CHICAGO, IL - Table grapes are an enormous category—and they continue to be a sales driver for retail partners across the supply chain. In order to ensure that the highest quality grapes are making it to market, Hazel Technologies, Inc. offers its patented technology to the benefit of both suppliers and buyers.
“The primary result of using Hazel® technology is stem quality protection. This means that grape stems, also known as racchis, protected by Hazel’s products retain green color and turgidity for a longer period of time,” explained Pat Flynn, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder. “Maintaining healthy stems for longer is important because stem appearance is the #1 factor most consumers consider in determining how fresh the grapes are.”
The ease in which growers can add Hazel’s technology for grapes cannot be overstated, as all it takes is placing the Hazel Tech® sachet in the box at the time of packing. Academically validated, USDA-funded, and extremely easy to use—that’s a must-have solution, if you ask me.
Additionally, new table grape varieties require more care, but with Hazel’s solutions on your side, it’s never been easier.
“The most popular new table grape varieties have an excellent taste profile and are growing each year in market share. One challenge with many new table grape varieties is that they are frequently known to have very delicate stems. As more growers implement Hazel's technology for grapes, they will be able to store and ship varieties with more fragile stems with higher quality,” Pat noted. “This new level of quality ‘assurance ultimately increases grower returns and the consumer eating experience.”
Building out its supply-side partnerships, Hazel Technologies has become a trusted industry partner due to its ability to tailor solutions based on category.
“Our mission at Hazel is to deliver cutting-edge products that improve the quality of food for every person involved, from growers to consumers,” Pat shared. “We break this process into three parts: discover, innovate, and deliver. We were founded by Ph.D. chemists and engineers. We believe in always experimenting and discovering new technology variations with new categories. Once we see interesting results, we partner with leading growers, retailers, and academic institutions to conduct research. Finally, for the technologies with the best industry response, we deliver!”
We’ll continue to hunt down the innovations that will make for buy- and supply-side success, so stay tuned.
FRESNO, CA - In this industry, there is enough sweetness to keep the world going round. But there is no sweeter victory than that of adding a new product to your portfolio. Trinity Fruit Company is reminding us all how sweet it can be in the produce industry, recently introducing its new Big Honeys®-branded Dekopon mandarins.
“We are very excited to add this new item to our portfolio!” said Angela Hernandez, Director of Marketing. “Big Honeys are what they sound like: they’re BIG in size, BUZZING with flavor, and have a distinctive skin and shape that makes them easy to peel, thus looking like a honey bell! We hope consumers enjoy this delicious piece of fruit as much as we have, from farming to getting it onto store shelves.”
The Dekopon variety is not new to the market, but it is new to Trinity and hit retail shelves under the grower's new Big Honeys brand. The variety became available in February, and supplies will last through April.
“Consumers seem to be more attuned to healthy consumption and vitamin C intake,” Angela continued. “The great thing about this fruit is that one medium-sized Big Honeys mandarin can give consumers their daily vitamin C intake. We also love to give consumers other options of fruit to consume and experiment with!”
Not only will this variety bring diversity to shopping carts, but it will serve retailers with new opportunities to capture the attention of consumers in the produce aisle. The offering is an extension of Trinity’s already vast citrus lineup—a great addition to its specialty mandarin program, which only continues to grow.
As more products hit the fresh produce aisle, keep reading us here at ANUK.
BOISE, ID & SUNNYVALE, CA - What happens when you bring together the might of a leading retailer and the knowledge of a famous tech company? Innovation, that’s what. Today, Albertsons Companies and Google announced that they have entered into a multi-year partnership to change the face of grocery, making shopping easier and more convenient for consumers nationwide.
“Albertsons Cos. is continuing to transform into a modern retailer fit for the future, and we are leading the industry forward by providing the easiest and most exciting shopping experience for our customers,” said Chris Rupp, EVP and Chief Customer and Digital Officer at Albertsons Companies. “In bringing together Google’s technology expertise with our commitment to customer-centric innovation, we’re providing our customers with a superior shopping experience no matter how they choose to shop with us.”
The collaboration between Google and Albertsons Companies has been ongoing behind the scenes over the past several years, according to a press release. Now, with the announcement of this new partnership, the duo will debut several new enhancements to boost the shopping process.
