PORT HUENEME, CA - As we here at AndNowUKnow have reported over the past few weeks, the challenges surrounding shipping containers and port congestion have persisted, leading some ships to think out of the box to unload cargo. With the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach experiencing backlogs, ships that are unable to wait are moving north up the coast of California to Port Hueneme to dock.
“When cargo comes from Asia to trans-shipment hubs in South America, it can jump on a ship and come up to Hueneme that way,” said Chief Executive Officer and Port Director Kristin Decas to CBSLA. “We’re also seeing some smaller size vessel charter ships out of smaller niche shipping lines in Asia and bring their cargo here this way.”
Located near Oxnard, California, Port Hueneme may be familiar to some in our industry as it usually handles cargo like bananas and other fresh produce, along with cars and fertilizer. However, according to the same report from CBSLA, the port is now acting as a relief valve for congestion for backlogged ports down south.
Additionally, some vessels have opted to unload all of their containers at the Port of Hueneme as a way to avoid larger ports all together.
“...There’s so much money being made on import cargo that, a lot of times, the export cargo gets left behind, and we’re seeing those containers come here to Port Hueneme and be able to get on ships and move to South America trade lanes,” added Decas. “In fact, just this first quarter alone, our export volume is up 219 percent.”
Through the use of mobile harbor cranes, the Port of Hueneme is able to offload and onload containers from vessels and gives them more flexibility to offload different types of cargo. The port also operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, minimizing congestion—a strategy that President Biden recently announced regarding the Port of Los Angeles and was already in effect at the Port of Long Beach.
“We bring a container in. It gets checked in. It gets put on a chassis and then it goes out to a distribution facility outside the gate where it gets inspected by customs there. Hence, you don’t have bottlenecking here inside the gate and at the gate of the port,” Decas explained.
As the supply chain challenges being faced by buyers and suppliers continue, what other methods will present themselves as ways to bypass port congestion? AndNowUKnow will bring you the latest answers.
MONTEREY, CA - Only 37 days to go! While many may be counting down to the New Year, the produce industry is gearing up for a chance to meld minds and advance the industry. Western Growers and the Organic Produce Network have revealed two of the educational sessions set to take place at the 2021 Organic Grower Summit (OGS). The two new sessions will explore how technology is enhancing organic crop production and provide a deep dive into the growth of organic fresh produce sales across the nation over the past two years.
The first session, titled SmartFarm: AgTech in the Field, will elaborate on how new technologies such as robotics and data management are boosting efficiency for organic growers, and explore their impact on production, costs, and the environment.
The session will be moderated by Bart Walker, President of Pacific Ag Rentals. Other panelists include Josh Roberts, President and General Manager of Triangle Farms; Gabe Sibley, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Verdant Robotics; and Sebastien Boyer, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FarmWise.
“Technological advances and data management continue to evolve for organic growers, providing a wide array of new tools designed for greater efficiency in the production of crops,” Walker noted. “This session will highlight some of the newest technologies, equipment, and programs available for growers and how they can best be utilized in the ever-changing landscape of organic fresh produce production.”
The other recently announced session, Organics at Retail–Performance and Consumer Expectations, will examine organic fresh produce sales at retail over the past two years and provide insight on organic performance in comparison to conventional fruits and vegetables.
Category Partners Chief Executive Officer Tom Barnes and Ben Hartman Good Eggs Senior Category Manager of Perishables, will offer an analysis of sales and discuss how e-commerce is altering consumer buying behaviors.
“Since the pandemic started nearly two years ago, sales of organic fresh produce have flourished as consumers look for healthy, nutritious products to feed their families,” said Barnes. “While that growth has slowed slightly, the prospect for organic sales continues to be bright. The session will explore the growth of organic produce over the past two years, and what the future may look like for consumers.”
These newly announced sessions are part of an extensive educational program designed to inform and engage organic producers, their service providers, and supply chain partners, as noted in a press release.
The event will take place at the Monterey Hyatt Conference Center in Monterey, California, December 1-2. Exhibition and general registration are currently open, with only a few booths available before the show floor sells out.
