WATSONVILLE, CA - The mark of an innovative company is capable of listening. This rings true for Sambrailo, which recently launched several new packaging items as it expands to better address its customers’ needs. I turned to Sara Lozano, Marketing and Product Development, to find out more.
“Our ReadyCycle product line has been an evolution based on our customers’ feedback. I think that our Bill Sambrailo [former President and CEO] said it best. ‘If you don’t adapt—you die.’ Our team has always taken that to heart and pursued innovation in product and service,” Sara remarked.
With the product launches, which include a ReadyCycle 1 lb with removable film covering, a half-pint open basket, and a 6 oz closed basket, Sara emphasized how pushing the envelope in design is essential to keeping up with demand.
“We were closely a part of the start of the PET clamshell and have seen it become the norm season over season for the past 30 years. It is most often the only choice for farms,” Sara noted. “It was time for us to develop a leading sustainable packaging choice that was approachable, available, and intuitive throughout the supply chain."
For the 1 lb, a traditional clamshell size for multiple fruit and vegetable categories, customers were looking for a design that offered an extra layer of protection while not sacrificing visibility. The next evolution of the product will be making the film compostable. The original ReadyCycle 1 lb version, which is 100 percent compostable and recyclable, is also still available without any film.
The 6 oz is a direct alternative to Sambrailo’s 6 oz 100 percent post consumer recycled PET clamshell. It has the same dimensions so it fits in Sambrailo’s existing master tray, and is fully customizable to allot for print messaging on all panels of the structure. The peek-a-boo window—which can be reclosed—was designed for easy quality checks at field, cooler, and retailer.
Sara and I also spoke about the rise of produce box programs during the pandemic, and how Sambrailo’s expertise in the packaging sector helped fill that demand.
“It was all about helping our customers get what they need and using our relationships in the industry to get the best solutions for them,” she asserted. “We started by asking them the sizes they need and the customization needed for their particular program. If we didn’t have an item they needed, we would research and investigate if it was something we could design, source, and make available for them. Produce boxes have such a diverse usage and it’s been exciting to see the boxes evolve.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to keep pace with this industry innovator, so stay tuned!
NEW ROCHELLE, NY - As the air warms up and the sun shines brighter in the Northern Hemisphere, this summer is looking to be an exciting one. Two industry partners aiming to make this season one to remember are LGS Specialty Sales and Brighter Bites as they launch the new “Brighter Summer” promotion.
“We’re honored to partner with an organization like Brighter Bites,” said Luke Sears, President and Founder of LGS Specialty Sales. “We’re looking forward to bringing both awareness and accessibility of fresh produce to underprivileged areas and hope retailers and shoppers alike participate in this promotion to truly make this a ‘Brighter Summer.’”
Now through July 16, shoppers can enter the “Brighter Summer” sweepstakes for a chance to win either a Stainless Steel Cookware Set, OXO Cookware Set, or a Williams Sonoma gift card. Additionally, LGS will be donating over 5,000 pounds of citrus to Brighter Bites—an impactful partnership indeed.
For participating retailers, LGS created a unique POS with specific QR codes for shoppers to scan and learn more about the partnership. According to a press release, the supplier is also leveraging new social media advertising, email marketing, and influencer partnerships to elevate the promotion and drive shoppers to the produce aisle. Interested retail partners can learn more about this opportunity here.
Cheers to a bright summer!
SILT, CO - Competition in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) sector is heating up, and one up-and-coming supplier is aiming to take a bite out of the rising demand. Spring Born, a hydroponic grower based in Colorado, has officially achieved USDA Organic Certification, and its products will be available for retail distribution beginning this August.
“Spring Born combines innovative technologies and hardworking individuals that, when put together, provide fresh, healthy, quality greens better than anyone on the market,” says Charles Barr, President. “We care about the state of our environment and building sustainable practices that leave a lasting impact on our local community. Our company looks forward to supporting the community with nourishment, but also economically with jobs and added business.”
According to a press release, Spring Born wields advanced technology to support an efficient and sustainable environment for its greens as well as the local community. All products are grown and packed hands-free, pesticide-free, and using less land and water than outdoor fields. The indoor farm grows, packs, and distributes products directly from the greenhouse to support a shelf-life of 14 days at retail.
“Our greens are grown in a protected environment, not susceptible to the risk of harsh natural elements,” Barr stated. “Spring Born promises unique varieties with consistent quality and supply year-round.”
Spring Born currently offers four unique varieties of leafy greens, available in standard retail and club-pack sizes. The supplier will reportedly be opening its doors for tours and variety testing next month.
