MONTEREY, CA - Spurred by not only the pandemic but supply chain challenges and evolving consumer demand, the retail landscape has continued to develop. As this evolution occurs, the Organic Produce Summit (OPS) 2022 will touch on the need for a seamless brand experience throughout every grocery channel in its first keynote presentation from John Ruane, Senior Vice President and Chief Omnichannel Merchandising Officer at The GIANT Company.
“There’s never been a more exciting time to be in retail grocery, and that’s especially true for the organic produce segment which continues to be at the forefront of innovation, technology, and sustainability,” said Ruane. “As exciting as it is, the stakes have never been higher. When it comes to meeting the ever-changing needs of today’s busy consumer, a seamless omnichannel experience is essential to retaining and attracting customers, growing loyalty, and driving sales. At OPS 2022, we’ll explore how The GIANT Company is approaching the omnichannel customer through hyper-personalization, creating a winning and differentiated experience.”
The presentation, “The Growth of Omnichannel Merchandising That’s Driving Retail Sales,” will touch on how consumers will spend more and become more loyal to brands across all commerce channels with an effective omnichannel merchandising and marketing program, a press release explained.
In his position at The GIANT Company, Ruane leads the merchandising team that is focused on developing and implementing customer-centric strategies that aid in the continued growth of the brand, while also improving customers’ experience and value proposition. Ruane became part of the Ahold Delhaize family of brands in 2011, before joining The GIANT Company in 2018.
Additionally, Ruane currently serves as Chairman of FMI—The Food Industry Association’s Fresh Food Leadership Committee and is on the Board of Directors for Philabundance.
OPS 2022 will be held July 13–14 at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California. In addition to Ruane’s keynote presentation, the event will also feature a series of educational sessions centered on sustainability, the growing importance of controlled environment agriculture (CEA), regenerative agriculture, branded vs. private label organic offerings, and a data dive of organic fresh produce sales analysis and consumer purchasing behavior.
To register for the event, click here.
As more events and updates regarding OPS 2022 become available, AndNowUKnow will report the latest.
NEW YORK, NY - A substantial greenhouse expansion is in the works as Gotham Greens unveils its latest blueprint for growth in the sector. With an already vast network of high-tech hydroponic greenhouses in North America, the purveyor announced it will double the size of its greenhouse capacity from 600,000 square feet to over 1.2 million square feet in 2022. The ambitious expansion includes new, state-of-the-art facilities in Seagoville, Texas; Monroe, Georgia; and Windsor, Colorado; as well as the expansion of its existing greenhouses in Chicago and Providence, Rhode Island.
“Gotham Greens is incredibly excited to further expand our greenhouse operations across the country, including to the South for the very first time,” said Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Building on the continued growth and momentum that Gotham Greens has sustained over the past several years, we are proud to bring our national brand of sustainably grown salad greens and herbs, plus our versatile, plant-based dressings, dips, and cooking sauces, to more consumers across the country and expand our retail and foodservice distribution in existing markets. Our goal is to deliver Gotham Greens’ fresh produce within a day’s drive from our greenhouses to 90 percent of consumers across the United States, and these strategic greenhouse expansion projects bring us closer to this milestone.”
The new greenhouses will allow Gotham Greens to continue serving many of the nation’s largest grocery retailers. Upon completion of the new facilities, the purveyor will own and operate 12 high-tech, climate-controlled hydroponic greenhouses across eight states, joining its existing greenhouse network in New York, Rhode Island, Maryland, Illinois, Colorado, and California.
The company has achieved 28 percent year-over-year growth, according to a press release, and strategic expansions have led the supplier to continuously grow its retail partnerships with key accounts such as Whole Foods Market, The Kroger Co., Albertsons Companies, Sprouts Farmers Market, and more.
To read more about the expansion, click here.
With this expansion underway, how will Gotham Greens strengthen its hold on the fresh produce sector next? Keep reading ANUK to find out.
WATSONVILLE, CA - The second shelf of my fridge currently resembles a full berry patch one might see at retail—I can’t get enough! California Giant Berry Farms is one supplier making sure product hits the plate, and I recently spoke with J.T. Tipton, District Manager, and Markus Duran, Director of Bushberry Supply, to get a read on the market.
“April and May will offer a large promotable volume of strawberries coming out of California,” J.T. began telling me. “The market is currently on a fast track of coming out of a tight market into steady for all four berry types.”
