PORTLAND, OR - In addition to strikes in Southern California, Albertsons and Kroger are now facing the possibility of labor strikes in the Pacific Northwest, too. According to the Willamette Week, 10,000 Portland-based workers as well as workers across Oregon and Southwest Washington, with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, are in various stages of voting to authorize a strike against Albertsons, Safeway, and Kroger-owned QFC and Fred Meyer.
“Our goals, always, are to reach an agreement that provides a solid package of wages, benefits, and a stable pension plan for our valued associates that allows our company to remain competitive despite disruption from the grocery industry,” Dennis Gibson, President of Fred Meyer, said in a statement.
While the Portland-based employees have already voted to authorize a strike, employees across Oregon and Washington will vote in July and August. All workers are striking to call attention to low wages.
“The employees seem to be under the impression that our members will be thrilled with increases of nickels and dimes,” Dan Clay, President of UFCW Local 555, said in a statement. “I, along with our member-comprised bargaining team, believe our hard-working members deserve much, much more. A strike vote identifies where our membership stands on this issue.”
“Based on the next round of bargaining, we’ll see what happens,” Kelley McAllister, a spokesperson for UFCW Local 555, added.
Albertsons has not provided a comment at this time. Negotiations have been in effect for the last year.
Will Kroger and Albertsons face strikes all along the West Coast? Or will a deal be reached between workers and the grocers? AndNowUKnow will continue to follow all leads.
REEDLEY, CA - The world of fresh produce is a labor of love in which everyone works to put out a product they are proud of. Expanding its organic Thomcord grape supply for the 2019 season, Fruit World Co. confirmed consumers love these grapes as much as the team did last year, and anticipates the return of high demand.
"I love the flavor and aroma of our Thomcord grapes, and I wanted to really connect with the consumers’ eating experience. So, we placed cards in over 160,000 one-pound clamshells, inviting consumers to connect via text message," Co-Founder CJ Buxman said of a 2018 consumer outreach idea.
1,800 text messages were received and responded to, reinforcing a beloved reception of the organic grape variety and inspiring the team to bring this texting campaign back in 2019 by inviting customers to ‘text-me’ via cards in each organic Thomcord grape package.
"It’s a lot of work responding, but the messages are heart-warming, and our retailers tell us it really drove repeat sales," said Co-Founder Bianca Kaprielian. "We were blown away by the response last year. We expected people to love the flavor, but were surprised and humbled by the large number of people that took the time to thank us for growing them."
A hybrid of the heirloom "grape jelly" Concord Grape and popular Thompson Seedless grape, Thomcords are known for being exceptionally flavorful and aromatic, according to a press release. Among the largest growers in California of organic Thomcord grapes, Fruit World said it expects to begin shipping its 2019 crop of Thomcord grapes in 20x1 lb clamshells and 10x2 lb brown paper totes the first week in August and will continue packing and shipping from its Reedley vineyard through early October.
"The Thomcord yield per acre is less than other varieties of table grapes, but its taste and aroma can’t be beat," Buxman said. "They also are a perfect example of our obsession with growing the most flavorful fruit possible."
In addition to premium Thomcords, Fruit World will be shipping an additional ten organic grape varieties for the 2019 season. These will be grown on the heritage vines of one of the first organic growers in California. A grower partner of Fruit World, the company proudly sells his fruit, touting it as some of the most flavorful, crunchiest grapes around. If you are looking to stock your stores, you can connect with Fruit World via its website.
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA - LIV Organic is continuing on its strong growth trajectory, and this time with the expansion of its team as the company welcomes industry vet, Wes Yamamoto. Just in time for this week’s Organic Produce Summit (OPS) in Monterey, California, Wes joins LIV Organic's Grower Relations and Sales Team with more than 38 years of experience in order to elevate the already stellar squad at the company.
“I am thrilled and excited to have joined the outstanding team at LIV Organic. I have been involved in the produce industry my entire life. My father was a strawberry grower in Watsonville, California, and my first experience was picking strawberries during the summers and after school,” Wes shares with me. “I loved being on the farm and I found myself wanting to learn more about the industry that was so deeply embedded in my roots. As a teenager, the education I received while working with my father inspired me to continue into the world of produce.”
