WENATCHEE, WA - Planning ahead, paired with access to key category insights and support, will set retail partners up for a successful cherry program this year. This is what I gleaned while reading the latest advice from Stemilt to those looking to push the cherry category to its full potential. Where to start? Opportunity lies within post-Memorial Day timing, and planning now for promotable cherry volumes on the way from California. Just ask Stemilt Marketing Director Brianna Shales.

“Here’s your chance to replace last year’s cherry dollars!” Shales stated. “Historically, Memorial Day kickstarts cherry sales, but this year, you’ll want to keep feeding the fire well after the weekend because that will be just the beginning of our opportunity to move volume. Keeping ads running May 23 through the rest of the season will be key to finding success.”

Stemilt is known for its long and advantageous cherry season, growing in both California and Washington state. The first of the season’s cherries will come from the unique growing region of San Joaquin Valley, including Brentwood and Westley, before moving to Stockton/Lodi. California will wrap up in the River/Delta locale.

According to a press release, based on bloom patterns from early sites, Stemilt’s cherry season will begin at the end of April.

This will be much earlier than last year, which means there will be promotable volumes leading into Memorial Day and into mid-June.

“We need to shift our minds and promote from the last week in May to June 10,” says Shales. “This is going to be the heart of the season, and promotions will breathe life into the growth of cherry dollars. The three magic words to remember this season are timing, volume, and quality. Timing for both the California and Washington crops is significantly better than last year, and there will be an abundant volume of quality cherries out there to promote. As long as you keep cherries in the front seat, you’ll see dollars increase from last year, which will help move the category in the right direction.”

An oversupply and less-than-ideal crop timing last year resulted in a lack of momentum. Category results had many retailers selling more cherry volume, but sales were down compared to the 2022 season, the company notes.

Are you wondering whether or not to promote cherries? According to Stemilt, cherries are one of the last seasonal items in produce, and 75 percent of purchases are made on impulse. Enticing displays partnered with strategic promotions encourage repeat purchases.

“The most important thing you can do is not forget about cherries,” says Shales. “Even if they’re not on promotion, avoid putting cherries on the back shelf and, instead, give them plenty of shelf space. Stemilt’s door is always open to help your cherry program thrive with branded varieties, including 5 River Islands™ cherries. Carrying a self-merchandising bag of cherries like these can help capture the attention of consumers looking for something new and special to try this cherry season.”

Cherries are top of mind with consumers, signaling a demand to offer a premium retail destination aligned with the season’s amazing potential.

SELAH, WA - Buckle your seat belts, folks. The Pacific Northwest cherry season is quickly approaching and promising to be as dynamic as ever. Always the wild ride, this premium category draws in shoppers from every demographic, flavor palate, and walk of life. As we look to the season ahead, Rainier Fruit Company joins me to discuss the fruitful category and what we can look forward to as summer approaches.

“While Mother Nature decides the official first day of cherry harvest, we currently expect to kick off the 2024 season the first week of June. We experienced a relatively warm late winter and early spring, but crop timing has balanced out to a five-year average with the more recent cooler temps,” Tyler Johnson, Sales Manager. “We always encourage buyers to stay close on cherries and to keep in touch as summer approaches and we get a better idea of the crop set. Reach out and let us share what makes our program special.”

One of the key players in the cherry category, Rainier Fruit consistently ranks among the first wave of Northwest suppliers to ship a box, thanks to varietal selection and locations in prime microclimates.

“Crop potential is looking favorable so far, and we expect to have plenty of beautiful fruit,” Tyler details. “Weather challenges in mid-winter resulted in a cold snap that caused some damage in the northern districts. While greater industry supply will likely get tight in the late season, we expect a solid supply of fruit through July. It’s years like this that show the benefit of investing in geographical diversity from northern Washington all the way down to the Hood River region of Oregon.”

As retailers build excitement for their premium cherry programs, buyers can plan to see organic and conventional Chelans priming the pipeline, followed by Bings and Rainiers. Mid-season transitions to Cristalina, Coral Champagne, and Skeena with Sweetheart will round out the season and deliver on retailers’ commitments to a one-stop cherry shop for shoppers.

“In response to positive consumer feedback, we’ve increased the volume of Rainiers and Skeenas, which offer a fantastic eating experience. Both of these varieties like to grow large and stand out on the store shelf,” Tyler concludes.

The advantages of a prime cherry destination are multi-dimensional. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we bring you more on the upcoming season and all that it offers.

BOISE, ID - The financial results are in for Albertsons Companies. The retailer recently reported results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 and full year fiscal 2023, which ended February 24, 2024.