Keep your eyes on this rising CEA star! The team at ANUK certainly will.
PHOENIX, AZ - Deepening its commitment to produce, Sprouts Farmers Market has introduced a new growth strategy with fresh at its core. The retailer has announced the opening of a new produce distribution center (DC) in Orlando, Florida, becoming the company's first DC in the market. Sprouts opened its first store in the state in 2017 and will use this DC opening to springboard future growth, with 10 new locations planned to open in Florida this year.
“With organics representing more than a third of our produce business in Florida, we know shoppers across the state are interested in fresh, affordable organics and local varieties,” said Chief Fresh Merchandising Officer Scott Neal. “We’ve put together a team of local produce buyers to bring to market the freshest, local product available. Additionally, the new center’s state-of-the-art ripening rooms provide the ideal climate for produce storage and will immediately provide shoppers with perfectly-ripe avocados and bananas.”
The new distribution center will serve all 23 stores in the Sunshine State, according to a press release. Standing at 135,000 square feet, the new facility was built for Sprouts and includes 34 degrees F and 55 degrees F storage and fruit ripening rooms perfect for the variety of fresh produce that Sprouts offers.
Having recently announced plans to drive efficiencies across its network of fresh distribution centers, the Orlando facility will be located within 250 miles of the stores it serves. This will allow for a fresher, local assortment to reach the retailer’s Florida locations.
This distribution center will also support and expand Sprouts’ local farm partnerships with growers such as Jim Rash, Noble Citrus, Astin Berry Exchange, and others. Through these partnerships, the grocer will also be able to increase its exclusive product offerings such as Sugar Baby watermelons, a crisp yet juicy version with a classic sweet taste, available this summer. Later this year, Florida stores will also transition to an all-organic mushroom set.
As part of the expansion, Sprouts is partnering with Penske Logistics as its third-party logistics provider for the DC and dedicated transportation fleet. The fleet has created 57 new full-time jobs in the market, while increasing the retailer’s ability to offer the freshest, highest-quality produce to its consumers.
The Orlando facility joins Sprouts’ other distribution centers in Aurora, Colorado; Colton and Union City, California; Glendale, Arizona; Wilmer, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia.
With the new Orlando distribution center up and running, where will Sprouts plant its next facility? Stick with AndNowUKnow for insights.
ONTARIO, CANADA - One light that has shone throughout the pandemic is consumers’ increased interest in exploring fresh produce offerings, especially varieties they have never tried before. One such fruit is figs, which have seen a spike in interest, and from personal experience, I can say that once shoppers get a taste of the specialty fruit, they will be repeat customers. Luckily for buyers, Catania Worldwide has a high-quality supply of figs to help boost sales across the produce aisles.
“We are experiencing great volume and excellent quality this year thanks to the heat, which has really helped this crop bloom,” explains Paul Catania, President. “So far, our timing has been normal, and we are seeing a good start to the season.”
Due to the optimum growing conditions, the fig market is steady to kick off the season. With such fantastic quality, Paul tells me that the category will remain a great draw for retail during the summer.
With shoppers seeking out new fresh produce offerings, Andrew Amodeo, Sales, explains that education is the key to creating success around fig sales.
“We find that the best way to market a product is first to create awareness around it, and a lot of people are still unaware of what a fig is and how to eat it,” shares Andrew. “Many consumers are unaware of fig ripeness levels, when they are considered ready to eat, and other factors that play an important role in creating a perfect eating experience.”
In line with creating educational opportunities for shoppers, Brian Lapin, Sales, cues me into the merchandising opportunities at retailers’ fingertips, and how they can promote the category in their stores.
“With COVID-19 hopefully becoming a distant memory, resuming in-store demos with figs is a classic promotional tactic and a great way to get the customer hooked and coming back for more,” Brian says. “Also, we always encourage buyers to let us know if there is anything we can do to help them promote our figs. If they need information, pictures, or pack style ideas, we are here to help.”
That being said retailers, take advantage of this upswing in consumer demand and give them the specialty offering they are searching for with Catania’s high-quality figs. The results are sure to be fig-tastic!
BRENTWOOD, MO - Without farmers and growers to share their knowledge and expertise, we would not have the fresh produce that we love today. Honoring this idea, the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) will spend the month of June visiting fruit and vegetable farms across the U.S. to highlight the passion and commitment of farmers and growers through its “Celebrate The Roots of Our Food: Farmers & Growers Salute” series. The organization will also be partnering with its Have A Plant® Ambassador network to share inspirational video salutes and other creative content.
