SALINAS, CA - The usually tumultuous skies of broccoli forecasting are looking steady for Church Brothers Farms, which is seeing a clear way to veg promotions as we head past the Super Bowl toward Valentine’s Day and Easter.
“The quality has been really nice, and our volume is very steady, we don’t see any issues in the upcoming weeks,” Lisa Dias, Commodity Manager, Broccoli, tells me. “Demand has also been steady; the market has come off with a bit more supply than demand, but that could change quickly if we have some colder temperatures in the desert or Northern Mexico.”
While that does not look to be the case, Lisa reminds me there is always the caveat of a switch in Mother Nature.
“Weather changes can slow down the fields, and the cold storms on the East Coast combined with continued impacts from COVID have seen demand go down in that region. But, for the most part, the overall pace and price of the market are aligning with our expectations for this point in the season,” Lisa shares.
Meaning the bellwether is pointed toward promising access for retail promotions, and Church Brothers has taken extra steps to ensure that remains the case.
“Our broccoli program is very geographically diversified, with crops in California’s Imperial Valley as well as Northern and Central Mexico, which helps us in the event we are short in one region. If so, we can pull from another to cover our regular business,” Lisa says.
And, with a strong value-added floret as well as the company’s well-known commodity program, this continues to be a one-stop-shop supplier with smooth skies on the visible horizon.
Keep your eye on AndNowUKnow for all the latest forecasts on the industry’s mainstay markets.
SANDPOINT, ID - Is it unique? Is it high-quality? Is it flavorful? These are just a few of the questions we ask when a fresh product or campaign comes into question, and at this time of year, we are now asking a new one: Will it dip? Litehouse is communicating that the dip is where it’s at for Super Bowl 2022, and I linked up with Heidi Wieber, Brand Manager, to learn more.
“Many fans and viewers look forward to eating and drinking during the Big Game, and Litehouse dressings and dips are a key element of any great game day party," she said. "We built our 2022 Big Game campaign around the question, ‘Will it Dip?’ and are encouraging consumers to pair Litehouse with their game day favorites or discover unexpected or unique pairings. Our campaign landing page will offer recipes and game day inspiration to help consumers host a successful party, including tips and tricks from our Dip Master, Jen Curley.”
Curley is also known as @snackqween on TikTok, sharing recipes, food reviews, and fun ideas with her more than one million followers. For this promotion, she will create videos featuring “dip tips” for consumers hosting their own game day celebration. Curley’s adventurous, playful approach to food and longtime love of Litehouse Homestyle Ranch Dressing & Dip made her the perfect partner.
“Our website will have a destination landing page with video content from our Dip Master @snackqween featuring dip tricks, tips, recipes, and more for the Big Game, all of which will also be promoted across social,” Heidi told me. “In-store, we’ll have Will it Dip? branding on neck hangers, IRCs, and shelf talkers, and promotional pricing on participating Litehouse products. We’re also partnering with retailers to create an omnichannel approach, as well as partnering with them on digital shopper marketing elements to reach consumers where they are online.”
With the rise of online grocery shopping, this tactic enables Litehouse to further reach and engage with consumers in-store as well as online for delivery and pick-up orders. Further driving shopper engagement, Litehouse is also hosting a consumer sweepstakes for a $5,000 tailgate package, which includes an LED TV, tailgate grill, a table and chairs, a year’s worth of Litehouse dips, and more.
“As with our prior Big Game campaigns, we’ll highlight some of our most popular and versatile products, including 20 oz Family Size Homestyle Ranch Dressing & Dip, 15.5 oz Homestyle Ranch Dip & Spread, 13 oz Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing & Dip, and Guacamole Herb Blend,” said Heidi. “Litehouse dressings and dips are a perfect match for veggies, chips, pizza, chicken, burgers, and so much more, which opens the doors for powerful cross-merchandising opportunities.”
Heidi went on to note that Litehouse has seen great success cross merchandising across store departments, such as promoting its dressings with pre-packaged salads and take-and-bake pizzas on an end cap, or adjacent to chicken wings in the deli department. The Big Game is the occasion that brings everyone together, but, as the produce industry knows best, the snacks and food are what get people talking—and having fun.
“We believe the best snacks are the ones that dip, and Litehouse offers a variety of flavorful and popular dressings and dips for dippable favorites or unexpected duos,” Heidi concluded.
As retailers fill their Super Bowl teams with all-star fresh items in the lead-up to the Big Game, Litehouse is here to make sure dips and dressings take home the coveted trophy.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - The Fresh Produce and Floral Council (FPFC) recently revealed its roster for 2022, announcing the incoming Board of Directors, as well as the outgoing directors and the 2021 Apprentice Class.
