FOWLER, CA - Fowler-based company Bee Sweet Citrus has taken home one of the Central Valley’s most coveted agribusiness awards. Certified Public Accountants Baker Peterson Franklin (BPF) has chosen Bee Sweet as its recipient of the 2017 Baker Peterson Franklin Ag Business Award.
“Bee Sweet Citrus was selected for its outstanding achievements and contributions to Central Valley’s ag industry,” the firm shared. “Bee Sweet Citrus has a distinguished record of positive leadership, entrepreneurship, and service to the agriculture industry and our community making them the 2017 Baker Peterson Franklin Ag Business Award recipient.”
According to a press release, the BPF Ag Business Award honors any for-profit service, product-related agribusiness, or farming entity headquartered in the Central San Joaquin Valley and is selected by a committee representing the local agribusiness industry, as well as the BPF Ag Department. Bee Sweet Citrus will be honored at the Ag Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, November 1 at Clovis Veterans Memorial District, where both the BPF Business Award and the Fresno Chamber Agriculturalist of the Year, Don Cameron of Terranova Ranch, will be presented.
Founded in 1987 in a wood shed, President Jim Marderosian has helped grow Bee Sweet Citrus to be the 36-acre business it is today, hosting a 400,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility, 20 citrus varieties, 10,000 growing acres, and packing 10 million cartons annually. BPF noted that the company’s vertical integration and having control at every step of the process are key to the company’s exceptional product quality. Bee Sweet Citrus is also environmentally sustainable with a high-tech solar panel system, water conservation and recycling programs, electric forklifts, and recyclable packaging.
As well as its agricultural feats, Bee Sweet Citrus is also an active leader in the industry and a partner in the community. The organization serves on numerous industry boards and supports a variety of charitable organizations, including a recent $1 million donation to Valley Children’s Healthcare new pediatric care center in Fowler, $600,000 for a custom built citrus processing line at Fresno State; $1.5 million to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s new plant pathology lab and service on the Dean’s Advisory Council, and a $100,000 gift to Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Past BPF Ag Business Award recipients include:
- Booth Ranches
- Hall Management
- HMC Farms
- Gar Tootelian
- Sun-Maid Growers
- Allied Grape Growers
- Fresno Equipment Company
- Errotabere Ranches
- Harris Farms
- Borba Farms
- National Raisin Co.
- Ballantine Produce Co.
- Woolf Enterprises
- Producers Dairy Foods
- P-R Farms
- J&L Vineyards
- Fowler Packing Company
- Joseph Gallo Farms
- Wawona Frozen Foods
- Wilbur-Ellis Western Division
- Zacky Farms
Luncheon tickets are available through the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, so check out www.fresnochamber.com, or call (559) 495-4800. if you would like to attend.
TAMPERE, FINLAND - Folks who follow food trends are likely keen on the plant-based meat alternatives which are sweeping the nation. Now, the fad has popped up in the last place you might expect: McDonald's, the carnivore's last stand.
It seems that plant-based proteins are prevailing in 2017. Since Beyond Meat, the Bill Gates-backed veggie burger that "bleeds," has inked deals with major foodservice and retail companies, and Whole Foods launched its tomato alternative for seafood, this craze looks to be taking hold. According to Today.com, McDonald's announced "The McVegan" to its lineup, piloting the burger at just one location in Tampere, Finland.
According to the report, the soy-based patty has all the vegan fixings, and there are no current plans to expand the distribution. However, upon learning the news, Twitter is afire with international demands for the burger.
According to GrubStreet.com, the vegan burgers test will be short lived, as the McVegan will only be offered through November 21.
How will this, and other plant-based trends, continue shaping the produce industry? Check in with AndNowUKnow as we bring you the latest.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Pete’s Living Greens is bringing fresh new additions to its living produce line to New Orleans this month, with Endive and Escarole Pete’s Living Strips in the running for the 2017 PMA Fresh Summit Impact Award. The California-based provider of hydroponically-grown, Non-GMO Verified living lettuce and cress varieties is hoping to take home the award honoring excellence in packaging based on functionality sustainability, and consumer convenience.
“While we are highly driven to continue innovating in the living produce space, our focus will always revolve around providing consumers with the top-quality fresh and sustainable produce that fits into their busy lifestyles,” said Pete Overgaag, Vice President of Innovation & Corporate Strategy and eponymous “Pete” of Pete’s Living Greens, in a press release.
