors are bustling about in preparation. At West Pak Avocado, this means the Sales and Marketing team is kicking it into high gear. Recent hire Joe Nava, the company’s Vice President of Sales and Business Development, will spearhead the event as he continues to expand the marketing, research, and development campaigns.
“At West Pak, we can team up with key customers to help them grow their business in the avocado category in different ways,” Nava elaborated when explaining the moniker. “Rather than just offering the enticement of promotional pricing, we’re looking to help drive consumption at the consumer level and increase a retailer’s foot traffic in the produce section.”
According to a press release, Nava and the team will unveil a new exhibit and showcase their highly-successful bagged avocado program and retail-supporting Avo-Opportunities marketing offerings at Fresh Summit. The team will also offer Regional Category Reviews, or what they affectionately call Avo-Audits.
“Fresh Summit is the perfect opportunity to sit down with our customers and do a Regional Category Review. That’s where we help drive the avocado category by identifying and actively targeting what motivates consumption in their region,” Nava continued. “For example: do their customers prefer a size 60 avocado or a size 40, or can they drive sales by adding bagged avocados? We dive right into what the consumer wants and work with them to come up with ways to help promote and engage with their target audience.”
Designed to help support retailers, West Pak’s Avo-Opportunities program provides effective packaging, POS, marketing, sales, and educational materials. There are also outreach and social media programs to connect with regional talent such as chefs, nutritionists, or influencers, creating an engaging promotional campaign that appeals to a retailer’s target demographic.
“At West Pak, we work very hard to fulfill our customer’s needs so that they are feeding what their customers want. Avo-Audits are the first step to getting there!” concluded Nava.
To meet Joe Nava or any member of the sales and marketing team at PMA Fresh Summit 2019, stop by booth #1577. Stick with us at ANUK as we divulge the exciting news leading up to Fresh Summit.
SOLVANG, CA - Day two started before the crack of dawn as riders loaded up their bags and their bikes to get back in the saddle. No easy feat after finishing nearly 100 miles in said saddle less than 24 hours before. But sitting at breakfast watching everyone exchange stories about soreness, as well as catch up on family, kids, and life in between tours, the energy level was contagious.
By the time we were in the vans on the way to the starting point at Morro Rock, riders were singing song ideas for anthems that would get them through an 85 mile day, albeit smoother and shorter than the Sunday Funday they just experienced.
“I’ve supported riders in the past but getting to see and experience it from this side has been really great, it’s definitely different from what I imagined,” Tom Smith, Director of Foodservice, says between stops. “I feel like I know everyone I see in one form or another through various forms of the business, and they are all doing so well.”
The Tour de Fresh prides itself not only on being a unique event to invest and raise awareness for the next generation’s access to fresh produce, but also being an event that anyone in the industry can be a part of. The riders this year have proven that there is a group for anyone’s riding level, staying together and aiding each other along the California coast in true “Tour de Family” fashion, but there is so much more to it than that.
We have two first-time drivers that joined the team of vehicles ensuring those riders can commute as safely as possible, keeping traffic at bay, providing water and supplies, taking unneeded items, or even just giving a boost.
Sponsors in the past have provided much needed “Feed Zones” where cyclists break on the route to refuel and rest before carrying on, with one sponsor taking it even further this year.
Gold Coast Packing welcomed riders to its facility in Santa Maria, about 60 miles into today’s ride, with a shaded tent, food, treats, and places to rest.
“We love what the riders are doing for kids across America. It’s wonderful for them to spend their free time raising funds for salad bars for schools. It’s a great cause, we love being a part of Tour de Fresh and we look forward to being a part of it for years to come,” Crystal Chavez, Marketing Coordinator, said as we met at the stop.
As riders clipped into their pedals to take off, “Thank you Gold Coast” could be heard as they took on the remaining 25 miles of the course, and it reminded me of how important moves like this by companies who want to get involved are.
Click here to donate for salad bars in schools
Each salad bar in a school makes for a win-win investment by anyone in our industry who wants to create customers both in the education district and down the road when those children become consumers. As this message continues to spread, the Tour de Fresh becomes a stronger event and even more successful in its mission to privately finance new salad bars to be placed in school districts across the country.
“The very first ride I got invited to join last minute, with no expectations,” Brandon Gritters, Sales, Interfresh, says of the inaugural Tour de Fresh. “I’ve done four rides now, and it’s definitely getting smoother. The food is getting so much better, the organization of it is really locked in, and with all the same people returning it’s like family.”
That family continues to grow, to change, to pursue how it can be better. We are now officially over halfway down the road to Anaheim, California, with the riders clocking not only 181 miles in two days (or 201 miles for those that did the “extra credit” route) but also more than $172,000 raised for fresh salad bars! Hope to see you at this year’s Finish Line Ceremony, where we celebrate all these amazing industry ambassadors.