“I am incredibly appreciative for the chance to serve as Chairman of the FPFC,” FPFC’s 2021 Chairman Sean McClure stated. “It is my honest hope that we were successful in driving value for our members during these continued unusual conditions. We owe a debt of gratitude to our departing Board members, who have completed their terms. We appreciate their willingness to help the Association flourish by volunteering and devoting substantial time and effort. We also want to congratulate and welcome this new batch of FPFC Board members. As Immediate Past Chair, I am looking forward to continuing to work with Kori, staff, and the Board.”
According to a press release, McClure will be passing the reins to the FPFC 2022 Chairwoman, Kori Martin of Oppy, but will remain on the board as the Past Chair, replacing Brian Cook of Pete’s. In addition, Michael Schutt of Raley’s will serve as Chair Elect, and Kristen Reid of MIXTEC Group will now serve as Treasurer. Bryan Presley of Albertsons will join the association as the Secretary, and Marvin Quebec of Quebec Distributing Co., will join the Executive Committee as Past Chair Representative. Roger Schroeder will continue to serve as Honorary Past Chairman Representative.
“I am honored to be selected as Chair for 2022. We have worked extremely hard as staff and Board, hand in hand, over the past two years through this pandemic—making smart, efficient, and at times tough decisions to do what is best for our members,” stated Martin. “We are going into 2022 with energy and hopeful enthusiasm as we attempt to take back what this pandemic tried to take from us—tangible connection. Virtual will always be a platform we will be a part of and in our toolkit for the future, but we are ready to smell the coffee and see our industry friends. I’m looking forward to working with our Board team, staff, and FPFC committees to bring value, education, and a chance to build on relationships for our members this year, and of course have some fun while we’re at it!”
Those joining the Board of Directors this year are:
- Ken Ewalt, Great West Produce Co.
- Debi Orrin, Edge Sales & Marketing
- Shonna Williams, Cardenas Markets
To see who is continuing their service as members of the FPFC Board of Directors and who is retiring, click here.
As noted in the release, the FPFC will work on an upcoming event to honor the 2021 FPFC Apprentice Program and its graduating Apprentices. To see the full list, click here.
“Every year, the FPFC Apprentice Program seeks to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders through robust programming and educational opportunities, as well as networking with industry professionals,” stated Rachelle Schulken, Chair of the FPFC Apprentice Program. “We are excited to follow the careers of this year’s Class as they utilize the guidance, information, and connections received throughout the program to forge their own paths to success in our industry.”
We here at ANUK offer a huge congratulations to all those who were elected or honored by the Fresh Produce and Floral Council. For the latest industry updates, keep clicking back!
LOS ANGELES, CA - To reflect on the past 100 years is to look back at a completely different time, a series of innovations and evolutions, and a rooted history of both challenges and success. As the Giumarra Companies announces the centennial anniversary of its wholesale produce business, Giumarra Brothers Fruit Company, the distinguished supplier is looking back on a legacy founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1922 by Giuseppe “Joe” Giumarra and his brothers.
“I’m humbled as I reflect on the late nights, early mornings, and grit of our past leaders and employees who all contributed to the Giumarra Companies in its modern form,” said John Corsaro, Chief Executive Officer of the Giumarra Companies. “We look forward to sharing the next evolution of our business with the world as we focus on services, technology, and of course, great-tasting produce.”
At the time of its inception, the Giumarra Brothers Fruit Company (GBF) sold produce, namely oranges, from a small stall at the 7th Street Market in Los Angeles, California, formerly known as L.A. Union Terminal Market. According to a press release, the operation continued to grow as Joe Giumarra focused on acquiring produce from growers and would make regular trips to Highland, California, to source special Navel oranges with excellent eating quality. His brother, George Giumarra Sr., and brother-in-law, Dominick Corsaro, managed the wholesale operation on-site in Los Angeles and sold the produce.
With a dream of growing his own produce, Joe eventually purchased acreage in Bakersfield, California, in 1939, which became the formidable table grape operation that is Giumarra Vineyards.
“I often joke that I hardly recognize our company because we have changed so much in 100 years,” said Don Corsaro, former President and current Chairman of the Giumarra Companies. “Our strength lies in our ability to evolve while staying true to our founding values, and we will continue to grow under our current team led by John Corsaro and Tim Riley.”
For decades, the company continued to grow and expand, seeing many impressive milestones along the way. To learn more about the company’s well-recognized legacy in the produce industry, click here.
And a huge congratulations to Giumarra Companies on a century of success!
ZIONSVILLE, IN - Hy-Vee is breaking down its boundaries once more as it heads to Indiana. The Iowa-based retailer enters this brand-new market with the announcement of a 150,000-square-foot location in Zionsville, Indiana.
“As Hy-Vee continues to grow and evolve, we have so much to offer consumers across the United States that we knew it was time to expand our footprint even further,” commented Randy Edeker, the Chief Executive Officer of Hy-Vee, in a statement obtained by WISH-TV.
