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SALINAS, CA - Ippolito International is putting boots on the ground in Orlando, Florida, as the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Exposure event will be kicking off March 3. Ahead of the show, I linked up with Dan Canales, Ippolito’s Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Processing, to hear what the company has in store.
“We will have our traditional western veg offerings and will also showcase our increasingly growing line of value-added items,” he told me. “As you know, we’ve expanded beyond value-added Brussels sprouts. Now, we’re able to take advantage of our own vertical integration and have added cut veg, chopped greens, organic salads, and most recently, the more traditional chopped Iceberg and Romaine packs.”
Dan relayed that he most looks forward to getting together with customers, colleagues, and friends—which, in most cases, are all three.
“We hope people take away from our booth that Ippolito International combines its growing expertise with value-added options. We are a one-stop shop that is passionate about working with customers to expand their produce offerings while increasing loading efficiencies,” Dan said.
Ippolito is ready to showcase its diverse product lineup in front of a great list of attendees. The company also plans to connect with current customers to discuss new opportunities, as well as connect with new potential customers.
“The regional impact of this show cannot be underestimated,” Dan concluded. “We have been supporters of this show for a long time and it certainly brings a high quality of retailers, foodservice operators, and wholesalers. The business opportunity is strong. SEPC does a great job organizing each event throughout the show.”
If you will be in attendance, be sure to swing by Ippolito’s booth for all of this and more. For additional pre-show coverage, stick with us here at ANUK.
NAPERVILLE, IL - As sectors such as natural, organic, and specialty continue gaining momentum, retailers are increasingly going in search of products to meet their consumers’ demand. KeHE Distributors® has unveiled its latest partnership with Allegiance Retail Services (ARS) and will be offering not only its portfolio of products, but its suite of specialized services including data-driven information and sales as well as promotional growth marketing.
“We are confident that KeHE can serve Allegiance Retail Service members with excellent service, value, and industry expertise,” said Jennifer Mihajlov, Vice President of Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest Independent Sales at KeHE. “We are like-minded companies that share a commitment to optimizing the success of the independent grocer with first-to-market, highly focused assortment, evolutionary marketing, and merchandising expertise while maintaining individual banner identity.”
ARS provides independent retailers with customized services to increase their success, according to a release. Over the last several years, the company has increased its focus on natural, organic, and specialty businesses, as consumer support for the categories has continued to rise as they are purchasing better-for-you products. With this focus, ARS has decided to partner with KeHE to drive forward its ongoing strategic growth plan.
Currently, ARS is a co-op serving communities through over 100 stores and 28 members in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. With this new partnership, all locations will open their doors to an expanded product portfolio at a significantly reduced cost. KeHE will not only develop a partnership with suppliers who are singularly concentrated on natural, organic, and specialty business, but it will also provide proactive and data-driven support.
“We are excited to pursue this partnership with KeHE Distributors,” added Mike Conese, Vice President of Center Store for Allegiance Retail Services. “Allegiance Retail Services chose to work with the leading distributor in natural, organic, specialty, and fresh products, because of their profound understanding of this business segment, deep knowledge of independent retail stores, and expertise in trend analysis, which we believe will help us better serve our members.”
With this new partnership under its belt, what will be KeHE’s next play? Stick with AndNowUKnow for answers.
ORLANDO, FL - Last March, Connect 2 Potential Leadership Coach Wendy McManus announced she would be mentoring the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southeast Top Agricultural Recruits Scholarship (STARS) recipients. She is committing to the cause once again this year, preparing to support college students’ professional development in the produce industry.
“I really enjoy working with these students!” exclaims McManus. “They are smart, engaged, and hungry for what’s next. I also find that they are very interested in growing their emotional intelligence, which is my specialty. It’s an honor to serve these students, the SEPC, and the produce industry in this way.”
The STARS program students are invited to attend SEPC’s Southern Exposure conference as special guests. There, they get to network with industry members, foster relationships, and potentially secure internships or permanent positions in the produce industry, according to a press release.
Now in the third year of this partnership between McManus and SEPC, the value of this program is tested and proven. McManus invites each of the students to complete a DiSC Agile EQ Profile and schedule a one-to-one debrief with her. This assessment tool supports the students in growing their self-awareness and emotional intelligence, bringing clarity to their strengths and inviting them to choose a growth edge to work on.
