FRESNO, CA - Recently garnering the title of Agribusiness of the Year, it’s no secret that Baloian Farms continues to optimize its operations to provide high-quality offerings year-round. With such an esteemed title, Luis Corella, Regional Manager for Baloian Farms Mexico, had to clue us in on some of the keys to success behind the company’s formidable operations and grower network.
“Located in Nogales, Arizona, Baloian Farms is better able to service our grower partners who spread from Hermosillo to Sonora, Mexico, down to Culiácan, Sinaloa. The proximity of our Nogales warehouse to the growing regions allows for shortened transit times and expedited delivery at the warehouse,” Luis points out.
Baloian Farms’ main growing season out of the Nogales office extends from early October through mid June, and with rigorous quality standards in place, the grower ensures only the highest quality vegetables make it to the market.
“Our strict quality control both domestically and abroad gives us the ability to service our broad customer base, which ranges from retail to foodservice and wholesale markets,” Luis adds.
The location and heightened expertise of the individuals at the Baloian Farms’ Nogales office allow the company to offer a year-round program without interruption, with a seamless transition between growing regions.
“Aside from packing quality vegetables, Baloian Farms also strives to excel in customer service. To accomplish this, Baloian Nogales communicates closely with our other offices on a year-round basis in order to anticipate customer needs, be proactive in resolving any unforeseen challenges, and load customer trucks in a timely fashion,” Luis concludes.
To dive deeper into the strategies backing its operational growth, be sure to check out the exclusive video featured above!
As always, keep an eye out for ANUK for the latest news in the industry.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The spirit of Halloween can be found anywhere if you look hard enough: the aisles of the fresh produce section, the air around us as consumers bustle to and fro, and in Progressive Produce’s Orange Diablo Margarita. That’s right, the fresh produce section will be alight with a spicy vigor this year as shoppers rush to grab basketfuls of limes, oranges, and chiles to prepare this sinful sipper.
Cocktails are always a delight to have, whether on a night out or in. For this recipe, consumers only need a few ingredients to provide a little kick to their evening. Looks can be deceiving, but grab the Devil by the horns, I say, and offer shoppers—or yourself!—a new twist to the traditional margarita by displaying this recipe on an endcap resplendent with limes, oranges, and chile peppers.
For extra measure, stack some tequila and Tajin bottles alongside the display. If shoppers aren’t into mixed drinks, I would still advise this cross-merchandising idea, or a variant, as this makes a great setup for any versatile dish that calls for citrus, spice, and a shot (or two) of tequila.
To help prepare the Orange Diablo Margarita, all shoppers need is:
- 2 oz lime juice
- 2 oz orange juice
- 2 thin slices of Fresno chile; seeds optional
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz Cointreau
- ½ tsp agave nectar
- Lime wedge, for garnish
- Tajin, for garnish
- Ice
- 2 Fresno chiles, for garnish
It’s as devilishly easy to make as it is to drink, as you can see in the video above! For those looking for directions on how to make this ASAP, we've got you covered. Muddle two thin slices of fiery red Fresno chile with ½ tsp of agave nectar; seeds are optional if you want to really feel the heat in your mouth. Run a lime wedge along the rim of a margarita glass before coating with Tajin and filling with ice.
Prepare your cocktail shaker with ice before adding 2 oz each of freshly squeezed lime and orange juice and tequila. For a sweeter finish, add in 1 oz of Cointreau. Shake well before straining into a prepared margarita glass. Cut the bottom halves of two Fresno chiles and affix them to the rim to create the Diablo horns.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find my fiery spirit in my margarita glass this Hallow’s Eve, and I know your shoppers will too.
PORTLAND, OR - The produce department is my first stop when I’m planning a holiday spread. Good holiday merchandising will draw my eye to flavor combinations I might not automatically make, as well as keep the staples close at hand. As shoppers like myself prep for holiday meals, we’re on the lookout for those category directors guiding our way. I turn to Jeff Fairchild, New Seasons Market’s Produce Director, to see how he approaches merchandising over the holidays.
