PESCADERO, CA - July in California is the perfect time to escape to the cool coast of the state (unless you already call it home), sit back on a beach, stroll a boardwalk, and, if you are lucky, witness a few foodservice greats while you are at it. With PMA Foodservice essentially upon us, we are whetting your palates with some of the fresh produce flavor makers and one of those companies is Jacobs Farm del Cabo.
Kyla Oberman, Marketing Manager for the company took a beat to chat with me about the quickly approaching weekend and what Jacobs Farm del Cabo has in store.
“We are really looking forward to this year’s PMA Foodservice. A large part of our vision for the show is to share our message of value and commitment to our customers through Jacobs Farm del Cabo’s organic and sustainably grown produce. Building new relationships is also key and will be front of mind as we look to elevate the plate,” Kyla shares with me adding that variety is the spice of life. “We have an exciting range of products that makes us a one-stop-shop for flavorful organic produce.”
The company will be showcasing its lineup which includes basil, chilies, jalapeños, Cabo Diablo peppers, cherry bombs, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and its 1 lb and 4 oz bagged herbs. Additionally, Jacobs Farm del Cabo will have unique items available like makrut, sorrel, and lemongrass to help chefs add distinction to their dishes.
“Fresh and flavorful is a combination to rival,” Kyla continues, “and being able to offer that combination, that is organic to boot, to customers is where our value lies as well. The Jacobs Farm del Cabo growers and sales team are dedicated to ensuring a consistent supply of quality, fresh organic products to foodservice customers on a year-round basis.”
Innovation is also a huge aspect of Jacobs Farm del Cabo’s vision, offering an internal natural breeding team that is always considering flavor-forward vegetable and herb offerings. As demand grows for the company’s organic products, the team has continued to add specialty herbs and unique vegetables to its growing foodservice portfolio.
But don’t take my word for it! Check out Jacobs Farm del Cabo booth #1310 and we will see you all soon!
ALABAMA, N. CAROLINA, and MINNESOTA - The German grocer is cementing its place in the U.S. market, with plans to open over a dozen new stores across the country. In its current production plan, four stores are in the works in North Carolina, eight new stores across Minnesota, and its very first store in Montgomery, Alabama.
According to Alabama News Network, Aldi has plans to invest $3.4 billion to expand to 2,500 U.S. brick-and-mortar stores by the end of 2022. Its first-time expansion into Montgomery, AL, is one part of that plan.
“We strive to make grocery shopping an enjoyable experience. We combine great food with affordable prices, and we are excited to open our first store in Montgomery, to show a new community of shoppers what we do best,” said Shaun O’Keefe, Jefferson Division Vice President for ALDI. “We pride ourselves on saving people time and money, and we can’t wait to provide Montgomery residents with a grocery store that meets their needs.”
The new Montgomery store is set to open on August 1 of this year, and the opening ceremonies will include a giveaway of gift cards to the first 100 customers and a sweepstakes to win a year’s supply of Aldi produce. The store will feature an expansive refrigeration space for its 40 percent increase in its fresh food selection, Alabama News Network reports.
Minnesota is another market that Aldi is attempting to dominate, with plans to operate at least 70 locations throughout the state. According to Minnesota Star Tribune, to achieve this goal, the retailer is opening eight new Minnesota locations. Aldi has spent over $34 million in the past two years to construct new stores and renovate existing ones. Since that time, almost 20 stores have been remodeled, with thirteen more in the works.
The new Minnesota stores will be located in:
- Richfield, opening August 14
- Minneapolis, opening August 21
- Chanhassen, opening in October
- St. Louis Park, opening in October
- Blaine, opening in November
- St. Paul, opening in November
- Phalen Village, opening in November
- Roseville, undisclosed opening
North Carolina is also in the retailer’s crosshairs as it plans to open four new locations, one of which will be located in a former Kroger spot in Raleigh, according to WRAL.
The new North Carolina stores will be located in:
- Cary, opening October 17, 2019
- Raleigh, opening October 31, 2019
- Raleigh, opening June 25, 2020
- Holly Springs, opening July 23, 2020
Where will Aldi set its sights next? AndNowUKnow will report.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Flavor is everything at Driscoll’s. And that is more than just a vision, but a commitment as well. What allows the team to make that essential commitment to the berry category is its deep dedication to cultivating the land on which it grows as well as its devotion to developing some of the best varieties across the industry. While retail has always been a huge part of the market share for Driscoll’s, foodservice is gaining ground, as we will witness at this year’s PMA Foodservice event.
“Here at Driscoll’s, we have begun to develop unique varieties that respond to the need for a premium berry experience among today’s shoppers. Take the recent release of our Limited Edition Rosé Berries™ in both strawberry and raspberry offerings,” Randy Benko, Director of Foodservice, shares with me. “We have also generated excitement around our other items like our Limited Edition Sweetest Batch™, which is a collection of high-flavor strawberries and raspberries that inspires memorable moments of sweet indulgence.”
