OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - As it continues to commit to food waste reduction, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) was selected to support the delivery of the Surplus Food Rescue Program developed by the Government of Canada.
$22 million of funding will be split between CPMA and its partner, Second Harvest, which will allocate roughly 13 million pounds of food to communities in need.
“The project will focus on the distribution of a wide range products including fresh produce, processed potatoes, fish, seafood, meat products, and eggs. The total volume of food to be distributed is estimated at 13 million pounds. The immediate focus will be on the most perishable food products and those that require immediate processing,” remarked Ron Lemaire, CPMA President.
Alongside its allied partners, the association is collaborating across industry, charity, and indigenous organizations to carry out the distribution of identified surplus food in Canada’s supply chain.
It will donate the surplus food through CPMA’s partner Second Harvest and FoodRescue.ca to support Canada's most vulnerable populations.
“Historically, our industry has stepped forward when asked to support our community, and this year we have increased our efforts to support those in need, from our frontline workers to indigenous groups,” said Davis Yung, CPMA Chair. “I am very pleased that 10 percent of the product in this program will be targeting northern communities to ensure all Canadians are supported in these unique times.”
For those looking to support this initiative, a press release noted, charitable organizations, community groups, food banks, and other food hubs can register at FoodRescue.ca to be identified as a distribution point.
Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, added, “Food waste is a real issue in our country. During this crisis in particular, when so many people risk going hungry, we can’t afford to let good food go to waste. So many of our Canadian farmers are facing food surpluses right now—and this initiative will ensure perishable food is matched and distributed to local community groups that directly feed countless Canadians. Thank you to the Government of Canada for making this possible.”
To see how programs like this help the supply chain overall, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
QUINCY, MA - After recently expanding its warehouse footprint, the retailer is further developing its services. Stop & Shop is enhancing its e-commerce platform and has unveiled a revamped loyalty program called Stop & Shop GO Rewards. The Ahold Delhaize banner will be phasing out its Peapod app to bring interactions and communications under its umbrella of services, providing customers with a seamless shopping experience whether in-store or online.
“Stop & Shop prides itself on making things easier for our shoppers, and this new digital experience does just that,” said Gordon Reid, President. “It’s centered around one seamless website and mobile app that will provide our customers several ways to shop the wide assortment and everyday savings they count on with Stop & Shop.”
According to the press release, customers who previously used Peapod.com and the Peapod app will now place their orders directly at StopandShop.com or via the free Stop & Shop® mobile app. For shoppers who have used Peapod previously, the switch will be seamless as their account information, orders, and history will automatically transition over to the new Stop & Shop Pickup & Delivery platform when logging into their Stop & Shop online account.
In addition to the new website and mobile app, Stop & Shop is also offering customers more opportunities to earn rewards and save 15 percent or more with the launch of Stop & Shop GO Rewards, which is fully integrated into the retailer's website and mobile app.
“GO Rewards delivers personalized digital offers and exciting new ways for our customers to save—and to use their points,” says Rachel Stephens, Vice President of Digital Loyalty. “Savings at Stop & Shop add up quickly, and we hope this revamped program will help our customers to see the tremendous value we offer both in-store and online.”
Stop & Shop’s new e-commerce site allows shoppers to build their shopping list, shop directly from the weekly digital circular and relevant in-app and on-site promotions, complete their grocery order online, and choose to either pick up their groceries at their local store or have them delivered to their doorstep.
How will retailers continue to evolve next?AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest in the retail space.
BRADFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA - Family-owned and operated company Gwillimdale Farms has already made a sufficiently large splash in the supply-side world, but its latest expansion plans are making retailers’ heads pop up and take notice. I spoke with Quinton Woods, Sales and Plant Operations Manager, to learn a bit more.
“We’re currently transitioning into our local crop in Canada and looking for retail partners who want to develop winter programs, specifically for carrots and onions,” Quinton noted. “As we’re currently erecting phase 3 of our storage expansion, we’re adding an additional 42,000 square-feet of climate-controlled storage for our field vegetables. Overall, we have a total of 160,000 square feet available, which holds up to 50 million pounds of root vegetables so we can ensure quality for our retail partners throughout the season.”
