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PHOENIX, AZ – Arizona growing season has kicked off with a bang for Pacific International Marketing. The produce provider is expanding on its conventional carrot offerings—with its new line of Arizona-grown organic carrots first introduced last year.
According to a company press release, Pacific International Marketing’s carrot program is operated in conjunction with Rousseau Farms—a partner who has been growing carrots in Arizona for almost forty years. The program started in early-January and will run through the end of May, with a lineup of conventional carrots including cello’s, baby peeled, shred, petites, and carrot chips—all marketed under the Rousseau label.
And beginning last year, Pacific International Marketing has expanded its carrot program to include organic baby peeled and organic cello’s, both marketed under the Pure Pacific label.
The company noted, in a press release, that Pacific International Marketing’s carrot program is one of more than 100 categories that the company is involved in growing, packing, shipping, and processing. Pacific International Marketing offers a complete line of organic and conventional fresh fruits and veggies and ships more than 25 million packages from the Western United States and Mexico every year.
For more fresh produce news, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
SALINAS, CA – Last year, Justin Timberlake made his debut into the produce industry after creating the iconic Braspberry, causing a frenzy of Instagram followers to say Bye Bye Bye to the old way of enjoying blueberries and raspberries. To continue the Braspberry craze and promote healthy eating, Naturipe Farms is encouraging berry fans to try the new fresh fruit variety snack and enter into the Naturipe Braspberry Sweepstakes for daily prizes and to support hurricane relief efforts.
“We are excited to promote Braspberries! It is a new delicious treat you get when pressing a plump, fresh blueberry into a fresh raspberry,” says CarrieAnn Arias, Vice President of Marketing, in a press release. “We cannot think of a better way to start the new year than by supporting our consumers’ desire to be creative with healthy snacking and supporting the communities still reeling from the effects of the recent hurricanes.”
Helping communities throughout Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico that were devastated in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, Naturipe calls on followers to try the new berry treat in an effort to donate up to $10,000 to help provide vital services to the victims in these communities.
To enter the sweepstakes, consumers are invited to share photos or videos that depict how they enjoy Braspberries on Facebook, Instagram, or Naturipe's website with the hashtags #Braspberry and #Entry. Naturipe will donate $1 to the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief fund for every entry received. Those who share a photo or video will be automatically entered for a chance to win Naturipe’s daily drawing for a $10 iTunes gift card.
Starting on January 15th and ending on February 16th, Naturipe will announce a total of 33 winners–a winner for every day of the sweepstakes.
Ask yourself, WWJTD (What Would Justin Timberlake do?). Enjoy Braspberries til your heart’s content, and you might find yourself a Naturipe Braspberry Sweepstakes winner.
For more on what’s happening in the produce industry, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Hope you’ve all been doing your finger exercises over the holidays, because the first Snack Contest of 2018 is here!
Whip out your copy of the December issue of The Snack Magazine, featuring a just-about-to-smooch pair of holiday fruits, and race to win $100 cash. If you haven’t yet received a copy, click here for the digital cover and try your luck.
Before you send:
- Are you pointing at the ANUK Apple Logo?
- Can we see your face?
If you can answer yes to both questions, the race is on. Leave friends and industry mates in your dust by emailing your photo to [email protected] and claim the $100 cash prize!
And remember, we select not one, but TWO winners: the first overall entry from the industry and the first buy-side member of the industry.
Join the ranks of previous winners like:
- Adam Donikian of Sobeys
- Dave Carrick of EarthFresh Foods
- Joe Soe of Sobeys
- Jennifer Velasquez of Golden Sun Marketing
- Kate Reeb of Veg-Fresh Farms
- Mimmo Franzone of Longo’s
- Scott Hakes of Ciruli Brothers
So snap your Snack and see who wins in tomorrow’s ANUK Newsletter.
Interested in receiving a copy of The Snack to give you a leg up in future challenges? Subscriptions are valued at $129 per year, click here to subscribe.
BENTONVILLE, AR - It has been a bit of a roller coaster in Walmart news over the past week. The latest shakeup is in its management and corporate divisions, where sources report shifting around of about 3,500 store co-managers, as well as up to 1,000 cuts of corporate jobs.
