WASHINGTON, DC - Last week a pivotal announcement was made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a press conference, as he revealed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be providing $67 million in competitive loans through the new Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP). The program aims to help agricultural producers and landowners resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott applauded the recent announcement for the help it will provide to landowners and producers.
“I want to thank Secretary Vilsack and the USDA staff for standing up and rolling out the Heirs’ Property Relending Program that was authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. The decline in land ownership among Black farmers is a national tragedy, and I am thankful that Congress finally took steps to try and address heirs’ property issues in the last farm bill,” he commented. “I am also thankful to our Ag Appropriations Chairman, Sanford Bishop, who provided funding to assist those who are working with families to ensure that land is not sold out from under them. This is an issue that also impacts tribal members and Native American farmers and ranchers, and I am pleased that the Agriculture Committees are supporting efforts to protect the most sacred thing for agriculture producers, their land.”
The press conference was held alongside U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock; U.S. Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.; and U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, according to a release. It was also announced during the conference that intermediary lenders—cooperatives, credit unions, and nonprofit organization—can apply for loans up to $5 million at 1 percent interest one once the Farm Service Agency (FSA) opens the two-month signup window in late August.
“While those affected are in all geographic and cultural areas, many Black farmers and other groups who have experienced historic discrimination have inherited heirs’ property,” Vilsack said. “USDA is committed to revising policies to be more equitable and examining barriers faced by heirs’ property owners is part of that effort. This helps ensure that we protect the legacy of these family farms for generations to come.”
Once the FSA selects lenders, heirs can apply directly to those lenders for loans and assistance. This relending program will provide access to capital to help producers find a resolution to heirs’ property issues that have long been a hurdle for many landowners and producers to access USDA programs and services.
The Heirs’ Property Relending Program serves as another way that the USDA is actively working to rebuild trust with American farmers and ranchers. Each HPRP loan will need to be repaid as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill.
For information about eligible lenders, heirs, and other details about the program, click here.
As more programs are announced to help the agricultural community, AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
MARKESAN, WI - In the eyes of consumers, celery has become a staple in the vegetable world, serving as a fantastic, on-the-go, healthy snack. With back-to-school season approaching, Alsum Farms & Produce’s grower partner, Trembling Prairie Farms, has announced it has started harvesting a new crop of Wisconsin celery with the season expected to go through the first week of October—just in time to add the consumer favorite to your produce section to capture seasonal shopper dollars.
“We’re happy to be able to bring our locally grown Wisconsin celery to the market,” said John Bobek, Farmer and Owner of Trembling Prairie Farms. “Whether paired with peanut butter as a healthy kid-friendly snack, chopped in a salad for an outdoor gathering, or the key ingredient for the latest juicing craze that’s boosted celery to new heights, Wisconsin Celery offers a fresh taste for consumers looking for locally grown.”
Trembling Farms is located in the muck soils of Green Lake County, and is family-owned and operated by John and Connie Bobek and their four children, according to a press release. This is their tenth year growing and packing locally grown celery that serves the Midwest retail and foodservice markets.
Starting in 2012 with three acres of celery, today, the company has expanded to over 45 acres. The process of growing celery starts in the greenhouse in late February and early April, which is then transplanted in 12 different plantings, with celery planting in the muck soil beginning May 1, with the goal of the last planting around July 1.
Due to this timeline, Trembling Prairie Farms' Wisconsin-grown celery became available for distribution the week of July 19 with ample volume of all sizes and packs available for the next 10 weeks. Because of the climate in which it is grown, the farm's celery is brought to market at peak freshness and with a milder flavor and snappier crunch.
Pack sizes this year include 24 count naked or sleeved, 30 count naked or sleeved, 36 count naked or sleeved, and 18 count celery hearts.
With U.S. consumers eating an average of six pounds of fresh celery annually, the veg is a wonderful addition to any produce section.
For more crop and harvest updates, stick with AndNowUKnow.
