BOONE, IA - Quietly expanding in its corner of the United States, Fareway Stores keeps delivering value to the shoppers it serves. As it continues to expand, the retailer hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a newly relocated store in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

“The Spirit Lake Fareway has served the community with the best in customer service and quality since 1985. We are excited to reinvest in the community and provide a new store location, to continue to serve area residents,” said Chief Executive Officer Reynolds W. Cramer. “We want to thank city staff and community leaders for helping make this project possible.”

The new site will replace the existing Spirit Lake Fareway store in its new location, a press release noted. The new construction will provide for an approximately 21,000-square-foot store.

As the company noted, it will once again offer its shoppers a bounty of fresh options, including farm-fresh produce and a full-service butcher counter.

We’ll continue to follow along as Fareway and other retailers expand, so stay tuned.

WASHINGTON - Helping its industry allies make important strides toward their sustainability goals, Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) has unveiled its three latest sustainability offerings. Among these resources is “Sustainability 101,” a three-day virtual course that supports companies in coordinating and articulating their sustainability initiatives.

“Sustainability 101 will cover everything that needs to happen in the company to embed sustainability into their business in meaningful ways,” said Lilian Autler, Climate and Workforce Development Manager. “It will also help address the most commonly cited need for growers-shippers to report those efforts to customers.”

The Sustainability 101 course will be held on May 15, 16, and 21 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. PDT. Inspired by the success of the Produce & Reduce pilot program, EFI implemented an industry-wide needs assessment, which revealed that 90 percent of surveyed companies identified internal coordination of sustainability efforts and effectively reported those efforts to customers as their primary challenges.

The organization is also premiering a new video, “Agriculture is Climate Work.” As a press release explained, this video highlights the achievements of the Produce & Reduce pilot program on GoodFarms' Santa Maria operation, engaging all the senses and bringing viewers up close to the work of harvesting strawberries. It also showcases steps to reduce waste and the program's impressive results.

The premiere of this film will be held during a LinkedIn live event on April 11 at 1 p.m. PDT on EFI's page.

On May 14 at 11 a.m. PDT, EFI will be offering a free webinar titled ‘How to Put Sustainability at the Heart of Your Brand,’ featuring learnings from the newly released Author Maisie Ganzler, a founding Board Member of EFI, drawing on three decades of experience leading a $1.7 billion corporation toward a more sustainable future. During this session, Ganzler will share applicable lessons for fresh produce companies as they develop and share their sustainable practices.

For more details and registration access, click here.

Keep reading ANUK as we bring you the latest updates on all things produce!

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is celebrating a recent announcement that the Federal Budget 2024 will include $1 billion over five years to launch a national school food program for Canada.

"We know that many families are struggling with the cost of essentials, and that Canadians are eating less and less fresh fruits and vegetables—with detrimental impacts for our health and wellbeing and resulting in an economic burden calculated at almost $8 billion annually,” said CPMA President Ron Lemaire. “Canada is currently the only G7 country without a national school food program. We are very pleased to see the government moving forward with investment in this critical support for families across the country."

The program will aim to deliver meals to an additional 400,000 children per year, according to a press release. CPMA has been a longstanding supporter and advocate of a national school food program and a proud member of the Coalition of Healthy School Food.

In a 2022 CPMA member survey, 68 percent of respondents indicated that they were active in supporting school nutrition programs. Initiatives like CPMA’s Half Your Plate campaign and Freggie Children's Program aim to increase fresh produce consumption in Canada by helping consumers align with the Canada Food Guide recommendation to fill half their plates with healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables.

"Yesterday’s announcement is a result of many years of efforts by a diverse group of stakeholders," added Lemaire. “CPMA and our members are keen to work with the government to secure a consistent supply of healthy food for children across Canada and create real opportunities for beneficial partnerships in our food system.”

CPMA will continue to engage with the government as the national school food program is developed, to ensure that enhancing nutrition and promoting healthy eating practices, including through the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, are core objectives of the program, the release stated.

ANUK will continue covering the latest updates in our industry, so be on the lookout for that little apple logo.

IRVINE, CA - California avocado season is always worth celebrating, and this spring, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) is making sure retailers and shoppers alike have cause to join in by debuting its What’s Inside a California Avocado marketing program.

“This campaign is about confidently leaning into what makes California avocados different and special compared to other origins,” said Vice President of Marketing Terry Splane. “The Commission seeks to elevate California avocado demand by reminding shoppers they are locally grown and sustainably farmed and create some FOMO by emphasizing they are only available for a limited time.”

According to a press release, the What’s Inside a California Avocado advertising and social media campaign spotlights the California difference by going straight to the groves, showcasing growers’ deep roots, and focusing on communication of locally grown and sustainably farmed.

The ads were filmed in beautiful California avocado groves in San Diego and Ventura counties and feature two multi-generational families of California avocado growers, the Serratos and the Lambs.

The media will stream through summer and strategically target avocado shopper audiences, driving consumers to the retail stores that carry them. Media placements include video, audio, and custom digital partnerships.

“As of the end of March, only about 7 percent of this year’s California avocado crop has been harvested, but in April it is expected to increase significantly,” added Splane. “The sunny weather we’ve had lately in the California avocado growing regions is very welcome after so much rain and should help the fruit size up.”

As the association noted, peak availability of California avocados is expected to occur from April into July, with smaller volumes in summer. Not a bad thing to remind your shoppers!

For more information on the program, click here.

As always, AndNowUKnow will be here with the latest in fresh produce news.