Strawberry production is currently focused in Oxnard, Santa Maria, Watsonville, and Salinas, California, regions. Blueberries are moving through Florida; Georgia; Oxnard; Central Valley, California; and Mexico, which is currently in its peak while the California supply begins to climb in volume. In Southeast Florida, blueberries are a couple weeks away from their peak, while Georgia began its pick over the weekend. Both raspberries and blackberries have production out of Mexico.
J.T. relayed that strawberry quality is very good, and volume is running approximately 15 percent ahead of where California Giant was last year at this time, primarily due to optimal growing conditions. Markus added that blueberry and raspberry quality and volume are about the same as last year, while blackberries are experiencing a volume boost of 75 percent due to increased acreage.
“The pricing market is the same as previous years, generally speaking. The trend typically follows the growing region transition, of which we’re in right now,” Markus said. “All four berries have strong pricing currently slightly above last year for this time.”
While 2022 weather has been relatively mild with little to no devastating negative events on berry crops globally, the company did report some recent impacts. Rain events throughout CA are expected to affect a week’s worth of ripe fruit, but California Giant reports that the benefits overall greatly outweigh any temporary quality issues. Markus added that freezes in CA, FL, and GA, have affected the grower’s early season blueberry production, with around 20 percent loss.
“Our large volume forecasts reflect optimal growing conditions, which means the entire industry is expected to have a lot of fruit available in the coming months,” J.T. and Markus concluded. “While consumers continue to remain focused on eating healthy and nourishing their bodies with food as medicine in the wake of the pandemic, this spring and summer is the ideal time for retailers to ensure that healthy and nutritious berries are at fingers reach—both in-store and online for shoppers to have a consistent supply of the entire berry patch.”
Stay tuned for more market updates from AndNowUKnow.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Standing strong in its commitment to advancing local minority- and women-owned businesses, Hy-Vee is building on its supplier base with an upcoming products and services showcase opportunity. Being held May 25 in Hiawatha, Iowa, the Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit will feature a small-business vendor expo, small-group workshops, and a keynote presentation, with area businesses and other professionals encouraged to attend.
As the event approaches, local minority- and women-owned businesses are invited to apply for the chance to showcase their products and services during a pitch competition, a press release explained. In the end, three winners will be selected by a panel of judges with the chance to receive up to $25,000 as an investment for future endeavors.
The retailer is currently accepting submissions for local products and services in the food and beverage, product innovation and technology, health and beauty, sustainability, and services and entertainment categories. It is free to apply, with April 17, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. (CDT) being the deadline to submit applications.
Hy-Vee will award a total of $50,000 to three area businesses following the pitch competition at the Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit. First place will receive $25,000, second place will get $15,000, and third place will take home $10,000.
For more information on the event, click here. To submit an application for the pitch competition, click here.
How will Hy-Vee continue to promote inclusivity across its supplier base? AndNowUKnow will give you the latest updates.
BRADFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA - The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show is quickly approaching. In anticipation of the event, Gwillimdale Farms has debuted a brand-new and fully automated potato grading system and a new line of number two potatoes, Conscious Consumption™. Outfitted with artificial intelligence, the system allows multiple parameters to be set to meet size, volume, shape, grade, and deviation specifications while helping the grower move toward sustainable agriculture.
“We’ve had an ongoing struggle with dumping and disposing of perfectly good potatoes with minor blemishes for years,” stated Quinton Woods, Senior Sales and Plant Operation Manager. “Edible food waste is bad for the environment through the decomposing of vegetables and contributes to food insecurity and inequality; 15.6 percent of Canadians are living food-insecure when 400 million potatoes can be diverted to retail and onto the tables of hungry people.”
With the honed ability to efficiently sort potatoes, Gwillimdale launched its Conscious Consumption line of number two potatoes, making sure that misunderstood potatoes don’t end up unused, according to a press release.
The new program diverts 20 percent of edible food waste from landfills and offers an environmentally sustainable, compostable product with no plastics as well.
The natural white potatoes, AS NATURE INTENDED™, come in smaller 5 lb packages, further eliminating food waste in shoppers’ homes. Additionally, the Conscious Consumption line provides a cheaper, health-conscious option to fight food insecurity.
To see the new line up close and better understand Gwillimdale’s mission, visit booth #1301 at the 2022 CPMA Convention and Trade Show.
KINGSVILLE, ON - As a fourth-generation family-owned business, Mastronardi Produce® is consistently wielding its greenhouse expertise to bring inventive new items to the market. To see the latest exciting innovations set to hit store shelves, I recently spoke with Vice President of Sales, Peppe Bonfiglio.
