SALINAS, CA - Church Brothers has added Alejandro Tomas-Callejas in a newly created Research and Development Manager position.
“Alejandro is a great addition to our team with his scientific background and expertise in post-harvest technology at the production level from field to processing plant, as well as his experience in product development,” said Kori Tuggle, Vice President of Marketing. “He will support the Church Brothers team with our long term goals for continued growth.”
Tomas-Callejas was a former Principal Research Scientist at Chiquita/Fresh Express, where he provided technical leadership in pre- and post-harvest R&D projects, as well as product development, according to a press release.
He received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering and a Ph.D. in food science from the Technical University of Caragena (Spain). He completed his Ph.D. research work at University of California Davis. He joined UC Davis’ Department of Plant Sciences as a post-doctoral research after graduation. There, he worked in several projects related to postharvest quality and safety of fresh-cut vegetables. His research work has been published in numerous scientific journals.
In his new position, Tomas-Callejas will be responsible for driving product innovation and process development.
YAKIMA, WA - The growers of Chelan Fresh and Borton Fruit bring to you the miniature Rockit™ apple, launched to the world in 2010 from New Zealand’s east coast town of Hawke’s Bay.
Known for its naturally petite stature and “distinctively fresh” crunch, Rockit™ apples are convenient, non-GMO, natural, healthy snack foods that originated from a cross between a crabapple and a rose series cultivar.
According to the company, these little red blush-colored apples will soon be produced in the Pacific Northwest apple-growing region of Chelan and Yakima, Washington, brought to you by the growers of Chelan Fresh and Borton Fruit.
Western Growers is urging industry members to make their voices heard this week in an effort to reinstate a critical plan that would provide much-needed water to farmers across the San Joaquin Valley.
California’s Temperature Management Plan for the Sacramento River would, according to Western Growers, pave the way for cooperative agreements among water districts throughout the Central Valley and provide moderate water supply relief to many San Joaquin Valley farmers.
To send your support to reinstate this plan to Governor Jerry Brown, please visit the link below. It only takes a few moments to send. Together as an industry, we can help tens of thousands of farmers keep their businesses running.
SEND COMMENTS HERE TO GOV. BROWN
The Plan was agreed upon early last month. It resulted in several complex agreements in which water districts moved scarce water from areas with some to areas with none with the consent and support or the farmers they serve.
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is expected to revisit its suspension of the plan as early as Wednesday this week, so your comments are needed urgently.
If the Plan is not reinstated, the result will be “turmoil and conflict as agreements are voided and communities turn to the courts to protect themselves rather than trying to work collaboratively to stretch water that keeps farms alive and farm workers working,” according to the message suggested by Western Growers for members contacting Gov. Brown.
Let’s all do our part and ensure that the suspension of this plan is lifted as soon as possible. Every comment counts!
NECKARSULM, BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG - U.S. expansion plans for Germany-based grocery chain Lidl are heating up with two North Carolina stores reportedly in the works.
Late last month, the Triad Business Journal reported that a 36,000 square foot Lidl store would be constructed in Lexington, North Carolina, according to the city council’s approved zoning permit. Another building permit, filed last week in another Triad city, Winston-Salem, shows a proposed location for a second Lidl store.
As we reported previously, Klaus Gehrig, CEO of Lidl’s parent company, Schwarz Group, had made statements in the German newspaper Heilbronner Stimme, which confirmed Lidl’s plans to enter the U.S. by 2018. With news of these two latest stores, it appears that the company may be on track to enter the country even sooner than that.
The zoning permit came from Bohler Engineering’s Ben Lazillota on behalf of MGP Retail Consulting, the development arm for Lidl. Meanwhile, the $2.5 million building permit, filed by David Farhat, the Director of Construction and Procurement for MGP, shows plans for a grocery store in Winston-Salem. MGP is also in negotiations with Alamance County officials on plans for a major distribution hub, according to the Triad Business Journal.
In an email to Triad Business Journal, MGP’s PR and Marketing Manager, John Froman, would not confirm these plans.
“As has been reported, Lidl is in the early stages of preparation to operate in the United States,” he said. “We are taking steps toward that effort. However, we are not able to comment on any particular transaction at this time.”
Lidl has been eyeing a U.S. expansion for quite some time, claiming a proposed 100 store rollout. In other recent news, the company has purchased a $56.6 million 217,500 square foot building in Arlington, Virginia that analysts believe will operate as its U.S. corporate headquarters.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow this retailer’s expansion into the U.S.
Longtime Executive Director of the Eastern Produce Council and industry veteran John McAleavey, passed away on Friday June 5th at his home surrounded by his loving and devoted family.
