NOGALES, AZ - Welcome to Behind the Greens.
Dedicated to providing excellence and quality across its Perfect Produce line, Nogales, Arizona-based SunFed is ramping up its bell pepper program in the heart of Mexico’s best growing regions. SunFed grows and markets both conventional and organic bell peppers to supplement its portfolio of squash, eggplant, cucumbers, cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. Organic acreage is continuing to be an area of focus for SunFed as a key opportunity for growth in its Perfect Produce program.
With summer underway, SunFed is also helping to enhance the aesthetic value of the bell pepper category with its popular new campaign featuring vibrant, high graphic, pop art inspired packaging. Currently available in 1,2,3, and 6-count offerings, this new packaging design delivers a farm-fresh product, with visual appeal across multiple demographics as SunFed’s focus on its retail partners' success continues to grow.
To help boost organic growth in produce departments, SunFed is now offering a new Perfect Organic label for bell peppers which seeks to promote the item’s USDA certified-organic nature, and also ensures the peppers are rung up correctly, and with ease, at the register.
In addition to the company’s newest marketing resources, SunFed continues to remain committed to its food safety initiatives; ensuring that food safety standards are not only met but exceeded. SunFed field and packinghouse personnel work to ingrain a culture of food safety that is backed up by the company’s 100% GFSI certification.
Keep an eye out for more from SunFed’s Perfect Produce Program as the summer months get underway.
Thank you for watching Behind the Greens.
MANTECA, CA - Just before we hit the Fourth of July holiday, Manteca, California-based Van Groningen & Sons, Inc. is reporting that this season’s melons out of Bakersfield and Manteca are hitting their peak with high demand. Though volumes are currently tight, quality all around looks to be solid with excellent color and brix.
“Currently, the majority of California production is in Bakersfield, California. A few growers started in Mendota this past week,” said Ryan Van Groningen, Sales Manager for Van Groningen & Sons, Inc. “We’re seeing some smaller sizing this year, but when it comes to quality, brix is there and the internal color looks fantastic as well.”
Compared to the same time last year, the acreage isn’t that much different. The increased demand, however, coupled with the decreased yield, has now led to higher prices for this time of year.
According to the USDA, as of July 1, 24 inch bins of red flesh seeded watermelons were $0.14 - $0.16 for 35 count and 45 count. Red flesh seedless watermelons were $0.19 - $0.22 for 35 count, $0.22 - $0.24 for 45 count, and $0.22 - $0.24 for 60 count.
“We’re starting to see higher prices because of the increased demand from the Fourth of July holiday,” Van Groningen continued. “Less production and less volume in the marketplace have driven prices up a bit.”
The warm weather, on the other hand, has been ideal for the fruit and hasn’t affected quality. Movement continues to be steady as well.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow up with the tight watermelon market.
ROSEMONT, IL - US Foods is not waiting for the dust to settle from last week’s events that effectively put an attempted merger with Sysco to rest. The company is charging forward locked and loaded with a new campaign to show that not only is it still strong, but getting stronger.
“It’s evident that we have the talent, passion and financial foundation to become an even stronger force in the foodservice industry,” John Lederer, President and CEO of US Foods, said in a press release as the company announced its new campaign “Just Taking Off” to reinforce its strength. “Our unprecedented momentum is going to propel us farther and faster forward. I can’t wait for our customers to see all that we have in store for them.”
According to US Foods, its “Just Taking Off” campaign officially marks the beginning of the company’s re-launch as an even stronger force.
And as for the merger attempt with Sysco falling flat after 18 months of talks and plans?
“Throughout the unique environment of the past 18 months, we’ve continued to serve our customers by never forgetting what we’re about: delivering great food, cultivating talented food people and making it easy for our customers to work with us,” Lederer said. “It’s because of this unwavering dedication that I can confidently say that we are ready to take this company to the next level.”
The campaign looks to be focused on further pushing the momentum the company already has, with a re-launch strategy presenting a unified, consumer-centric strategy at its core. According to the company, it includes new technology enhancements, intuitive business solutions, and pushing its Food Fanatics program to change the way the industry experiences food and business consultation.
While US Foods turns its eyes to the future and ways to empower operators across the country in exploring dish and menu trends, at present the distributor feels that investing millions of dollars into new technology and fleet and building improvements over the last 18 months has put it in a strong financial position for what is to come.
DALY CITY, CA - Daly City is about to get a burst of California culture. Save Mart has announced a new banner under its Lucky Supermarkets brand, this time with the name “Lucky California.” Officials for Lucky say the new banner will be a fusion of Bay Area culture and California grown products, making for a store that is sure to be as eclectic as the state it’s named after.