More information about the highly anticipated 2021 OGS awaits, so keep clicking on AndNowUKnow, as we promise to give you all the deets.
ITASCA, IL - The next generation of fresh produce luminaries is already being shaped, and G&R Farms is taking the steps necessary to ensure its success. The onion purveyor recently teamed up with Jewel-Osco to raise $12,160 for scholarship and grant funds for FFA students in Illinois through the Growing America's Farmer's (GAF) promotional program.
"The current American farmer's average age is 58 years old and they are part of multi-generation family farms that are facing more and more pressure,” said G&R Farms' Vice President Walt Dasher, who created the program out of passion for the next generation of industry leaders. "We need to attract, support, and train young agriculture leaders who will become the torchbearers and next generation of producers. The FFA is truly one of our greatest resources and partners in doing this well."
The Growing America's Farmers program donates a portion of the sales from designated products to the National FFA Foundation, which designates those funds to local FFA programs of the retailer’s choice to support students who are pursuing a career in production agriculture, a press release explained.
Over the past five years, the program has raised over $230,000 for FFA member scholarships across the United States. Jewel-Osco, which is now in its sixth year of supporting the program, has helped raise nearly $30,000 for students in Illinois.
"We are proud of our partnership and know that the money raised for the Foundation underscores our commitment to helping educate the next generation of farmers," said Jewel-Osco Produce Sales Manager Scott Bennett.
As noted in the release, FFA membership is at a record high with 760,000+ members in 8,739 chapters across all 50 states, including chapters in 24 of the 25 largest U.S. cities and setting records in member diversity. In Illinois alone, FFA has nearly 400 FFA chapters and more than 20,000 FFA members, with almost 44,000 students taking classes in agriculture, food, and natural resources.
Earlier this month, the supplier also teamed up with Kroger to raise $9,000 for scholarship and grant funds through the program.
"As a third-generation family farm, this is about more than marketing and promotions; this is a personal mission that hits at the heart of who I am and what I stand for," Dasher concluded.
Mike Gatz, Vice President of Business Development at Bushman's, also highlighted the need to support future generations in the industry.
"We all have a responsibility to help young people follow their dreams, and it is equally important in agriculture as we rely on the very goods and services farmers produce to maintain and elevate our food systems," he stated.
We applaud G&R Farms and Jewel-Osco for putting this dynamic partnership into play to lay a solid foundation for the future of our industry!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Whether you’re focusing solely on online retail or operating both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses, being armed with the proper capabilities and partnerships is essential. Funtech Software, which was recently acquired by GrubMarket, empowers its retail allies with just this, allowing them to manage their business online and reach more consumers. This is GrubMarket's first acquisition in Canada, and will be supported by the formation of its first overseas software technology R&D center.
"Funtech Software is a pioneer in building business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce software for physical and online grocery stores,” said Mike Xu, Chief Executive Officer of GrubMarket. “With its profitable, cloud-based software platform, it has developed a reliable, fast-growing customer base in both Canada and the U.S. This acquisition marks the start of our expansion into Canada. It also enables GrubMarket to build an elite software engineering R&D center in Vancouver, leveraging the deep software engineering talent pool available there. Moreover, this acquisition supplements our current software offering to power both B2B and B2C activities in the food supply chain industry. We are excited to welcome the Funtech Software team to the GrubMarket family. Together, we will build a greater customer base and stronger e-commerce network in the food ecosystem across the North American continent."
Funtech designs, develops, and supports e-commerce storefronts for desktop and mobile websites as well as mobile applications, a press release explained. It builds robust backend software systems to manage inventory, orders, pricing, logistics, and packing for online orders. After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its current leadership team.
The acquired company’s B2C e-commerce and online grocery software will now be available as part of GrubMarket's software product line. This also includes the wholesaler’s proprietary WholesaleWare software suite, which provides financial management, easy-to-use sales and online ordering features, precise inventory management, lot traceability and tracking, and automated routing and logistics tools.