Late last week the retailer announced, almost simultaneously, the boost of wages to its employees under its traditional banner and the closure of more than 60 Sam’s Clubs across the nation.
Now, The Wall Street Journal reports that people familiar with the matter have disclosed plans to trim hundreds of jobs on the corporate level. Expected to be completed by the end of the company’s fiscal year on Jan. 31, the job cuts are expected to be broad based and focused on workers primarily at the company’s headquarters, according to the source.
Without confirming those job cuts were planned for this month, a spokesperson for the retailer told WSJ, “We’ve been looking at our structure for some time as we explore ways to operate more effectively.”
Additionally, a salaried role acting as what Bloomberg described as a “lieutenant underneath each store manager” employing about 3,500 will be removed. Instead, people familiar with the matter told the news source that Walmart is adding about 1,700 assistant store managers—a slightly lower-paid role—who will oversee fast-growing areas like online orders.
Those affected will be able to apply for other roles, and the purpose of the shakeup is said to boost efficiency, weed out poor performers, and create clearer paths to leadership.
With so much strategizing to start off 2018, AndNowUKnow will continue to keep an eye out for all the latest.
MISSION, TX – On April 5th, Viva Fresh will host the Viva Fresh Open at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort’s renowned TPC golf course, launching the 2018 Viva Fresh Open. The tournament, which Bebo Distributing Inc. and Wonderful Citrus will present, raises funds for the Brighter Bites’ organization.
“The Viva Fresh Open provides the perfect opportunity for Expo participants to reconnect with friends and make new contacts, while supporting a worthwhile cause,” stated Ed Bertaud, Director of Retail Sales for IFCO, Expo Steering Committee Member and Tournament Chair. “Promoting the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has been a driving force of this event since its inception.”
This event aims to help Brighter Bites’ provide more than 5 million pounds of produce to 20,000 families and to fund 100,000 nutrition-related educational materials at more than 100 elementary schools across Texas.
“From the beginning, giving back to the community has been a key priority for the Viva Fresh Expo,” remarked Dante Galeazzi, President and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association. “This year, our partnership with Brighter Bites' will bring the Viva Fresh message to families across Texas. Their program, which aims at expanding the understanding of nutrition and its importance at a young age, is in-line with the mission for our show."
Following the tournament on the AT&T Canyon’s par-72 course designed by Pete Dye, Viva Fresh will host an awards ceremony and a 19th hole celebration with live music, food, and beverages. For more information on the golf course, including registration, visit http://vivafreshexpo.com/golf-tournament/, or reach out to the Texas International Produce association at [email protected] or 916-581-8632.
MAZATLAN, SINALOA – After a tanker containing diesel fuel overturned and caught fire last Friday on the El Carrizo bridge, authorities have closed traffic along a portion of the Durango-Mazatlán Highway, resulting in lengthy shipping delays between Sinaloa and Durango.
“The Durango-Mazatlán Highway has been a beautiful option for growers and shippers and the El Carrizo bridge is an integral part to that superhighway,” explained Tommy Wilkins, Director of Sales, Grow Farms Texas. “This was a straight shot between Durango and Mazatlán, and you could run a lot of double trailers through that route. But since the closure, we have had to eliminate all doubles and go to singles. On top of taking more vehicles, the less direct route has added six to eight hours of transit time. I don’t think, in the long term, it’s going to be too severe for our industry, but it will be significant to the growers who have to use more equipment and take more time.”
According to Periódico Noroeste, Federal Police have rerouted traffic between Santa Lucía and El Salto. Specialists are expected to assess damage to the bridge Monday or Tuesday of this week, and, if damage to the structure is determined to be substantial, the news source noted, the bridge could be closed indefinitely—resulting in continued delays of up to ten hours for operators in the region.
“Basically, this has put us back to where we were before the bridge had been built—we have to go through the mountain roads,” noted Tony Incaviglia, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GR Fresh. “We received word on Saturday of the accident, even some pictures, when we already had lots of trucks already on the road with product coming, which we had to reroute."
