SANTA MARIA, CA - The prep for spring promotions has already hit the Northern Hemisphere, and buyers are looking to connect with supply-side partners with a nimble go-to-market strategy. As the transition from Yuma, Arizona, to California continues, we connected with companies that fit that description to get a feel for current market conditions.
Speaking with Crystal Chavez of Gold Coast Packing, I got the scoop.
“Most of our broccoli will be back in the Santa Maria, California, growing region next week. We will still be pulling a bit out of the desert with that expected to end at the beginning of April,” the Marketing Coordinator told me. “Our cauliflower is grown 100 percent in the Santa Maria Valley year-round. Spinach will wrap up in the desert this week, while our cilantro will wrap up in the desert next week.”
Supply on broccoli is looking steady, with cauliflower projected to be tight for the next week. Spinach and cilantro are in steady supply, and seeing a smooth transition from the desert.
“Overall, quality across our categories is looking pretty good,” Crystal reported.
She also noted that, for Gold Coast Packing, there haven’t been any fluctuations across the categories.
Weather too has been roughly in step with timelines, with only a brief spat of cold weather pushing back timelines.
“Colder weather caused some gaps, and we were off schedule for a bit, but we are closing the gap now,” Crystal noted. “Weather in Santa Maria has been warm and warmer temperatures are expected this week, so that should push things along as well.”
We’ll continue to keep you up to date on the latest in market news, so stick with AndNowUKnow for more.
BOSTON, MA - Looking to reaffirm its commitment to fresh food and high-quality products for its shoppers, Giant Eagle has expanded its partnership with SmartSense by Digi®, part of Digi International, a provider of Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity solutions. Together, the pair has deployed 32,000 new SmartSense digital temperature monitoring devices to continuously monitor freshness.
“We have been continually impressed with SmartSense’s innovative and intelligent solutions, which have allowed us to strengthen our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest levels of food safety for the communities we serve,” said Giant Eagle Vice President of Risk and Chief Compliance Officer, Vic Vercammen. “Specifically, capturing detailed data insights and prescriptive analytics via SmartSense’s advanced technologies will enhance our team members’ ability to monitor product freshness in real time.”
As one of the United States’ largest food retailers and distributors with approximately $10 billion in annual sales, Giant Eagle took stock in the importance of recognizing the cost-saving and competitive advantage of utilizing industry innovations. According to a release, this includes digital technology, walk-ins, chillers, refrigerators, and now, the SmartSense system that combines wireless sensors, food probes, digital checklists, and remote monitoring software and analytics tools.
All SmartSense features and functions are accessible via a single compliance monitoring dashboard and mobile app to give a complete view of operations at every level. Overall, this provides actionable insights that can drive quality control, employee productivity, and food safety compliance for Giant Eagle.
“We are proud to serve as an IoT partner for Giant Eagle,” commented SmartSense President Guy Yehiav. “Our experience, easily solving compliance requirements of pharmacy and healthcare, empowers us to keep providing critical solutions for food safety and equipment optimization. With paper and manual checks a thing of the past, we help customers such as Giant Eagle advance their operations and move from physical logs to digital insights that inform their teams on the ground, with efficiency and effectiveness. We work with customers over the long-term—evolving and developing prescriptive analytics from our scalable systems that distill operational data into clear actions that improve safety, quality, and sustainability.”
How will Giant Eagle use this data and these insights to drive company growth? Keep reading AndNowUKnow for answers.
SANTA BARBARA, CA - In a move to meet the needs of the constantly evolving retail landscape, solutions company Apeel has announced the creation of a new Retail Advisory Board. Assembling grocery industry experts, the council will work with Apeel’s retail partners to improve fresh produce innovation, consumer engagement, and supply chain enhancements.
“Retailers throughout Europe and North America are working hard to react to the rapidly changing buying behaviors and preferences of consumers as they look for more convenience, better value, and innovative products, especially in fresh,” said Jim Smits, Vice President of Retail Advisory and the head of the new Retail Advisory Board. “As such, grocers have new opportunities to provide a differentiating credential of sustainability, as well as a guarantee for longer-lasting quality which is why we’re excited to pull together a team of experts to help us work with our retail partners to deliver the best fresh produce experience online and in stores.”
Through this new Advisory Board, Apeel will be able to offer its retail partners not only protected produce, but higher unit sales, minimal waste, and more value for shoppers, especially as inflation continues to rise, a press release explained.
