OXNARD, CA - Within the ever shifting and changing produce industry, innovation is the name of the game. As the focus moves continuously toward advances in sustainability, new initiatives aimed at decreasing environmental impact are becoming increasingly more essential.
Sun Belle Inc. has announced a new green initiative that is aimed at its 64,000-square-foot Jessup, Maryland, Distribution Center (DC). The program includes the installation of a solar powered system that is expected to drastically lower costs. Aurora Energy of Columbia, Maryland, teamed with Sun Belle to carry out the project.
“Due to our constant refrigeration demands, we sought a solution that would offset rising utility costs and make a positive environmental impact,” said Janice L. Honigberg, President. “Aurora Energy offered a perfect solution for us with the added benefit of being able to utilize land adjacent to our facility as a pollinator meadow.”
According to a press release, the new solar array includes utilizing SunPower P19-395-COM modules. The system that spans 33,500 square feet of the facility’s rooftop will offset 35 percent of the DC’s energy needs each year. The solar panels are set to generate 592 MWh annually—enough to power 48 homes. The new upgrade also offsets 420 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year as well.
“Sun Belle’s investment in rooftop solar capitalizes an underutilized asset—the rooftop of their facility. They have converted this warehouse roof space to a small power plant that can produce clean energy while saving money. It’s a win-win scenario,” explained Dr. Fariborz Majhouri, CEO of Aurora Energy.
While the first set of solar panels have already been installed, Sun Belle isn’t stopping there. A second round of solar installation is planned for later this fall, and will increase the solar output by an additional 287 MWh.
In addition to the renewable energy aspect of the company’s initiative, it will also be planting a pollinator meadow to reinforce its commitment to helping the environment. The meadow will feature a plethora of plants native to the mid-Atlantic coast like wild senna, showy tick trefoil, oxeye sunflower, partridge pea, big bluestem, and various varieties of switchgrass.
As more companies in our industry take exciting steps toward a sustainable future, what new innovations are in store, and how will it change the face of fresh produce? Keep reading ANUK for all of the most recent updates.
MONTEREY, CA - Fresh produce is a playing field in which we have no instant replay, or do we? Watching and learning from the playback of 2020 so far, I can certainly say that Costco’s Frank Padilla and Category Partners’ Steve Lutz make ideal announcers to walk us through with their own key insights.
This is a show we can all tune into via a virtual online event hosted by Organic Produce Network (OPN), sponsored by Homegrown Organic Farms and Starr Ranch Organics, on Wednesday, August 19, at 10 AM PST.
“The past seven months have been filled with a variety of challenges, uncertainty, and resolve by retailers across the country. With double-digit growth in organic sales during this time, we are excited to have Frank and Steve talk about what has transpired in terms of organic sales and consumer purchasing behavior during this time, and provide a look into what the remainder of the year may look like,” shared Tonya Antle, OPN Co-Founder and Moderator of the event that has been dubbed What a Year It’s Been, So Far...
A provocative and engaging virtual conversation, What a Year It’s Been, So Far... will be about sales of organic fresh produce, how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered consumer buying habits, and the future of retail grocery, according to a press release.
Padilla will discuss how consumer buying practices have changed during the pandemic and what may lie ahead in the future, while Lutz will provide an overview of organic fresh produce sales data across retail for the first half of the year.
An exclusive OPN event, viewers can register for free here. The session is complimentary for all members of the produce industry.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - Renaissance Food Group (RFG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calavo Growers, is making huge waves in its executive lineup. The company recently announced the addition of two food industry veterans to its sales team—Edward Redd joins the company as SVP of Sales and Kate Brooks re-joins RFG as VP of Sales.
According to the press release, Redd most recently served as President of Dotta Foods International, a global manufacturer and importer of innovative value-added specialty items from Europe and South America. In his new position, Redd will progressively lead and implement sales strategies that will continue to build a winning culture at Renaissance Food Group. Redd’s tenure with RFG began on June 29; he will be based out of the company’s Riverside, California, production facility.
RFG will be gaining a familiar face with the return of Brooks. Brooks will be rejoining the company, bringing with her 15 years of experience as a Solutions Provider in the fresh prepared foods category. Brooks rejoined Renaisance Food Group on July 6, and she will be remotely based in the Midwest.
“Renaissance Food Group is thrilled to welcome Edward and Kate to our dynamic sales team,” said Raina Nelson, EVP Business Development. “The future is bright with exciting initiatives focused on continued growth of our innovative fresh food products in the marketplace. I am confident their progressive leadership contributions will successfully drive our organization forward.”
