OXNARD, CA - Spring equals strawberries and soon I, and many other shoppers, will be clamoring for the berry at retail. In order to make sure I had the most up-to-date info on the current strawberry market, I reached out to Bobalu Berries and spoke with Cindy Jewell.
“We are still very early in the season, but so far the plants and the fruit look great,” Cindy, who handles the Marketing for Bobalu, explained to me. “Oxnard is ramping up as the weather warms in that region with springlike conditions and Santa Maria will come into production next month thanks to mild weather. By then, we expect Mexico will have finished their season. Quality out of California is excellent with large size and firm fruit, full color, and sweet flavor. We are really pleased with how the season is kicking off this year.”
The market itself is currently tight, with strong demand surrounding Valentine’s Day driving this point home.
At this time of year, Cindy told me that pricing is typically on the higher side due to short supply and strong demand.
“It always evens out as we come into peak later this spring when more regions are producing at the same time. Our customers are excited to get strawberries on their primary displays as shoppers look for that first sign of spring in their local produce department,” Cindy noted.
To ensure that its customers have the best information on the market and quality, Bobalu spends a good amount of time forecasting on a daily and weekly basis.
“Communication is key and making sure our buyers know what is ahead helps to keep our sales strong and the cooler empty so we don’t get behind,” Cindy remarked. “We work very closely with our key trading partners on promotional programs, and continually plan ahead so we capture best sales and promotions for the consumer. Our weekly e-news also helps convey where we are in the season, what the fruit looks like today, and what we expect in weeks ahead. This communication helps to build on daily conversations being had with the sales team.”
Pleased by the strawberry crop and its flavor, Cindy reported that Bobalu is already receiving positive consumer feedback on its berries.
She did illuminate several factors affecting multiple members of the industry, and noted that buyers should be aware of this going into spring and beyond.
“It is important to reiterate that costs are a greater factor this year on the supply side. We are being faced with higher costs and tighter availability from transportation, fuel, packaging supplies, and labor, which could ultimately impact our price long-term and result in higher prices to the consumer,” she explained. “Additionally, while we are excited about our quality and flavor, we are also very focused on building on our sustainability program and telling that story as we meet with our customers this year.”
Even more news to look forward to from Bobalu. Stay tuned with us here at AndNowUKnow for the latest.
ROSEMONT, IL - Action is the catalyst for fulfilling commitment. US Foods Holding Corp. has committed to improving its corporate governance practices and recently made some changes to its executive structure to further these efforts. The company’s Board of Directors recently completed a governance review and announced the following changes as a result.
A press release outlined that the Board decided to separate the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chair, effective immediately. As a result, independent lead director Robert M. Dutkowsky will step up as non-executive Chair while Pietro Satriano continues as CEO and director.
The Board has also elected Cheryl A. Bachelder to serve as Chair of the Compensation Committee of the Board. Additionally, Ann E. Ziegler will now serve as Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board. Each of these appointments are effective immediately.
We extend our congratulations to the newly elected members and wish US Foods the best of luck in its corporate governance strategy.
WASHINGTON, DC - Advancing the industry workforce and ensuring sustainable work for farmworkers is one of the key goals for Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), and the organization is brandishing recently gathered data to uncover new areas of improvement for companies looking to create a better environment for their workers. Recently, EFI released the results of an eight-month-long survey demonstrating the challenges faced by Mexican farmworkers when they are recruited and deployed to work.
“The reality this survey illuminates is that there are still critical but achievable improvements that can be made to have workers arrive ready to work—and return home safely, having met their financial goals,” said Kenton Harmer, Managing Director. “When 49 percent of respondents reported that they felt that they were not free to leave the farm, or 25 percent reported that they had to pay recruitment fees, it shows the importance every grower should place on working with reputable farm labor contractors and adopting a process of responsible recruitment that eliminates illegal and irresponsible recruitment practices and labor conditions.”
The research study was commissioned by EFI and executed by &Wider and CIERTO Global. More than 1,300 interviews were conducted with 650 guest farmworkers who were recruited for work on fresh produce farms in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as part of the study.
The results showcased concerns regarding transparency in contracts, physical safety, isolation, high costs related to travel or recruitment, and threats or abuse from employers, according to a press release, as 70 percent of those surveyed reported that threats of being sent home or not hired again happened frequently.
As illustrated by the study, some of the most important areas of focus for recruitment and human resource managers include:
- Starting with a responsible recruitment process
- Developing a clear and accurate flow of information and expectations for guest workers
- Creating a positive and supportive community for all workers
“The U.S. has nearly 260,000 H-2A guest workers, of which more than 70 percent are engaged in labor in the fresh produce industry,” Harmer added. “With increasing recruitment needs in the face of labor shortages, creating a positive recruitment experience should be a top priority for every company—not just for the bottom line but also for the dignity of every employee.”
Utilizing these findings, EFI has developed the “10 Ways to Improve Recruitment of Guest Workers, According to Farmworkers” report, which can be downloaded online. The complete report from the study is also available online in both English and Spanish.
