I trust the information I read from AndNowUKnow. I know this because of our history with them at TLC. When they call and ask for a quote, I am confident that what I say will be shared verbatim. This had been proved time and again. They allow the message to speak for itself and don’t pontificate, take editorial license, or bend the facts to suit an agenda. I look forward to reading what is trending and can count on ANUK to deliver.
MILWAUKEE, WI - Kroger purchased a portion of the pharmacy business of Shopko Inc., taking over the pharmacy files of 42 Shopko locations.
This deal includes nearly two-thirds of Shopko locations in Wisconsin, showcasing the company’s “ongoing investment in the state,” according to Rodney McMullen, CEO of Kroger, in a recent article in local news source Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
After the purchase of the Roundy’s franchise in 2015, Kroger invested $300 million in its 106 Wisconsin stores and employs around 13,000 people statewide. McMullen added that the growth of the pharmacy sector within Kroger stores is a part of the plan to continue building the company’s presence in the state.
McCullen continued, "For us, it's an absolutely important and critical part of our growth; it's that overall relationship with the customer. What we are trying to do is make your life easier.”
He emphasized, "We're just trying to make it incredibly easy for you and to do it with great service and incredible, fair pricing. We have an unrelenting focus on serving our customers."
While the financials of the agreement were not disclosed, a spokesman from Kroger was reported stating the purchase adds a “significant number of potential new pharmacy customers to Kroger’s stores.”
In addition to the 22 Wisconsin Kroger stores that will be the home of Shopko pharmacy customers, the company has announced that it will be adding pharmacies to two Wisconsin Pick ’n Save locations in early January. As many Shopko pharmacy employees as possible will be interviewed for the new pharmacy positions to avoid a loss of jobs in the community.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for reports on the latest expansions and acquisitions industry wide.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Unlike other categories it shares the produce aisle with, mushroom season lasts all year long! Since my eating life revolves around the fungi category, Mike O’Brien, Monterey Mushrooms’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing, shared this simple fact (that I probably should have known already) with me and immediately sent me into a tizzy of toadstool triumph for the 365 possible days and mushroom-recipes to enjoy year-round.
And more good news abounded as I spoke with Mike to find out about the current mushroom season and how retailers can prepare for the onslaught of holiday fungi culinary activities.
“Mushroom quality is quite good right now. We have excellent experienced mushroom growers that pride themselves on the mushrooms they grow,” Mike shared with me. “What we are seeing is a shift from white mushrooms to brown mushrooms. The latest report from the Mushroom Council has whites at 60 percent of total mushroom consumption and browns at 33 percent. And, with the weather cooling down and the holidays coming up, people are changing how they cook and consume mushrooms.”
Seriously, if you ever need a hit of good news, checking in with the mushroom category is a must, as mushrooms are typically immune to Mother Nature’s outbursts thanks to their indoor growing operations. Mike also noted that the Mushroom Council reported the 52-week mushroom category sales increased +6.1 percent in dollars and +6.5 percent in volume.
“However, our challenges are the rising cost of doing business due to lack of labor, high distribution costs, and inflationary input costs,” Mike explained to me.
A Monterey Mushrooms story is incomplete without a note about its popular new product line, Let’s Blend™. I asked Mike what retail can expect from this exciting on-trend line and his answer did not disappoint.
“We continue to be excited about our new product line, Let’s Blend®,” Mike concluded. “We partner with our retail customers in collaborative category management, offer a dedicated in-house team to work with our retail customers to help customize plans for their chain, and collectively develop programs to increase transaction count and market basket size. Let’s Blend is a great item at retail because it has an extended shelf-life, recyclable packaging with cooking instructions on the pack, a visible best-by date, and a cut-out window to see the product.”
Let’s all agree to not judge when we bump into each other in the checkout line and notice carts stacked only with Monterey Mushrooms Let’s Blend.
To stay ahead of the holidays in fresh produce style, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.
