LAGUNA BEACH, CA - The California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) has something to celebrate as the association wrapped up its 86th Annual Membership Meeting in sunny Laguna Beach, California. At the event held on March 15, the organization officially kicked off its new fiscal year with the election of the Board of Directors and Chairman in addition to honoring several past members.
At the annual meeting, Wayde Kirschenman of Kirschenman Enterprises was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the 2022/23 fiscal year, a press release relayed. Also elected was Melissa Frank of Wonderful Orchards who now stands as First Vice Chair, and Louis Pandol of Pandol Bros who now holds the position of Secretary and Treasurer.
These new officers have been nominated to serve for a one-year period and were selected by a committee of past Board Chairs. They stand amongst the other 35 men and women from operations across California that make up CFFA’s Board of Directors.
In addition to electing its Board, the association also honored past CFFA President Barry Bedwell with the coveted Mentor’s Award, which is given to an individual who has displayed exceptional dedication to the fresh grape, berry, and treefruit communities throughout their leadership in the industry. Dean Thonesen of Riverwest Farming and John Giumarra, Jr. of Giumarra Vineyards were honored posthumously as the 2020 and 2021 Mentor’s Award recipients.
CFFA and the California Table Grape Commission (CTGC) also presented a special award to the Parnagian family for their service to the fresh produce industry. The honor was accepted by Dennis Parnagian on behalf of the family and Fowler Packing Company.
Rounding out the event, the Annual Industry Workshop featured three panel discussions focused on redistricting, water, and pesticide use. Each of which had panels of industry experts offering key insights in the issues that face the California agricultural industry.
For more event updates and news from across the fresh produce industry, keep clicking on AndNowUKnow.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Easter and sweet potatoes go hand-in-hand, and Country Sweet Produce’s beloved Bako Sweet® brand is bringing lucrative opportunities to the retail sector with its award-winning products.
“It’s important that retailers have properly stocked shelves full of color and variety, and our bright bags of purple, orange, and white sweet potatoes are not only eye-catching but well-known and trusted by shoppers,” said Alexandra Rae Molumby, Marketing Manager.
Retailers wielding Bako Sweet’s top-notch portfolio are sure to see great success as we enter one of the largest sweet potato buying seasons, just behind Thanksgiving and Christmas. As explained in a recent release, retailers should consider placing complementary items next to sweet potato displays for maximum sales as well.
“Some of the most popular dishes at Easter are traditional sweet potato casserole, roasted sweet potatoes, and sweet potato pie, so merchandising ingredients like marshmallows, brown sugar, pecans, and pre-made pie crusts next to your display is a great way to inspire usage and increase sales,” added Molumby.
Bringing brightly colored, triple-washed, and consistently sized sweet potatoes to market, Bako Sweet has perfected each component of the growing and harvesting process, which includes hiring the skilled workforce necessary to sort and size products by hand for consistency.
In addition, the brand also aligns directly with its retail partners to develop geo-targeted Google and social media ads to drive in-store purchases and support a successful sweet potato program.
“Easter is a great time of year for retailers to get the highest percent of return on sales with our steam bags,” said Prescott Leyba, Sales Account Manager. “Historically, bulk bins have been a priority, but with shopper preferences shifting, consistency is a key marker of success.”
The time to bolster your sweet potato category is now, and Bako Sweet is here to help. For the latest industry news, keep clicking on ANUK.
SUNBURY, PA - Weis Markets has been fairly quiet since we reported on its first Sustainable Food Retail Certification in December, but recently shook the newswire with a new executive appointment. In an announcement, the retailer named Mike Gross as its new Vice President of Center Store Sales and Merchandising.
In his new position, Gross will be overseeing the day-to-day category management, merchandising, and pricing for the company’s grocery, dairy, frozen, HBC/GM, and adult beverage departments. A press release outlined that he will report to Bob Gleeson, Senior Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing.
