KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA - Where will you be on April 11? For our industry, many companies will be touching down in Houston, Texas, for an eventful couple of days at the Viva Fresh Expo! Among them is Mucci Farms, which will be flexing its prowess as a one-stop shop provider for its retail partners. Bill Boutros, Director of Global Supply, and Ken Paglione, Key Account Manager, recently shared some exclusive details.

“At Viva Fresh, we want attendees to know that we can accommodate produce departments with a full category assortment,” noted Bill. “We are a bell pepper powerhouse, which is an area of focus in the summer months. Our newest item, Savorries, is another hot ticket item, along with seedless and mini cucumbers. With the show having a big supplier focus as well, we are always looking for partners to help us maximize efficiencies in our efforts to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables across the continent.”

While Mucci Farms is a year-round operation, the Viva Fresh Expo falls during a time in which the grower is in full production locally, coinciding with the unofficial start of its season.

“Viva Fresh is particularly a great show for those looking to do business in the South,” Ken added. “There are a handful of regional shows that do a great job of attracting decision-makers from those areas, and Viva is one that truly stands out for us in Texas. It’s a great opportunity to get to know the southern market and engage with retailers, growers, and various suppliers that can help us reinforce the inroads we are making in the region.”

As it looks to the future, Mucci Farms will be focused on expansion in all forms, including its acreage, logistical capabilities, and product portfolio.

“We are advancing our efforts to find the world’s best seed varieties that are resistant to disease pressures, something that has plagued the industry for some time. Our R&D team has done a fantastic job, and we’re hoping to add new flavors to our lineup,” Bill informed me.

How will the grower’s innovative portfolio continue to expand to provide its partners with a one-stop shop? ANUK will be here to report. Until then, be sure to check in with the Mucci Farms team at booth #822 at the Viva Fresh Expo!

MIAMI, FL - Nothing is slowing down Continental Fresh and its Water For All program. With the Viva Fresh Expo coming up in merely a few days, the grower, shipper, and importer is celebrating its ongoing impactful initiative along with an abundant supply of mangos.

"Our mission extends far beyond selling fresh produce; we're also deeply committed to making a difference," shared Albert Perez, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Fresh, and Chairman of the National Mango Board. "We're passionate about addressing water issues both domestically and internationally. Through initiatives like Water For All, we aim to break the poverty trap and empower communities."

Continental Fresh prides itself on connecting dependable growers to its retail, foodservice, and wholesale customers in the United States. As Viva Fresh approaches, the importer is gearing up to exhibit its dedication to both fresh produce and corporate social responsibility at booth #1105.

Celebrating an abundant mango supply available from April through the summer and sourced from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, Continental Fresh is encouraging Viva Fresh attendees to reap the opportunities of partnering with a corporate social responsibility initiative such as Water For All. Retailers are encouraged to promote mangos by increasing shelf space and promotions with Water For All branded mangos.

The company’s latest campaign, PLU with Purpose, spotlights the benefits of its Water For All branded mango program. For every Water For All branded box of specialty labeled mangos sold, a percentage of the proceeds is donated to BLUE Missions, a non-profit organization that connects families in Latin America to clean, fresh water through clean water and sanitation projects.

Stop by Continental Fresh’s booth at Viva Fresh to learn more about this impactful initiative and ways to promote mangos all season long.

WASHINGTON - The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates are back with more updates provided by the latest Global Port Tracker report. As the retail experts shared, inbound cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports is expected to top 2 million units for the first time since last fall as imports grow despite new supply chain challenges.

“United States imports are continuing to increase despite another disruption impacting U.S. ports,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “As retailers have adjusted to limits on the use of the Panama Canal and the Red Sea, we now face the shutdown of the Port of Baltimore to vessel traffic. While it is not expected to have a national impact, the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge shows the ongoing need for flexibility and resiliency in every company’s supply chain. We are monitoring the situation closely as retailers who are affected adjust their shipping plans to ensure cargo is getting to where it needs to be.”

As the organization highlighted, the Port of Baltimore has been closed to vessel traffic since a container ship struck a major bridge on March 26, collapsing the span and blocking the only shipping channel into the harbor. The shutdown is reportedly having a regional impact, and cargo that would normally go there is being diverted to other East Coast ports.