WASHINGTON - While 2018 may have been a year of ups and downs (not to mention more than a few weather incidents), Equitable Food Initiative took huge steps forward this year. These accomplishments began with welcoming two new companies to its list of certified growers, followed by the unveiling of a new website—which earned the prestigious Hermes Creative and Telly awards for its updated brand logo and new video series— and the publication of articles on ways the fresh produce industry can put the new Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices into action. Aside from these accomplishments and accolades, it is the positive impact of its certification program on individuals that EFI is most proud of.
“Our mission is to bring together growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumers to transform agriculture and improve the lives of farmworkers,” stated LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing and Communications. “So, when we get feedback from growers that our certification program is making a difference in not just improving their business but also improving the lives of farmworkers, we know we’re on track in achieving our mission, and that’s more valuable than awards.”
Over the past year, as part of the EFI certification process, the Leadership Team has accomplished many successes, including improving the workforce recruitment and retention for participating growers by undertaking initiatives to improve working conditions, develop collaborative work processes, offer access to more educational opportunities.
According to the press release, some of the top challenges facing EFI Leadership Teams on farms are general working conditions. The company is working to develop more trust between workers and management since higher levels of worker engagement organically arise from an environment of trust and collaboration.
“The staff feels more empowered, more engaged in our business, and their voices matter. This has led to a tremendous amount of improvements in our business based on their feedback on simple things that wouldn’t have been obvious to us unless they [the employees] brought them forward,” shared Kevin Doran, President and CEO of Houweling’s Tomatoes.
Reflecting on the demographics of the workforce, EFI Leadership teams are cross-level and cross-functional teams that address and support issues benefiting both the worker and the business. Some companies have reported searching for progressive solutions to help ease the transition from maternity leave—one supplier added lactation tents for privacy and refrigerated storage for breastfeeding new moms. In addition, one grower is tackling the language barrier by offering onsite classes to help workers learn English as a second language, and a supplier in Mexico has been working with the National Institute for Adult Education to increase literacy among its farmworkers.
Currently, 20 grower-shipper companies across 39 commodities have started applying the EFI Leadership Team model. These efforts have not only improved the companies' bottom lines but also enhanced the lives of more than 30,000 farmworkers who are exposed to new opportunities for advancement and skill development. Nearly $6 million in bonuses have been paid by participating retailers to farmworkers through EFI’s premium program.
“When we look back on 2018 we have a lot to celebrate. Thanks to our dedicated partners, we are proving we can help the produce industry unleash the potential and skills of farmworkers,” remarked Ruzzamenti. “Together we can build better companies that transform the lives of farmworkers while creating a safer, more socially responsible and transparent supply chain for consumers.”
We at AndNowUKnow celebrate these sorts of socially conscious and enriching programs, and will keep you updated on programs and policies of this ilk.
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA - When I think of December, I think citrus. Ramping up in the organic space and addressing the needs of retailers across the country is LIV Organic Produce—a grower partnership built on consistent supply from several family farms and strategic packing facilities to bring more value and opportunities to customers and the end consumer.
Carrie Briones, Sales and Grower Relations for the burgeoning company, joins me to discuss the citrus categories increasing in sales that comprise the company’s growing portfolio. But, first, why the growth? Demand, demand, demand.
“Organic citrus is a core item of the program here at LIV Organic, and for good reason—the sector experiences year-round demand and we have cultivated a strong and consistent high-level supply chain to ensure our customers can meet the growing needs of their shoppers, Carrie tells me. “As with the additional family of items we focus on, our growers and partners are our foundation and a part of our continued success in what lies ahead. As we add varieties, acres, and new innovations we will always remain committed to creating and executing a long-term and sustainable plan with them.”
Currently LIV Organic is shipping from California growing regions that include Coachella Valley, Fallbrook, Temecula, San Juan Capistrano, Fresno Edison, McFarland, Fillmore, and Pauma Valley. And you need an immense amount of growing regions to grow the company’s all organic line featuring lemons, navels, Valencias, grapefruit, pink variegated lemons, Meyer lemons, Minneolas, Royal mandarins, and Cara Cara oranges.
