LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - To say that The Allen Lund Company has been busy lately would be a bit of an understatement. Building on the recent wave of growth and expansion, the company has promoted Ryan Stephenson to Corporate Business Development Team Leader.
“We are all about growth. We think that he'll be a great addition to the company. He is going to bring a lot of organization and energy and mentorship...and we are really excited,” President Eddie Lund shared with us in this interview.
Stephenson has been the top performing Business Development Specialist (BDS) in the company, according to the company, beginning his career with ALC as a transportation broker with which he brought 10 years of experience.
"Ryan's sales success over the last 10 years speaks for itself. The same qualities that make him a great salesman will translate well in this new role. He is organized, persistent, a great team player, and he knows how to win. I look forward to working with him to help drive sales throughout ALC, " Lund added in a recent press release.
In this new position, Ryan will also be working with all the BDS' and their managers to drive new revenue opportunities for ALC.
"I'd like to express tremendous gratitude to my Charleston team for all their support over the years. To the ALC Executive team, I am grateful and excited for this opportunity,” Stephenson said. “I look forward to working with the entire ALC sales team, and I am confident we will achieve great things together."
Congrats, Ryan, on the promotion to Corporate Business Development Team Leader! And to Allen Lund, we look forward to all the growth ahead!
FRESNO, CA – Randy Giumarra, Chairman of the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) Board of Directors recently announced that Ian LeMay will serve as the new President of the CFFA. LeMay will succeed George Radanovich, who has held the position since 2016 and will be leaving CFFA to promote sound ag labor policy in Washington, DC. LeMay will begin his tenure as CFFA President on June 1, 2019.
"I am humbled and appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve the members of the California Fresh Fruit Association in a new capacity," said LeMay. “I came to the Association four years ago because I believe in its mission, deeply respect its history, and see infinite potential in advocating for the permanent fresh fruit growers and shippers of California. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe two great Association leaders in Barry Bedwell and George Radanovich, and thank them for their commitment to bettering our industry. The challenges that face us are many. These have not been easy years for our industry, but I remain confident in the future of California agriculture and our opportunity to advocate for meaningful policy with a unified voice.”
A recent press release detailed LeMay’s career and dedication to the continued success of California agriculture. Since 2015, LeMay has served as CFFA’s Director of Member Relations and Communications. From 2011 to 2015, LeMay served as the District Director for Congressman Jim Costa who represents California’s 16th Congressional District. As District Director, LeMay managed the Congressman’s district staff and advised the Congressman on a number of issues including agriculture, water, and transportation. Prior to working for Congressman Costa, LeMay worked as a California Market Specialist for the Lindsay Corporation. LeMay is a recent graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (Class 48).
“Ian’s appointment is a reflection of our Board’s commitment to establishing long-term leadership for our industry,” stated Giumarra. “Our Board and I have worked closely with Ian over the past four years. We are confident in his abilities and look forward to his leadership. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank George for his time, leadership, and impact that he has made over the last three years. George’s service is greatly appreciated by our entire membership.”
Ian and his wife Molly reside in Fresno with their two children, Emery Rose and Ellison James, and will welcome their third child this August.
Congratulations to Ian on this next step in his career!
HOUSTON, TX - Monterey Mushrooms’ forward thinking transportation division is getting a fresh coat of paint. This week, the mushroom maker announced plans to rebrand Monterey Logistics. After 34 years in business, Monterey Logistics will now become Premier Refrigerated Transport.
“We are the same company and people, but now we have a new updated name and look that reflects where we are headed,” said Robert Hampton, Vice President of Logistics, in a press release. “We pride ourselves on operating with the highest cold-chain standards in the industry, a craft that’s been honed for more than 34 years hauling highly-sensitive and perishable cargo for our dedicated service accounts.”
According to the company’s press release, Premier Refrigerated Transport is a mid-sized logistics company operating a fleet of more than 100 trucks, along with a 24-hour operations center that uses some of the best transportation technology on the market.
Premier Refrigerated Transport currently has has 17 terminals in 10 states and makes deliveries to all continental states, traveling more than 17 million miles annually. The company provides regional and national LTL and truckload hauling, servicing Monterey Mushrooms and its affiliates, along with other customers include fresh produce shippers, retailers, wholesalers, and perishable distributors.
