WATSONVILLE, CA - Laying a solid groundwork for the next generation is a critical task, and Monterey Mushrooms is not shying away from the challenge. Making key investments in the future and those who will lead it, the supplier recently awarded 94 children of its employees with scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year, totaling an investment of $254,678.
“For 29 years, we have been honored and privileged to be able to support these dedicated young people in their educational pursuits,” Chief Executive Officer Shah Kazemi said. “The feedback and thanks we get from the students and their parents is gratifying, and we look forward to watching these excellent young people succeed in the future.”
As it celebrates its 50th year in business, the supplier is taking its purpose of “Enhancing People’s Lives” to new levels through efforts such as the recently awarded scholarships. For the past three decades, children of full-time employees have been eligible to apply for a scholarship up to $3,000 and for up to four years, as explained in a press release.
The scholarships are presented to students who pursue higher education at accredited colleges, universities, and vocation/technical schools. During the application process, students share their educational background, school activities, academic goals and aspirations, work experience, and other personal achievements.
“The scholarship helped me gain my career and educational goals by reducing the cost burden,” Ana Mejia, a current employee and four-time scholarship recipient who earned a degree of science in business administration with a major in accounting from Tennessee Tech University, said. “Monterey Mushrooms feels like home.”
In 2004, Monterey Mushrooms’ scholarship program was renamed the Carl Victor Fields Scholarship Program to honor the company’s Vice President of Marketing, who was extremely passionate about the importance of young leaders achieving their potential.
Since the program was created, the company has awarded 2,387 grants totaling more than $3.4 million.
“The MMI Scholarship has allowed me to continue my studies all four years. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity, and it is another symbol of my parents' contribution toward my future,” Berenice Campos, another scholarship recipient, said.
Congratulations to all of this year’s scholarship recipients! We at ANUK applaud Monterey Mushrooms on its countless investments in the future.
ONTARIO, CANADA - Catania Worldwide must be listening to The Beatles as of late, as the company announced it has come together to form a single company with its widespread divisions. Facilities across the United States and Mexico have been renamed and reimagined in an effort to strengthen its distribution footprint.
“With ranches and a network of five Catania warehouses, it allows for sales and distribution worldwide,” the video highlights.
Leading with one name and one mission, the newly optimized company is continuing to bring the same freshness it always has to tables everywhere. The facilities included in this effort are now named Catania North, formerly M.L. Catania; Catania East, formerly Catania New Jersey; Catania West, formerly Stellar Distributing; Catania South, formerly Catania Texas; and Catania Mexico.
Catania announced the news in an exclusive and exciting video featured above, so be sure to check it out for more details. The video notes that Catania will continue its mission of providing taste, quality, and service with offerings that are always in season.
Further details of the optimization have yet to be released, but ANUK will be keeping a close eye on what Catania Worldwide does next.
CINCINNATI, OH - Offering ease, safety, and convenience to consumers nationwide, the grocery delivery sector is skyrocketing, and retail companies are making key plays to keep up with demand. Kroger is one of the latest chains to announce the expansion of its delivery strategy with the addition of new fulfillment centers powered by the Ocado Group. Utilizing vertical integration, machine learning, and robotics, Kroger will provide affordable, fast delivery service to more consumers nationwide.
"Kroger Delivery is a thriving part of our dynamic ecosystem and is transforming grocery e-commerce and meeting a range of customer needs through the introduction of first-of-its-kind technology in the U.S. developed by Ocado," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Kroger's growing seamless ecosystem continues to scale, and we're committed to doubling both our digital sales and profitability rate by the end of 2023, and Kroger Delivery will help us reach this target. We feel great about the momentum we're experiencing with Kroger Delivery and our partnership with Ocado and are strategically leveraging our assets to expand our operations in existing regions as well as enter new geographies on the East Coast that leverage facilities across a growing range of sizes."
