WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on a produce business for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a USDA press release, McAllen, Texas-based MRP Cuts LLC, continues to be restricted from operating in the produce industry for failing to pay a $36,744 award in favor of a Washington seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Juan Gamez was listed as a member of the business. The USDA has added Luis Enrique Garcia as a responsibly connected member of the business. Roberto Garcia is contesting his responsibly connected status, according to the release.
Subsequent to the issuance of the reparation order listed above, a new reparation order was issued against MRP Cuts LLC to pay $1,411 to a Texas seller. The USDA reports that MRP Cuts LLC has not made payment to the Texas seller within the time designated in the new reparation order. As a result, the sanction period levied against the company and its principals has been extended to reflect this new violation.
The PACA Division, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), 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 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. Its experts also assisted more than 8,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $140 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
COLOMBIA - Westsole Fruit Colombia (WFC), an operation co-owned by leading multinational avocado supplier Westfalia Fruit and Chilean partner Exportadora Subsole, is celebrating the first fruit being packed for its container ship journey from the Port at Cartagena to California-based Long Beach Port.
“We managed to overcome the teething issues involved in getting GlobalGAP in place and working out effective management programs tailored to our unique Colombian conditions,” noted Westsole GM, Pedro Aguilar. Aguilar was a guest of honor at the signing of the historic agreement in Bogotá on August 16, and will join other dignitaries in witnessing the closing of the first container of avocados at Cartagena Port tomorrow, November 2. “We follow the best possible agricultural and manufacturing practices, focusing on fruit quality and on doing things right, from our nurseries to our farms, from packing and shipping to our marketing practices.”
The operation packs only 100 percent export-quality, Category 1 fruit, saying that it is determined to change outdated perceptions about the Colombian avocado industry.
Running a world-class packhouse to service its own orchards, and those of over 100 associated local growers, WFC began exporting avocados to Europe in 2012. During the 2016-2017 export season, the operation shipped more than one million 4kg cartons, according to a press release.
Now, little more than two months after the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened U.S. markets to Hass avocado imports from Colombia, it shared that its staff at the Guarne, Antioquia-based, state-of-the-art packhouse, as well as the growers involved, are understandably excited to see their avocados off to American shelves.
The company said the team has played a pivotal role in setting the stringent standards required for satisfying the demands of export markets like the U.S., and all those involved recognise the importance of the work done to date by ICA, APHIS, and CorpoHass.
Westfalia Fruit Group said that, as one of the first organizations to recognise Colombia’s potential as a new avocado origin, it brought specialized technical expertise into the “fledgling industry” in the forms like:
- Production
- Logistics
- Cooling and packing proficiency
- Superior plant material
Produced under ideal growing conditions ensuring the fruit can be harvested almost year-round with great maturity levels, Colombia’s location guarantees the freshness of Hass avocado arrivals to most of the major markets, making it a reliable source for top-quality fruit.
The U.S. market’s now being open to Colombian Hass avocados gives those growers access to one of the largest markets in consumption, a factor the company expressed would drive further developments for the industry.
Westfalia Fruit USA will receive Colombian fruit at its North American Camarillo, California, operation, which will play a key role in fulfilling the group’s global marketing strategy.
An ongoing commitment to social and environmental sustainability is also integral to the operation’s business strategy, it stated, as it looks to set an example for other industry players to follow.
The group’s integrated supply chain is instrumental in its ensuring year-round supply of both triggered and ripened fruit, so have your eyes on the horizon as we look to this new milestone.
YAKIMA, WA - The Domex Superfresh Growers® website is new-and-improved and making a splash. What makes the company’s new eye-catching website so dazzling is its engaging content, which is specifically geared towards the education of consumers and retailers about its world-class fruits.
“Our new website checks all the boxes of ‘millennial-proof’ web design,” said spearheader of the project Tyler Weinbender, Media Manager, in a recent press release. “We focused on ease of navigation and self-education, supported by flavorful content, easy mobile access, attractive page layout, and lots of video and motion.”
Apples, pears, cherries, and apricots are fruits Superfresh grows, and with the new website in place, the company’s focus is on increasing global fruit consumption and retail sales. On the new website, www.superfreshgrowers.com, consumers and retailers can find product information, ideas for using the company’s fruits, and crop updates.
Further, it is an interactive experience. Taste-O-Meter is just one discovery tool, which is a unique way of allowing visitors to select an apple variety based on their own preferred levels of sweetness and tartness. And, logged into the growers’ library, there is also a plethora of videos for visitors to watch, including monthly the Orchard Update, inspirational recipes, and crop season reports.
