BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA - Oppy and T&G Global are ready to hit the show floor, bringing with them a portfolio of apple brands making waves across the market. The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show shines a spotlight on Oppy’s latest promotional efforts surrounding the Envy™ and JAZZ™ apple brands.
“We’ve received remarkable feedback and seen significant growth in several key Canadian regions recently—both brands continue to gain traction thanks to our combined efforts with Oppy to build awareness and trial for our amazing brands with integrated campaigns,” said Cecilia Flores Paez, T&G’s Head of Marketing for North America.
As part of the brand’s promotional efforts, JAZZ is the sponsor of Pop Whiz, a traveling pop culture game show in Canada.
“The deliciously crisp and tangy-sweet flavor of JAZZ, combined with its size, makes it the perfect snack—ideal for at school, home, or work,” said Oppy’s Business Development Representative Susanne Bertolas, noting how the on-the-go apple can appeal to the next generation of shoppers.
Additionally, Bertolas represented Envy apples at The National Women’s Show in Quebec, Canada, at the end of 2021, according to a press release.
“The province is quite localized and can be a difficult market to penetrate, and that’s why we were so pleased that everyone who tried it, loved it,” Bertolas said. “With over 1,000 consumer samples distributed, our report indicated that nearly 100 percent said they would buy it.”
CPMA attendees can anticipate Envy apples featured in and around the trade show in surprising ways, including at the annual banquet, which Oppy is sponsoring. The two brands will also be on display at Oppy’s booth, #1209, along with Divemex, Ocean Spray, and Zespri. A complementary booth exhibiting brands UP Vertical Farms™ and Ocean Spray Happy Berry™ will also be on display.
“As the last CPMA was also in Montreal, and considering our recent efforts on the East Coast, we’re really coming full circle. I’m so looking forward to the energy of the show and being face-to-face with friends old and new, there’s just nothing like it,” Bertolas said.
Both Oppy and ANUK hope to see you at the show!
OXNARD, CA - Looking to strengthen its Peruvian mango import program, Freska Produce International has announced a new alliance. The company is entering into an equity partnership with Peru-based Tallanes Packers SAC, allowing for better integration of farming and control over supervision to make the plant more efficient with food safety, social responsibility, and overall packing operations.
“We plan on a gradual growth to increase volume to all locations over the next few years,” said Jesus “Chuy” Loza, Partner at Freska. “By having this partnership with Tallanes, Freska will invest in bringing mangos to market with better quality control, increased food safety, and done in a way that benefits our retail partners.”
In addition to bolstering Freska’s Peruvian operations, this partnership will help Tallanes strengthen its packing and sourcing operations. Tallanes will be the packing arm of Freska out of Peru and has a state-of-the-art plant built with growth in mind, according to a press release.
Last year, Freska and Tallanes packed 30 million lbs of fruit, equaling 621 ocean containers bound for the United States, Europe, and Chile.
Freska’s end consumers will benefit from this partnership with products coming to market quicker, fresher, and packed in styles requested.
“Combining forces with one of the top marketers of mangos in the U.S. was an easy decision for us,” commented Miguel Aviles Garcia, Chairman of the Board at Tallanes. “We look forward to growing and supporting Freska’s ever-increasing sales, marketing, and packing plant knowledge.”
Supplies produced through this partnership will be available beginning in December 2022 with the Kent mango variety and run through March 2023.
Cheers to new partnerships in fresh produce!
CALIFORNIA - Several areas of California are gearing up for some wet weather as powerful storms move through the state, producing heavy rain, snow, and gusty winds.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a Pacific storm system has been moving down from the Gulf of Alaska the last few days, and was expected to reach the Southern California region late Sunday night. As a result of the storm, coastal and inland cities are expected to receive one to two inches of rain, with the mountains receiving up to four inches, including up to three inches of snow above 6,000 feet.
As noted by the source, temperatures are also expected to cool considerably following the recent record-breaking high temperatures in the region and an unusually warm February.
This storm marks the biggest storm in California in 2022, following the intense systems that hit last December.
In addition to the Southern California storm, as noted by Times Herald, lower elevations in the San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay region could get between a quarter to a half an inch of rain along the coastal hills, while the wettest spots, like the Santa Cruz Mountains and mountains along the Central Coast including Big Sur, could receive between one and two inches.
AndNowUKnow will keep a close eye to find out how this incoming storm impacts the vital growing regions across California, so stay tuned for our next update.
SANTA ANA PUEBLO, NM - For as long as I have known it, the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference (WFPC) has had a legacy of sending attendees home with ways to be the change they want to see when they get back to business, and the fire to do it. After sitting with 2022 Keynote Speaker Sara Ross, I have no doubt that legacy will continue.
Sara is a Researcher and the Chief Vitality Officer at BrainAMPED who wants to see stress converted into energy, especially in the workplace.