In September, the grower will also be unveiling a fully-automated packing and palletizing solution for its onion crop.
“We are open for business,” Quinton stressed, and his excitement for growth was palpable. “We want to hear from everyone on carrots and onions.”
As one of Ontario’s largest growers, packers, and shippers of root vegetables, Gwillimdale Farms should be on the buy-side’s list!
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in all things produce.
ARVIN, CA - I have always been into bite-size foods, and Tasteful Selections® has more than once graced my kitchen. The growing demand for convenient and smaller pack sizes has reached new heights, and the potato provider is continuing that growth by launching a new theme this month for its 10-year anniversary campaign.
“This month, we celebrate the year of our rebrand,” said Tim Huffcutt, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Operations. “Our new packaging incorporated vivid colors coupled with images of simple ingredients and appetizing prepared dishes to transform everyday meals into family favorites.”
Since coming to market in 2010, Tasteful Selections has been a pioneer and leader in the bite-size potato category—owning and operating the entire planting, harvesting, and packaging process, stated the press release. With multiple facility and acreage expansions from 2010 to 2018, Tasteful Selections grew to meet demand while responding to consumer preference toward convenience items and smaller pack sizes.
In 2018, Tasteful Selections went through an exciting transformation. A brand makeover! The re-branding included a complete packaging redesign involving more than 100 SKUs, and the introduction of its mini sweet and bite-size round potato Season & Savor® trays.
To celebrate the rebrand, consumers have the opportunity to win new prizes including RTIC Soft Pack 30, Tasteful Selections swag, and FREE bite-size potatoes. Tasteful Selections also continues its “10th-day Instagram Giveaway,” giving away free potatoes to two lucky winners on the 10 of every month in 2020. Retailers can take advantage of this campaign with key cross-promotional set-ups and advertisements to best utilize these bite-size potatoes.
As more campaigns, updates, and promotions develop in our fresh produce industry, keep checking back to ANUK.
WASHINGTON, DC - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is continuing its efforts to ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry. In doing so, it has imposed sanctions on three produce businesses operating in Florida, New York, and Texas for failing to meet their contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failing to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The total combined reparations awards amounted to $85,544.
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. 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 following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Lua Produce Corp., operating out of Opalocka, Fla., for failing to pay a $39,613 award in favor of an Alabama seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Luis A. Burbano was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
- Mr. G. International Produce, Inc., operating out of Bronx, N.Y., for failing to pay a $29,475 award in favor of a New Jersey seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jose A. Gomez was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder of the business.
- Bucks Fresh Produce LLC, operating out of McAllen, Texas, for failing to pay a $16,456 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Christopher Torres and Diana D. Torres 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.
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 press release in its entirety, please visit the link here.
WENATCHEE, WA - CMI Orchards is manifesting some massive expansion as it recently announced an impressive growth trajectory. The Washington-based premium apple, pear, and cherry supplier has effectively accelerated expansion according to recent reports. Strategic partnerships with Yakima Fruit, as well as with Pine Canyon Growers, in addition to significant internal growth, has added over 4 million boxes to CMI’s lineup.
“This is all a part of a long-range plan for strategic growth to better serve our customers,” said President, Bob Mast. “The design began to unfold back in 2018 when CMI Orchards added Pine Canyon Growers as a grower, packer, and shipper. This addition greatly strengthened our manifest and our progress has enabled us to team up with another great partner in Yakima Fruit.”
As a result of recent growth, CMI reports the following increases in its core, organic, and branded offerings: Granny Smith (+89 percent), Gala (+44 percent), Pink Lady (+92 percent), Fuji (+62 percent), Honeycrisp (+62 percent), and organic Honeycrisp (+47 percent). According to a press release, the company’s total organic crop has surpassed 3.5 million boxes, which is made up of increases in core organic varieties such as Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp, in addition to branded organics which create opportunities for retail pricing tiers that help boost sales. In 2020, CMI will bring a Washington-grown EverCrisp to market, and will launch its first harvest of organic EverCrisp nationwide.