"We are excited to join the GrubMarket team and welcome the opportunities brought forth by GrubMarket's strong network and technology team. We are constantly striving to build the best e-commerce system solutions for our customers. We are thrilled to learn that GrubMarket shares these same goals. We sincerely look forward to joining the GrubMarket team and working together to bring Funtech Software to the next level of success," said Sam Qi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Funtech Software.
As GrubMarket wields this acquisition to build its Canadian footprint, ANUK will watch and see how it bolsters the country’s e-commerce sector overall.
ENCINO, CA - Have you ever seen an artichoke Christmas tree? Or a shopper reaching for some apples with a pie recipe in-hand? These are just a couple signs that the holidays are alive and well in the produce department. As buyers and suppliers alike ramp up for the holiday rush, I got in touch with John Savidan, Senior Director of Produce and Floral at Gelson’s Markets.
“It’s really no surprise that our number one holiday category is what we label as ‘cooking vegetables.’ So many of our customers are foodies and enjoy cooking fresh, quality meals at home,” John explained. “This category does very well all year long, but really thrives during the holidays when customers want to cook at home and impress their guests. The cooking vegetable category is followed in order by salads, hard fruit (we group citrus, apples, and pears here), cut fruit, and then berries.”
Gelson’s makes every shopping experience a glorious event, building large, impactful displays in high-traffic areas that show extreme levels of detail and craftsmanship. According to John, these impeccably manicured displays are what customers have grown to love and cherish when shopping the grocer’s produce departments.
“We pride ourselves on making sure everything is perfectly hand stacked and that we touch every item that makes its way onto the sales floor,” he continued. “Our wet racks with all of the different vibrant colors are very hard to ignore and resist when shopping for the holidays. It’s important to note that especially during the holidays, you will find some form of thematic merchandising, whether it’s a Christmas tree made out of artichokes or asparagus, or even a fresh cranberry bog.”
Gelson’s is selective with its POS signage in an effort to let the quality of the products speak for themselves. Instead, the retailer utilizes grower boxes, which help communicate and create freshness when building large displays.
“A lot of the time, the boxes act like silent salesmen and help us tell the story, especially when locally sourced,” John said. “Over the years, these grower boxes end up representing seasonality, and when our customers see them they know they can expect the very best.”
That quality remains a central focus for Gelson’s produce department, and its supplier partners are an integral piece of the puzzle.
“All of our suppliers know quality is king when making it into our stores, and they know we will not settle for anything less than the very best,” John noted. “The holidays are a great time for suppliers to showcase their top items and show retailers as well as customers what they have to offer. It’s no secret the holidays are the busiest time of the year for everyone, and getting quality products out in front of customers when the foot traffic is at its highest is very beneficial.”
Take it from John: This is one time of year when sales are not to be taken for granted. ANUK will continue bringing you the industry’s strongest holiday strategies, so keep a tab open for us.
CALIFORNIA - On Wednesday of last week, we received word that heavy precipitation would be hitting regions across Northern California over this past weekend. With those weather events seemingly behind us here in the upper half of the state, we turned to our industry friends down south to hear how they are faring.
“We are rained out of most items today (Monday) and expect harvest to be slow tomorrow when we anticipate being able to get back in the field,” said Joe Angelo, Director of Sales at Ocean Mist® Farms, in a statement to ANUK. “Warmer temperatures and dryer weather is expected mid to late week, which will help, but we do expect quality to be impacted. To what extent remains to be seen.”
According to a report from Weather Mission, heavy rain is expected to continue today for Southern Californians. Total levels of precipitation are expected to be one to three inches of rain, with levels reaching as high as five inches on southwest-facing slopes.
Following the downpour, growing regions in California should see clearer skies as the week progresses. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 30s to 40s, with high pressure returning to the region.
"We don’t think there will be flooding but we’ve seen about one inch of rain in King City and up to 2.5 inches in Salinas," Church Brothers Farms' Vice President of Ag Operations, Josh Ruiz, told us. "The fields are wet and muddy, so it will be a challenge to get out into the fields and harvest over the next few days. However, with no more rain on the forecast for the rest of the week, we’re hoping the fields will dry up by late Wednesday afternoon/early Thursday morning."