Gross’ career spans 25 years in the food retail space. He has worked in store operations, merchandising, and category management at Shoppers Food and Pharmacy, SuperValu, and most recently Cub Foods/United Natural Foods, Inc. in Stillwater, Minnesota.
The new VP bolsters his experience with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.
Congratulations to Mike Gross on earning this new title!
PELION, SC - Supporting America’s future workforce is a top priority in this industry, and there are many creative ways to carry out that mission. Continuing its dedication to the country’s military community, WP Rawl has entered an official partnership with the United States Army. Through the Army’s Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) Program, the two will help provide an opportunity to serve the country while also preparing for future employment.
“Being part of the PaYS Program is a perfect example of our organization living out our company vision as an organization that supports their communities,” commented Ashley Rawl, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Product Development.
As of now, WP Rawl employs over 25 veterans and looks forward to employing more military personnel. A press release stated that these individuals bring extraordinary values, experience, discipline, maturity, and leadership skills to the workplace.
WP Rawl has reportedly supported the armed forces in other ways, such as participating in Wreaths Across America, hauling wreaths from Maine to national cemeteries located in South Carolina to be placed on the graves of the fallen. Additionally, the company also prepares a Christmas meal of collard greens for deploying soldiers at the South Carolina National Guard Armory annually.
The partnership became official on Wednesday, March 3, with a signing ceremony at the WP Rawl headquarters in Pelion, SC.
We at ANUK look forward to hearing the many creative ways that companies choose to support the future workforce.
ELGIN, MI - Bringing forth solutions to the buy-side, Honeybear Brands® offers key varieties from the Southern Hemisphere to fill potential supply gaps. Promotable volumes are currently arriving on both the East and West Coasts, so retailers have the chance to stock up.
“We invested heavily in our dual-hemisphere supply chain program more than two decades ago, and it has proven to be a real point of differentiation for our retail partners,” Don Roper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said. “With our Chilean growing partner Frusan, we have, in our opinion, the largest and best Honeycrisp production in the Southern Hemisphere.”
A release explained that Honeycrisp’s availability had been significantly affected by lower production this year, but Honeybear’s import crop will help provide summer supply. Availability for the Honeycrisp import crop starts in late April, and other conventional and organic varieties of apples and pears are already arriving at U.S. ports.
“Honeybear provides large-scale, year-round supply of both conventional and organic Honeycrisp with the same premium quality retailers have come to expect,” continued Roper. “By utilizing our production and distribution facilities on both coasts, we partner with our retailers to deliver the lowest landed cost programs to help drive top line sales. Our import supply will be 40 percent higher by volume this year, and we will import apples on both coasts, allowing for more supply chain flexibility.”
The Chilean crop boasts a unique eating experience, with the growing conditions striking that sweet spot of warm days and cooler nights. The company’s team on the ground also does precise work in growing, picking, and packing quality apples.
Last but not least, Honeybear’s signature apple, Pazazz®, will be refreshing supply from the Southern Hemisphere in June.
Apple programs will be looking fresh this spring and summer! Be sure to keep your eyes on us here at ANUK for the latest.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The acquisition market continues to stay active, with recent news coming down the pipe that SunFed has been acquired by GrubMarket. The wholesaler continues to make strategic advancements across the industry, building out its network of suppliers in the United States. After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its current team.
“We are excited to join the GrubMarket team and welcome the opportunities brought forth by GrubMarket’s robust technology platform and strong e-Commerce supply and demand network,” Craig Slate, Chief Executive Officer of SunFed, noted. “We are constantly striving to deliver on our promise of Perfect Produce® to our customers throughout North America and also seek to strengthen and grow our best-in-class grower network. We are thrilled to learn that GrubMarket shares this same goal and has built out such a well-integrated and much-needed e-commerce and technology-enabled platform to bring fresh food to so many important customers across the country. We sincerely look forward to joining the GrubMarket team and to bringing more organic and farmer-direct fresh food to GrubMarket’s end customers.”
According to a release, GrubMarket was intrigued by SunFed’s value proposition within the industry, noting its sizable warehouse square footage (65,000) and state-of-the-art processing facilities.
