PHOENIX, AZ - While a strong El Niño might not break the drought in Arizona, patterns in the area indicate that it may help to fill the reservoirs in the future.
The Daily Courier reports that previous El Niños have consistently brought wet winters and higher water levels over the years.
As we previously reported, weather services and meteorologists are expecting a strong El Niño this winter, so much so that it is expected to go into the spring season of 2016.
"With the stronger El Niño, there is a stronger likelihood for wetter conditions," Ken Daniel, Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said, according to the report.
The moderate El Niño of 2010 filled SRP reservoirs considerably, according to the Daily Courier, setting a hopeful precedent for this upcoming winter.
"What we would ideally like is a good soaking rain before we get our first snowfall," Nancy Selover, State Climatologist, said explaining that the best precipitation to battle drought conditions is snow. "So the soil gets wet, then we have our snowpack on top of that. If we keep the snowpack all winter, when it starts to melt, the soil underneath it is already wet, so we don't end up with that moisture all soaking into the soil. We could get some really good runoff."
The usual snowfall levels for the Prescott, AZ region averages around 13 inches between the November and April months, with overall precipitation usually coming in under 9 inches. Previous strong El Niño winters have kicked those numbers up to almost 20 inches of snow in the region and 13 inches of precipitation overall, the Courier reports.
When this took place during the 2009-2010 El Niño winter, it wasn’t without cost. The sudden large amounts of water brought floods and water damages to the region with its 5-20 inches of snowfall.
With a little luck and a fair amount of water, however, hopefully the region will be able to see a lift in the reservoir levels soon. Though the report does caution that it will take more than one strong El Niño to reverse the dry conditions, every bit helps.
AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date on weather conditions and any other influences happening within the produce industry.
MADISONVILLE, TX - David Nesselrode, General Manager of Monterey Mushrooms, recently took the time to show AndNowUKnow behind the scenes of the new, organic mushroom facility in Madisonville, Texas.
Taking its mushroom production to new heights, the facility now bumps up Monterey’s harvest to as much as 20 million pounds of organic white and brown mushrooms a year. The new facility also has focused its energy on recycling and sustainability, using a 21-day composting process that uses 100% synthetic wheat straw.
During this visit with AndNowUKnow, Nesselrode takes us through the company’s entire five-step growing process, from composting, pasteurization, spawning, casing, pinning, and finally to harvest.
To find out more about how Monterey Mushrooms grows its White Button, Baby Bella, Portabella, and Oyster Mushrooms, watch the two-minute exclusive at the top of the page.
YAKIMA, WA - FirstFruits Marketing, a grower-owned collaborative apple marketing company and purveyor of the unique Sweetie™, early Fuji, and Opal® apple varieties, is gearing up for a successful season.
“Ralph Broetje of Broetje Orchards is an innovator in the industry and has traveled the world to find the best apple varieties,” Keith Mathews, CEO of FirstFruits Marketing of Washington, said in a press release. “The demand for our unique varieties continues to grow year after year and we’re excited to be able to offer them again to our customers.”
Representative of Broetje Orchards, who the company states is at the forefront of bringing new high-demand varieties to market, FirstFruits recently expanded its unique offerings with the planting of the Cosmic Crisp. This apple is a newly-developed hybrid from Washington State University to add to the company’s list.
After a “stellar 2014 season of growth and consumer build in purchase,” FirstFruits anticipates a strong 2015 round for its Opal® apple variety, which will be available in the beginning of November. It is the exclusive marketer for the variety, offering them in both organic and conventional, while expecting supplies to last through March, 2016.
FirstFruits’ early Fuji apple will also be available in conventional and organic options, slated to arrive by mid-September, while the Sweetie™ variety (a Braeburn and Royal Gala hybrid called Gala’s sweeter, crunchier cousin) is expected in stores in early September.
These unique varieties will be supported with:
- Point-of-sale materials
- Merchandising bins
- Social media content
- Produce manager education
FreshFruits will also have a comprehensive consumer campaign for Opal, which is planned for the winter. Those interested in these exclusive apples can contact the company’s East Coast Regional Marketer Dennis Jackson or West Coast Regional Marketer Tim Corkill.