Currently, Albertsons is engaged with a number of teams at Google covering a wide range of technologies aimed to improve the consumer experience. Together, the pair is working on integrating Google Search and Maps to help shoppers easily find what they need, making it easier to shop using Google Pay, and infusing Google Cloud AI technologies to create a predictive grocery engine.
“Albertsons Companies is leading the way in bringing innovative technologies to the grocery store digital and physical aisles,” said Carrie Tharp, VP of Retail and Consumer, Google Cloud. “We’re proud to partner with Albertsons Companies to streamline processes and power innovative shopping experiences for customers. The unique strategic and technical collaboration at the heart of the Google and Albertsons partnership sets the stage for sustained post-pandemic transformation and momentum that will become clear to customers in both the near- and long-term.”
Other planned innovations under this new partnership include:
- Shoppable maps with dynamic hyperlocal features
- AI-powered conversational commerce
- Predictive grocery list building
Additionally, the partners are making it easier for customers to order groceries for pickup and delivery by providing helpful information about online ordering from many Albertsons Companies' stores directly within mobile search. This technology will be added to Google Maps later this year.
What other innovations will spur from this new partnership? Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the answers.
BRENTWOOD, MO - Get your Twitter fingers ready! A valuable discussion will be taking place on the social media site, as fresh produce purveyors from near and far will gather virtually to meld minds and share ideas. The Produce For Better Health Foundation recently announced it has teamed up with Red Sun Farms and Lori Taylor of The Produce Moms® to host a live #HaveAPlant tweet chat on Wednesday, March 31.
The Twitter event will be hosted by the noteworthy entrepreneur Lori Taylor, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Produce Moms, according to a recent press release. The Spring Have A Plant® Tweet Chat is in celebration of PBH’s April theme, Plants With A Purpose, as well as Earth Day, which takes place on April 22.
Attendees can tap into the chat to engage with fellow fresh produce advocates and share their expertise with consumers everywhere. Ideas shared during the chat will include tips, recipes, branding ideas, and more.
PBH’s Have a Plant Movement launched nearly two years ago in an effort to improve fruit and vegetable consumption amongst consumers through the use of emotion-based messaging. The movement has reached millions of consumers throughout 2020 alone, and received nearly 500 million social media impressions. Most recently, the foundation unveiled several new strategies to attract Gen Z and Millennial consumers with the release of its new 2021 Member Engagement Prospectus.
To prepare yourself for this exciting event, you can download the Plants With A Purpose Have A Plant® Tweet Chat questions here.
ANUK will continue to report on all the latest news in the fresh produce industry, so keep clicking back.
Produce For Better Health Foundation The Produce Moms Red Sun Farms
LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Throughout March, we here at AndNowUKnow were happy to celebrate Women’s History Month. And now that it is drawing to a close, what better send off than the announcement that Frieda’s Specialty Produce will be celebrating its 59th anniversary? Coinciding with this landmark anniversary is the release of the book Try It! How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat, honoring its legendary Founder, Frieda Caplan. This marvel by author Mara Rockliff and Beach Lane Books—an imprint of Simon & Schuster—is a new children’s picture book that everyone should get there eyes on, no matter your age!
“My mother always believed in thinking outside the produce box,” says Karen Caplan, CEO and President of Frieda’s. “In fact, my favorite story is how she was approached by a produce manager to locate what is now known as kiwifruit. She managed to get the first shipment on grocery store shelves, and, as they say, the rest is marketing history.”
The book is authored by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Giselle Potter, as noted by the company in a release. Both artists have worked to bring to life Frieda’s impactful legacy on the page, honoring the changes she imparted on not only the fresh produce industry, but the world as she worked to change the way Americans ate.
“TRY IT! is what Frieda Caplan did,” said Rockliff. “When she started selling produce in the 1950s, there were no women doing what she did. She could have given up and gone home, or she could have followed the men’s lead and sold the same old apples and bananas and potatoes and tomatoes. Instead, she decided to try something new, and she changed the whole industry.”
The book details Frieda’s differentiation of her products and building a niche through clever naming, clear labeling, customer education, and the promotion of interesting recipes—all of which remain an integral part of the company today.
TRY IT! Has already received fantastic reviews and is a great way to inspire the next generation. The book is available to buy online, here.
