SAN FRANCISCO, CA - With Wing's help, DoorDash is taking its deliveries to the skies through drone delivery. Together, the pair are launching the service in the United States, starting in Christiansburg, Virginia. Select local consumers can now order eligible menu items from Wendy’s® through the platform and have them delivered via drone.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Wing in the U.S. to integrate drone delivery into DoorDash’s ecosystem,” said Harrison Shih, Senior Director of DoorDash Labs. “At DoorDash, we are committed to advancing last-mile logistics by building a multi-modal delivery platform that serves all sides of our marketplace. We’re optimistic about the value drone delivery will bring to our platform as we work to offer more efficient, sustainable, and convenient delivery options for consumers.”

This announcement comes following the drone delivery pilot program that the pair launched in Australia in 2022, which has since expanded to three locations in Queensland with over 60 participating merchants, a release detailed.

Starting on March 21, when DoorDash customers with an eligible address in Christiansburg, VA, place a qualifying order in the DoorDash app from the Wendy’s located at 2355 N. Franklin Street, they will see the option to have their meal delivered by drone on the checkout page. Once they select drone delivery and place their order, it will be prepared and packaged at the Wendy’s location and delivered via a Wing drone, typically in 30 minutes or less.

“Expanding our partnership with DoorDash and launching in the U.S. is a direct result of the success we’ve seen from our initial collaboration in Australia, where Wing has served tens of thousands of customers via the DoorDash app for over a year now,” said Cosimo Leipold, Head of Partnerships, at Wing. “Wing has now made over 350,000 deliveries across three countries, and looking ahead, we are focused on providing a fast, affordable, and safe service to our partners so they can better serve their customers. This moment continues our meaningful expansion of this service in the U.S. and advances our shared goal to better the last-mile delivery ecosystem.”

The pilot will initially be available in Christiansburg, with plans to explore other cities in the U.S. later this year.

To read more about this partnership, click here.

As this collaboration grows, AndNowUKnow will share the latest updates.

SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA - It is with a heavy heart that we report the recent passing of Leslie (Les) Dubé, Founder of Krown Produce, The LID Company, and their parent company Concorde Group Corp.

Dubé was a self-made success story whose generosity and commitment to making a difference have left a lasting impact. Honored by his country as Member of the Order of Canada, as well as by his province with the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, Dubé was a man of deep compassion who took great pride in his Saskatchewan roots.

Dubé’s business acumen was renowned across a variety of industries and sectors. Together with his wife Irene, he built a number of successful businesses in various jurisdictions, inspiring countless individuals along the way. But produce was the beginning with Dubé founding the LID Company in 1967 and in 1991 starting Krown Produce.

"My father's commitment to philanthropy and community building has left an indelible mark on all of us,” L. David Dubé, President and Chief Executive Officer of Concorde Group Corp., shared in a release. “His devotion to making a positive impact on society will continue to inspire us as we honor his memory and carry forward his legacy of giving. As we mourn the loss of a visionary leader and dedicated philanthropist—my father—we pledge to continue supporting the causes that were near and dear to Les's heart.”

Dubé was not only a visionary businessman but a devoted, passionate philanthropist. A man of great faith, he and his wife Irene were lifelong believers in sharing. Their commitment to generosity empowered countless charitable organizations and initiatives to thrive, leaving a legacy of love and kindness. From supporting all aspects of healthcare, universities, and poverty initiatives to championing mental health and animal causes, his philanthropic endeavors have touched the lives of countless individuals and communities. Faith based charities, not limited to his own Catholic faith, were of particular focus for him.

Our hearts go out to all those who were fortunate enough to know and love this industry great.

DALLAS, TX - Texas retailer H-E-B is taking its new Joe V’s Smart Shop format and running with it. After breaking ground on its first location in Dallas, Texas, back in December 2023, the company recently began construction on a second location in the Dallas area.

Joe V’s Smart Shop is a low-price format store created by H-E-B, reporting from San Antonio-Express News. It is similar to a scaled-down version of an H-E-B store that offers low prices on produce, meat, and other major brands. Shoppers also have access to the retailer’s staples like an in-store bakery that offers tortillas, bread, and pastries.

The latest groundbreaking began on March 20 on the eastern side of Dallas at 5204 S Buckner Blvd. H-E-B hopes to open the second store in 2025, with the first location set to open in late summer 2024. The two stores are about 18 miles apart, with the first site located at 4101 W. Wheatland Road.