“John's passing takes from us a man who was instrumental in building the EPC into one of the highest respected Produce Food Councils in the nation. John's tireless work ethic, professionalism, sacrifice, spirit, and love of the EPC will leave a never-ending legacy which we have now been charged to maintain and bring to the next level,” Vic Savanello, President of the Eastern Produce Council, said in a note on the council’s website. “I, and the entire Board of Directors lost a comrade and a friend; we will miss him dearly, but always be affected by him and better people for knowing him! He was absolutely one of a kind and truly loved by all of us!”
John was born and raised in Newark, N.J., where he graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School. Before earning his degree from Rutgers University, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Leyte. During his career in the produce industry, John worked in sales, marketing, merchandising, and consulting for the California Pistachio Commission, Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, and the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, according to the Star Ledger. John also represented the New York Apple Association as well as the T. Marzetti Co.
Jim Allen, President of New York Apple Association shared a few words with us about his dear friend and colleague, “John went way beyond the scope of a colleague or an employee. John was a close friend and confidant that I learned so much from. He was a life professor that taught class, dignity and undisputable moral character. I was honored to know him and to benefit from him for over 21 years. I, and we, will miss him terribly.”
The industry veteran passionately served as the Executive Director of the Eastern Produce Council for the past 25 years, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2008. John is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Joann; children, Susan Sarlund and her husband, Chas; son, John McAleavey; grandchildren, Meghan and Charlie Sarlund; brother, Tom and his wife, Mike, of Florida; and cousin, Nancy Roberts and her husband, Mike, of Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The John McAleavey Jr. Fund, P.O. Box 514, Short Hills, N.J. 07078, to help continue a 20-year tradition of providing services for individuals and families affected by spinal cord injuries.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 11, 2015, at 10 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, Short Hills. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, N.J. There will be a visitation on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Bradley, Smith & Smith Funeral Home, 415 Morris Ave., Springfield, N.J.
AndNowUKnow would like to offer our sincere condolences to all affected by this loss.
MINNETRISTA, MN - Golden Sun Marketing (GSM) is welcoming Chayla Hare to the team in a newly created business development position. To further support their growing client base, Chayla will focus on developing strategic relationships with retail buyers on behalf of clients to drive sales.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to hire Chayla. She has an impressive track record of building business for quality products within the produce industry,” Don Goodwin, President and Founder of Golden Sun Marketing, said. “Her strong reputation in the industry is a great asset to help our clients grow their business.”
Chayla brings a strong background in business development to her new role, which compliments GSM’s unique focus on strategy, business development, and fresh produce marketing, according to a press release.
“I am looking forward to this new opportunity to use my business development skills to help grow our clients’ business, while also learning new aspects of the produce industry,” Chayla said.
Previous to joining GSM, Chayla worked on business development for Oppy where she focused on strategy for key retail accounts and growers, while building relationships and business opportunities. Chayla has also managed new product launches and integration of new products.
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Village Farms International has announced that the company is a finalist in two categories for this year’s United Fresh New Products Awards Competition.
The first, its new Cabernet Estate Reserve™ tomato, is a finalist in the Best New Vegetable category. This brown cherry on-the-vine is exclusive to Village Farms, and features a unique, deep wine color and crisp, sweet flavor the company compares to that of a fine Cabernet. According to a press release, its attributes are smooth and distinctive in earthy flavor.
Village Farms is also a finalist in the Best New Packaging category for its True Rebel Mix® 1lb clamshell. Featuring a QR code that links back to the Village Farms website for an exclusive recipe created by Corporate Chef Darren Brown, the packaging sends webpage users to nutritional facts and varietal information. Visitors of United Fresh can go to the New Products Awards showcases located next to the United Fresh membership booth to cast their vote.
Visit Village Farms at Suite 2046 to see all its exclusive products, including Cabernet Estate Reserve™, Cherry no.9 fall in love again™, True Rebel® mix pack, and a host of other greenhouse grown tomato, pepper, and cucumber varieties. Village Farms’ exclusive Heavenly Villagio Marzano® will also be on display and available for tasting.
YAKIMA, WA - ‘Tis the season for cherries, and Sage Fruit is gearing up for another busy summer this year with promotable volumes in store for retailers.
While they had an anticipated end of May start, weather pushed the date back by a few days and Sage Fruit will kick off its cherry harvest this week. All signs are pointing to a fantastic crop. Demand is especially hot this year due to the earlier season. For retailers looking to get the most out of this season, now’s the time to promote, promote, promote.
“Quality should be great this year and we will be seeing lots of bigger sizes,” Kaci Komstadius, Social Media Director for Sage Fruit, tells me. “This year, the northwest is looking to pack right around 20 million boxes.”
