ATLANTA, GA - The demand for organic baby potatoes is on the rise, and EarthFresh Farms is providing fresh, quality, organic products to its customers year-round. In support of this growing demand, the supplier aligns with its retail partners to customize programs that support their business model.
“Organic baby potatoes are the fastest-growing segment in the potato category,” said Dan Martin, Chief Operating Officer. “We saw a rise during the pandemic in organic purchasing habits, and this continues to increase year over year. We understand customers are cooking more at home and looking for convenience and healthy options.”
The consistent sizing, quick cooking time, and creamy flavor of organic baby potatoes make any eating experience gourmet. They also save time by eliminating the need to peel or chop.
EarthFresh’s organic red, yellow, and mixed baby potatoes are triple sized and packed in 1.5 lb light blocking bags and its organic potatoes are offered in a variety of pack sizes. The light blocking bags help to protect its potatoes from greening, extend shelf-life, reduce retail shrink, and most importantly, maintain their quality and flavor.
“Our 1 lb Organic Steam & Go yellow, red, and baby sweet potatoes offer convenience, while our 1 and 1.5 lb organic baby sweet potatoes offered in a BioBased mesh pack meet sustainable packaging demands,” Dan told me.“To meet the growing demand for eco-friendly packaging, we have expanded our organic product line up to 100 percent compostable paper bags, which require less carbon to manufacture and return nutrients back to the Earth.”
Currently, EarthFresh is in the back half of its storage crop season. Quality remains very good as the company depletes storage supplies.
“Potatoes have stored well this year. We had good crops in the east and are very happy with the quality we are seeing,” said Dan. “Our western crop is showing the impact of the high heat and drought from last year as we go later into the season, causing us to grade a little harder, but overall quality remains good.”
A prime opportunity to connect intimately with its partners is coming up, as EarthFresh is preparing to exhibit at Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Exposure event.
“EarthFresh will be showcasing our full line of conventional and organic offerings, including organic baby potatoes,” Dan stated. “With SEPC’s ‘Marvel of Produce’ theme, we see the humble potato as a superhero in consumer’s daily diets. While many consumers may initially think about cooking mashed potatoes during the holiday season, the upcoming spring season is a great time to utilize the versatile potato. From Mardi Gras crawfish boils to St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, there is a comforting and nutritious potato for all spring activities.”
Dan continued, explaining some of EarthFresh’s partnership strategies.
“We use customers’ sales data to determine the right products for the regions that the customers are in. We look at trending data and provide that information to our partners to make better decisions for item selection, retail pricing, and ad planning. Along with that, we provide marketing assets such as premium merchandise bins and custom store signage,” Dan relayed.
On a final note, I checked in with Dan on how EarthFresh is faring amidst recent supply chain challenges.
“Covid and freight continue to challenge us, but with multiple packing locations and growing regions across North America, we have learned to adapt and change quickly if required,” he said. “Our goal is to fill our customer orders 100 percent on time and with great quality. We have a tremendously dedicated staff that works hard to make this happen regardless of the challenges thrown at them.”
Be sure to visit EarthFresh at booth #416 during Southern Exposure. As we continue to monitor the growth of organic baby potatoes at retail, stick with us here at ANUK.
WALNUT CREEK, CA - Recognition for success in one category is certainly a feat worth celebrating. Extending that success into other categories is the move of an experienced, distinguished produce player. Further building its legacy in the produce department, Del Monte Foods was recently recognized with a Product of the Year award for its Del Monte Fruit Infusions and Joyba Bubble Tea, which topped the fruit snack and coffee and tea categories in a vote by 40,000 consumers.
“Our new Joyba Bubble Tea line taps into consumer demand for bubble tea, as we see a growing trend with Gen Z and other young consumers for tea shop beverages,” says Randall Freeman, Senior Director of Emerging Channels. “We saw an opportunity for Del Monte to enter the category and provide a first-of-its-kind, boba-shop-inspired beverage at retail. Launching it under its own brand, Joyba, allows Del Monte to connect with our targets with a brand positioning that resonates with our consumers.” Joyba can be found in the perimeter of the produce department, as well as in-aisle beverage departments.