To see how this format evolves, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

WASHINGTON, DC - Ethical labor practices are a central focus in the fresh produce industry. Efforts to improve these practices have grown significantly in the past decade, and that is due in large part to the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices.

“In 2014, The Los Angeles Times published an investigative report detailing the exploitative conditions Mexican farmworkers endured as they grew and harvested fruit and vegetables for the United States market,” Peter O'Driscoll, Executive Director at the Equitable Food Initiative, told me. “United Fresh and the Produce Marketing Association (now combined to form the International Fresh Produce Association) appointed a joint committee to respond to the allegations, and in 2018 launched the Charter. Retailers originally asked their suppliers to endorse the principles of the Charter, but some wanted to go beyond endorsement to encourage full implementation at field level.”

As a result, Costco, Kroger, McDonald’s, Sam’s Club, Target, and Walmart came together to pilot the Ethical Charter Implementation Program (ECIP). Based on the success of the pilot, the Walmart Foundation made a $2 million grant in 2022 to help launch and scale the ECIP as a self-assessment tool to strengthen labor management systems at the field level.

“At Walmart, we are excited about the potential of this program to scale across the produce value chain without adding additional audits,” said Laura Himes, Vice President of Global Sourcing for Walmart. “What we like about ECIP is that it focuses on continuous improvement while offering many tools and resources for growers to assess their management structures, benchmark their progress, and continue to improve over time.”

Many fresh produce suppliers conduct social responsibility audits at their packing and processing facilities, as required by retail customers. Suppliers can provide customers assurance that the principles of the Charter are being applied at the field level, where the risk of labor violations is greatest. Growers can also be invited into the ECIP, where they can access best practices resources, self-assess their management systems, and prioritize areas for improvement.

“The ECIP is a capacity-building tool, not a compliance test,” Peter continued. “It is an opportunity for growers and suppliers to demonstrate that they take responsible labor practices seriously. The ECIP allows suppliers and growers to measure their commitment to strengthening the labor management systems that align with the Charter. Continuous improvement is a key component of the program, and retailers will be looking for suppliers and their growers to engage with the system and benchmark their progress.”

Through the ECIP LAB (Learn, Assess, Benchmark) approach, growers access resources for best practices, evaluate their own management systems, and prioritize areas for improvement. In a labor shortage, grower-shippers are more concerned with recruiting and retaining workers, and improving their management systems is an excellent way to become an employer of choice.

“Agriculture has historically relied on labor, and even with continued advancements in technology, labor—especially in the specialty crops industry—is still a necessity,” Peter explained. “The availability of skilled workers is the number one concern for many growers. That requires us to continue to create positive working environments that improve the lives of farmworkers and respect their vast skills, while also providing advanced training to improve their career experience. The industry acknowledges that there is still work to be done to ensure that farmworkers are guaranteed fair treatment, safe conditions, and well-earned respect.”

Support for farmworkers guarantees progress for the produce industry. Bolstering relationships with farmworkers has already helped companies make their businesses more ethical and mindful of sustainability, therefore providing more opportunities for the future of the industry.

Ethical labor practices will remain a central value of this industry going forward, and we are excited to see how it continues to evolve.

OTAY MESA, CA - Yet another massive bust has taken place with vegetables being used to hide methamphetamine, this time in California. United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers intercepted 3,594 packages at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility, specifically hidden among peppers and tomatillos.

"Our staff is dedicated to our mission and will continue to strengthen our ability to protect our communities and to curb the growth of transnational criminal organizations by applying officers' skills and tools in our layered enforcement approach," Port Director Rosa E. Hernandez declared, according to a report by CBP. 

While the report detailed 3,671.58 lbs of the contraband, it did not include an estimated value. 

The driver, a 27-year-old truck driver unnamed by the source, was taken in by Homeland Security Investigations, while the drugs and the rig became the property of the officials. 

The heroes of the hour included a CBP K-9, who sounded the initial alert when sniffing something suspicious. Further details can be found here.

This seizure is part of Operation Apollo, according to the CBP, a joint regional operation comprised of federal, state, and local agencies working to combat the threat from fentanyl and other illicit synthetic narcotics. 

Thankfully, this chapter in fresh produce being utilized for nefarious plans ends with a win. But as the fight continues, AndNowUKnow will report the latest.