I ask Carrie, as we move toward the holiday push, what citrus items is she noting with growing demand and popularity?
“We are seeing growth on all organic citrus and also seeing more retailers using bagged citrus,” she shares with me. “With lots of options of organic citrus during the winter season it provides lots of choices for retailers to promote. We also provide an array of packaging to fit each retailer's need.”
Quality on all of LIV Organic’s California items has been outstanding so far this season.
Carrie adds that LIV Organic is not just out there sourcing fruit. It’s about both the needs of the customer paired with the best capabilities of the grower.
“These are families we trust and know deeply—families we walk the fields and groves with and plan for beyond just today and tomorrow,” Carrie says. “These are long-term considerations and relationships across the board.”
Christmas lists, dinner lists, dessert lists, cocktail lists—citrus is coming to town.
WASHINGTON, DC - After months of impasse over the infamous Farm Bill, a compromise was reached last night, moving the legislation one step closer to the House, Senate, and being signed into law by President Trump.
Many from across our industry applauded the milestone reached, particularly for the organic and specialty crop industries, and celebrated the forward movement of the bill.
“We are pleased that the farm bill negotiators have completed their task as the 2018 Farm Bill acknowledges the growing importance of the specialty crop industry to American agriculture and offers real progress on many of our top priorities, including funding for mechanization research and development, as well as improved access to crop insurance tools,” said Tom Nassif, Western Growers’ President and CEO in a statement. “All in all, we applaud the committee leaders, conferees, and staff for their diligence in producing a strong, bi-partisan farm bill, and we urge swift passage and enactment before the end of the year.”
Nassif also pointed to the following achievements the latest Farm Bill included:
- Funding increases for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative
- The continuation of funding for vital citrus greening research
- The creation of an Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority pilot program, an innovative, private sector-modeled approach to funding high-priority research needs
- Positive reforms to the National Organics Standards Board
- Improved access to rural water infrastructure funds for our local communities
- A waiver of the adjusted gross income limit for conservation program eligibility, ensuring our growers will not be excluded from smart stewardship efforts simply because of their financial viability
In addition to the aforementioned accomplishments, the Organic Trade Association, which has been involved in the shaping of the Farm Bill since 2016, lauded the following organic industry priorities included in the Farm Bill:
- Essential tools and funding for the improved oversight of trade to ensure the integrity of organic throughout the global supply chain
- The largest increase in funding for the flagship Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) program in over a decade to achieve stable, baseline mandatory funding for the program
- Funding for the organic certification cost-share program that helps to incentivize small and beginning farmers to transition to organic by relieving some of the associated costs with annual organic certification fees
- Full funding for the Organic Data Initiative, USDA's organic data collection program that provides accurate market and production information for the organic industry
“This Farm Bill marks a key milestone for organic with $50 million in annual funding for the flagship Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) program by 2023, more than double the current funding level,” Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association said in a statement. “This will ensure stable, baseline mandatory funding for the program, and will enable organic farmers to meet the unique challenges they face. The bill also includes important steps to modernize and speed up federal efforts to prevent organic fraud, to create a transparent marketplace, and to ensure that every stakeholder in the organic chain is playing by the rules.”
California Fresh Fruit Association's President George Radanovich added, “We are encouraged to see that the Conferees were able to come to an agreement and that U.S. Agriculture will again have a long-term plan laid out in the Farm Bill. We hope for swift and robust approval in both the House and Senate. Thank you to Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow, Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Peterson for all of your work.”
"TIPA is pleased with the progress being made on the 2018 Farm Bill. After the challenges in September, it felt like the bill was destined to be a piece of 2019 legislation. It'll be a relief to finally see the 2018 Farm Bill get approved," said Dante Galeazzi, TIPA President. "For the region, we are especially grateful to see the additions made in the bill to further citrus disease research and continuing foreign market access programs."
