WATSONVILLE, CA - As this year has taken us through unexpected twists and turns, we could all use a little bit of sweetness in our lives. That is why Driscoll’s has announced its new Sweetness Worth Sharing™ campaign that encourages consumers to share the tender moments in their everyday lives using its new fully-integrated digital program. Whether its indulging in the taste of Only the Finest Berries™ or sharing small special moments with family and friends, Driscoll’s wants to make sure shoppers are celebrating its brand.
“Our latest campaign continues and builds on our brand journey to promote emotional connections through shared experiences,” said Fran Dillard, Senior Director of Brand and Product Marketing. “Sweetness Worth Sharing takes Driscoll’s beyond the functional promise of a delicious berry and allows us to connect with our consumers on a special and emotional level.”
The new campaign pays homage to Driscoll’s everlasting pursuit to provide the best and sweetest berries, and the company wants to show that everyone is capable of sharing something sweet.
According to a press release, Sweetness Worth Sharing captures real-life moments from real families as they reflect on the things that bring them joy every day.
“What the consumer experiences with this campaign is completely based on the real emotion and connection our team tapped into,” explained Diane Scalisi, Senior Digital Marketing Manager. “Our hope is to inspire others to engage in simple acts of sharing to create a positive change in perspective, which we’re all so in need of these days. We’re calling upon the millions in our digital community to spread positivity by activating in real life and online with the hashtag #SweetnessWorthSharing.”
To capture the loving moments, Driscoll’s has partnered with five photographers and their families, each one with a diverse background of their own, to document real moments that they experience.
The company has also created five video vignettes that feature simple, joy-filled moments centered on sharing Driscoll’s berries.
“Our campaign approach offered a creative solution to the challenges presented when creating content while adhering to social distancing guidelines,” said Jamie Bassmann, Senior Brand Manager. “The resulting photos and videos depict genuine, emotional moments at home capturing how families experience Sweetness Worth Sharing.”
The new campaign will continue to feature exclusive social media content, giveaways, new recipes, and feature new brand partners as well. Driscoll’s plans on expanding the campaign in the coming months, giving consumers the opportunity to engage at home.
It is always important to celebrate the little things in life that often get taken for granted, and Driscoll’s new campaign is making sure that they aren’t forgotten, especially at a time when we could all use a little sweetness to make our lives brighter.
CORAL GABLES, FL - Del Monte Fresh Produce has once again blown my mind, this time after the news of its new variety debut. The exclusive Pinkglow™ Pineapple, with a unique pink interior, is produced in ultra-limited harvests and specially grown by Del Monte’s expert growers.
“As a leading supplier of fresh pineapples throughout the world, Fresh Del Monte is committed to continuing to invest in our pineapple research and development program to meet the ever-changing needs of our consumers,” said Pablo Rivero, Vice President Marketing North America. “The Pinkglow Pineapple is a product we are incredibly proud of—not only for its beautiful color and delicious taste, but also because of the care that went into growing and releasing it, as well as the sustainable method we’ve enacted to produce these new pink pineapples.”
Marketed as the “Jewel of the Jungle™,” this new pineapple is purported to be both juicier and sweeter than a traditional pineapple. According to a press release, Pinkglow boasts notes of candy aromatics and is sure to be a hit with consumers of all ages.
From the moment shoppers cut into it, the pink fruit offers multiple applications—but we can think of at least three cocktails that this pineapple belongs in!
One-of-a-kind and 16 years in the making, the Pinkglow Pineapple takes up to 24 months to produce. They are harvested by hand with their crowns replanted to increase the volume of crops and reduce waste. It is currently only available online and will be sent direct-to-consumers nationwide in the United States for consumption.
When will we see this variety offered to the buy-side? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - If you feel like trick-or-treating the cyber aisles of PMA Fresh Summit, we have a hint for which house to hit. Grimmway Farms has announced a plethora of treats, all in the form of new products and sustainable packaging initiatives.
The company’s organic division, Cal-Organic Farms, is debuting Rainbow Carrot Chips in 12-ounce retail packs—an exciting snacking option in a convenient resealable bag—and Baby Bok Choy in 3-count clamshell containers. The baby bok clamshell protects quality through transit, especially helpful considering an increase in online grocery shopping and delivery.
“Growth of organic produce continues at a strong pace, and despite economic challenges, consumers show no indication of shifting their purchases away from organic fruits and vegetables,” said Jeff Huckaby, President. “We continue to expand our certified organic acreage, and we’ve established programs in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast to extend our growing seasons. This is helping us widen availability windows for seasonal commodities and recognize efficiencies that will help us meet increasing demand.”
