LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Now is the time to give thanks to all of the powerful women around the world as our industry continues to celebrate Women’s History month. Frieda’s was recently named as one of Whole Foods Markets’ “Women Makers Raising the Bar,” and has now launched an initiative of its own. The female- and family-founded, owned, and led business rolled out a unique campaign to highlight iconic women.
“My mother would have gotten such a kick out of seeing her portrait recreated out of dragon fruit and colored cauliflower,” says Karen Caplan, President and CEO. “It brings such joy to honor her alongside the legendary [Ruth Bader Ginsburg] and the voice of the next generation, Amanda Gorman. We wanted to focus on women who have inspired us, but in true Frieda’s fashion, do it in a way that makes people smile.”
Unveiled across multiple social media platforms, the campaign features the company’s Founder Frieda Rapoport Caplan, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and poet laureate Amanda Gorman. Their iconic styles and personalities were brought to life through produce portraits made with colored cauliflower, Stokes Purple® Sweet Potato, shishito peppers, and Snow Dragon™ fruit.
Frieda’s salutes all female trailblazers inside and outside of the produce industry, from fearless frontline warriors to the female scientists working on the vaccines, and everyone in between. To check out the campaign, be sure to visit Frieda’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
As our industry continues to bring creative campaign to life, be sure to follow along with us at ANUK.
HAILEY, ID - The Sweet onion category is welcoming a fresh face to its packaging prowess, as ProSource Produce has launched an exclusive new carton for its products. The company recently released the first images of the carton, which is now available to ship out to its network of partners.
“Our growing and packing operations across the U.S. and Mexico have experienced exceptional growth over the past decade, and increased our capacity to provide a consistent year-round Sweet onion program to our valued customers,” Corey Griswold, CEO, said. “The addition of a Sweet onion carton to our existing brand is an exciting step forward in promoting ProSource and our supply capabilities.”
As an Idaho-based grower/shipper of fresh onions and potatoes, ProSource’s rebranded Sweet onion carton is sure to catch the eye of anyone who sees it, elevating the category overall and ensuring the highest quality possible.
A press release explained that the new box is the first in a series of new packaging introductions that the company has planned for 2021.
“We wanted to create a package that stands out in the crowd,” says Sales Manager, Ralph Schwartz. “Our new carton is attractive to consumers, retailers, and wholesalers alike, and will put ProSource on the national stage in the Sweet onion category.”
Onni Lufkin, Director of Onion Sales, also chimed in on the exciting release.
“We are excited to expand our ProSource brand into the Sweet onion category,” Lufkin said. “Our strategy for market penetration is supported with the same quality, integrity and brand our customers have grown to trust.”
As ProSource continues to release its packaging revamps, keep reading us here at ANUK.
MISSION, TX - Miss out on securing your spot in the Viva Fresh Golf Open? Don’t fret, because the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) has announced that it has secured a second course to accommodate expo attendees. So, dust off your clubs and get ready for a round of golf in the Texas sunshine.
“Honestly, originally we had planned for less participation this year, but the demand from Viva attendees to increase this particular networking opportunity was undeniable,” said Ed Bertaud, Viva Fresh Golf Committee Chairman and Director of Retail Sales for IFCO. “Golf is one of a handful of activities that has experienced somewhat of a resurgence since the pandemic began, primarily as it is an outdoor sport. Furthermore, as a pillar of our efforts has always been to provide more relaxed yet professional networking options, we decided to act on this opportunity and answer our attendees’ demands by offering an additional option.”
The original golf tournament is being held at the Cowboys Golf Club, an 18-hole course that has been sold out since January, according to a press release. Due to overwhelming demand, Viva Fresh will host its additional tournament at the Bear Creek Golf Course, rated one of the “10 Great Places to Golf,” by The Wall Street Journal and among the “Top 50 Resort Courses in America,” as ranked by Golf Digest. In other words, this course is sure to knock your socks off.
As with its other golf tournament, Viva Fresh is arranging for transportation to and from the hotel and green, as well as providing breakfast and lunch for participants. But, space is limited, and those interested in taking part should sign up before spots are sold out.
Participation in the open will run $350 per player and $1,300 for a team. The same start and end times of play and tournament rules will apply for both courses. And, don’t forget there is a chance to earn some cash if your swing is strong enough.