Apeel has already named the first three members of the eight-member council, they include:
- Steve Mayer, Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Raley’s of Arizona. He brings a retail background of almost 40 years and experience in leadership positions at grocery chains such as Smitty’s, Meijer, Ahold, Schnucks, and Bashas
- Andy Adcock, who brings almost three decades of retail experience leading commercial operations and holding senior positions at Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Marks & Spencer. He offers a broad knowledge of the food sector in the United States and the United Kingdom, and will help support the company’s commitment to driving consumer satisfaction
- Tony Mitchell is the Vice President Corporate Produce and Floral at Associated Wholesale Grocers and an International Fresh Produce Association retail council member. He holds over 30 years of grocery experience and is lending his support to Apeel to help minimize food waste
This council comes together as Apeel’s supplier and retailer partnership are rapidly growing, with a recent expansion to grocery shelves across the U.K. Currently, the solutions company has 40 retail partners across North America and Europe and over 40 supplier partners across the globe.
To find out more about these leaders and the council, click here.
What will be the Retail Advisory Board’s first move to bolster fresh produce growth? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow to find out.
GONZALES, CA - National Agriculture Week is upon us, and AndNowUKnow is all for the efforts to spotlight the many facets of our vast and dynamic industry. Honoring up-and-coming farmers, AgroThrive is rolling out its “Get One-Give One” promotion from March 21–28. For every purchase of liquid organic fertilizer made on the company’s website, AgroThrive will donate the same amount to the organic farmers in training at the Agricultural Land-Based Training Association (ALBA).
“The future of farming depends on dedicated people choosing ag as a career,” said AgroThrive President, Will Daniels. “We have a great appreciation for the work ALBA does to support up-and-coming organic farmers with training, tools, and land.”
ALBA is a non-profit organic ag incubator that offers on-farm education on organic farming practices, helps start-up farms take root and grow, and provides access to food and education for limited-resource farmers, as explained in a press release.
Similar to ALBA, AgroThrive is based in California’s Salinas Valley and is rooted in organic farming. The company’s fast-acting biofertilizers are utilized by many farmers to increase yields and bolster soil health on both organic and conventional farms.
“We are really excited to partner with ALBA and support their organic farmers in training,” said AgroThrive Chief Marketing Officer Marko Macura. “We are proud to be on the frontlines of organic agriculture’s continuing growth, to support a more equitable and environmentally sustainable agriculture sector, and to give our organic gardening community the opportunity to be a part of it all.”
Keep following along with ANUK as we showcase all of the unique ways companies are celebrating National Ag Week.
WENATCHEE, WA - All we can do as humans is try to show up as our best selves every day. CMI Orchards is working to do just this, aiming to fortify its operations and support the people who make up its organization. As such, the grower recently achieved its first certification from Equitable Food Initiative (EFI).
"CMI is an organization that has always been committed to responsible sourcing—social responsibility isn't just a trend, it's the right thing to do and something we have been focused on for many years," said Bob Mast, President of CMI Orchards. "Our philosophy has been to do the right thing, even when no one's looking, and so it makes sense to partner with EFI to officially certify that philosophy and the good work going on in all areas of our operation."
As of recent weeks, over half of CMI’s marketed acreage of apples, cherries, and pears is EFI certified. The certification is of McDougall & Sons, a growing partner and owner of CMI Orchards. CMI's top-selling Daisy Girl Organics® brand and its extensive selection of licensed branded apples in the United States are all now certified under EFI.
A press release explained that CMI is committed to further expanding the program by training more EFI leadership teams and moving toward certification of additional acreage and operations.
"EFI certification was an opportunity to validate many of our existing efforts and to find ways to improve our operations with the best interests of our farmworkers in mind," Bryon McDougall, Co-Owner of CMI and McDougall & Sons, remarked. "We always strive to do the right thing by our people because they are the lifeline to our entire operation."
Under the EFI certification, CMI Orchards will:
- Develop cross-functional leadership teams that train workers in soft skills
- Foster a culture for safer and more secure work environments
- Build better lines of positive communication and problem solving across departments
- Empower the workforce to be an active participant in decision-making and strategic planning
- Commit to systems rooted in continuous improvement for both compliance and performance
- Meet the industry's most rigorous standards in the areas of labor practices, food safety, and integrated pest management
"Operations like CMI Orchards and McDougall & Sons help raise the bar on social responsibility for the entire fresh produce industry,” Peter O'Driscoll, Executive Director of EFI, noted. “They showcase what true commitment to social responsibility looks like and embody the very best ideals of continuous improvement and transparency in the supply chain."
