SACRAMENTO, CA - As our industry continues to rally together to help communities tackle food insecurity and lack of access to nutrient-rich fruits and veggies, The Raley’s Companies has once again taken part in FirstFruits Farms’ Take a Bite Out of Hunger initiative. Two of the chain’s grocery divisions—Arizona- and New Mexico-based Bashas’ and California- and Nevada-based Raley’s—significantly increased their annual apple donations this year to area food banks through the impactful program.

“Ensuring the communities we serve have access to quality nutrition is part of our mission every day, so extending that mindset by supporting local food banks is a natural extension of our business,” said Chelsea Carbahal, Vice President of Community Impact and Public Affairs for The Raley’s Companies. “We appreciate the opportunity to align with organizations like FirstFruits that share our community focus and make our giving even more impactful.”

Customers at Raley’s and Bashas’ helped earn sizable donations for their communities by purchasing specially marked bags of FirstFruit Farms apples during January and February, a press release explained. Shoppers increased their apple purchases by 44 percent compared to last year, which increased this year’s donation by 44 percent as well.

Raley’s donated a total of 22,660 pounds of fresh apples to Yolo Food Bank in Woodland, California, while Bashas’ contributed a combined 35,000 pounds of fresh apples to St. Mary’s Food Bank, United Food Bank, Yuma Community Food Bank, and Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.

This combined donation of nearly 58,000 pounds of apples surpassed last year’s already impressive donation of 40,000 pounds of apples.

“Every community in the country is home to families who face hunger,” said Aimee Peters, Business Development Manager of FirstFruits Farms. “Even as more families face economic hardship, access to nutritious, well-balanced food shouldn’t have to be a sacrifice. Teaming up with community-minded grocery stores allows us to make healthy options like apples accessible to families who need them.”

Since Take a Bite Out of Hunger’s inception in 2010, more than 2.5 million pounds of fresh apples have been donated in participating retailers’ names to local food banks in their communities. Read more about FirstFruits’ innovative program and its impact here.

Cheers to the duo on this admirable contribution!

SPRINGFIELD, MA - Two major leadership changes are taking place within Big Y Foods’ executive structure. The retailer announced that John Damjanovich has been appointed as Senior Director of IRT and Strategy. This follows the retirement of Michael A. Tami, Vice President of IRT, last December after 26 years of service to Big Y.

In his new role, Damjanovich will develop an overall framework to guide knowledge management at all levels of the company, as well as all divisions. Damjanovich’s 39-year career in the supermarket industry began as a part-time service clerk working in customer service, produce, deli, grocery, and night crew. In 1988, he joined Big Y and, in 1992, was promoted to full-time. One year later, he became assistant store manager in Torrington, Connecticut. By 1996, he was assigned store manager in several Connecticut markets, including Naugatuck, Rocky Hill, Monroe, Guilford, and New Milford.

In 2020, Damjanovich moved on to special projects manager, working with collaborative cross-functional teams across the organization from Operations, IRT, Sales, Marketing, the Project Management Office, and the Fresh and Local Distribution Center. According to a press release, he has been at the forefront of developing strategy and implementation of Big Y's Computer Assisted Ordering initiative across the entire chain. In addition, he has developed tools for employees and Big Y’s vendor partners to elevate the customer shopping experience.

Throughout his tenure, Tami led Big Y teams through rapid innovation across the company’s entire enterprise, the release noted.

“Mike’s leadership throughout all areas of technology has impacted every aspect of our ever-growing and dynamic business. He’s been a committed and passionate member of our team and we are all grateful for his steadfast and progressive leadership,” says Michael P. D’Amour, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to supporting John as he navigates cohesive and successful pathways within the entire IRT team.”

We wish the best of luck to these two grocery vets!

WASHINGTON, DC - Industry members have until the end of Friday, April 5, to register for the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Produce Safety Immersion Program. This program will serve as an excellent opportunity for attendees to develop their food safety knowledge.

"Demand for qualified food safety professionals has continued to grow, and this program provides an opportunity for those looking to build capacity in food safety to learn from industry leaders, build their professional network, and become more confident about produce safety best practices and the regulatory landscape," said IFPA Food Safety Council Chair Jennifer Pulcipher, Director of Food Safety and Compliance for North Bay Produce.

Sponsored by EcoLab, the six-month program consists of a mix of virtual and in-person education opportunities designed to develop the technical capacity, critical thinking skills, and leadership attributes of the next generation of produce safety professionals, a release detailed. Program fellows also have access to peer-to-peer networking and mentorship connections.

Members of last year’s cohort represented a diverse group of grower-shippers, foodservice distributors, and indoor agriculture firms.

"The immersion program is designed to prepare the next generation of food safety professionals to advance the science and how it is applied in the fresh produce industry," said IFPA Food Safety Council member Walter Ram, Corporate Vice President, Regulatory, Giumarra Companies.

The program's cost is $5,995 per person, which includes registration and hotel accommodations for IFPA’s Washington Conference and The Global Produce & Floral Show. Participants will also take part in 14 virtual sessions, which will include speakers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and industry.

Click here to apply.

