TRAVERSE CITY, MI - It’s hard not to judge a book by its cover. That’s why at North Bay Produce, we are rolling out all-new packaging that puts an emphasis on the quality of our products. In doing so, we’ve further aligned ourselves with outstanding customer service and our unrivaled team of leaders.
Here’s What’s In Store with North Bay Produce…
Fresh, vibrant, and clean colors make these packs pop at retail and drive up the average ticket price. Reinforced by the superior product inside, your shoppers will keep coming back for North Bay fruits and vegetables.
The brilliant aqua color found on our conventional packages reflects the clear waters of Grand Traverse Bay where we are headquartered. Our organic packs are now embellished with a bright green color to reinforce the clean and green values we are known for.
Consumers agree with us, overwhelmingly choosing our updated designs before any other selection in the produce aisle. With our produce on your shelf, there will be no question of quality in shoppers’ minds.
Fresh and beautifully packaged produce is never out of reach as our 32 widespread grower-owner operations across the Americas distribute to our two strategically located, highly expansive warehouses. We also utilize several of our growers’ packaging facilities throughout the world to improve efficiencies and assure the freshest produce is available to consumers as soon as possible.
The North Bay Produce stamp, representative of our global partnerships, has garnered decades of industry influence both on the shelf and in the fridge. An enlarged logo on these new packs makes for simple yet effective brand messaging as we continue to grow our diverse fan base.
Our new packaging also delivers on the health-forward front, emblazoned with the American Heart Association’s seal to reinforce that fresh produce is desirable in more ways than one. The results are in, and North Bay consumers find this update to be yet another incentive to buy our premium produce.
A grower-owned cooperative, North Bay Produce is rooted in the freshest food possible, allowing us to deliver on our time-tested brand promise: From our farms to your family. Naturally.
Thank you for watching What’s In Store.
GLENNVILLE, GA - ’Tis a lovely day to expand leadership teams in the produce industry! G&R Farms clearly agrees as it welcomes Jon Dorminey to serve as Director of Operations. Dorminey will be responsible for long-range planning, cost analysis, revamping policies and procedures, and overseeing inventory, shipping, and production staff.
Dorminey has spent his career working in education. In his previous position, he served as Vice President of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) in which he was responsible for all athletic components of GISA, including state playoffs, eligibility, rule enforcement, and board training.
Prior to his time at GISA, he served as Head of School at both Pinewood Christian Academy and Robert Toombs Christian Academy and was responsible for all aspects of the K3-12 college preparatory school and managed more than 60 professional employees.
According to a press release, Dorminey received his BS in Sports Management from Georgia Southern University in 1996 and later obtained his Masters degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southwestern State University in 1998, while also serving as a graduate Assistant Basketball Coach.
“I’ve known Jon for a long time and we’re excited to have him join our team. With his exceptional organizational and managerial skills, he’ll be an asset to our organization,” stated Walt Dasher, Vice President. “As part of our strategic planning process, we’re making many positive changes as we strive to develop the most consistent, sustainable, and sweet-tasting product on the market.”
Congratulations to Jon Dorminey on this next step in his career!
SANTA PAULA, CA - Lemon-loving consumers may argue that their citrus-infused favorites are the best of the best, but according to Limoneira Company, the zest is yet to come. In fact, the supplier recently announced it is launching a Peelin’ Good - The Zest is Yet to Come tour as part of its Take a Healthy Stand/Nature’s Pharmacy™ educational platform. The tour will kick off Tuesday, September 1, and will “travel virtually” coast to coast, visiting 18 U.S. cities and Toronto, Canada, each featuring some of the world’s greatest retail hotspots.
“The current pandemic has demonstrated how important health is,” said Alex Teague, COO. “This topic and supporting communities have been part of Limoneira’s foundation for 126 years. Our company’s founders were entrepreneurs, and that is why we sponsor the Lemonade Day organization. This tour reinforces health and rolling up one’s sleeves to get the job done.”
The local influencers who will champion this tour are leaders in the food and drink space and have followers in the several thousands, according to a press release. They will be sharing delicious recipes with Limoneira lemons and other citrus as well as fun tips for the whole family while directing them to the best grocery stores around.
Each month, the influencers will share tips and highlight the important work that professional Retail Dietitians/Nutritionists do. The Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) serves as the professional group to almost 2,000 retail dietitians throughout the U.S. and Canada and is sponsored by Limoneira.