“Yakima Fruit, formerly connected to Yakima Fresh, has a highly desirable manifest that greatly bolsters our offerings, including exceptional early Honeycrisp and high-colored genetic strains of Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji,” said Mast. “The partnership also adds considerable Cosmic Crisp volume.” According to Mast, the partnership was executed on March 20, 2020.
Mast reports that in addition to high production orchards, the Yakima Fruit partnership brings an opportunity to strategize on future plantings with available unplanted acreage to best meet the needs of CMI’s retailer and consumer preferences for both apples and cherries.
“CMI is thrilled with the opportunity this blank slate provides and is looking into planting early cherry varieties, licensed branded apples and cherries, as well as high flavor, high quality core apple varietals,” he continued. “Between our exceptional domestic apples, premium managed varieties, year-round supply, and commitment to innovation, we are perfectly positioned to serve the growing needs of the market. We are very proud to welcome the Yakima Fruit team to the CMI Orchards Family and look forward to a long-lasting partnership.”
Further fresh partnerships and accelerated expansion are on the horizon, so stick with us at ANUK.
UNITED STATES - We first reported on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in April as part of its $19 billion plan for ag relief. In a recent report from the United Fresh Produce Association, it noted that the USDA is now expanding the list of specialty crop products eligible for disaster assistance under CFAP. Industry association partners have strongly advocated for a further expansion for eligible products under CFAP since the program’s inception, and this is the second adjustment to eligible commodities under the program. In addition, USDA is extending the application sign up period to September 11, 2020, for products that are covered under the CFAP payments.
“CFAP has provided important relief to fresh produce growers across the country who produce a diverse range of produce that have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said United Fresh CEO Tom Stenzel. “We are grateful to USDA for expanding this program and look forward to continue working with them to support growers whose produce is not covered under this further expansion of covered specialty crops.”
The list of additional products include: aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (French parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga, and yuca/cassava.
Additionally, USDA has added seven commodities, onions (green), pistachios, peppermint, spearmint, walnuts, and watermelons, to the list of products that are eligible for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act funding for sales losses (Category 1). Originally, these commodities were only eligible for direct payments that were based on marketing adjustments, according to the press release. The announcement also adjusts payment rates for those commodities.
As our industry continues to battle for fresh produce protection amongst these challenging times, keep coming back to reports from AndNowUKnow.
U.S. Department of Agriculture United Fresh Produce Association
BOISE, ID; SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA - History is filled with dynamic partnerships and collaborations that have made great impacts. Today, grocery behemoth Albertsons has announced its partnership with the vertical-farming company Plenty Unlimited to bring the growers renowned produce to shoppers across California. Starting with Albertsons stores in the Bay Area, the company’s products will eventually be available in over 430 stores throughout the state.
“We pride ourselves on offering fresh, quality products that surprise and delight our customers,” said Geoff White, EVP of Merchandising, Albertsons. “Plenty’s data-driven and sustainable methods are truly innovative, and we look forward to bringing their unique and exciting products to more customers in California as they scale their operations.”
The decision to partner with Plenty stems from the company’s ability to provide sustainable, fresh produce year-round. According to a press release, the company’s innovative indoor vertical farm uses a combination of solar and wind power to support 100 percent of the operation. With its facility, Plenty can grow one million plants at a time and harvests 200 plants per minute. If that wasn’t impressive enough, the vertical grower boasts less than 1 percent of land use and 5 percent of water use compared to traditional farms.
“Albertsons Cos. is leading the industry by creating a new partnership model to deliver customers the intensely flavorful and fresh produce of the Plenty farm,” said Matt Barnard, CEO of Plenty. “This is an important milestone for the Plenty team, and we look forward to bringing Albertsons Cos. customers the best-tasting and cleanest greens they’ve ever eaten.”
With the soaring demand for fresh that began with the COVID-19 pandemic, the partnership with Plenty comes at the perfect time for Albertsons. Customers in the Bay Area can now buy Plenty products at Safeways and Andronicos in their area. Soon, the grocer is planning to expand to over 430 stores across California including its Albertsons, Vons, and Pavillions stores.