“Produce flips so radically between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s like a light bulb goes off, and everything within the produce department flips from earthy tones to bright green,” Jeff shares. “People don’t stray too much during Thanksgiving, so they’re looking for staples like onions, potatoes, celery, yams, that sort of thing. And Christmas is completely different.”
Jeff notes that while many shoppers stick to tried and true classics during Thanksgiving, they’re more willing to experiment during Christmas.
“For Thanksgiving, people are going for tradition. For Christmas, it’s a celebration. There’s a sense of brightness, with the specialty citrus, berries, pomegranates, and asparagus. Products that may be a little over a shopper’s budget get into the basket because they’re willing to pay for celebratory moments,” he remarks.
As consumers move between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Jeff explains that keeping their interest peaked during that in-between month will bring them back to the store.
“Sometimes shoppers need a break from cooking, so they’re looking for products in value-add that offer convenience and ease,” he comments. “And as December goes on, there’s holiday parties to account for, whether it be party platters or dips and trays. Making the platter look good is key, so they’re after a nice selection of grapes or pears. There’s also gifting opportunities, as we’re hoping that shoppers will buy some of the nicely packaged Mandarins or premium apples and pears in nice formats to give as hostess gifts.”
Overall, Jeff sees the most opportunity for holiday merchandising during the weeks before Christmas—and I for one can’t wait to start shopping.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, CA - I smile when Ernesto Soto, Grower Manager for Coke Farm, shares these words with me: The company’s secret sauce is made of the passionate people and the products they offer. If there is one thing I have learned about the organic-only hub, Coke Farm, it’s that one of these elements does not thrive without a deep care and concern for the other. It’s symbiotic. And in an industry where people evoke passion, I found myself incredibly energized as I wrote this story.
“At Coke Farm, everyone supports each other. We are comprised of 85-plus differently sized farming families, together representing one remarkably unique, complex, and rewarding business model that cannot be boxed in or defined as a broker,” Ernesto shares. “We give customers access to a one-stop shop, while promoting a grower market that otherwise wouldn’t exist.”
Coke Farm’s mission and goal are to cultivate and support future organic farmers. The company provides crop planning and program development tailored to each grower’s location, climate, and farm size to ensure their growers have optimal market access and successful crops. Each grower receives the same care and attention—whether they grow on a half-acre of land or 60 acres—thus, helping them fulfill their farming dreams, increase their production, and develop a steady income to support their family.
Coke Farm has a strong alignment with the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) as well, a non-profit focused on helping low-income growers establish their farms. The two companies share a similar mission, and many Coke Farm growers are ALBA graduates.
“Grower mentorship and relationships are the Coke Farm vision and have been for 40 years. Christine Coke’s genuine spirit is to love and help people. An early grower base saw it, which played a heavy influence in evolving our company further,” Ernesto expresses, adding that Christine is the wife of Founder Dale Coke—who is himself a fifth-generation farmer. “Supporting future generations is so important. It’s so expensive to lease or own land and pay for water, labor, and packaging, and it is hard work to line up the proper channels to take it from seed to sale. Coke Farm provides the hand of a caring partner.”
Part of Coke Farm’s commitment to strategic planning and providing essential resources to its grower partners is its centralized cooler operation in San Juan Bautista, California, which was recently expanded to double storage capacity.
“One very unique aspect of Coke Farm is our entire staff is onsite at the cooler. We are very ‘hands-on,’ with sales, quality assurance (QA), and grower management collaborating daily,” shares Adele Gemignani, Sales and Business Development. “Since we have our own cooler and operations team, we are able to expand as needed and offer transportation, custom packs, and food programs. The sales staff windows face the receiving yard, and the quality assurance team is in sync with the rest of the team. All produce is accounted for, with our QA team inspecting and taking pictures of each item as it arrives, and our sales team appointed to ‘sell every bit and piece of the farm,’ for both our growers’ and customers’ benefit."
With demand only accelerating, Coke Farm’s increased storage capacity means more consolidation opportunities and continued growth.
