PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI - If versatility is the key to tapping any consumer’s intrigue, then Good Foods’ latest expansion has scored its plant-based dip lines onto the flexibility podium. The division? Single-serve. The company has introduced single-serve sizes to each of its three most popular plant-based dips, Queso, Buffalo, and Tzatziki.
“As plant-based preferences continue to grow in popularity, Good Foods leaned in to meet that need,” said Brittney Vetter, National Director of Retail Sales. “Our single-serve plant based dip options are perfect for ‘on-the-go’ and portion control, but they’re also great for individual servings as communal dining has been redefined during this pandemic.”
The new offering comes in a four-pack of 2-oz dips, with Good Foods’ Queso and Buffalo dips already available in Publix Super Markets.
The latest launch was born from seeing a successful reception of convenient snacking options in retail stores. Good Foods’ award-winning research and development team took this observation, especially noting the success of the single-serve guacamole options Good Foods already offers, and worked to bring the same power to the Queso, Buffalo, and Tzatziki plant-based dips, according to a press release.
Good Foods’ latest additions offer a suggested retail price (SRP) of $4.99, and judging by the success of their sibling items, they are set up to bring in even more rings to the register.
As we explore all new offerings bringing versatility, strength, and attention to the produce department, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow for the latest.
WENATCHEE, WA - At the core of Stemilt, be that an apple, pear, cherry, or any treefruit core, is a spirit of innovation, and this season the grower is tending that flare with a new partnership with Apeel™ and its plant-based protection for organic apples.
“Our mission at Stemilt is to grow fruit that delights consumers, and that means consistently delivering freshness and flavor,” said Brianna Shales, Senior Marketing Manager. “Apeel has transformed the produce industry with its plant-derived coatings. Our in-house research and development team has studied Apeel on organic apples for two years now, and we see it as a huge benefit in helping us on our journey to deliver Artisan Organics™ apples with flavors and qualities that delight.”
Apeel is made of plant-derived materials that are found in the peels, seeds, and pulp of fruits and vegetables, according to a press release, forming an edible peel when applied on Stemilt’s dedicated organic apple packing line that will help retain moisture. This, the companies explained, leads to crisp and juicy organic apples at retail with fresh fruit color and overall appearance.
“It’s great to partner with an organic pioneer and leader like Stemilt,” said Lauren Sweeney, Director of Marketing at Apeel. “We share their passion for improving the consumer experience and see Apeel’s plant-based technology as an important tool in their toolbox. Together, we can build demand through quality and reduce food waste.”
Stemilt’s Artisan Organics program began more than 30 years ago when the company transitioned a large orchard to organic production in 1989. In recent years, Stemilt has modernized its organic apple mix with signature apples like SweeTango® as well as well-known favorites like Honeycrisp.
“Stemilt believes that a fantastic eating experience with organic apples will lead to increased purchasing and greater demand for organics,” said Shales. “Apeel is going to help us deliver that crisp, juicy, and flavorful organic apple consistently, which ultimately benefits growers, retailers, and most importantly, the organic shopper.”
Stemilt supplies core organic varieties 52 weeks of the year. Now, with this newest addition, the team welcomes a partnership that offers tested products for dozens of USDA Organic Certified products to make such items retain better quality, be more sustainable, and are longer lasting.
Congratulations to both Stemilt and Apeel on this latest innovative step!
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
These sanctions include suspending the businesses’ PACA licenses and barring the principal operators of the businesses from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Social Enterprise LLC, operating out of New Castle, Del., for failing to pay a $100,255 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Rafael S. Goldberg and Diego Gonzalez-Carvajal were listed as members of the business
- West Florida Fresh Produce LLC, operating out of Hialeah, Fla., for failing to pay a $19,710 award in favor of a New Jersey seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Yenny R. Sosa was listed as a member of the business
- Sanchez Bros Wholesale Corporation, operating out of Chicago, Ill., for failing to pay a $36,775 award in favor of an Idaho seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Hector Sanchez was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business
- Organic Fruit Markets LLC, operating out of Oroville, Wash., for failing to pay a $19,231 award in favor of a Washington seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Eloiza Nunez Ramirez, Jose A. Ramirez, Antonio Benitez, Yazir Nieto, Yenny Ardilla, Tomasa Rivera Granados, Raul Martinez, Omar P. Polito, and Alverto Rivera were listed as members of the business
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in USDA’s issuance of a reparation order 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.
The PACA Division, which is in the Fair Trade Practices Program in the Agricultural Marketing Service, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 7,800 callers with issues valued at approximately $148 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.
For more information, and to read the release in its entirety, click here.