Initial offerings that will be available from Plenty include:
- Baby Arugula - A bold baby arugula with spice and subtle hints of summer citrus and black pepper
- Baby Kale - A velvety-soft baby kale highlighted by bright notes and a smooth finish
- Crispy Lettuce- A crispy leaf delivering the fresh, clean crunch people crave with a versatility deserving of the most creative ideas
- Mizuna Mix - A crunchy, colorful mix of tatsoi and mizuna that brings a mustardy heat to the table
As the collaboration between Albertsons and Plenty continues to grow and evolve, we here at AndNowUKnow look forward to seeing what produce items the pair will be rolling out and where the future innovation of the duo will lead. Keep checking in with us for all of the latest updates.
DALLAS, TX - At a time when people around the world need a bit of a boost, experts in our industry are stepping up to make life a little easier for those who are struggling. Land & Sea is one of those companies as it announces it is primed to form partnerships with those involved in supplying food banks or the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program in order to help source from its wide array of products.
“We built Land & Sea with over 30 years of experience in the food industry and are thrilled to be in a position to partner with companies helping families in need,” said Gabriel Herschberg, Owner and Founder of Land & Sea. “It is our hope that we may be of service to companies looking to expand their offering of selections in protein and dairy, and look forward to receiving interest and discussing ways in which we can work together.”
Land & Sea sources high-quality proteins, specialty products, and a vast array of ethnic foods for the food industry, and is looking to share its insights. According to a press release, the company offers a unique relationship with suppliers, providing them with products that are one of a kind, and can’t be found anywhere other than Land & Sea.
Based on the company’s history with food sourcing, it is able to overcome many of the challenges that may come up in the business. With such experience, Land & Sea is looking to lend its expertise to those who are giving back to the community, especially as many people face food insecurities. The company is even willing to go the extra mile by arranging transportation and delivery of all of the products that it sells.
As we continue to face such uncertain times, one thing is clear: The produce industry is stepping up to lend a helping hand, and provide the kindness and care that we recognize as an integral trait that sets people in this industry apart.
CINCINNATI, OH; BOSTON, MA - In a move similar to its competitors, Amazon and Walmart, Kroger recently unveiled that Kroger Ship will expand to offer an extended ship-to-home assortment through a marketplace of third-party offerings.
"Our customers are increasingly turning to our e-commerce solutions provided at Kroger.com for their grocery and household essential needs. To better serve our customers, we're continuing to invest in technology that enables us to expand our digital services to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere," said Jody Kalmbach, Kroger's Group Vice President of Product Experience. "Leveraging Mirakl's best-in-class marketplace solution, we are broadening Kroger's ship-to-home capabilities by offering more relevant products for our customers through exciting new partnerships with reputable third-party sellers."
The marketplace, powered by Mirakl, a leading software platform, launched in August of 2018.
It will offer customers an extended aisle of products made available through marketplace partners, a press release noted.
"Kroger has long been a retail giant, and by integrating an online marketplace into its leading e-commerce experience, Kroger is continuing to lead from the front," said Adrien Nussenbaum, CEO and Co-Founder of Mirakl. "It's clearer than ever that digital marketplaces are the foundation of the next generation of commerce, and we look forward to supporting Kroger as it takes advantage of this opportunity."
Kroger's marketplace products are expected to launch this fall, with consumers having the ability to select from a wide variety of items that span from natural and organic to even household goods.
"The expansion of our Kroger Ship platform will continue to bring together our industry-leading customer insights and merchandising data to offer our customers a digital shopping experience that includes staples available in our physical stores as well as products that are exclusive to Kroger.com," said Stuart Aitken, Kroger's Senior Vice President and Chief Merchant and Marketing Officer. "As part of our continuing transformation, we look forward to accelerating the development of our e-commerce platform and providing our customers with even more choices.”
How will this strategic investment in building out its e-commerce platform bear leading retail fruit for Kroger? AndNowUKnow will continue to check in.