CALIFORNIA - Spring’s last gasp is headed towards California this week, with a March-like weather pattern bringing stormy weather to the state. Though earlier days in the week will see pleasant, pre-summer weather, the later days of the week will be blustery and miserable. But it’s not all doom-and-gloom for some weather experts.
“This late-season storm will help prevent a shortage of the water supply during the summer and fall across the state,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
Driven by a dip in the jet stream, the rare storm will hit first in Northern California with rain before spreading across the state on Wednesday. The hardest-hit locations may see up to four to five inches of rain—around two to three times their normal monthly rainfall. For this late in the season it is extremely unusual to see a storm of this level in the region, and growing regions in the San Joaquin Valley will have to endure showers and thunderstorms from Wednesday night into Thursday, with localized heavy downpours and the possibility of light hail, according to AccuWeather.
Travel will be impacted, with roadways expected to be slippery with several delays on Interstates 5 and 80, as well as secondary roadways. Flight delays and cancellations in and out of Western hubs are also possible. Unsurprisingly, flash flooding is a risk in areas prone to flooding.
The incoming rain will bring with it chillier-than-average air, with high temperatures in the middle 60s across the Central Valley, about 20 degrees lower than the average May highs in the 80s. Even Death Valley will see temperatures only in the upper 70s. Snow levels are also expected to drop as low as 6,000—7,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada region by Thursday, with up to a foot of snow possible at higher elevations. Travelers in this region should expect delays.
Wind is expected to be not just cold, but gusty as well. The heavy winds may even bring severe local thunderstorms, with the possibility of hail.
"The potential for severe thunderstorms will extend well inland beyond California as the storm moves along to portions of Nevada, Arizona and Utah at the end of the week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
There is a silver lining to this storm, as the rain and cool air will minimize the threat of fire by keeping vegetation and the ground saturated.
This abnormal weather shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, with at least two more storms expected to his California this weekend into the middle of next week.
How will this unexpected storm impact crops and harvest time? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
PEARALL, TX - Black Gold Farms began harvest of the 2019 fresh crop of Texas colored potatoes earlier this week. The first run fields have indicated that the quality will be up to par!
“Getting into fresh crop for the year is always exciting—for us at the farm and for our customers,” said Keith Groven, Sales Manager of Black Gold Farms. “Retailers are thrilled to get their hands on fresh red and yellow potatoes.”
According to the company’s press release, Black Gold Farms recently finished up a strong storage season out of its North Dakota location. Texas-grown red and yellow potatoes will ship from Pearsall, TX, as well Black Gold Farms’ Arbyrd, MO, packing facility until early June. After that, Black Gold Farms will transition to its Missouri fresh colored potato crop that will pack and ship out for the summer of that location.
“I’m really excited to be digging our fresh red and yellow spuds,” said Steve Wright, Farm Manager of the Pearsall farm. “I’ve seen a lot of really good-looking potatoes come out of this area year after year—and this particular season, I’m especially excited.”
Wright noted that optimal weather, timing, variety, and land selection are triggers that set up the season for success.
Black Gold Farms also aims to leverage consumer demand for local potatoes.
“Texas retailers particularly, have witnessed the demand that Texas-grown colored potatoes can create. A lot of product can move when consumers know it’s local,” said Groven.
Texas locally-grown 5 pound poly packaging and half bins for Texas Locally Grown programs for 2019 are now available.
For updates on the potato season and anything fresh produce, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Of the top 22 finalists for this year’s Viva Fresh Innovation Showcase, three progressive and forward-thinking companies took top spots during the Best in Show voting segment that occurred on the trade show floor. I spoke with the teams behind the products and a few innovative voices shared their excitement with me.
Let’s take a look at what the winners had to say…
1st Place: Triple H - Triple H Grower's App
“We are excited and grateful for receiving the Best of Show Award in the Innovation Showcase, recognizing all the new ideas and ways to do things better among the fresh produce industry," said Jesus Claudio Zazueta, Operations VP, Triple H. "In this ever-changing atmosphere, it becomes crucial to embrace innovation as part of our DNA and, in Triple H, we are betting on technology as the pathway to strive as a company."
Allan Cardel, IT Manager, added: “The Grower’s App project was born out of the need and desire to offer transparency giving access to real-time information for the grower in a friendly platform that helps them run their business smoothly and timely. The grower’s profile has evolved over the last years, and so has our way to communicate and do business. This technological solution reduces the barrier of distance shortening response times and presenting critical information in real time.”