For the second component, the students complete the online Authentic Networking for STARS mini course from Connect 2 Potential to help prepare them for success at Southern Exposure. Through a few short video segments, the course teaches the fundamentals of networking and conversation, including listening skills, asking great questions, and preparing an elevator pitch.
“Wendy has been a tremendous asset for the STARS program and the students. She meets each individual where they are, celebrates their strengths, and helps them get ready for the next step in their careers,” said Clark Roper, SEPC STARS Committee Co-Chair. “The mission of the STARS program is to recruit top students for job opportunities in the Southeast produce industry, and Wendy helps us do that by helping them feel prepared and welcomed in our world.”
We wish the best of luck to these aspiring students as they hit the trade show floor!
FRESNO, CA - Last year brought with it many unprecedented challenges and some persisting ones. Aiming to get ahead of the issues in 2022 through education and discussion, the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) has announced the panelists that will lead its Industry Workshop during its 86th Annual Meeting held March 13–15, 2022, at The Montage in Laguna Beach, California.
“The Association leadership and staff is looking forward to the 86th Annual Meeting after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” President Ian LeMay stated. “Monday’s Industry Workshop will feature expert panelists that will offer a vibrant discussion on CFFA priority areas of focus that are also relevant to the current needs of the California fresh fruit industry."
This year, the event will include three panels focusing on water, pesticide use, and redistricting, a release explained. Panelists for these discussions include:
- Panel #1 – Pesticide Issues – A look at the issues pertaining to pesticide use and regulations
- Ruthann Anderson – Chief Executive Officer/President, California Association of Pest Control Advisors
- Ruben Arroyo – Agricultural Commissioner, County of Riverside
- Don Cameron – Vice President/General Manager, Terranova Ranch
- Caroline Silveira – Government and Industry Affairs Lead, Western Region, Corteva Agriscience
- Moderated By – George Soares, Partner, Kahn, Soares, Conway
- Panel #2 – Water – A discussion from water industry experts on water reliability, sustainability, SGMA, and supply issues
- Paul Cook – General Manager, Irvine Ranch Water District
- David Guy – President, Northern California Water Association
- Karla Nemeth – Director, California Department of Water Resources (invited)
- Tim Quinn – Fellow, Stanford University Water in the West
- Moderated By – Adam Borchard, Director of Government and Public Policy, CFFA
- Panel #3 – Redistricting – An overview of the effects that the new district lines will have on our state and federal representatives
- Joe Justin – Chief Executive Officer, The Justin Company
- Josh Walters – Chief Executive Officer, Walters Strategies
- Moderated By – Louie Brown, Partner, Kahn, Soares, Conway
To find out more about CFFA’s upcoming 86th Annual Meeting, click here.
For more industry opportunities and insights, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
FRESNO, CA - Dialing into the current lettuce market, I reached out to Baloian Farms, who clued me into what it’s seeing across supplies, pricing, and more.
“We are seeing steady supplies on Romaine and leaf for the next several weeks. As we approach the close of the desert/southwest growing season, Baloian Farms has the quality on Romaine and leaf lettuce to wow our customers,” remarked Jay Angulo, a member of the Sales team. “We also have outstanding quality for our spinach, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, daikon, and Romaine hearts.”
Jay commented that the market has been mostly steady across lettuce categories for the past few weeks, and demand on Romaine is starting to pick up, which in turn is making pricing improve.
“Hopefully the leaf lettuce will follow suit,” Jay added, before diving further into pricing breakdowns. “Pricing has been similar to what we typically see this time of year. February typically brings ideal growing conditions in the desert and Southwest, and crops usually respond with good production during this time.”
Jay pointed out that cooler conditions across the country due to ice, snow, and other weather phenomena can keep the markets lower as demand is more limited when conditions like that occur.
For buyers, Jay emphasized that the opportunity to load up on Baloian Farms’ products, as the grower is eager to report exceptional quality across the multiple categories it harvests and packs every day.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we bring you the latest in industry updates.
MEXICO - Reports came in over the weekend of the United States' decision to suspend avocado imports from Mexico. The decision was made after a United States official received a threat.
