CHARLOTTE, NC - To incentivize your shoppers, Dole Food Company has several strategies up its sleeve. In honor of the 10th anniversary of its National Eat More Fruits and Vegetables Day, Dole wants to switch things up a little bit—and focus that attention on the banana category specifically. William Goldfield, Director of Corporate Communications, noted that the name of the holiday could be changed to “Eat More Bananas Day” for 2024 only.

“Dole is going bananas throughout 2024 to celebrate our 125th year in the banana business—so we want to remind Americans that the iconic yellow fruit is more than delicious, nutritious, and recipe-friendly enough to shoulder the all-produce holiday all on its own,” said Goldfield. “We also commissioned a National Banana Day Survey that found that bananas rank ahead of all other fruits and vegetables as a must-have grocery staple and impulse purchase.”

Dole’s five new banana dishes were created by Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Nutrition, Wellness, and Communications Manager, as part of the company's 125th Banana-versary.

According to a press release, four of the five recipes are vegetarian and two are also vegan, gluten-free, and low-sodium.

The recipes are below:

• Banana-Candy Bar Pops
• Banana Hummingbird Muffins
• No-Bake 3-Ingredient Chocolate-Banana Cake
• Grilled Banana Bites with Cashew-Maple Dip
• Bananas Foster Trifles with Date Caramel

“At the end of the day, there are many ripe reasons behind this year’s friendly name-change suggestion,” Goldfield added.

With that much inspiration at the ready, we completely agree!

KINGSBURG, CA - Organic stonefruit backed by a family grower with clear sustainability values? I can hear the consumers cheering already. Scattaglia Growers and Shippers (SGS) is satisfying demand with its new organic stonefruit line, unleashing a collection of high-flavor, peaches, plums, and nectarines from the heart of California’s Central Valley.

“We are expected to have great volume and high-quality product,” says Kira Navison, Marketing Director, divulging some of the details of the new program. “We pride ourselves on providing consumers with nothing short of a flavorful eating experience. We wait until each piece of fruit reaches optimum size, color, and brix levels to ensure an all-around high-quality product.”

As this advantageous program ignites, SGS is expected to have consistent volume throughout the summer, peaking in June through August.

Supporting the success of the SGS operation, the Kliewer family has invested heavily not only in their growing operations, but also on the packing side. This includes the recent installment of an Aweta sizer, which utilizes AI to ensure consistency from piece to piece and only allows the most fresh and flavorful fruit to progress to a box.

“The idea of being ‘healthy’ is increasingly important to consumers today, and more consumers are becoming curious as to where their food is coming from and how it gets from the field to their table,” Kira adds. “Continuing to educate consumers on this process and sharing with them the amount of care, time, and hard work that goes into providing them with fresh produce can help maximize sales throughout the season. If consumers know where a product is coming from, they are more likely to invest in it. Along with this, knowing who their produce is coming from plays a big role in gaining consumer trust, which can also lead to an increase in sales.”

As Kira emphasizes, along with educating consumers on where their produce comes from, retailers should display organic items front and center in their produce departments to gain consumer attention.

“We are all about sustainable growth, and organics is just one of the many great things we have to come in the future,” Kira explains when asked about the company’s ongoing growth strategy. “We want to continue to provide the best-tasting fruit to consumers and do so in a way that protects the planet.”

Eager to learn more? SGS will be at the Organic Produce Summit this July, so be sure to stop by booth #403 to meet the grower, sample its product, and have the chance to win a giveaway!

FALLS CHURCH, VA - A recent meeting of the minds took place as the U.S. Apple Association (USApple) met with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and the Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su. USApple’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Bair, and Senior Vice President, Diane Kurrle, attended the meeting alongside other agriculture trade associations for a conversation centered around agricultural labor.

“Presenting our case directly to two members of President Biden’s Cabinet is a promising start,” said Bair. “The situation is long overdue for action, and fixing it in a deeply divided Congress is unlikely. We continue to ensure that apple growers' voices are heard at the highest levels of government and will push for any White House actions that can help, knowing it will be an uphill climb."

Apple growing, harvesting, and packing are highly labor intensive, a press release stated. The U.S. will produce 25 billion apples this year, and every single one must be hand-picked. Without an adequate domestic workforce, most apple growers have turned to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program. However, the cost of the H-2A program has become untenable for many.

With escalating H-2A costs, labor now makes up more than 60 percent of production costs for apple growers. In contrast, according to the latest USDA Ag Census, labor accounted for 12 percent of expenses for all U.S. farms.

To make matters more dire, over the last year, retail prices for apples have declined by 14 percent. The prices farmers receive are down by much more—farmgate Honeycrisp prices, for instance, are down by as much as 50 percent or more year-over-year, the release continued. This is particularly hard on growers as, in the year leading up to this season, the costs to grow apples were up 34 percent due to inflation and increasing labor costs.

The Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) continues to outpace the general marketplace with year-over-year rates increasing about 7 percent in most apple states. Growers from large to small and coast-to-coast report input costs that far exceed their returns.

We will certainly keep our eyes on the state of ag labor in the U.S. and continue to report.

VENTURA, CA - At this year’s California Strawberry Festival, the California Strawberry Commission was proud to serve as an official partner. With more than 50,000 strawberry lovers converging in the oceanside city of Ventura to celebrate their favorite fruit, the festival paid tribute to the Golden State’s $3 billion strawberry industry.

“The California Strawberry Festival is always a delightful highlight of our year. This strawberry growing community, like many others along the California coast, is enthusiastic about sharing their love for strawberries, often dressing head-to-toe in strawberry gear, and indulging in all the sweet and savory ways strawberries can be enjoyed,” said Jodi Reinman, Senior Public Relations Manager. “It’s our honor to represent more than 400 strawberry farmers, shippers, and processors at the festival and bring to life their dedication to sustainably growing the best strawberries in the world.”

In order to make strawberries shine, CSC engaged with hundreds at the festival. According to a press release, the booth provided an opportunity to deliver educational information on the strawberry industry’s sustainability efforts and its positive impact on local communities.

This is a critical component, as many who attended the festival might not have known the lengths that our industry goes to provide high-quality berries. After all, California produces 90 percent of the nation’s strawberries.

Overall, an estimated 1.5 million strawberries were consumed at the festival.

Stick with ANUK as we cover the latest in events across the industry.

TEXAS - There are a lot of sayings about the tenacity of Texas, and while Mother Nature is certainly testing this the fresh produce industry is working hard to showcase that credo. With some regions of the state seeing torrential storms, others are seeing extreme heat, and the boots on the ground are responding to it all.

“We have had some crazy weather across the state the last few weeks. The Houston and Southeast Texas region have received torrential rainfall and flooding over the last few weeks, with reports of over 30-plus inches of rain in some of those areas, plus terrible winds, tornadoes and hail. In deep South Texas we have been pummeled by severe heat and high humidity with no chance of rainfall for the foreseeable future—last week we hit a high temp of 111° F in McAllen, with a feel of 117,” Bret Erickson, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs for Edinburg, Texas-based Little Bear Produce, explained.

For Little Bear, Bret shared it has been very challenging to get the melon crop harvested in such extreme heat. While the weather is tough on the fruit and vines directly, he pointed out that, worse still, it is very dangerous for harvesters.

“It's slow-going, with lots of breaks and regular hydration for the crews. The reservoirs that feed our south Texas region are also at historically low levels and the extreme high heat accelerates the evaporation rates, leading to a faster decline in water supplies. I think all the farmers and cities in South Texas wish we could capture some of the torrential rains that have fallen in the Houston and Southeast Texas regions,” Bret reflects, echoing a sentiment Californians have certainly shared amid fire season in previous years.

Mayra Vazquez, Business Development/Sales for Latin Specialties, has seen the other side of the recent weather challenges. With a facility directly in Houston, she and her team have quite literally been in the eye of the storm.

“It has been a tough week for Houston without a doubt. The area has been at a standstill since the day of the storm on May 16,” she shared. “These straight-line winds can last for several minutes, which are more damaging than a tornado. This morning the city has reported 98 percent of power is back, leaving approximately 20K customers without a definitive date on when their equipment will be repaired. The food industry suffered as many restaurants and grocery stores lost power, forcing everyone to clear out their inventory. Our company was happy to assist in the recovery efforts by offering local distribution to those in need as we always do during the natural disasters we encounter in this city every year it seems like.”

It has been reported that hurricane-force winds reached up to 100 mph in certain parts of the city. This, Mayra reminded me, comes on the heels of severe flooding up north in Kingwood about three weeks prior. As a local, Mayra herself got power back at home late the night of May 22, six days after the storm.

She detailed for me how this was not just devastating to operations, but to locals who had no choice but to pay high prices at hotels when home temperatures climbed to 90° F.

“Businesses and homes were reduced to piles of debris around town with uprooted trees falling on houses and shattered glass from skyscrapers in the downtown area. Hurricane season is right around the corner, so hopefully we will be fully recovered from all the weather disasters Mother Nature has had in our city,” she said.

With relief reports still coming in, AndNowUKnow will continue to report. Until then, our thoughts are with all who make up the close-knit network that is the fresh produce industry.

MIAMI, FL - Having an amazing product to promote at retail is half the battle. Having an awesome product with a strategy for execution in the produce department makes that battle a win.

