SANTA PAULA, CA - As companies continue to grow, expansion is always on the horizon. However, narrowing that focus is also a key strategy to implement for long-term growth. Limoneira is focusing on the growth of the company with the sale of its real estate asset referred to as “Lindsay Central Valley” located in Lindsay, CA.
“We are pleased with the sale of our Lindsay property, which is in-line with our long-term strategy to streamline non-synergistic assets that do not meet our longer-term goals,” Harold Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated. “As with prior sales of non-synergistic assets, we will use the cash generated by the sale to pay down debt and to invest in the growth of our core agribusiness.”
According to the release, the transaction closed on August 26, 2020, and the citrus company received approximately $6.0 million in net proceeds. In addition, Limoneira will record a one-time, non-cash loss of approximately $0.3 million in its third fiscal quarter of 2020 related to this sale.
The Lindsay property consists of 291 acres of orange and specialty citrus groves located in the Central Valley of California, rounding out to about $20,600 an acre. During the company’s continuous review of its strategic initiatives, it was determined that this property is not aligned with Limoneira’s other orange and specialty citrus properties.
What plans lay in Limoneira’s sights in its long-term strategy? AndNowUKnow will report.
BALA CYNWYD, PA - When it comes to preferences, I tend to go for the sweeter side of eating experiences. With a vast industry such as fresh produce, there is a certain beauty when companies combine sweet and delicious flavors with an aesthetic pop. Love Beets is a gourmet artisan that comes to mind, producing delicious and attention-grabbing eye candy that shoppers can’t get enough of. While consumers are looking for more avenues of fresh, I tapped Natasha Lichty and George Shropshire for insights on how to navigate this upcoming promotional season with this sweet root, also known as "Nature’s candy."
“As more importance is placed on healthier eating, produce remains a consistent key player in consumer diets,” Natasha, Brand and Marketing Director, says. “Love Beets has always placed a high value on convenience, and in the new era of back-to-school and parents adjusting to home learning, our ready-to-eat beet products are uniquely aligned with consumer demands for convenient, healthy, and flavorful.”
Whether it be through plant-based diets or exploring food with benefits to compete with traditional medicines, there’s been a growing trend in consumers looking to eat healthier and more mindfully. Nowadays, there is more cooking done at home, and consumers are looking to expand their diets while decreasing the prep work. Beets are already known as a pantry-friendly vegetable, and Love Beets is the answer shoppers are looking for.
“Our core product is ready-to-eat. The one-ingredient, vacuum-packed, cooked beets allow for less hassle and prep time in the kitchen while still providing a longer shelf-life than their perishable counterparts in the produce section,” George, General Manager, explains to me. “Right now, retailers are depended on more than ever to guide consumers through the many options available in their stores by clearly showcasing options for potential meals one could create or highlighting the item’s selling points, whether it be nutritional benefits or the growing consumer desire for clearly expressed brand values.”
With fun flavors like Honey+Ginger and friendly packaging, consumers and families can rest at ease knowing that Love Beets products are just the thing kids and adults are looking for.
“Kids enjoy the natural sweetness of beets, making them a great snack for parents to offer without sacrificing nutrition or looking to a more processed alternative,” Natasha continues. “Our ready-to-eat beet offerings are perfect to work into a variety of mealtimes, whether it be a breakfast smoothie mixed with fruit, or a seasonal salad using greens, grains, and other vegetables.”
In this day and age, it helps to have a supplier partner that’s in tune with trends. Not only is Love Beets a great pairing for most dishes, but the digital space has become a major influencer amongst consumers staying at home more often.
“We were able to adjust to the digital shopping surge rather seamlessly due to the fact that our omnichannel optimization projects were already underway. We have really been focusing our efforts on various digital platform advertising options,” George notes. “We are doing what we can as a brand to drive sales from the screen, and we have had proven success in co-branded marketing programs within this sector.”
Consumers are continuously looking for products that hit the sweet spot between nutrition and taste, and Love Beets is the candy man of the industry. Catch up on the latest movements from the industry with ANUK.
MCLEAN, VA - Gladstone Land Corporation is a powerhouse name in the industry that we here at ANUK like to keep an eye on—and it did not disappoint this week. The real estate giant recently announced that it has closed an acquisition for approximately $7.4 million of farmland in Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delaware.