The company is still finalizing plans to secure the 26-acre site at Whitestown Parkway and S County Road 700 E. in the Boone County town.
Currently, Hy-Vee operates in eight states with nearly 300 stores in its portfolio. As noted in the source, the retailer recently announced plans to expand out of its eight-state region with new stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.
No word yet on how many jobs this new location will create nor the opening date, but we will keep an eye on the wire to report on this latest expansion plan.
Stick around as we report.
BENTONVILLE, AR - As shoppers peruse the aisles of their local Sam’s Club stores, they may find more than just a wide-range of products as the Walmart division has announced the rollout of automated inventory analytics robots nationwide. In partnership with Brain Corp and Tennant Company, the retailer has deployed this robotic fleet to provide inventory scans, improving overall efficiency.
“Sam’s Club is hyper focused on making sure our members have a seamless shopping experience, so any time-saving innovation we can implement is significant. By adding Inventory Scan to our current fleet of robotic scrubbers, we obtain critical inventory data that previously was time consuming to obtain,” said Todd Garner, Vice President of In Club Product Management at Sam’s Club. “This intelligence allows us to proactively manage our clubs in an efficient manner. Inventory Scan assures items are available and easy to locate in the club, freeing up time for our associates to focus on members and the shopping experience they deserve.”
This is one of the first commercial applications of Brain Corp’s inventory scanning technology, noted a press release. Utilizing dual function technology, scanning tools will be fitted to the almost 600 autonomous floor scrubber robots within Sam’s Club locations chain wide. The towers that are powered by Brain Corp’s AI operating system, BrainOS®, and manufactured by Tennant Company, combine autonomy and easy usage with trusted equipment for retailers.
Once the scanning accessories are installed on the scrubber, the new, cloud-connected Inventory Scan tower is able to capture data as it moves autonomously throughout Sam’s Club locations. Reports are later delivered to club managers providing insights such as verification of pricing accuracy, planogram compliance, product stock levels, and product localization. Overall, limiting manual processes while reducing waste and inventory loss.
“This latest iteration of our valued and longstanding partnership with Sam’s Club marks the beginning of realizing the next phase in our company's vision,” explained Dr. Eugene Izhikevich, Chief Executive Officer of Brain Corp. “We are actively taking BrainOS-powered robots from primarily task-oriented machines to in-store data acquisition platforms, able to deliver actionable insights on inventory availability, planogram compliance and more. This adds significant ROI for retailers.”
As one of the first commercial applications of this technology, where will we see it pop up next in the retail sphere and how will it impact Sam’s Club’s ROI? Stick with AndNowUKnow for details.
WOODRIDGE, IL - Link arms with the right partner, and the opportunities are endless. Belair Produce recently made the decision to optimize its operational efficiencies, embracing new technologies to scale and grow through an innovative partnership with Produce Pro Software. The solutions provider gives fresh purveyors a real-time snapshot of inventory and financial information to help them better understand how an operation is performing.
“We’re not just a software company. It’s the knowledge of our people that help make our customers successful. Belair Produce saw that in us, and we are thrilled to have started this working relationship with them,” said Dave Donat, President of Produce Pro Software.
In a recent company release, Belair Produce revealed that, when choosing a new ERP software system, the decision ultimately came down to the people.
“It wasn’t just about the software for us, it was about the people behind the software. And, the support from Produce Pro really stood out from our initial conversations,” said Chad Berman, President of Belair Produce. “The Produce Pro staff took extra time to learn about our operation, helped make us better, and ensured we were prepared for our live week. You have to put in the work, but it pays out tenfold and made us so much more comfortable with this transition.”
Belair Produce began running the Produce Pro system in early 2021, discovering that having a heightened use of technology has created numerous benefits for both the company and its customers. The company reported that, with the help of Produce Pro’s cutting-edge services, online ordering has improved customer service levels and increased orders, mistakes are down, and inventory has remained accurate.
“We also needed a software system to help improve our inventory accuracy and provide more visibility into every aspect of our business. In the past, we tried our best, but it had become very manual and labor-intensive,” Berman continued. “With Produce Pro, we can see how our company is doing at any given moment and make better decisions because of it. Plus, we can access the system anytime and anywhere, which was a huge benefit working remotely these past several months.”
The integration of Produce Pro’s software is spurred by increased demands throughout the industry, especially during the pandemic.
“With what little free time we have working in the produce business, the software system frees up a bunch of it for us. It’s so much easier to do business now, and we can do almost anything with a click of a button,” Berman added. “Produce Pro makes running a business better. Providing us with a solid foundation, as we continue to rebuild and grow, we are now running a more efficient and profitable business. I could not be happier.”
As always, stick with AndNowUKnow for the latest in industry innovation.