With this impressive accolade under its belt, the purveyor is continuing its growth in the snacking space and building on the success of its line of Del Monte fruit cup snacks and multipacks. Introducing the Happy Heart product offerings in May, the supplier is setting its focus on on-the-go products with better-for-you ingredients as it optimizes its snacking portfolio.
“While Del Monte Foods is synonymous with canned fruits and vegetables, we’re continuing the expansion of our grocery footprint into areas that have allowed us to grow, innovate, and differentiate,” Randall adds. “Our innovation is built on our category leadership presence and success with our product lines within the produce department over the past 20-plus years, including launching new Del Monte fruit cup snacks with functional benefits in the produce section.”
Congratulations to Del Monte Foods on being recognized with a Product of the Year award, and for the exciting portfolio expansion that is to come! For the latest in the produce industry, keep an eye out for that little green ANUK logo.
OWATONNA, MN - Food safety is definitely an operation worth strengthening as consumers continue to place it high up on their list of values when choosing a product. As it looks to navigate distribution amongst the current challenges of the supply chain, Revol Greens has fortified its executive team with the appointment of a new Vice President. Taking on the role of VP of Food Safety, Dinesh Babu officially joined the team on February 21.
“I welcome the opportunity to make an impact with Revol Greens and look forward to contributing to continuing to provide superior sustainable leafy greens to consumers nationwide,” said Babu. “It’s an exciting time in the fresh produce industry and for the advancements in ag-tech with the controlled environment agriculture space. Revol Greens embodies what I care about most—embracing where the industry is headed, becoming an early adopter, and understanding how we can pave the path for others to follow.”
In his new role, Babu will lead, direct, and guide the organic, food safety, and sanitation programs, ensuring compliance with all relevant operational, audit, and certification requirements, as noted in a recent press release. Babu holds a Ph.D. in food safety and brings over 15 years of food science and food safety experience to his role.
Previously, Babu served as the Vice President of Food Safety for Grimmway Farms, where he developed and directed teams to ensure quality assurance, sanitation, regulatory readiness, and customer audits. He has also worked with various other well-known produce names, including Fresh Del Monte Produce—where he oversaw a large team across six facilities focused on training, audits, and university research—as well as Mann Packing, Ocean Spray, and Earthbound Farms.
“Food safety has always been and continues to be paramount to what we do,” said Michael Wainscott, Chief Executive Officer. “We are fortunate to add such an accomplished expert to our team. Food safety is ever-changing, and it’s important that we continue to invest in that side of our business. With deep roots in the produce industry and in academia with his Ph.D., we are thrilled he is coming on board.”
Dinesh earned his Ph.D. in Food Science-Food Microbiology and his M.S. in Plant Science-Soil Microbiology from Oklahoma State University. He has authored several industry publications on foodborne pathogen prevention, detection, and control.
Congratulations to Dinesh Babu on this recent appointment and the next step in his tenured career!
SANTA BARBARA, CA - Apeel Sciences is expanding the use of its solutions, revealing that it has partnered with Asda to increase shelf-life and reduce food waste through the industry innovator’s unique program. Through the partnership, Asda’s citrus fruits and avocados will be optimized with plant-based protection across 150 stores.
“Asda is obsessed with helping their customers’ budgets stretch farther. Now with the availability of longer-lasting produce, Asda has opened a new dimension of value for their shoppers,” Apeel Chief Executive Officer James Rogers said. “When shoppers have more time with their food, more of what they buy gets eaten instead of thrown away. How often does saving money help save the planet? It’s happening every day at Asda.”
This partnership marks the first time that this technology has been used on such a large scale in the United Kingdom, according to a press release.
Apeel’s plant-based, protective solutions are made using the same materials naturally found in peels, seeds, and pulp. Aiming to slow down the spoiling process, the provider’s advantageous innovation works by sealing in moisture and keeping oxygen out to maintain quality and freshness for longer. This gives customers longer to enjoy their produce, therefore helping to prevent food waste.
“We are always looking for ways to improve the shelf life of our products and make it easier for our customers to make more sustainable food choices whilst making their money go further. We are really excited to be working with Apeel—bringing the great work they’ve been doing globally, to our U.K. customers,” said Dominic Edwards, Senior Director at Asda. “During this program, we will be learning more about the benefits of longer-lasting produce for our customers, and we are looking forward to seeing what further developments this could lead to in the future.”