With a virtual plan for Fresh Summit this year, Grimmway is taking the new direction for its booth as a stage to debut a heightened focus on bringing innovative products to market like the new organic items, as well as reducing waste among its packaging materials and helping increase access to fresh produce.
“Innovation has always been the root of our growth,” said Eric Proffitt, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We listen and work closely with our customers to create items their shoppers want, and we’re committed to rigorous testing to develop products that will sell.”
The company has engineered a case made of polypropylene (PP) which is 100 percent recyclable and weighs about half as much as a competing wax and fiber carton.
“When it comes to packaging, our commitment to quality is twofold. We’re seeking solutions that will help us deliver our produce safely, however we’re also looking for materials that can meet this end while creating minimal impact on our environment,” said Jason Higbee, General Manager of Cal-Organic and Corporate Procurement. “When our packaging uses less material, weighs less, and is the right size to protect our product, we can pack more vegetables into each delivery, resulting in less wax consumed and less fuel burned.”
The company has also converted more than 25 products to ship in cases with optimized dimensions, reducing materials used while improving palletization.
In addition to new products and packaging options, Cal-Organic is promoting the upcoming seasonal red carrot program, available December through March, as well as its new crop potato, dry onion, and sweet corn programs, slated to begin shipping in May.
The shift to a virtual venue presents a silver lining everyone in the industry can support, according to a press release, with new event sponsorship opportunities that directly benefit charity. Grimmway noted that its commitment to empowering families through nutrition education and delivering healthy produce to those in need made the opportunity to partner with Houston, Texas-based non-profit Brighter Bites a perfect fit. This year Brighter Bites was selected as the first-ever nonprofit recipient of the annual SUNSET Rocks concert, with Grimmway as a proud sponsor for the virtual benefit.
While it may look a little different, this will still be the 23rd consecutive year Grimmway has exhibited at PMA Fresh Summit, transforming its in-person booth to a virtual experience that allows visitors to tour a diverse set of growing regions and learn about the company’s expanding carrot and organic farming operations.
If you are registered, click here to locate the Grimmway booth!
UNITED KINGDOM - Grocers have long since understood the power of grocery delivery, so it’s little wonder that retail giant Aldi would double the size of its Deliveroo trial in answer to shopper demand. The trial, which is currently operating out of London, Greater Manchester, Cambridge, and the Midlands, is now being extended to a further 22 stores across the United Kingdom.
“The feedback on our trial with Deliveroo has been very positive so far, with customers really valuing being able to have more ways of getting Aldi’s quality food at unbeatable prices, as recently recognized by Which? who found a basket of items was 23 percent cheaper at Aldi than at Tesco,” Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK, said in a press release. “This extension takes the partnership into new areas for the first time, including cities like Bristol and Liverpool amongst dozens of others across the country.”
This latest extension will bring the trial to multiple new towns and cities across England, including Bristol, Liverpool, and Brighton.
If the trial continues to be successful, this delivery service could be extended to even more stores—a plan spelled out in Aldi’s pledge to invest roughly $1.6 billion over the next two years.
“We are delighted that Aldi’s trial with Deliveroo will double in size this week. Deliveroo’s on-demand grocery partnerships have proven vital for so many people during this difficult period, allowing families to get the food and household items they need and want quickly. The success of this trial reflects the strong customer desire for groceries on-demand, an area in which Deliveroo is providing increasing choice. We are excited that even more customers across the country can now enjoy Aldi’s great quality food,” stated Ajay Lakhwani, Vice President of New Business, Deliveroo.
As Aldi continues to tackle growth in the United Kingdom market, how will this expansion come to bear on plans in the United States? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you posted.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Heading into autumn, I know that the industry is gearing up for seasonal innovations—especially as we make our way to the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit. Sitting down with Alexandra Rae Danell, Bako Sweet’s Marketing Manager, I had the chance to learn a little bit more about why the brand’s most recent product innovation drives buy-side sales.
“Our newest 14 oz steam bag is the essential option for seasonal promotions and shelf-stable favorites. For retailers, this product helps them build out their sweet potato programs. We offer both organic and conventional varieties, and consumers are going to flip over how easy these steam bags are for quick meal solutions,” Rae noted.
Additionally, sweet potatoes are at record high levels of consumption. Citing new shopping trends, Rae noted that two out of five Americans consume sweet potatoes regularly and that the category grew a whopping 3,000 percent in one month alone due to COVID-related shopping habits.