Other growers we checked in with report similar weather patterns, with the heaviest rain touching down today, meaning we will be checking in once again tomorrow when the showers have subsided.
To all of our industry friends experiencing an influx of wet weather this month, we wish the very best outcome for you and your crops.
FRESNO, CA - Celebratory bells are ringing out for Baloian Farms, as the provider has received an incredibly prestigious agricultural award. The Fresno Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno County Farm Bureau have named the recipients of their 2021 Ag Awards, recognizing the irreplaceable role produce plays in the region.
“I am humbled to receive this prestigious award and graciously accept it on behalf of all those involved in our daily operations at Baloian Farms,” Chief Executive Officer Tim Baloian said to ANUK. “We are family-owned and operated and have been blessed through the years to work alongside the most dedicated, talented, and innovative people in the produce industry. In accepting this award, I want to acknowledge all of those involved in our success, but above all, I must give glory to God who has blessed us over the 104 years and generations we have been in business.”
Baloian was awarded with the Moss Adams Agribusiness of the Year Award, which will be officially distributed at the Ag Awards Celebration on November 10. The farm-to-table dinner event celebrates the contributions of the agricultural industry and honors those who uphold the region’s high caliber.
A release stated that the Agribusiness of the Year Award was created in 1996. Other awards in the series include the Agriculturist of the Year Award, Advocate of the Year Award, and Agricultural Employee of the Year.
Congratulations to Baloian Farms on this well-deserved recognition!
REEDLEY, CA - With holiday recipes calling for tons of delicious citrus varieties, consumers are in luck, as Fruit World is reporting a robust citrus season, with promotable volumes of its organic lemons anticipated through early March, in addition to its diverse lineup of conventional Mandarins, organic oranges, and organic specialty citrus. As it brings these beloved varieties to produce aisle displays, the citrus maven is also teasing an organic expansion to meet the heightened needs of consumers.
“This year’s organic lemon crop is looking very strong—both in terms of volume and quality—and we’re seeing exceptional taste, appearance, and juiciness,” shared Bianca Kaprielian, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s desert volume makes for great ad opportunities through March, with our Central Valley ranches filling out availability through May.”
In addition to an abundant supply of high-quality lemons, Fruit World is also expecting a strong organic specialty citrus program this year, as noted in a press release.
“This is our second year offering organic sweet limes, and we are already delivering promotable volumes which should last into December,” added Kaprielian. “This variety pairs the classic fresh lime flavor with exceptional sweetness, making them perfect for juicing, as a salad topping, or even cut into wedges as a snack because they are so sweet.”
Fruit World will kick off its Mandarin program in early November, beginning with stem and leaf Satsumas and the company’s proprietary Early Dulce Mandarin variety. Organic Satsumas and Clementines will start in November, with additional varieties available into April. The supplier is expecting a lighter-than-typical Mandarin season this year, with excessive heat in May and June and last year’s large crop set affecting this year’s bloom industry-wide.
“To establish high flavor and exceptional color right from the start of the season, we plan to start shipping Mandarins and Navels about two weeks later than usual and have a slightly earlier end to the season,” noted CJ Buxman, Co-Founder and Organic Citrus Grower. “This shift also allows us to ensure an uninterrupted supply of high-quality fruit throughout the season.”
Navel oranges will begin shipping at the end of this month, followed by Minneola Tangelos in early December, with the season rounding out with Cara Caras and Blood oranges in January.
Complementing its diverse lineup of citrus varieties, Fruit World has already begun shipping its popular organic Rio Red grapefruit variety.
“Our California-grown Rio Reds are top-notch quality and have beautiful interior color. We’ve seen strong demand, partly due to last season’s freeze in Mexico and Texas which affected the overall grapefruit supply,” said Buxman.
As the company looks ahead to the future, Fruit World will be expanding its specialty citrus program by planting organic Mandarinquats, Kumquats, Lemonade lemons, and more, which will be available in upcoming seasons.
In addition, the grower is transitioning a significant amount of Mandarin and Navel acreage from conventional to organic, including Heirloom Navels, which are in their second year of transition.