SYRACUSE, UT - Innovation is at the center of everything Onions 52 does. That is exactly why it is only fitting that the produce purveyor is gearing up to showcase its unique offerings at the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) upcoming Southern Innovations. The second I heard the grower would be highlighting its Organic Tearless and Sweet Sunions®, I got in touch with Falon Brawley, Director of Marketing and Business Development, for some exclusive insights.
“Sunions are one of the best-tasting onions you will ever try, and are consistent in tearlessness and sweetness due to the tightly controlled curing and testing process before they are released to ship,” Falon tells me. “When Sunions season rolls around, we look forward to finding innovative ways to promote it. We go all out with our POS, display bins, store signage, and digital marketing offerings for our customers.”
Onions 52’s organic and conventional Sunions come into season in the beginning of November, as it begins harvesting in Washington and Utah in August. Once harvested, these onions are placed in storage for 80-85 days to cure, developing their unique tearlessness and sweet flavor. The volatiles that would typically cause teary eyes are eliminated over time—a distinctive trait of the Sunions seed that was developed over three decades of onion farming. In addition to the innovative variety, the grower will also be debuting a new consumer pack for its retail customers during the event.
“Southern Innovations is the show to attend if you are looking to network with some of the best in the industry,” Falon adds. “Whether you are a grower/shipper, retailer, foodservice provider, or general attendee, the SEPC team does an impeccable job of curating an experience that allows you to connect with key customers, both new and old, in an intimate environment adapted by all who attend. Onions 52 is a proud Gold Sponsor of SEPC, and our company benefits significantly from the meaningful connections and friendships we make every year at the spring and fall conferences.”
For Onions 52, Southern Innovations is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with its customers while also highlighting its year-round availability of premium quality onions, which it grows, packs, and ships across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. And, as it prepares to showcase such an intriguing product, one can’t help but wonder what might come next from the grower.
“Although our motto is simple, we are innovative at our core and have a strong focus on sustainable farming and packaging, so you can expect to see more from O52 on the horizon,” Falon concludes.
While we here at ANUK anxiously await the innovations of the future, don’t forget to check out Onions 52 at Southern Innovations to see all that it has already accomplished.
SALINAS, CA - A new name has fluttered across my desk, carrying with it the ring of potential. Florentino®, a new veggie to hit Ippolito International’s portfolio, is already causing a stir within months of its addition.
“We’ve been growing Florentino for a few months and have gotten very positive feedback from the foodservice segment,” Sarah Clarke, Sales and Commodity Manager, shares. “The industry is looking for ways to present interesting, unique veggies to consumers. This is an item that has nearly 100 percent yield—all that might be needed is a quick trim on the stem-end and it’s ready to be roasted, sauteed, or grilled. Even though the product bears a lot of similarity to traditional cauliflower, it is a much more tender vegetable that is bruise-resistant, with lots of versatility and plate presentation.”
Jack Scalisi, President and Founder of Jack Scalisi Wholesale Fruit and Produce, is sure that we will see this new addition take off soon within its inaugural year.
“Ippolito’s new feature item Florentino has the potential to be as big as broccolini,” Jack shares. “As an independent foodservice produce distributor here in West Palm Beach Florida with a variety of clientele—from white tablecloth restaurants and private clubs to healthcare, resorts, and home delivery—I believe this particular new vegetable has the potential to be offered to all. This vegetable will gain popularity and acceptance in our market, and I look forward to fall and winter as we return to our season.”
Florentino has a sweet and mild flavor with a crisp, fresh texture. From stem to bud, Sarah assures me, the entire vegetable is enjoyable.
“Customers have remarked on the surprising golden hue of the buds,” she shares, painting for me a beautiful origin story. “Its origin is in the coastal regions of Spain, which is why it works in the Salinas Valley so well. The word ‘Florentino’ means ‘blooming’ in Spanish, which is an apt description for the precise, delicate blooms that characterize this product. Its stems are elongated with multiple branching buds, and small clustered buds, with color at the flowering head that ranges from a creamy, yellow-white to a rusty pink, depending on the season.”
Currently, Ippolito’s Florentino is marketed in bunches in an 18 ct carton, with bands that draw attention to the registered trade name and include an easy recipe for the consumer to try.