“The success stories we support lift us up,” Adele adds. “We feel good every day about our decisions and ourselves, but it’s even bigger than that. We’re on the same team as the growers, and we also take good care of, and have the support of, our customers. And with our 2nd-year desert program just around the corner, we’re excited to continue offering a steady supply of year-round organic core crops.”
And that, my friends, is a little of Coke Farm’s special sauce.
NEW ZEALAND - Retailers are laying out the red carpet for a highly anticipated arrival, as JAZZ™ apples will be hitting various European supermarkets this week, with an impressive crop sure to nab the attention of shoppers across the region.
“Our JAZZ apples are looking great in terms of color, texture, and flavor,” said Frank Alluine, European Varietal Development Manager. “The superb quality of our new season fruit is an absolute credit to our passionate growers’ great efforts, despite challenging weather.”
This year’s crop not only features a rich color, but a refreshingly sweet taste as well. This season, according to a press release, T&G Global is expecting above-average quality apples and a record volume crop.
“We’re forecasting a record volume of about 40,000 tonnes from the European growing regions in France, South Tyrol, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, we’ve also had a promising season and are expecting a volume of around 8,000 tonnes,” Alluine pointed out. “With new bold packaging and flavourful apples, we’re feeling very positive this season will be rather fruitful!”
You heard that right, a record volume of about 44,000 U.S. tons is expected from the European growing regions. To boost the beloved brand even more, T&G Global’s JAZZ apples now feature an updated look and feel, positioning it as a prime apple for all snacking occasions.
“Earlier this year, we refreshed the brand’s look and feel to reinforce JAZZ’s unique qualities and flavor profile,” said Alluine. “We also developed new packaging formats to support the JAZZ snacking occasion.”
This packaging update not only revitalizes the brand, but also provides a new sustainability advantage, as the company is rolling out new recyclable packaging formats to support its goal of having 100 percent recyclable packaging by 2025.
“Sustainability plays a central role in our production. Almost 80 percent of our European apple supply is grown in France, where all growers have a High Environmental Value certificate,” Alluine added. “To receive this certificate for agricultural operations, our growers must meet strict criteria which includes sustainable water management and preservation of biodiversity.”
A sweet, sustainable snack is the key to many shopper’s hearts, and what better way to jazz up your produce department than with this fresh produce go-to?
AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest news in the industry, so stay tuned.
IRELAND - Fresh produce has once again fallen victim to the nefarious acts of drug traffickers, as 161 kilos, about 355 pounds, of marijuana in plastic bags was recently found hidden amongst containers of lettuce in Ireland.
According to The Olive Press, a Fortuna-based transport company was linked to a criminal in Ceuti that the Guardia Civil suspected of running a major drug trafficking network. The Guardia and customs officials inspected a large lorry coming from Fortuna at the northern port of Bilbao ahead of boarding a ferry bound for Rosslare in Ireland.
Six people, including the ring-leader of the operation, were arrested, and house searches took place in Ceuti, Fortuna, and the La Zenia area of the Orihuela Costa.
At the same time as this shipment was uncovered, officials also intercepted another lorry from the same company that had just arrived from Rosslare. The lorry has passed through a customs inspection, but the driver had failed to declare that €116,000 ($134,423 USD) was also on hand.
The gang accused is said to have exported marijuana across the European Union in lorries for two years.
As always, we here at ANUK applaud the fearless officials who work to protect our industry from those that try to take advantage of it.
PORT HUENEME, CA - As we here at AndNowUKnow have reported over the past few weeks, the challenges surrounding shipping containers and port congestion have persisted, leading some ships to think out of the box to unload cargo. With the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach experiencing backlogs, ships that are unable to wait are moving north up the coast of California to Port Hueneme to dock.
“When cargo comes from Asia to trans-shipment hubs in South America, it can jump on a ship and come up to Hueneme that way,” said Chief Executive Officer and Port Director Kristin Decas to CBSLA. “We’re also seeing some smaller size vessel charter ships out of smaller niche shipping lines in Asia and bring their cargo here this way.”