Tony continued, "Overall, it hasn’t interrupted things so much as put us behind about 8 to 10 hours, meaning if we anticipated a day and a half delivery it would now take two days. What matters is that product will still be able to get through. Unfortunately, we don’t know when it will be back online; that is up to the crews down there.”
He also noted that rerouted traffic will be condensed from four lanes to two, potentially exacerbating delays.
“It’s tragic when a key piece of infrastructure is damaged; freight rates and transit times will certainly be affected,” noted Matt Mandel, Vice President of Operations for SunFed, who was nonetheless optimistic. “Our industry is resilient and the show will go on.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to report with updates as they are forthcoming.
YAKIMA, WA – Customers are taking a bite out of Autumn this winter—Autumn Glory® apples, that is. Domex Superfresh Growers’ apple variety is gaining speed in sales; at 280 percent growth in comparison with last November, Autumn Glory apples are ranking at number 18 of the U.S.’s top 20 apple varieties.
Based on percentage, the sales growth is among the largest seen in any apple variety, the company explained in a recent press release—IRI scan data ending 12/3/2017.
According to Superfresh, Joan B., a consumer of the apple, writes, “They are truly magnificent. I bought one without knowing anything about them, and even my uncultured palate thought they tasted like cider. They are aptly named. Glorious!”
Consumers seemingly can’t get enough of this fan-favorite apple variety. The news is spreading on social media, too.
Blogger Lauren Pariseau states, “Firm texture, skin that snaps, and a noisy-in-a-good-way bite is a solid start to winning over New England apple lovers. But the smell and the taste, oh man you guys, pull up a chair and break out your scratch and sniff screens.”
Superfresh Growers holds exclusive worldwide rights to grow and market Autumn Glory apples. The sweet-tasting apple offers caramel and cinnamon notes to those who take a bite into the high-ranking variety. The apple is available through April for conventional and February for organic this 2017-2018 season. Autumn Glory apples will become available year-round as volume and acreage continue to increase.
For more industry news, check back with us at AndNowUKnow!
EXETER, CA – California Citrus Mutual announced in a press release that it applauds Governor Brown’s funding for safe and clean drinking water, which he included in his 2018-2019 budget proposal, on behalf of California’s citrus industry.
The proposition, known as the California Safe Drinking Water Act or SB 623, Monning, has received broad support from health and environmental groups, according to a press release, as well as from agricultural groups. This bill looks to allow the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund to establish a special fund within the State Water Board which would provide grants, loans, and support to communities and households working to secure affordable drinking water.
“We commend the Governor for his commitment to creating a long-term solution that ensures all Californians have access to safe and clean drinking water," California Citrus Mutual President Joel Nelsen said in the release. "For decades, farmers have worked side-by-side with the University of California to improve farming practices and eliminate the potential for nitrates to reach the groundwater."
Nelsen continued, "Unfortunately, due to the wide array of naturally occurring contaminants present in the groundwater, up to one million Californians throughout the State are without clean drinking water. Together with our partners in the health, environmental, and agricultural industries we applaud Governor Brown for his leadership and urge the legislature to join together in solving this issue once and for all.”
This bill proposes $4.7 million for the State Water Board and Department of Food and Agriculture for implementation, development, and assessment in 2018 and 2019.
CINCINNATI, OH – According to Forbes Boxed has received an indication of interest in acquisition from Kroger and several other retailers. Forbes projects that multiple companies will make formal bids for Boxed in the next week, resulting in a quick auction process.
Although Costco, Target, and Aldi have been rumored bidders as well, according to Forbes, Kroger is one of the most likely candidates according to inside sources, who also speculate that initial offers will range from $325 million to $500 million, as the company had a 2016 valuation of $470 million.
Forbes argues that, were Boxed to remain independent, it could raise additional funds and continue to grow its valuation. Boxed's business structure as a digital alternative to traditional memberships; Boxed offered retailers exclusive deals, which locked in prices and allowed the company to move away from the restrictions of a traditional membership.
This possible acquisition on the part of Kroger represents a larger industry trend toward a convienence-based grocery market, as indicated by Walmart's acquistion of Jet.com and Moosejaw.
To stay informed on speculative offers and whether Boxed will execute the deal, keep reading AndKnowUKnow.