As noted in the release, Asda’s partnership with Apeel will help the supermarket move toward its target of cutting waste by 50 percent by 2030.
To see how the expanded use of this creative industry solution brings new opportunities to fresh produce, leave a tab open for ANUK.
LAKELAND, FL - A new season of leadership is starting at Publix Super Markets as Bridgid O’Connor has been appointed Vice President of Real Estate Strategy after Bob Balcerak announced his retirement. Balcerak has served the retailer for 29 years and will officially depart March 31, 2022.
O’Connor began her career at Publix in 1998 as a part-time cashier in Dunedin, Florida, a release noted. After working in customer service roles across various locations, she transferred to the retailer’s real estate department as administrative support in 2005. Within nine months, she was promoted to Property Specialist, and then in 2011, was again promoted to Real Estate Manager.
Currently, she is Director of Real Estate Strategy, a position she entered in 2017.
“For the past 18 years, Bridgid has pursued her passion of strategic planning and real estate development by honing her skills and achieving her goal to learn every aspect of the business,” said President Kevin Murphy. “Her ability to be a strong, strategic leader—along with her commitment to developing her team—has allowed her to excel. We are excited to see the contributions she’ll continue to make in her new role.”
She will be taking over her new role of Vice President of Real Estate Strategy from Balcerak, who began his career with Publix in 1993 as a meat cutter. Working his way through the meat department, he was promoted to Meat Manager in 1996 and Assistant Store Manager in 1999. In 2000, Balcerak was appointed Real Estate Manager, and in 2011 was selected as Director of Real Estate Strategy. In 2017, he was promoted to his current role of Vice President of Real Estate Strategy.
“We are grateful for Bob’s leadership in new store growth, new market, and site acquisition strategies,” continued Murphy. “He has perpetuated our Publix culture of promotion from within and preparing for opportunity each time his team has secured a new store site. He’s been our brand ambassador as we have charted our way into new communities, passing on the Publix spirit, and developing his team to further our company’s real estate development strategy. We are grateful for his years of dedicated service.”
Cheers to Balcerak and O’Connor as they enter these new seasons of their careers!
MIAMI, FL - The anticipation is palpable with the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Exposure show mere days away. As industry members begin flocking to the Sunshine State, Continental Fresh is ramping up excitement by sharing a rundown of what buyers can expect to see at its booth in 2022.
“For the show this year, we will be featuring our Water for All label Mangos from Mexico. We received the first arrivals this week, and the season will take us from February all the way to September,” says Albert Perez, Chief Executive Officer and Grower Relations. “We pack the standard 4 kg boxes as well as the 5 down boxes that some of our retailers are currently using.”
One thing that makes Continental Fresh boxes unique is that they bring awareness to the company’s commitment to supporting water projects in Latin America. Through its water drop PLU code, shoppers can learn about how the mangos they are purchasing are giving back to communities in need. They can also visit the website listed on the packs to learn the details of the projects and see the difference that their purchase is making.
In addition to mangos, Continental Fresh will also be showing off its retail and process butternut squash from Honduras, available in boxes as well as in 60-inch bins, with jumbo sizes ready to peel and cut. These will be available now through the beginning of May.
Fresh produce isn’t the only thing that Continental Fresh will be offering at the show. In a move fit for the Florida landscape where Southern Exposure is taking place, the Continental Fresh team has joined forces with corporate chef Alex Callegari, aka The Firefighter Foodie, to prepare samples of Alligator Bites with Mango-Habanero Sauce.
“We recently added Bruce Letchworth to our sales team, and we learned that one of his hobbies is hunting alligators, which presented us with a unique opportunity for the show,” explains Albert. “This year, we will be back in full force, with Bruce bringing the alligator and Alex whipping up delicious samples featuring our mangos and the fresh meat.”
If you want to marvel at Continental Fresh’s mangos, butternut squash, or, get a taste of alligator to round out your Sunshine State experience, stop by booth #810.
WATSONVILLE, CA - Retailers can start gearing up for a giant boost to the berry category thanks to California Giant Berry Farms. Led by its robust strawberry production in Florida and Southern California, the provider is reporting strong volumes of the full berry patch this season.