“Our website is a critical tool for conveying information about our products to customers and retail partners,” said Mike Preacher, Director of Marketing, in the same press release. “The number of consumers eating our products around the world is increasing, and this website provides an efficient and fun path for communicating with them. This is another step in continually improving the technologies across our organization, including our orchards, warehouses, offices, and electronic properties.”
As a fifth-generation company dedicated to the production of its flavorful and high-quality fruits, this is just one more way for the company to engage with its customers–communicating not only through the stomach, but also through the heart.
For more fresh produce news, check back with us at AndNowUKnow!
SEATTLE, WA – Amazon has made no bones about its plans to dominate grocery retail. And just months after entering brick and mortar grocery in a big way by acquiring Whole Foods, the largely online retailer is making strategic moves to improve its ecommerce selection.
A recent report by tech news source Recode unveiled plans to slash fees for independent grocery sellers operating on Amazon.com. The company has lowered fees charged on grocery items under $15 from 15 percent to eight percent.
“To help you list more products and keep prices competitive, we are offering you a limited-time referral fee discount on Grocery products,” said an email obtained by Recode. “This fee promotion starts at 12:00 a.m. October 15, 2017 (PST), and will run through 11:59 p.m. October 14, 2018 (PST).”
The news source noted that this move is intended to broaden Amazon’s grocery selection as Walmart makes a concerted effort to grow its online presence. Amazon’s new seller fees will significantly undercut Walmart’s. The Bentonville-based retailer charges 15 percent across the board for items sold through its online market, though its subsidiary reportedly charges only 10 percent fees for “non-gourmet packaged foods.”
While currently being billed as a temporary promotion on non-perishable goods, the move could prove enticing to grocery sellers looking to trim margins.
To read more about Amazon’s plans, read the entire report here.
Will Amazon continue to shrewdly expand into fresh food, and what impact will it have on our industry? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
SANTA PAULA, CA – Put the cobwebs, ghouls, and goblins away; Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is officially on the horizon! In honor of the upcoming holiday, Limoneira spokesperson and Healthy Grocery Girl’s Megan Roosevelt has created an array of her favorite recipes perfect for holiday entertaining and décor ideas to take any celebration to the next level. As always, the emphasis is on simplicity, ease, health, and, in the spirit of the season, gratitude.
For a new twist on a holiday institution, try Roasted Garlic & Meyer Lemon-Rubbed Turkey.
Ingredients:
- 2 heads garlic
- 3 Meyer lemons
- ¼ cup white miso
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, plus 3 sprigs
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 10 to 12-pound turkey
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and quartered, divided
- 2 cups water, plus more as needed
Directions: To prepare the turkey: Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 400°F. Rub off excess papery skin from garlic heads without separating the cloves. Slice the tips off, exposing the ends of the cloves. Place the heads on a square of foil. Sprinkle with 4 teaspoons water and wrap into a package. Roast until very soft, 40 to 45 minutes. Unwrap and let cool.
Zest lemons. Place the zest in a medium bowl; juice the lemons into the bowl through a strainer to catch the seeds. Reserve the squeezed lemon skins. Add miso, oil, chopped thyme, and pepper to the lemon mixture. Squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins into the bowl. Whisk until the mixture forms a paste.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Set aside giblets and neck for making Turkey Giblet Stock, if desired. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
Loosen the skin over the breast and thigh meat. Rub the paste under the skin onto the breast meat and leg meat and a little inside the cavity. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey. Place the reserved squeezed lemon skins, thyme sprigs, and 2 onion quarters in the cavity. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack set in a large roasting pan.
Roast the turkey for 1 hour. Add 2 cups water and the remaining onion to the pan, tent with foil and continue roasting for 1 hour more. Baste the turkey with pan drippings and continue roasting, basting every 15 minutes or so, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh without touching bone registers 165°F, 1½ to 2 hours more. Add more water 1 cup at a time if the pan is dry.
We all know there’s nothing quite like a bowl of hot soup when the weather turns cold, and this winter Megan’s Lemon, Carrot & Cauliflower Soup is sure to keep you warm.
Ingredients:
- 1 Limoneira lemon
- 2 heads cauliflower
- 5 carrots
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp salt & 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
Directions: Wash and chop the cauliflower into florets, then peel and chop the carrots. In a large pot, add the cauliflower, carrots, seasonings and stock. Turn the heat to medium, and add a lid. Bring to a boil and stir occasionally, then simmer for 20-30 minutes (or until vegetables are soft). Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until it is smooth and creamy. Lastly, add juice from an entire Limoneira lemon and coconut milk and whisk together. Enjoy!