“Not only is this a great course but it is also a chance to walk away with some cold, hard cash,” remarked Craig Slate, President and CEO of SunFed and TIPA Chairman. “There are several opportunities to cash in on the overall tournament purse: be it closest to the pin, longest drive, or overall net or gross winner. Come play, enjoy yourselves, make some new friends…and maybe take back a little green for that new putter you’ve been eyeing.”
Those interested should note that to receive a Viva Fresh Open shirt, they must be signed up and paid for by 5 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 17. Overall registration closes next Wednesday, March 24, at 3 p.m. CT.
There you have it, folks! Take your shot at a great day of golf and the chance to win some great prizes by signing up today.
For more industry event information, keep a tab open for AndNowUKnow.
THE WORLD - Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes, but the mark of a great leader is one who is fearlessly and authentically themselves—and inspires others to do the same. As we round out our final round of interviews with women across the industry, you'll take away from them the meaning of great leadership. I know I did.
Amy Gates, Vice President, Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet
"I feel very fortunate to call the produce industry my career home, dating back to my college internship at Cal Poly for Apio. In my 23 years, I have witnessed the presence of women in positions of leadership rise dramatically, as we work for a more inclusive industry. Agriculture in general, and particularly the produce business, requires leaders to have the ability to be very versatile and handle complex situations in changing environments. In my experience, working with other women leaders, I have found we have an exemplary ability to succeed under these pressures by following our hearts and always seeking to be the best version of ourselves, while inspiring others to do the same."
Dan’l Mackey Almy, Chief Executive Officer and President, DMA Solutions
“Since I began my career in fresh produce, it’s been so encouraging to see so many women commit to the industry for their career. It’s been an honor to witness this industry evolve and to see more women take on leadership roles, most of whom I believe will become executives and owners down the road. We are lucky enough to work in a field that not only helps women and men and women establish long-lasting careers, but supports individuals' personal growth as well.”
Jill Overdorf, Director of Business Development for Foodservice, Naturipe Farms
“When I joined the produce industry in 2005, I was coming from a culinary background, so I knew the products but I didn’t know the people. I was not prepared for the warm and welcoming embrace that this industry gave to someone who was establishing a new career path. Fifteen years later, I remain grateful for the way one can become involved and initiate and participate in change and development. My advice to women entering the industry is to always remain professional, punctual, and passionate while continuing to be curious, humble, and grateful. It is as important to acknowledge those who have helped your career as it is to lift others onto their path—and aiding in the success of another will never diminish your abilities. Be kind, be unapologetically smart, and know your personal brand.”
Thank you for inspiring us! And thank you to our readers for making International Women's Day a month-long event.
WENATCHEE, WA - Branded apples continue to drive growth at retail, and CMI Orchards has the sales data to back up that claim. Across several of its brands, the value proposition of apples has spiked.
“Jazz™ and Envy™ join Ambrosia as three of our strongest specialty apples. Consumers are looking for their next favorite apple, and CMI Orchards provides outstanding options. Jazz offers a fantastic sweet and refreshing eating experience, as a snack and in the kitchen. Envy is consistently a stand-out favorite, offering unmatched flavor with its sweet and crunchy bite, consistently good eating quality, and gorgeous red color,” explained Marketing Specialist Danelle Huber.
According to a press release, Jazz apples have jumped into the second position for branded apple sales across the United States, with an overall increase of 13 percent in sales dollars representing 24 percent in volume over the latest 52-week period.
Jazz apples currently account for 21 percent of the U.S. branded apple category sales. Envy apples showed similar success, with growth in volume of 8 percent year-over-year and a 10 percent growth in sales dollars.
The press release noted that Envy apples account for 22 percent of the branded apple category in overall sales.
All of these stats come from Nielsen scan data ending January 23, 2021.
“CMI prides itself on making calculated decisions when bringing on new licensed apples to enhance our manifest and has a strong track record of backing the winners,” said Brand Manager Rochelle Bohm. “With three of America’s top-selling apple brands, plus KIKU®, Kanzi®, Smitten®, Pacific Rose®, and EverCrisp®—many of which regularly fall in the top 10 of all branded apples, CMI is the go-to supplier of branded apples that deliver an outstanding eating experience with proven sales performance.”
Need an apple partner? Look no further.
NOGALES, AZ - To navigate any unknown space, all you really need is a map. Providing leaders across the industry with just that, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) hosted a webinar series for Tomato Week 2021 packed with the latest data and market trends to help brands navigate the fresh tomato category.