Peggy Packer: Peppe, I hear Mastronardi Produce has a few new products set to shake up the snacking sector. To begin, can you tell us a little more about these additions to the SUNSET® portfolio?
Peppe Bonfiglio: We’re adding a tasty new trio to our lineup. First, we have the Sprinkles® 3-pack. Available now in a banded 3-pack format, the unique micro-grape tomatoes explode with a sweet flavor. Next up this spring, we are introducing Angel Sweet® & Dip, which includes award-winning grape tomatoes that come in a 3-pack served with creamy ranch. In the fall, we’ll also be adding the Qukes™ & Dip in a single-serve 3-pack, featuring tiny cucumbers accompanied by a crowd-pleasing ranch dip.
The new roster brings a flavorful take on some snacking classics designed for kids but loved by everyone. With dips that are shelf-stable and convenient 3-pack snack sizes, they are ideal for lunch boxes and on-the-go snacking.
PP: As demand for both on-the-go snacks and healthy offerings continues to rise simultaneously, why has Mastronardi Produce chosen to tap into these two popular produce categories?
PB: Snacking tomatoes remain the most desirable tomato segment in fresh produce, and mini cucumbers continue to attract the most premium shopper. The excitement in these two categories proves the need for constant creativity in innovative product development, and Mastronardi Produce will continue to drive advancement and growth in the premium snacking category.
PP: I love how these products showcase the reimagination of three already lucrative SUNSET players. How is Mastronardi Produce utilizing innovations like these to elevate its place in the premium snacking category, and the produce department in general?
PB: We are always looking for better ways to deliver flavorful experiences for everyone. That’s why we’re always pushing the boundaries on innovation. We believe the premium snacking category should remain innovative and fun, all without compromising flavor, and we have the expertise and creativity to drive this change.
With this enticing new trio joining an already successful lineup of greenhouse-grown offerings, excitement is already ramping up for what else the purveyor may have in store.
WASHINGTON, DC - After previous sanctions imposed against Carioto Produce back in December, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the New York-based company satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $11,510. The order was issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and involved unpaid produce transactions.
Direct From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The Green Island, New York, company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. Gregory Carioto and Anthony Carioto were listed as the officers, directors, and major stockholders of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it, as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals. USDA also requires any unlicensed company that fully satisfies all unpaid reparation awards to obtain a license if it continues to operate in the industry.
For contact information and to read the release in its entirety, click here.
SANTA PAULA, CA - Building up much anticipation, Calavo Growers announced its monumental brand refresh this week, unveiling a new company logo, tagline, and complete brand personality. The rebrand backs Calavo’s One Company vision, signaling the company’s continued evolution with sights set on long-term growth.
“Following the acquisition of Renaissance Food Group in 2011, Calavo saw an opportunity to synergize our business, as we were already operating as a single company,” said Brian Kocher, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have united our leadership and operations teams, so it makes sense that we also speak to the industry as one brand voice. Calavo is positioned, under our new branding, to continue building on our legacy as pioneer and innovator in the avocado and fresh food industry.”
In 2021, Calavo began conducting extensive surveys of media publications, consumers, and internal stakeholders, leading to a complete overhaul of its consumer and industry-facing, and investor relations websites. The new branding elements are designed to evoke feelings of freshness and happiness while paying tribute to Calavo’s fruitful past, according to a press release.
The new Calavo logo is accompanied by the tagline: THE FAMILY OF fresh™. Calavo also has a new primary color palette, consisting of fresh and vibrant greens, with yellow, blue, pink, and orange as secondary colors.
“Produce marketers will notice lighter and brighter colors throughout our branding elements,” stated Nelia Alamo, Vice President of Communications, who led the rebranding process for Calavo. “We are thrilled to differentiate ourselves with our new branding and color palette, which will play well into new product labeling, social media campaigns, and on the trade show floor.”
This is a key move in Calavo’s One Company initiative, as Renaissance Food Group and its brand, Garden Highway, will be marketed under the Calavo name.
“We are thrilled to share our new, single brand with the industry,” noted Ron Araiza, Executive Vice President of Sales, Calavo Prepared. “Calavo continues to keep our brand promise of great quality, food safety, and service to our valued partners and consumers, while the trusted Calavo name helps to build relationships and drive sales.”