To spice up your holiday tables, try Megan’s Citrus Napkin Rings, lovely table accents that are both festive and easy to make.
You’ll need:
- A rolled napkin
- 8 inches wide ribbon/strip of burlap
- Dried Limoneira citrus round (such as an orange or lemon)
Directions: Start by wrapping the ribbon around the napkin, and pulling tight. Then feed the ends through the center of the dried citrus, and tie a nice, festive bow on top.
Or try Megan’s Citrus Nature Tablescape
Directions: Keep it simple with a variety of seasonal pumpkins, unscented candles, Limoneira lemons, and fresh lemon tree branches. If lemon tree branches are not available in your area, any local greenery that you prefer will complement the setting beautifully. (Megan suggests rinsing and patting dry any branches that you find outside before bringing them into the house!)
Limoneira has also partnered with additional global chefs and mixologists, nutritionists, and beauty lifestyle and green cleaning experts to share their knowledge with the customers of its grocery and food service partners around the world. Take a peek at their biographies featured on Limoneira’s website.
For helpful demonstrations guided by Megan for any of these recipes or décor tips, check out Limoneira’s Youtube channel, where each Friday new videos with recipes, tips, and tricks will be uploaded. Each month, Megan will also be featuring wonderful facets of citrus living, so subscribe for more information on the many ways this endlessly versatile fruit can improve life inside the home and beyond.
For more on all things produce, stay up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA - The transition back to the desert has begun, with Ocean Mist Farms having recently moved its iceberg harvesting operations over to Huron, California, as it works its way back to the desert region.
Thus far, Vice President of Harvesting Art Barrientos tells me the outlook will be a rather smooth transition.
“I can only speak for our operations, but currently we are right on our budgeted numbers with what looks like a balanced market,” Art shares with me. “The weather has been unseasonably warm in Huron, but it doesn’t look to have had any influence on the iceberg lettuce. Currently, we are on schedule and seeing excellent quality.”
Ocean Mist will remain in Huron for a three week period, then transition to the Yuma region on November 17 or 18, just in time for Thanksgiving demand.
“We are currently seeing fairly balanced volumes–for the most part the industry has seen volumes return to normal, and the market looks to be reflecting that,” Art explains. “Demand hasn’t fallen off at all. We’ve been moving the lettuce we have in the ground without any issues, and we haven’t seen any acreage left behind.”
As for the company’s flagship commodity, artichokes, Art stated they have steady weekly volumes with no foreseeable issues on the horizon.
“We started harvesting artichokes in the Oxnard/Camarillo area last week, where we will harvest through the Christmas Pull," he shares. "Our Coachella Valley production should start harvesting around the first of December."
As we continue to move with the growing regions, AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop on all the latest.
ALDERGROVE, BC & TEHACHAPI, CA - SunSelect Produce, Inc. named Len Krahn to its top leadership role late last week. The company announced that Krahn, who has held various positions at SunSelect since 1993, most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and VP of Sales, will now be taking up the role of CEO.
“We’re intent on driving operational excellence and building a strong company culture,” Krahn commented. “A fresh approach to our leadership enables us to continue executing on what we do well, and embrace opportunities to grow.”
One of the four siblings who manage the pepper, tomato, and cucumber greenhouse company, Krahn’s experience in the greenhouse began “from the ground up,” according to a press release.
“We’re pleased to see Len take the reins at SunSelect,” said John Anderson, Chairman, President, and CEO of Oppy. “He has a proven track record of strong and thoughtful leadership alongside his practical expertise of all facets of their operation. We are looking forward to building our business with this excellent grower through Len’s innovative management style and a strong go-to-market collaboration.”
With facilities in both the U.S. and Canada, SunSelect currently produces on 70 acres in BC and 64 acres in California. Its Canadian greenhouses were amongst the first produce-growing operations in North America to earn Fair Trade certification, achieving the recognition in 2014, and today, all produce grown by SunSelect is not only Fair Trade certified, but also Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) certified.
The company noted that Krahn learned—and ultimately led—virtually every aspect of the greenhouse production and marketing process, taking on the responsibilities of increasing scale and scope over the last quarter century, which it said prepared him uniquely as its CEO.
SunSelect is known for promoting sustainability in practices like recycling CO2 to feed the plants in its Canadian greenhouses, repurposing emissions that would otherwise enter the atmosphere, and taking measures in other growing practices that result in high-quality peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes, all available exclusively from Oppy.
Congratulations to Len Krahn on this key step in your career and the SunSelect vision!
SACRAMENTO, CA - Avocados seem to have not just consumers, but providers, growers, and buyers on the lookout!