Located near Oxnard, California, Port Hueneme may be familiar to some in our industry as it usually handles cargo like bananas and other fresh produce, along with cars and fertilizer. However, according to the same report from CBSLA, the port is now acting as a relief valve for congestion for backlogged ports down south.
Additionally, some vessels have opted to unload all of their containers at the Port of Hueneme as a way to avoid larger ports all together.
“...There’s so much money being made on import cargo that, a lot of times, the export cargo gets left behind, and we’re seeing those containers come here to Port Hueneme and be able to get on ships and move to South America trade lanes,” added Decas. “In fact, just this first quarter alone, our export volume is up 219 percent.”
Through the use of mobile harbor cranes, the Port of Hueneme is able to offload and onload containers from vessels and gives them more flexibility to offload different types of cargo. The port also operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, minimizing congestion—a strategy that President Biden recently announced regarding the Port of Los Angeles and was already in effect at the Port of Long Beach.
“We bring a container in. It gets checked in. It gets put on a chassis and then it goes out to a distribution facility outside the gate where it gets inspected by customs there. Hence, you don’t have bottlenecking here inside the gate and at the gate of the port,” Decas explained.
As the supply chain challenges being faced by buyers and suppliers continue, what other methods will present themselves as ways to bypass port congestion? AndNowUKnow will bring you the latest answers.
MONTEREY, CA - Only 37 days to go! While many may be counting down to the New Year, the produce industry is gearing up for a chance to meld minds and advance the industry. Western Growers and the Organic Produce Network have revealed two of the educational sessions set to take place at the 2021 Organic Grower Summit (OGS). The two new sessions will explore how technology is enhancing organic crop production and provide a deep dive into the growth of organic fresh produce sales across the nation over the past two years.
The first session, titled SmartFarm: AgTech in the Field, will elaborate on how new technologies such as robotics and data management are boosting efficiency for organic growers, and explore their impact on production, costs, and the environment.
The session will be moderated by Bart Walker, President of Pacific Ag Rentals. Other panelists include Josh Roberts, President and General Manager of Triangle Farms; Gabe Sibley, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Verdant Robotics; and Sebastien Boyer, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FarmWise.
“Technological advances and data management continue to evolve for organic growers, providing a wide array of new tools designed for greater efficiency in the production of crops,” Walker noted. “This session will highlight some of the newest technologies, equipment, and programs available for growers and how they can best be utilized in the ever-changing landscape of organic fresh produce production.”
The other recently announced session, Organics at Retail–Performance and Consumer Expectations, will examine organic fresh produce sales at retail over the past two years and provide insight on organic performance in comparison to conventional fruits and vegetables.
Category Partners Chief Executive Officer Tom Barnes and Ben Hartman Good Eggs Senior Category Manager of Perishables, will offer an analysis of sales and discuss how e-commerce is altering consumer buying behaviors.
“Since the pandemic started nearly two years ago, sales of organic fresh produce have flourished as consumers look for healthy, nutritious products to feed their families,” said Barnes. “While that growth has slowed slightly, the prospect for organic sales continues to be bright. The session will explore the growth of organic produce over the past two years, and what the future may look like for consumers.”
These newly announced sessions are part of an extensive educational program designed to inform and engage organic producers, their service providers, and supply chain partners, as noted in a press release.
The event will take place at the Monterey Hyatt Conference Center in Monterey, California, December 1-2. Exhibition and general registration are currently open, with only a few booths available before the show floor sells out.
More information about the highly anticipated 2021 OGS awaits, so keep clicking on AndNowUKnow, as we promise to give you all the deets.
ITASCA, IL - The next generation of fresh produce luminaries is already being shaped, and G&R Farms is taking the steps necessary to ensure its success. The onion purveyor recently teamed up with Jewel-Osco to raise $12,160 for scholarship and grant funds for FFA students in Illinois through the Growing America's Farmer's (GAF) promotional program.