According to that release, Pete’s Living Strips—now available in seven varieties including Endive, Escarole, Baby Romaine, Spring Mix, Sweet Butter Blend, Italian Mix, and Upland Cress—offer consumers a fresh alternative to bagged salads and mixes. And with its the new Strips, the company noted, the best varieties of greens—perfect for punching up salads, sandwiches and any balanced meal—now come in living versions with their roots still intact for peak flavor and longevity.
Living Strips come in a patent-pending 100 percent recyclable plastic container. This “Home Harvest Pack™,” with an innovative “root containment compartment,” gives consumers an easy, no-mess way to harvest only the leaves that they need by pulling or cutting them out of the top portion of the package.
Formerly known as Hollandia Produce and recognized for its Live Gourmet and Grower Pete’s lines of living lettuce and cress varieties, Pete’s Living Greens recently rebranded across all product lines with a fresh new name and logo accompanied by a more modern, natural look. Updates to the design and the brand, the company noted, address consumer purchase drivers and sow the seeds—literally and figuratively—for product innovation.
Living Strips are currently available at a number of California-area retailers—including Stater Bros., Safeway, Von’s, Albertsons, and Bristol Farms. And Pete’s Living Greens’ existing line of living lettuces and cress varieties are available at select grocers, specialty health markets, and club stores nationwide, with a broader expansion into foodservice and the East Coast market planned through 2017.
Pete’s Living Greens will be featuring it’s living produce products at the 2017 PMA Fresh Summit, October 19th through 21st, held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Attendees are invited to the Pete’s Living Greens booth #3301, where the new Strips will be on display alongside a Living Lettuce Wall made up entirely of heads of Living Butter Lettuce. Winners of the 2017 PMA Fresh Summit Impact Awards will be announced during the show.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Pre-prepped produce is key for consumers and foodservice alike for everything from convenience, to enhance safety in the kitchen.
Monterey Mushrooms recently enhanced the value-add of its offering with the launch of its finely-diced mushrooms, and Vice President of Sales Mike O’Brien took the time to tell ANUK why.
For our full interview, see the brief video above.
“We’ve got a new item that we’re introducing. It’s a diced mushroom in a pouch, already prepared that takes the work out of it,” Mike tells me.
Amongst the popular items this newest product could be great for, Mike lists:
- Blended Burger
- Blended Meatball
- Blended Tacos
Monterey Mushrooms and the Mushrooms Council have both been avidly pushing the blend, not only for the promotion of a healthier main item, but in that a 30/70 mushroom and meat ratio is a great way to have any of the above items!
“The cool thing about this is it’s in a pouch and it’s so easy to use. So, it can come in any different size–whatever works best for the chef–and that’s what’s really important,” Mike adds, emphasizing not only the convenience of the item, but the enhanced safety for lack of cutting in the kitchen.
Don’t miss this and much more when perusing the PMA Fresh Summit show floor in New Orleans later this month. You can visit the Monterey Mushrooms team at booth #1906.
NEW YORK, NY – If you’re looking for a thought-provoking podcast to get you through the morning commute, Blue Apron’s new podcast Why We Eat What We Eat could be one to queue. Partnering with Gimlet Media, Blue Apron’s Why We Eat What We Eat isn’t another branded, ad-heavy podcast, but instead a poignant, personal, and informative exploration of food-related topics.
“Creating incredible home-cooking experiences is the core of what we do, and by supplementing our culinary products with inspiring content and engaging storytelling, we’ve found that we can connect with our customers on an emotional level, both in the kitchen and beyond,” said Blue Apron CMO Jared Cluff.
Why We Eat What We Eat is hosted by food writer and cookbook author Cathy Erway, host of Eat Your Words, according to AdWeek. The new show will cover topics like the anthropology of food trends, the psychology that inspires the choices everyone makes when choosing what food to eat, and the history of potluck dinners and community gatherings.
Gimlet Media’s Deputy Creative Director Frances Harlow says the goal was to make something different from the already plentiful food podcasts out there. “That’s why we decided to make a show about eating, not about cooking,” says Harlow. “At Gimlet, we won’t make a podcast that’s just a 25-minute advertisement. The brands we work with know that’s not advantageous because people won’t listen to it. With Why We Eat What We Eat, our goal is to tell stories that will resonate with people who have never turned on their ovens, as much as with professional food bloggers.”