“Lemons are one of the healthiest things that can be consumed, and they’re extremely versatile. Our influencers will be sharing not only delicious and healthy recipes, but the many ways lemons can be used in beauty, green cleaning, and fun lifestyles,” added John Carter, Vice President of Global Sales.
A spotlight will also be shown on Lemonade Day, a fun, experiential program that teaches youth how to start, own, and operate their very own business: a lemonade stand. Each year, in participating cities, youth have the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship by setting up their business during their city's community-wide Lemonade Day.
To lock down citrus sales all year long, tap into this exciting initiative and connect with Limoneira today.
WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms and Measure to Improve, LLC (MTI) recently announced the Sustainably Grown certification of Satsuma Farms, strategic strawberry grower-partner for California Giant, under the rigorous standard of SCS Global Services. This comprehensive standard uses a triple bottom-line approach, addressing issues related to social, environmental, and economic sustainability, and mirrors California Giant’s own People, Planet, Product model.
“Sustainably Grown is a challenging certification, but it was the best one for California Giant because it aligns with our own long-term approach to sustainability,” Joe Barsi, President of California Giant, commented. “This certification reflects our commitment to treating the environment and the people involved in our supply chain right.”
According to the press release, Satsuma Farms, located in Watsonville, California, is one of the first strawberry growers in the world to achieve the Sustainably Grown certification from SCS Global Services.
“Rich Uto and his team at Satsuma Farms did a great job on their Sustainably Grown certification audit,” Kevin Warner, Manager, Sustainable Agriculture at SCS, stated. “At SCS, we set a high bar for sustainability in agriculture with a thorough investigation of practices to ensure the protection of farmworkers, environmental sustainability, and the economic resilience of the farming operation. Satsuma Farms exceeded our expectations in meeting the stringent requirements of our standard. Working with Measure to Improve expedited the audit, saving time and money for the client, and ensuring a smooth process in certifying the world’s first Sustainably Grown Certified strawberries.”
With MTI’s support, California Giant launched a pilot certification project at Satsuma Farms, who leases land from California Giant, in 2018.
MTI provided hands-on guidance at Satsuma Farms for the duration of the pilot, which culminated in this landmark certification in August 2020.
“Food safety requirements expanded rapidly over a short period of time. Sustainability is the next step for growers,” said Rich Uto, Owner of Satsuma Farms. “We live differently now, and we need to do things differently. There’s no time to waste—just make the time and get it done.”
Recent years have shown a marked increase in buyer and consumer interest in produce grown sustainably, with emphasis on equitable social practices.
“Sustainability certifications provide third-party verification and an easily recognized seal of approval that helps organizations effectively market their social, environmental, and ethical responsibility while avoiding the pitfalls of greenwashing," said Nikki Cossio, CEO and Founder of Measure to Improve. “Certification is a worthwhile investment if it aligns with your business values and your customers' values.”
California Giant has no plans to slow its sustainability efforts despite the pandemic. The company will continue working with MTI to roll the certification program out to more of its growers over the next few years.
“In piloting Sustainably Grown at Satsuma Farms, California Giant has positioned itself to have a credible response to this growing market demand for sustainability assurance. California Giant’s commitment to its growers, customers, and communities is now underpinned by our robust third-party certification, and it has differentiated itself in an increasingly competitive business landscape by being a first-mover toward Sustainably Grown certification in the berry industry,” added Warner.
A hearty congratulations on this momentous achievement! Stay up to date in the sustainability game with ANUK.
OXNARD, CA - A fruit so noble as the avocado deserves the fiercest leaders in the industry. Ensuring that its own green gold is championed by the highest ranking fresh produce advocates, Mission Produce has announced the promotion of Stephen Fink to Vice President of North American Sales.
“I’m excited to assume this opportunity during a pivotal stage of category growth in the United States and beyond,” said Fink. “We have a strong sales team, and I am looking forward to reinforcing Mission’s commitment to servicing customers and maintaining a market lead position.”
Fink’s new executive responsibilities include overseeing retail, foodservice, and wholesale sales strategies throughout North America. He will also manage a professional sales team, plus support staff, and provide top-level leadership to maximize business results.
As noted in a press release, Fink joined Mission in 2012 and quickly rose to positions of increasing responsibility. In his tenure at the company, he has held management roles in inventory and sales and most recently served as the Senior Director of Sales.
“Stephen is a trusted strategist, confident leader, and keen industry expert,” said Ross Wileman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Mission recognizes employees for their leadership and dedication, and this promotion reflects that. Stephen has made invaluable contributions to our domestic sales division, and his background and skills will help further build our retail, foodservice, and wholesale businesses.”
