CHELSEA, MA - Expansion is afoot for Morning Kiss Organic. The grower recently announced its expanded organic melon program, now sourcing fruit from Mexico, California, and the exciting addition of North Carolina. This summer, Morning Kiss Organic presents promotional opportunities for retailers during the months of July and August.

"Prepare to indulge in the essence of summer," says Nelly Czajkowski, Sales Manager. "Organic melons are a perfect addition to any summer retail display, providing a delicious way to boost sales in the organic category. We've witnessed a significant surge in demand for organic melons, and our growers have admirably expanded the selection."

Morning Kiss Organic is bringing back a new label option, featuring a scannable UPC for seamless organic verification at checkout. These labels, adorned with the new Morning Kiss Organic logo, are designed to remain securely attached to the fruit, even amidst changing temperatures.

"With the growing trend of self-checkout, we wanted to offer our customers a reliable scanning option, ensuring confidence in their organic purchases," adds Czajkowski.

According to a press release, Morning Kiss Organic is also excited to launch a strategic partnership with a North Carolina-based grower, enhancing its summer offerings with East Coast-grown organic mini seedless watermelons. They will be available from the end of June through the beginning of August.

This collaboration underscores Morning Kiss Organic’s dedication to sourcing from regional partners whenever possible, ensuring freshness, sustainability, and support for local farming communities.

"By partnering with local growers, we not only offer superior products but also contribute to the vitality of regional agriculture," adds Czajkowski. "This partnership reflects our ongoing mission to deliver exceptional organic produce while fostering meaningful connections within the farming industry."

Morning Kiss Organic will supply organic melons through December, employing just-in-time inventory management to minimize product spoilage. Upon request, melons can be securely banded with an organic label to guarantee their organic status at checkout.

For more melon updates, you know where to find us.

CINCINNATI, OH - The spring to early summer months are here, and Kroger is harnessing the warm weather as an opportunity to drive more traffic to its fresh department. The retailer has unleashed a seasonal eating cheat sheet, sharing a variety of fresh-forward recipes boasting lots of fruits and vegetables.

"Fresh is always in season at Kroger, and as warm weather approaches, we know our customers are ready to enjoy lots of fruits and vegetables that are at peak seasonality," said Dan De La Rosa, Kroger's Group Vice President of Fresh Merchandising. "Customers can look forward to their seasonal favorites and—as always—unparalleled freshness this spring and throughout summer with limitless possibilities for delicious meals or enjoy with no prep and just a simple bite."

As this strategy takes root, the grocer is pointing shoppers to several in-season produce items, including:

• Fruits: Strawberries, Apples, Pineapple, Apricots, Kiwi, Peaches, Cherries, Watermelon, and Grapes
• Vegetables: Asparagus, Peas, Sweet Onions, Radishes, Mushrooms, Carrots, Corn, Zucchini, and Summer Squash
• Greens: Lettuce, Kale, Spinach, Collard Greens, Cabbage, and Swiss Chard
• Citrus: Lemons and Limes

The retailer also prompts consumers to enjoy these in-season items with its fresh-cut fruit and veggies prepared daily in-store.

Other prepared food offerings also leverage the power of fruits and veggies, including Kroger’s:

• Veggie-Stuffed Shells
• Plant-based Creamy Spinach Spaghetti
• Seasonal Salad recipes, including step-by-step instructions for Blue Asparagus Salad, Quinoa and Black-Eyed Peas Salad, Tropical Chicken Bowl, and Vegan Harvest Salad with Tahini Apple Dressing.
• Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken

As a press release explained, even more fresh-focused meal inspo can be found on Kroger’s blog, The Fresh Lane. Consumers can also visit the blog to explore simple solutions like how to cut spring and summer vegetables, how to cook asparagus, and more.

As the retailer enacts more plans to stimulate fresh produce sales, ANUK will report on the latest strategies.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AgroFresh Solutions is working to address recent data management trends for its produce partners. Solutions like the FreshCloud™ platform continue to expand both geographically and in the diversity of crops. With new customer success in every region of the world, FreshCloud continues to empower the way customers like Goede Hoop Citrus manage produce.

"We have had an incredible start to our 2024 season with the expansion of FreshCloud, with new customers joining us from every corner of the globe," said Bradford Warner, Digital and Data Executive Director at AgroFresh. "This achievement underscores the value that FreshCloud brings to the produce industry, enabling all types of customers to make informed decisions and optimize their operations for success. As we continue to expand our FreshCloud reach and offerings, AgroFresh remains committed to providing unparalleled support to our customers.”