TEMPLE, TX - Having a game plan is essential for any business, especially during this time. As the U.S. continues to adhere to lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders, essential businesses like grocery stores have seen high demand as consumers buy necessary provisions. H-E-B is staying on top of the game, however, as it jointly announced with Temple Economic Development Corporation (Temple EDC) the expansion of its distribution facilities in Temple, Texas.
“We are thrilled that H-E-B has decided to grow their operations here in Temple, Texas,” said Adrian Cannady, President and CEO of Temple Economic Development Corporation. “Temple is a highly strategic area for businesses looking to serve the largest metropolitan markets in Texas. The city offers immediate access to I-35 and is within three hours of 80 percent of Texas’ population. We are proud that H-E-B is taking advantage of these opportunities, a decision that will strengthen both their operations and our local community.”
The expansion project will grow H-E-B’s current facility footprint of 800,000 to 1,050,000 square feet, allowing the retailer to expand its warehouse capacity and operations. This will allow the retailer to better meet the rising demands of consumers as COVID-19 continues.
According to local news source Focus Daily News, H-E-B’s Temple Distribution warehouse supports over 50 H-E-B retail stores across the region, from Austin to Dallas, and has been operating in the Temple community since 2010. The company is in the permit stage of the expansion with construction slated to begin by the end of 2020 and project completion expected in 2021.
For more news on the retail landscape, keep checking back to AndNowUKnow.
REEDLEY, CA - Shoppers and retailers alike await the return of the California citrus season each year as fall approaches in the Nothern Hemisphere, bringing with it cool air, a host of progressive growers, deep roots, and vibrant premium fruit. Bravante Produce is not only meeting the demand from retailers across North America in time to kick off the season in October, but bringing an elevated marketing and growing program to address the needs of an ever-changing buy-side vision. While October may seem a ways down the line, Bravante Produce is already building retail programs with its customers as they look to get and stay ahead.
“For the 2020 to 2021 citrus season, Bravante Produce will be taking over the selling of our citrus portfolio as we depart from Sunkist Growers,” Steve Shearer, Sales Manager, shares with me, adding that the time spent in the Sunkist fold allowed the company to cultivate its growing practices and evolve an already firm foundation in the citrus category. “George Bravante has decided to make a change and will step up our program this year. We will be bringing the sales and marketing and selling our citrus portfolio under our Bravante Premium Citrus brand.”
In addition to Bravante’s table grape and cherry portfolio, Bravante Produce currently grows and packs nearly 3,000 acres of citrus, with varieties including, Navel oranges, Valencias, Cara Caras, Blood Oranges, Minneolas, and Mandarins. Bravante also has a significant San Joaquin Valley Lemon portfolio in California that will provide customers with premium lemons for the entire season.
Bravante’s citrus packing facility is located in Reedley, California.
“We have spent the last few years developing our premium Bravante brand with our table grapes and cherries, and now we get to add that branding to the citrus portfolio. Our citrus has a strong following in the export markets due to the quality of the product, and we are excited to put our name on the box and continue to build on that success,” Steve tells me, reflecting on the vision of its company Founder. “George made the decision to execute our strategy directly with our great retail partners.”
Bravante’s season will begin at the end of October with navels and lemons and will continue with fruit all the way through June.
“We look forward to supplying customers, from start to finish, without any gaps in supply,” Steve concludes.
Peeling back the layers to find the value in such a relationship is an easy task when partnering with a company like Bravante Produce. With excellence across its table grape and cherry programs, there is only success in the stars for the citrus powerhouse and for those who find their niche in the company’s premium fruit portfolio.
ORLANDO, FL - They sometimes say that health is wealth, in which case, Produce for Kids® is spreading a whole lot of wealth with its latest initiative. Aiming to help create a healthier generation, Produce for Kids’ consumer-facing brand is changing to the Healthy Family Project. The organization is dedicated to delivering the resources its audience seeks and extending its effectiveness for current and new partners as it moves into the healthy lifestyle space. The brand will remain focused within grocery retail, aligning with produce companies to execute in-store campaigns throughout the year. In addition to Produce for Kids, brands under the Healthy Family Project umbrella include Food Rx, Power Your Lunchbox, and Mission for Nutrition.
“We are excited to expand into the healthy lifestyle space in a way that will allow us to extend our effectiveness for current and new produce partners,” said John Shuman, Founder of Produce for Kids and President of Shuman Farms. “We will remain rooted in helping our retail partners and sponsors connect with their shoppers while making a difference.”
Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit will be the first opportunity for Healthy Family Project to showcase the new family of brands structure. A scheduled Food Rx demo will take place at the Healthy Family Project’s Fresh Summit Marketplace page featuring digital partner National Watermelon Promotion Board. The food-as-medicine-inspired video series, hosted by registered dietitian Julie Harrington, has gained popularity over the past year focusing on the important role food plays in overall health and often features a health-conscious brand partner.
“Although Fresh Summit looks different this year, we believe it was the right space to announce our expansion,” continued Shuman. “I had a goal 20 years ago to bring the produce industry together to give back and now as we pass $7 million raised, I realize there’s no limit to the impact we can make as an organization in the healthy living space.”
Visitors to the Healthy Family Project Marketplace page will be able to download everything they need to better understand opportunities and the future vision of Produce for Kids and Healthy Family Project. In addition to Food Rx at the Marketplace page, a new Serious Snacking with Village Farms and Healthy Family Project in-the-kitchen video will be showcased by Village Farms on its Fresh Summit Marketplace page.
The overall growth in all areas of Produce for Kids' business in the past two years fueled this strategic expansion, according to a press release. With the addition of several new retail partners and health-conscious brand partners as well as the growth of the Produce for Kids social media, website, and podcast, it was a natural choice to transition the brands under the Healthy Family Project umbrella.
Website traffic has been trending up year-over-year and has already seen a 29 percent increase in 2020, while organic traffic is up 65 percent. Instagram engagement showed a 32 percent increase last year while Pinterest is reaching an average of 3.2 million people per month. In the new Healthy Family Facebook group, where parents talk about everything from how to pick a pineapple to what sunscreen is best, membership skyrocketed in growth by 191 percent. The Healthy Family Project podcast, which covers everything from meal prep to mental health, is now close to 20,000 unique downloads.
Over the summer, the Produce for Kids website, now HealthyFamilyProject.com, received a facelift in anticipation of the expansion. Shoppers looking for their specific Produce for Kids in-store campaign are now able to identify their neighborhood grocer on the homepage and skip directly to that grocer’s dedicated page to find out the latest news.
Other updates included a new robust searchable recipe index to help consumers find everything from plant-based dishes to air-fryer recipes. The Healthy Family Project blog, now offering a wide range of topics and podcasts, are also featured prominently throughout the website, along with a Produce Tips section with tips on how to select, prepare, and store over 60 different commodities.
To learn more about this exciting launch, watch the expansion video here. As we all continue working toward a better world, keep checking in on reports from AndNowUKnow.
NEW YORK, NY - Start spreading the news—apples grown in the state of New York are available in abundance! I recently linked up with New York Apple Association (NYAA) President Cynthia Haskins to get the inside scoop on all things apples as the state’s harvest is well underway with expectations for approximately 32 million bushels and a wide range of sizes.
“I have visited several apple orchards and had the opportunity to sneak a bite by picking apples right off the tree,” Cynthia told me. “The apples are tasting so good and are full of flavor.”
Temperatures are beginning to dip each night, which is always welcomed in apple production, and NYAA is seeing brilliant colors. The season always kicks off with the harvest of early varieties like Paula Red, Ginger Gold, Zestar®, followed by Premier Honeycrisp, Galas, Honeycrisp, New-York grown Sweetango®, Empire, McIntosh, Snapdragon®, New York-grown KORU®, and others.
This year, NYAA has implemented a wide range of promotional campaigns. Aiming to tell the apple growers’ story, the association created a social media campaign featuring farmers. It also used social media to promote a series of videos with New York apples as the stars on television, radio, and digital advertising. Furthermore, NYAA is promoting apples through programs such as digital retail coupons, ad support, in-store sampling, display contests, bin rebate programs, and cross merchandising, and this season is already off to a great start with several retail programs lined up.
Campaigns are featuring both in-season and out-of-season content, including where to find apples and apple products, apple product giveaways, recipes, and other apple-centered promotions. Facebook and Instagram campaigns featured static and video ads along with boosted posts, and Google and Bing search ads, Display, Retargeting, and YouTube campaigns were strong awareness drivers.
On the buy-side, NYAA hosted a series of apple shipper meetings. Working as a team, NY apple shippers assisted with creating print and digital trade ads with overarching themes including: Less Miles, Support Family Farms, Famous Great Taste, and Buy New York.
“This year, we are integrating existing assets and creating customized social media content for retailers,” stated Cynthia. “Our series of grower and dietitian videos are proving to be popular along with spotlighting apple varieties and new recipes.”
