THAILAND - Thanks to the vigilance of authorities in Thailand, criminals were once again kept from tarnishing the reputation of fresh produce with their illegal actions. This comes as a truck driver was recently arrested at a checkpoint in the Tha Sae district of the Chumphon province after alleged methamphetamine pills were uncovered in a load of onions.
Authorities stopped and searched the truck after the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) received information that smugglers were using trucks to move drugs across the country, according to reporting from Bangkok Post. A checkpoint was then set up, and the suspected vehicle was pulled over while carrying sacks of onions.
The driver was taken into custody after 5 million speed pills were found underneath the sacks of onions, which were then seized by police. The investigation is still ongoing.
Criminals work hard, but authorities are working harder, protecting the people and the fresh produce that we hold dear.
FORT WORTH, TX - Getting ready to ring in its 94th anniversary in the business, DiMare Fresh is celebrating with a few changes to its leadership ring. Recently, the distributor revealed that Tony and Scott DiMare will assume expanded roles.
Both men have served as served as Vice Presidents of DiMare Homestead and DiMare Ruskin, and Tony also served as an Executive Vice President for DiMare Fresh. Growing their responsibilities, Tony will continue to serve Florida locations in addition to becoming President of DiMare Fresh, and Scott will take up the role of President of DiMare Ruskin.
Throughout his time in the industry, Tony has led and served on many committees and Boards, according to a release. He is a former Chairman and currently serves as a Director for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Florida Tomato Committee, Florida Tomato Exchange, and Florida Tomato Growers Exchange.
In addition to these organizations, Tony also serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the Center for Produce Safety and is a Council Member for the the University of Florida’s IFAS - Gulf Coast Research & Education Center Advisory Council and the Tropical Research Education Center Advisory Council.
Tony’s brother Scott has led the tomato farming for the company since the DiMare family expanded into the Ruskin region in 1993 and was responsible for developing and managing the farming operation. During this time, he has actively been a part of the development of various seed varieties through research trials with other partner seed companies and programs.
Scott has also worked alongside the University of Florida to address disease and pest issues challenging the Florida tomato industry and testified before Congress about these issues.
Paul DiMare, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented on these leaders’ expanded roles and their impact on the company.
“As a father, it has been rewarding to watch my sons, Scott and Tony, grow up in this industry. They started around the same age as I did and for many years now have been key to our success in growth and sustaining our business during challenging times,” he said. “I am confident in their abilities and excited to see them assume greater responsibilities. I will remain actively involved in the company, as well as my foundation and this community. I am confident that Tony and Scott, our third Generation, will bring continued success to DiMare, and I am very proud to see them grow in their new positions.”
Best of luck to Tony and Scott DiMare as they continue down the path of leadership!
CALIFORNIA - Despite the wet winter weather witnessed across the state during the Christmas and New Year’s weeks, snow levels in California have fallen after an extremely dry January month. As California’s snowpack slips below average, many are fearing the heightened pressures of the drought, anticipating that the conditions may only continue to worsen in the third year.
“It’s still possible that we’ll make up the shortfall, but the odds are not good,” Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “The big problem is that, even if we get more precipitation in February and March, we went into the year with such a hole that getting back to normal water storage will be even tougher.”
State officials who conducted the second snow survey of the season last week discovered snowpack in California’s mountains measuring 92 percent of average for this time of year, according to the source, reflecting a 68 percent drop from the 160 percent average recorded last month.
The 92 percent of average snowpack recorded across the whole of the state of California was broken down as follows:
- 90 percent of average in the north part of the state
- 90 percent of average in the central part
- 95 percent of average in the southern part
These drought concerns may continue to persist over the next month, as short-term weather models currently show little chance of rain for the first half of February.
To read a more in-depth review of the recent water challenges and pressures caused by weather, click here.
AndNowUKnow will keep our eyes to the wire to see how these drought challenges persist, and the strategies implemented to alleviate them.
BRADFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA - All month long, companies have revealed aggressive strategies to ensure success in 2022. Among these companies is Gwillimdale Farms, which is laying the groundwork for category growth with its latest expansion. As Quinton Woods, Senior Sales and Plant Operation Manager, details to me, the supplier recently purchased a fully automated potato grading system and a new line equipped with artificial intelligence as it rolls out its new potato line.