“Florida strawberries are currently hitting their peak. We’re seeing a week-over-week increase in top quality fruit, and we’re expecting solid volumes out of Florida through late March,” stated District Manager J.T. Tipton. “Simultaneously, mild winter weather conditions, coupled with healthy plants have pushed our Southern California strawberry supply about 15 percent ahead of where it was last year at the same time.”
As Tipton noted, industry-wide challenges have impacted the produce sector since the beginning of the pandemic, and inflation, labor issues, and logistics challenges are still problematic for the industry despite peak volumes coming out of Florida and on the horizon for the Southern California region.
“We’re anticipating peak volumes out of Oxnard to start in late March and throughout April. Santa Maria is not far behind with its peaks anticipated in April throughout May,” Tipton explains. “Watsonville and Salinas are gearing up to start harvesting as early as next week; I expect the area to hit its peak in June. As a whole, we’re looking at a very strong volume in May—which is great timing to compliment National Strawberry Month promotions.”
This optimism extends to the supplier’s blueberry category, as shared by Markus Duran, Director of Bushberry Supply.
“Despite the uncontrollable challenges from South America causing an early exit and our Florida-Georgia blueberry farms enduring an unprecedented freeze, blueberry production is still on track to beat all-time highs for the company,” noted Duran. “The Florida blueberry season is about two weeks away from harvest with a potential loss of 10–15 percent looming. We’re still confident our Florida growers will kick off the domestic blueberry season strong.”
As noted in a press release, California Giant’s acreage of bush berries, including raspberries and blackberries, has increased across the board, leading to a consistent supply of exceptional fruit year-round.
In addition, the supplier’s Oxnard, California, organics program has increased production on a weekly basis since the beginning of December, with its peak strategically planned earlier than ever to meet evolving consumer needs for Stateside blueberries. Peak volumes out of Oxnard are forecasted for mid-March through May.
With this expected influx of berries around the corner, California Giant will be unleashing multiple strategic consumer engagement opportunities to build brand awareness and drive purchase intent for fresh berries.
For more crop updates from across the fresh produce industry, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The foodservice landscape in California has shifted as one well-known operator has been acquired. Wholesaler GrubMarket has completed its acquisition of Daylight Foods, which provides produce and more to a wide range of customers including restaurants, grocery and retail chains, corporate offices and cafeterias, hotels, and universities.
"Daylight Foods' reputation in California's farmer-direct food supply chain ecosystem is unmatched,” Mike Xu, Chief Executive Officer of GrubMarket, commented. “It has been incredible to see how the business has grown with over 50 years of hard work and passion. Chris and the outstanding team at Daylight Foods have scaled the company to hundreds of millions in sales with high gross margins and profitability. In addition, they are mission-driven with strong ESG practices around food waste and carbon footprint reduction, which aligns with our sustainability goals. This acquisition enables GrubMarket to further strengthen our customer base across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. We are excited to welcome the Daylight Foods team to the GrubMarket family."
Daylight Foods will now utilize GrubMarket's innovative and proprietary WholesaleWare software suite, the company's software-as-a-service platform that provides food industry wholesalers and distributors with seamless financial management, easy-to-use sales and online ordering features, precise inventory management, lot traceability and tracking, grower accounting, and automated routing and logistics tools.
"We are excited to join the GrubMarket team and welcome the opportunities brought forth by joining GrubMarket. With GrubMarket's robust technology platform and strong e-commerce supply and demand network, we will continue to be Northern California's premier food service provider," said Chris Vlahopouliotis, Chief Executive Officer of Daylight Foods. "We are thrilled to learn that GrubMarket shares our long-term goals and has built out such a well-integrated and much-needed e-commerce and technology-enabled platform to bring fresh food to so many people across the country. We sincerely look forward to joining the GrubMarket team and bringing more premium and farmer-direct fresh food to our customers."
Daylight Foods boasts of a warehouse over 100,000 square feet in size that includes processing rooms, state-of-the-art coolers, repacking areas, and loading docks. In addition to conventional items, it sources seasonal, organic, and locally grown produce and deploys eco-friendly hybrid diesel-electric delivery trucks.