Previously, Redd held executive leadership positions in category management, product development, merchandising, and business development with Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets (former U.S. Division of Tesco PLC). He also held various executive leadership positions in sales, marketing, customer development, planning, business development, and operations with Contessa Premium Foods, Pepsi Bottling Group, Conagra Frozen Foods, and Nabisco Foods Group. Redd holds a bachelor’s degree from National University, San Diego, where he graduated with honors.
Brooks previously held roles with Five Star Gourmet Foods and Taylor Farms Illinois Division in procurement, sales, and business development. A Midwest native with an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, Brooks looks forward to this new chapter with RFG to drive continued growth and execution of the company’s fresh foods strategies.
Congratulations to Edward Redd and Kate Brooks on their new positions!
WASHINGTON, DC - The global pandemic continues to bring new challenges and demands to the face of the produce industry. While the safety and labor practices of growers and retailers have always been of the utmost importance, now is a time where it has become a primary focus. This is why the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) has partnered with ELEVATE and NSF International to support its auditing process. Together, the three have combined expertise to streamline grower certification into one auditing process.
“ELEVATE and NSF International’s wide-ranging experience underscores the benefits of EFI’s one-stop shop audit which covers three issue areas under a single certification,” said Kenton Harmer, Managing Director for EFI. “NSF International brings a wide breadth of experience with GFSI standards, and ELEVATE offers its knowledge validating social responsibility programs and working closely with buyers, compliance teams, management, and workers to meet strict corporate social responsibility expectations. These areas of expertise complement our multi-stakeholder certification program and support our efforts to combat audit fatigue.”
The three processes of labor practices, food safety, and pest management, have been tailored into one single audit, according to a press release.
By bringing together the services of ELEVATE and NSF, EFI has been able to eliminate audit fatigue while giving growers, retailers, and consumers the reassurance that they need during these uncertain times.
“Our expertise in understanding and assessing labor risk and driving measurable improvements for clients coupled with NSF International’s expert advice in food safety and pest management makes us a valuable resource for offering a consistent, thorough, and actionable auditing solution for any grower,” commented Meghan Quinlan, Vice President of Food and Agriculture for ELEVATE.
With the combined experience and expertise of each company, it is certain that no stone will go unturned as they investigate and certify growers across the industry. ELEVATE is known for its business risk and sustainability solutions and serves the world’s top food retailers with assessment, consulting, program management, and analytic services. While NSF is the leading certifier for international, national, and retailer standards such as the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standards, PrimusGFS, GLOBALG.A.P., CanadaGAP, SQF, and BRCGS.
“We are excited to collaborate with ELEVATE and provide food safety and pest management auditing for the EFI certification, as well as support EFI’s efforts and visions to GFSI recognition,” explained Sarah Krol, Senior Managing Director of Global Supply Chain Food Safety for NSF International. “The EFI audit is a unique application of food safety standards by including extensive worker interviews and the socially responsible aspects of food safety not found in other audits.”
While safety continues to take the forefront of everyone’s thoughts, rest assured these experts are working to ensure it is easier than ever not to let anything slip through the cracks. With EFI, ELEVATE, and NSF on the job, produce growers and consumers alike can see premium results.
For the latest updates on how the produce industry is innovating its safety processes, keep up-to-date with AndNowUKnow.
DELANO, CA - With the arrival of the California table grape season comes premium category promotions, merchandising opportunities, and impulse purchases—all significant reasons why retailers look to the coveted category each year. Kicking off as we speak, growers across the Golden State are launching into harvest as demand heats up, including Jack Campbell, a long-term table grape grower/shipper in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV).
“Leading up to harvest, the growing conditions have been favorable. As the fall season grapes continue to mature, we will keep a close eye, “Jack notes. “For a variety of reasons out of our control, the spring grapes were lighter in supply for this season. This has created very little overlap between areas as we ramp up the San Joaquin Valley season. The early momentum has been well-received so far, and we are looking forward to a successful season.”
Jack is currently harvesting Flames, Sugraone, Krissy, Ivory, and Candy varieties from Snaps and Dreams to Hearts. Also, Jack will begin harvesting his operation’s proprietary green grape variety Pristine®. The variety will come on in the middle of August, with availability running through December.
“We just finished harvesting in Mexico and Coachella and have transitioned north to the San Joaquin Valley for the remainder of the season. This season, we are packing grapes in pouch bags and clamshells of all sizes. Our additional in-house Top Seal machine gives retailers more options for their go-to-market strategy,” Jack says.
Typically, the California table grape season runs through December for Jack and, as he shares, every year is different with Mother Nature playing the key a role in how long the season will last. In other words, stay tuned!