"The current American farmer's average age is 58 years old and they are part of multi-generation family farms that are facing more and more pressure,” said G&R Farms' Vice President Walt Dasher, who created the program out of passion for the next generation of industry leaders. "We need to attract, support, and train young agriculture leaders who will become the torchbearers and next generation of producers. The FFA is truly one of our greatest resources and partners in doing this well."
The Growing America's Farmers program donates a portion of the sales from designated products to the National FFA Foundation, which designates those funds to local FFA programs of the retailer’s choice to support students who are pursuing a career in production agriculture, a press release explained.
Over the past five years, the program has raised over $230,000 for FFA member scholarships across the United States. Jewel-Osco, which is now in its sixth year of supporting the program, has helped raise nearly $30,000 for students in Illinois.
"We are proud of our partnership and know that the money raised for the Foundation underscores our commitment to helping educate the next generation of farmers," said Jewel-Osco Produce Sales Manager Scott Bennett.
As noted in the release, FFA membership is at a record high with 760,000+ members in 8,739 chapters across all 50 states, including chapters in 24 of the 25 largest U.S. cities and setting records in member diversity. In Illinois alone, FFA has nearly 400 FFA chapters and more than 20,000 FFA members, with almost 44,000 students taking classes in agriculture, food, and natural resources.
Earlier this month, the supplier also teamed up with Kroger to raise $9,000 for scholarship and grant funds through the program.
"As a third-generation family farm, this is about more than marketing and promotions; this is a personal mission that hits at the heart of who I am and what I stand for," Dasher concluded.
Mike Gatz, Vice President of Business Development at Bushman's, also highlighted the need to support future generations in the industry.
"We all have a responsibility to help young people follow their dreams, and it is equally important in agriculture as we rely on the very goods and services farmers produce to maintain and elevate our food systems," he stated.
We applaud G&R Farms and Jewel-Osco for putting this dynamic partnership into play to lay a solid foundation for the future of our industry!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Whether you’re focusing solely on online retail or operating both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses, being armed with the proper capabilities and partnerships is essential. Funtech Software, which was recently acquired by GrubMarket, empowers its retail allies with just this, allowing them to manage their business online and reach more consumers. This is GrubMarket's first acquisition in Canada, and will be supported by the formation of its first overseas software technology R&D center.
"Funtech Software is a pioneer in building business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce software for physical and online grocery stores,” said Mike Xu, Chief Executive Officer of GrubMarket. “With its profitable, cloud-based software platform, it has developed a reliable, fast-growing customer base in both Canada and the U.S. This acquisition marks the start of our expansion into Canada. It also enables GrubMarket to build an elite software engineering R&D center in Vancouver, leveraging the deep software engineering talent pool available there. Moreover, this acquisition supplements our current software offering to power both B2B and B2C activities in the food supply chain industry. We are excited to welcome the Funtech Software team to the GrubMarket family. Together, we will build a greater customer base and stronger e-commerce network in the food ecosystem across the North American continent."
Funtech designs, develops, and supports e-commerce storefronts for desktop and mobile websites as well as mobile applications, a press release explained. It builds robust backend software systems to manage inventory, orders, pricing, logistics, and packing for online orders. After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its current leadership team.
The acquired company’s B2C e-commerce and online grocery software will now be available as part of GrubMarket's software product line. This also includes the wholesaler’s proprietary WholesaleWare software suite, which provides financial management, easy-to-use sales and online ordering features, precise inventory management, lot traceability and tracking, and automated routing and logistics tools.
"We are excited to join the GrubMarket team and welcome the opportunities brought forth by GrubMarket's strong network and technology team. We are constantly striving to build the best e-commerce system solutions for our customers. We are thrilled to learn that GrubMarket shares these same goals. We sincerely look forward to joining the GrubMarket team and working together to bring Funtech Software to the next level of success," said Sam Qi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Funtech Software.
As GrubMarket wields this acquisition to build its Canadian footprint, ANUK will watch and see how it bolsters the country’s e-commerce sector overall.