ST. LOUIS, MO - Monsanto may just be closer to reaching a deal on their Syngenta takeover bid than speculators once thought, reports now say.
As we’ve previously reported, Syngenta has now rejected offers from Monsanto valued at over $45 billion twice now, saying that the offer, “Fundamentally undervalues Syngenta's prospects and underestimates the significant execution risks.”
Now, major investor and hedge fund manager John Paulson believes that Monsanto and Syngenta continue to be in deal talks and aren't far apart on price, according to a source that spoke with CNBC.
Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant agrees, reportedly, releasing a statement saying he hasn’t at all been discouraged by Syngenta’s denials, continuing, “Despite the pace and the speed and the lack of engagement, I always tell the team I’m the exception because I’m the Scottish optimist. I’m going to be putting energy into putting this over the line.”
CNBC’s source believes that Paulson, who reportedly has a small stake in Syngenta, would use his position to support a Monsanto purchase if the economics were attractive. Paulson met recently with Syngenta’s management team, and thinks they could be receptive to a more improved deal, the source says.
A report from Bloomberg seems to echo this sentiment, saying a Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd. survey found that 92 percent of Syngenta’s investors would like management to continue negotiations with Monsanto, and would accept a 5 percent higher offer.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on this potential acquisition as updates continue, so stay tuned for the latest.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Target has decided to envelop the more condensed format stores it began rolling out in 2013, rebranding the smaller banners under the Target name.
The Star Tribune reported that the corporation’s CityTarget and TargetExpress banners, 14 total in numerous cities in the U.S., will be dropping their respective titles for the sake of clarity.
“It’s about a simplified experience for our guests,” Erika Winkels, Public Relations Manager for Target, said, according to the report. “It also helps guests understand that you’re not only limited to what’s in the four walls of that store.”
The company itself made the announcement in a blog entitled “Keeping Things Simple,” where it promises that the return to its traditional banner does not mean it will forgo its different formats.
“We’re committed as ever to our urban growth strategy, developing stores specially designed for densely populated areas,” Target announced in its post, along with the promise of more stores before the year is out.
The company has six store openings slated for October - four smaller format stores and two traditional - in the following locations:
- San Francisco, CA (smaller format)
- San Diego, CA (smaller format)
- Chicago, IL (smaller format)
- Rosslyn, VA (smaller format)
- San Diego Del Sur, CA (traditional format)
- Fort Worth, TX (traditional format)
As for the rebranding, which will be replacing the “City” and “Express” on with its traditional bullseye, that is scheduled to be underway in October as well.
AUSTRALIA - Would you eat a Big Mac with a side of lettuce? And another side of lettuce? Well, at McDonald’s Australia this is now a viable option for its hungry hamburger lovers.
Some McDonald's restaurants in the country are now selling what they call a "lettuce wrap,” which basically means the meat patty has ditched the traditional hamburger buns in the name of lettuce leaves.
"'Lettuce' introduce you to our famous #lettuceburgers," a McDonald's in Queensland, Australia wrote on Instagram. "All the same ingredients packed into a couple of large lettuce leaves!"
This new lettuce creation is part of McDonald's “Create Your Taste” contest, according to CNN Money, in which Australian burger lovers can design their own custom burgers and then try them at participating restaurants.
McDonald's has been displaying the most creative designs on its website, along with the name of the burger artist. Some burgers that have made it on the site include a Big Mac with tortilla chips in it, a Dagwood-style burger stacked with bacon and eggs, and a sandwich of cheese, tomato chilli jam, guacamole and sliced beetroot but no actual meat, according to CNN Money.
McDonald's often tests new menu items in foreign markets like Australia before bringing them to the US, Business Insider reports. One notable example would be Australia seeing the debut of the brand's coffee line, McCafe, before it hit U.S. soil.
BARD VALLEY, CA - After undergoing a series of rigorous tests and audits, Natural Delights™ Medjool Dates are now Non-GMO Project Verified.
The Non-GMO Project is North America’s only third-party verification and labeling organization for non-GMO food and products.
“Consumers are continuing to demand transparency about their food and where it comes from,” said David M. Anderson, Director of Marketing. “Natural Delights™ is happy to answer the call by working with trusted third-party organizations to validate our commitment to providing the best quality Medjool dates.”