In addition to the inspiring book being published, Frieda’s will also be celebrating Love Your Produce Manager® Day on April 2. This holiday is the perfect opportunity to recognize the incredible work done by the unsung heroes of produce and honor their knowledge, work, and ability to go above and beyond even during the toughest times.
So, don’t forget to pay tribute to Produce Managers everywhere.
For more updates from across the fresh produce industry, stick with ANUK.
DALLAS, TX - Sitting down to write this recap was much like working to remember steps I haven’t danced in a while. In doing so, the words of the Texas International Produce Association’s (TIPA) Dante Galeazzi echoed.
“This is a year of firsts. This is my first show wearing masks; my first show not knowing whether to go in for a hug, a fist bump, or a handshake,” the association’s President and Chief Executive Officer shared at last Saturday’s keynote luncheon.
More than 1,200 came out to participate in that first—not only one of the first in-person gatherings for fresh produce since the global-wide shutdowns of 2020 took place, but also Viva Fresh's Dallas debut.
To set a safe zone for all levels of comfort, attendees were offered a color code system of name badges (red for maximum distance and masks at all times, yellow for medium distance, green for lesser distance needed and willingness to remove masks for longer periods of time) as well as tables color coded to badge preferences where everyone was gathered, such as breakfast or lunch.
“Viva Fresh met the moment by providing yet another new normal that was comfortable and navigable for all. I’m proud that Viva Fresh and TIPA are clearing the path for a return to face-to-face business and networking in a responsible and productive format,” April Flowers, Marketing Director for Lone Star Citrus, shared with me.
April played a role in that format, specifically for the women of our industry, as Chairperson for TIPA’s In Bloom program, planning a Grow Your Network event with Co-Chair, Michelle Cortez.
“The women of In Bloom were beyond excited to finally meet again at the Grow Your Network event. After a year-long hiatus on in-person events, we are back to doing what matters most: supporting and connecting produce women. The Grow Your Network event provided scaffolded conversations with other industry women on a variety of topics that extended far beyond basic business,” April said. “While there are plenty of people we can do business with and some we should do business with, it was our goal to connect women with those they will want to do business with. We hope all who attended made memorable connections with other women, and we look forward to seeing the new business and personal relationships that grow from this event.”
In addition to In Bloom, attendees as a whole mixed and mingled safely and at their comfort while playing in the now “semi-annual” golf tournament—as Dante put it—a draw so strong TIPA ended up opening a second course to accommodate all desired players.
If exhibitors and buyers didn’t connect on the green, chances were many show floor interactions were still reunions from the previous 24 hours. Turnouts were strong not only for the VIP and General Welcome Receptions, but also the Buyer Speed Meeting Sessions that took place just before the expo opened.
“I really enjoyed the 2021 Viva Fresh show. The Viva Fresh team did a great job of planning and taking the proper precautions to make the show as safe and productive as possible,” Joseph Bunting, Produce Business Director for United Supermarkets, said. “We were able to make some great connections and find some new ideas to continue to drive our business forward. We look forward to attending this show again next year!”
Jacob Fox, Sales at Fox Packaging, also had words to share regarding the show.
“Having the opportunity to come out to showcase our product and see our customers and friends in person has been such a rewarding experience. Our team is thankful to TIPA for organizing an engaging, safe convention of our industry,” Jacob noted.
And as we approached the final hours, the keynote luncheon offered a safe space to listen in on the success story for the second annual Clean Eating Challenge, direct from Dr. Ian Smith. With him, we saw successful peers of our industry who took up the challenge, all of whom shared a few words of wisdom on how we all can walk the walk of fresh produce purveyors.
The finale was, of course, the expo itself. TIPA actively coordinated admittance to avoid crowding, and once everyone was inside, I was surprised by the way things fell into place. While space was given, the hours saw more and more a “normal” show, save the masks, and an air of enthusiasm I can only attribute to an industry that missed its people.
Foodservice and retail operators from near and far followed up with new and old acquaintances. Among the many buyers were representatives from H-E-B and United Supermarkets, Albertsons, Harps Foods, Home Chef, and many more. I imagine, going off my own conversations, everyone had more to discuss than ever before!