NYAA will also promote apples in schools (online and those attending classes in-person) with the NY Big Apple Crunch promotion. Schools, college campuses, hospitals, businesses, and individuals all over the state are invited to take the “collective crunch” into a New York grown apple, taking place this year on October 22. In 2013, the Big Apple Crunch in New York City set a world record with 1,000,000 people participating. Since then, the activity has spread across the country, and thousands of locations participated this past year: 3.2 million crunched into a New York apple in unison.
Kelly Springer, registered dietitian, and nutrition spokesperson for NYAA, is making her rounds to several television and radio stations. She is currently scheduled to appear on television stations in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany, New York, areas to promote apple picking. She will also appear in out-of-state television stations in other states during October—sharing the nutritional value of New York apple varieties.
There are tons of reasons to have New York apples in your lineup, so don’t stop here! For more fresh produce news, keep clicking back to AndNowUKnow.
LONDON, ENGLAND - The plant-based movement is still running smoothly and gaining momentum as more consumers are adapting a fresh-forward mindset. To help push those that have not yet tried plant-based food, The Good Kind, a new vegan grocery store based in Enfield, London, is here to show how easy it can be to incorporate more fresh produce into daily eating.
“Many people are so curious about what veganism is and the food it brings,” explained owner Jessica Chan to Natural Products News. “I believe that consumers not only wanted a plant-based grocery store—they wanted a plant-based grocery store specifically for meat lovers. Going plant-based can be hard for consumers who are trying it for the first time.”
According to the source, The Good Kind has an area of the store called the Transition Zone that is aimed directly at meat lovers, new vegans, and those transitioning to plant-based diets. The other three areas include Good For You Snack Zone, Sweet Indulgence Zone, and Relaxation Zone.
“At The Good Kind, there is no more divide between vegans and meat eaters. Everyone is welcome,” Chan explained. “The vegan category will continue to gain momentum as people want to eat better and realize that plant-based food is in fact delicious and incredibly easy to do.”
With brands like Beyond Meat, The Meatless Farm, The White Rabbit, and more, The Good Kind is set to draw in waves of new converts. Chan further commented that there are plans in the works to expand into other neighborhoods in London.
One can only wonder if there are plans to bring this to the U.S. Stick around with ANUK as we report more on the plant-based movement, retailers, and all things fresh produce.
BENTONVILLE, AR - The need for a fast, easy, and safe shopping experience is more prevalent today than ever, and retailers continue to rise to the challenge with unique new strategies. To prepare for holiday shopping trends that rely on online availability, Walmart plans to hire more than 20,000 seasonal associates in its e-commerce fulfillment centers across the country.
“The holidays are always a special time, and this year, we think the season will mean even more to our customers. As more of them turn to online shopping, we want to ensure we’re staffed and ready to help deliver that special gift to their loved ones while continuing to fulfill our customer’s everyday needs,” Greg Smith, Executive Vice President for Supply Chain, said. “We’re also proud to be able to continue to provide employment opportunities across the country when it’s needed most.”
Interested applicants can now visit the Walmart website or text “FC” to 240240 to apply for a variety of positions, including order fillers and power equipment operators, that begin at a starting hourly rate ranging from $15.75 up to $23.75 based on location, position, and schedule. Seasonal employment will begin immediately upon hiring with shifts scheduled as quickly as 48 hours from applying, and it will continue through January 1, 2021. In many instances, these positions will have the opportunity to convert to regular employment.
According to a press release, these seasonal positions in Walmart’s e-commerce fulfillment centers follow the company’s hiring of more than 500,000 new associates since March across its stores and supply chain locations to ensure the retailer could provide essential items to customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. With these new hires over the last six months, its new seasonal associates, and ongoing hiring of full-time and part-time positions as needed in its stores, Walmart will be staffed and ready to serve customers for the holiday season.
To read more about Walmart's stratrgy to tackle the holidays, click here to read the press release. As the long-awaited holiday season continues to draw nearer, keep checking in on reports from ANUK.
SACRAMENTO, CA - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it will be adding traceability requirements to the Food Safety Modernization Act for certain foods including leafy greens. In response to this, the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) released a statement to its partners.
“We want to assure our customers and consumers that members of the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement are already required to have traceback systems in place,” LGMA said in its statement. “This has been part of the LGMA requirements since the organization was formed in 2007.”
In a recent survey of LGMA’s membership, the association found that the systems currently put in place by California leafy green farmers allow them to quickly trace product back to the field where it was grown and forward to the first customer who receives it.
As noted in the statement, the members of LGMA in California and Arizona are already in compliance with these new requirements. As with any other aspect of the association’s program, LGMA is committed to making any necessary improvements to protect consumers.
For more information on LGMA’s traceability systems, please click here. Stick with us at AndNowUKnow as more industry news comes to light.