As consumer habits gravitate toward value-added, Bako Sweet has filled the need with new innovative products. Bagged sweet potato growth is outpacing bulk, and to take advantage of these consumer habits, retailers should keep bagged sweet potatoes in stock.
“In order to help retailers capitalize on this trend, we offer multiple options to keep product moving, such as end cap display bins for merchandising and a customized ad calendar centered around the holidays,” Rae remarked.
With seasonal promotions comes seasonal sales. As a consumer myself, I know where my sweet potato recipe will start.
To jump onto this opportunity, be sure to meet with the Bako Sweet team at Fresh Summit. You won’t want to miss out!
INDIA - As it continues to build out its commitment to fresh produce suppliers, Walmart and the Flipkart Group announced a new investment round in Ninjacart.
“The e-grocery market in India has seen tremendous growth over the past several months as people have increasingly taken to ordering groceries and fresh produce online,” remarked Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart. “At the Flipkart Group, we are focused on ensuring that we continue to work toward developing new and innovative ways to meet our customers’ needs in this space through the growth of Supermart and the recent launch of Flipkart Quick. We will continue to make investments to offer the best produce to our customers and support livelihoods and sustainable growth for local farmers, producers, and the supply chain ecosystem. Our pilots and current business engagement with Ninjacart have been encouraging as we leverage technology to address changing consumer behaviour across the country.”
In December of last year, a press release noted, Walmart and Flipkart invested in Ninjacart in order to focus on shopper access to fresh produce.
This deal also focused on the economic opportunities for farmers through a continued use of Ninjacart’s tech.
“The fresh set of investments from Walmart and the Flipkart Group takes us one step closer to our vision of making food safe and accessible for the billion people and changing the way food reaches our plate. We are excited to have Walmart and the Flipkart Group show confidence in our capabilities around growth and profitability. We will continue to invest in areas that impact the lives of customers and farmers positively,” commented Thirukumaran Nagarajan, CEO and Co-Founder of Ninjacart.
How will this investment heat up one of the largest potential markets on the planet? And does this set a precedent for fresh produce suppliers here in the States? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you posted.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Banner business is booming for Southeastern Grocers’ (SEG) Winn-Dixie format. Building on this explosive growth, SEG has announced its plans to introduce four new Winn-Dixie stores throughout Florida on November 11, with the completed conversion of three former Earth Fare stores located in Boynton Beach, Jacksonville, and Lakewood Ranch, and one former Lucky’s Market in Gainesville.
“At Southeastern Grocers, we are committed to providing an exceptional shopping experience for all of our customers, and we are proud to soon introduce four new Winn-Dixie stores crafted with offerings for our customers’ distinct tastes and preferences,” Anthony Hucker, President and CEO, said. “We’ve expanded our product assortments in these new stores to ensure our customers have fresh, quality products at the right price for every meal. As we expand our footprint, we are able to support more communities throughout Florida and be the grocer our customers and communities can always count on.”
Each store is being designed with a specialized approach to provide customers with a unique shopping experience featuring the freshest produce, as stated in a press release. SEG will introduce new signature categories throughout the four Winn-Dixie stores with a wide product selection and specialty items in each department. Customers will immediately notice expanded varieties of signature items, including fresh and dried peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms, and a unique assortment of tropical fruits and berries throughout the new farm-fresh produce departments. Customers can also enjoy a wide range of specialty food selections for various dietary preferences throughout the new stores, including an expanded offering of organic, natural, and gluten-free options.
As a continued COVID-19 safety precaution, the grand opening celebrations will include small ribbon-cutting ceremonies the morning of November 11, where customers will be encouraged to maintain social distancing protocols while they enjoy the fresh, extensive offerings of their new local Winn-Dixie. Customers can also enjoy all the benefits of their new Winn-Dixie in the comfort of their home with the grocer’s convenient grocery delivery services through e-commerce partners. New customers are encouraged to download the Winn-Dixie mobile app and enroll in the grocer’s loyalty program for additional savings, coupons, and rewards.
These store openings are the first of eight new Winn-Dixie stores throughout the state of Florida. Winn-Dixie’s continued store growth will also include the introduction of new locations in Ft. Myers, Lake Mary, and Melbourne later this year and Viera in early 2021. This expansion follows the February opening of a new Winn-Dixie store in the grocer’s hometown of Jacksonville in response to the local city and community plea to combat an impending food desert in the Brentwood community with the closing of a Publix store.