“With this acquisition, Gladstone Land now owns farms in 12 different states and 25 different growing regions across the U.S.,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO. “We are seeing increasing opportunities in this region for high-value farmland growing potatoes, peppers, sod, and other high-value crops. We hope to be able to take advantage of certain of these opportunities to increase the overall diversification within the list of farms owned by the company.”
Gladstone Land has acquired 939 gross acres of farmland in Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Delaware for approximately $7.4 million. That brings the land to roughly $7,880 per acre. According to the press release, the farmland will be used primarily to grow vegetables and sod.
“We are very excited about this opportunity to enter into a new region and partner with a great and diversified local grower,” said Joseph Van Wingerden, Director of Real Estate. “We hope to continue to expand in the mid-Atlantic region and offer local farmers a chance to grow their acreage. The access to major cities and abundant water sources makes farms in this region extremely attractive.”
In connection with the acquisition, Gladstone Land also entered into a 10-year lease agreement with a large sod and vegetable grower in the region. This new land acquisition will give Gladstone Land the opportunity to diversify crops being grown.
“Our farms remain 100 percent occupied, and our farmers continue to take advantage of elevated pricing for fresh produce and certain other foods at grocery stores. The fallout from COVID-19 has not negatively affected the majority of our farmers in any significant way,” Gladstone continued. “There is still an oversupply of corn, wheat, and soy, which continues to drive depressed prices for those crops. We only have a few farms growing these types of crops, making up less than 10 percent of our total revenue, and a significant portion of that is organic.”
Alongside its acquisition news, Gladstone Land Corporation offered an update to the recent fires in California. As many of us know, industry members here have experienced grave setbacks and exposure throughout the state. Thankfully, Gladstone Land is able to report that its farms and lands have received no damages.
“In addition, in light of the current wildfires spreading throughout certain parts of California, we are reporting that none of our farms have been damaged by any of the fires, and we do not currently believe that the fires pose a threat to any of our properties,” Gladstone expressed. “As most of you know, our farms are largely in the valleys and flatlands, while most of the fires are in the mountains. Our thoughts are with those who have been injured or have lost possessions because of the fires.”
Keep checking back to ANUK as we report more on the latest.
CHILE - Early this morning, northern Chile was hit with a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake that was followed by several strong aftershocks felt across the area. The quakes have caused major damage, and have prompted some people to evacuate in areas where the effects were strongly felt.
According to information from BNO News, the first earthquake hit at 12:09 a.m., 40 kilometers northwest of the village of Carrizal Bajo, located in the Atacama region of the country. The aftershock that followed hit 20 minutes later at 12:30 a.m., and were recorded at 6.3 magnitude.
Thankfully, no casualties were reported, but many people have been evacuated due to landslides near the epicenter. Those living on the coast were also evacuated as a precaution in case of a tsunami, although the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has announced that, as of this morning, there is no tsunami threat.
At AndNowUKnow, we are relieved to see that no one was injured during this natural event, and our thoughts are with those across our industry and the residents of Chile who are cleaning up after the earthquake.
As more information becomes available on the repercussions of this quake, ANUK will continue to report.
PLEASANT PRAIRE, WI - Back-to-school season has always been a time of change and adaptation; however, this year, as COVID-19 changes the face of most normally scheduled programming, things are even more different than usual. As kids—and parents—prepare for at-home learning in many parts of the country, Good Foods has launched its “Back to the Books” sweepstakes to celebrate the classroom heroes that make learning possible during these trying times.
“The back-to-school season is a great time to honor teachers, but this year, teachers deserve to be celebrated even more,” said Mandy Bottomlee, Director of Content Marketing. “We’re looking forward to our ‘Back to the Books’ sweepstakes shining light on the amazing teachers across the country along with the conveniently packaged brain-food to keep teachers and students going throughout the school year.”
Now through October 9, teachers are being encouraged to enter the “Back to the Books” sweepstakes to win a prize package that includes a $150 Target gift card to supply their classrooms and an assortment of exciting kitchen goodies for their homes. According to a press release, there will be one winner each week, so the chances of winning are higher than usual.
In order to promote the fun new sweepstakes, Good Foods will be partnering with social media influencers, posting social media ads, and using email marketing to get the word out.