"We delivered another solid quarter amidst a difficult industry backdrop," said Vivek Sankaran, Chief Executive Officer. "Again this quarter, we focused on our strategy to create Customers for Life, which drove strong growth in digital and pharmacy, deepened our omnichannel relationships with our customers, and improved our in-store experience. We are pleased with our fiscal 2023 financial results, particularly in omnichannel where we have increased our investments in technology, digital and in-store customer experience, and supply chain operations. We want to thank all of our teams who continue to deliver on our commitment to serving our customers and communities."

According to a press release, key highlights from the fourth quarter include:

• Identical sales increased 1 percent
• Digital sales increased 24 percent
• Net income of $251 million, or $0.43 per share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $916 million

Highlights from fiscal year 2023 include:

• Identical sales increased 3 percent
• Digital sales increased 22 percent
• Net income of $1,296 million, or $2.23 per share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $4,318 million

"As we look forward to fiscal 2024, we will continue investing in our Customers for Life strategy and developing the digital and omnichannel capabilities necessary to support it,” Sankaran added. “Our Customers for Life strategy is placing the customer at the center of everything we do, with the ultimate goal of supporting them every day, every week, and for a lifetime. It is a multi-year journey that we will continue to build on in fiscal 2024 as we invest in capabilities that allow us to digitally connect and further engage our customers through a frictionless omnichannel experience, enhance what we offer, modernize our operational capabilities, and transform our ways of working."

For more from the press release, click here.

And keep reading ANUK for the industry’s latest.

WASHINGTON, DC - The latest research from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) dives into the shopping habits impacting the produce department today, uncovering multiple significant barriers to produce consumption.

“Spring is the time when people are planning gardens and planting seeds; it is also typically a time when lists of which fruits and veggies are safer for you to eat start to circulate on newsfeeds,” Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, IFIC President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “Our consumer research shows Americans consider how their food was grown when making food decisions, yet at the same time, Americans have never been more removed from the farm. It is our mission to help bridge that gap with consumer insights and science communications.”

According to a recent release from IFIC, keeping food safe (70 percent) and the use of pesticides (60 percent) are top concerns when considering how food is grown; nutritional content, use of agricultural technology, environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and farm workers welfare were other listed concerns consumers factor into their purchase decisions.

In addition, 47 percent of Americans believe “organic agriculture does not use pesticides to grow food,” even though both organic and conventional produce are grown with the use of pesticides.

Nearly 60 percent of Americans concerned with pesticide use believe consuming foods grown with pesticides is bad for their health, while 36 percent believe that pesticides used today are “more toxic than they have ever been,” and 35 percent believe pesticides are bad for the environment.

When it comes to the Americans who are not concerned about pesticide use, 35 percent cited they rinse their fresh produce, and 29 percent “trust farmers to use pesticides responsibly.”

“The pesticide residue found on both conventional and organic produce has time and time again been found to be present in minute amounts. Multiple government agencies confirm that these low residue levels do not pose a health or safety risk, yet consumers are still clearly concerned,” explained Tamika Sims, PhD, IFIC Senior Director of Agriculture Technology Communications. “I would simply recommend that consumers wash their fresh produce with cold water prior to consuming, to remove any remaining residues.”

These concerns impact overall produce dollars, as the study revealed that when a consumer is concerned about pesticide use, the majority simply avoid purchasing or consuming vegetables (71 percent) and fruits (59 percent) altogether.

“Low intake of fruits and vegetables by Americans is not a new phenomenon—it's been chronically low for decades,” explained Reinhardt Kapsak. “This research highlights gaps in not only consumer understanding of pesticides but also how harmful misinformation can further widen the fruit and vegetable consumption gap in the U.S. and around the world. Our aim is always to empower consumers with evidence-based, truthful information. We must reassure Americans that consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables—in all forms and from all production methods—is safe, nutritious, and important for their health and well-being.”

To read the full survey, click here.

How can we harness consumer education and high food safety standards to continue increasing fresh produce consumption? ANUK will continue to explore.

NOVI, MI - Between expansion and a recent leadership appointment, Lineage is well poised for growth. The logistics company has welcomed Shellye Archambeau to the Board of Directors of its operating subsidiary, Lineage Logistics Holdings. Archambeau assumed her position on the board this month, bringing deep expertise as a seasoned CEO and public company board leader to her role.

“I am thrilled to join the Board of Directors and be part of a team dedicated to creating a more innovative and sustainable cold chain at a time when global access to safe, reliable food is increasingly vital,” said Archambeau. “I look forward to working with the leadership team to help further Lineage’s support of communities worldwide.”

Archambeau brings to the board over 30 years of experience building and scaling business-to-consumer and business-to-business brands in the technology industry, with expertise in governance, risk and compliance, marketing, and entrepreneurship. According to a press release, she is a senior executive mentor with the ExCo Group and currently serves on the boards of Verizon Communications, where she chairs the Corporate Governance and Policy Committee; Roper Technologies, where she chairs the Nominating and Governance Committee; Okta; and two national non-profits, Catalyst and Braven. She previously served on the boards of Nordstrom and Arbitron.