KINGSVILLE, CANADA - Strawberries are synonymous with Valentine’s Day. I don’t think it matters if you’re paired up or single, the holiday calls for a celebration of love—and strawberries offer that in heaps. I touched base with Mastronardi Produce® to learn how its strawberry program is revving up the category before the big day.
“With a goal of growing the strawberry segment horizontally, we have a berry for every taste in our strawberry program,” began Karan Kohli, Sales Account Manager. “Our three premium WOW™ strawberries, dreamberry™, lolliberry™, and pearberry™ each offer a unique flavor and texture experience. And our BerryWorld field-grown strawberries, which are ramping up starting with the Valentine’s Day season, are truly a better ‘everyday’ berry, carefully grown and selected for best quality. Together, our strawberries are changing expectations for how a berry should taste, with better flavor, better shelf-life, and more consistent supply.”
For retailers looking to use Mastronardi Produce’s berries to their advantage this holiday, Karan had a few tips.
“Making the berry shelf a destination for exploring new tastes and flavors will help to expand purchases within the strawberry segment. Our berries are special, and retailers can use point of purchase and digital vehicles to get consumers excited about the variety that our berries offer,” he noted. “There’s potential to pair each different berry with a complementing item from an adjacent category, based on its taste.”
For example, the dreamberry offers a classic strawberry flavor and pairs well with a good quality chocolate. The lolliberry, on the other hand, may pair better with a fine sharp Cheddar as part of a gourmet dessert grazing board.
Cross merchandising doesn’t have to end in one aisle!
“We put a lot of love and care into our strawberries, so that each and every experience is special. And what better day to indulge in something so sweet and special than Valentine’s Day? Plus, we’re pretty confident that once a shopper experiences our WOW berries, they won’t just be buying them once a year,” Karan added.
If that isn’t something to love, I don’t know what is!
OXNARD, CA - The spinach category never ceases to amaze me in its versatility, popularity, and its nutritional punch. As a consumer, it is one of the first items I look for in the produce department, and as a trade news writer, it is one of the most dynamic commodities to write about. This winter, Boskovich Farms joins me to discuss the state of the market, the company’s expansive program, and what the buy-side should know as they get ahead in 2022.
“Market pricing has remained high since mid-December on carton commodity spinach—reaching as high as the low $20s. Due to heavy rains on the coast of California, and colder temps in the desert areas, supplies have been inconsistent and light on both commodity and raw product material for packaging,” Russ Widerburg, Commodity Sales Manager, shares with me. “Supplies appear to be increasing as I speak, directing the market in a lower trend. If the weather continues to stay nice as it has been, supplies appear to be good moving into February.”
Boskovich grows in Oxnard, California, 365 days a year, offering packaged and bulk spinach for its buy-side customers.
“Our company has been farming for over 100 years, our retail sales staff is experienced and knowledgeable, and our relationships with our current retail and foodservice customer base has established us as an industry leader on many commodities, including spinach,” Russ reveals. “This allows us to address the needs of our customers with expertise and extensive resources on a timely basis.”
Currently, the company offers 4 x 2.5 lb foodservice and club packs as well as a 12 x 10 oz retail pack. Additionally, 24-count conventional and organic bunched cartons and reusable plastic containers (RPC) are also available. All sales are done on a FOB basis.
Getting ahead on program planning is a must this year as the industry anticipates the challenges ahead, from costs to supply chain hurdles. Boskovich is stepping up to the plate to ensure that its customers are taken care of, from the seed to shelf and the plate.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Word of a “megadrought” is swarming around California as we kick off 2022 with a few weeks of dry winter weather. While California cities were met with heavy amounts of rain and snow at the end of 2021, water challenges persist, and the state may be entering a third drought year reflected by the dry start to 2022.
“It looks like, with a warming climate and climate change, it’s going to become more like this,” said Jay Lund, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of California, Davis, and Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences.
Experts say that California is in the grip of a “megadrought,” as the state has experienced drought in 15 of the last 20 years, according to UC Davis. Lund noted that there is still academic debate around whether the state has actually entered a megadrought, or periods of drought lasting decades or even centuries. However, higher temperatures across the state as a result of climate change are making smaller droughts bigger, as explained by ABC 10.
“There is not a big change in total average precipitation in California, but what we have seen is that it comes more as rain than as snow,” Lund added. “And so, we have less runoff in the spring, and also, the higher temperatures cause more of that precipitation to evaporate away before it can become streamflow or reach large aquifers. I think particularly in the San Joaquin Valley, there’s going to be probably half a million to a million acres of irrigated lands that have to become fallow.”
While the debate over the term “megadrought” persists, water conservation practices remain top of mind for many California residents, especially as the drought directly impacts agriculture, one of the state’s largest economic engines.
AndNowUKnow will keep a close watch to see how these weather challenges impact the industry, and the many useful strategies to overcome them.