SunFed also has photovoltaic solar panels, which offset 85 percent of the total energy consumption. Another factor that attracted GrubMarket to the company is SunFed’s sustainability stance. The grower has adopted sustainability initiatives such as using modified atmosphere and humidity packaging to extend shelf-life, launching organic-certified growing programs, and introducing its “Almost Famous” brand that repurposes and resells cosmetically imperfect produce to reduce food waste.
“SunFed is one of the most trusted brands in the nation for squashes and other dry vegetables, watermelons, cantaloupe, and honeydews,” remarked Mike Xu, Chief Executive Officer of GrubMarket. “The SunFed team has always been a leader in technology, utilizing indoor growing mechanisms and innovative post-harvest practices to improve on product freshness. Craig, Matt [Mandel], and the exceptional team at SunFed have scaled the company to over 100 million in annual revenues with a strong profitability profile. In addition, they are mission-driven with strong sustainability and food safety practices, which match GrubMarket’s goals and ambitions. This acquisition enables GrubMarket to further strengthen our presence in key markets like Texas and Arizona, while solidifying our position in the food supply chain industry as a technology-enabler. We are excited to welcome the SunFed team to the GrubMarket family.”
We’ll continue to keep our eyes peeled for the latest news, so stay tuned to us here at AndNowUKnow.
MISSION, TX - With expanded plans to grow consumer brand awareness, the Texas 1015 Sweet Onion (TX1015) kicks off the second year of its marketing campaign.
“Last year was successful beyond our expectations,” noted Dante Galeazzi, Manager of South Texas Onion Committee (STOC) and Chief Executive Officer and President of Texas International Produce Association (TIPA). “This year, the campaign will focus even more on getting consumers engaged and excited about the TX1015 Sweet Onion, as well as working with industry partners, so consumers can more easily find them at their favorite retailer.”
Galeazzi went on to explain that the promotion this year is a 10-day celebration of the TX1015 Sweet Onion called ‘TX1015 Restaurant Week.’ During this campaign, local restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas will create a TX1015 Sweet Onion-themed drink or dish to inspire dining guests.
“This is such an exciting opportunity that gets consumers involved and promotes the rich culinary diversity of TX1015 Sweet Onions in South Texas cuisine, while also offering a way for people to experience the unique flavor influences of each restaurant,” Galeazzi continued.
In addition to the restaurant promotion, the release explained, the 2022 campaign will have several consumer engagements including a Texas-themed giveaway. STOC will also partner with food bloggers and social media influencers to highlight the versatility and flavor through unique recipes.
Due to consumer feedback in 2021, this year’s campaign will also include an effort to guide customers to retail grocers selling TX1015 Sweet Onions.
“We had a lot of social media fans last year asking us where they could find TX1015’s, which is the best endorsement you can have when consumers are ready to buy,” Galeazzi concluded.
Harvest for TX1015 Sweet Onions is currently, with excellent quality and availability expected through June.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest in seasonal news!
South Texas Onion Committee Texas International Produce Association
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - Backed by extensive experience and a strong set of vital skills, a new leader is stepping up at the Allen Lund Company. The transportation maven recently revealed it promoted Vicki Beachman to Operations Supervisor of its Los Angeles, California, sales office, where she will guide the operations staff.
“I feel very honored to accept the position of Operations Supervisor here in Los Angeles, and I would like to thank Jeremy [McGovern] and the rest of the operations staff for having the faith in me to take on this new role,” commented Beachman. “We have a great team here, from seasoned pros to young guns, which keeps our office productive and exciting. I look forward to the bright future we have ahead.”
Beachman joined Allen Lund Company in 1997 as an employee referral and has worked with the transportation name ever since, according to a press release. She brings to the team extensive experience in customer service, is a seasoned transportation broker, and is well-respected by her colleagues, shippers, and carriers.
Jeremy McGovern, Manager of Los Angeles Sales, expressed his excitement for Beachman’s promotion and her contributions to the company.