She is also the former CEO of MetricStream, a Silicon Valley-based software company, where she led the company’s transformation into a leader in governance, risk, and compliance solutions. Archambeau also previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of Sales at NorthPoint Communications, and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Loudcloud, as well as the President of Blockbuster.com. Archambeau has significant expertise with integrated enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance functions, and quality, as well as vendor and audit management software solutions across a wide range of industries.

“We are honored to welcome Shellye to the board and look forward to working with her to further our purpose of transforming the cold chain to help feed the world,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lineage. “With her proven and accomplished track record of building industry-leading organizations and high-performance teams, Shellye’s extensive experience will be instrumental in supporting Lineage’s strategic initiatives.”

Congratulations to Shellye Archambeau!

WASHINGTON, DC - An important update about The Washington Conference 2024 recently came from the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). Registration is open for the event, which is now taking place June 10–12 in Washington, DC.

“There is strength in numbers, and we need even more voices and perspectives joining us on Capitol Hill in June before the elections this fall,” said Rebeckah Adcock, IFPA’s Vice President of U.S. Government Relations. “The Washington Conference offers a great opportunity for attendees to advocate for their business and ensure the long-term health of the industry.”

The annual event unites all segments of the fresh produce and floral industry to address the most urgent policy issues with the U.S. Congress and Administration. According to a press release, it provides an opportunity for attendees to lend their voice to fresh industry priorities and have a say on policies directly affecting their business.

Attendees will advocate for these public policy issues:

• Nutrition and Demand Creation - The importance of increased and inclusive access to and sustainable demand for healthy fresh produce
• Labor and Workforce - A strong workforce that meets our industry's needs across the supply chain, focused on finding and retaining the talent we need to grow
• Farm Bill and Agriculture Policy - Understand how the largest investment in food and agriculture affects farm livelihoods, shapes how and what food is grown

Attendees will engage with hundreds throughout the produce supply chain, including industry leaders, policy experts, legislative staff, and more. Registration for the Washington Conference is available here.

Stay tuned for updates on industry events and more.

VALENCIA, CA - More fresh, California-grown citrus is hitting the produce department as Sunkist Growers announces the arrival of its Star Ruby Grapefruit season. As the beloved offering prepares to spark excitement for consumers, Sunkist® is upping the ante for its partners with a national display contest running through July.

“We have learned a lot about grapefruit shoppers over the years, and according to a new Sunkist-commissioned study, grapefruit buyers continue to be loyal to the variety, with 50 percent making repeat purchases multiple times per month,” says Cassie Howard, Senior Director of Category Management and Marketing at Sunkist Growers. “When speaking with shoppers, we also know that pricing, promotions in-store, and a strengthened focus on health are the key takeaways to encourage more grapefruit purchases.”

The citrus provider’s latest initiative is geared toward retailers to help boost the grapefruit category by promoting its delicious flavors and vital nutrients that enhance overall well-being, a press release explained. The National Display Contest is taking place now through July, with prizes awarded to the produce managers of the top three winning stores.

As Sunkist explained in its release, Circana shows citrus volume up 6 percent mid-way through April, outpacing total produce (+1 percent) and total fruit (+1 percent) compared to the same time last year.

“A recent webinar from Circana focusing on The Snack Journey showed almost half of consumers snack more than three times per day, with over 70 percent of snacks being sourced from home,” explained Howard. “We aim to be a shopper’s go-to resource for instilling healthy citrus-infused habits at home, and with snacks on the rise, our engaging social media campaigns and website content are great tools for shoppers to reference as they internally battle healthy eating versus indulgence at checkout.”

Building on this momentum, Sunkist dove further into shoppers’ overall perception of the grapefruit and the determining factors to making a purchase at the store level with a grapefruit-specific study. The in-depth study revealed most shoppers are purchasing grapefruit for its health benefits, followed by taste, and that breakfast and snacking are the most common usages for consumption. Backed by these insights, retailers can better position health-focused breakfast options for grapefruit and introduce new ways to incorporate grapefruit into everyday life for shoppers.

With bigger sizes this season, Sunkist has expanded offerings to fit the needs of its retail partners, providing multiple bag options and customizable merchandising to not negatively impact bulk purchases. The brand’s shoppable recipe programs and merchandising toolkit feature interactive point-of-sale materials with scannable QR codes, providing shoppers with real-time recipe inspiration and utilization tips.

Ready to take part in the competitive display contest? Contact your local Sunkist sales rep to learn more about the rules and eligibility, as well as sampling opportunities to encourage trial and prompt purchase in stores.

For more citrus-centric news, keep reading ANUK!