As one of the few subscription delivery services that advertises popularly on podcasts, Blue Apron launched Why We Eat What We Eat as a new marketing strategy to engage with more audiences. Along with the podcast, Blue Apron is creating extra content for fans including videos on cooking techniques, exposés on unique weekly ingredients, and blog posts focusing on the service’s suppliers.
The first season of Why We Eat What We Eat will premier October 11, and will run until Thanksgiving. For more exciting industry news, AndNowUKnow will keep you posted.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The Produce Mom® and Pink Lady America are teaming up again for another exciting round of Pink Lady® Brand Apples promotions. Promotions will include video, e-newsletter mentions, and cross-promotional social media posts.
“Many people already know of and love Pink Lady® Brand apples. Our goal is to expand upon that brand recognition and show just how versatile this apple variety is. The content we will create with Pink Lady America will demonstrate the many ways Pink Lady® Brand apples can be prepared and served,” explains Kristin Ahaus, Director of Content and Communications for The Produce Mom.
Together, The Produce Mom and Pink Lady America will create content that educates consumers about how to select, store, and serve Pink Lady Brand Apples, as well as touch on their nutritional value and where to purchase, according to a recent press release. Content will also provide information about the growing and harvesting processes that gives Pink Lady Brand Apples their blush color, sweet flavor, and crisp texture.
“Earlier this year, The Produce Mom created and shared a Valentine’s Day themed video using Pink Lady apples which received thousands of Facebook views. We have been impressed with the quality of content The Produce Mom creates and the authenticity of the audience they reach,” states Kathryn Grandy, Marketing Director at Pink Lady America.
We look forward to seeing the fruit of this collaboration. For more news like this, AndNowUKnow will keep you posted.
SOUTHEAST U.S. - While the U.S. and Puerto Rico are still recovering from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, another tropical storm is threatening to fill in the map along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Tropical Storm Nate, currently building strength in the Caribbean, may strengthen to a hurricane this weekend and make landfall between Harvey-ravaged Texas and Irma-impacted Florida, according to a report by Accuweather.
"In all likelihood, this storm will impact areas not severely impacted by Harvey or Irma. The extent of the damage will depend, of course, on the precise path and whether the storm intensifies beyond a Category 1 storm," AccuWeather Founder, President, and Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers said in the report.
Currently, the storm is projected to make landfall between the Florida Panhandle and southeastern Louisiana. As it stands, the storm will have to track much farther East or West in order to compound the damage already caused by the previous storms.
Low-lying coastal areas, such as New Orleans, are particularly vulnerable and should treat Nate as a serious threat.
"New Orleans levees that have been upgraded since Katrina and pumps that have been repaired in recent weeks may be tested this weekend," according to AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist and Chief Operating Officer Evan Myers.
Category 1 storms may quickly escalate to Category 2 or 3 status in a matter of hours, and residents of the vulnerable areas should be prepared to act quickly.
"Since the system will be moving over very warm waters, we could quickly have a powerful hurricane on our hands," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the path of Tropical Storm Nate leading up to the PMA Fresh Summit in New Orleans.
ONTARIO, CA - Mergers and acquisitions continue to play a leading role in Cardenas Markets’ growth strategy as the Hispanic food trends continue to rise. One of the leading Hispanic supermarket chains in the country, the retailer looked to further solidify its spot with the acquisition of Los Altos Ranch Market.
“Acquisitions and new strategic store locations are a key component of our growth strategy,” said John Gomez, President and CEO of Cardenas Markets. “We are fortunate to have identified Los Altos Ranch Market as a partner whose values and mission are aligned with our organization. We welcome the employees of Los Altos Ranch Market into the Cardenas Markets family and look forward to the many opportunities of growth resulting from this partnership.”
The buyout means integrating seven operating Phoenix locations into the Cardenas family, according to a press release, expanding its reach into the Arizona market and bringing its store count to 53 total.
As a result, the acquisition marks a new milestone for the chain as a new region as well as its addition to the recent merger with Northern California’s Mi Pueblo banner last July.
As the newest addition, Los Altos Ranch Market brings a rich history of serving the Hispanic community dating back to 1982, while the brand has been a trusted community partner in Phoenix since its first location opened in 2002.