Rob Wedin, Executive Vice President of Sales, Calavo Grown, also commented.
“I am fortunate to have witnessed the evolution of Calavo during my tenure with the company,” said Wedin. “Our brand refresh serves as another example of how we uphold our values of innovation and drive to best serve our customers and the industry.”
We look forward to what comes next for this incredible brand!
ANTIGO, WI - Volm Companies is setting out to help produce companies navigate the ever-changing packaging and equipment landscape with its most recent launch. Debuting the brand-new Volmpack® Adjustable Dual Wicket Bagger, the innovator’s customers are able to overcome the challenge of packaging a variety of size profiles of produce into various sizes of wicketed-style bags.
“We were asked by our customers to come up with a way to pack many different types and sizes of product into a full range of bag sizes on a single bagger,” said Dan Husnick, Equipment Product Manager. “Previously, wicket baggers were only available with either small, standard, or extra-large fill openings, which was an issue for packers who wanted to run a wide range of both bag and produce sizes. They spoke, so we listened and went to work. The new Volmpack Adjustable Wicket Bagger accomplishes this as it can pack from one to 20 pounds of produce at high speeds. We also added V-feeding belts as an option for the new Adjustable Wicket Bagger to improve singulation of product, which helps prevent bridging or plugging of product in the fill opening.”
The new Volmpack Adjustable Dual Wicket Bagger is an automatic wicket bagger that efficiently processes the full range of typical fresh produce bag sizes on a single bagger at amazing speeds, as explained in a recent release. The bagger partners well with many of the company’s most popular Volmpack weighers and can pack at speeds up to 60 bags per minute.
Optimizing operational efficiency for its users, the V-Feeding belts prevent bridging of product for a clean fill, while the closure post is provided for use with automatic closures, staplers, and tape heads. Users can easily adjust this bagger when switching between different size products and bags without the need to change parts.
“Volm’s wicket bagger is already regarded as a workhorse in North American packing sheds,” added Marsha Pozza, Director of Marketing. “What better way to compliment this model than to transform it into something even more efficient for the packers? The adjustable fill opening technology makes it much more convenient than ever before to make changes on the fly. The fact that you don’t have to stock extra parts in order to make those adjustments from one size bag to another is an added bonus.”
The bagger is designed exclusively for wicketed style bags, which Volm offers in several different material types.
For the latest innovations in produce packaging, keep clicking on AndNowUKnow.
TORONTO, CANADA - Did anyone notice the calendar? Silly question, of course you noticed the calendar. People in the produce industry live and die by the calendar. Miss an important week and you could miss the boat on booking a key seasonal item. Right now, the calendar is telling us we’re into the second quarter of the year. That means it’s corn season.
Corn is grown somewhere in North America to satisfy demand every week of the year, but during Q2, that’s April through June for the civilians in the audience, corn takes a starring role in the produce department. This short three-month window is responsible for 70 percent of the corn volume for the entire year. Suffice it to say, if you mess up corn in Q2, you ain’t makin’ it up this year!
Aside from being a great quarter for corn, Q2 also happens to be great for those who like summer long weekends. Corn makes an appearance in all the important ones, and with the focus on the barbecue, it’s not hard to understand why. Before we fire up our grill for our favorite corn on the cob recipe, we need to consult Produce Moneyball in preparation for a big season.
The accompanying graph details 48-count bi-color corn for weeks 19–26. The green-colored bars demonstrate the relative volume during these months. What is apparent is the big spike in volume during weeks 19, 20, and 21, coinciding with the May long weekends on both sides of the border, followed by smaller spikes in weeks 25 and 26 for the July long weekends.
While these celebrations are known for their pyrotechnics, Produce Moneyball is projecting a year without fireworks, predicting FOB costs to remain within a tight $2 window trading between $11 and $13, not far off from what we experienced in 2021. Take note, however, of an uncharacteristic 2020 spike to $37 FOB, which was considered an anomaly and removed from the analysis.
Remember, if the calendar says Q2, keep your ear to the ground and look to Produce Moneyball; it will provide you comfort when it’s time to bust out the corn.
Mike Mauti, Managing Partner, Execulytics Consulting
Leading the Execulytics team, Mike brings more than 20 years of experience as a leader in the fresh foods industry. Over this time, Mike has gained expertise in retail operations, procurement, and merchandising. Specific skills around grocery retailing, particularly in produce buying and selling, make Mike a valuable partner for suppliers and independent retailers alike.