“Many updates were made to our new facility, including new washrooms, offices, storage rooms, and a large new barn for the potato line, along with more warehouse capacity,” Quinton states. “This expansion primes Gwillimdale Farms for further growth as it will allow us to better utilize each grade of potatoes properly.”
The new, state-of-the-art potato line will be launched at the beginning of March and gives the provider complete flexibility to run multiple different products simultaneously, a move driven in part by the recent impacts of COVID-19.
“Covid was a large factor in our decision to make this move,” explains Quinton. “We needed to upgrade our facility to ensure a safer environment for our employees. This also allowed us to make a big move toward sustainable agriculture and the production of reducing food waste.”
With this alluring new potato line soon to hit shelves, retailers can achieve higher potato sales by showcasing the unique new SKUs and elevating the natural product with premium displays. Grade 2 to premium-grade potatoes will be offered to help drive category sales.
As critical expansions pave the way for an advantageous new line to hit the market, keep an eye out for the next updates from AndNowUKnow.
OXNARD, CA - The month of February is incomplete without delicious, high-quality strawberries for shoppers to gift their Valentines, or enjoy for themselves. As it kicks off the strawberry season in California, Bobalu Berries is taking its efforts one step further, participating in volunteer initiatives and demonstrating its commitment to its communities.
Spotlighted for admirable volunteer initiatives, the company’s Vice President of Sales Anthony Gallino made the front page of the Monterey Herald for his work behind the scenes to help those in need. As explained in a press release, Gallino has been volunteering for years to support the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, which is responsible for staging the annual AT&T Pro-Am Golf Tournament in Pebble Beach every year to raise money for non-profit organizations. He has also recruited several friends and other staff to join in and support the worthy cause.
Click here to read the Monterey Herald article.
The Bobalu staff maintains a high commitment to volunteering to support those in need. In addition to Gallino’s efforts, Annette Baietti, Controller, organized the staff last month to support Ventura County Foodshare, a member of Feeding America. The participating staff competed in a holiday can-tree decorating event in downtown Oxnard and collected canned goods from family and friends to support the community.
This year, the berry supplier also commemorated its 60th anniversary, launching an annual scholarship program that supports the community and the future of ag.
We here at ANUK applaud the Bobalu team for its numerous efforts to give back and support those in need across the communities it serves. We can’t wait to see what influential initiatives the company has in store for 2022!
SANTA PAULA, CA - A strategic leadership plan is falling into place at Calavo Growers as Steven Hollister has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. This move comes following his time spent as Interim Chief Executive Officer from September 2021, to January 31, 2022. As he takes over this new position, Brian W. Kocher will officially assume his place as President and CEO, as previously revealed.
“I’m appreciative of my fellow Board members for the trust and confidence they’ve placed in me by selecting me to serve as Chairman,” Hollister said. “I believe that my experience in finance and agriculture, in addition to my time as interim CEO, will continue to benefit both the Board and the company’s leadership team. I’m looking forward to working with and supporting Brian as he leads Calavo into what we believe will be a new phase of long-term growth to benefit all our stakeholders.”
Hollister has served the Board since 2008, according to a release. He has also been a Managing Member of Rocking Spade, a diversified investor and developer with interests in ranching and commercial properties, since 2001.
Prior to joining Calavo, he was Vice President of Sunrise Mortgage & Investment Company, General Manager of Niven Family Wine Estates, Chief Operating Officer of Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard and Santa Barbara County Wine Center, and Senior Vice President of Central Coast Farm Credit.
In taking on this new role, Hollister will succeed J. Link Leavens, who has served as Chairman since 2020. He will remain on the Board of Directors.
“It has been a privilege to serve as chairman of Calavo Growers,” Leavens commented. “I fully support Steve as he assumes this new role. It is a positive move for the company and its shareholders to have an independent chairman leading the board, and I look forward to my continued service on the board under Steve’s leadership.”
Congratulations to Steven Hollister on this new leadership role!
OXNARD, CA - Building a healthy and vibrant celery destination is critical to the message of a fresh produce department. With a dynamic market, rising production costs, and supply chain challenges keeping growers on their toes, Boskovich Farms is one major category player more than riding out the rollercoaster this month—ensuring retailers are stocked and ready to rock with that fresh message.