Congratulations to Stephen Fink on this next step in his career!
SALINAS, CA - In the fresh produce industry, innovation and growth are the life blood that drives us forward. Church Brothers Farms is putting its growth on full display with the introduction of its new lineup of offerings, which includes five new products. The line will be released under the Green Giant Fresh® brand, and includes: sweet baby broccoli, sweet baby cauliflower, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, and sweet potato.
“These new items give retailers the opportunity to build a Sweet Baby category. Their uniform stand-up pouches look great side by side on the shelf,” said Rick Russo, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
The Sweet Baby vegetable lineup includes baby cauliflower that comes packaged in 10-ounce bags and baby broccoli that hits the shelves in 8-ounce bags. According to a press release, the veggies come pre-washed and ready to eat. They boast a 16-day shelf-life, so that consumers can keep them stocked for future meals.
While the sweet baby broccoli touts a sweet flavor from stem to florets, it is also 100 percent edible, as the company aimed to reduce food waste. The sweet baby cauliflower also features a sweet taste, as well as a tender green stem that lightens as it cooks.
“Our goal is to deliver fresh, healthy food that is prepped and ready to use for consumers looking to bring restaurant-style dishes into their home,” continued Russo. “The cubed veggies are a fresh take on favorite fall vegetables. We are excited to deliver nutrition and flavor to shoppers at affordable prices.”
Accompanying the Sweet Baby line is the Cubed and Crumbled lineup of value-added products. It includes sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and spaghetti squash all packaged in 16-ounce bags. The new options will join the company’s Original Cauliflower Crumbles® and Cauliflower Crumbles® Fried Rice.
With convenience and exciting new products on the top of both retailers’ and consumers’ minds, Church Brothers is making sure that it is staying on the cutting edge in the produce aisles, and is sure to catch the eyes of shoppers everywhere. If these new products sound like the perfect addition to your produce section, be sure to hop on board and keep customers coming back for more.
PHOENIX, AZ - A rebrand is no small feat, and when it is made without much fanfare it takes on the effect of a stone tossed in still waters, sending ripples throughout the newswire that grow bigger as they expand. Sprouts Farmers Market, which has long marketed itself as one of the fastest growing names in the game, has skipped quite the stone with the quiet unveiling of a new brand identity and slogan.
Across its Facebook cover, updated last week, is a sketched farmer and his dog driving a truck bed of produce, a brand new Sprouts logo on the door and the tagline Sprouts, Where Goodness Grows™ beneath.
A video series has launched to complement the new look and approach, following the same etching style while still spotlighting a produce focus, bringing it from the sketch of the farm to the physical produce department.
The new logo is a clean stamp, holding to the similar font we all know of the farmer-themed retailer, but instead of the box of produce on top and the circled outline, the O in the banner has become the circle, now its own leafy representation of the company’s rooted ag approach.
One thing is for sure, while this may be a whole new look for Sprouts Farmers Market, the message remains strongly tied to fresh with a new edge to deliver it.
SALINAS, CA - Green Giant Fresh™ is one of the most recognizable and nostalgic brands in the world. During challenging times, as consumers look to ground themselves in trust and comfort, big food brands are reemerging as go-to choices from baby boomers to millennials and beyond.
“Brand loyalty is priceless, and for legacy brands who have built a following over decades, it is resurging as consumers seek familiarity amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Tom Byrne, President, Growers Express LLC shares with me. “Legacy brands, like Green Giant Fresh, bring comfort to consumers in a time where they feel anxious and want to be assured that they will get the quality they have become accustomed to over the years.”
Monterey-based Growers Express holds the master license for the Green Giant Fresh brand and manages the licensing program with its many sublicense partners.
According to the Wall Street Journal, many shoppers have favored fresh foods over processed products in this time of need, and Green Giant Fresh is making sure that the brand delivers the reliability of high-quality product consumers have become accustomed to getting.
“We also cultivate the Green Giant Fresh licensing partner community in supporting them in any way possible, especially during times of crisis, by adding value to their operations and enhancing opportunities for continued growth,” Tom tells me. “Green Giant has over 90 percent brand awareness among U.S. consumers and especially during uncertain times, consumers rely on familiarity.”
If we take a look back, in 2009, Growers Express purchased the licensing rights to the Green Giant Fresh brand for use on fresh vegetables and since that time, visibility, demand, and consumer following have grown.