If the winds of change keep blowing in this direction, I have a feeling it will be carrying the name “Florentino” through foodservice and consumer kitchens in no time.
Ippolito International Jack Scalisi Wholesale Fruit and Produce
ROCHESTER, NY - Word has hit the newswire that Wegmans Food Markets is making decisive moves to bolster its presence in New York. The retailer recently pulled back the curtain on its second NYC location. The new store is scheduled to open in Manhattan in the second half of 2023.
“We are so excited to bring Wegmans to Manhattan. This is something we’ve been dreaming about and working toward for a long time,” said Colleen Wegman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wegmans. “The community’s response to the opening of our Brooklyn store had an excitement and energy that you can only experience in New York City. You can feel that energy returning to the city, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”
Brokered by RIPCO Real Estate LLC, Wegmans signed an agreement with Transformco to buy out Kmart’s lease at Astor Place, where the new store will be located, and entered into a long-term lease with Vornado, according to a press release.
“We are delighted to be part of bringing the beloved Wegmans to Manhattan,” said Steven Roth, Vornado’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Wegmans is one of a kind and will be a best-in-class addition to Manhattan, both for the local neighborhoods and as a destination for residents from across the island. We look forward to partnering with Wegmans’ talented team on the opening of this signature location.”
Wegmans will occupy space on both the street and lower levels of Vornado’s 770 Broadway, a total of roughly 82,000 square feet, under the terms of the 30-year lease.
Keep reading ANUK to find out the next move from this retailer and others pursuing ambitious expansion plans.
LAGRANGE, GA - Sweet and juicy cantaloupes have taken over social media, inspiring shoppers to select a few from the produce department and get creative in the kitchen. The Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association (ECGA) has joined forces with several key food influencers to highlight the mouthwatering cantaloupes that come out of the South and Midwest regions.
"Eastern Cantaloupe growers recognize the importance of supporting their retailers, and getting consumers excited about buying delicious, locally-grown, seasonal fruit, is a great way to do that," said Debbie Johnson, ECGA Executive Director.
The association is building on the success of its 2020 Flavor of Sunshine campaign by tapping renowned influencers Haylie Abele and Colleen Redwood to create enticing new recipes to showcase all that is great about Eastern Cantaloupes to their extensive audiences. Redwood has already developed delicious recipes for Eastern Cantaloupe Popsicles and a Summer Sangria, according to a press release, while Abele has created unique recipes for an Eastern Cantaloupe Caprese Salad and Spiced Cantaloupe Bread. Both influencers are also taking to social media to share tips and lifestyle information to help consumers choose, store, and prepare Eastern Cantaloupes.
"We’ve focused on easy recipes with familiar ingredients that are perfect for warm summer days and nights," added Johnson. "The consumer response has been phenomenal; we’ve heard stories of consumers asking their produce managers ‘are these Eastern Cantaloupes,’ which is exactly what we were hoping for," Johnson concluded.
Often referred to as Athena Melon, rock melon, or muskmelon, Eastern Cantaloupes are grown throughout the Midwest and all along the East Coast and are typically only available from May through early September. The delicious melons benefit from the wetter climate and rich soil of the region, improving their size and sweetness. Because of transportation distances and logistics, Eastern Cantaloupes make it from field to retailers’ receiving docks in as little as 24 hours, as noted in the release.
To learn more about ECGA’s innovative campaign, click here.
And for all the latest news in the produce industry, keep clicking on AndNowUKnow.
DENVER, CO - Potatoes USA recently put out a release detailing potato sales at retail from April to June 2021, reporting findings that show the category has opportunity for growth.
During that time period, potato sales did decline in dollars by 10.5 percent and in volume by 15.5 percent compared to the previous year. However, when these numbers are compared to that same timeframe in 2019, sales increased in value and volume. Consumers spent $317 million more from April—June 2021 on potatoes than they did in 2019, the release stated. They bought 53 million more pounds of potatoes, demonstrating demand for potatoes is elevated in grocery stores.
