LOS ANGELES, CA - From apples and berries to avocados, summer is synonymous with many wonderful fruits. As retailers prepare to merchandise for the season, the Giumarra Companies has a wide variety of options to appeal to an even wider array of consumers.

“We are over 100 years old and a family-owned business, and we're promoting Lemonade™ apples, which are almost year-round now,” Gary Caloroso, Regional Business Development Director, starts off saying. “From New Zealand during the summer, and then our domestic deal with the states of Washington and Pennsylvania.”

Lemonade apples are bright yellow, adding a pop of extra color to the produce department. They also have a cool, sweet, tart taste.

In addition to its Lemonade apples, Giumarra will also have DulceVida nectarines from California this summer. Local berries from the United States and British Columbia are also on the supplier's menu.

Giumarra is also highlighting its graphic avocado bags.

“We have different avocado-themed bags, which is exciting,” adds Gary. “We're doing a lot more with the different themes. We customize for all of our customers. And it's terrific.”

To learn more about Giumarra’s programs, watch the exclusive video above.

REEDLEY, CA - My world was changed when I strolled by the Family Tree Farms booth at Southern Exposure, revealing a selection of some of the most delicious berries I have encountered. While indulging in the provider’s impressive blueberry and blackberry portfolio, Senior Sales Representative Chad Snapp shared some exclusive highlights with the ANUK team.

“We have our Jumboz™ blueberries and our regular large blueberries; they are from Mexico currently,” Chad explains, pointing to the large and mouthwatering berries on display. “We grow in Peru, Mexico, and two parts of California—the Central Valley and on the Coast—and we grow both conventional and organic.”

Family Tree Farms has played a key role in the development of the Jumboz blueberry space, bringing its first jumbo blueberry to market over nine years ago.

“It has now become our No. 1 selling item in the United States,” Chad shares. “We also have our new Erandy™ blackberry variety, and the public seems to really like that as well.”

Also creating opportunities for Family Tree’s partners is the company’s stonefruit portfolio. 

“In about another two months, we'll be starting stonefruit, where we produce, package, and market the most flavorful fruit in the world. We grow plumcots, apriums, apricots, and red apricots,” Chad teases. “We also grow those cool little donuts, like donut yellow peaches, we call it Peach Pie, as well as a donut yellow nectarine that we call Necta Pie.”

Dive further into the grower’s berry and stonefruit portfolio in our exclusive video above!

TAMPA, FL - If you’re still relishing in excitement from the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) recent Southern Exposure show, you’re not the only one! As we reflect on the endless impacts of such an integral industry event, we are turning our attention to the philanthropic efforts supporting food insecurity in Florida. SEPC and its many exhibitors donated a total of 60,233 pounds of fresh produce to communities in need through the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA).

"We are thrilled by the success of Southern Exposure, the generous food donations, and the profound impact the Society of Saint Andrew has on communities facing food insecurity,” commented Jose Roggiero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Freshway Produce and Chairman of the SEPC’s SoSA Committee. “Our SoSA Committee extends heartfelt gratitude to Kelly and her team for orchestrating this remarkable endeavor."

Many companies and operations came together to contribute to this important cause. Mack Farms provided storage, transportation, and logistics while Move For Hunger donated a truck to transport 40,000 pounds of food to the show.

His Compassion Food Bank also provided two trucks to stay on location for several days to help keep the food cold and fresh and then distribute over 39,000 pounds of food to 19 areas across west and central Florida. In addition, New Covenant UMC, FL picked up and distributed over 8,000 pounds of food, and Metropolitan Ministries helped to pack the show, load the trucks, and distribute over 12,000 pounds of food to those in need.

Cheers to SEPC for broadening our industry’s impact and tackling a critical challenge for communities in need!

UNITED STATES - You think marketing produce would be easy. It’s healthy, delicious, and vibrant to boot. So why aren’t more consumers buying fruits and vegetables? I turned to industry advocate, Katie Calligaro, Marketing and Communications Director for The Foundation for Fresh Produce, to dig deeper.