According to a statement released by Mexico's Agriculture Ministry confirming the decision, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) inspector was threatened on their personal cell phone while inspecting a plant in Michoacan.
The Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM) released a statement in response to the situation.
"[APEAM] is actively working with the USDA-APHIS, Mexican Secretary of Agriculture (SADER), and other authorities to quickly address the situation in Mexico, strengthen safety protocols, and guarantee continued compliance with the requirements of this important export program of Mexican avocados into the United States," the statement read.
The statement continued, noting updates as recent as February 16.
"In a working session yesterday between Mexican and United States authorities, in coordination with APEAM, there was positive progress and continued open dialogue. APEAM, supported by the Mexican authorities, presented a comprehensive proposal to reinforce safety protocols and create an Intelligence and Security Unit within APEAM to support the export program. The Governor of Michoacan made a commitment to immediately implement the operational security plan," APEAM's statement continued. "The proposal was well received by the representatives of the U.S. government and a memorandum of understanding will follow after the proposal is officially reviewed and approved. All parties are actively collaborating on an action plan and are committed to resuming normal business operations as quickly as possible."
International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) also issued a statement.
"Since Saturday, February 11, the International Fresh Produce Association has been engaged with both U.S. and Mexican government officials to assess the situation in the Mexican State of Michoacan regarding the announcement by USDA to suspend inspections of Mexican avocados. We have also been reaching out to our members who grow, transport, distribute, [and] sell avocados to U.S. consumers to monitor the situation," the trade association commented.
IFPA went on to explain the situation further.
"We understand at this point the U.S. government has officials on the ground working through an investigation with their Mexican counterparts surrounding a threat to a USDA official. We have been assured this is a high priority for both governments to first assure the safety of government officials and people who work in the avocado industry," the association continued. "Once this is determined and a safety protocol can be agreed upon by both countries, we expect USDA to resume inspections. IFPA remains committed to ensuring that international trade can resume between the two countries, and that the matter can be resolved quickly and safely for those involved. One of IFPA's strategic priorities is government advocacy that builds and maintains a positive business climate in the U.S. and North American market and encourages a commitment to free and fair trade."
A report from CNN Business noted that APHIS-USDA reported that an investigation is currently underway to assess the threat and determine the necessary measures to guarantee the physical integrity of all of its personnel working in Michoacan.
We will continue to assess the situation as more information comes in, so stay tuned.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - One word that we are certainly not hearing any less of in 2022 is “delivery.” Tack onto that list the words convenience, fresh, and fast, as Albertsons Companies has optimized its partnership with DoorDash, rolling out the delivery force’s newest service, express grocery delivery. The new service offers consumers fast delivery of fresh groceries in under 30 minutes from Albertsons’ banner stores.
“By partnering with DoorDash, Albertsons Companies is able to offer even faster delivery to go alongside the quality products and great value we provide our customers,” said Stephen Menaquale, Senior Vice President of E-Commerce at Albertsons Companies. “We’re proud of what we’ve built with DoorDash in order to guarantee the perfect mix of convenience, quality, and the prices our customers appreciate."
With this launch, shoppers in over 20 major cities across the United States will now be able to access express grocery delivery from their local Albertsons banner stores including Safeway, Vons, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, and Tom Thumb via the DoorDash marketplace. According to a press release, DoorDash plans to expand this offering to additional Albertsons banners in the coming weeks.
Through the expanded partnership, Albertsons will offer more than 6,000 items for express grocery delivery nationwide, from key staples including fresh produce, dairy, and eggs to snacks, packaged goods, and frozen foods.
“We know that speed, selection, and affordability remain paramount for consumers when it comes to getting everything in their neighborhood delivered on-demand, and that’s why we’re proud to launch our new express grocery delivery service with Albertsons to bring their wide selection of groceries to consumers’ doorsteps in under 30 minutes,” said Fuad Hannon, Vice President of New Verticals at DoorDash. “Leveraging our extensive logistics network and Albertsons Cos. selection of groceries, we are creating a one-stop shop for consumers nationwide to access all the items they need, delivered to their doorstep right when they need it. DoorDash’s merchant-first approach guides how we build our products and services, and today’s launch of express grocery delivery furthers our commitment to helping Albertsons grow their delivery offerings to meet evolving customer needs.”