“Our industry relies on personal networks. As a relationship business, the safety of our attendees was our number one priority as we discussed the possibility of bringing everyone together in 2021,” Dante concluded. “I am truly filled with pride that we were able to deliver the hospitality Viva Fresh is known for and hope our attendees felt comfort in the measures we introduced while enjoying one of the first in-person shows in over a year.”
Everything is still very different from what we once knew, but the steps were still there to be remembered, and together we will figure out how to continue to move forward.
As this unique Viva Fresh proved, no one knows how to do that better than the produce industry.
ORLANDO, FL - Four new salad kit options are headed to retailers, as Fresh Express® recently announced new product additions to its value-added salad line.
“Throughout the past year, we’ve seen that consumers are increasingly looking to add convenience and flavor to their at-home meals without sacrificing quality,” said Fabian Pereira, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation. “Our new salad kits combine premium ingredients like honey butter cornbread crisps and smoked bacon with fresh, crisp lettuce and vegetables to make it easy for consumers to enjoy a chef-crafted and nutritious meal with minimal time spent in the kitchen.”
These new products include Bacon Thousand Island and Kickin’ Bacon Ranch Chopped Salad Kits, as well as Italian Balsamic and Spinach & Bacon Salad Kits. According to a press release, the introduction of these new recipes provides shoppers with more variety—a benefit for retailers looking to bolster their buy-side differentiation.
The product breakdown is as follows:
- Bacon Thousand Island: Fresh iceberg and green leaf lettuce layered with unique sweet and savory ingredients including honey butter cornbread crisps, Parmesan cheese crisps, smoked uncured bacon bits, and a creamy Thousand Island dressing
- Kickin’ Bacon Ranch: Garden-fresh green leaf lettuce, green and red cabbage, carrots, and green onions finished with a touch of heat and zesty flavor from Jalapeno Ranch dressing, topped with tortilla strips and crispy uncured bacon bits
- Italian Balsamic: Fresh iceberg, green leaf lettuce, and radicchio tossed with a White Balsamic Vinaigrette, focaccia croutons, and an Italian three-cheese blend
- Spinach & Bacon: Vibrant and tender baby spinach and spring mix combined with red cabbage, carrots, mesquite-smoked slivered almonds, smoked uncured bacon bits, and a Sweet Onion Dijon dressing
These kits have already been adopted by retailers such as Albertsons, Safeway, Hannaford, Food Lion and Harris Teeter. Will you be next?
Keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow as we plumb the depths of product development.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
- Urban Fresh Produce Inc., operating out of San Diego, California, for failing to pay a $15,460 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Mirna Gutierrez was listed as the officer, director, and/or major stockholder of the business
- Sunrise Produce Inc., operating out of Jessup, Maryland, for failing to pay a $13,414 award in favor of a Pennsylvania seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Huinil Emergildo, Ramirez Aurelio, Araceli Ortiz, and Liliana Cortez were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business
- PFI Express Inc., operating out of Valley Stream, New York, for failing to pay a $25,014 award in favor of a Hawaii seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Romilda Silva was listed as the officer, director, and/or major stockholder of the business
- Temple Turmeric Inc., doing business as Temple Beverages, operating out of Brooklyn, New York, for failing to pay a $21,416 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Daniel Sullivan was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
- Eli Gonzalez Distributors Inc., operating out of Pharr, Texas, for failing to pay a $4,800 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Elida Garcia Villegas was listed as the officer, director, and/or major stockholder of the business
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in a reparation order being issued 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.
By issuing these penalties, USDA continues to enforce the prompt and full payment for produce while protecting the rights of sellers and buyers in the marketplace.
For more information, and to read the press release in its entirety, click here.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The stars are aligning in the produce aisle, as Giumarra Companies’ premium DulveVida™- branded nectarines will return this summer. After making their successful debut in grocery stores last year, the trio of French-bred, California-grown offerings include the Midnight Edition™, Twilight Edition™, and Sunrise Edition™.
“We are very eager for this summer’s return of our proprietary, premium DulceVida nectarines, as our customers and consumers love their sweet taste,” said Jeannine Martin, Corporate Vice President and Director of Sales for Giumarra Reedley/Kingsburg. “Additionally, we believe our packaging is perfect for online orders and home delivery. We now offer clear lids that help protect our fruit in consumer boxes, which also stack beautifully for in-store merchandising displays.”
