BANCROFT, WI - In just over two weeks, RPE will be in attendance with all aspects of the industry in Atlanta, Georgia, as it attends the PMA Fresh Summit. So what is the company bringing in that will make its booth stand out?
The company will be featuring Tasteful Selections, Old Oak Farms potatoes, with Chef Joey Elenterio showcasing their flavor in two signature dishes.
“We are extremely thrilled to continue our partnership with the talented Chef Joey,” Russell Wysocki, President and CEO of RPE, said in a press release. “His creativity with each mouthwatering creation, using Tasteful Selections potatoes, meshes perfectly with our goal to provide innovative solutions and recipe inspirations for our customers and consumers alike.”
Chef Elenterio is opening his own restaraunt, Cadence, in San Francisco, and during his tenure as Executive Chef at Chez TJ in Mountain View, California, he received 1 Michelin Star in both 2011 and 2012. Zagat named him in its 30 under 30, and he is also a recipient of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Rising Star Chef award.
“Tasteful Selections potatoes are so versatile, colorful and cook quickly and evenly, so I never run out of new ways to prepare them,” Chef Elenterio said, according to the release. “It is always a delight to work with a product you believe in.”
Chef Elenterio will create his signature Tomato and Chili Braised Sweet Surprise potatoes on Saturday, Oct. 24th, and on Sunday, Oct. 25th he’ll create what is described as a Midwest based treat with Leinenkugel braised Sunrise Medley potatoes complimented with Parsley Fennel Salad and Cheese Curds.
Both can be enjoyed at Booth 239 during PMA Fresh Summit, where several Tasteful Selections products will be on display, including:
- Conventional and Organic lines
- Specialty varieties from Old Oak Farms®
- White Russet® brand potatoes
Find out about these varieties and more at booth 239 in just 19 days.
CASTROVILLE, CA - After 25 years of serving Ocean Mist Farms as its President and CEO, Ed Boutonnet is passing the torch to a new leader.
Joe Pezzini, the current Chief Operating Officer, has been named as the company’s next President and CEO. Boutonnet will remain as Chairman of the Board and will participate in special assignments, projects, and other operations of the corporation. The transition in leadership will occur over the next 12 months, according to a press release.
“I’ve been privileged to lead one of the greatest produce companies in the country. I am confident in [Joe’s] abilities and excited for the future of Ocean Mist Farms,” said Boutonnet. “I look forward to working with Joe and the board during the transition period, and to being an advisor to management in the years ahead.”
Hugo Tottino, Owner/Partner of Ocean Mist Farms, gave Ed his sincere gratitude for his strong, dedicated, and honest leadership throughout his many years at the company.
“[Ed] was instrumental in working with management to position our company for long-term success,” said Tottino. “We are grateful for his innumerable contributions to the company and we thank him for his distinguished tenure as President and CEO over the last 25 years.”
Pezzini, Boutonnet’s successor, has been with the company since June of 1983. Prior to being named Chief Operating Officer in February 2009, he was appointed as Ocean Mist’s Vice President of Operations, where he was responsible for cooling operations, food safety, research and development, quality assurance, human resources, and strategic planning.
“I’m honored by the confidence expressed in me by the Ocean Mist Farms board,” said Pezzini. “I will work hard as we embark upon the next chapter in the company’s history. Working with the talented professionals on the board, the senior management team, and our dedicated employees, I anticipate an exciting and successful future.”
AndNowUKnow wishes Mr. Boutonnet the best of luck in this transitional period, and congratulates Pezzini on being named to this executive post.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - As we welcome in the month of October, companies across the industry are launching their pink promotions to support the many organizations that are on the front lines in the fight against breast cancer.
For the fourth year in a row, NatureSweet is partnering with Susan G. Komen, to offer their support of the non-profit’s breast cancer awareness initiatives. With a mission simply put “to save lives and end breast cancer forever,” Susan G. Komen has been the leading non-profit for the cause and a great partner as well as a resource for NatureSweet.
“Here in our office, we have a number of people that have dealt with breast cancer in their families so the cause is very close to our hearts. Susan G. Komen is the perfect partner for us. While we take on the impossible by growing a great tasting product year-round to promote healthy living, Komen is really taking on the impossible by trying to create a world where breast cancer no longer exists,” Michael Joergensen, VP of Marketing, tells me. “They not only welcome our support, but also bring NatureSweet and our 6,000-plus Associates, the resources and awareness we need to keep our company educated and engaged as well.”
This year, NatureSweet is featuring in-store pink packaging and materials for Glorys tomatoes. Glorys are a tomato variety perfect for cooking and can be used in pizzas, sauces, pastas, casseroles, kebabs…really any dish that calls for tomatoes or can be enhanced by them.
NatureSweet relaunched the packaging and a new variety under the Glorys name at the beginning of the year, and Michael tells me that these are the best Glorys the company has ever had.
To show its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, NatureSweet is also donating $100,000 to Susan G. Komen®.