AndNowUKnow will keep an eye on Fruit World as it furthers its expansion strategy to continue bringing high-quality citrus varieties to market, so stay tuned.
MIAMI, FL - Operational growth is underway as WP Produce works to take its Desbry® Tropical Avocado brand to new heights with new strategies and investments. In its latest move to boost the sustainability of its operations, the supplier has implemented solar power at its Bonao, Dominican Republic, facility to increase sustainability in the Caribbean region.
"Our packing and shipping compound in the province of Bonao, which is the largest, state-of-the-art tropical avocado facility in the region, is now energy independent. Since June 2021, our new 20,000-kilowatt, renewable solar power installation has been producing more than 100 percent of the electricity needed to power the facility," said Christopher Gonzalez, Vice President of Sales. "During peak solar production, our excess power generation is going back to the power grid to support the local community."
As a premium distributor of tropical avocados in the U.S. and a distinguished packer and shipper in the Dominican Republic, WP Produce is on a mission to improve sustainability throughout the Caribbean nation, as noted in a press release. The implementation of solar panels at its facility marks a major milestone toward the company’s initiatives to boost sustainability in the Dominican Republic, as well as supporting its employees.
"In addition to moving toward energy independence and reducing our carbon footprint throughout our supply chain, we have a focus on improving the lives of our workers,” Gonzalez added. “We have significant worker welfare initiatives including increased wages, supporting community medical clinics, and providing our workers and their families with food and water.”
Tropical avocados are a staple in the Caribbean and tropical regions around the globe and have been gaining traction across the country, driving demand in the U.S. and increasing the need for WP Produce’s energy-saving strategies as it supplies consumers with bright green, high-quality Desbry Tropical Avocados.
Stay tuned with AndNowUKnow, as we promise to report on the latest moves and strategies in the fresh produce industry.
BERLIN, GERMANY - The grocery delivery sector is growing as Gorillas, a leader in instant on-demand grocery delivery in Europe, has raised nearly $1 billion in a recent Series C funding round. This pivotal investment comes just seven months after the grocery innovator successfully raised $290 million in its Series B funding in March 2021. As it continues to expand, Gorillas has recently bolstered its global senior leadership team, appointing strong operators to facilitate the company’s future sustainable growth.
According to a press release, the Series C funding round was led by European delivery champion Delivery Hero, and included further investments by its existing investors Coatue Management, DST Global, Tencent, Atlantic Food Labs, Fifth Wall, Greenoaks, A*, and new investors G Squared, Alanda Capital, Macquarie Capital, MSA Capital, and Thrive Capital.
“The size of today’s funding round by an extraordinary investment consortium underscores the tremendous market potential that lies ahead of us,” said Kağan Sümer, Chief Executive Officer and Founder. “With Delivery Hero, we have chosen strong strategic support that is deeply rooted in the global delivery market and is renowned for having a unique experience in sustainably scaling a German company internationally. We have the best team in our sector, leading partners, and financial resources to strengthen our market-leading position in Europe and beyond.”
Since its inception in June 2020, Gorillas has seen rapid growth, expanding to over 180 warehouses in nine international markets and delivering over 4.5 million orders in the past six months alone.
Now, the company is building on this recent success with its next phase of development, generating a scalable and robust business infrastructure while accelerating future growth. With this recent investment, the company will work to reinforce its footprint in existing markets while investing more deeply in its operations, people, technology, marketing, and finance infrastructures to help it continuously deliver an excellent customer experience.
“Gorillas has been setting new standards for the delivery industry by offering an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional grocers,” said Niklas Östberg, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Delivery Hero. “We have been following their stellar growth over the past few months, and we are beyond excited to be now part of their journey. Both of our companies place a lot of value on creating a strong sense of community, and we are convinced that our investment will positively impact employees, consumers, as well as our industry.”
This investment also raises questions about Gorillas’ upcoming growth in the North American market, as the company announced its expansion into the U.S. back in May. As grocery delivery becomes increasingly popular, the company’s ambitious growth strategy will also increase access to fresh produce in the communities it serves.
AndNowUKnow promises to keep you up to date on all sectors in the fresh produce industry, so keep clicking back.