“The current market is in the low teens, and other than Super Bowl celery stick demand creating a little extra demand for the next couple of weeks, supplies indicate the market doesn’t have much chance for a spike unless some adverse weather affects growing and harvesting conditions,” Russ Widerburg, Commodity Sales Manager, tells me. “Things appear steady for now with good supplies and good quality available.”
Boskovich ships celery from Oxnard, California, year-round. Although the summer growing district is in the Lompoc Valley, product is transferred to Oxnard and also ships directly from Lompoc Valley Cooling, Russ adds.
The challenges to growing these days have been touching every aspect of the supply chain, and freight costs are no exception.
“Currently, freight costs are having a negative effect on celery pricing and demand. Extremely high costs factor into whether or not an item that only gets 736 cases on a load gets put onto a truck—compared to a small box and lighter weight items where you’re able to get upwards of 2,016 cartons on a load,” Russ explains, breaking down the puzzle for me.
Nevertheless, companies like Boskovich are rising to the challenge and doing so with success, especially when an operation that has more than 100 years of experience in the business, an experienced and knowledgable retail sales staff, and deep relationships with a current retail customer base that have established the company as an industry trailblazer.
“Our customer service and quality control are top-notch, and we grow, pack, and ship at a high standard always. Currently, we are offering corrugated paper boxes, recyclable plastic boxes, and RPCs,” Russ states. “All commodity sales at Boskovich Farms are done on a FOB basis.”
As we move through the first weeks of 2022, could February bring a wave of calm to the market and industry challenges? Maybe the better question is, when is this industry ever calm?
TORONTO, CANADA - What is it about avocados that have made them such a hot topic of conversation for much of the last decade?
I can still remember when avocados only came out when someone was on a diet. They moved from diet food to indulgent food pretty quickly. Could it be that their perfect pairing with toast was the catalyst? Avocado toast has been both lauded by millennials and blamed by older generations as the main roadblock to homeownership for said millennials. Quite a far-reaching fruit, I’d say.
But probably the avocado’s importance in Hispanic foods and the growing desire to bring the restaurant into the home is as good an explanation as any for the meteoric rise of avocado production and sales during the first two decades of the 2000s.
That brings us to Cinco de Mayo. This important cultural day celebrates a major Mexican military victory at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. During the first week of May, in support of the celebrations, produce departments and pantries across North America stock up on avocados. This month, Produce Moneyball takes a closer look at the trendy fruit with an eye toward the Cinco de Mayo timeframe.
The accompanying graph (above) shows important statistics for 48-count avocados. The white bars demonstrate up and down volumes until week 17, when they suddenly spike. Week 17 is the last week of April and the important Cinco de Mayo buy week. In 2021, costs responded to the increased volume by dropping precipitously to a point below $40. It is notable that this also happened in 2020. Sounds like a COVID-induced response as in-home gatherings were smaller and less frequent.
Since avocados are important for social gatherings, demand was inevitably lower during COVID years, applying downward pressure on cost. Assuming this spring brings us closer to a new normal, we can expect costs to exhibit stability as increased demand gobbles up the Cinco de Mayo enhanced volumes. Look for FOB costs to hover around the $50 mark throughout this time. Keep turning to Produce Moneyball to get the straight goods on toast-related trends in the produce department.
Mike Mauti, Managing Partner, Execulytics Consulting
Leading the Execulytics team, Mike brings more than 20 years of experience as a leader in the fresh foods industry. Over this time, Mike has gained expertise in retail operations, procurement, and merchandising. Specific skills around grocery retailing, particularly in produce buying and selling, make Mike a valuable partner for suppliers and independent retailers alike.
NOGALES, AZ - As we here in the Northern Hemisphere are still in the midst of winter’s cool grip, south of the border, Divine Flavor is working alongside its Sinaloa, Mexico, growing partners to harvest high-quality produce. From winter to early spring, the fresh produce purveyor is working in the Culiacán region, the heart of its vegetable program, to bring organic bell peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers to retail locations here in the States.
“Our partners here in Sinaloa are expert growers, and they share the same values our own farms have across Mexico,” said Carlos Bon, Vice President of Sales. “Our growth is not just from planting more hectares across more land; it’s specializing in the products we currently have and becoming experts in that commodity. The intelligent farmer, the responsible farmer, grows not to have more product, but to invest in infrastructure and technology—improving processes at all stages of production and constantly planning ahead.”