Each DulceVida limited edition nectarine variety has a unique appearance with a variety of availability this summer:
- Midnight Edition: yellow flesh nectarines with a dark, speckled exterior color. Available mid-June through early August
- Twilight Edition: white flesh nectarines with frosted fuchsia skin. Available June through mid-August
- Sunrise Edition: yellow flesh nectarines with rose red to deep berry skin. Available July through mid-August
In a company press release, Martin noted that the company developed its DulceVida nectarines over the course of many years with its California stonefruit growers.
Giumarra’s California-grown DulceVida nectarines are available in both high-graphic corrugated consumer boxes and plastic handled bags. The boxes are available in 2.5 lb and 4 lb options; the bags are available in a 2 lb option.
“Our family has been a proud California stone fruit grower for decades—we are now in our fourth generation,” said Tim Thiesen, who also manages the DulceVida test orchard in Reedley, California. “Even though it takes several years to plant, grow, and test these very special varieties, we really love growing these amazing DulceVida nectarines for Giumarra. We are very passionate about providing such high-quality California-grown stone fruit for consumers to enjoy across the United States.”
To help retailers communicate the DulceVida story to consumers, Giumarra also offers customized, comprehensive marketing support including consumer recipes; digital/social media content; and in-store merchandising materials that feature one of our DulceVida growers, the multi-generational Thiesen family.
For more exciting releases in the produce aisle, keep reading the reports from ANUK.
WASHINGTON STATE - A deep appreciation for farmworkers stands at the heart of those working in fresh produce. In honor of Farmworker Awareness Week, Washington State issued a formal declaration in support. To understand what this proclamation means from the perspective of both ends of the supply chain, I turned to both LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Equitable Food Initiative’s Director of Marketing Communications, and Stemilt’s Marketing Director, Brianna Shales.
“I sent the request to the Governor’s office to make this proclamation,” LeAnne told me. “Farmworker Awareness Week is an important event for the industry to recognize, and this year, I believe it’s of even greater importance, given the increasing recognition from the consumer as to the essentiality of farmworkers. Those of us who work in produce have known the incredibly vital role farmworkers play in bringing fresh fruits and vegetables to market. Most of those products are hand harvested, so it takes an enormous amount of hard work. And this recognition by the consumer is really critical.”
The proclamation itself came from Jay Inslee, the Governor of Washington. In it, he notes that Washington’s agricultural production covers more than 14 million acres and produces over $10 billion in production value. As many as 187,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers assist with the cultivation and harvest of key crops grown in The Evergreen State.
Like all grower-shippers in fresh produce, Stemilt relies on many skilled agricultural professionals. As we’ve reported in the past, Stemilt stands out from the pack, because as a company, it’s investing in the training and development of its workers.
“We are so excited that Washington State has officially recognized March 25–31 as Farmworker Awareness Week,” Brianna told me. “Stemilt wouldn’t exist without these #AlwaysEssential workers, as they nurture our fruit from first bloom to last pick and help ensure we delight consumers with World Famous Fruit. Stemilt is family-owned, and that means we work to treat our team members like family. We support any effort that calls attention to the important work that farmworkers do and will continue to invest in providing a safe, healthy and respectful workplace where people can grow personally and professionally.”
Part of EFI’s mission is to bridge the gap between the consumer and the farm—and ultimately, the farmworker.
“We’ve seen the continuing trend that consumers want to know where their food is coming from and how it’s being grown. Farmworker Awareness Week really gives us that opportunity to keep talking about this,” LeAnne noted. “To me, the message we’re trying to get out to the industry is to use this event to build momentum and constantly put out stories emphasizing the skilled professionals working behind-the-scenes.”
Farmworkers are essential to getting fresh and healthy food on supermarket shelves. Consumers might not see them, but they’re growing, harvesting, and packing the food that adorns produce aisles. Being the root of our supply chain, it can’t be overstated how important their role is in making sure food is available, all while maintaining quality and safety.
In order to amplify this messaging and raise support for the workers that make bringing fresh produce to market possible, EFI has crafted a free communications toolkit for download. Within the toolkit, companies will find ready-to-use graphics, logos, and messages honoring these workers who support our agricultural marketplace.
Keep turning to AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest in all things fresh.