The group of stores will gradually be integrated into Cardenas’ operations while continuing to offer the best shopping experience to the communities they serve, but the retailer said that no immediate changes are expected to the operations of Los Altos Ranch Market stores during the transition period.
No financial details were disclosed upon release.
IRWINDALE, CA – Looking to give time-strapped consumers an opportunity to eat healthy without sacrificing fresh flavor and add to its popular line of value-added fresh foods, Ready Pac Foods has launched two innovative new product lines—Fresh Prep’d™ Soup Kits and Fresh Prep’d Wrap Kits. Available in refrigerated produce and deli cases, each line offers a complete lunch that can be prepared in minutes—perfect for on-the-go albeit flavor-seeking shoppers.
“Our Fresh Prep’d line is a totally innovative new take on lunch favorites. Consumers want meal options that are fresh, tasty, filling, and convenient,” said Chief Marketing Officer Galit Feinreich, in a press release. “With our new Fresh Prep’d Soup Kits and Wrap Kits, everything you need for a delicious, veggie-packed meal comes ready to prepare and customize exactly how you like it—and delivers flavors and textures at their peak—in just minutes.”
The two new lines are a welcome addition to Ready Pac Foods’ popular lineup of Bistro Bowl® and elevate™ single-serve salads and Ready Pac Foods® complete salad kits and blends.
According to the company’s press release, Ready Pac Foods’ Fresh Prep’d Soup Kits are the first of their kind in fresh soups; they are never pre-cooked, but prepared by you right before enjoying. Fresh Prep’d Soup Kits come with everything you need—including a spoon—to prepare a flavorful homemade-tasting soup in minutes.
Each soup is a complete meal with 250 calories or less, 11-18 grams of protein and at least a half-cup of crisp, fresh vegetables.
Fresh Prep’d Soup Kits are available in five varieties, including:
- Chicken Tortilla
- Vegetarian Tuscan White Bean
- Asian Inspired Beef
- Italian Style Wedding
- Chicken Noodle
All of the ingredients in the single-serve kit are prepped and separated to maintain a fresh, crisp flavor. To prepare the soup, consumers can simply combine ingredients in the microwave-safe bowl, add water, and microwave for three minutes.
Fresh Prep’d Wrap Kits come with everything you need to make a fresh wrap, including high-quality lean meats and cheeses, sauces, fresh vegetables, and a soft tortilla. Each wrap delivers a satisfying meal in 470 calories or less with 13-23 grams of protein and ½ to ¾ cup of vegetables. Unlike other premade wraps, Fresh Prep’d Wrap Kits are assembled right before eating allowing for crisp, crunchy vegetables and fresh—never soggy—tortillas.
Kits come in a variety of flavors, including:
- Bacon & Garlic Caesar
- Buffalo Style Ranch
- Thai-Style Peanut
- Southwest Style Ranch
- Vegetarian Roasted Vegetable & Feta.
Like the Ready Pac Foods’ new soup kits, wrap kit ingredients are prepped and separated to preserve flavor, crispness, and freshness. Combine ingredients in the container, place inside the tortilla, and wrap for a satisfying lunch in under a minute. And curious consumers can visit www.howtowrapawrap.com for tips.
Fresh Prep’d Soup Kits and Fresh Prep’d Wrap Kits each have an SRP of $4.99 and are available to grocery providers nationwide. They are also carried by Amazon Fresh.
For more information, check out readypac.com, and for news on all things produce, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
MILTON, PA - Weis Markets has had growth on the mind, with an expansion of 44 new stores in 2016. To support the increased demand, the company remodeled a distribution center in Milton, PA to include an additional 210,000-square-feet, pushing the the facility to one million square feet. According to local source WNEP, the company held a ribbon cutting to open the facility on Tuesday.
"It's a 24/7 operation. We service about 1,000 trucks in a week and 1,000 trucks out a week," Joe Kleman, VP of Distribution, told the source.
Terry Cox, District Manager, works in the distribution center. According to the source, the company plans to expand the distribution center again next year, opening up more jobs.
"The distribution center's going to continue to grow. That's going to help us down the road with more full-time employees," Cox said. "We have a perishable expansion coming, which will expand about 60,000 square feet.”
According to the report, the recent expansion has brought the number of employees in the facility up to nearly 900.
"We'll probably have 1,000 people in the building at that point, yes," Kleman concluded.
As retailers continue to move and shake in the industry, AndNowUKnow will continue to report.