The retailer's recent announcement includes plans for expansion in the Northeast, California, and Florida, according to a release. Details surrounding customer coverage areas, jobs, facility sizes, and timing are expected to be revealed in the coming months.
Although exact details weren't announced, Kroger did highlight the fact that this will be the company's entrance into the Northeast, offering Kroger Delivery enabled by a customer fulfillment center, which will meet the need for same-day and next-day grocery delivery demand.
In California, Kroger will expand its existing operations and boost capacity in the state with the addition of two new customer fulfillment centers. Like the Northeast, the medium and smaller-sized facilities will meet demand for same-day and next-day delivery services.
"I am delighted that we're bringing Ocado's world-leading technology to Kroger customers across the U.S.," said Luke Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of Ocado Solutions. "The Northeast is another new geography for Kroger, and we're excited to enter it with them. Moreover, with the addition of fulfillment centers in Southern California, our partnership is truly revolutionizing the U.S. grocery online landscape from coast to coast."
Kroger Delivery launched in Central Florida earlier this year, and the new operation gained momentum faster than anticipated, creating high customer repeat rates and net promoter scores. To continue this growth, Kroger will enter South Florida and introduce two smaller-sized fulfillment centers that will join the already launched center in Groveland, Florida, as well as "spoke" sites in Jacksonville and Tampa.
"The acceleration of Kroger Delivery continues with these new facilities and our continued focus on creating career opportunities and serving customers through interconnected, automated, and innovative fulfillment models that cater to different and accretive grocery shopper missions in both new and existing geographies," said Gabriel Arreaga, Kroger's Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. "We have a pipeline of sites in development across the U.S., with several scheduled to open next year, and we're excited to continue delivering the Kroger experience to more doorsteps."
The expansion in the Florida market will also mark the introduction of two automated local fulfillment centers with Ocado, allowing Kroger Delivery to serve its shopper in as fast as 30 minutes with a selection over 10,000 fresh food items and essentials as well as offer same-day and next-day orders for 35,000 items.
"Kroger is also leveraging the full breadth of Ocado's fulfillment capabilities to meet the growing range of customer wants and demands," continued Jensen. "Alongside the current rollout of our automated facilities and software to optimize fulfillment in stores for curbside pickup, today's announcement of a further CFC in Florida and the introduction of our first 'Zoom' micro fulfillment site in the U.S., serving the immediacy market, is a testament to the breadth and flexibility of the offering we are helping to bring to Kroger shoppers. These fulfillment centers will also benefit from significant upstream efficiencies, with the existing CFC in Groveland able to act as a major supply hub into the new Florida sites."
Currently, Kroger operates customer fulfillment centers in Groveland, Florida, and Monroe, Ohio. The retailer recently announced five other new facilities in Dallas, Texas; Forest Park, Georgia; Frederick, Maryland; Phoenix, Arizona; Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; Romulus, Michigan; and in the South, West, and Pacific Northwest.
As more details of these pivotal expansions become available, AndNowUKnow will report.
MONTEREY, CA - Leadership is a key facet of success, and the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) is honoring industry luminaries that have helped evolve fresh produce as it has selected the 2021 Profiles in Leadership (PIL) Award recipients. The list of honorees includes Jeff Stephens, Jeannine Campos Grech, and Tracy Schohr, Ag Leadership Program alumni who will be awarded at a ceremony in Clovis, California, on October 14.
“Ag Leadership is focused on growing leaders who make a difference,” said CALF President and Chief Executive Officer Dwight Ferguson. “We are delighted to see our alumni positively influence their industries, communities, and families. This couldn’t be more evident with Jeannine, Tracy, and Jeff, and this award is a wonderful opportunity to showcase their leadership-in-practice.”
Jeannine Campos Grech was part of the 29th class of the Ag Leadership Program.
Aaccording to a release, Campos Grech was selected for her community service work, especially with Valley Children’s. Currently, she serves as Chair of both Valley Children’s Hospital and Valley Children’s Healthcare Boards of Trustees and also served as a Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation Board Member.