The mobile app is designed for associated growers where they can do real-time tracking on the status and location of their products being shipped from Mexico into the U.S. The app allows growers to monitor their product’s commercial performance on the facility where it will be sold from (inventory, conditions, selling prices, expenditures, financial breakdowns) allowing them to make the necessary adjustments, thus taking wiser and timely decisions to maximize profitability.
2nd Place: Frontera Produce - Sostena ProducePlan.com & GroundSight technology in collaboration with Crescent Fruit & Veg
“Thank you all who voted for our Innovation Showcase! We are elated to be part of this emerging technology, which is sure to revolutionize the produce industry, by promoting full supply chain visibility," said Amy Gates, President, Frontera Produce. "One of our core values at Frontera is transparency, and this technology pairs wonderfully with that aspect of our culture and allows us to continue to enhance communication with our customers to ensure a spectacular consumer experience.”
The development of Golden Crush was a cooperative effort by Sostena and Origene Seeds and was in direct response to declining consumer consumption and sales of cantaloupes at retail. ProducePlan.com and GroundSight were both conceived due to serious shortfalls in the produce supply chain. ProducePlan.com helps to ensure all key stakeholders have a coordinated supply chain by building supply plans based on demand plans, no more “plan and pray.” And with the precision irrigation technology of GroundSight, the companies have been able to help growers get increased yields and better quality.
3rd Place: National Mango Board - In-store Mango Display
"It’s an honor to be recognized by the Innovation Committee and we deeply appreciate Viva Fresh for bringing together such value and talent in our industry into one space for the expo each year," said Angela Serna, Communications Manager, National Mango Board. "We are working really hard to get the mango message out to our consumers and partners. The super fun superfruit message is resonating and continuing to grow."
The National Mango Board’s (NMB) in-store display provides retailers with a resource to showcase mangos and ultimately educate their customers while increasing sales. The reason? There was a need, according to the board, for a disruptor in the produce section that would call attention to mangos and provide a vehicle to present the fruit to their customers in a pleasing and consistent position. In 2018, the NMB distributed over 5,000 displays to retail partners and plans to double that distribution in 2019. Retailers benefit by having a visually pleasing and engaging resource to help them build sales incrementally 30% and more.
Congrats to the winners and to all the finalists from this year’s Viva Fresh Innovation Showcase!
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Frieda’s super-hot pepper season has arrived early this year! Peppers like ghost, carolina reaper, and trinidad scorpion are on their way just in time for Memorial Day displays.
“Super-hot peppers have become a cult favorite in recent years,” said Alex Berkley, Sales Manager. “We are seeing their arrival from Holland earlier than last year, which is perfect timing to add them to ‘chill & grill' displays and merchandise with summer favorites like watermelon and refreshing young coconuts, on ice. In fact, according to a recent study by C + R Research in partnership with Frieda’s, 35 percent of shoppers say they are more likely to shop at YOUR store if you sell young coconuts.”
According to a press release, you can entice shoppers to celebrate Memorial Day by adding to your summer displays.
“With Memorial Day serving as the kickoff to the summer grilling season, we encourage retailers to add new grilling favorites to its summer sets, including Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, colored cauliflower, shishito peppers, and graffiti eggplant,” noted Berkley.
For updates on the hot pepper season this upcoming Memorial Day weekend, keep tuning into AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON, DC - As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet their contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the PACA. These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA. By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.
According to a press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Sunny Fresh Citrus Export and Sales Co. LLC, operating out of Vero Beach, Florida, for failing to pay a $6,384 award in favor of a New Jersey seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jean Marinaro and Robert Marinaro were listed as members of the business.
- Jia Mei Trading Inc., operating out of Norcross, Georgia, for failing to pay a $24,581 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Cheng Huang Zhong was listed as the officer, director, and/or major stockholder of the business.
- Jay Dee Produce LLC, operating out of Baltimore, Maryland, for failing to pay a $9,180 award in favor of a Maryland seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jason Davidson was listed as a member of the business.