In 2021, Daylight Foods packed and delivered several million USDA Farmers to Families food boxes to households and homeless shelters across the San Francisco Bay Area, according to a press release. After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its current experienced and mission-driven leadership team.
For more of the latest acquisition news in the sector, ANUK has you covered.
VERO BEACH, FL - A rainbow of fresh produce will be on display at Southeast Produce Council’s upcoming Southern Exposure event, and we at ANUK are getting sneak peeks at the colorful array of items to be anticipated. One company that will be exhibiting is Seald Sweet/Greenyard USA, preparing to showcase the best and brightest in its portfolio.
“On display will be our wide variety of products—including citrus, grapes, avocados, ginger, lychee, pears, vegetables, and more—and the latest product we added to our basket: blueberries,” said Helena Fernandez Irastorza, Marketing Coordinator. “In addition, we want to share our commitment to a sustainable future by displaying our EcoBox and the film for our clementine line, which utilizes 75 percent less plastic.”
Seald Sweet/Greenyard USA offers a wide variety of products from around the world, sourced responsibly, packed sustainably, and distributed effectively. On top of this, the company provides various services to its partners at its Greenyard Logistics facility.
“We are customer driven and dedicated to providing solutions to retailers and all members up and down the supply chain,” Helena told me. “We want to remind our colleagues at Southern Exposure that we are committed to sustainable growth by offering more commodities to satisfy our customer needs, all while we continue our efforts to be a leader as our industry shifts to help the planet.”
Helena relayed that this show is a great way to get a lot of business done in a short time, as it is targeted and represents one of the largest growing sections of the United States. New ideas flow freely, and programs are established each year for Seald Sweet/Greenyard USA.
“We look forward to seeing our supply chain partners in person, shaking their hands, and reconnecting. We also hope to share a laugh or two with our customers and suppliers. We could all use a little levity in this difficult time of rising costs and supply chain bottlenecks,” Helena explained. “Additionally, the speakers for the educational sessions and luncheons are great; we are looking forward to learning from them.”
Be sure to swing by booth #400 to get a closer look at all of this and more. For additional event coverage in the lead-up to Southern Exposure 2022, keep a tab open for us at ANUK.
SALINAS, CA - All-new everything! As 2022 gets into full swing, D’Arrigo California is introducing a slew of new offerings and even a new team member as the company has launched three new items to its Andy Boy® label: Florentino®, Brussels sprouts, and celery. The grower has also added Brittany Corda to its sales team to oversee these delectable products.
“I am so excited to join the D’Arrigo California- Andy Boy family, and along with me we have Florentino, Brussels sprouts, and celery joining the Andy Boy brand,” stated Corda. “We have expected to see great success bringing these items to market, and it’s been the natural progression to get them into our brand. Since we conducted the soft product launch of Florentino a few months ago, the feedback has been very positive. Florentino is a fresh and innovative take on an already popular, on trend, and functional vegetable: cauliflower. I am really looking forward to what’s in store for each one of these new additions to our brand.”
D'Arrigo California’s new Florentino was the first of three products to be debuted with a soft launch last year, a release noted.
Boasting a sweet to mild flavor, blonde to cream colored bunches, light to bright green stems, and a crunchy texture, Florentino has garnered a lot of excitement along with the other fresh, field-packed, and versatile vegetables being added to the Andy Boy label, especially due to the opportunities that these varieties provide.
“As we approach 100 years of growing, packing, and shipping fresh vegetables, I am ecstatic about the opportunity to assist in marketing our continuously growing line of products, especially with new items like Florentino Sweet Baby Cauliflower,” said Morgan Tinari, Brand Manager, Marketing.
Offering a one-two punch of new additions to the company, D’Arrigo California is happy to have not only new offerings, but a new team member as well, and Cody Ramsey, Manager, Sales/Marketing, shared in the enthusiasm.
“Our team is proud to continue introducing unique and great-tasting vegetables that excite and appeal to our customers,” he commented. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be adding not one, but three branded vegetables to our Andy Boy product line to have readily available for our customers!”
What’s next for the grower as it continues to expand its popular Andy Boy lineup? Keep reading AndNowUKnow to get the scoop.