SANTA MARIA, CA - As cliché as it may sound, change is truly one of the only constants in life. As someone who spends every week day wrapped up in the evolving strategies and offerings that fresh produce purveyors bring to the table, I am constantly taken aback by our industry’s chameleon-like ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and redefine the word “normal.” Gold Coast Packing has done just that, and the grower is ready to help retailers bring in the bucks as demand for the broccoli and cauliflower categories begins to climb.
“Last year, the pandemic brought a lot of changes to how people, shop, cook, and eat,” explains Marketing Coordinator Crystal Chavez. “Prior to 2020, smaller value-added packages were what was common in the produce department. But, we are seeing many people shopping less and cooking more at home, and now the larger pack sizes are what customers are asking for. Gold Coast has 2 lb value-added items available now, and we are here to help as we all adapt to the new post-COVID lifestyle.”
The supplier recently debuted these 2 lb retail items, which include broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli slaw, Brussels sprouts, Broccoli & Cauliflower Blend, and Garden Blend, which is a delicate and delicious mix of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
“These value-added offerings are the perfect addition to any produce department, as consumers are planning to keep making more meals at home—our 2 lb line has something for every home cook,” Crystal adds.
Gold Coast’s tempting new offerings provide its retail partners with unique tools in maximizing sales as demand for these categories continues to grow, and as consumer shopping habits begin to make yet another shift.
“Demand is starting to pick up as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted across the country. As more restaurants open their dining rooms and more children go back to school in person, we expect demand to increase even more,” Crystal notes.
Recently wrapping up its broccoli transition from the desert growing regions at the end of March, the grower is currently reporting a good supply of broccoli and cauliflower, as well as spinach, cilantro, and Brussels sprouts. Despite challenges posed by dry weather, quality across the categories has remained good.
Crystal also noted a change in pricing in comparison to last year, adding that, “Prices are a bit better than this time a year ago. But this time last year was right after all of the shutdowns across the country due to COVID-19, so this was expected.”
As companies and consumers alike continue to pivot and adapt to change, one thing I am positive will remain the same is shoppers’ love for these alluring offerings.
AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest market updates from across the fresh produce industry, so keep your eyes peeled for more.
BOISE, ID - The retail sector recently gained another experienced leader as one grocer begins a pivotal transformation across its operations. Albertsons Companies has announced a new Chief, appointing Danielle Crop as Senior Vice President and Chief Data Officer, who will help to differentiate the customer experience by accelerating the retailer’s digital transformation.
In her new role, Crop will be responsible for building and executing a world-class central data strategy to deliver benefits to shoppers regardless of whether they choose to shop in-store or through the company’s digital platforms, a press release noted. Crop will optimize machine learning and advanced data science capabilities in order to enhance the company’s overall performance, accelerating the retailer in its journey to leverage data strategically for the enterprise.
Prior to joining Albertsons, Crop spent 15 years at the forefront of data science efforts for American Express, most recently serving as Chief Data Officer.
In this role, she was responsible for maximizing the potential of the company’s data assets to create the best customer experience, leading successful teams that were responsible for all of the platforms that created, managed, governed, stored, and shared American Express’s data assets.
“Today, excellence in delighting customers can be quantified as knowing what they want before they do and having the capability to deliver it when they want it, no matter how they shop,” said Chris Rupp, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. “How we translate what we get from data into an enhanced customer experience will further differentiate us as a locally great and nationally strong retailer. Danielle’s work has been at the intersection of data and the customer experience for the majority of her career, and we are excited to have a leader of her caliber to guide Albertsons Companies’ customer experience into the future.”
Crop’s professional background includes extensive expertise in data management, analytics, digital experimentation, product management, and scaled agile digital transformation.
Congratulations to Danielle Crop as she takes this exciting next step in her career!
PHARR, TX - Unfortunately, drug smugglers are at it again, this time victimizing a shipment of fresh cucumber pickles. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility recently intercepted over $4 million worth of methamphetamine hidden amongst a shipment of fresh produce.
“This substantial quantity of hard narcotics will not make its final destination in the United States,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “This interdiction reinforces our officers’ role in advancing CBP’s border security mission by preventing dangerous drugs from entering and negatively impacting our communities.”
CBP officers assigned to the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility on April 17 referred a tractor/trailer hauling a shipment of fresh cucumber pickles for a more thorough examination, a press release explained.
Following a non-intrusive imaging (NII) system inspection, authorities discovered 114 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 217 lbs (98.5 kg), totaling $4,343,000 worth of the illicit substance.
The officers seized the narcotics and the trailer, and the case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
AndNowUKnow gives our deepest thanks to the border officials who work to protect our precious fresh produce.