- Ever Fresh Global Import LLC, operating out of McAllen, Texas, for failing to pay a $1,378 award in favor of a Pennsylvania seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Hector Olvera Ayon, Rafael Olvera Ayon, and Israel Olvera Ayon were listed as members 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 3,350 PACA claims involving more than $63 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $156 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - SpartanNash announced preliminary net sales and earnings results for its first quarter 2019. The company noted “challenges in the supply chain, fresh kitchen, and retail operations” and lowered its fiscal 2019 guidance significantly.
Despite challenges, though, SpartanNash's President and Chief Executive Officer, David Staples, noted “significant progress against [the company’s] strategic objectives.”
“We remain focused on achieving our top five objectives for 2019: 1) growing sales in the mid-single digit range; 2) realizing an annual run rate of at least $15 million of earnings improvements through Project One Team over 24 months; 3) strengthening our management team, systems, food processing, and supply chain operations; 4) reducing debt and working capital while lowering financial leverage ratios; and 5) improving adjusted operating earnings and EBITDA,” Staples said in a press release.
SpartanNash lowered its adjusted EPS from continuing operations from $0.33-$0.37 to $0.23-$0.24 for the quarter ending April 20, 2019. And for the fiscal year ending December 28, 2019, the company lowered its adjusted EBITDA from $210-$220 million to $190-$205 million and its adjusted EPS from continuing operations from $1.70-$1.80 to $1.20-$1.50.
Despite significant reductions in its predictions, SpartanNash maintained its prediction that net sales growth would continue in the mid-single digits.
“While we made significant progress against our strategic objectives, challenges in the supply chain, fresh kitchen, and retail operations did not allow us to convert our top line success to the bottom line,” Staples said. “This, along with the ongoing voluntary recall at our fresh cut fruit operations caused us to fall short of our original financial expectations in the first quarter and will impact our fiscal year 2019 outlook. We continue to be pleased with our sales growth and ability to attract new business at our fresh kitchen operations. Our team remains focused on deploying strategies to generate profitability from this growth, despite the historically tight labor markets and higher cost of transportation.”
Despite challenges, Staples affirmed the continuing success of its Project One Team in generating cost savings.
“Our team remains committed to improving our operational execution and financial results as we begin the implementation of initiatives in connection with our company-wide program, Project One Team, and we continue to build out our supply chain leadership,” added Staples. “Project One Team has exceeded our initial expectations and we now estimate the initiative will result in more than $20 million in annual run rate efficiencies and cost reductions when fully implemented over the next 24 months. Additionally, we have made key leadership changes across our organization and engaged a team of outside production experts for our fresh kitchen to improve our execution and best position us for sustainable improvements in our business for the remainder of 2019 and into the future. As we look to the remainder of the fiscal year, we believe our comparisons to the prior year will improve sequentially each quarter.”
To read SpartanNash’s statement in its entirety, click here.
For more fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
VALENCIA, CA - Growing up, there was nothing better than enjoying a Saturday morning cartoon marathon while feasting on halved grapefruits. Even though I wasn’t familiar with the term “boujee” in my adolescence, I couldn’t help but feel particularly decadent with a grapefruit in hand. The reason I share this story is in honor of the start of the summer grapefruit season, which Christina Ward, Director of Communications, assured me will have all of North America’s grapefruit consumers feeling bad and boujee.
“While Sunkist grapefruit is available year-round, we are just getting started with our summer grapefruit season,” Christina told me. “This season, we’re seeing an increase in volume of most of our varieties, with summer grapefruit volume coming in with similar numbers to last year’s.”
Sunkist is especially excited for its California Star Ruby and Marsh grapefruit varieties; Sunkist’s California Star Ruby is available now, with the Marsh grapefruit available this summer through October—long live summer! Christina revealed that the company expects both varieties to return strong to the retail scene with the usual high-quality flavor and quality many of us have come to expect from Sunkist.
Because California has experienced a particularly wishy-washy spring, with hot and cold spells seeming to settle into our growing regions interchangeably each week, I had to ask Christina how Sunkist has fared with the wonky weather. But Sunkist is nothing if not one to roll with the punches, so Christina had nothing but positive news.
“To date, the heavy California rainfall has enabled growth with California Star Ruby Grapefruit. As a result, Sunkist is anticipating medium to large-size fruit offerings for our grapefruit varieties, and even our other citrus categories,” Christina said.
All of this just to say: Get ready for summer grapefruit because Sunkist has another great season heading retailers' and consumers' way!
For more crop updates like this, keep reading AndNowUKnow.