Congratulations to CMI Orchards on this impressive certification!
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Last March, Frieda’s launched its first-ever produce portrait campaign in an effort to elevate impactful women during Women’s History Month. This year, the company is continuing this effort through its second produce portrait series. Frieda’s is turning the spotlight to artist and creator Frida Kahlo as an inspiration to all.
“When our team was brainstorming this piece of work, we were inspired to pair Frieda’s impact with someone who empowered women to change their mindset of what ‘normal’ meant. Kahlo created many self-portraits, which expressed her individuality—celebrating self-love. Her work often featured flowers, bold colors, and even fruit. We hoped to capture her creative essence, style, and unique look through this produce portrait,” says Lourdes Narvaez, Senior Creative Manager and creator of the produce portraits. “Both Frida and Frieda [Rapoport Caplan] refused to be ordinary, and that’s what Frieda’s and our produce portrait series is all about.”
According to a press release, Kahlo was selected because of her ability to bend what was considered the “norm.” She is known as an icon of the 20th century as she forged new definitions of sexual identity, gender roles, and overall expression for women in that time. In this year’s portrait, Kahlo was brought to life by watermelon radishes, colored cauliflower, popjoys® kumquats, pink lemons, shallots, kiwi berries, ghost peppers, mahana™ ginger, and baby friseè.
Frieda’s aims to elevate all women, from every female making a difference in the produce industry to the fearless female business and political leaders creating new definitions of success to the mothers raising children who will define future generations.
The all-female editorial team here at AndNowUKnow is grateful to companies like Frieda’s for shining a spotlight on women this month. Women rock!
CLERMONT, FL - Today, the industry is reflecting on the life of a great leader as Bob Besix, Senior Vice President of Sales for Giorgio Fresh, passed away on Tuesday, March 8, at the age of 60. A beloved industry veteran with an extensive career, Besix is revered for his strong work ethic and deep understanding of people, which propelled him throughout his produce journey.
Besix’s career in the produce industry was extensive, as he began working at Ralston Purina squeegeeing the floors in the growing rooms and worked his way up to his most recent role as SVP for Giorgio Fresh.
After earning himself the role of Packing Room Supervisor, Besix caught the attention of his soon-to-be mentor, Aden Hillsman, who assigned him to the Kansas City area for sales with nothing more than a map of the area. In a short time, Besix owned the local mushroom market.
Following this success, Besix was deployed to cover the Southeast region when Monterey Mushrooms purchased Terry Farms in 1999, according to a release. He joined Country Fresh Mushroom as a Regional Sales Manager in 2003, and eventually worked his way up to his current SVP role. Besix continued to serve in this role when Giorgio acquired Country Fresh Mushrooms in 2019. He also enjoyed a host of unique career milestones, including serving on the Mushroom Council board from 2017–2019.
“Bob was truly a remarkable example of love for others, and one I should follow. He will be sorely missed,” reflects Joe Caldwell, President of Giorgio Fresh.
In his personal life, Besix was recognized as a man who supported and loved his family, as well as an avid fisherman, griller, and lover of the outdoors. He enjoyed frequent camping trips and was respected as a coach and referee for high school basketball. He leaves behind his loving wife, Lisa, and his children Chase and Laura.
“Bob was the most positive person in his outlook and was a friend to many of his associates,” said Greg Sagan, Executive Vice President of Marketing. “Even in his final days as he fought against cancer, he expressed deep concern and compassion for the team.”
A celebration video of Besix’s life can be found here. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, provide memorials in Bob's name to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the American Lung Association.
Our hearts are with all of those who had the pleasure of knowing this honorable industry vet.
CANADA - Into the thick of trade show season we go! We’re already preparing for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show, held this year in Montréal, Quebec, from April 5–7. Gearing up with us is Catania Worldwide, whose very own Andrew Catania chatted with me about what the company is planning to showcase at the event.
“We’ll be highlighting our new vibrant packaging and our uniformed companies that came together as one name across North America in October of 2021,” the Sales, Procurement, and Operations Manager shared with me. “We also want to spotlight some of our new brands like GO GUAVA!”
In addition to this, Catania will be highlighting its vast product portfolio, which includes limes, lemons, figs, green and gold kiwi, passionfruit, and mango. The company will also make clear its variety of pack styles, such as clear and mesh bags, clamshells, TopSeal punnets, and trays.
“The great thing about us is that we’re always in season and ready to deliver top-of-the-market quality and service,” Andrew continued. “We are willing to work and grow with our customers, since we have the experience and expertise to service various items across North America. Our extensive network of growers allows us to remain at the top of the field in service, quality, and taste.”