As the pandemic continues to add extra challenges to daily life, we here at ANUK salute teachers, families, and our industry partners who continue to persevere and innovate to make things run smoothly. We look forward to seeing how people across the produce industry continue to make a difference everyday.
To find out more about the sweepstakes, or to enter, click here.
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA - Red Sun Farms is making greenhouse industry waves with its latest sustainable solution, SustainLabel!®, made in partnership with Yerecic Label. This new technology includes wash-away technology and has passed the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Critical Guidance testing. This furthers Red Sun Farms' commitment to sustainable agriculture as it continues to work closely with packaging suppliers to develop new and sustainable options.
“The investment of this new technology demonstrates our continued commitment to delivering sustainable solutions to our customer, while improving our product visibility and transparency,” remarked Carlos Visconti, CEO Red Sun Farms USA and Canada Operations. “Our graphic refresh places the produce at the center of our design.”
This change, Visconti continued, also created the perfect opportunity for a brand refresh across Red Sun Farms' entire portfolio of packaging.
“By separating cleanly from PET flake and floating during the recycling wash process, SustainLabel! constructions positively contribute to the recycling stream by increasing the availability of food grade rPET,” Elizabeth Yerecic, Key Account Manager, Midwest Region, added. “Yerecic Label also utilizes 100 percent recycled content cores for all label rolls and a targeted 70 percent PCR in corrugated.”
Environmental impact and sustainability have been at the forefront of Red Sun Farms’ operations for some time now, all the way from the growing process to packaging and shipping. Over the last six years alone, a press release explained, the greenhouse grower has developed several packaging innovations, including the following:
- Began with its peppers packaged in a Polypropylene (PP) flow wrap which is a recyclable material if the labels are removed
- Red Sun Farms snacking tomatoes are packaged in plastic bowls and clamshells that range between 60-90 percent recyclable content
- Six years ago, Red Sun Farms launched its 10 oz organic grape tomatoes packaged in a fiber pint, which is a recyclable/compostable option that reduces plastic use by over 90 percent. This package captured an innovation award in Berlin, Germany, in 2019. To date this has avoided the equivalent of 7.5 million units of plastic on this variety (the same weight as 20 elephants)
- Last year, the company announced that Red Sun Farms was transitioning its organic peppers, TOV’s, and cucumbers with a backyard compostable PLU label. This option allows for landfills to be avoided and encourages consumers to compost the pepper stem and PLU in their backyard composters
In addition to this sustainability initiative, Red Sun Farms is doubling down on its commitment in other ways. Its high-tech cultivation facility has a lower environmental impact than conventional open-field agriculture, the press release noted, consuming 95 percent less water than open-field cultivation.
Most of the water that Red Sun Farms uses is rainwater that has been collected from the roof of the greenhouse and channeled through the duct system, which is then filtered and fed to the plants. From one square yard, Red Sun Farms can yield upwards of 150 pounds of produce.
Hats off to Red Sun Farms for continuing to bring value across the board!
FIREBAUGH, CA - Our Little Onions are a big hit for fall. After over forty years of growing a wide variety of beautiful, big onions, Peri & Sons Farms is excited to add some gorgeous little onions to the mix. These new little organic gourmet onions give customers an even wider variety of options to choose from when filling their onion category needs―making Peri & Sons Farms a one-stop shop for the finest premium and organic onions in every shape and size.
Here’s What’s in Store.
The Peri & Sons Farms' Little Organic Gourmet Onions lineup includes White Pearls, Red Pearls, Cipollini Onions, and Shallots. Each little gem is lovingly grown on our family farm in the U.S. using Certified Sustainably Grown farming practices and are also USDA Certified Organic.
It’s a little-known fact that small specialty onions require more care, attention, and labor than full-size onions. That’s because when it comes to pearls and cipollinis, optimum sizing is crucial. To get just the right size, about the width of a 25 cent piece, rows and rows of onions must be carefully monitored. Day-by-day, we select and hand-harvest the onions that have grown to the perfect size and have the right shape and texture.
These little onions are sure to make a big impression in store with our delightfully designed packages that are plastic-free! That’s right, no plastic. These beautiful packs are biodegradable and single-stream recyclable, which is an important selling point for consumers who are concerned about plastic packaging and are seeking better earth-friendly options.