“Jeannine has left a lasting legacy on the children of the Central Valley,” said those who nominated her. “She is a hands-on Board Member and is directly involved in the strategic planning, financial management, and vision setting for the healthcare network.”
A part of Class 39, Tracy Schohr is receiving the award based on her community service during wildfires in her area, including the 2018 Camp Fire, 2020 North Complex Fire, and 2021 Dixie Fire, all of which ravaged the California landscape. To aid in relief, her work included coordinating with emergency personnel and ranchers to contain, transport, and secure a safe place for loose herds and displaced livestock. She currently serves as Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor at the University of California.
“Tracy supports the agricultural industry through education and understanding of the science around natural working lands with the public,” commented her nominators. “She is the first to step up to make a difference. California will continue to have natural disasters and Tracy will be there on the front lines, and we can count on the fact that her crisis leadership will benefit everyone.”
Jeff Stephens, Class 24, will join the list of recipients for his work with homelessness and community cleanup.
“I saw a need and the community needed action taken, and what resulted has totally changed my life and benefited our community,” said Stephens. “We took people who were feeling hopeless and gave them something to feel hopeful about within the community.”
To help this cause, he founded SAYlove, an organization to address dumping in rural areas and provide care and support in Yuba City and the surrounding communities. Bringing businesses and the community together, Stephens enabled the cleanup of over 1.5 million pounds of dumped material in just one year.
Recipients of this year’s awards will be honored during the Class 51 Inaugural Banquet being held on October 14 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District.
Congratulations to these three leaders on becoming recipients of this honor and for making a vital difference in their communities!
PARIS, FRANCE - A game-changing announcement was made by France’s environmental ministry yesterday, as a new retail packaging mandate will soon be implemented. As of January 2022, the country will be banning plastic packaging for the majority of fresh fruit and vegetables in an effort to increase sustainability in the food industry.
"We use an outrageous amount of single-use plastic in our daily lives. The circular economy law aims at cutting back the use of throwaway plastic and boost its substitution by other materials or reusable and recyclable packaging," the ministry said, according to a report from Reuters.
The law was presented in February of 2020 and covers roughly 30 fresh produce categories, including leeks, round tomatoes, apples, bananas, and oranges. The ministry reports that approximately 37 percent of fruits and vegetables use packaging materials, and the new mandate is expected to remove one billion plastic components each year.
From a Stateside perspective, this mandate could pose understandable challenges to industry suppliers, as packaging has become a sign of safety for shoppers in the past two years. The French Fruit Sellers Federation reportedly echoes this sentiment.
"Selling loose produce is complicated, as many customers touch the fruit and people do not want their fruit to be touched by other customers," President Françoise Roch stated, noting that suppliers have very little time to transition to cardboard packaging.
The mandate is part of a larger plastic reduction strategy implemented by France. Earlier this year, the country placed a ban on plastic straws, cups, and cutlery. According to the news source, plastic packaging is also expected to be phased out of the supply chain for more delicate produce items by June 2026.
By the end of June 2023, plastic packaging for cherry tomatoes, green beans, and peaches will be phased out, and asparagus, mushrooms, cherries, and more will no longer feature plastic packaging by the end of 2024. Berries are expected to follow in June 2026, and further food system bans will be set in motion.
AndNowUKnow is left to wonder how this new packaging mandate will impact the United States' export of fresh produce to France moving forward. As always, we will keep you posted.
TAHOE, CA - Northern California welcomed a brief reprieve from the threats of fire season this past Friday, as the Sierra Nevada mountains saw light snowfall in the early morning. Only a few inches covered the ground, but it was a definitive sign that the winter season is coming, bringing with it cooler weather and, hopefully, a significant amount of precipitation.
Local news source The Sacramento Bee states that high-elevation areas experienced between one and three inches of snow late Thursday night and early Friday morning. While the snow did melt in the early afternoon, this combined with lower temperatures has played a positive role in the region’s outlook on fire season.
Quickly following the snowfall, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Northern California. Strong north winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour and gusts from 40 to 50 miles per hour are expected to impact the region today and into tomorrow.
Due to the intense wind gusts and low humidity for the next couple days, the National Weather Service has also issued a red flag warning through Tuesday. The strongest winds are expected to impact the Central Valley and the Coastal Range’s foothills, raising concerns surrounding the critical fire conditions in California.
As to how these conditions will impact our industry’s operators, we will continue to keep a close watch on the situation and report as soon as news comes to light.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Instacart has seen strong, continued growth since it began offering its enterprise technology to grocers back in 2017. Since then, the company has unveiled pivotal investments to scale its team and bring new technologies to the market for retailers. Continuing its growth strategy, Instacart has revealed the recent acquisition of FoodStorm, a SaaS order management system that provides retailers with end-to-end order-ahead and catering experiences.
“As a retailer enablement platform, Instacart is focused on growing our partners’ businesses by investing in innovative new technologies and services that deliver significant value to them and their customers,” said Mark Schaaf, Chief Technology Officer, Instacart. “Our goal is to help our retail partners increase their sales and ensure more of their customers’ everyday meals come from the grocery store. That’s why we’re excited to welcome the talented FoodStorm team to Instacart and integrate their end-to-end order-ahead and catering platform into Instacart’s leading enterprise offering.”
Through this acquisition, Instacart will be able to expand its enterprise technology portfolio to further support its retail partners’ e-commerce needs, as noted in a press release, and invest in more innovative technology solutions that help retailers grow, compete, and meet the evolving needs of their customers.
FoodStorm creates a seamless experience for consumers and retailers through its comprehensive SaaS offering, which covers multi-channel ordering such as phone, e-commerce, or in-store kiosk, as well as order management and payment and fulfillment. FoodStorm’s technology is easily integrated with a variety of third-party systems, including POS systems and customer relationship management capabilities to allow grocers to collect feedback, market their offerings, and announce promotional features.
“For retailers, this new enterprise solution helps them bring even more of their inventory online, enhance their e-commerce capabilities, grow their business, and meet the evolving needs of their customers,” Schaaf continued. “And, for customers, this unlocks a healthier, more affordable alternative to restaurant delivery—creating an easier way for people to order prepared foods online directly from their favorite grocers.”
Since its inception 14 years ago, FoodStorm has developed strong alliances with a number of Instacart’s existing retail partners, such as Albertsons Companies banners Balducci’s and Kings Food Markets, as well as Bi-Rite Market, Mollie Stone’s Markets, Uncle Giuseppe’s, and Roche Brothers Supermarkets. As a result of the acquisition, Instacart will work to make the company’s technology available to even more retailers. Instacart’s enterprise technology today powers the comprehensive e-commerce platforms of over 175 local, regional, and national grocers across North America, including Costco Canada, Heinen’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, The Fresh Market, Wegmans, and more.
In addition to the acquisition of the innovator’s tools and technology, Instacart has also welcomed the FoodStorm team, based in the U.S. and Melbourne, Australia, to the Instacart family.
“I’m incredibly proud of what the FoodStorm team has achieved for our partners. We’ve developed market-leading software that makes it easier for grocers to execute on prepared food and catering orders more efficiently, and track everything from one central location. This is a huge growth opportunity for grocers, and we’ve seen increased demand for our products as more customers are searching for seamless online and in-store ordering capabilities,” said FoodStorm Chief Executive Officer Rob Hill. “Grocery is an incredibly complex retail category, making the need for enterprise-grade solutions like FoodStorm and Instacart critical to the long-term success of the industry we all rely on to put food on our tables. We’re excited about this next chapter as we join the Instacart team and create new ways for retailers to serve the ever-changing needs of their businesses and customers.”
As Instacart continues to forge new strategies to boost retail success, keep an eye out for the latest updates from AndNowUKnow.
CHICAGO, IL - Quality and innovation are synonymous to companies like Hazel Technologies, which is constantly utilizing its industry-shaking technology to extend shelf-life, increase sales, and fight food waste in the fresh produce industry. Turning the spotlight on a coveted category, the solutions provider has announced the launch of its upcoming virtual Grape Quality Summit on October 15.
“Hazel Tech® is helping grape growers, packers, shippers, and retailers protect the stem quality of an ever-growing list of table grape varieties around the world,” said Mario Cervantes, Director of Business Development, AgTech. “I look forward to presenting grower case studies that illustrate how Hazel Tech’s technology is positively impacting the global supply chain.”
The one-hour event will feature keynote speakers who will address global market trends, category innovation, postharvest research, and shelf-life extension technology, according to a press release. Speakers during the summit will include Cervantes; Estefania Echeverria, Head of Yentzen Research and Consulting at Portal Frutícola; and Anél Botes, Postharvest Researcher at South Africa’s ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij.
Each of the keynote speeches will present global market insights for the category and highlight the latest research on postharvest quality, including maintaining stem quality, preventing dehydration, and ensuring optimum long-distance transit. Speakers will also highlight new technology developed to boost grape quality on black, red, and green varieties.
The free webinar will include a discussion on advancements and changes in the grape supply chain, with panelists Garland Perkins, Senior Manager for Insights and Innovation at Oppy; Jose Monasterio, Quality and Postharvest Manager at Frusan; and Nico Tomicic, Business Development Manager at Hazel Technologies. The discussion will be led by Hazel Tech Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Pat Flynn.
Registration for the Grape Quality Summit is open until October 15, or until capacity is reached. To learn more about the event, and to register, click here.
As always, leave a tab open for AndNowUKnow, as we promise to bring you the latest news in the produce industry.
BENSON, NC - While classrooms may be the place where children go to gain more knowledge, the learning doesn’t stop when they step out the door. To bring useful ag education to the students of North Carolina, the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission (NCSPC) recently announced a new partnership with Ripe Revival. Through the alliance, the organization will host a first-of-its-kind event in connection with the Harrison Family YMCA’s after-school program.
“The growers, packers, and shippers of the NC SweetPotato industry give every day to our local communities and beyond, by providing the state’s vegetable and one of the world’s top superfoods, the sweetpotato! We at the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission are excited to have the opportunity to offer additional sweetness to our communities by giving back while continuing to celebrate our big anniversary milestone,” said Michelle Grainger, Executive Director of the NCSPC. “We couldn’t agree more with our industry partners, Ripe Revival, that the United Way and the Harrison Family YMCA provide incredible support in their community, and we are honored to add to that community support and early childhood enrichment—even if for an afternoon.”
NCSPC has crafted an afternoon of fun for children, through which they will learn all about sweetpotatoes, according to a press release. Several activities centered around the orange superfood will take place during the after-school event at the Harrison Family YMCA, with approximately 55 children expected to participate.
“We are honored and excited for our partnership with the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission, Ripe Revival, and the United Way, as they are all pivotal organizations in our community,” said Jacquelyn Price, Chief Executive Officer of the Harrison Family YMCA. “In our After School Program, we focus on character development, STEAM activities, community service, and physical activity, and this sweetpotato event is an awesome opportunity for our children to learn about and engage with a food that is so important to our state. We are looking forward to this afternoon full of education, creativity, and fun for our kids.”
As noted in the release, the activities will offer information about careers in agriculture, sweetpotato art, and general fun facts about NC sweetpotatoes, with NCSPC’s very own beloved mascot Spencer Sweepotato in attendance.
During the event, children will have the opportunity to taste a delicious smoothie that incorporates NC sweetpotatoes and discuss their nutrition with Ripe Revival’s onsite Registered Dietitian, Sarah Hester MS, RD.
“It has been shown that it may take upwards of fifteen ‘exposures’ for a child to accept a new food. This event provides children many different ways to interact or have exposure with sweetpotatoes—through taste, touch, art, and more! My hope is that children learn to love this amazing veggie and continue to know their importance to our state and their own way of eating,” said Sarah Hester MS, RD of Ripe Revival.
Having worked with sweetpotato farmers, distributors, and processors for over a decade, Ripe Revival’s Chief Executive Officer Will Kornegay has a deep passion for exposing children to the powerful superfood.
“Our mission at Ripe Revival is to serve our communities through food. We do that by helping farmers market their crops, mentoring the next generation of farmers, distributing food to families in need, and empowering communities through agriculture,” Kornegay said. “We’re so thankful for our community partnerships that have made this event possible.”
In addition to the fun activities taking place at the YMCA, children will also be able to take the fun home with them with their NCSPC swag bag, which includes fresh sweetpotatoes as well as several delicious and nutritious recipes, a Spencer Sweetpotato plush doll and stickers, and activity books and crayons.
Two classrooms, one for grade levels K–2 and another for grade levels 3–5, will serve for children to complete excerpts from the NCSPC’s activity workbook pages as they wait to be picked up by their parents.
“Partnership is a cornerstone to a stronger community, and we are so pleased to join together in this event that promotes healthy eating and appreciation for our superfood, the sweetpotato,” said Ginny Mohrbutter, Executive Director of United Way Tar River Region, a partner of the Harrison Family YMCA. “As our United Way celebrates its 70th Anniversary alongside our local partners, like the YMCA and Ripe Revival, we share in the excitement of the 60th Anniversary of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission!”
What a unique way to generate a passion for produce in the next generation! Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we continue to bring you the latest in fresh produce.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - As we get closer to the two-year mark since the pandemic began, Bolthouse Farms once again celebrated a new tradition with its second annual “People Day.” Held September 24, the company recognized and honored more than 100 frontline employees as they continue to go above and beyond to help grow the business, keep it running smoothly, and allow the company to fulfill its goal of feeding people across North America.
“This is my favorite day of the year—when we get to celebrate the successful year we had and to thank each and every one of our employees for helping to make Bolthouse Farms the company we all know we can,” said Chief Executive Officer Jeff Dunn.
“People Day” positions the company as a premier employer, as it promotes a safe, innovative, productive, and positive work environment and recognizes employees ranked as high performers for the past fiscal year.
A total of 25 top performing frontline employees from five distinct workgroups were awarded one of five Carrot Orange 2021 GMC® Terrain vehicles or one of four sets of cash bonuses in the amounts of $10,000, $7,500, $5,000, or $2,500. According to a press release, an additional 81 recipients received a bonus of $1,000. Awards were given to employees from its Bakersfield, California; Hodgkins, Illinois; Prosser, Washington; and Tolleson, Arizona facilities.
“I am proud to recognize these employees who truly live and breathe Bolthouse Farms company culture—People Powering Purpose—each and every day,” said Zak Karlen, General Manager, Bolthouse Farms. “Celebrating our people is key to our culture, where we put people first. Congratulations to each of the top performers recognized, as they are the ones who make a difference by going above and beyond with their commitment, leadership, and performance every day.”
Top performers were nominated by their supervisors, using criteria including skill assessments; key performance indicators specific to their job, safety, and attendance; as well as demonstrating Bolthouse Farms’ company culture and values. Employees from each workgroup were presented to the senior leadership team, who evaluated the employees’ performance for award selection.
“Since 1988, I have been part of the Bolthouse Farms family—I come to work, do my job, and do a good job,” said Raul Pena, Foreman of the Irrigation Team at the company’s farm in Cuyama, California, and recipient of one of the vehicles. “Being recognized during People Day this year and receiving one of the new vehicles, I truly felt that my hard work is recognized, appreciated, and noticed by our leaders.”
We extend a heartfelt congratulations and thank you to all these invaluable frontline workers.