“At Fresh Del Monte Produce, we believe in inspiring healthy lifestyles through wholesome and convenient products that are accessible to everyone, everywhere,” Melissa Mackay, Vice President of Marketing, North America, shares with me. “Overall, Fresh Del Monte positions itself as a trusted, quality brand that delivers on freshness, sustainability, innovation, and health—for both consumers and retail partners—and our vertically integrated model allows us to consistently deliver on these brand promises.”

Such a mission and vision are not new to the fresh produce giant. As spring leads to summer, retailer partners can find this strategy across a host of categories, from its brand specialty pineapples to watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon. Along with an array of offerings, such a brand promise comes with that merchandising execution the brand is so well-known for.

Here are some tips for retailers on best utilizing Fresh Del Monte's merchandising and point-of-sale (POS) solutions in-store, straight from Melissa herself:

• Prominently display Fresh Del Monte's high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables in your produce section. Our vertically integrated supply chain ensures consistent quality and availability
• Take advantage of Fresh Del Monte's POS materials like signs, banners, and shelf talkers to highlight these healthy products and drive sales. We always recommend positioning these at eye level throughout the produce department
• Merchandise complementary items together, such as fresh-cut fruit trays next to whole fruit. This makes it easy for shoppers to find what they need for recipes or snacks
• Rotate in new Fresh Del Monte products frequently to keep the produce section exciting and encourage impulse purchases with a ‘surprise and delight’ tactic. Our team can provide guidance on trending items
• Train your produce staff on the benefits of Fresh Del Monte’s products so they can recommend them to customers. Our premium quality and freshness are powerful selling points
• Participate in Fresh Del Monte's consumer promotions and in-store demos to generate excitement and consumer trials. Coordinate with the Fresh Del Monte team on timing and execution to guarantee success

“The key is to make the produce section a destination with great visibility, competitive pricing, and frequent rotation of new and exciting items for trial and repeat purchasing. Our POS solutions, merchandising tactics, and guidance from our team of experts can help drive incremental sales,” Melissa details.

With a global team and a category management team built to help customers thrive, the Fresh Del Monte operation strives to stay attuned to changing consumer attitudes and behaviors through proprietary research, industry news, and secondary research sources. In addition, the company has close relationships with its retailer and operator partners.

“We leverage a number of insight tools, such as social listening platforms, to ensure our product portfolio and new product development reflect those consumer needs,” Melissa tells me. “In the dynamic landscape of retail grocery, the marketing and merchandising of fresh fruits and vegetables are being shaped by several key trends. One prominent trend is premiumization, characterized by a heightened focus on flavor, superior ingredients, and appealing packaging. This shift reflects consumers' willingness to invest in products that offer value to their families, be it through various sizes, personal rewards, or trust in attributes and brands. A parallel trend is the proliferation of novel and enticing produce varieties, aligning with the growing interest in diverse food options.”

Last but not least, Melissa adds, consumers' heightened focus on health has driven interest in immunity-boosting fresh produce. With fresh produce offering that perfect response to growing health movements, Fresh Del Monte is supporting both its retail partners and consumer base.

ROSEMONT, IL - Our team was saddened by the announcement that US Foods' Board Chair, Robert "Bob" Dutkowsky, unexpectedly passed away yesterday in his home in Florida at the age of 69.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I announce Bob’s passing," said Dave Flitman, Chief Executive Officer in a statement. "Bob was a steadfast leader of our Board, trusted mentor to me and thought partner to our esteemed Board members. He provided sound advice and counsel, and contributed immense value to our company, our strategy and our people. While I am deeply saddened by this news, I am also incredibly grateful for Bob’s leadership and friendship. On behalf of our Board of Directors, management team and associates, we extend our deepest sympathies to Bob’s family."

Dutkowsky joined the US Foods Board in January 2017 and served as Board Chair for the company since February 2022, including Executive Chairman from May 2022 to January 2023, according to a release. He was the former Executive Chairman of Tech Data Corporation from 2018 to 2020 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2006 to 2018. Prior to joining Tech Data, Dutkowsky served as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Egenera; President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of J.D. Edwards & Co.; and President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of GenRad and held executive roles at EMC Corporation. Dutkowsky began his career at IBM and had a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. In addition to serving on the US Foods Board, Dutkowsky held a number of public company and other key directorships.

Dutkowsky is survived by his wife Lorraine, daughter Jen, son Kevin, daughter-in-law Julie, and grandchildren Davis and Emma.

According to the company, the US Foods Board has appointed David Tehle as Board Chair effective immediately. With extensive knowledge of financial reporting, internal controls and procedures, and risk management, he brings significant public company experience and human capital management experience to the US Foods Board, in addition to significant experience as a public company chief financial officer.

We offer our thoughts and sincere condolences to all who are feeling the sudden and terrible loss of Bob Dutkowsky.