For the Rosé berry selection, you can truly Rosé-all-day and bring a beautiful light-pink hue to the table cultivated from the non-GMO breeding methods used by Driscoll’s Joy Makers—a team of agronomists, breeders, sensory analysts, plant health scientists, and entomologists who research and develop proprietary varieties. The flavors are sweet, unique, and buzz-worthy across the board.
“In the foodservice world, flavor is so important when delighting shoppers and diners,” Randy adds. “The arena presents a huge opportunity for us to continue to grow. Knowing that there are so many more consumption moments out there is a great thing and is one of the highlights we are noticing when we look at consumer behavior. Some of the data we have gathered tells us that kids are eating a lot more frequently throughout the day—not just breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Berries present such a great way to entice and excite the shopper or diner whether it is as a snack, an ingredient, or an inspiring piece of fresh fruit that the chef can build a dish or drink around—we have tapped into a win-win for both retail and foodservice.”
I know I have got PMA Foodservice booth #218 on my radar. The bigger question is: Do you?
WALTHAM, MA - Wakefern has partnered with Takeoff Technologies to launch a new fulfillment center in Clifton, New Jersey. This move centers Wakefern’s commitment to improving the online grocery shopping experience.
"We are excited to partner with Takeoff Technologies to see how their hyperlocal automation technology will benefit our cooperative, retail members, and shoppers," said Steve P. Henig, Wakefern's Vice President of Digital Commerce & Analytics. "We are really proud of our e-Grocery shopping platform, ShopRite from Home®, and believe this partnership will enhance our online shopping service."
According to a press release, the ShopRite from Home program currently offers clients pick-up and home delivery services across most ShopRite store locations. The new fulfillment center will serve select ShopRite stores—operated by Wakefern member Inserra Supermarkets—in North Jersey and New York. Utilizing advanced robotics, orders of up to 60 grocery items can be assembled within minutes.
"We're thrilled to partner with Wakefern to help make their e-Grocery service even better," said Jose Aguerrevere, Takeoff’s CEO and Co-Founder. "Our hyperlocal approach and technology results in lower packaging costs and high last mile efficiency."
Additionally, both Wakefern and Takeoff have agreed to open new fulfillment centers in the future.
"Our e-Grocery automation is a turn-key, scalable solution that uses robotics to unlock convenience for shoppers without the need to charge extra fees," added Max Pedro, Co-Founder and President of Takeoff. "It's a win-win for grocers and shoppers."
For the latest on who’s partnering with whom, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - Walmart is making waves by granting $1.2 million to Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) in order to advance responsible labor practices through workforce development programs on fresh produce farms in Mexico. The Walmart Foundation grant runs through the end of 2020 and will support EFI in offering workforce development and certification programs to more Mexican suppliers.
“The grant support allows EFI to work across groups of growers, to expand its direct programs, and to deliver capacity, learning, and tools more widely than its immediate networks. EFI is well-positioned to drive this needed learning, collaboration, and problem-solving, given its experience implementing its assurance program in Mexico over the past several years,” said Karrie Denniston, Senior Director, Walmart.org, which represents the philanthropic efforts of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation.
According to the press release, the grant also supports outreach to and collaboration with like-minded organizations that want to expand social assurance protections for produce farmworkers in Mexico. EFI will work with partners to develop training workshops, assessment tools, and other materials that introduce continuous improvement and problem-solving strategies that promote responsible labor practices on Mexican farms.
In 2018, the fresh produce industry published the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, a charter outlining the guiding principles and effectively elevating labor concerns to the same critical level as food safety. Due to this publication, suppliers will need additional tools and resources to fully abide by charter principles and provide verification to customers and consumers.
“The ethical charter is an important commitment and market signal for improved practices, but it will take leadership and investment from a range of stakeholders to ensure that the principles laid out in the charter become the norm for the produce industry,” said Peter O’Driscoll, Executive Director for Equitable Food Initiative. “We applaud the Walmart Foundation’s grant-making to build capacity in this area and look forward to implementing our program and to working with other stakeholders from the public, private, and civil society sectors to promote the charter.”
Another key focus of the grant is to strengthen EFI’s capacity to develop responsible recruitment programs, to work with and build the capacity of Mexican organizations, and to engage public and private sector leaders on recruitment challenges.
To stay current with all things relevant to the produce industry, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
IRVINE, CA - Good morning, AndNowUKnow readers!
Today, I am bringing you some of the category and weather news from around the industry. Check back twice weekly to see where the rain is falling, the sun is shining, and everything in between.
EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING TO CALIFORNIA
California will experience a heat wave all this week that will affect several major growing regions.