FreshCloud is at the forefront of streamlining quality inspections, decision-making processes, and improving produce quality. According to a press release, the comprehensive digital quality platform offers season-long, real-time quality inspection monitoring of various crops including apples, pears, avocados, blueberries, tomatoes, grapes, melons, citrus, and more.

Jo-Ann Breunissen, Quality Manager at Goede Hoop Citrus, shared her experience with the digital tool.

“From orchard to packaging, every aspect of Goede Hoop Citrus’ operations is guided by principles that prioritize sustainability. By implementing innovative practices, Goede Hoop Citrus strives to minimize its environmental footprint while maximizing the quality of its citrus products,” Breunissen stated. “From inventory management to quality control, FreshCloud provides us with comprehensive tools accessible from any device, enabling seamless monitoring and collaboration throughout the packing process. With real-time quality data analytics and predictive modeling, FreshCloud empowers Goede Hoop Citrus and our producers to make informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently and minimize waste.”

Breunissen continued, stating, “Through the implementation of FreshCloud, Goede Hoop Citrus is developing advanced systems that integrate seamlessly with their existing operations. By leveraging FreshCloud's cutting-edge technology, Goede Hoop Citrus gains a competitive edge in the industry while enhancing their commitment to sustainability and quality in citrus packing operations.”

As we learn more about AgroFresh’s partnerships, keep reading us here at ANUK.

WASHINGTON, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is gearing up for the 2024 Washington Conference, taking place this year from June 10 through June 12.

“The Washington Conference’s move to June in an election year creates the perfect opportunity for timely events, speakers, and opportunities, and that is exactly why industry leaders should be in the nation’s capital during produce week next month,” said Rebeckah Adcock, IFPA’s Vice President, U.S. Government Relations. “We are so honored to have influential leaders from the Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus, FDA, USDA and our allies set the stage for this year’s event. Attendees will make the case for why policymakers must address the industry’s needs and share their stories with elected leaders making the crucial decisions shaping the food economy.”

The conference serves as an opportunity to bring our industry together, featuring powerful keynote speakers and vibrant celebrations showcasing the best of fresh produce and floral, along with the impactful Advocate for Fresh on Capitol Hill Congressional Meetings.

This year, champions in the U.S House of Representatives established the Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus to better coordinate legislation and support for congressional action that strengthens the sector, a press release explained; the co-chairs of the caucus kick off Wednesday, June 12, discussing their points of view on issues important to fresh produce and floral.

Afterward, keynote speaker Dr. Donald A. Prater, Acting Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, will join an interactive roundtable with top FDA Human Food Program (HFP) officials and the fresh produce supply chain to discuss industry and administration priorities and top of mind issues within the new HFP.

During the two-day event, attendees will also take the #PowerofFresh to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to share IFPA policy priorities and the impact of fresh produce and floral on jobs, economic growth, and consumer demand for healthy food, the release explained. There, attendees will advocate for three specific issues:

• Nutrition and Demand Creation
• Labor and Workforce
• Farm Bill and Agriculture Policy - Support specialty crops in the largest investment in food and agriculture

This year’s conference also includes a few fresh additions to the June 10 schedule, such as:

• Women’s Fresh Perspectives Networking Lunch
• Building a More Resilient Food System and Workforce Forum
• Packaging and Sustainability at the Crossroads Forum

For more details on the upcoming conference, click here.

And for more event coverage, stay on the pages of ANUK.

ONTARIO, CANADA - We were excited to learn about a new executive appointment that took place earlier this week. It was announced that Westmoreland Sales has hired Richie Keirouz as its new Vice President of Business Development.

"Westmoreland is currently experiencing significant growth," Keirouz explained in a recent press release from the company. "My primary focus will be on further expanding the company’s market reach by leveraging my relationships with key retailers.”

As Keirouz takes up the helm as VP, he will leverage over 25 years of produce industry experience and an impressive track record. In this role, Keirouz will be focusing on driving strategic growth and expanding the company’s retail market share across North America.

“Richie’s understanding of the retail landscape and his ability to build strong customer relationships will be a key piece of our go-to-market strategy,” commented Dino DiLaudo, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

DiLaudo is confident in Westmoreland’s growth trajectory and believes Keirouz's arrival comes at a pivotal time.

“All the necessary elements for growth are in place: rising demand for greenhouse produce, substantial fleet expansion, and increased greenhouse acreage across all commodities, we welcome Richie’s expertise in supporting our objectives,” DiLaudo continued.

Westmoreland Sales remains committed to delivering fresh, flavorful products to customers across North America under its Topline Farms label.

Congratulations to the new VP!