To keep consumer demand churning for the rest of the summer months, Sage Fruit is offering retailers a way to generate even more excitement for the category with its Spider-Man pouch bags. The goal of the packaging is to attract the younger demographic and to encourage healthy lifestyles in children.
“We wanted to incorporate some kid-friendly packaging into our summer fruit program – try to attract them to cherries when they go grocery shopping with mom, dad, grandma, grandpa,” continued Komstadius.
Sage Fruit offers cherries in a 2.25 lb. size in both its Sage and Spider-Man pouch bags, and will also pack cherries in its normal slider bags. The POS material and in-store promotional items will include display ready bins, as well as unique cardboard character cutouts. Spider-Man will include a voice box that encourages consumers in the supermarket to make healthy choices.
“We’re looking forward to a great cherry season, and then heading right into the new apple crop,” Komstadius tells me. “We will continue to roll out different Disney/Marvel/Lucas packaging, while also offering Sage label items to customers too.”
It’s looking to be another exciting cherry season coming up, so stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest upcoming news.
BENTONVILLE, AR - Rob Walton, the 23-year-long Chairman of Wal-Mart’s Board of Directors, officially ends his term this week, and the retailer has announced that it will continue to keep the company within the family.
Greg Penner, grandson-in-law of Wal-Mart’s founder Sam Walton and son-in-law of his successor, officially stepped into his role as the new Chairman today after the company’s Shareholder’s Meeting this morning, according to a press release.
“It would be impossible to overstate Rob Walton’s impact on Wal-Mart and how personally committed he has been over the years,” Penner said in the release. “I’m deeply honored to follow in his footsteps and recognize the deep responsibility I have to our associates, all shareholders and the Board. I’ve admired this company since my first Saturday morning meeting more than two decades ago. I believe in its mission and the positive role it plays throughout the world. I am excited about continuing to work with our outstanding senior management team and talented Wal-Mart associates at all levels of the company.”
Penner previously served as the Board’s Vice Chairman, but began his career as an analyst at Goldman & Sachs Co. specializing in corporate finance and has been a general partner of Madrone Capital Partners, an investment management firm, since 2005. Within Wal-Mart he has served in several managing and leadership positions, including Senior Vice President of Finance and Strategy for walmart.com, Senior Vice President and CFO, and has served on the Wal-Mart Board of Directors since 2008. In that time he has held positions like Chair of the Technology and eCommerce Committee, and been on the Global Compensation and Strategic Planning and Finance Committees.
“This transition demonstrates Wal-Mart’s commitment to long-term succession planning and keeping high caliber, capable leaders at the head of our company,” Walton said. “Greg’s service to Wal-Mart spans more than 15 years, and during that time he has had a significant impact, both as an associate and as a Board member the past seven years. Greg has done an outstanding job as our Vice Chairman over the past year, and he has provided strong leadership and guidance as the Chairman of our Technology and eCommerce Committee since it was formed in 2011. He brings an ideal blend of finance, technology and international business expertise – as well as a deep knowledge and love of Wal-Mart – to this role.”
According to the company, it is also re-aligning the composition of its Board committees so that most independent directors serve on at least two Board committees, including governance and strategy committees.
“This adjustment is consistent with Walmart’s approach to continuous improvement of our Board practices and sound corporate governance,” James I. Cash, Jr., Lead Independent Director for Board of Directors, said, stating that the changes made will reinforce the company’s commitment to having exclusively independent directors on those committees.
LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY - BASF SE has joined Monsanto in the ring of bidding wars for Agribusiness and seed Company Syngenta AG.
As we’ve previously reported, Syngenta has already rejected a $45 billion dollar offer from Monsanto, claiming that the bid “fundamentally undervalues Syngenta's prospects and underestimates the significant execution risks.” Bloomberg Business reports, however, that the two companies are continuing talks to work on resolving antitrust concerns.
According to Reuters, BASF is now also speaking to investment bankers about the possibility of an offer for Syngenta. As of yet, BASF has made no decision and no bid may materialize, confidential Reuters sources said.
BASF has been developing improved plant characteristics, including drought tolerability, but the company still relies on its partners like Monsanto to bring finished seed products to market. According to Reuters, BASF’s €5.4 billion crop chemicals division commands about 11 percent of the global crop chemicals market, third behind Syngenta and Bayer. This potential bid, along with Monsanto’s, is expected to cause a number of antitrust related issues.
BASF could also be potential buyer of only Syngenta's seed business, analysts suggest. If Monsanto agreed to a deal with Syngenta, they may then sell its seed business to a company like BASF to allay antitrust concerns, sources tell Reuters.
DuPont Co. and Dow Chemical Co. have been mentioned as other possible bidders for Syngenta’s seed operations, Bloomberg Business reports.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for any developing news on this matter.