All points of the San Joaquin Valley will see maximum temperatures well above 100° all week. Bakersfield and Fresno will be at 105° today and tomorrow but will rise to 107° on Thursday where it will remain through Monday of next week.
The northern end of the valley will also see maximum temperatures well above 100° and will hit a maximum of 106° on Thursday. Temperatures through the area will not drop below 100° until next Tuesday, July 30.
This may lead to possible quality issues on items such as tomatoes and melons out of these areas. Call your shippers.
The second main area of mention is the Salinas Valley. From Soledad south in the valley, expect the high temperature for tomorrow to be 97°and rise to 99° on Thursday. Maximum temperatures will remain at this elevated level through next Monday.
This may lead to quality issues on wet veg and tomatoes coming from these areas as well.
Oxnard/Ventura region along the southern coast of California will also experience well above average temperatures for this time of year. Maximum temperatures will range from the mid-80°s up to the mid-90°s all this week depending how far from the coast the farm is located. These temperatures are 10° to 20° above normal. Berries, lemons, bell peppers, and some wet veg are coming from these areas right now.
Please take your precautions.
RESPITE OF COOLER TEMPERATURES AND RAIN AFTER THE MASSIVE HEATWAVE
After a weekend of grueling heat through the Midwest and Northeast, many parts of the East Coast will see a good shot of rain and below average temperatures today.
From Pennsylvania in the north all the way down through Virginia, the Carolinas, and into Georgia, many growing regions can expect between 1.00” to 1.75” of rain today. The forecast is for a 100 percent chance of rain. Along with the rain will come cooler temperatures. Pennsylvania will see maximum temperatures in the mid-70°s today and tomorrow, while South Carolina and Georgia will see maximum temperatures in the mid-80°s. These temperatures are 20° cooler than what these areas saw over the weekend.
Please check the app for the commodities and specific locations that will be affected.
The Midwest will also see much cooler temperatures over the next several days. Locations that saw temperatures in the mid-90°s over the weekend were in the upper 70°s and low 80°s yesterday throughout the region. These cooler temperatures will continue through Thursday in many areas. Talking about states such as Indiana, Missouri, and as far south as Alabama and Arkansas.
Nothing to make an issue of, but definitely a big change compared to temperatures only a few days ago.
STORM #3 OFF THE SOUTHEASTERN TIP OF FLORIDA TO AFFECT NORTH CAROLINA WATERMELON GROWERS
"Tropical Depression Three," as it is being officially called by the National Hurricane Center, has formed off the southern tip of Florida over the weekend. The storm will not elevate in stature to a hurricane but is forecasted to bring 1.00” to 3.00” of rain to the east coast of Florida as it makes its way north today.
By this afternoon, the storm will be at the Florida-Georgia line where it will begin to pull away from the coast but is predicted to make landfall tomorrow morning in the state of North Carolina, where it will dump up to 2.00” of rain in the main watermelon growing areas of the region.
Please be aware of this rain to hit tomorrow.
ONE LAST NIGHT OF NEAR FREEZING TEMPS IN CHILE
Many growing regions of Chile have been experiencing below freezing temperatures the last few nights as we discussed last Friday. Last night saw the continuation of temperatures below the freezing mark. Tonight should be the last hurrah with temperatures dipping to around 33°. By tomorrow, we will be out of any danger with minimum temperatures around 36°. By this Friday, the nightly minimums will be back in the 40°s.
REMAINDER OF COUNTRY AND MEXICO EXPERIENCING NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR TIME OF YEAR
Outside of the weather issues mentioned above, we don’t see anything out of the norm for this time of year. Please check the app for specific growing locations and commodities for more specific data.
Thanks again, and we'll be back on Friday with another weather report!
CASTROVILLE, CA - Christopher Vacca, Executive Chef, culinary consultant, menu developer, and an alumnus of The Culinary Institute of America, has partnered up with Ocean Mist® Farms at this year’s PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo, where he will prepare and sample Tuscan Style Braised Baby Artichokes.
“It’s an honor to bring this caliber of chef to an industry event like the annual PMA Foodservice Conference where his experience is so highly valued,” said Diana McClean, Senior Director of Marketing at Ocean Mist Farms. “Chef Chris has always done an incredible job elevating artichokes at the annual Castroville Artichoke Festival, so we’re really looking forward to him sharing insight on foodservice trends with our partners.”
The Executive Chef of Hyatt Carmel Highlands has had his hand in many different ventures, from fine dining and fast‐casual to catering and food trucks; he was also the former Executive Chef at award‐winning Cantinetta Luca in Carmel. Chef Chris’ wealth of experience and knowledge is sure to bring exceptional flavor and attract many of the attendees at this year’s show.
Ocean Mist Farms’ press release also revealed that the company will showcase several of its washed and ready-to-use convenience products specifically designed with foodservice professionals in mind. Products on display will include Brussels Sprouts (whole, halves, and shreds) in 3 and 5 lb bags; Broccoli Florets in 3 lb bags; and Spinach in 1, 2, and 2.5 lb bags.
