SALINAS, CA - A new certification has been bestowed upon a Taylor Farms Facility. The supplier announced that its San Juan Bautista, California, facility has become the fifth to receive TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification from Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), earlier this year. The certification program is used to define, pursue, and achieve zero waste goals while cutting operational costs, reducing carbon emissions, and encouraging cross-functional employee collaborations.

"At Taylor Farms, we are proud that our efforts at the San Juan Bautista facility have earned us this highly respected recognition through the TRUE certification," said Wyatt Maysey, Director of Sustainability for Taylor Farms. "This milestone reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability practices, reaffirming our dedication to creating a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come."

Complying with TRUE’s minimum program requirements, Taylor Farms' San Juan Bautista-based facility achieved an average diversion rate of 91.7 percent over 12 months. After following TRUE guidelines and exploring innovative solutions, the facility diverted 34,902 short tons of solid waste from landfill, incineration, and the environment, according to a press release.

The San Juan Bautista facility joins four other Taylor Farms operations that have received the TRUE certification, including:

• Taylor Farms Gonzales, California
• Taylor Farms Retail, Salinas, California
• Taylor Farms Schillings, Salinas, California
• Taylor Farms Guanajuato, Mexico

The San Juan Bautista facility also utilizes various renewable and alternative energy resources to help meet its sustainability goals. A newly developed microgrid project combines solar panels, battery and fuel cells into one integrated onsite power solution. The solar panels generate 1.9 MW of energy, with 2MW of battery storage and the fuel cells generate 6 MW of energy. The microgrid will be able to power 100 percent of the San Juan Bautista facility, improving its resilience against grid outages while reaping financial savings.

These combined efforts from the material management program and solar installation at the facility are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 11,437 MTCO2e each year (calculations done using EPA WARM, ReFED Impact Calculator, and CCCE 2022 Power Content Label).

Congratulations to Taylor Farms!

WEST DES MOINES, IA - Twenty-two new stores are being added to Hy-Vee’s growing retail footprint. Padding its network through a recent deal, the retailer unveiled plans to acquire Strack & Van Til Food Market Chain, also known as Indiana Grocery Group.

“As our company continues to expand into Indiana and the Southeast region, Strack & Van Til’s customer-centric focus and company vision to ‘make lives easier’ aligns with Hy-Vee’s values and growth strategy,” said Jeremy Gosch, Hy-Vee’s Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to welcoming Strack & Van Til’s approximately 2,800 employees into the Hy-Vee family in the weeks to come.”

The acquisition will add 22 stores to Hy-Vee’s more than 550 retail business units, including grocery stores, drugstores, pharmacies, restaurants, and convenience stores focusing on meal solutions for busy families, a release detailed.

This deal is expected to be finalized in early May.

Strack & Van Til will maintain its name and operate as a subsidiary under Hy-Vee, much like the parent company’s other subsidiaries, which include Midwest Heritage, Perishable Distributors of Iowa, D&D Foods, Amber Specialty Pharmacy, Vivid Clear Rx, and Wall to Wall Wine and Spirits, among others.

Hy-Vee is now an Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) member, which supplies Strack & Van Til’s stores in Northwest Indiana. Hy-Vee’s grocery stores will continue to be served through its supply chain facilities, located in Ankeny, Chariton, Cherokee, and Cumming, Iowa.

“Much like Hy-Vee Founders Charles Hyde and David Vredenberg, Strack & Van Til’s growth and success remains rooted in the philosophy and principles of its two Founders Ernie Strack and Nick Van Til,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s Executive Chairman of the Board. “Like Hy-Vee, the Strack & Van Til chain is also committed to delivering everyday value and providing quality groceries, perishables, and freshly prepared foods. As we remain focused on our future growth, Strack & Van Til is a great addition to the Hy-Vee family.”

Click here to learn more about the acquisition.

How will Hy-Vee’s retail network continue to grow? ANUK will be here to report as the latest strategies are put into place.

OXNARD, CA - The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Conference and Trade Show is nearly upon us! At the event, Mission Produce™ will be showcasing The Mission Advantage and its diversified sourcing strategy.

"As we focus on strengthening our North American retail, wholesale, and foodservice partnerships, we look forward to presenting The Mission Advantage to key customers in the Canada market,” said Cheryl Hoefs, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “With our diversified sourcing strategy and two state-of-the-art distribution centers in Toronto and Calgary, our ability to meet market demand for our partners is unmatched. We source from two or more origins year-round to promote supply reliability, and we cover key markets with flexible deliveries, custom ripe programs, and elite customer service. CPMA is a valuable opportunity to discover how our competitive advantages can bring added benefits to both new and existing customers.”

As part of Mission Produce’s diversified sourcing strategy, the company is currently sourcing avocados from Mexico and California. The start of the Peruvian season is on the horizon and is expected to support demand during the anticipated transition of Mexico’s crop in late June.

According to a press release, mango supply is currently coming from Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, with Tommy Atkins and Honey mangos as the predominant varieties.

Mission Produce will be exhibiting at CPMA in booth #1226. Be sure to stop by and say hi!

SALINAS, CA - With the arrival of the 2024 Earth Day, I see a great opportunity to spotlight the sustainability efforts of companies across our industry. Naturipe Farms is celebrating a variety of successful initiatives as it seeks to reduce its carbon footprint and support a circular economy.

“Our growers have worked hard to set a standard for sustainability while giving back to the communities they grow in,” said Janis McIntosh, Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Naturipe Farms, digging into the company’s storied legacy of sustainability leadership. “As they continue to pioneer advancements in sustainability at all levels, Naturipe Farms must prioritize and sustain the long history of the family farms, the nucleus of our business.”

As of 2024, 28 percent of the berry provider’s products are packed and/or cooled using renewable energy, helping to lower the company’s overall carbon emissions by 100,000 metric tons. With solar installations already in New Jersey, California, and Chile, the provider is set to celebrate the installation of its largest solar project to date next month.

Alongside a variety of renewable energy projects, Naturipe Farms is also tackling increased sustainability through its packaging, which continues to have a high level of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content, including certified ocean-bound plastic. Two years ago, the company committed key real estate on its brand label to prompt consumers to recycle, recognizing that PCR is critical to the circular economy.

Naturipe growers contribute to the protection and growth of pollinator communities, a press release explained. Additionally, the grower enriches its soils by composting organic waste and optimizes regenerative growing processes—such as cover cropping and chop and drop pruning—to feed and preserve the biological structures of the soil. Judicial use of water has been part of their growers’ system plan for decades, utilizing metered drip irrigation, as well as capture and reuse techniques, such as tiling.

These initiatives serve as the foundation of Naturipe’s Cultivate with Care™ program, which symbolizes the company’s commitment to operate in a way that minimizes its environmental impact and uplifts the communities it grows in.

Cheers to Naturipe on these successful sustainability strategies!