“The extraordinary efforts of fruit and vegetable farms to nourish millions of Americans is no small feat,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and CEO, PBH. “At PBH, we are committed to ensuring our incredible farmers and growers get the recognition they rightfully deserve, and our dynamic Celebrate The Roots Of Our Food campaign is a way to shine a spotlight on the fruits of their labor.”
Well-positioned to spotlight the impact of farmers and growers on our food system, PBH will showcase a wide variety of topics throughout the month-long The Roots of Our Food campaign. According to a press release, the organization will touch on topics spanning seasonality, suggestions for enjoying fruits and veggies in all forms throughout the year, culinary tips, meal planning ideas, recipes and kitchen hacks, and PBH member-specific highlights
Have A Plant Ambassadors will complement the content shared by PBH by releasing agriculture-focused expert advice articles as well as video salutes to farmers and growers across the globe, spanning from New Zealand to South Korea.
“Farmers and growers put their heart and soul into growing the freshest and most delicious fruits and vegetables possible, and I am honored to be able to recognize this labor of love,” said Elisabeth Watkins, Farm Girl Chef and PBH Have A Plant Ambassador, who filmed a video salute from her father’s cling peach orchard in Linden, California. “I was thrilled when PBH approached me about this campaign, to help more people understand the pride that goes into ensuring we can enjoy delicious fruits and veggies each and every day.”
The celebration will kick off with a PBH monthly Have A Plant Cook Along, which is sponsored by Duda Farm Fresh Foods. The event will take place on Facebook LIVE on June 9, at 5:30 p.m. ET. It will feature special guest, Chef Todd Fisher, who will be showcasing ways to cook sweet corn.
PBH’s June campaign will culminate with a PBH Health & Wellness Webinar, sponsored by the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board and California Pear Advisory Board. Entitled “Taste Vs. Waste: Fruit & Vegetable Innovations to Maximize Taste & Mitigate Waste,” the webinar will take place Tuesday, June 29, at 2 p.m. ET, and will feature a panel discussion with farming, plant breeding, and postharvest technology experts focused on innovative ag practices to reduce food waste and improve flavor.
The June campaign is a precursor to a larger initiative starting in October, which will focus on celebrating the roots of our food in a broader manner and will feature unique content from its members.
Cheers to the farmers and growers across the industry who continue to provide us with fresh produce and smiles all year long!
WASHINGTON, DC - Furthering its commitment to the future of produce safety professionals and the industry as a whole, United Fresh Produce Association announced it has added two part-time summer interns in addition to complimentary registration to the produce safety track of Reimagine Conversations for all undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in produce safety.
“Consumers and the industry alike ultimately benefit from the efforts of produce safety professionals,” says Tom Stenzel, President and CEO at United Fresh. “Issues related to Cyclospora, water quality, and the application of new scientific tools necessitate ongoing effort. Attracting and developing new talent is critical to the success of our industry.”
United Fresh has a longstanding commitment to expose students to the produce industry and support produce safety professionals as they launch their careers, a press release explained.
The association is offering students the unique opportunity to learn and network with leading professionals in the produce industry through their participation in the food safety track of Reimagine Conversations.
“As a food science student, I had no idea of the career possibilities outside of the laboratory, and very little understanding of the relevance of my studies to the produce industry,” explains Dr. Jennifer McEntire, Senior Vice President Food Safety and Technology at United Fresh. “Twenty years ago, an internship changed the course of my career path, and I am grateful that United Fresh is willing to expose students to the variety of topics and issues associated with a career in produce safety.”
Karuna Kharel, who is currently completing her doctoral studies in food science and technology at Louisiana State University, will support the development of resources and fact sheets on Whole Genome Sequencing, review the public health and industry burden of Cyclospora, and develop best practices for remote audits in consultation with a volunteer workgroup during her summer internship, the press release noted.
Kharel has conducted research on the die-off of E. coli on watermelon, pathogen inactivation during thermal treatment of in-shell pecans, and supported a USAID funded program to provide GAP technical assistance to officials in Guyana, in addition to serving as a trainer for the Produce Safety Alliance Grower training and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual course.
Jenna Tsvayg is a rising junior studying food science at Penn State University who will help United Fresh update information regarding buyer acceptance of the Harmonized GAP audit standard.
She will also be helping to position United Fresh staff and members to respond to FDA’s proposed rule addressing requirements for agricultural water as part of the Produce Safety Rule in anticipation of it being released this summer. Tsvayg is leaning toward a career that combines food law and food safety after conducting microbial food safety research at Penn State during her freshman year.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on all the latest news in the fresh produce industry, so keep an eye out.