The eight new Winn-Dixie stores will provide more than 700 jobs and opportunities to community members throughout Florida. The grocer is encouraging engaging, energetic individuals interested in joining the certified Great Place to Work® and committed to providing customers with quality service to apply online.
How else might SEG capitalize on its recent banner expansion? We at AndNowUKnow will keep you informed.
WATSONVILLE, CA & SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Our world is constantly evolving, and this is true of fresh produce as well. When it comes to growing methods, it seems that industry innovators are constantly bringing new applications to market. Driscoll’s and Plenty Unlimited are two such innovators, recently announcing a joint development agreement to grow Driscoll’s proprietary flavorful strawberries year-round in Plenty’s vertical indoor farms.
“It’s clear that Plenty’s vision and capabilities of pioneering the potential of indoor farming technology makes them the leader in this space,” said J. Miles Reiter, Driscoll’s Chairman and CEO. “As one of the few berry companies with a dedicated global R&D program, we believe our proprietary berries, which are focused on flavor, combined with Plenty’s technology leadership will create a competitive market edge as we expand to more effectively meet the future consumer.”
According to a press release, Driscoll’s 100 years of farming heritage and focus on delivering Only the Finest Berries™ is the ideal complement to Plenty’s industry-leading, sustainable, indoor farming technology, and commitment to growing the best-tasting produce. Together, the two companies will work to bring flavorful strawberry varieties to market, leveraging the benefits of a controlled growing environment while also creating opportunity for berry expansion into regions that have historically been difficult to serve.
Plenty will incorporate Driscoll’s proprietary genetics and berry expertise into its advanced, indoor farming technology using its plant science expertise. Through this controlled environment, Plenty can consistently deliver great flavors from Driscoll’s varieties, while also optimizing for texture and size. The indoor environment will remove the unpredictability of Mother Nature, allowing both companies to meet the future needs of consumers worldwide, including geographical locations that are not hospitable to growing strawberries.
Plenty’s innovative and sustainable farm delivers produce year-round that tastes like it was picked fresh from the garden. Using data analytics, machine learning, and customized lighting, Plenty is able to iterate at unprecedented speed, leveraging the more than 200 years worth of growing data the platform generates annually. This advanced agri-food platform has allowed Plenty to show over 700 percent yield improvement in leafy greens in the last 24 months, while maintaining its unique flavor and quality. Plenty’s South San Francisco leafy greens farm uses 100 percent renewable energy, powered by a combination of wind and solar energy.
“For over 100 years, Driscoll’s has been innovating in search of the best-tasting berries,” said Nate Storey, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Plenty. “As they embrace the emergence of indoor farming, we are proud they have chosen Plenty as their collaborator to develop flavorful berries grown indoors in a clean, controlled environment. We are aligned in our mission to bring the most delicious food to our consumers while reducing our environmental impact. Our goal is to bring fresh, flavor-forward berries grown locally to consumers around the world.”
Driscoll’s strawberries will initially be grown and developed in Plenty’s Laramie, Wyoming, farm, one of the largest, privately-owned, vertical farm research and development centers in the world. The two companies were introduced through John Hartnett of SVG Ventures, which focuses on agriculture and technology. Hartnett helped facilitate the discussions as both companies sought ways to grow the most flavorful strawberries.
“The future of food and agriculture through innovation is accelerated when leaders like Driscoll’s and Plenty come together to transform the growing process in ways that benefit consumers,” said Hartnett, Founder and CEO SVG Ventures & THRIVE. “We are delighted that our open innovation partnership with Driscoll’s played an important role in this opportunity.”
Will this exciting partnership expand to include other categories? Stay tuned as we at ANUK report.
CORONA, CA - As we move toward the middle of October, Veg-Fresh Farms is thinking ahead to the winter season. The grower’s winter citrus season is about to ramp up, and Veg-Fresh will be packing organic lemons, grapefruits, Minneolas, and sweet limes from the D3 region under its Good Life Organic label, which is entering into its sixth citrus season.
The D3 region of Riverside, Coachella Valley, and the Imperial Valley of California will be starting its harvest this month and will go into early spring. D3 organic lemons will start now and will continue to harvest through February 2021, with peak season in November and December. Veg-Fresh anticipates sizes to peak on 140/115 count and to be limited on larger sizes. Overall, the D3 lemon crop is down 25–35 percent compared to last year. Promotions will be available throughout the entire season.