For more useful tools and programs for produce industry members, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

BLANDON, PA - Congratulations are in order for Mark Currie! The industry pro was recently named as The Giorgi Companies’ (TGC) Chief Executive Officer of the Food Division, consisting of Giorgi Mushroom, Giorgio Fresh, and Giorgio Foods. Effective April 8, 2024, Currie succeeds Joe Caldwell, who is retiring after seven years of leading the division.

"I am thrilled to join The Giorgi Companies and lead its Food Division. I look forward to building on Giorgio’s reputation as America’s Favorite Mushroom," said Currie. "I also look forward to working with the talented team at TGC to build on its nearly century-long legacy of quality, service, and sustainability."

Currie brings over 20 years of experience in the food industry, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer of Elevation Foods, a press release stated. Prior to that, he held various senior roles at Little Potato Company, J.R. Simplot, and Cavendish Farms. Currie has a proven track record of driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence in the food sector.

Peter Giorgi, CEO of Giorgi Global Holdings, the parent company of TGC, expressed his gratitude to Caldwell for his contributions and his confidence in Currie.

"We thank Joe for his seven years of leading the Food Division and, in particular, for his great leadership through the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish him all the best in his retirement,” Giorgi stated. “We are very excited to welcome Mark to our company and believe he will build on Giorgio’s 96-year tradition of excellence.”

Cheers to the new Chief!

NEWARK, DE - Spotlighting its achievements in sustainability, Oppy recently released the second edition of its sustainability report, “Expect the world from us.”

"When I began leading Oppy's sustainability efforts, I knew we were already doing impactful work,” began Director of Innovation and Sustainability Garland Perkins. “Now, with the second report, we are excited to demonstrate the legitimacy and depth of our progress. Our approach to sustainability reflects our commitment to 'doing the right thing' for the environment and our people, while aligning with the business' needs and realities."

This update has evolved from the inaugural report released a year ago, which consisted of benchmark data related to Oppy’s five ongoing focus areas: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, food waste, water use, packaging materials, and impact on people and communities.

In the 2024 report, a press release outlined, Oppy has transitioned from tactical initiatives to focus on more significant, global-impact projects. The company is addressing critical challenges within its supply chain, moving beyond quantifying efforts to tackle more complex issues.

“As an industry, we are all in this together,” shared President and Chief Operating Officer David Smith. “While Oppy’s global presence and unique role in the supply chain has the potential for staggering impact — when it comes to sustainability, we believe in collaboration over competition. Which is why we are committed to working with partners, stakeholders, and competitors to create a sustainable tomorrow for all and drive meaningful change.”

Key highlights from the 2024 report include:

• Oppy received SmartWay certification in the fall of 2023
• 119,062 kilowatt hours (kWh) were generated from renewable sources
• Oppy’s upcycling partnerships for food waste and recycled materials resulted in the reduction of 74 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO2e) and 430 mtCO2e, respectively
• As the leading marketer of Fair Trade-certified bell peppers, $1,574,965 in premium funds for farmworkers and their communities amounted from 26 million of the 34.9 million lbs of total certified produce sold in 2023

For more highlights, click here.

We always applaud the efforts of companies working hard to make our planet just a little bit better.

SAN JOSE, CA - Information technology and cybersecurity have become major factors in our industry, and we need companies like ZAG Technical Services (ZAG) out there fighting the good fight. As it develops its tech solutions to address these challenges, the company announced the release of a new service offering promoting cybersecurity strength.

“We understand this industry well and the challenges facing today’s grower/shipper, including labor shortages, resource scarcity, challenging margins, and cyber threats,” shared Greg Gatzke, President. “Our updated IT Security Review Solution takes a great step toward securing the food supply chain by offering a mid-level solution for those seeking to secure their IT systems.”

The new offering is more accessible to growers and shippers and is a comprehensive IT Security Review Solution. According to a press release, the cybersecurity assessment is a strategic safeguard that minimizes the risk that cyber threats will interrupt your harvest.

As a result of the assessment, users can expect to learn how prepared they are for a cyber incident, receive assistance prioritizing vulnerabilities and needs, and receive assessment results that internal IT teams can address.

“It’s like a routine check-up for your IT, ensuring stability and security during your busiest season, Gatzke added. “The average ransomware payout is around $600,000, and that does not include unfilled orders, inability to produce for days, and lost business. We are working to change that.”

For example, the comprehensive assessment includes:

• An executive report detailing your cybersecurity preparedness status
• A prioritized list of vulnerabilities that should be fixed
• Reports that your internal IT team can use
• Comprehensive pre/post-remediation advice

This gives companies a clear understanding of the strengths and vulnerabilities within their cybersecurity framework.

“Securing our food supply chain is a top priority,” Gatzke remarked. “We know cybercriminals have deliberately targeted ag companies during harvest, their busiest time, to inflict maximum damage and receive maximum payouts.”

The launch comes on the heels of ZAG being honored for its work and contributions as a trusted technology advisor in agribusiness.

“We are honored for the recognition but are truly passionate about what we do,” commented Director of Client Strategy Patrick Day. “Our food supply chain is our lifeline, and we are mindful of that every day and on every project.”

AndNowKnow will continue to report on the latest happening across the industry.