UNITED STATES - The long-debated 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal has finally been reached, potentially strengthening trade relations between around 40 percent of the world’s economy.
According to the USDA, the TPP would eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs on American products and deter non-science based sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that have put American agriculture at a disadvantage in TPP countries in the past.
“An agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations provides a more level playing field in trade for American farmers,” explained U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a released statement. “Despite these past barriers, countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership currently account for up to 42 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports, totaling $63 billion. Thanks to this agreement and its removal of unfair trade barriers, American agricultural exports to the region will expand even further, particularly exports of meat, poultry, dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains, oilseeds, cotton and processed products.”
The twelve countries that will be affected by the TPP are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the U.S., and Vietnam.
If ratified, the Trans-Pacific Partnership would be the largest pact governing international commerce in more than two decades, according to Bloomberg, encompassing 40 percent of the world’s economic output. President Obama released a statement saying the trade pact would eliminate more than 18,000 taxes on U.S. products and includes enforceable labor and environmental standards.
"Failing to grasp this opportunity would be a mistake: worse than just losing out on potential gains, our producers would fall behind other countries that are negotiating their own preferential arrangements in TPP countries,” continued Vilsack. “We are committed to working with Congress within the framework of the recently-passed Trade Promotion Authority to obtain a strong bipartisan understanding of and support for this historic trade deal that benefits farmers, ranchers, and all those who live, work and raise families in rural communities.
The deal has not been without opposition, however. Vermont Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, as well as Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren have been the most vocal in their opposition to the deal, saying it would favor corporations and will undercut U.S. wages.
Congress will now have at least 90 days to review and officially approve the deal.
BELLINGHAM, WA - While it has been a tumultuous several months for the Haggen chain, plans appear to be solidifying as the company steps back to center around the core stores it identified as continuing to be profitable.
The chain has been busy in court, filing motions for approval on two separate asset purchase agreements and looking for a court hearing to propose global bid procedures.
According to a press release, the company has deals for the sale of 36 stores in two stalking horse bidder agreements that it is looking to get approved. Smart & Final LLC has reportedly signed an agreement for 28 stores in both California and Nevada, while Gelson’s Markets has signed off an asset purchase agreement for an additional 8 California stores.
As for the auction, the chain reports it is looking for a hearing on October 19th, with parties interested in participating in the sale of its stores having to submit interest by October 26th. Though all dates are tentative and still subject to approval by bankruptcy court, the auction itself is slated for November 9th, with all bids having to be in by November 2nd. A hearing to consider the results of the auction on November 24th.
According to the release, a sale hearing will be held on November 13th if no auction takes place for a stalking horse package, or if one of the stalking horse bidders is the successful bidder for its package after the auction and the contracts identified in the original bid have not changed.
A complete updated list of the stores agreed to by Gelson’s and Smart & Final can be found below:
Any party interested in finding out more about the process, which the company said has been designed to be fair and transparent to maximize value, should contact Sagent Advisors, LLC at (212) 904-9400. Sagent has been retained to handle the sale process and will be able to provide more information.
PLEASANTON, CA - Welcome to What’s In Store.
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Thank you for watching What’s In Store.
BANCROFT, WI – Tasteful Selections is launching a new campaign with non-profit organization Katie’s Krops to take action in the fight against hunger.
The campaign, dubbed “Meet Your Grower,” highlights local Katie’s Krops growers and educates customers about local hunger relief efforts. In addition, for every specially marked bag of Tasteful Selections’ Ruby Sensation and Honey Gold potatoes sold from October through January, the company will donate a portion of the profits to Katie’s Krops as part of the campaign, according to a press release.
Tasteful Selections will provide select retailers with customized demonstrations, display contests and POS materials this fall to promote the campaign.
Russell Wysocki, President and CEO of RPE Inc., and Co-Owner of Tasteful Selections, said that part of the aim this year is to help raise awareness about Katie’s Krops and end hunger.
“We want to make it easier for people to support those in need within their own communities, especially during the holiday season,” said Russell Wysocki, President and CEO of RPE Inc., and Co-Owner of Tasteful Selections.
This is the third year Tasteful Selections has partnered with Katie’s Krops and Founder and Chief Executive Gardener Katie Stagliano.
“This year’s campaign provides a great opportunity to engage and educate the public about Katie’s Krops mission and how proceeds from the sale of the Katie’s Krops Tasteful Selections packages can really make a difference for those in need in their local communities.”
Katie’s Krops donates thousands of fresh produce to organizations helping people in need from Katie’s flagship garden in South Carolina and by awarding grants to youth-led gardens. There are currently over 80 Katie’s Krops gardens growing across the country in 30 states. The goal is to create and maintain 500 gardens nationwide.
RPE and Tasteful Selections will continue to donate proceeds from packages of Tasteful Selections potatoes to help fund Katie’s Krops gardens.
HOKKAIDO, JAPAN - Short of watching the Harry Potter movies, you’re not likely to walk into an area and find yourself surrounded by a bunch of floating pumpkins.