During this key growing season, Divine Flavor’s Mexican growers are yielding a variety of high-quality, flavorful products to meet consumer demand in the United States. According to a release, these commodities include organic-colored bell peppers, Roma and beefsteak tomatoes, Magnífico grape tomatoes, and long English and Persian cucumbers.
Over the years, Divine Flavor has expanded its vegetable program in its Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico, regions, creating solid growing locations for the company’s hothouse products. A significant part of this growth is due to the strong partnerships that Divine Flavor has with the family-oriented companies that share in its corporate values, making Sinaloa a prime location.
“Our distribution company is an alliance of some of the best growers in all of Mexico,” added Bon. “Sinaloa is a very important region of Mexico for growing produce, and our partners here are very family-oriented. They have what we look for in our own farms. They are very much an extension of our Divine Flavor family”.
One of Divine Flavor’s most immense bell pepper farms, Hortifresh, lies in the small town of Navolato, right outside the city of Culiacán. Those that run the operation have worked alongside Divine Flavor for more than 15 years and have emerged as the largest bell pepper supplier for the company, as well as one of the largest pepper growers in Mexico.
Hortifresh is run by Owner and Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Urtusastegui, who explains that trust and continuous improvements are what have created the successful partnership between the grower and Divine Flavor.
“We have a common goal of supplying the best quality product with added value to the customers and markets,” he said. “As farmers, it is important to have visibility, clarity, and to know how to supply the markets we grow for. Through fluid communication and strategic planning with Divine Flavor, we are able to supply the best products which are grown responsibly and sustainably.”
Hortifresh also has close working relations with Grupo Agricola Chaparral & Tombell, a heavy hitter for the pepper category and a big player for hothouse tomatoes. The company also has a strong history with veteran grower Agricola Campaña, who produces its long English cucumbers. Also in Sinaloa is Divine Flavor’s organic specialty grower and sister company, Viva Orgánica, who grows the brand’s Magnífico grape tomatoes. Together, they form a large grower alliance to provide high-caliber produce offerings.
How will Divine Flavor build on the success of its Mexico growing program? Keep clicking on AndNowUKnow for answers.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Happy February everyone! The first of the month also means the kickoff of American Heart Month and National Sweet Potato Month, and Country Sweet Produce has some celebrating to do. The company’s Bako Sweet® line was certified by the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check Food Certification Program.
“Retailers have a massive opportunity in February to benefit from the trending content surrounding sweet potatoes by creating product displays and offering recipe ideas in store and online,” said Alexandra Rae Molumby, Marketing Manager for Bako Sweet. “There are several days throughout the month to continue to promote sweet potatoes as well, thanks to the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day, followed by National Cook a Sweet Potato Day on February 22.”
These heart-healthy tubers give shoppers a chance to invest in health while maintaining flavor, also spotlighted as a gluten-free alternative thanks to the help of Whole30 and vegan influencers. Just last month, Bako Sweet’s Organic Sweet Potato Steam Bags won the Eat This, Not That 2022 Food Award for Best Healthy Starchy Side.
To celebrate National Sweet Potato Month, Bako Sweet is hosting a Grown With Love giveaway on its Instagram page from February 1–28. (The American Heart Association is not involved in this sweepstakes.) Participants will have the opportunity to win a year of free sweet potatoes, a heart-shaped Le Creuset dish, and new “sweet potato lovers” swag. Last year, the brand hosted a similar giveaway and saw more than 5,000 participants, according to a press release.
“Sweet potatoes are such a fun food, and their nutritious benefit is hard to beat since they are rich in Vitamin C, potassium, and loaded with fiber,” said Whitney Stuart, dietitian and diabetes educator at Whitness Nutrition. “A sweet potato is the perfect high-fiber compliment to any meal since they can be used for sweet or savory dishes.”
Bako Sweet also offers a library of heart-healthy recipes that work well for Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day. Please note, the Heart-Check Certification does not apply to recipes unless expressly stated. Retailers can show the sweet potato love this month by providing heart-healthy recipe ideas online and in-store and filling the shelves with Bako Sweet’s award-winning products.
Ring in American Heart Month and National Sweet Potato Month with the help of Country Sweet Produce.