Wes graduated from UCSB with a degree in Biological Sciences and started his produce career in 1981 working at Vista Sales/Vista Avocado, in Vista, California. After gleaning the knowledge he needed to take the next step on his path, Wes moved to different produce companies and finally landed at Sunrise Farms in San Marcos, California. His main focus was sales but Wes was also very involved in all aspects of the company.
“I have now worked in produce for over 38 years, accumulating knowledge and experience in all aspects of the industry including sales, marketing, grower relations, and field management. I am now eager to share my insights and contribute to the vision of LIV Organic. LIV Organic is a great company and I look forward to being a part of the team,” Wes tells me.
The LIV Organic portfolio includes premium organic citrus, watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, onions, potatoes, squash, peppers, and cauliflower. The company has a 52-week program for the citrus, onions, potatoes, and squash categories and additionally provides seasonal programs for its melons, peppers, cauliflower, and heirloom tomatoes.
Congratulations, Wes and the LIV Organic team, on the exciting road ahead. Swing by booth #113 at OPS to meet Wes and the great portfolio the company will be showcasing this week!
CALIFORNIA – Home to the San Andreas Fault, our state is no stranger to earthquakes or movies about the potential catastrophe that awaits along the temperamental fault line. This past week has had us all on high alert as a 3.4 magnitude earthquake concentrated in the growing region of Bakersfield, California, was followed by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Ridgecrest on the 4th of July and then a 7.1-magnitude earthquake on the 5th.
The Ridgecrest earthquakes shook an area from Sacramento to Mexico and prompted the evacuation of the Navy's largest single landholding, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in the Mojave Desert, according to the U.S. News and World Report. The 7.1 magnitude earthquake was the largest earthquake the region has seen in nearly 20 years.
As we previously reported, the Bakersfield earthquake came as a surprise to many as they prepared for the days harvest and the holiday week ahead.
Nick Martinez, Director of Operations for Country Sweet Produce, who talked to us after the Bakersfield earthquake jolted the region, shared these words after the Ridgecrest event on Friday.
“The earthquake hit Friday night around 8:30 pm,” Nick said. “We did a facility check Friday night and Saturday morning and so far everything has checked out and nothing was damaged. It's definitely going to be a 4th and 5th of July we will never forget.”
In addition, Cherie France, Marketing Manager, Homegrown Organic Farms, based in Porterville, California, felt blessed and relieved after checking in with the company’s operations.
“We were rattled here in the valley but thankfully have not sustained any damage. Our hearts go out to anyone affected!” she said.
According to a report by CNN the United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that another earthquake of a similar magnitude could potentially surface this week and aftershocks have occurred an average of once a minute since Friday night. In addition, USGS researchers are predicting that there's a 70 percent chance an earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 or higher will strike the San Francisco Bay area along the San Andreas fault zone before 2030.
The U.S. News and World Report added that California Governor Gavin Newsom estimated more than $100 million in economic damages and said President Donald Trump called him to offer federal support in the rebuilding effort.
"He's committed in the long haul, the long run, to help support the rebuilding efforts," Newsom was reported as saying of Trump.
While $100 million in damage is not light, the impact on the quake did not take a grueling toll largely due to the remoteness of the area. The Ridgecrest lies between the more population-dense areas of Southern California and Las Vegas' Clark County and seismologists warn that the area could see up to 30,000 aftershocks over the next six months. No fatalities or major injuries were reported after Friday night's 7.1-magnitude earthquake.
AndNowUKnow will keep you informed as the week in California shakes out.
PARIS, FRANCE - Although IKEA is known for its impossible-to-pronounce couch names and difficult-to-assemble book shelves, it’s also home to some stellar food. You can catch this redhead eating there every time she needs a new piece of furniture. And although the furniture titan may be considered a budgeter’s haven to most, the company considers itself a restaurant.
According to a report from Fast Company, IKEA claims to be the world’s sixth largest food chain—and it’s already sniffing after delivery options. A trial version of this home delivery is already in place in Paris, so Parisians will be able to snack on salads, salmon, and beets.
The food will be distributed out of a 58,000-square-foot urban store located in the city center. If the trial is successful, IKEA could expand the idea to Spain and other European markets.