As more opportunities to bolster the fresh produce workforce are uncovered, keep an eye out for the next update from AndNowUKnow.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - It’s a good thing February is the shortest month of the year, as many folks in Palm Beach County, Florida, will be anticipating the kickoff of next month. March 2 will mark the opening of Southeastern Grocers’ (SEG) new Winn-Dixie location, which will provide fresh concepts and extensive offerings, along with additional jobs and opportunities for local community members.
“As we begin a new year, we are continuing our commitment to expansion throughout our home state of Florida,” Anthony Hucker, President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “The retail landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade, and we believe now is the time to bolster our presence in Palm Beach County and introduce our newest store in Florida’s newest city. We look forward to being a store our Westlake community can always count on for years to come.”
SEG has renewed more than 70 percent of all stores throughout the grocer’s Southeast footprint to further enhance the shopping experience for its customers, according to a press release. This upcoming opening will continue SEG’s expansion throughout Florida, following the opening of the new St. Augustine Shores and Viera locations last year. Additionally, SEG opened eight new Winn-Dixie stores in 2020 in Boynton Beach, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Lakewood Ranch, Lake Mary, West Melbourne, and two locations in Jacksonville.
Upcoming ribbon cutting plans and festivities for customers will be announced to the Westlake, FL, community ahead of the grand opening day.
As we continue to anticipate the industry’s latest announcements, stick with us here at ANUK.
ATLANTA, GA - In recent retail news, we learned Kroger expanded its national fulfillment network to Forest Park, Georgia, with the opening of a new Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC) powered by Ocado Group. The grocer will now provide the region with a cutting-edge e-commerce delivery service.
"We're proud to launch Kroger Delivery in metro Atlanta with future expansion plans throughout Georgia and beyond, a true milestone moment further accelerating our ability to provide our customers with fresh food on their doorsteps and create more job opportunities," said Gabriel Arreaga, Kroger's Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. "We greatly appreciate the support of Governor Brian Kemp, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Clayton County Board of Commissioners, and Forest Park Mayor Angelyne Butler. This group's collaboration and commitment has provided the infrastructure to advance an innovative and industry-leading e-commerce operation, providing groceries to homes across the region, including in communities without physical stores."
The opening of the CFC follows the recent introduction of the Boost by Kroger Plus annual membership program to the area.
"Kroger is uniquely positioned to transform grocery e-commerce throughout the region using a vertically integrated network to provide a reliable and consistent fresh food delivery service that repeatedly receives favorable customer feedback like a best-in-class Net Promoter Score," said Bill Bennett, Kroger Vice President and Head of E-Commerce. "Kroger's unique service delivers fresh food, household essentials, and personal care for as little as $6.95."
According to a press release, the new CFC carries thousands of grocery products and can fulfill thousands of orders per day, representing one of the models engineered for the flexible Kroger fulfillment network.
Kroger Delivery is a vertically integrated network, utilizing more than 1,000 bots to sort items for delivery and enabling coverage of up to 90 miles from the hub location in Forest Park.
"Kroger Delivery provides reliably fresh food in a convenient, innovative way. We are excited to deliver Kroger's exclusive brands, including Simple Truth®, the country's largest natural and organic private label, and Private Selection® throughout metro Atlanta," said David Matthews, Kroger's General Manager of the Forest Park Customer Fulfillment Center. "The new Customer Fulfillment Center will introduce Kroger Delivery to both existing and new customers, accelerate our e-commerce capabilities, and create hundreds of new career opportunities from our centralized location here in Forest Park."
The launch in metro Atlanta not only marks the expansion of the retailer’s delivery network, but represents an extension of a partnership between Kroger and Ocado.
"Kroger and Ocado are revolutionizing the online grocery landscape across the U.S. This CFC brings some of the most innovative technology available anywhere in the world to the heart of Georgia, enhancing Kroger's online ecosystem in the state, and delivering a market-leading quality of service online to Kroger customers here. It is also generating amazing opportunities for engineers based in Atlanta to work with cutting-edge robotics and AI systems, enabling essential grocery services for communities across the state," said Luke Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of Ocado Solutions.
As Kroger continues to build on its high-tech delivery network, ANUK will be here to report.
MIAMI, FL - Nothing quite beats the face-to-face interactions between industry members. Now that show season is back in swing, we here at AndNowUKnow are excited to hit the road and make those connections at the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Exposure. One company we’ll be sure to meet up with is Crystal Valley, which is gearing up to showcase an impressive product portfolio.
"We’ll be focusing on our value-added items, including three new veggie mixes that you microwave right in the bag," Katiana Valdes, Marketing Director, tells me. "The veggie mixes include a 12 oz baby vegetable mix which contains French beans, baby carrots, baby corn, and baby squash; a 12 oz baby bean mix with French beans and yellow beans; and finally, a 12 oz gourmet mixed baby carrot."
The company will also highlight its tropical and ethnic items, most of which now come in an easily scannable, retail-friendly clamshell.
The importance of innovation, Katiana emphasizes, is something Crystal Valley strives for every day.