SACRAMENTO, CA - Calling all readers! We have hidden our signature AndNowUKnow logo on the cover of the April issue of The Snack, and we need your help to find it. The sleuths who are able to uncover its hiding place could earn themselves a $100 cash prize.
Our April issue features amazing industry insights and tips from some of your fresh produce colleagues. Not to mention, it could make you $100 if you have an eagle eye and excellent investigative skills.
If you haven’t received the hardcopy of the April issue yet, do not fear! For you can still find the hidden logo by clicking here to view the digital cover. Whatever means you use to uncover the logo, make sure to take a victory photo of yourself with your finger pointing at the concealed logo.
The criteria for winning is as follows:
- Your FOUND the Apple Logo photo must include your face
- And your finger must be pointing to the AndNowUKnow apple logo
Once your proof of discovery is complete, send your image over to us at [email protected] to join the running for the $100 cash prize! If your photo lands in our inbox ahead of everyone else’s, you could join the winners’ circle with some of the fastest people in produce, like:
- Dustin White of Fresh Concepts (reigning supply-side champion)
- Danny Ortiz of Sysco (reigning buy-side champ)
- Doug Groendyke Harvest Hope Food Bank’s
- Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos of D’Arrigo California
- Osmerlin Garcia of Nature Fresh Farms
- Betty Tomao of The Save Mart Companies
- Monina Knox of Sobeys
- Chris Olsen of Gold Coast Packing
- Kimberly Chan of 99 Cents Only
If you want a leg up for future challenges, click here to subscribe to The Snack (valued at $129 per year).
Will you be the one to help us find the hidden logo? Stick around to find out!
NOGALES, AZ - Similar to the architectural wonders of the world, a company needs strong pillars to support its structure. For Divine Flavor, the grower’s six core pillars have served as the driving forces behind its expansion and evolution over the years. As the company continues to expand its reach in the industry, Michael Dupuis, Quality Assurance and Public Relations Coordinator, takes a beat to explain Divine’s dedication to its culture and how that will inspire future progress.
“Quality, Food Safety, Social Responsibility, Traceability, Organics, and Sustainability—that is what we believe in,” Michael begins. “There's a lot of principles that have come from our mother company, Grupo Alta, that have been instilled in Divine, and we've been able to take those concepts and further them.”
This desire for progression and long-term success in fresh produce is what has led the company to pursue its goal of becoming a year-round grower. To do this, Divine Flavor has been investing in modern practices while implementing them across its operations, always striving to be the best in each category it represents.
“Our industry is becoming more competitive the further we get into it,” Michael says. “Year after year, the requirements for success are increasing, and we want to be ahead of the curve. We're trying to be a company that is ready to offer product 365 days a year, and that's not always easy with fresh produce due to the many different pieces that must align to create optimal growing conditions.”
As Divine pursues further expansion, one of the central motivators behind the company’s mission is its employees. Michael explains that at the core of Divine Flavor’s growth is the never-ending dedication of its employees and the hard work they bring to the table every day, leading the grower to implement strategies that focus on the well-being of its associates.
“Our employees are the heart of our company and of the six pillars because, without our employees, this wouldn’t be possible,” explains Michael. “There's so much dedication and heart and soul that goes into picking produce, so it's very important we understand that our workers are how we become successful, and make sure that we're putting our employees in a situation where they're able to flourish, feel comfortable, and have great working conditions.”
With the dedication of its employees and the company’s busiest time of year quickly approaching, there is no telling what Divine Flavor can achieve this season.
But, as Michael clues me in, “We have some very exciting stuff in the works.”
I, for one, will be eagerly waiting to find out what that entails.
BOONE, IA - Yet another retailer has launched a new strategy to drive convenience for its consumers and ease the shopping experience. Fareway Stores has recently announced its latest innovation, bringing the availability of online shopping and curbside pick up to nearly 50 Fareway Meat & Grocery locations.
“We’ve seen other online offerings fall short in experience, so we are excited to expand our unmatched Fareway shopping experience with the added convenience of online ordering,” said President and CEO Reynolds W. Cramer. “Our customers can continue to have their fresh meat cut and packaged just how they like, their produce picked with proper ripeness, and quality substitutions if they wish, but now they can get this Fareway experience a different way.”
The order online with curbside pick up solution first launched at the flagship Fareway store Boone, Iowa, in January of this year, according to a company release, and the remaining Fareway locations will begin offering online shopping in the coming months.
With the new platform, shoppers can order online at Fareway or through the mobile app and pick up their orders in just four hours. The new program also allows consumers to modify their orders up to 30 minutes prior to pick up.