However, questions still remain. Will the food items be hot and ready-to-eat? Will they be frozen? Perhaps my most pressing question is: Will there be meatballs?
A spokesperson told the news source that it was too early in the planning process to offer further details.
AndNowUKnow will be here to report on the latest updates as they crop up!
VANCOUVER, CANADA - Summer is officially in full swing and to keep cool, there are two things blue that I will be completely indulging in—the crisp breeze of the blue ocean and the refreshing taste of blueberries! Jason Fung, Vice President of Oppy’s Berry Category had a moment to fill me in on the market response for blueberries. He noted that for the conventional and organic blueberries, demand has been high!
“We started with California berries a few weeks ago and we’re currently shipping from New Jersey, California, and Oregon, and will begin harvesting in the Pacific Northwest, Washington, and British Columbia, in early July,” Jason said. “We expect volumes to ramp up in the coming weeks.”
Jason stated Oppy has been very happy with the blueberry quality this season and the company has been able to deliver thus far.
“Notably, very quickly in the last 12 months, we’ve built a virtually year-round organic blueberry program,” he noted.
Oppy’s berries represent a select range of varieties that optimize the eating experience through the season and the year. By growing with excellent partners, the blueberries it packs in the Ocean Spray brand promise high quality and flavor.
In keeping with volume expectations, Oppy is planning promotions starting the second week in July, and encouraging its customers to bring blueberries into their promotions throughout the summer and for back-to-school.
Jason explained one characteristic that sets Oppy’s berries apart the most is the Ocean Spray brand itself.
“Alongside Ocean Spray strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries, our Ocean Spray blueberry program enables our customers to offer a wide range of quality berries with a consistent label and a brand their shoppers trust,” he said. “Recent market research involving about 500 consumers indicates that the Ocean Spray berry brand is familiar and well-liked, with nearly 70 percent awareness and three in five Ocean Spray fresh berry purchasers having an extremely or very favorable opinion of the brand. Ocean Spray berries also received high marks for having just the right ripeness, good berry color, firmness, and overall appearance.”
With respect to purchase intent, Jason also mentioned the Ocean Spray fresh berries brand was favored by 52 percent of respondents who stated they would consider Ocean Spray for their next berry purchase.
Oppy offers organic and conventional blueberries in Ocean Spray branded 6-oz., pint, 18-oz., and 2-pound packs. Oppy is the exclusive supplier of Ocean Spray blueberries—as well as raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and cranberries.
For more updates on the blueberry season, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Now that grilling season is underway, sure, you can grill meat, but it’s when you bring produce into the mix that things get colorful. I’m talking bright red bells, sharp green zucchini, dazzling yellow squash, and now, the latest grillable option giving me heart eyes: Frieda’s Specialty Produce’s Stokes Purple® Sweet potatoes.
“We wanted to take shopper favorites and put a grilling twist on them, just in time for summer,” said Cindy Sherman, Director of Marketing. “We had fun making summertime S’MORES more colorful by adding a schmear of purple sweet potato on the graham cracker, or cooked a Stokes Purple Sweet potato right on the grill (wrapped in foil) as part of our exploration. Grilling these unique products develops richer, brighter flavors, making them a great addition to any summer BBQ.”
Frieda’s offers consumers a new and exciting option to toss on their grills this season, building on the popularity the potato category already has. According to a press release, recent research shows that potatoes are the second favorite vegetable to grill, right after corn.
“When you combine that with the fact that 68 percent of shoppers want to add more vegetables to their summer tables, it is a no brainer that shoppers would be looking for ways to grill and serve sweet potatoes, specifically Stokes Purple Sweet potatoes. Their firmer texture and balanced sweetness make them the ideal potato for grilling and summer sides,” Sherman commented.
To help consumers make the most of its Stokes Purple Sweet potatoes, the culinary experts at Frieda’s came up with several grilling- and picnic-friendly recipes inspired by sweet potatoes and other summer favorites. Some of the favorites include grilled Stokes Purple sweet potatoes, grilled cauliflower steaks with romesco sauce, honey lime jackfruit skewers, and a mayo-free, vegan Stokes Purple sweet potato salad.
Check out these great recipes at the Frieda’s new recipe portal here.