The data, which was compiled by IRI, showed that the potato categories that performed best in 2020 showed the largest declines in 2021. Canned, dehydrated, fresh, and frozen potatoes all declined by double-digits in both dollars and volume. Sales of deli-prepared sides increased in dollars by 23.9 percent and in volume by 20.4 percent from the same timeframe in 2020.
The majority of salad bars, which drive a large portion of sales for this category, were not brought back into grocery stores until early 2021. Increased growth of this category shows the reopening of salad bars and a more mobile consumer base.
Within the fresh potato category, medley potatoes maintained positive growth while the rest of the fresh types decreased in sales compared to 2020. Russets and white potatoes saw the largest percentage decline in dollars and volume. Petite potatoes were almost even in dollars with a decline of just 0.1 percent and a slight decline in volume by 1.7 percent.
An increase in micro-steamer and tray packaging shows consumers increased their pre-packaged purchasing compared to the same time period last year. Fresh potato sales are slightly below 2019 levels in volume but are above in dollar sales.
Keep reading ANUK as we cover fresh ground for the industry.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced Jusgo Duluth LLC, doing business as Jusgo Supermarket, has satisfied a reparation order that was issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and lifted the sanctions against the company. As part of its requirements to conduct PACA-related business, Jusgo Duluth satisfied a reparation order that was issued in April 2020 in the amount of $135,785 for unpaid produce transactions.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The Duluth, Georgia, company can continue operating in the produce industry upon applying for and being issued a PACA license. Wang Lin was listed as the member and manager of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee.
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 individuals. USDA also requires any unlicensed company that fully satisfies all unpaid reparation awards to obtain a license if it continues to operate in the industry.
For more information and to read the press release in its entirety, please visit the link here.
NEWARK, NJ - From diving into publicly traded waters and launching a rebrand to introducing several new items and opening a research and development (R&D) hub, it’s safe to say that AeroFarms has come farther than CEO and Co-Founder David Rosenberg envisioned since the beginning days of 2004.
“When I co-founded the company, I thought of this as a supply chain play. I looked at the inefficiencies and thought, if we could enable local food production at scale, we could disintermediate parts of the supply chain and enable local food production and access to fresh food, starting with leafy greens,” David shares with me.
Fast-forward to today, and AeroFarms is consistently breaking ground, physically and conventionally, in the U.S. and overseas.
“Our new AeroFarms AgX project in Abu Dhabi is two-fold. One, we expect to have a strong presence in the Middle East. Two, it aligns with our value proposition where there's not much farmland. There's not as much fresh water and there's relatively low-cost, abundant energy. Additionally, we're using our presence there to really innovate. We're building the world’s largest indoor vertical farming R&D facility of its kind that is going to have a tremendous amount of innovation in it, from genetics to automation exploration,” he tells me. “We're also doing a lot in the U.S. We just opened a building expansion here in Newark where we have our global headquarters. That's another 25,000-square-foot facility for prototyping and R&D, so we have much going on Stateside as well.”
AeroFarms has a diverse, partner-fueled style that can be seen blueprinted in David's own background. Far from a straight line to agriculture, the executive was drawn to the produce industry by a love of problem-solving.
“My last company was a nanotech company in construction, which focused specifically on waterproofing and corrosion inhibition. From that I learned how much water goes to agriculture and thought I could make a difference. I love when there could be technological solutions to existing issues, and it’s a pattern I have found across industries,” David imparts.
With a background as a multi-business serial entrepreneur from Columbia Business School, it’s no wonder that David and his team have an unorthodox approach to indoor ag, employing several outside minds to expand laterally and vertically the possibilities of the industry.
“What surprised me is that fully controlled agriculture enables us to understand and give a plant exactly what it wants, when it wants, and how it wants it. As a consequence, we're competing on taste and texture in unique ways. So, I used to think our competitive advantage was local and fresh when, it turns out, we have unique tastes that allow us to go further and distinguish us from any other grower out there,” the CEO and Co-Founder muses.