“Being a legacy brand through the years, consumers have come to trust the quality, freshness, and reliability of the many products that are proudly packed under the Green Giant Fresh label. That continues today and Green Giant Fresh has set a benchmark for today’s brands who are looking to rise up in the hierarchy of consumer brand loyalty,” Tom adds.
Part of the Green Giant Fresh vision that continues to drive success forward for the marketing behemoth is its willingness to prioritize innovation first. A key example of this strategy that allowed the company to pair a risk-taking innovation with the safety of a well-known brand was when Green Giant Fresh launched the original Cauliflower Crumbles® chopped cauliflower back in 2015. This helped revitalize what has been a commodity-driven category and has since exploded in usage and demand. This example of the company’s ability to pivot and adapt, is one arena where the operation continues to thrive and can combine its historical brand loyalty with the drive for innovation.
What new trends and movements will surface as the crisis holds space for opportunities? Keep checking back with AndNowUKnow as we lead you down our path of discovery!
MURRIETA, CA - California-based grower, packer, and distributor of premium avocados, West Pak Avocado, just released a new campaign video. The fifth episode for the company’s ongoing 2020 series, Avocados - A Ripe Responsibility covers the ethical weight of the avocado beyond its societal success within the health industry, pop culture, or “foodie” trends.
“In our continued effort to provide a steady flow of fresh, quality avocados to tables across the globe, we at West Pak Avocado have made some changes to ensure that we are building a safe and efficient future,” said CEO Mario Pacheco. “We’ve taken extraordinary measures to not only enhance our workflow and strengthen our infrastructure, but also to dramatically improve safety measures.”
According to the press release, the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic caused essential industries to shift to accommodate a “new normal,” making the world’s food supply more demanding than ever.
For West Pak, Avocados - A Ripe Responsibility highlights the ways the global organization is taking both ethical and moral responsibilities to ensure the avocado reaches people’s plates every day.
“At the heart of our operations department is always efficacy and employee safety,” commented Vice President of Operations Trevor Newhouse. “Continuous improvement and increase of sustainability—this is also a core strategic area we focus on when enhancing anything and everything we do. We are well-positioned not only to support our customers’ growth in the years ahead but also to ensure that our West Pak family is always safe.”
With careful monitoring throughout the company’s entire establishment from sourcing and production, to distribution, health and food safety are top of mind to ensure the avocado upholds its “ripe” responsibility for the world it reaches.
“On behalf of our employees and board of directors, we’re proud to be building a better future for this generation and beyond,” Pacheco added.
For more ripe and fresh updates in our industry, keep checking back to AndNowUKnow.
MILPITAS, CA - When a company finds the perfect match to fill a role, it’s like putting the last piece of the puzzle in place. I’m sure Agriculture Capital (AC) Brands feels the same way as Evan Pence joins its family, bringing 15 years of experience in the fresh fruit industry to his new role as Vice President of International Procurement.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be part of these established teams, and I’m excited to help AC Brands develop a Latin American supply program that will strengthen and complement our position in the retail market,” Pence commented.
The industry pro will be pulling on his vast experience in produce, most recently as Director of Sourcing for Dole Diversified. His career experience spans across all berries as well as stonefruit, citrus, and table grapes, making him an exceptional addition to the team that packs, sells, and markets fruit for AC Foods companies Suntreat® Citrus and Columbine Vineyards®.
According to the press release, Pence has extensive experience in Latin America—from living and working in Peru, Venezuela, and Mexico post-grad to his most recent position at Dole Diversified, overseeing procurement operations in Argentina, Chile, Peru and Mexico. With his extensive knowledge, he should be a perfect fit as AC Brands plans to expand its grape, citrus, and berry offerings to cover all 52 weeks of the year.
“Our customers have made it clear to us that they would like to see our offerings expand year-round, and this is the first step toward achieving that goal. Evan's experience gives us the ability to hit the ground running as we look to procure strong volumes of high-quality grapes, citrus, and berries” says Rick Johnston, EVP of Sales and Marketing. "We look forward to Evan driving our growth and opportunities with his leadership, passion, and experience on import supply chain."
Suntreat, exclusive home of Sumo Citrus®, and Columbine Vineyards, has strong national retail support throughout the U.S. domestic seasons. The company now looks to capitalize upon that momentum and will begin to develop an international supply plan that complements that volume.
Congratulations to Evan Pence on his new role and the new bonds being made!