“One of the key findings of the COVID study is that foodservice tomato sales, especially round, mature green tomatoes, have not recovered their market share, due to consumer preference for vine-ripened round tomatoes at retail,” said President Lance Jungmeyer. “COVID has changed many patterns, including where tomatoes are consumed, and by extension, which kinds of growers are able to prosper. This has lasting and positive connotations for vine-ripened tomatoes produced in protected environments.”
The series took place on March 9–11, according to a company release, and kicked off with Rick Stein from FMI, The Food Industry Association, sharing the most recent data for fresh tomatoes in supermarkets, as well as predictions for the industry moving forward.
Stein also shined a light on the significant growth of e-commerce markets, and how that has impacted fresh imported tomatoes.
On the following day, Dari Duval from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Arizona led a presentation surrounding the impact of Mexican tomatoes on the U.S. economy. The data collected reflected many economic contributions supported by the import of the fresh fruit, including 33,000 new jobs in the U.S. and $2.9 billion in GDP.
Finishing off the webinar series, the University of Arizona’s Daniel Schietrum gave a presentation on the recently published Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Fresh Tomato Markets storymap.
Throughout the presentation, Schietrum focused on how the fresh tomato industry was impacted by the lockdowns and market changes that occurred over the past year.
For those interested, a recap of each of the resourceful webinars will be available on the FPAA’s website.
Keep clicking on ANUK as we continue to bring you the latest news across the industry.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - There is no telling the heights that a successful rebrand can take a company. In continuation of its already ambitious growth strategy, SpartanNash recently bolstered its freight operations, announcing that it has realigned its BRT Indianapolis and Managed Freight Minnesota teams into one organization and rebranded the organization as SpartanNash Logistics.
“We will make a bigger impact working together as one team than we can working as two separate groups,” said President and CEO Tony Sarsam. “As the freight environment continues to become increasingly challenging, building a carrier procurement team is critical to meeting the demands of the industry and advancing our strategic plan to develop a national, agile, and highly efficient distribution network.”
The new structure will enable SpartanNash to increase its efficiency by combining resources for carrier procurement, customer pricing, dispatch, and accounting/back office, according to a company release.
The launch of the combined teams as SpartanNash Logistics will allow the retailer to better serve its 1500-plus corporate-owned retail stores across nine different states, as well as independent and national account customers nationwide, U.S. military commissaries and exchanges, and third-party logistics customers.
SpartanNash Logistics will be led by Senior Vice President David Frizzell, who served as President of BRT Indianapolis prior to the rebranding.
This announcement comes on the heels of several executive shakeups as the retailer continues to fortify its leadership team alongside its operations.
What other new strategies will evolve as companies expand their hold on this evolving sector? Keep reading AndNowUKnow to find out.
COACHELLA VALLEY, CA - Loss ripples through an industry as tight as ours, but recently there was one close to the heart of our team at ANUK. Robert “Bobby" Bianco, a pillar of the fresh produce community, the Co-Owner of Anthony Vineyards, and a mentor to the leadership of many, including our own team, was an icon in the industry.
Undoubtedly, Bobby’s contributions are immeasurable. A tour de force, he and his brothers built Anthony Vineyards into the company we know today. In 1975, he became known as the first in the nation to commercially grow the new red flame seedless grape in Coachella Valley. This variety would become one of the top grapes produced in the world. People from across the globe would travel to see Bobby and learn how this grape was grown.
His influence can be found in his community as well, as he and his brother Domenick “Cookie” Bianco have employed thousands of Valley residents in the last 50 years.
In a past Snack article, we covered Bobby’s legacy in depth, detailing how he and his family expanded Anthony Vineyards. A theme throughout his story is his ability to stay ahead of the curve—the mark of a man whose innovative thinking made him an industry legend.
In his spare time, Bobby enjoyed golf and served on the board for Southwestern Growers Tournament. He even played in the Bob Hope Classic.
Throughout his life, Bobby supported a variety of religious and community organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brother Little Sisters of the Desert, Desert Arc, the formation of Palm Valley School, as well as supporting churches such as Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Francis Parish, Our Lady of Solidad, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Sacred Heart.
Bianco is survived by his son, Anthony Bianco, and daughter, Francesca Gist, as well as six grandchildren—all of whom reside in Coachella Valley.