“Everyone thinks fruits and vegetables are the easiest products because of their known health halo. The real truth is that people ‘know’ fruits and veggies are good for them, yet nine out of 10 Americans still aren’t eating enough,” Katie told me. “How can we tap into the emotional connection people have when experiencing fruits and vegetables—to make it a positive one—and one that they want to ‘do’ or repeat more often? Therein lies the anatomy of a habit; and the marketing challenge.”

Getting consumers to “Have A Plant®” every time they eat is challenging, but The Foundation for Fresh Produce has insightful learnings to warm us up.

In one study, Hacks To Habits: A Behavioral Research Study To Bolster Fruit & Vegetable Consumption, four main findings emerged:

• Habits are context-specific behaviors
• High-frequency eaters have more fruit and vegetable habits
• Low-frequency eaters can build habits from hacks
• Fruits and vegetables are different

For the marketers of our industry, I implore you to read the above study. It highlights consumer habits, pain points, and behaviors to help you tailor your programs and branding.

The Foundation for Fresh Produce will be hosting the industry’s only consumer-focused event, bringing together produce marketers, retail dietitians, foodservice tastemakers, and consumer-facing influencers at The Consumer Connection Conference, April 29—May 1. For more insights on consumer trends and behaviors and how we can boost appeal to inspire lifelong fruit and vegetable consumption habits, you won’t want to miss it.

“We cannot win this fight on the backbone of health; we have to win on taste,” added CarrieAnn Arias, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, TableSpark, and Board Member of the Foundation for Fresh Produce. “Channeling the grit and determination, with which the produce is grown, will be needed to transcend the grip processed foods have on taste buds young and old. The foundation sees these consumption headwinds as opportunities to lean into. Strategic partnerships, consistent access, behavioral research, and grassroots activations are all necessary to move the needle. We know that food preferences start in infancy, so that is an opportunity to create an entire Have a Plant generation.”

Katie noted another important distinction.

“There is no doubt that marketing today is getting harder and harder with so much mis- and disinformation in the world, among so many other distractions. And let’s be real, breaking through the clutter to get a consumer to change or create a new behavior is just not easy. The more we can come together with unified messaging, as well as unique ways to make fruits and veggies appealing, accessible, easy, delicious, and fun, the closer we will get to increasing consumption and creating habits that last a lifetime,” Katie told me.

Check out the report here for more marketing goodies and register today to collaborate and learn more in person.

AndNowUKnow keeps its finger on the pulse of the latest strategies driving produce consumption.

WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it has imposed sanctions on Safeway Fresh Foods of New Jersey for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The sanctions include barring the company and its principal operator from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without USDA approval.

Direct From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

The company, operating from New Jersey, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 13 produce sellers in the amount of $3,863,509 from October 2021 through July 2023.

Safeway Fresh Foods will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

To read the release in its entirety, click here.

MARLBOROUGH, MA - A strategic expansion plan is bringing 12 new BJ’s Wholesale Club locations to markets around the United States. In its latest announcement, the club chain unveiled the five newest clubs to join its expanding footprint.

“BJ’s combination of unbeatable value and convenience continues to resonate with members, and we’re pleased with the performance of our new clubs,” said Bill Werner, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Development at BJ’s Wholesale Club. “Our real estate pipeline is the strongest it’s been in 20 years, and we look forward to helping even more families save up to 25 percent off grocery store prices as we add clubs to both new and existing markets.”

The newest five clubs to join the retailer’s network are located in:

• Maryville, Tennessee, marking BJ’s fourth location in Tennessee
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the company’s second club in South Carolina
• Palm Coast and West Palm Beach, Florida, the company’s 38^th and 39^th clubs in Florida
• Carmel, Indiana, BJ’s second location in Indiana

This is part of a larger expansion blueprint, as BJ’s previously announced plans to open 12 new clubs and 15 gas stations this fiscal year.

BJ’s Wholesale Club offers a convenient one-stop shopping experience that includes a vast selection of fresh foods, produce, a full-service deli, exclusive offerings, and much more, a press release explained. To read more about this expansion and BJ’s offerings, click here.

Stay tuned as ANUK brings you more retail updates.