Save Mart, Lucky’s parent company, told Bay Area news station KRON4 it has found that shoppers are turning to more specialty stores instead of the traditional grocery stores. This new concept is designed to offer consumers the choices they may find at gourmet shops, farmers markets, as well as items found in big box stores. The hope for the company is the new banner will become a one-stop-shop for shoppers with eclectic tastes
"The entire grocery market is different than it was 10 years ago," said Nicole Presco, Co-President and Chief State and Branding Officer for Lucky in the Marin Independent Journal. "Everyone is trying to create their own niche in some way. We're trying to be a better reflection of how people eat."
Themed sections with names like "lunchbox" and "bakery basket" will showcase unique meal ideas and flavors with both recipes and the ingredients nearby. The Marin Independent Journal reports that the new store layout will encourage customers to venture beyond their normal routine to explore and discover new foods and flavors.
Officials told KRON4 that their plan is to rebrand and renovate the other 72 Lucky stores in the Bay Area throughout the year.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) just paid Frieda’s Specialty Produce a visit for its annual benchmark audit and its California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) organic audit, and the company is happy to report that it passed with flying colors.
“Food safety is of high importance here at Frieda’s, and this is validation that we are not only just in compliance, but at the top percentile of compliance,” Jackie Caplan Wiggins, Frieda’s Vice President and COO, said in a press release. “We also remain 100 percent compliant with the USDA National Organic Program. Everyone at Frieda’s is proud of these accomplishments. What that means for our customers is they know we have the strictest requirements for the suppliers we represent and for our own handling processes and procedures.”
Frieda’s improved upon its already high score of 99.35 percent last year to 99.62 percent this year.
These scores were tallied in April on the PrimusGFS Packinghouse Audit which is, according to the press release, the highest global standard.
As for the CCOF’s organic audit, which was performed in June, Frieda’s remains 100 percent compliant with the National Organic Program set up by the USDA.
The CCOF is one of the first organic certification associations and certifies more than 2,500 organic operations in 38 states and three foreign countries, while the GFSI seeks to uphold and improve food safety management systems for consumers worldwide.
NEW KENSINGTON, PA - The Power of Produce 2015, a recent research study sponsored by Yerecic Label and published by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), set out to answer the question that appears to be most prominent in sellers’ minds: how do you hook millennial buyers?
“Produce means business to the food retail community,” Rick Stein, FMI Vice President of Fresh Foods, said in a press release. “The Power of Produce explores behavior and demographic trends that are paramount for fresh executives, especially how Millennials are influencing the perimeter of the store.”
According to the release, millennials are the key targets for impulse buys at a 64 percent higher likelihood to do so than everyone else’s 57 percent and are prompting a lot of marketing attention.
“We are continuously looking for ways to interact with consumers to learn what our clients can do to engage the shopper,” Rich Thoma, VP of Sales and Marketing for Yerecic Label, said. “As Millennials will shortly become the largest buying power in North America, resonating with these shoppers is on the top of everyone’s mind.”
A large takeaway from The Power of Produce’s study is that the millennial generation sees produce differently than the buyers that have come before them. From pre-trip planning to in-store experiences and top decision making needs, these particular consumers are reportedly less concerned with the appearance and seasonality of produce and more interested in the required prep time, habit, and product information.
“Double digit differences in data by demographics always catch your eye,” Art Yerecic, Yerecic Label President, said. “While the Boomers are the solidifiers of the produce business, the Millennials are driving new growth through high interest in organic, value-added and smoothies amongst other things. This shows connecting with this generation is crucial to continued health and growth of the produce category.”
Another key difference, Yerecic Label notes, is the millennial craving for recipes and new items. According to the release, this generation of shoppers are more inclined to see suggestions by the produce staff as a part of the in-store experience, something quite different from the previous shopping generation.
The Power of Produce 2015 was conducted by 210 Analytics, LLC, and published by the FMI. Yerecic Label developed materials based on the findings from those that participated to shed light on the millennial generation's consumption habits and purchasing trends.
To access more of the Power of Produce 2015 information and findings, contact Yerecic label at [email protected].
To stay up to date on what continues to influence the industry, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - More than 125 Midwest growers have been promised a $100 million investment from Meijer as part of its promise to support locally-grown produce.
“With today’s shoppers seeking more information about how their food is grown and produced, Meijer is vital in bringing consumers and farmers together to share knowledge and build trust and confidence in our food supply, while putting a face to the farmer,” Larry Alsum, Alsum Farms & Produce President and CEO, said, according to a press release. “As shoppers look to provide healthy choices for their families, locally grown and produced products provide that value.”
Jerry Suter, Vice President of Fresh Merchandising said that, as long as the quality meets the retailer's high standards, it has a longstanding commitment to buying locally-grown produce when available. “Not only is buying local produce the right thing to do, it’s what our customers want and deserve. We are currently one of the largest purchasers of local produce in the markets we serve.”
Meijer has bought local produce since its inception, according to the company, but has shown extra vigor in that commitment in recent years, with the web of local growers in the program increasing 25 percent over the last two years alone. E. Miedema & Sons, Inc.’s Dave Miedema, whose grandfather, Ralph Miedema, delivered cabbage and squash to Hendrik Meijer at the Greenville store almost eight decades ago, now operates the 1,500-acre farm and continues to work with and praise Meijer’s practice.