Be sure to stop by booth #219 at the show to catch Chef Chris in action and to check out Ocean Mist Farms' Baby Artichokes.
For more hot news in the industry, stay tuned with AndNowUKnow.
FRESNO, CA - Ever since the word blockchain hit the produce industry’s newswires, it’s been impossible to turn away from the importance of it. Retailers across the nation have continued to utilize blockchain technology to both differentiate themselves from their competitors and ensure their shoppers are getting the safest and freshest produce possible.
For example, Walmart recently announced its own blockchain-enabled Walmart Food Traceability Initiative, which it has been rolling out for the last 18 months. The retailer has made claims that with this blockchain technology, it is able to perform a complete traceback within minutes—rather than hours or even days.
Ever since that announcement, Famous Software
“Our development team has been working in direct partnership with Walmart and IBM to make sure that our ERP and FIS messaging products satisfy the needs of Walmart’s initiative and communicate seamlessly with the blockchain network,” stated Heather Hammock, President, Famous Software. “Our team has developed a complete on-boarding process that demonstrates how you can use your Famous Software solution to transmit the correct information to Walmart’s blockchain network and achieve compliance."
Additionally, once Walmart made that announcement that it would require both Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) labels and Advanced Ship Notification (ASN) information, Famous Software
As AndNowUKnow continues to follow Famous Software’s journey, we’ll keep you up to date with the latest in software innovations.
MCLEAN, VA - Gladstone Land Corporation announced that it has acquired 3,586 total acres of farmland and facilities in South Florida for total consideration consisting of $54.5 million in cash and 288,303 common units of limited partnership interest in its operating partnership. The OP Units issued were valued at $12.14 per unit, resulting in total consideration of approximately $58.0 million.
“This is an exciting acquisition for us and one that allows us to form a new relationship in Florida,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO of Gladstone Land. “We now own nearly 80,000 acres of farmland that are 100% leased to tenants who we believe to be great tenants. We believe in taking care of the land and water in Florida.”
According to a press release, the acreage has previously been used for vegetable and citrus farming. However, it is currently being used for diversified agricultural purposes, with the primary use being water retention. In connection with the acquisition, Gladstone also entered into an eight-year, triple-net lease with Caulkins Citrus Company.
“We are excited to partner with Gladstone Land on this property and look forward to continuing our management of the Caulkins Water Farm as part of the State of Florida’s comprehensive efforts to improve water quality in South Florida,” said George Caulkins, Managing Partner of Caulkins Citrus. “Given our experience in partnering with South Florida Water Management District to bring our water farm online in a timely and cost-effective manner, we plan to use the capital from this transaction to explore additional land investments in the state to retain and treat water and help eliminate discharges.”
Bill Frisbie, Managing Director of Gladstone Land, added, “We are very pleased to acquire another property in a prime vegetable growing region in South Florida. The majority of the property is currently utilized to retain and prevent water flowing from Lake Okeechobee to the coastal communities, which can have a negative environmental impact. Our tenant, Caulkins Citrus, has a multi-year contract with the South Florida Water Management District, with funding provided by the State of Florida. The property is adjacent to a large organic vegetable farm that we currently own and the Property has the potential to be converted into prime organic farm acreage in the future; however, our objective is to keep using it in its current purpose for as long as the State of Florida desires.”
For the latest in acquisitions, sales, and more, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow.
SEATTLE, WA - Internet giant Amazon has expanded its reach into Ohio by announcing plans to open two new Ohio fulfillment centers, one in Akron and the other in Rossford. This initiative will create more than 2,500 full-time jobs with comprehensive benefits and opportunities in an industry-leading workplace—not to mention the chance to work alongside Amazon robotics.
“Ohio has been a great place to do business, serve customers and create jobs; as a result, we are thrilled to develop two state-of-the-art fulfillment centers in Akron and Rossford,” said Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon’s Vice President of Global Customer Fulfillment. “We're excited to grow our team in the Buckeye state, which now includes more than 8,500 Amazonians, and be a part of the larger Ohio community.”
According to the press release given by Amazon, each fulfillment center is more than 700,000 square feet and will be used to pick, pack, and ship small items to customers.
Amazon is also investing in its associates by offering continuing education opportunities through Amazon’s upskill programs, such as Career Choice. Whether within the company or outside, Amazon is dedicated to providing and taking care of its associates.
“Amazon continues to demonstrate confidence in the great workforce and e-commerce business climate we have in Ohio,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “I’m pleased to welcome two additional investments from Amazon, which bring thousands of new jobs to Ohio and cutting-edge facilities to Akron and Rossford.”
How will Kroger respond to Amazon's new presence in its home turf? Stay tuned to ANUK for more updates.