The Non-GMO Project Verification mark will be displayed on all of the company’s packaging starting this fall, coinciding with the 2015 crop harvest, according to a press release.
The company has also recently announced that it will be rolling out two new seasonal varieties alongside new packaging this summer.
Officially named a “heart healthy” food by the American Heart Association, Natural Delights™ Medjool Dates are low-medium on the glycemic index and are packed with fiber and potassium. Their ability to boost energy, satisfy hunger, and help with muscle recovery makes them a perfect snack pre- and post-workout.
REEDLY, CA - DJ Forry has announced that it’s adding a new grape label to its DJ Forry brand just in time to start in the Delano growing areas—the DJ’s label grape.
Capitalizing on the success of its four years of success with the Forry’s Finest label, also now growing out of Delano, CA, DJ Forry believes the DJ’s label will be able to provide a smaller sized grape to a broader array of customers.
“We’re really excited about DJ’s, we feel it rounds out our offering and enables us to reach a broader mix of customers,” the company said in a press release. “Every carton of DJ’s grapes contains the same export quality fruit as our Forry’s Finest label, just a tic smaller in size.”
For over forty years, the majority of DJ Forry’s grapes were earmarked for export to points across the globe. However, over the last three years the company says it has worked to carve out more and more of its export quality fruit for the domestic marketplace, primarily through marketing directly to domestic retailers.
“Our Forry’s Finest label is a premium grape offering with outstanding sugars, color and size. We feel that that the eating quality of our Forry’s Finest grapes is truly outstanding,” said DJ Forry in its release.
2015 marks the fourth year for the Forry's Finest label, and the first year for the new DJ’s label grape.
NEW YORK, NY - Zespri has kicked off a new campaign in an effort to boost kiwifruit sales and brand awareness.
The social media campaign, which started on August 3rd and will last through September 25th, invites consumers to show off how they incorporate Zespri Kiwifruit into their daily lives via an online photo competition. By using the hashtag #Zespri4LifeContest and by tagging the retailer where they buy Zespri, consumers can submit their best photos for a chance to win FitBit Surges and a grand prize trip for two to New Zealand.
Michele Hoard, Senior Marketing Manager of Zespri North America, said the goal is to give back to the company’s loyal retailers, while also engaging consumers in an interactive and fun way.
“We want to not only drive sales, but show communities around the United States the nourishing properties of Zespri Kiwifruit and where they can purchase Zespri in their neighborhoods,” said Hoard. “The campaign is national, online, and also grassroots. We’re expecting a lot of great photo submissions and positive feedback with the #Zespri4LifeContest!”
Participating retailers receive POS signage for the competition, as well as “ready-to-post” social media content during the contest, according to a press release. Leading up to and during the photo competition, Zespri will advertise with eye-catching banner and social media ads, in-store promotions, and an online PR campaign driving attention to both Zespri and Zespri retailers.
The competition is a component of Zespri’s overall Zespri for Life campaign, where the company shows consumers of all ages and lifestyles how they can prosper from the nutritional benefits of kiwifruit.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN - It has been a record-setting year in the weather department all over the U.S., and the Midwest is no exception. Northern Michigan saw record-breaking hail the size of your average baseball on Sunday, Aug. 2nd, during an extremely windy late weekend storm.
According to an M Live report, the ice stones that fell measured at about 4.25 inches, the largest for that area of the state and in the top five for the state’s overall hail measurements. The last storm in Michigan to see this measurement was in Jackson County, Michigan, on June 9th of last year.
The state is still currently growing blueberries, ranking as one of the leading states for production, but a grower reported that, luckily, little-to-no damage was seen. Because most of the fruit on the bush is green, he reported, the wind wasn’t able to blow much away while the worst of the storm stayed higher north than the crops.
Matt Gillen, a weather service Meteorologist, told M Live that hail stones of this size usually is seen in the Plains States, like Texas and Oklahoma. "We've seen this kind of hail only a handful of times since records began in the mid-1950s," he stated.
Gillen also stated in the report that storms like this can be very dangerous, though it seems that only vehicle and some property damages were reported.
"[The hail would] be falling out of the sky at 100-plus miles-per-hour," Gillen said.
Thankfully, despite the potential danger, no injuries related to the storm were reported.