Unless you’re in Naganuma, Hokkaido, one of the largest producers of pumpkins in Japan.
According to The Japan News, Naganuma farmers have begun using aeroculture (agriculture suspended off the ground) to grow kabocha pumpkins.
“I can harvest the pumpkins standing up, without having to bend at the waist,” Junya Nagamori, Manager of a the Shinsei Shoji greenhouse farm, told Naohiro Yoshida and Yomiuri Shimbun of The Japan News. “It’s also cooler in the greenhouses during summer because the vines block the sun.”
Not only does this method help cool the greenhouse, which is important in Japan’s tropical climate, but the growers also say that the suspension helps provide better color to the gourds by giving sun exposure to the parts that would normally be buried.
Having come to be known as “flying pumpkins” in the area, Masaei Takada, owner of Shinsei Shoji, told the reporters that these pumpkins have better quality and texture than on average this year. As a result, the company’s pumpkins were trading for a higher price than conventionally soil-grown pumpkins at about ¥3,000 (about $25) per 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds). That’s more than a dollar per pound of pumpkin.
Hokkaido’s prefectural government also credits the area’s extreme differences in daytime and nighttime temperatures, The Japan News reports, for contribution to what is described as delicious pumpkins with both a crumbly and soft texture.
So while the method may appear a little strange and spooky, especially at this time of year, it also appears to be effective.
PERU - Retailers, get ready to promote. Asparagus volume will be ramping up within the coming weeks as new fields in Ica, Peru come into production.
Despite the recent fluctuating market, growers are now responding with improved volumes from both Peru and Baja and, as a result, supplies should be excellent for the next couple of months.
This is an exciting time of year for Southern Specialties and Gourmet Trading. Both companies are looking forward to fantastic overall quality from the new fields in southern Peru, but will continue to monitor volumes and yields as they approach the year’s end.
“We have good quality as we did last year,” said Carlos Solf, Southern Specialties’ Director of Procurement. “Demand has been good as well. There are a lot of opportunities to promote small sizes, which have great flavor, cook quicker, and have more stalks to the pound. We can provide excellent quality at prices that provide great value to the consumer.”
Lately, the market has been variable with significant peaks and valleys, Solf added. The Guanajuato harvest this season ended somewhat faster than usual, which kept supplies on the short-end for late August and for most of September. Subsequently, prices were pushed up to levels not usually seen for this time of year. With the improving volumes and the softening airfreight rates, however, market pricing should start to adjust.
“The recent lack of volume and related high prices did stall retail movement,” said Gourmet Trading’s Jan McDaniels, Sales. “Volumes have significantly increased from the new fields over the past week so we are expecting excellent supplies for the next couple of months. The improving volumes from both Peru and Baja, coupled with the softening airfreight rates, are allowing the market pricing to adjust so we can restart volume shipping and promotions with all sectors.”
As of October 1, 2015, the USDA reported prices of Peruvian imported asparagus at South Florida at $17.00 - $21.00 for jumbo sizes, $17.00 - $20.00 for extra large sizes, $17.00 - $20.00 for large sizes, $16.00 - $18.00 for standard sizes, and $11.00 - $14.00 for small sizes.
McDaniels added that Gourmet Trading is excited to work with increasing volumes of non-fumigated asparagus from the company’s Baja fields, especially for its West Coast customers.
“The improving volumes are also allowing us to expand the bagged asparagus program to better service our retail and food service customers,” said McDaniels. “We are looking forward to great volume from both regions for the October and November period.”
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track the asparagus market.
UNITED STATES - Hurricane Joaquin has now officially been upgraded to a Category 4 storm by the National Hurricane Center, and is still on track to potentially affect the eastern United States.
"Hurricane Joaquin is now an extremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane wreaking havoc in the central and eastern Bahamas tonight through Friday morning," explained ABC News Meteorologist Melissa Griffin. "It then turns north and begins a weakening trend."
There’s still "a lot of uncertainty" about whether it will hit the East Coast, National Hurricane Center Director Rick Knabb said in a news conference on Thursday as the warm waters in the Bahamas brought the storm up to a 130 mph Category 4.
“We still don't know where Joaquin will go next,” Craig Fugate, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency also mentioned at yesterday's conference, saying the agency will not take any chances with the public’s safety.
"One way or the other, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and on up will get between 5 and 10 inches of rain—even without a direct landfall," CNN Meteorologist Chad Myers said. "If we get a landfall, we get 15 inches of rain and winds of 80 mph.
Even without direct landfall, Myers says, there will be significant flooding through the Carolinas, Virginia, and up the East Coast. Precautions are already underway in the region, with governors in the coastal states warning residents to be ready for wet storms, power outages, and road closures. So far, North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have declared states of emergencies for their states.
“The immediate threat is for severe flooding on Friday and Saturday, the second is tracking the path of Hurricane Joaquin as those forecasts become clearer over the next 24 to 72 hours,” Christie said in a statement.
For more on the pressing weather event, stay tuned as AndNowUKnow gives you the latest.