“I don’t believe those who say they want less stress—instead, they want to feel more alive, engaged, and excited,” Sara observes right off the bat. “After two years (or more) of so many being in constant survival mode, people are tired of being tired. What I focus on are three core behaviors that help show how to shift a mindset to energy infusing versus energy depleting.”
With stress as something of a prerequisite to joining the fresh produce industry, I don’t know that Sara could have found a better audience. Add the worries that tend to weigh heavier on the minds of the women of our industry, and you have a near-perfect alignment.
“Women especially are great at seeing others’ potential and pushing them forward. Now, I want to inspire them to walk away with more self compassion. The permission and the path to grant themselves the grace that they don’t need to be perfect, they just need to keep learning. Biologically, once you know what you need, you see the way to get there,” Sara points out, while I am left to wonder what would be possible for the women in our industry if stress were reshaped into a more self-sustaining energy.
This, Sara points out, is exactly one of the reasons she is eager to meet our industry and has been for quite some time.
“I heard about the WFPC a couple years ago and put the word out that I would love the opportunity to come speak if it ever came up, and I am so happy it finally did,” she laughs. “I feel honored to see women that are part of an industry that is not only male-dominated but also even more important than ever. And, once I saw the ‘What is your I Am?’ on the website, I felt extremely connected and excited to participate!”
Driven in her daily life by ‘I am’ mantras, Sara shares that WFPC, in particular, is set up much how she coaches audiences to live their lives: take applicable tools, apply those learnings, connect, refine, and learn some more.
“This is the model we need to approach work with,” she concludes. “I hope people will take away from this upcoming session a feeling of being truly inspired to make a change.”
If you are not able to attend the WFPC April 10–12, Sara just so happens to be sending the finishing touches on a book even as we publish this article. Dear Work, Something Has to Change is set to publish January 31, 2023, covering everything Sara will share at the conference and more.
And for those of you who will be in attendance, I look forward to seeing you as we learn about swapping out stress for energy.
WASHINGTON, DC - After previous sanctions imposed against LS & CX back in February 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the Texas-based company satisfied a reparation order in the amount of $73,586. The order was issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and involved unpaid produce transactions.
Direct From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The Plano, Texas, company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. Xuan Chen, Sheng Lin, and Xin Lin were listed as members/managers 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.
SALINAS, CA - Walmart is sharing its praises for the supply-side, honoring the suppliers who work to bring high-quality fresh produce to the market daily. Shining a light on a key ally, the retailer recently recognized Taylor Farms® as its 2022 Supplier of the Year in the Food category.
“The entire Taylor Farms family is grateful for this recognition,” said Bruce Taylor, Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “This award is recognition of the dedication and hard work our team members bring to their jobs daily. We value our strong partnership with Walmart and are thankful of the trust they have in Taylor Farms to deliver the healthiest, freshest foods to their customers.”
The recent recognition was announced at the 2022 Walmart Supplier Growth Forum, where Taylor Farms was honored for being a consistent top performer and supplier within Walmart’s produce and deli sectors.
During the forum, Taylor Farms team was also acknowledged for the production shifts that were swiftly implemented across numerous facilities to ensure store shelves were full of fresh food, according to a press release.
“We’re extremely honored to receive this recognition from our long-standing partner,” said Mark Campion, President, Taylor Farms Retail Group. “Our strong partnership with Walmart spans across 20 years and is rooted in the mutual goal of delivering healthy, fresh foods to consumers across North America. We look forward to continuing to help consumers live happier and healthier lives. Thank you, Walmart!”
Congratulations to Taylor Farms on this recent achievement, which truly demonstrates its prowess in the fresh produce space!
PORTERVILLE, CA - With National Farmworker Awareness Week upon us, Homegrown Organic Farms is shining a spotlight on one crucial aspect of its operations. The supplier’s Northwest organic blueberry farms in Oregon recently received Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) certification, joining Homegrown’s stonefruit program.
“We are proud to add blueberries to the growing list of our EFI certified programs,” Scott Mabs, Chief Executive Officer of Homegrown Organic Farms, said. “Our team members from the field to shipment are professionals in their jobs, and EFI brings the system to help facilitate cross-department collaboration and personal development. Homegrown has always been proactive with the development and value of our team members, and EFI is a wonderful support to that mission.”
As a newly formed ESOP, Homegrown has partnered with its sister company to achieve and roll out this new certification, which helps develop partnerships between the farmworking employees and farm management teams.
According to a press release, the ultimate goals of the certification are to improve overall working conditions, cultivate confidence and teamwork between farmworkers and management, and build a culture of commitment and collaboration.
“It is fitting that we would receive notice of Homegrown’s Oregon operations earning EFI certification during Farmworker Awareness Week,” Kevin Boyle, Director, New Product and Business Development for EFI, commented. “Their commitment to EFI is but one effort that the company has put forth to live out its values, engage workers in new ways, and provide a fulfilling and professional workplace.”