“Buying local is important to us because many of our friends and neighbors see our produce in our fields and wish to purchase it. They like to support us,” Miedema said in the release. “Meijer is a great partner.”
Thanks to its partnership with Mastronardi Produce, whose state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse in Coldwater, Michigan, gave the retail chain vine-ripened, Michigan-grown tomatoes year-round as of 2013, Meijer is able to stay within its commitment to local produce while still having it all year. In fact, the partnership expanded this year to sweet peppers is the colder months.
As we previously reported, Meijer has 11 new stores slated for the year. The retailer stated that it will continue to seek partnerships with local growers that meet the high standards it sets for its fresh produce as it continues to expand in the Midwest.
PELION, SC - WP Rawl has ramped up its web presence with a newly renovated website.
“We are very pleased with our new website,” Ashley Rawl, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development, said in a press release. “We realized that if we wanted to continue as a leader in the category, we needed a better platform from which to offer our recipes and products to consumers. We had the recipes and the products, but now we have that platform to showcase both of which we are proud.”
Featuring a vibrant, visually stimulating format with improved functionality, the website is now much more recipe-centric to cultivate the needed platform Ashley addressed.
As WP Rawl celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, the company stated that it continues to value its past while still looking to the future. The design for the new website conveys this by showcasing its conventional and organic offerings, featuring products and brand partners like Monique Coleman and the “Eat Mo Greens” campaign running through fall 2015, while also providing improved navigation and incorporating consumer feedback.
Other updates include:
- Improved search engine optimization capabilities
- Beautiful photography to highlight products
- Being mobile-friendly
- Social sharing functionality
- A new content management system
- Easier access to the company’s monthly Leaflet newsletter
The company also emphasized that product development is an integral part of its efforts for all Nature’s Greens, Versatile Veggies and Rawl lines, which the new website provides a good channel to showcase.
OXNARD, CA - With record mango volumes out of Mexico this year, now is the ideal time to promote the category as the summer months get underway. Warm temperatures inspire consumers to seek out cooler food options and Freska Produce International is bringing its best tasting fruit to retail with promotable pricing and large sized fruit.
"Now is the best time of year to be eating mangos," Gary Clevenger, Managing Member and Partner at Freska, tells me. “Currently we are supplying the Kent and Keitt variety which offer consumers a creamy, dessert-like texture with excellent eating quality and flavor.”
Building big displays using Freska mangos and bins has always been a huge draw at retail and mango demos can be utilized to spread the word on differing flavor profiles and mango features as well as their many health attributes.
Mexico is currently 8 million cases ahead of last year’s volume with plenty more to address the growing demand in the mango category. Freska Produce is continuing to supply its fruit from its Northern growing regions in Sinaloa and moving to Los Mochis where the company is seeing large sizing across the board.
Offered in the larger 4.5 kilo box (10 lb), a majority of Freska’s mangos are in the 7,8, and 9, range with 4, 5, and 6’s expected as the company moves into Los Mochis and begins harvesting Keitts.
“Right now, it’s about educating the consumers and the retail produce buyers on the Kent and Keitt varieties to help drive buying behaviors. Kents and Keitts are green to orange-yellow as they ripen, with low blush, and offer firm flesh with a piney sweetness and minimal fiber surrounding the seed area,” Gary tells me. “It is a different eating experience that we find consumers love and ask for year after year.”
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to keep track of the mango season.
VERO BEACH, FL - Seald Sweet is launching a new Kiddie Clems™ line of packaging for its easy-to-peel clementines.
The Kiddie Clems™ packaging is for conventional varieties of clementines, which are currently much higher in volume within the easy-peel mandarin and clementine category, according to a press release.
“Consumption of this fruit continues to increase every year,” said Peter Anderson, Seald Sweet’s Imported Citrus Category Manager. “Retailers continue to grow their clementine business and many have responded very favorably to this new label. It is bright, colorful and attractive, and it stands out on the shelf at the store level.”
The new high-graphic packaging, which features colorful, kid-friendly graphics, was designed to follow up the success of the company’s Mandarina’s™ brand of sweet mandarins packaging. As such, both the Kiddie Clems™ and Mandarina’s™ label feature the Mandarina character in an effort to appeal to children and ultimately increase their fresh produce consumption.
“The Kiddie Clem™ label has a ‘Tiny Treats for Tiny Sweets’ tag line, making it the perfect packaging for smaller-sized fruit,” continued Anderson. “Our customers have specifically mentioned how they really like that aspect of the packaging.”
The new packaging will be available through September, while Mandarina’s™ sweet mandarins packaging will be available from August through October. Both labels are also available during Seald Sweet’s winter easy-peeler programs as well, from November through April.