“The Baltimore bridge accident will likely shift container imports and exports to New York/New Jersey, Virginia, and other surrounding ports until a shipping channel is cleared, perhaps as soon as within a couple of months,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said.

Carriers have also rerouted around the Red Sea and Suez Canal after attacks on vessels earlier this year while adding additional vessels and increasing vessel speed to make up for longer voyages.

“Doing so has resulted in relatively stable supply chains within a short period of time,” Hackett said. “A word of caution, however, is that any further pressures on capacity could seriously impact the market.”

United States ports covered by NRF’s Global Port Tracker handled 1.96 million TEU in February, the latest month for which final numbers are available, down 0.3 percent from January but up 26.4 percent from the same month last year.

While ports have not yet reported March’s numbers, the Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.8 million TEU, down 7.8 percent from February because of Lunar New Year’s impact but up 11 percent year over year.

April is forecast at 1.93 million TEU, up 8.4 percent year over year, and May at 2.04 million, up 5.5 percent and the highest level since 2.06 million last October; June is forecast at 2 million TEU, up 8.9 percent; July at 2.04 million TEU, up 6.6 percent; and August at 2.09 million TEU, up 6.9 percent.

Overall, the first half of 2024 is expected to total 11.7 million TEU, up 11 percent from the same period last year. (Imports during 2023 totaled 22.3 million TEU, down 12.8 percent from 2022.)

To read more regarding this report, click here. Stay tuned for more reports from ANUK.

IRVINGTON, NY - Attendees of this year’s Viva Fresh Expo are getting a closer look at BrightFarms’ newest greenhouse operation, located in Lorena, Texas. As the greenhouse prepares to commence operations in fall 2024, the provider will be showcasing the cutting-edge facility alongside its acclaimed Crunch Kit™ salads.

"We are thrilled to celebrate our expansion into Texas at Viva Fresh,” said Abby Prior, Chief Commercial Officer at BrightFarms. “With the opening of our new greenhouse in Lorena later this year, we will bring a leading brand with proven growth-driving strength to the market."

Industry members at Viva Fresh can anticipate learning more about the advanced climate and temperature control technology being integrated into the greenhouse to deliver top quality and freshness, a press release detailed.

The company’s ambitious expansion plans are supported by the announcement of Cox Farms, a new business at Cox Enterprises focused on sustainable food and agriculture and one of the largest greenhouse operators in North America. With the support of Cox Farms, BrightFarms is poised to accelerate and expand its operational capacity in the United States market, the release explained.

The producer is also drawing attention to its Crunch Kit salad lineup, which was recently bolstered with two flavor-forward varieties: the Mediterranean Crunch Kit™ and the Southwest Chipotle Crunch Kit™.

Be sure to stop by booth #820 to get a closer look at this budding greenhouse operation!

LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA - Say hello to Sweet S’NAPS™! Nature Fresh Farms® uniquely developed variety is shaking up the pepper category, and consumers will soon be searching for this offering to get their hands on a unique eating experience.

“Sweet S’NAPS are a category-disrupting pepper,” explains Matt Quiring, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Nature Fresh Farms. “Available in five different colors (red, orange, yellow, green, purple/brown), these peppers have a light, refreshing crispness of a Granny-Smith apple that is sweet, juicy, and snackable.”

Honored with the highest 3-star honor at the 2023 International Taste Institute, these brightly colored gourmet sweet peppers boast a crisp exterior and juicy bursts of flavor, bringing a one-of-a-kind experience to the pepper category.

“With its limitless usage including raw, dipped, grilled, or air-fried, it’s a pepper that is bringing excitement to the Pepper category that hasn’t been seen in quite some time,” adds Quiring. “We’ve specifically designed the brand to signal sweetness and snackability through the visual designs and messaging.”

Matched with vibrant packaging to optimize consumer response, enhance on-pack education, and drive purchase, Sweet S’NAPS are uniquely positioned to drive consumer trial and repeat purchase, a press release explained.

Promotional strategies have been developed to drive sales across multiple channels, and Nature Fresh Farms is encouraging retail partners to drive fun displays utilizing the brand’s high graphic displayers and shipping cartons.

Contact the Nature Fresh sales team to tap into the opportunities provided by these delicious sweet peppers!