For Veg-Fresh’s D3 organic grapefruit, the crop will begin in mid-October and go through March 2021, with peak season in November, December, and January. Veg-Fresh expects sizes to peak on 48/40/56 count, which is the ideal sizing for bag business.
One of the newer items in the past few years for the Veg-Fresh Family is the D3 organic minneolas, which will start in mid-December and run through February 2021, with peak season expected in January for the D3 crop. Minneolas will be great for promotions the entire month of January, stated the press release. Peak sizes are expected on 100/80/64 count and will be packed in bulk and in bags.
Veg-Fresh Farms’ D3 sweet limes—a lime variety boasting less acidity and yellow in coloring—will be available starting mid-October and run through February 2021. Reach out for promotional availability as the D3 crop season is underway. Veg-Fresh anticipates peak sizes on jumbo/large/mammoth sweet limes.
A great 2020/2021 citrus season is underway! In addition to the D3 crops this winter season, Veg-Fresh Farms offers a year-round organic and conventional citrus program with its geographically diverse grower base out of California and Mexico. The program offers Navels, Valencias, grapefruits, lemons, limes, Minneolas, and sweet limes. Retailers, don’t wait to take part in the citrus sales opportunities!
Stay up to date with the latest in fresh produce with AndNowUKnow.
WOODLAND, CA - When I picture Syngenta’s YOOM® tomatoes, I imagine a secret gem hidden in the foliage. This striking, dark purple fruit is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and I suspect consumers will say the same. Eager to pull back the curtain on this unprecedented fresh produce offering, I had the chance to sit down with some of Syngenta’s vegetable seed representatives.
“YOOM is an innovation with a savory and sweet taste. The maturation takes place in the plant, and the range of colors indicates its optimal point of maturation and consumption, from black to characteristic purple, giving the tomato a firm texture,” explained Jeroen Iprenburg, Technical Sales Representative for active greenhouse crops. “In addition to the excellent flavor, YOOM contains a higher level of anthocyanins compared to other tomatoes, which will help consumers take care of themselves as part of their daily routine. Its size and texture, crunchiness and juiciness, makes YOOM an affordable gourmet experience for consumers.”
A YOOM crop was grown in high-tech greenhouses in California this summer and supplied to the supermarket channel in the West and central regions of the country. To continue this supply, the next YOOM tomatoes will be grown in Mexico this winter with a different growing partner. YOOM tomatoes are also grown in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, and Spain, with a complete list provided here.
YOOM tomatoes can be grown in many different climates in greenhouses and don’t need particularly special management, Jeroen said. To reach its full color and optimal taste, YOOM benefits from a lot of sunshine and ideal light conditions. The crop is quite grower friendly, and Syngenta takes the utmost care in supply-side partnerships, advising its growers on how to pick the fruits at the right stage of coloring and flavor to guarantee maximum quality. YOOM is an interesting addition in Syngenta’s well-established range of snack tomatoes in red, yellow, ivory, orange, and pink colors.
“YOOM is a project started 10 years ago with the ambition to create an original variety with good taste and healthy nutrients,” Luis Ortega, Tomato Breeding Team Lead, relayed. “After many years of traditional breeding work, in 2014 the YOOM variety was created. Trials in Spain and later at other locations (The Netherlands, Mexico, France, and Australia) were organized in order to characterize the value and fruit quality of the variety. After several years of trialing in different agronomical environments and seasons, the variety became commercial in 2019 and first arrived to consumers in 2020.”
YOOM tomatoes are a unique and tasty product with which selected growers and retailers can distinguish themselves from the competition and expand their brand presence. As we know well, consumers eat with their eyes first, so these unique tomatoes are sure to stop shoppers in their tracks. Most of those who taste the fruit were surprised by its pleasant aroma, savory flavor, and absence of sour notes. Jeroen explained that in order to tell if a YOOM fruit is ready to harvest, growers can check the top of the fruit, or under the “crown,” for a little orange star shape that indicates perfect ripeness.
Now, you may be wondering, will we be seeing YOOM tomatoes at this year’s Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit? Quite to my delight, we most certainly will.
“We are excited to share our newest innovations and breakthroughs with the produce industry at this highly anticipated event,” Jeroen concluded. “Our goal is to make valuable connections and share ideas with key stakeholders throughout the value chain represented at PMA Fresh Summit.”
For more information on YOOM, visit the official website by clicking here. Keep an eye out for this gem of a tomato as Syngenta works to expand its presence in the market. We at ANUK will continue bringing you the latest news, so stay tuned.