Thank you for watching What’s in Store.
SALINAS, CA - It is with great sadness that ANUK learned of the passing of Albert Garnica. As Taylor Farms’ Vice President of Ag and Harvest Operations, he leaves behind an unforgettable legacy in the produce industry.
Throughout his career, Albert helped define the reliability and quality that launched the value-added salad category. His tireless commitment to continuous improvement helped drive Taylor Farms and the industry to a new level.
“Albert Garnica’s hard work and dedication made him a great asset to the Taylor Farms leadership team, but it was his friendship and generosity that made an indelible mark on our company and our lives,” longtime friend and Taylor Farms California President Mark Borman shared with us.
Albert mentored countless members of the Taylor Farms team, as well as people throughout the industry. Albert was always generous with his time and encouragement and helped make anyone he came in contact with a better person. He brought enthusiasm and heart to his daily work and made sure that the American people had access to healthy, fresh foods.
ANUK stands alongside Taylor Farms in sharing our grief. Our industry will not be the same without him.
DUBLIN, IRELAND - While it’s true that some good things come in threes, the retail world may beg to differ as Aldi turns that idea on its head. The grocery giant recently unveiled plans for a market takeover on Ireland's east coast, teasing the opening of four new stores, all within a 45 minute travel radius of Dublin, set to open within the next six months.
According to the news source RTE, these new stores will create 80 jobs in Rathnew, Wicklow, and Blanchardstown, Dublin, set to open in October and November; and Dunshaughlin, Meath, and Sutton, Dublin, which will open before the end of February next year. This aggressive roll out builds on Aldi’s goal of doubling its footprint in Dublin.
In addition to these exciting openings, the news source noted that Aldi will continue its refurbishment of Project Fresh stores, which entails the revamp of nine Ireland-based locations.
Will this heavy-hitting strategy translate to Aldi expansions in the States? Stay tuned as we continue to report.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - Times and patterns are changing fast, and while much of this requires some learning and unlearning, there are those that are stepping up to the plate with a practiced hand. Among the latter, Proseal is providing advanced tray sealing machines that ensure high-quality, flexible sealing solutions. And as the team walked me through who this serves and how, it seems there has never been a better time for such offerings.
“Proseal machines offer fruit growers greater flexibility to seal different designs and sizes of trays with efficiency and accuracy,” explains Patrick Innes, Sales Manager. “This is proving particularly useful in the current situation with consumers making fewer trips to the supermarket during the pandemic, which has led to an increase in demand for larger size fruit packs, along with a tamper evident package.”
Innes points out that, in addition to these changes, soft fruit demand is up, as are online and home delivery services. All situations that make how and what the product is packed in all the more crucial.
“The variety of tray designs—in terms of shape, depth, and the availability of multi-cavity formats—means a solution can be found to safely package most products,” Eddie Holmes, Project Manager, shares. “Tray sealing provides effective product protection, security, and the latest reclose film options mean food can be further preserved after opening. The majority of trays are fully recyclable, unlike some alternatives which can also cause food waste by not sufficiently protecting product from damage throughout the supply chain.”
In fact, the Proseal team was a driving force behind replacing traditional clamshell punnets with top film-sealed varieties in the U.K. Now commonplace in soft fruit markets not just here in North America, but across Europe, Holmes points out how this has helped minimize plastic usage by as much as 40 percent.
Fast-forward to current innovations, and Innes and Holmes tell me that the company has been at the forefront of the introduction of new recyclable and compostable trays and film for fruit that can reduce plastic usage even further—by as much as 96 percent.
“Proseal continues to strive to develop the most effective and sustainable sealing solutions for its customers,” concludes Innes. “Given the perishable nature of soft fruit, it is important to package the food properly and ensure that every measure is taken to increase the product’s shelf-life.”
Proseal’s industry-leading extended shelf-life, effective MAP, and Vacuum Map sealing techniques ensure that consumers receive soft fruit in the safest and freshest condition possible, while the flexibility of its machine offerings ensure the most versatility possible.
When the only sure thing in the game is that the world will throw a curve, the best we can do is have the steadiest hands on our team. I, for one, wouldn’t mind having Proseal on my roster.