His life will be remembered Saturday, March 20, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bianco family. Bobby will be sorely missed. His contributions as a table grape grower, businessman, friend, and family member cannot be overstated. The industry, and all of us here at AndNowUKnow, will feel his absence greatly.
JASPER, IN - As the grocery sector remains a hot spot for innovation and growth, Schnuck Markets has thrown its hat in the ring once again as it revealed plans to unveil a new format grocery location. The “Schnucks Fresh” store, as it’s been named, will be located in Jasper, Indiana, and will place a heavy focus on fresh departments such as produce, bakery, meat, and seafood.
“We’re excited to expand into the Jasper community and to be able to continue on our company’s mission to Nourish People’s Lives in an area new to Schnucks,” said Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck. “As a new format for us, ‘Schnucks Fresh’ will be a store that customers will be able to quickly and easily navigate where they will find an extensive selection of the same fresh products for which Schnucks is known throughout the Midwest.”
The new location will be 18,000 square feet and is expected to open in summer of 2021, as noted by the company in a statement.
Joining six other Schnucks markets in Indiana, the market will add 30 new associates to the already 795 teammates employed in the area. Hiring will begin for the new store approximately six weeks ahead of the store opening, with more details shared once the company finalizes its plans.
As more updates on the store’s opening become available, ANUK will continue to report.
COACHELLA VALLEY, CA - Last Friday, a coalition of agricultural organizations, including Western Growers, California Fresh Fruit Association, and Growing Coachella Valley, filed a lawsuit in Riverside Superior Court to block Coachella’s urgency ordinance mandating that farmers and other agricultural employers pay an additional four dollars per hour to their employees for at least 120 days.
In the complaint, which was outlined in a release, plaintiffs Western Growers Association, California Fresh Fruit Association, and Growing Coachella Valley argue the following: that, among other claims, that there is no factual justification for the urgency ordinance, that it’s unconstitutionally vague, and that the urgency ordinance will cause irreparable harm to agricultural employers for which they have no adequate remedy.
“Coachella Valley farmers have made significant investments to comply with local, county, state and federal guidance on employee health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Growing Coachella Valley Executive Director Janell Percy. “Add in these expenses to already-existing regulatory compliance costs, agricultural overtime laws, and the highest minimum wage in the country, our local family farms are buckling under the weight.”
After the Coachella City Council passed the mandate, the release cited a Los Angeles Times report which relayed a warning from a United Farm Workers Organizing Coordinator who correctly observed that farmers are already “struggling” with California’s wage and overtime costs and are reducing overtime hours: “Hero pay sounds good in theory,” he added, "but in practice it’s possible that ‘the worker ends up losing.’”
"The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt by all. The past year has been nothing short of challenging,” said California Fresh Fruit Association President Ian LeMay. “Yet, as we begin to collectively move beyond the darkest days, it is beyond astonishing that the leaders of the City of Coachella decided to impose another burden on agriculture. It is our hope that with time and additional counsel, the City will reverse course and remove this obstacle to economic recovery in the Coachella Valley.”
In a comment letter to the council prior to their adoption of the urgency ordinance, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia noted: “Farmers are price takers, not price setters. Grocery and restaurant buyers have many options for sourcing the types of fresh produce grown in the Coachella Valley and will look elsewhere – likely Mexico—for cheaper sources of fresh bell peppers, lettuce, cabbage, table grapes, dates, citrus, and other Coachella-grown produce. While the Coachella City Council can mandate higher wages be paid to farm employees, they cannot mandate that grocery stores and restaurants accept the additional cost and pass it along to consumers.”
Puglia continued, commenting that, “This ordinance was driven by the simplistic and ultimately false assumption that the basic laws of economics can be ignored without consequence. While some council members appear to be reconsidering this action, the ordinance—which hands enforcement to private trial lawyers under California’s job-killing ‘Private Attorney General’ law —is in force now. It is so poorly written that many employers with Coachella ties can’t determine if the ordinance even applies to them. We are taking this drastic step to prevent the economic injuries farmers and thousands of agriculture employees are bound to suffer if this measure is not repealed immediately.”
The full text of that letter is linked here. And for the full text of the complaint with exhibits, click here.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest in agricultural news.
California Fresh Fruit Association Growing Coachella Valley Western Growers