As Catania continues to establish new relationships across the industry, the CPMA Convention and Trade Show is an ideal event for fostering growth.
“These relationships, both old and new, have been vital to Catania’s long-standing success for close to 100 years,” Andrew concluded.
In order to connect with the team in Montréal, stop by booth #1609.
WENATCHEE, WA - Consistency is a key element of success, and in Stemilt’s recent episode of Fast Facts: The Cast, the apple purveyor shared how regular promotions of Granny Smith apples and other core varieties can help retailers boost sales. Additionally, the company highlighted the rise in category dollars over the 12 weeks from December 5, 2021, to February 26, 2022, based on Nielsen data.
“Apple dollars went up another percent over the last 12-week period, which is pretty striking and good to see,” said Jocelyn Gerard, Merchandising Manager. “We know that has to do with some of the inflationary factors and supply and demand.”
Throughout the produce department, data shows that apples made up 6 percent of dollars on a total U.S. basis, a press release explained. Due to smaller crop and food inflation, apple dollars are up 8 percent nationally in just one year. Organic apples made up 12 percent of category volume nationally and 16 percent of category sales during this 12-week period. In the Northwest region, organics hit 15 percent of apple volume and 20.5 percent of sales during the period.
“The total produce department is holding steady at 6 percent of total produce sales,” said Brianna Shales, Marketing Director. “When we looked at the top varieties, we saw that these numbers remained unchanged. We did see some amazing double-digit growth in Red Delicious and Pink Lady® apples, with dollars up 40 percent on Pink Lady compared to a year ago at this time.”
Based on the Nielsen data, the top six apples by volume pounds sold were Gala at 22 percent, Honeycrisp at 19.7 percent, Fuji at 11.6 percent, Granny Smith at 10.7 percent, Red Delicious at 9.2 percent, and Pink Lady at 5.6 percent.
“Granny Smith apples were up in dollars 4.4 percent, but down in pounds almost 7 percent,” added Gerard. “This is a really strong time for Granny Smith as far as supply and quality go, and that can be concerning because last period was a similar type of direction. I want to call out Granny Smith as a great option for retailers to promote right now to capture some of those bulk sales that they’ve been winning at so far this season.”
Bagged apple retailers have grown twice as fast as bulk.
When looking at bagged options, the 3 lb size drove 70 percent of apple volumes that sold in bags nationally and 29 percent of total apple pounds sold.
Want more insight from Stemilt on this 12-week period? Click here.
For more category updates, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
Stemilt
ROSEMONT, IL - Versatility is a tool any foodservice operator would be wise to implement, especially considering the many supply chain obstacles we have faced over the last couple of years. Once again, US Foods Holding Corp. has ventured to support its partners by launching the new Spring 2022 Scoop™. The “Do More with Less” lineup features 18 new products combined with a variety of inspiring menu ideas developed by US Foods product innovation and culinary experts.
“As part of our promise to help foodservice operators ‘Make It,’ we value the opportunity to provide the most innovative products to attract and retain diners while solving a variety of pain points shared across kitchens,” said Stacey Kinkaid, Vice President of Product Development and Innovation. “We understand the challenges operators face as they aim to bring new options to the menu, and Spring Scoop makes it easy to expand menus with versatile products that can be used across many recipes on an operator’s menu. The items reduce prep time back-of-house, save pantry space by creating inventory efficiencies, and help operators drive profitable menu solutions.”
As consumers continue to go in search of eating experiences that offer a fresh twist on traditional foods, US Foods has revealed several new products to tantalize the taste buds and offer foodservice operators versatility.
These products include:
- Monarch® Green Chickpeas
- Hilltop Hearth® Cilantro Chickpea Wrap
- Del Pasado® Mango Peach Salsa
- Chef’s Line® Korean Barbecue Sauce
- Hilltop Hearth Pub Grain Hamburger Bun
According to a press release, the number of vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diners is continuously rising. As such, US Foods has launched several alternative ingredient products that offer an opportunity to upsell for the operator.
These new offerings are paired with extensive insights from the foodservice distributor. Operators can book a consultation with US Foods chefs and Restaurant Operations Consultants as well. Operators can also register here to participate in the company’s “Make More with Less” webinar on March 22. For more information on the Spring Scoop, click here.
How will these fresh-forward items promote the inclusion of plant-based foods and produce in menus across the country? Stay tuned as ANUK keeps our eyes to the wire.