Congratulations to Homegrown Organic Farms on this exciting achievement!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Make way for another fresh produce player, as a new leafy greens provider is stepping onto the scene. Conscious™ Foods, created by food and technology company Pairwise, is launching the brand-new Conscious Greens as a new solution for consumers.
“When my Co-Founders and I started the company in 2017, we wanted to create a different kind of food+tech company, one that really focused on the end benefits of its products to consumers and customers,” said Haven Baker, Chief Business Officer at Pairwise. “Now, in 2022, we believe that the best way to realize this vision is by launching a purpose-driven consumer brand—Conscious Foods.”
Conscious Greens are slated to hit grocery shelves in the form of packaged salads in 2023, according to a press release. The item was recently unveiled at a tasting event led by chefs Sean Regan and Henry Chen of San Francisco, California-based mise en place.
In addition to its greens, Conscious Foods is also developing seedless blackberries, black raspberries, and pitless cherries. Pairwise has raised $115 million in funding through two rounds on its mission to innovate gene editing technology in row crops and other plant-based applications.
“As a purpose-driven brand, we are supporting access to healthy food in the communities where we operate,” said Megan Thomas, Head of Marketing and Communications at Pairwise. “We know that consumers, especially younger adults, are increasingly interested in mission-focused brands, and we are excited to bring purpose into the produce aisle with Conscious Foods.”
The company’s Nutritionist Advisory Council is led by Kristen Gradney, MHA, RDN, LDN, and Luis Gonzalez, MS, RD, and will help the brand develop new fresh produce items that are both convenient and easily integrated into familiar meals and snacks.
We at ANUK cannot wait to see what’s next for this up-and-coming brand!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The online retail space has skyrocketed over the past few years, creating new opportunities for grocers and their partners to innovate. Instacart is doing just that as the company recently launched its new Instacart Platform, offering a suite of technologies and solutions to fuel future growth in the e-commerce space.
“The grocery industry is undergoing a digital transformation where customers expect a seamless experience across many channels, but behind the scenes, it’s taking an incredible amount of work and investment for retailers to deliver these new services,” said Fidji Simo, Chief Executive Officer. “We’re looking to change that with Instacart Platform. We started as the e-commerce and fulfillment partner of choice for grocers, and we’ve been building on that foundation to broaden and deepen our capabilities in order to help retailers innovate faster than ever on their own properties.”
Through Instacart Platform, retailers have access to the technologies that power Instacart’s consumer marketplace, giving them the opportunity to evolve their own digital properties, a press release explained. This new platform offers grocers the tools needed to improve consumer online experiences as well as in-store shopping through end-to-end digitized operations.
Instacart Platform features e-commerce storefronts, fulfillment, in-store digital integrations and hardware, advertising solutions, and data tools to help retailers optimize operations.
Additionally, Instacart has debuted three new omnichannel capabilities to support the Instacart Platform helping retailers serve their shoppers.
As outlined in the release, these capabilities include:
- Carrot Ads, which open up new digital revenue streams for retailers by bringing the best of Instacart advertising
- Carrot Warehouses, which helps retailers create more flexible, local fulfillment models
- Carrot Insights, which gives retailers near real-time visibility into their operations
For more details about Instacart Platform and insights from retailers in support of these new launches, click here.
How will this launch shape the future of grocery’s omnichannel development? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for answers.
GREENCASTLE, PA - Keystone Fruit Marketing is preparing buyers for spring and summer success in the sweet onion category. The division of Progressive Produce is utilizing its long-term partnership with Cowart Farms to grant a significant boost to the sector with a beloved variety.
“At Keystone Fruit Marketing...we are known for our year-round sweet onion program,” said Director of Operations Lisa Fetterhoff in a recent press release. “The Vidalia® onion is an integral part of that program, and we are anxious to get started with this sweet and versatile favorite hailing from the south.”
To bring a bevy of sweet onions to store shelves this spring and summer, Keystone has strengthened its partnership with Cowart Farms, and will be selling its Vidalia’s Sugar Sweets™.
A decades-long partner of Keystone, the Cowarts are fourth-generation family farmers. The company is vertically integrated from seed to shelf, according to the release, and uses sustainable business practices while recognizing the importance of applying leading technology to enhance and guarantee sweetness of this coveted offering. With a state-of-the-art drying and curing facility, the company is able to provide extended shelf-life on its Sugar Sweets.
“The Vidalia sweet is known for its flat shape, high sugar content, and low sulfur content,” noted Fetterhoff. “Initially an accident, the Vidalia turned out to be the sweetest accident in the industry! And it is now considered America’s favorite sweet onion. This famous treat is hand-planted and harvested each season and is only available in spring and summer.”
Vidalia season is kicking off a little earlier than previous years, and Keystone is reporting a good-looking crop and anticipating a normal year, despite challenges with labor, logistics, and freight rates. Keystone ships Vidalia onions throughout the United States and Canada.
If you’re looking for more market updates and insights, keep clicking on ANUK.