This announcement builds on the strategic partnership between Albertsons and DoorDash, which was formed back in June 2021. Albertsons banners are available on DashPass, DoorDash’s membership program that offers members $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees from thousands of restaurants, grocery, convenience, and retail stores nationwide.
Innovative alliances are always springing up in the retail sector, so keep an eye on AndNowUKnow for the latest.
BRENTWOOD, MO - Continuing the growth of its award-winning Have A Plant® Movement, Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has tapped its largest group of Ambassadors to date, utilizing the influence and expertise of nearly 60 retail registered dietitians, culinary and foodservice professionals, and lifestyle, nutrition, and agriculture leaders to substantially boost fresh produce consumption.
“Our valuable network of all-star Ambassadors leads with experience, taste, and flavor to ensure the Have A Plant Movement continues to have a powerful impact with consumers,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and Chief Executive Officer of PBH. “As this group of Ambassadors continues to grow, I am confident that we will be able to spread the Have A Plant love far and wide. No other organization is committed to building and nurturing a diverse community of enthusiastic experts who authentically and credibly advocate for enjoying more fruits and vegetables.”
According to a press release, this year’s class of Have A Plant Ambassadors was identified based on a number of factors including their credibility, digital and social media reach, media-savvy smarts, compelling expert content, and genuine passion for promoting fruits and vegetables in their professional work.
After a highly competitive selection process with nearly 200 plant-passionate applicants, the 2022–2023 class has been enlisted for a two-year term and will collaborate with PBH to bring the Have A Plant Movement to life.
To see PBH’s influential network of Ambassadors, click here.
“We recognize hundreds of influencers want to be a part of our Movement, whether promoting produce in stores, in schools, in restaurants, or online via social media,” said Katie Calligaro, Marketing and Communications Director. “Expanding and evolving the Have A Plant Movement so that all plant-passionate advocates can take part means that any professional who believes in the PBH mission can collaborate with us and make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans, helping them to experience greater health and happiness by eating more fruits and vegetables.”
Have A Plant Ambassadors reach over 2 million shoppers a day, promoting the consumption of fresh produce to a broad audience.
In addition, PBH also works with a large network of advocates who back the organization’s mission and work to promote fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Those interested in joining the Have A Plant community can do so here.
As always, leave a tab open for AndNowUKnow for all this fresh produce.
CHICAGO, IL - Mark your calendars for February 25, as Hazel Technologies’ first quality summit of 2022 is just around the corner. The event will welcome industry experts to the stage to speak on quality and more ahead of the North American stonefruit season.
“Hazel Tech is proud to provide trusted quality protection solutions for growers, packers, shippers, and retailers in the stonefruit category,” said Mario Cervantes, Director of Business Development – AgTech at Hazel. “We hope our quality summit viewers learn more about how to successfully protect their stonefruit crop throughout the supply chain.”
Speakers will include Ashley Nickle, Consultant and Project Manager at Ashley Nickle Growth Strategies; Brandon Olivarria, Field Operations Manager at Fredericksburg Peach Company; Tommy Caruana, Director of Business Development-Retail at Hazel Technologies; as well as Cervantes.
Nickle is a veteran fresh produce journalist turned personal consultant. At the event, she will introduce the International Fresh Produce Association’s InSite, a new data platform with exclusive access to fresh produce information and consumer research.
“I’m looking forward to sharing with growers the tools and trends I’ve been exploring and the opportunities they present for marketing, merchandising, and strategy in the stonefruit category,” commented Nickle.
Olivarria, a Field Operations Manager with over a decade of industry experience, and Caruana will discuss how incorporating technology can amplify successful local programs, according to a press release. The virtual event will conclude with a talk from Cervantes on innovation and quality advancements.
“Locally grown produce has been a passion of mine for over a decade now,” said Olivarria. “I look forward to discussing the ins and outs of bringing quality produce from a local program into the retail setting at Hazel’s Stone Fruit Quality Summit.”
The Stone Fruit Quality Summit is a free event, and registration is open to the general industry until February 25, or until capacity is reached.
For more updates on Hazel’s upcoming quality summits, you can count on ANUK.