The online platform is powered by e-commerce technology provider, GrocerKey, which combines robust white label e-commerce technology with deep e-commerce grocery operating experience and proven strategies to help brick-and-mortar retailers build a profitable and successful online business.
The service is designed to offer the same quality products and customer experience that the grocer is known for, while providing the added convenience of being able to shop online.
As more retailers enact strategies to up the convenience factor for their shoppers, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
AVE MARIA, FL - Running may not be the most exciting activity, but I will gladly hit the pavement in the name of a good cause. Lipman Family Farms must operate under this same mindset, as this past weekend, the greenhouse grower held its annual 5K Run for Backpacks as a hybrid event.
“Since the beginning, we’ve been committed to giving back to our communities with a focus on supporting education, children, and hunger relief. As a family company with roots in Immokalee, we have strong pride for our community and giving back however we can,” said Jaime Weisinger, Director of Community Relations.
Each year, the company hosts this community event to raise money for its Backpack Giveaway and Back-to-School event in August, where backpacks full of school supplies are distributed to children in the Immokalee, Florida, area. All proceeds from the 5K Run will fund students’ supplies and tools needed to start their school year on the right foot, a press release stated.
The 5K this past weekend raised a record amount of donations from sponsors and runners.
“The need is great in this community, but the spirit of generosity is even greater,” Weisinger said. “Everyone who ran, walked, donated, or sponsored the 5K race should know they will be making a real difference in children’s lives; supporting school and education is more critical than ever right now.”
Lipman Family Farms has been active in the fight to relieve stress from the impacts of COVID-19 this past year. The supplier has donated over $1 million worth of produce to food banks, schools, and healthcare facilities, and looks forward to coming together as a community to help ease the stress of the return to school for both children and their families come August.
The team at ANUK tips our hats to Lipman Family Farms for all of its charitable efforts.
OVIEDO, FL - The pandemic put a halt to many industry efforts, one of the most prominent being sustainable packaging research. As the light at the end of the tunnel continues to grow brighter, it is clear that our industry wants to refocus its attention. Duda Farm Fresh Foods is one supplier laying the groundwork, launching its Sustainable Packaging Program to assess the overall sustainability of current packaging, identify improvement opportunities, and implement packaging changes to reduce its impact on the environment.
“We see these new initiatives as an opportunity to support our customers, retailers, and foodservice partners in meeting their own sustainability goals,” said Nichole Towell, Senior Director of Marketing and Packaging Procurement. “We’ve set some ambitious but achievable targets to work toward over the next five years, and look forward to sharing progress with the industry along the way.”
A press release explained that the program strives to streamline current packaging systems, increase consistency across the organization, and reduce the amount of packaging materials used while maintaining high standards of food safety, product quality, freshness, and shelf-life.
In addition to the Sustainable Packaging Program, Duda Farm Fresh Foods continues to invest in its people through the recent opening of its seasonal employee housing in Greenfield, California. Understanding how critical vaccinations are to fighting the pandemic, Duda partnered with Avila Construction and Elkhorn Packing to bring a vaccination clinic directly to the housing site as well.
“The opening of this new housing facility is another way we’re becoming a more well-rounded sustainable company,” said Sammy Duda, President. “We’re working hard to embody the three P’s of sustainability: People, Profit, and Planet. We value our people, so it is important to us to continue to make investments that support our employees, including this new housing.”
Duda Farm Fresh Foods also recently launched the Dandygram, a bi-weekly market update to keep its customers informed about crop conditions, product availability, and market insights. To receive this news directly into your inbox, please click here.
As we all get back to the actions that inspire us most, keep reading us here at ANUK.
CORONA, CA - The celebration surrounding Cinco de Mayo is a festive combination of many of my favorite things—deliciously spicy salsa, fresh guacamole, Mexican red rice—the list goes on and on. Soon these tantalizing flavors will be calling out to all shoppers, and there is one thing that no Cinco de Mayo recipe is complete without. You guessed it: tomatoes. Veg-Fresh Farms’ tomato varieties are a perfect way to revitalize retail displays ahead of the upcoming holiday.
“There is one thing that comes to mind when you say tomatoes and Cinco de Mayo—fresh guacamole and salsa! It is great to promote for this holiday, as many consumers enjoy making fresh guacamole to enjoy with chips or on tacos,” said Daniela Toro-Martinez, Marketing and Communications. “Positioning the tomatoes next to avocados, jalapeños, and limes is a great way to promote them.”
Veg-Fresh Farms currently has conventional tomatoes coming in from Culiacán, Sinaloa, and Obregón, Sonora, Mexico. The supplies out of Culiacán continue to be strong leading up to the company’s transition to the Baja growing region in the beginning of June.