“I am excited for Vicki to take on her new role. When I joined the Los Angeles Sales team, I immediately noticed that she was well respected by the team, operationally strong and, if you listened closely enough, would sing along to all of the country songs on the office radio,” he said. “Vicki has been an important team member for a long time and has the experience, ability, and leadership skills, to help get our team to the next level.”
Cheers to Vicki Beachman on her promotion!
WATSONVILLE & SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Honing in on strawberry category growth, Driscoll’s unveiled the expansion of its partnership with Plenty Unlimited in order to build a new indoor vertical farm. After a more than successful start to the alliance, exceeding all goals, the duo will use Plenty’s unique vertical growing platform to serve the new farm and consumers across the Northeast.
“Over the last year, Plenty has demonstrated its technological leadership in indoor vertical farming by growing our proprietary strawberries to meet the rigorous flavor and quality required of a Driscoll’s berry,” said J. Miles Reiter, Driscoll’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited to see the initial success of our collaboration and look forward to expanding our relationship with a new farm that will drive category growth to the Northeastern part of the U.S.”
Bringing together 100 years of farming expertise and sustainable indoor farming technology, Driscoll’s and Plenty will continue to grow consistent, high-quality berries closer to where shoppers reside, a press release stated.
Plenty will use Driscoll’s proprietary genetics and berry expertise along with its technology and plant science knowledge to grow the company’s berries. The company will leverage large amounts of growing data generated by its platform in addition to data analytics, machine learning, and customized lighting to deliver yields 150–350 times greater per acre than in the field. As part of the partnership, Driscoll’s strawberries were first grown in Plenty’s Laramie, Wyoming, farm, one of the largest indoor plant science research facility of its kind.
“The Northeast is the largest berry consumption region in the U.S., with a dense population of berry-loving consumers,” said Arama Kukutai, CEO at Plenty. “Our partnership with Driscoll’s, coupled with Plenty’s optimized technology platform, ensures we can consistently grow premium berries closer to where these consumers live, providing fresh, consistent quality. We’ve successfully leveraged the expertise of the world’s largest strawberry breeding program within Plenty’s own controlled growing environment, maximizing the flavor of each berry and optimizing for both texture and size. We’re excited to bring our first indoor vertical farm dedicated to strawberries to life with the undisputed leader in the space.”
This new indoor vertical farm will provide high-quality strawberries to consumers living in dense urban regions. Along with Plenty, Driscoll’s will also use this strategy to provide category growth to a mature market that has demonstrated appreciation for a high-flavor product offering.
What’s in store for this partnership as Driscoll’s and Plenty continue to carry out this strategy? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow to find out.
HALSEY, OR - A recent acquisition is preparing to create exponential growth for one seed supplier, as DLF Pickseed USA has acquired the assets of OreGro Seeds. Through this deal, the seed company will be exclusively offering the provider’s proprietary cool-season forage grass, forage legume, turfgrass, cover crop, and small grain varieties in the United States and abroad.
“This investment not only complements our expansive global research and product portfolio, but also adds significant operational capacity and staff to support customers,” said Claus Ikjaer, Chief Executive Officer for DLF Pickseed USA. “This is a strategic development to bolster our seed innovation, service, and support.”
With this acquisition, DLF takes over three warehouse facilities, totaling 75,000 square feet, fully equipped with blending and packaging capabilities. As noted in a press release, the company will also incorporate the research activities of OreGro into its North American and global research platforms.
Also as a result of the transaction, DLF has welcomed 20 of OreGro’s former employees.
“These new team members and infrastructure will help ensure a seamless transition for OreGro partners and position our customers for future growth,” said Ikjaer. “It’s also very exciting to have the opportunity to further invest in the Willamette Valley seed industry.”
Home to DLF Pickseed USA, the Willamette Valley in Oregon is one of the world’s top producers of cool-season forage and turfgrass seed.
With this key acquisition in play, ANUK will keep a close watch on the seed purveyor’s future growth, so stay tuned.