At least that was how it looked on our leaderboard as members of the produce industry read and raced for $100 cash to prove their knowledge of the avocaDOs and DON'Ts.
Proving an insider's knowledge of the popular fruit, Sobeys Numair Baig, National Produce Procurement Manager, was the first not just on the buy-side, but overall scorer for $100 cash. Not only does Baig wear the crown for top points, but also quickest time.
Our supply-side award, and second $100 cash prize goes to SFL Companies Senior Consultant/Broker Chad Schadler.
Both proved themselves worthy amongst numerous sides of the industry, and you can see the closeness of the race by the leaderboard below:
If you missed your shot to prove you're avodao savvy, fear not! You can quiz yourself and compare your scores with our winners by following the green link below. While you won't be eligable to win this round, you can keep an eye out by ensuring you are subscribed to our newsletter here.
To compete in Quiz Quix events to come, just sign in either via email or one of several social media accounts, and you’ll be all ready to jump into the competition for $100 cash!
Quiz Quix is our way of encouraging some healthy, fun, informative competition within the industry. Signing in will give us a token to verify you and allows us to put your name in the ranking. It doesn't give us access to more than your name and email address. Participants must have a valid email address registered in their individual name in order to play.
HOUSTON, TX - Church Brothers Farms, McCain Foodservice, Tanimura & Antle, and Love Beets are just a few companies celebrating their praises being sung by the leading global foodservice distribution company Sysco. At the Sysco’s Supplier Excellence Awards event, these companies and more received key supplier awards.
“Sysco has a long-standing tradition of recognizing our top suppliers for their commitment to helping us deliver great products to our customers with exceptional service,” said Senior Vice President of Merchandising Brian Todd in a recent press release. “We keep the customer at the center of everything we do and work hard to improve the overall customer experience.”
Recipients of the award are selected based on sales growth, operational excellence, and other key business performance metrics as explained by the company’s corporate Merchandising, Quality Assurance, and Supply Chain departments. This year’s award program highlighted commitment, support, and partnership of suppliers who best showcased Sysco’s vision.
Sovena USA was seeing gold after it won the Supply Chain Partner Award. The company was recognized because of its dedication to the improvement of end-to-end supply chain operations. Some of these improvements were made in inbound purchase order fill rates, market freight rates, pick-up allowances and availability, and overall support and participation in Sysco’s supply chain.
As we reported recently, Church Brothers Farms walked away with the 2017 Sysco Gold Produce Supplier Award.
“We are honored by Sysco’s recognition,” Jeff Church, Vice President of Sales for Church Brothers, said of the award. “They are an important customer and this was a team effort earned by Church Brothers Farms and True Leaf Farms.”
McCain Foodservice took home Supplier of the Year for having the highest level of performance across the board, as the company excelled in sales growth, profitability, and overall support of Sysco and customers.
Love Beets won the Cutting Edge Solution Award. The company was rewarded for its efforts to differentiate product solution for Sysco customers in unique and exclusive ways.
Waypoint walked away from the ceremony with the Broker of the Year for its high-level performance in areas of case growth. The company’s Sysco-dedicated team showed its overall support of Sysco operating companies.
For more key companies recognized, including Tanimura & Antle, Mann Packing, and more, click here for the full winner list. For more news on excellence in the produce world, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
PHOENIX, AZ - Sprouts Farmers Market is adding a new well of strategic insights in its new appointee to its Board of Directors. The retailer has picked up Joseph (Joe) O’Leary from a wealth of high-growth retail experience to its Board of Directors.
“Sprouts has become a leader in its industry by making healthy living easy and affordable,” said O’Leary. “This is an exciting time to join Sprouts, and I am thrilled to work with the board and management team to help lead the company on the journey ahead.”
O’Leary has had strong experience serving on Boards of retail chains that track toward fast growth movements, currently serving on the Board of Francesca’s Holding Corp., a growing specialty retailer which operates chain of boutiques, and PetSmart, Inc., one of the largest specialty pet retailers.
Prior to working under a more advisory role with the company, O’Leary previously served as PetSmart’s President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as Executive Vice President of Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Strategic Planning. Before joining PetSmart, O’Leary served as Chief Operating Officer of Human Touch, LLC, and Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Strategy, and Global Logistics of Gap Inc.
“We are excited to welcome a seasoned executive like Joe O’Leary to our board,” said Amin Maredia, Sprouts’ Chief Executive Officer and a Director. “Joe’s strategic acumen and deep merchandising and supply chain experience with successful growth-oriented retailers will be a great asset to our company and our board.”
As Sprouts continues to prepare itself to fulfill its high-growth store plans, including recruiting new and experienced leadership, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest