NEW YORK - As we inhale, our lungs expand. Intergrow Greenhouses has taken a deep breath, and its proverbial lungs are growing in size. Most recently, the company opened a 10-acre facility in upstate New York that will produce over three million pounds of fresh produce a year, supplying customers across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and all the way to the Southeast.
“We’ve been operating in the US since 1998, and always in New York State,” says Dirk Biemans, President. “Our European partners saw the opportunity for greenhouse-grown produce here in the U.S. back in the 90s, and we quickly set up shop! The climate here in New York is ideally suited for our greenhouse production, resulting in the best flavor, quality, and consistency for our retail partners all year. We are primed for successful growth here in NY. With nearly 60 percent of the U.S. population only 24 hours from us, and growing consumer demand for local and domestically grown produce, we’ve got to be ready!”
According to a press release, Biemans reports that over 70 percent of the 350 employees at Intergrow are permanent residents of New York State, and that number is reportedly growing.
“Labor is an extremely important part of our business model, if we can recruit, train, and retain local labor it can yield huge advantages for us!” he continues.
The new facility will be outfitted with HPS grow lights, adding to Intergrow’s ever-increasing portfolio of winter offerings. It also boasts diffused glass for better light distribution and state-of-the-art heating and fertigation systems. Biemans also reports that while team has found great success with this project, there were several challenges and delays that posed challenges.
“Ocean freight is crazy right now, not only have prices increased, but there’s been a huge problem with on-time arrivals and customs issues. The majority of this project came in prefabricated from Europe, which offers a lot of benefits but our team and chosen suppliers were not quite ready for the logistical challenges in 2021!” Biemans says. “However, we were able to pull through, overcoming those challenges, and working with the cards we were dealt. This project was successfully completed on time putting us at a total of 105 acres under glass.”
As we continue to keep an eye on our industry’s airflow, stick with us here at ANUK.
SANTA ANA PUEBLO, NM - What I love about the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference (WFPC) is that its rare, engaging, and dynamic qualities are truly a reflection of its members and attendees. From its founding members to today’s up-and-comers, the WFPC is exactly what the name implies, bringing a fresh depth and perspective to today’s women and, by design, the entire industry.
Jill Overdorf, Director of Business Development for Naturipe Farms - Foodservice, is one of those individuals who is both a mirror and collaborative creator of these values we speak of. She joins me to share her story and why the conference is an essential component in fresh produce’s success.
“Before there was even a conference, I was fortunate to be a part of the task force that developed the Women’s Fresh Perspective’s portfolio and we met first in Monterey, California, during the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Foodservice Conference and later that fall in a basement meeting room of the Marriott at LAX,” Jill begins. “We were ten women who represented two from each generation—20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. After we crafted, debated, and agreed on the priorities that would define a women’s gathering, the WFP conference was brought into existence.”
While Jill is looking forward to this year’s WFPC September 12–14 at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, Jill has the lifelong gift of having attended the very first conference in Arizona. The group was treated to an opening keynote from human behavior expert and CPAE Hall of Fame motivational keynote speaker, Colette Carlson, and stories of being a pioneer in the industry from Frieda Rapoport Caplan, in addition to development seminars and incredible networking.
“From the very beginning, the WFPC experience has cemented my respect for the opportunities to build a supportive community and lift others. My vision for the women across the breadth of this industry has evolved into one of support, collaboration, and solidarity,” Jill reflects. “I was a rower in college and learned the value of working towards a common goal with collective energy; WFP provides the same unification in a professional environment with celebrations of success and moments of reflection and support.”
Currently, Jill has three direct mentees that have evolved out of attending these conferences and a number of other relationships that provide reciprocal guidance and resources.
When I ask Jill what she is looking forward to the most as the event approaches next month, she tells me with enthusiasm that she is incredibly excited to see people in the flesh.
“After eighteen months of Zoom calls, emails, and phone calls, it will be a delight to see colleagues and friends in person. I am also looking forward to being challenged mentally and learning something new. I always leave WFPC with a new way, or at least a renewed way, to approach my career and my life,” Jill tells me. “This particular conference is focusing on personal and professional development and these are skills that benefit everyone no matter where they may be in their lives. There have been long and passionate conversations asking WHY women need their own conference—generally started by my male friends. And, that’s just it: They rarely have experienced being an outsider, or one who is the newbie, or feeling like there is no one else like them in the room.”
WFP creates a curated, professional environment to develop and hone skills that may be new or foreign.
“By providing a professional, yet informal space, trust and relationships are built that may not occur in a sales meeting or a customer visit,” Jill says. “This conference often builds the foundation for successful sales visits and lifelong relationships in the future. Sowing the seeds for confidence, intelligent listening, and problem-solving, events like WFP lay the cornerstones of success for the next generations of engaged and dynamic business people and women in the produce industry.”
With the event just weeks away, we hope that Jill’s word will hit home for you as much as they do me. Have a great conference, Jill, and to all those who are investing in their own potential and greatness!
CASTROVILLE, CA - As we approach the winter months, buyers are preparing for winter sets and the programs necessary to keep shoppers happy. Brussels sprouts have become one of the most sought-after veggies, and the demand is obvious. To learn more about the currently tight Brussels sprouts market, I turned to Ocean Mist Farms’ Philip Barrientos, Commodity Account Manager.
“Over the past month we’ve received a lot of inquiries about our availability on sprouts from other suppliers and the buying community,” Philip remarked, immediately noting the state of the market. “It is significantly more active today than it was a year ago. If I remember correctly, this time last year the market was showing pricing of $16–18. Ocean Mist has been in a good spot with enough volume to cover our commitments and key customers, while also having some volume to sell on the open market.”
Reporting strong quality on its current crop, Ocean Mist has the product to back up climbing consumer demand for the cruciferous veg.
“The consumer demand continues to be very consistent, so keep buying Brussels,” Philip commented. “We’re always looking to expand our customer base and grow our program. Our Season & Steam Brussels Sprouts product line continues to gain distribution. This value-added product line is responding to consistently growing demand for convenience in the retail sector.”
The company’s brand has become well-known throughout the industry for its ability to deliver consistent quality across its product lines.
With its unique, time-saving, and personalized option, it’s right on trend for today’s shopper.
Keep your eyes on AndNowUKnow as we continue to look out for market updates like this.
ST. LOUIS, MO - They say that familiarity breeds contentment, and nowhere is this more true than in the produce industry. All supply chain operators find comfort in names they trust, and will continue returning to their services time and time again. Bayer’s Seminis® and De Ruiter® brands are two examples of time-tested favorites, and the company recently announced that it is uniting the two under its new “Vegetables by Bayer” brand platform. The launch brings these two popular names together to introduce a new brand identity, positioning, and global website.
“By bringing together world-class experts and resources from across Bayer, the new ‘Vegetables by Bayer' umbrella enables our Seminis and De Ruiter brands to provide value to our customers and partners in new and exciting ways,” said Inci Dannenberg, President of Global Vegetable Seeds.
Seminis and De Ruiter boast of more than 20 different crops and thousands of seed varieties, providing cutting-edge solutions for customers in diverse open-field and protected environments. Now, they will join forces as part of “Vegetables by Bayer” with an even deeper commitment to delivering value at every step to growers, partners, consumers, and the planet.
A press release explained that this value is reflected across four core pillars: partnership, innovation, performance, and sustainability:
- Partnership: The “Vegetables by Bayer” brands are deeply engaged in Bayer’s Food Chain Partnership initiatives which bring together growers, food processors, retailers, traders and others along the food value chain. With a network of 70 Food Chain managers across 44 countries, the Food Chain Partnerships team coordinates initiatives to improve sustainability, food safety, quality, yields, and transparency in more than 70 different crops
- Innovation: Bayer is committed to developing integrated solutions that improve yield and adaptability, while delivering on consumer demand
- Performance: “Vegetables by Bayer” partners with growers and customers to support insightful accurate decisions in relation to crop steering and management consistently building more confidence with our top varieties
- Sustainability: With its Seminis and De Ruiter vegetable seeds, Bayer is committed to helping reduce food loss and waste, ensuring high-quality, nutritious produce reaches more consumers
The launch comes as the United Nations celebrates the “International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021,” which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption, the press release continued.
“From our industry-leading R&D to tailored solutions that go beyond the seed to meet the evolving needs of the market, ‘Vegetables by Bayer’ reflects our commitment to helping our customers grow their businesses so together we can foster a healthier, more sustainable world,” said Dannenberg.
AndNowUKnow will keep our ears pressed to the wires as more fresh produce news comes to light.
COACHELLA VALLEY, CA - Having lived in California my entire life, I have an acute appreciation for the men and women who bring our produce to the table—specifically the grape growers in the Coachella Valley. During a conversation with Anthony Bianco, Co-Owner of Anthony Vineyard’s, we discussed how the company has consistently shown its appreciation for the farmworkers who make this possible.
This appreciation, Anthony imparts, is one he hopes to see at the retail level, as well, as so much of what makes Anthony Vineyards’ grapes high quality lies in the hands of its workforce.
“The farmworkers in Coachella Valley, California, live and raise their families in that area, and we wanted to show retailers that support us who they’re supporting, too. They are Californian citizens and residents, not migrant workers, and their livelihoods depend on table grapes in the Coachella Valley,” Anthony comments. “These are the families. This is a real thing. When we snapped that picture to send, we explained what we were doing to our team and what was going on. You could see everybody was so happy to do this, and they knew we were going to send this to the retailers who care about California produce.”
Waving American flags and sporting bunches of grapes, the workers beam at the camera; the team at Anthony Vineyards shows how much of a staple they are to both the community and to the industry.
“They’re not just farmworkers,” Anthony says. “They’re California farmworkers.”
An important distinction, he notes, especially as he sees California retailers shifting from buying Californian grapes to buying predominantly from Mexico.
“We do have Californian retailers that support us, but the difference in cost between Mexican and Californian grapes—25 cents a pound—tends to sway retailers to Mexican operations. I genuinely believe that consumers will pay that extra 25 cents in order to support California farmworkers,” Anthony asserts.
An assertion I agree with, as I know that most shoppers of my generation want to buy products both local and in support of local industry.
Anthony and I will be talking again later this year about potential legislation that could impact this, so please stay tuned.
YAKIMA, WA - Keeping yourself on the radar of not only consumers but buyers is no easy feat, but Superfresh Growers has taken the challenge in stride, launching creative branding, packaging solutions, and proprietary varieties to remain firmly planted in the spotlight. As Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Innovations approaches, Superfresh is preparing to showcase the fruits of its labor, and Paul Newstead, Director of Business Development, offered me a sneak peek.
“With the quality and breadth of retail attendance, Southern Innovations offers value on a regional and national scope,” Paul says. “SEPC has a legacy of organizing events with key networking opportunities that create an atmosphere for a deeper connection with industry members. The association also has its pulse on hot topics that are unique and relevant, giving us important information and new perspectives.”
For Superfresh Growers, one of the perspectives it would like to share is why adding its lineup to retailers’ produce aisles is a surefire way to bring quality and variety to the shelves.
To prove its point, the company will be showing off its new crop apples and pears at the event, including organic and conventional Honeycrisp, organic Gala, organic and conventional Pink Lady®, and its proprietary Cosmic Crisp® and Autumn Glory® apples. Superfresh will also be highlighting its Bosc and Red d’Anjou pears, which have already started being harvested. Together, the products make up the growers’ key promotional items for fall.
“Autumn Glory and Cosmic Crisp both have been killing it in Nielsen data. Autumn Glory has the largest year-over-year growth percentage in its peak season—up 40 percent in dollars and 88 percent in volume,” Paul tells me. “Cosmic Crisp has maintained the #11 national spot, and it will be no surprise if it sneaks into the top 5 this coming crop year. For retailers who haven’t yet added Cosmic Crisp to their lineup, they are missing out on key apple sales.”
In addition to its proprietary varieties, the company will be keying buyers into its new Superfresh Organics® branding that was released last year.
“Our new Superfresh Organics branding will continue to be a huge focus for us this year,” Paul explains. “The 2 lb bags feature a brilliant, eye-catching purple color and large windows on the front that are sure to get consumer attention when put on display. Retailers love that it’s so easily identifiable as organic due to its distinct appearance, and we’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback.”
Having FOMO (fear of missing out) after hearing what Paul had to say? Check out Superfresh’s booth, #212, to get in touch with him and find out how you can get all of these delicious varieties on your shelves.
WASHINGTON, DC - Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Arizona Marketing Produce Distributors had satisfied a $12,100 reparation order that had been issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) involving unpaid produce transactions.
Direct From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The Phoenix, Arizona, company has met its obligations and is now free to operate in the produce industry. Lorin N. Hobbs was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA icensee.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it, as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA approval.
Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individual.
To read the release in full, click here.
LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA - Growth comes in many different forms: new strategies, expansions, new leaders—the list goes on. Nature Fresh Farms is pursuing growth from all angles, as it recently announced it has expanded its sales team with the addition of Brenda Necic as Retail Sales Account Manager and Pam Cherwak as Foodservice Sales Account Manager, who both will help accelerate the company's expansion strategies.
“I was provided the opportunity to join Nature Fresh Farms earlier this year and quickly discovered a team with passion, drive, and most of all respect for one another,” Necic said. “I look forward to being a part of Nature Fresh Farms and continuing to make a positive contribution to the produce industry by being involved with various organizations that support and mentor women.”
Necic joined the produce industry nearly eight years ago, according to a press release, and is a proven leader who is exceptional at identifying new account opportunities and forming strong relationships with retail clients. As she takes on the role of Retail Sales Account Manager, she will be responsible for building meaningful relationships and partnerships with retailers.
Also joining the team is Pam Cherwak, who brings over 13 years of experience in produce and over a decade of expertise in the foodservice industry.
“I had heard very positive things about Nature Fresh Farms and knew in my gut before I had even started, that this is where I want to be. My first two weeks here solidified that feeling,” explained Cherwak. “The environment and culture here are absolutely amazing, to say the least—everyone works together as a team, takes pride in their work, is treated with respect, and are very passionate about what they do.”
Cherwak joins the Nature Fresh Farms team as a Foodservice Sales Account Manager, and will play a vital role in growing the foodservice segment of the business, in addition to growing and maintaining existing accounts.
Nature Fresh Farms has seen exponential growth over recent years, with new facilities and expansions across North America, and the appointment of these talented leaders will help the company to identify new sales opportunities and partnerships to assist its expansion into new markets.
“Nature Fresh Farms is continuing to grow at an amazing rate, and I am thrilled that both Pam and Brenda have brought their vast experience to the team,” commented Matt Quiring, Director of Sales, expressing his enthusiasm for the company’s recent developments. “Pam has a lot of experience within the foodservice sector and will be a true asset to our entry into this arena. Brenda has a great reputation in this industry and has already proven to rise to the occasion when challenged. I am excited to watch them both thrive in our culture.”
Congratulations to Nature Fresh Farms and its recent growth, and to these two talented individuals on their new roles!
WASHINGTON, DC - With wildfire smoke continuing to roll across the West, all eyes are on California as the state begins implementing recovery efforts. President Joe Biden signed a declaration in hopes of advancing those efforts through federal emergency aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the aid will supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in areas affected by wildfires beginning on July 14, 2021, and continuing.
According to a statement released by FEMA, President Biden’s action to make federal funding available will support affected individuals in Lassen, Nevada, Placer, and Plumas counties. This support can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of wildfire.
As the state begins implementing these federal aid efforts, Andrew Grant has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for response operations for the affected area. Additional designations may be made later if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments.
Federal funding has also been made available to state, tribal, eligible local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis, for emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, in the counties mentioned above. Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering here.
We will continue to keep you informed as wildfire recovery efforts across California get underway.
SANTA ANA PUEBLO, NM - We are creative, inspiring, powerful, and so, so much more. Who are we? Women. The women of the industry continue to carve out new paths for fresh produce, and their voices will be celebrated and honored at the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) upcoming Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference (WFPC). As the all female editorial team at ANUK ramps up for the event, I had the chance to connect with PMA Chief Executive Officer Cathy Burns.
“The conference has helped raise the profile of women in produce and floral as strategic thought leaders, which is reflected in more female representation when it comes to volunteer leadership at industry organizations,” Cathy told me. “I’ve seen women have breakthroughs during and after this conference and go on to make incredible contributions to their companies and the broader industry.”
The WFPC is an exclusive forum where female professionals in produce and floral from all levels come together to experience targeted and immersive programming to help them grow professionally and personally. After the tumultuous year and a half we’ve all lived through, Cathy relayed that the challenges we overcome contribute to who we are.
“The theme of this year’s conference is ‘I am’ as a continuation of the previous theme ‘I will,’” she explained. “Our planning horizon has been shortened in the past year, and how we do our work has changed. Everyone’s ‘I am’ story is different, and as an industry, we are moving forward because many have asserted themselves and stepped up to face the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.”
Cathy and I had the chance to touch base in person at PMA Foodservice 2021 last month, and we both agreed that the energy was palpable. Following that highly anticipated in-person show, Cathy added that attendees of the WFPC will bring a similar zest for industry collaboration.
“It’s one thing to connect via Zoom, but there’s so much more to be gained from being together in the same room,” she said to me. “We have a great lineup of sessions on topics that are very relevant given the past 18 months: managing change, leveraging strengths, and diversity and inclusion, just to name a few.”
In addition to this being the first in-person WFPC in two years, it is also the first time attendees will be joined by the inaugural Frieda Rapoport Caplan scholarship recipient, thanks to the generosity of her daughters Karen and Jackie.
“I still miss Frieda, as I think many in the industry do, and I am excited to see her legacy of developing and empowering future female leaders carry forward through this program,” Cathy concluded.
Cheers to the women of fresh produce and to this incredibly important event!