It's the result of having a team comprised of skilled farmers, plant geneticists, and R&D scientists that pushed the company into a whole new ring of investing: public trading.
“One of the reasons we're going public is it allows us to continue innovating on the tech side and make continued advancements to reduce capital cost, operating costs, and improve quality. We are investing millions a year in R&D. AeroFarms is involved in some cutting-edge, pioneering work, which attracts a lot of interest in this space. We’re also working with other big companies to accelerate innovation cycles, such as Dell and others—companies you don't typically associate with agriculture. We're partnering with them and developing some breakthrough stuff,” David points out, bringing us back to thinking out of the box and of traditional teams.
Among the areas AeroFarms is looking to further transform includes automation across seeding, harvesting, cleaning, packaging, and beyond, as well as biological development, working to understand what plants need to help realize their full potential.
“There's a strong lens towards technical innovation. I see a lot of players in the industry looking at produce as an execution play, not realizing there's a lot more room to reduce capital and operating costs,” he shares.
It is in that spirit that AeroFarms has continued to launch new products, most recently expanding its leafy greens product assortment for both baby leafy greens and microgreens, as it seeks to redefine not just indoor-grown fresh produce, but all it could impact.
“We're very mission focused,” David concludes of the company’s driven success. “We have a program with past offenders where we've successfully taken people who were previously incarcerated and given them good jobs with a better pathway in life. We also have internal programs where computer literacy and financial literacy training continue to foster growth. Environmentally, we're focused on how to do more with less. How do we continue to grow a plant using less energy, less water, less nutrients, and zero pesticides? I think these commitments and our mission to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity are why we're attracting so many new employees as we seek to build a better future.”
As we continue to eye such movers and shakers throughout fresh produce, continue to follow AndNowUKnow.
PORTERVILLE, CA - Blueberries are among the many delicacies that adorn produce aisles in the summer. As Homegrown Organic Farms enters peak production in the Pacific Northwest, which will continue for the next five weeks, there is no better time to put blueberries front and center on the shelves. I recently got in touch with Homegrown Organic’s Blueberry Category Manager Stephen Paul to get an inside look at this sales-driving category.
“Now is the time for retailers to promote berries and promote with confidence, because you’re going to have good fruit,” Stephen tells me as we kick off our conversation. “We’ve definitely hit our stride in production, and having a diversified program allows our harvest to continue through September. The recent heat wave accelerated harvest for some varieties, so we’re currently experiencing some overlap, and quality is looking good.”
As Stephen tells me, many retailers put a pause on blueberry ads during the unexpected heat wave that hit the coast of the PNW, which has led to an abundance of berries in the market—and where there are blueberries, there are sure to be optimal retail opportunities.
“Get creative!” Stephen emphasizes. “Retailers have a great responsibility to keep consumers happy and thinking about fruit. In this world, it’s hard to avoid hearing about all of the negatives, but fruit is always good—it’s refreshing, it’s healthy, it’s delicious. I think promoting this fruit is a great way to bring positivity to the produce aisle.”
And, as retailers look for ways to follow Stephen’s advice and get creative with displays and cross-merchandising, the chance to increase blueberry sales and basket share lies in wait within the supplier’s stonefruit program.
“Blueberries present a great opportunity to cross-merchandise with stonefruit, because we’re in the peak of the stonefruit season,” Stephen adds. “Retailers can create unique and intriguing displays that play off of both berries and stonefruit to attract shoppers—I think it’s time to exercise that opportunity.”
For those looking to boost blueberry or stonefruit sales—or both—Homegrown Organic goes above and beyond to meet the needs of its retail partners, as the grower customizes its programs to support their growth strategies.
“We’re very open to our retail partners and what they want to do,” explains Stephen. “They know the market. They know their customer base. So, we stay open for them to strategize how to give their customers the best product and experience. No one knows the consumer better than the retailer; our job is to give them the resources and tools to succeed in the category.”
As we sign off our conversation, Stephen leaves me with one note: fruit c'est la vie. So, why not bring more life to the produce department with Homegrown’s mouthwatering blueberry and stonefruit varieties?