Much to any tomato lover’s delight, the grower has reported a good supply of fresh, springtime tomatoes, including its vine-ripe, snacking, Roma, Heirloom, and greenhouse and mature field tomatoes.
“We also offer a value pack of Redbites, our On Flavor™ brand of 24 oz grape tomatoes, and are introducing a new top-seal version, also available in 24 oz, which we have been transitioning some of our retail partners to since early March,” Daniela explained.
To make the most of fresh tomato sales leading up to Cinco de Mayo, retailers should plan in advance to ensure they align supplies, varieties, and promotions to increase demand across the category.
“We recommend cross-merchandising with other high-demand items—for example, packaged salads—as tomatoes are one of the most versatile commodities, used 71 percent of the time as an ingredient in a recipe and 69 percent in salads,” Daniela added.
To entice shoppers even further, Veg-Fresh Farms also has a great supply of its Organic Sweet King™ tomatoes, which are ideal for burgers during the summer grilling season. The proprietary, crimson vine-ripe tomato has a superior eating quality and can be used in salsas, salads, backyard barbecues, and more. Veg-Fresh Farms is working closely with its retailer partners to fill their Cinco De Mayo displays with these exciting varieties, as tomatoes will be on nearly every shopper’s list leading up to the holiday.
Keep an eye out for AndNowUKnow as we continue bringing you all the updates from within the fresh produce industry.
UNITED STATES - When we bring together brainpower from across the supply chain, there is no telling what we can accomplish. This is what US Foods endeavored to do in hosting its first-ever virtual Food Fanatics event on April 7. U.S.-based foodservice operators gathered to discuss amplifying kitchen efficiency, incorporating menu items to attract new and returning diners, and so much more. We got the exclusive scoop on the event from Jessica Martin, Senior Brand Manager of Events and Activations.
“The event focused on helping restaurant operators prepare to get back-to-business as COVID-19 restrictions begin to be lifted and restaurants are adjusting and adapting to meet the pent-up consumer demand for dining out and travel, especially with the warmer, summer months ahead,” Jessica explained. “At the event, US Foods provided operators with the opportunity to participate in six highly engaging back-in-business breakout sessions that covered everything from the importance of sustainable products to menu appeal and profitability with speed-scratch tips and techniques.”
Although a wealth of information was shared during the event, Jessica noted her own top three takeaways for restaurant operators:
- The “Move Your Menu Forward” breakout session was designed to help restaurant operators streamline their menus in preparation for increased volume, capacity, and multiple revenue streams.
- The “Staffing for Summer” breakout session went through the specifics of how restaurant operators should prepare for a busy summer with a streamlined and up-skilled staff
- In the “Relief for Restaurants” breakout session, US Foods addressed current legislation that could help operators’ businesses survive and thrive
“As foodservice operators get ready for summer, US Foods continues to provide a wealth of resources and tools, such as consultations with Food Fanatics Chefs and Restaurant Operations Consultants, where they help with everything from menu planning to P&L strategy,” Jessica noted.
Another essential tool for operators is the power of understanding how social media can attract diners back to the dining rooms.
“We encourage operators to get creative with social media to keep their followers interested in potential news by sharing information about recipes, cooking classes, cocktail demos, wine seminars, and charitable efforts,” Jessica expressed. “It’s also important that restaurant operators keep their social media accounts up to date, such as including the latest delivery information. In a post-pandemic world, when restaurants begin to fully open again, the industry will once again rely on social media to re-connect and rebuild rapport with customers.”
Social media can also be a great tool to post photos of the restaurant so that diners who may be hesitant to eat out know exactly what to expect and feel comfortable going to the restaurant.
“We also provide insights on the latest trends and what is resonating with consumers today. For example, we know that since the start of the pandemic, consumers have made dietary and lifestyle changes, with research showing that 31 percent of consumers have said they’re trying to eat less meat and 86 percent of consumers are equally or more concerned about nutritional content,” remarked Jessica.
US Foods offers such plant-forward products and items with a clean-label profile to meet this increasingly popular consumer demand for foods that support wellness. And, as we know, plant-based menu additions get us one step closer to having fresh produce at the center of the plate.
From US Foods’ latest Spring Scoop™, these include:
- Molly’s Kitchen® Plant-Based Breakfast Saus’ge Patty
- Chef’s Line® Mild Taco Flavored Quinoa Crumbles
- Roseli® Premium Gluten-Free 100% Red Lentil Rotini
Of course, we couldn't divulge all of the exciting details in just one article, so please click here for more information.