“We continue to grow and innovate, and we are focused on investing in the future,” she says. “We have recently expanded in LA to secure our presence in the West and we are also looking at different sourcing regions, new items, and new packaging.”
In addition to future plans that Katiana only alludes to—you’ll have to stop by the company’s booth to try to find out for yourself!—Crystal Valley is excited to attend Southern Exposure for customer interaction and for the benefit of the industry as a whole.
You won’t want to miss stopping by booth #706 to see the team in person!
NOGALES, AZ - With the weather warming up here in the Northern Hemisphere, event season is about to get underway. The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is gearing up for its own annual Spring Policy Summit (SPS), which will be returning as an in-person event in Tubac, Arizona, on March 16, 2022.
In anticipation of the summit, FPAA has released its agenda for this year, noted a press release. The event will be focusing on interactive sessions that are designed to unite regulators and industry in creating practical, goal-oriented outcomes for key issues facing fresh produce operators at the Southwest border.
Some of the scheduled sessions include:
- Focus on Food Inspections: Hear from United States importers and federal agencies involved in food inspections and oversight
- New Faces at the Border: Don’t miss this update about State Truck Safety Inspections and changes within the Arizona Department of Transportation
- Focus on Logistics: Hear from U.S. importers and Customs Brokers along with government officials that directly impact supply chain logistics
To see the full agenda and list of sessions, click here.
The FPAA’s Spring Policy Summit 2022 is open to all members of the fresh produce industry, who can register here. Tickets for the event will be $49 for FPAA Members, $99 for non-members, and $69 for academics/government.
For more event updates from across the fresh produce industry, look for the green apple logo in your inbox.
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI - Good Foods continues to harness the demand for better-for-you, value-added products, bringing a host of delicious dips, guacamoles, and salad dressings to the market. With significant growth and financial goals in sight, the purveyor announced it strengthened its executive team with the appointment of a new leader, revealing Matthew Newman will be stepping in as Senior Vice President of Sales.
Newman brings extensive experience in helping consumer food brands grow through impactful sales programming. Prior to his career with Good Foods, he served in leadership positions with Alpha Foods and Elevation Brands.
Newman will utilize this expertise to lead sales team development, as well as strategy and tactical sales efforts to expand Good Foods’ business, according to a press release.
Danyel O’Connor, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, recently commented on the growth this appointment will bring the company.
“Our team set ambitious goals for the Good Foods business in terms of growing our brand and product portfolio, and ensuring we have capable leaders who maximize relationships and strategic partnerships is essential,” shared O’Connor. “Matthew brings that and more to our team, and we know his strong experience in the food industry will translate to success for our business.”
Congratulations to Matthew Newman on this recent appointment and to Good Foods for the growth of its executive team!
ONTARIO, CANADA - Protests which began in late January have posed significant challenges to the Canadian province of Ontario. Thousands of truckers and their supporters have gathered near a critical United States-Canada trade corridor which is causing major delays in the shipment of goods. As a result, Canada Premier Doug Ford declared this morning that the province is in a state of emergency.
"I will convene Cabinet to use legal authorities to urgently enact orders that will make crystal clear it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people, and service along critical infrastructure," Ford explained in a recent press briefing, according to Reuters.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the protests are in response to social restrictions and vaccine mandates imposed on the trucker community. Demonstrators gathered at the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit, Michigan, causing the closure of the bridge and therefore leading to trucks being backed up more than 17 miles on the Michigan highways as of Wednesday.
In response, Premier Ford has announced plans to take legal action against protestors causing disruptions at the corridor. Fines and potential jail time are possible consequences for the protestors, as Reuters reported.
As more developments pertaining to the state of emergency come to light, ANUK will be here to report.
SANTA MARIA, CA - We are blessed with many “firsts” in life, and they are often the moments we look back on with joy. Bobalu Berries is gearing up for an exciting first, as the company is preparing to exhibit at Southeastern Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Exposure for the first time this March.
“We think it’s finally time to get back into meeting with folks in person, seeing what other companies are doing in regards to innovation and services, and networking with our friends in the industry,” shares Cindy Jewell, Marketing for Bobalu Berries. “We will be sharing news throughout the year on expansions ahead as the company continues to grow in alignment with our strategic plan. 2022 also serves as the year that our company is celebrating 60 years in business. It’s a great time to talk about what we have achieved and what is ahead.”
While using this opportunity to meet with some of its existing customers, as well as potential new partners, Bobalu will be taking to the show floor at an optimal time to divulge the details of its anticipated strawberry season.
“We are excited to share details about the new fall strawberry program we are implementing this year that will allow us to ship strawberries from California 365 days this year,” Cindy adds. “This is a first for our company since we have always relied strictly on imports during the winter shoulder months.”
To give attendees an exclusive look at its burgeoning strawberry program, Bobalu will have an extension crop update, forecasts for all of its growing regions, and acreage by variety details to share with customers, in addition to having its managing partners on hand in the booth so customers can speak directly with the company’s farmer-owners.
As the excitement surrounding Southern Exposure continues to ramp up, keep a close watch for AndNowUKnow’s next update.