AndNowUKnow will keep reporting on all the ways to take advantage of summer food trends.
FREDERICKSBURG, VA - Publix is going ham for the Fredericksburg, Virginia, market. In addition to its existing Fredericksburg store, the grocer also recently signed a lease to up its store count in the city to two. Currently, Publix’s only Fredericksburg location is its northernmost location.
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Publix signed a lease on Monday, July 1, for a new location at the Embrey Mill Town Center. The store is slated to occupy 48,000 square feet and employ upwards of 130 people.
Late last year, Publix was making moves in other parts of Virginia, including Carytown, Virginia— seemingly fulfilling its plan of opening single-store locations in key cities.
In addition to its conventional format, Publix has also made strides expanding the footprint of its GreenWise Market banner, opening locations in South Carolina, Florida, and more.
Publix’s second Fredericksburg-based store will open in early 2021.
Where else is Publix hoping to plant brick-and-mortar seeds? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep an eye on all the retailers hoeing, mowing, and tilling across the country.
NONTHABURI, THAILAND - Everyone’s favorite smelling fruit is once again making waves in Asia for its rare varieties selling at exorbitant prices. You may have read our article back in March about a durian that sold for $1,000 and thought, ‘big whoop, I’ve spent more for less.’ But ladies and gents, that’s small potatoes, because reports have surfaced of a durian fruit that sold for 1.5 million baht ($48,000 USD) at an auction in Thailand.
The durian was hand-selected for its perfect shape, size, and ripeness, and is of the Kanyao variety—one of the rarest in the world because it was almost completely wiped out after a mass flood. This year’s prize durian smashed last year’s record of an 800,000 baht durian that was sold at the King of Durian festival, according to Channel News Asia.
The glamorous auction, which featured models parading the fruit around, showcased several durian varieties, including Monthong, Kanyao, and Kop Med Tao—each sold for more than 300,000 baht (for comparison, whole durian typically sell in Thailand for around 500 baht). After all was said and done, the auction brought in a total of 4.5 million baht in proceeds, which are to be passed back to the farmers and donated to local charities.
''I knew this was a very special durian but I was amazed at how much it sold for. I was expecting one million baht, so for it to sell more is very good,” said Maliwan Han Chai Thai, the Owner of the farm where the prized durian was grown. ''I hope the high bidder enjoys eating the durian. This variety is the tastiest in the world and we will keep growing them.''
All I can say is, for $48,000 that fruit better sing and dance, too.
AndNowUKnow will keep you informed about the wide world of crazy expensive produce.
SANTA BARBARA, CA - Apeel Sciences, known best for its sustainable avocado solution, has announced the appointment of David Nelley to VP of Domestic Buyer Relations. Within this role, he will work to establish new relationships with buyers, while simultaneously saving produce from landfills and helping the planet.
“Apeel is a greater calling for anyone who’s involved in agriculture,” Nelley said. “Not only are we in this for the business opportunity, but everyone throughout the supply chain is a partner in meeting the global challenge of feeding the future sustainably. To me, Apeel is a reason to be positive about the future of produce.”
Raised on a farm in New Zealand, David always had a passion for agriculture that fueled his professional career in produce, which began in 1993 at the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board. After opening sales offices in Seattle and Singapore, David joined the Oppenheimer team in 2001 where he rose to VP of Categories and Global Exports.
According to a press release, Nelley has now dedicated 30 years of his career to moving premium produce around the world. Along the way, he’s worked on making the process more sustainable by educating himself on areas of sustainability, such as improving pack-outs and creating efficiencies.
“David brings a deep perspective of a global produce industry on both the buy- and supply-side of the business that strengthens our organization as we move Apeel into the future and around the world,” stated Gordon Robertson, CRO.
During his tenure at Oppy, Nelley played a pivotal role in developing the premium apple segment in North America. Through his leadership, apples like Braeburn, Pacific Rose, JAZZ™, and Envy™ became household names. Nelley has also built lasting relationships and partnerships with growers in Chile, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and other growing markets around the world.
He holds a bachelor's degree with honors in international management and marketing from Waikato University in Hamilton, New Zealand, and has completed Food Marketing and Agribusiness courses at Portland State and Harvard universities.
Congratulations to David on this new role!