PMA’s Vice President of Global Membership and Engagement Richard Owen added, "After many months of work, PMA is pleased to see the leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees release the conference report for the 2018 Farm Bill. We’re particularly pleased to see increased specialty crop funding in the areas of research, technical assistance, and inspection services. Funding for programs that provide access to new markets is also key, considering the importance of exports to the livelihood of so many U.S. fruit and vegetable producers. We look forward to the Farm Bill quickly moving through Congress and on to the President for signature."
Robert Guenther, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at United Fresh, likewise applauded the approval of the Farm Bill conference report.
“United Fresh commends the House and the Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee for approving a Farm Bill conference report that includes the priorities of United Fresh and our members,” said Guenther, in a statement. “We are proud to be part of the leadership team of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance which has focused its efforts over the last three Farm Bills to ensure that our critical segment of agriculture is a vital partner in developing farm and agriculture legislation for the United States…The fresh produce industry has much at stake in this legislation and we are grateful for the recognition of the role our industry plays in providing nutritious foods for Americans and those around the world. We look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure Congressional passage of this legislation so that it reaches the President’s desk before the conclusion of the 115th Congress.”
Will the compromise be enough to push the Farm Bill through the House and the Senate? AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest legislation affecting our industry.
DAVENPORT, IOWA - The world of grocery stores is rapidly changing, as retailers across the country attempt to entice consumers in novel ways. Customers are looking for more than just standard grocery store fare these days, and the market is responding accordingly. Now, Hy-Vee has taken a leap forward with its new and innovative Fast & Fresh location in Davenport.
Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh stores operate on a smaller scale and include a comprehensive selection of fresh produce, dairy, meat, bakery items, as well as pantry and frozen items, reports news outlet WQAD. According to the company, the new store will be the first-of-its-kind in the country, offering up wood-oven pizza, sushi, a craft beer station, wine and spirits, as well as services like Hy-Vee Aisles Online pickup and a gas station. Also available are made-to-order meals for carrying out or dining in, take and heat meal options, Hy-Vee Mealtime Kits, and an in-store Starbucks.
Hy-Vee’s Fast & Fresh stores are, reportedly, an entirelynew concept aimed at serving the busy customer who is interested in a more convenient grocery and meal experience while on the go.
Hy-Vee plans to open a second Fast & Fresh location in Altoona, Iowa, in 2019.
To stay up to date on new grocery store innovation, keep up with AndNowUKnow.
YAKIMA, WA - Houston, we have a launch date! The Cosmic Crisp® launch has been announced, with a marketing campaign led by Proprietary Variety Management (PVM). With prior successes like the Pink Lady® apple campaign under its belt, the company is ready to give Cosmic Crisp the liftoff it needs with a $10 million dollar plus budget for the launch.
Coming to consumers and retailers in fall of 2019, the Cosmic Crisp is a “large, juicy, red apple [that] has a firm and crisp texture that provides ample sweetness and tartness, making it an excellent eating and baking apple." It is naturally slow to brown when cut and maintains its texture and flavor in storage for more than a year,” according to a recent press release.
The theme for the launch has also been announced: “Imagine the Possibilities.” This theme represents the strides that the apple will make in flavor, presentation, and storage, as well as its inspiration of chefs, families, and apple lovers.
“Our goal is to inspire and educate people of all ages by using Cosmic Crisp as a perfect example of big dreams becoming a reality,” explained Kathryn Grandy, Director of Marketing for Proprietary Variety Management. “We’re long overdue for a campaign that highlights fresh produce and farming direct to the consumer in a way that excites the dreamer inside all of us."
In addition to PVM, the Cosmic Crisp launch will include partnerships with arts and sciences organizations that help the “big dreams” of consumers come true. The first of these partners are The Good Housekeeping Nutritionist Approved Emblem, Missoula Children’s Theatre, and The Produce Moms®. More partnerships will be announced as the campaign progresses, and the launch of this new apple variety draws near.