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI - As we near the hot summer months, shoppers will be doing more this season than taking a dip in the pool. Instead, consumers will be encouraged to Dip Into Summer, as Good Foods has just launched a sweepstakes to highlight its enticing dips as an essential summer snack while offering consumers the opportunity to win prizes every week.
“We’re looking to get back to the good old days this summer and enjoy the warm weather with good foods and good company,” said Mandy Bottomlee, Director of Content Marketing at Good Foods. “Our Dip Into Summer promotion will showcase Good Foods’ products as a one-stop-shop for all summer snacking and cooking.”
The Dip Into Summer sweepstakes will take place over nine weeks, during which consumers are encouraged to enter for the chance to win a Marshall Alexa Bluetooth Speaker, Igloo Cooler, Polaroid Camera, Bocce Ball Set, and a Target gift card, according to a press release.
In addition to the sweepstakes, Good Foods is also elevating its brand visibility through social media advertising, influencer partnerships, regional commercials, as well as email marketing to drive shoppers to the Good Foods website.
Consumers can enter the sweepstakes online for a chance to be part of all of the fun.
As more exciting strategies to boost sales emerge within the retail sector, keep an eye out for ANUK.
TORONTO, CANADA - One of the best parts of being a trade news writer is watching ambitious growth strategies such as this one unfold. Fortifying its presence in the industry, Rouge River Farms has unveiled it has acquired all assets and shares of Magnolia Packing.
“This is such an exciting opportunity,” said Rouge River Farms President Robert Reesor, who will assume the role of President of Magnolia. “Not only does the Magnolia green bean packing operation already complement our corn program at Rouge River, but this year we’ll be able to offer a year-round green bean program upon opening our new packinghouse in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.”
Following the agreement, Magnolia will continue to operate with their current management and sales staff to ensure a smooth transition to the new ownership, a press release explained. Outgoing President Taylor Neighbors will remain a crucial part of the company, serving as a full-time advisor.
“With 5,000 acres of green beans planted, the new packinghouse will be an important asset. Combined with the reach of Rouge River and the many talents of their team, big things are on the horizon for Magnolia Packing,” said Neighbors.
Magnolia is based in Americus, Georgia, with operations in both Georgia and Florida, and is known across the industry for its high-quality green beans, the release noted.
AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest strategies and acquisitions in the industry, so keep a tab open for us.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Legend Produce, home of the Origami cantaloupe, has its boots laced up as we welcome a favorite eating month for melons on the U.S. calendar. Coming off one of his busiest weeks to date, Justin Bootz, Sales, tells me the volume of business is indicative of the season’s outlook so far.
“We’re already picking, packing, and shipping out of both Yuma, Arizona, and Holtville, California, and the crop is fantastic. Now through June will be one of the best times to buy a cantaloupe, and, barring any strange or unfavorable weather, we see no reason for this to change,” Justin tells me, sharing that Legend is just coming out of peak volume. “It seemed cantaloupe was pretty tight going into the holiday weekend, but things are leveling off a little bit now. We’re still hitting good numbers and, as more volume comes into play, we should see the market come down a little bit in the coming weeks.”
Quality out of both locations, he adds, is absolutely great, with pricing remaining in line with Legend’s pre-season expectations and consistent with historical pricing. The biggest challenge this year Justin points out is one the industry as a whole is working to conquer: transportation.
“Freight rates are hitting all-time highs right now, and it’s not only about the rates: It’s about being able to even secure a ride in the first place. For some of our programmed business based on delivered pricing, we are having a very difficult time making sure we are covering our costs,” he points out.
One key step, Justin shares, is in teamwork from both sides of the business. Working with buyers on cost concessions to get back the FOB needed to the farm is a crucial strategic point to ensure those loads take care of everyone in the supply chain.
Most importantly, Legend Produce is doing all it can to support its partners.
“We remain absolutely committed to delivering product at the highest quality. As always, Legend Produce is the home of the Origami cantaloupe—a full slip, western shipper-style cantaloupe. It’s aromatic and full of flavor, with a small seed cavity and thin rind, not like most of the long-shelf-life varieties that other growers focus on,” Justin reminds me. “We’ll start our westside crop out of California’s San Joaquin Valley around July 4th and ship out of Mendota, California, between then through September, into early October.”
As Legend Produce continues to live up to its name, it sounds like sooner is better to place orders for this summertime favorite!