Tasting events will join digital and traditional media efforts to entice consumers to crunch into a Cosmic Crisp this coming autumn, and the company expects that 2.2 million boxes will be on the market by 2020.
For continual coverage of produce variety development, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow
TOKYO, JAPAN - If you haven’t yet heard, the latest word is e-commerce, and it isn’t going anywhere any time soon. If anything, interest in e-commerce is only ramping up, as Walmart and Rakuten, Inc. officially opened the first Walmart e-commerce store in Japan. Titled the “Walmart Rakuten Ichiba Store,” the flagship store delivers Walmart’s U.S. branded products to Japanese consumers. It will initially offer approximately 1,200 products from a range of brands—orders will be fulfilled in the United States and air freighted to Japan.
“Walmart is committed to providing a trusted retail experience in Japan and we are always looking for new ways to better serve consumers here as their lifestyles and needs change,” said Nathan Kring, Senior Vice President of Walmart International, in a press release. “Through Seiyu, we have an in-depth understanding of this fast-changing market. The carefully curated assortment being offered on our flagship store reflects this insight and our ongoing dedication to Japanese shoppers.”
According to that press release, the digital store is part of a partnership between Walmart and Rakuten announced in January of this year. By leveraging both of their strengths, the two companies seek to expand consumer reach in both Japan and the United States. Walmart plans to expand its product range and add new product categories from its international assortment to the Rakuten Ichiba store. Walmart’s Japanese subsidiary, Seiyu GK, will provide customer support for the store.
“We are very excited to be working with Walmart to bring a diverse product lineup of American brands at affordable prices to Rakuten Ichiba users in Japan,” commented Shunsuke Yazawa, Executive Officer and Vice President of Marketplace Business at Rakuten, Inc. “Through the opening of the Walmart Rakuten Ichiba Store, we hope to make Rakuten Ichiba an even more attractive destination for online shoppers in Japan.”
How will this latest e-commerce expansion stack up against other competitors? AndNowUKnow will be here with the latest.
OXNARD, CA - While we’re still waiting patiently to find out which teams will be competing in this year’s big game, Mission Produce is anticipating Emeralds in the Rough will be the true winner of 2019’s biggest eating day of the year. To get consumers to bet on the green fruit, Mission Produce is launching its Emeralds in the End Zone retail campaign, a strategic promotion that offers retailers and shoppers a winning game day value.
“Mission Produce’s Emeralds in the End Zone program provides retailers and consumers the best value for their dollar,” said Patrick Cortes, Senior Director of Business Development. “The grade 2 fruit is equal in taste and internal quality to the grade 1 fruit but is a little rougher around the edges. As a result, it can be merchandised with a lower retail price point.”
To kickoff this campaign, Mission Produce is encouraging retailers to spotlight Emeralds in the Rough avocados during the two weeks leading up to The Big Game, according to a press release. Then, Mission Produce is suggesting retailers transition to promoting ripe bulk avocados during game week and cross-merchandising the popular fruit with other game day provisions.
The campaign also includes point-of-sale materials to draw consumers’ eyes to the big display and showcase the value of avocados.
“This promotion was designed with the consumer in mind,” said Director of Marketing Denise Junqueiro. “Emeralds in the Rough is the ideal avocado party pack for shoppers who are looking to win with their Big Game menu. With the rising consumption of imperfect fruit, an interest in sustainable foods, clever design, and average lower prices, we have no doubt that consumers are going to tackle this product as soon as it hits the stores.”
The Emeralds in the Rough line includes two- and three-pound bags of grade 2, “beautifully-blemished” avocados, ripe and ready to take game day spreads to the next level.
For more game plans pushing fresh produce over the line of scrimmage, keep snapping, hiking, and tossing AndNowUKnow.