With the season upon us, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow for more information on the opportunities and varieties that are rocking produce departments across the table grape category.
UNITED STATES - Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Foodservice: Delivered event was especially relevant this year as foodservice operators across the country are working to navigate this strange COVID world. One of the hottest topics on the table was the road to reopening restaurants, spearheaded by industry leaders like Chef Todd Fisher from Duda Farm Fresh Foods. I had a chance to sit down with him after the show and gain a chef’s perspective on the challenges restaurateurs currently face.
“The road to reopening, in many ways, is the same as opening a new restaurant. Staffing needs are in question with reduced capacities as some staff are not comfortable with coming back. The new sanitation guidelines are actually not far from our previous sanitation standards. However, in the past, those tasks were done in somewhat of a low-profile style. Now, we want people to see the efforts we are going through to ensure they are both safe and feeling comfortable,” Chef Todd explained. “Due to some ingredients being unavailable, in addition to limited staffing, we cannot execute our original full menus. Staff retraining, taking temperatures, logging contacts, and the re-closing of dining rooms have made this transition truly difficult.”
As foodservice operators continue to work through this challenging time, I was curious as to how fresh produce suppliers might lend a helping hand. According to Chef Todd, this essential supply chain relationship boils down to two key collaborations: providing smaller pack sizes as category usage decreases, and evaluating new pre-cut needs as labor forces are reduced.
At the end of the day, though, we all took to PMA’s virtual trade show floor because we are invested in one thing: delicious food. That’s why Chef Todd also took a beat to showcase an exclusive brunch recipe demo.
“My brunch recipe was a savory ‘Dutch Baby’ using Dandy Super Sweet Corn, bacon, and brie. In the demo, we showed the viewers how to cook the bacon and corn and how to mix the batter. Afterward, we topped the Dutch Baby with brie cheese and put it in the oven. Once it was fully cooked, we showed how to serve and garnish the dish,” he explained.
A tempting recipe like that had us all reaching through the screen in hopes of getting a taste!
Despite the challenges and unconventional new formats, there is one message that prevails: this industry will do whatever it takes to bring the world the best-tasting, highest-quality food.
Stick with us here at AndNowUKnow as we all navigate these strange times together.
REDWOOD CITY, CA - Plant-based food products have become a mainstay in the industry, and retailers are cashing in. Recently, Publix tapped into the momentum and announced a new partnership with Impossible Foods, rolling out its flagship product, the award-winning Impossible™ Burger, at all of its 1,252 stores across the Southeast.
“One of Impossible Foods’ most important goals is to make our products available everywhere people buy animal-derived products, and that includes Publix, one of America’s favorite grocery stores,” said Impossible Foods’ President Dennis Woodside. “Impossible Foods’ fans are passionate, vocal advocates. Many of them have been specifically asking for Impossible Burger to come to Publix. We’re confident it will be a big hit, whether grilling burgers on the patio or cooking meatballs in your kitchen.”
According to the release, Impossible Burger uses 96 percent less land, 87 percent less water, and 89 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional beef from cows. With consumers opting for more sustainable and ethically sourced products, it’s no wonder Impossible Foods’ grocery store footprint has increased by more than 60 times in 2020 alone.
Sold in convenient, 12-oz packages, Impossible Burger can be found in the meat department at all Publix stores in the company’s seven-state operating area. Impossible Foods’ plant-based meat will also be available through Publix’s grocery delivery service and for curbside pickup.
Which market will Impossible Foods dominate next? Keep reading ANUK as we follow the retail trail.
MISSION, TX - A study recently conducted by the Agricultural & Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University—and cited by the Texas International Produce Association—found that the payment limits imposed by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) would have varying impacts across the country. However, specialty crop producers, in particular, would fail to access an estimated $483 million of the funds intended to them by Congress as a result of those limits.
According to the press release, the study was commissioned by an alliance of specialty crop industries shortly after the CFAP rules were announced. While the group would like to see higher limits to offset more of the losses incurred by farmers, they say that these producers specifically were not set-up to access the funds CFAP would provide in the same way other agriculture industries might.
“We know the money allotted by Congress to the USDA for the CFAP program would not make our American farmers whole,” said Dante Galeazzi, President of the Texas International Produce Association. “The losses our industry suffered due to the COVID impacts were simply too great, and I think everyone understands that. However, for our fruit and vegetable farmers to not be able to access the full monies allotted to them by our elected officials feels like salt on an open wound.”
Between March and April of this year, nearly all of the U.S. closed operations in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Unfortunately, it also resulted in the overnight loss of a major distribution channel—the foodservice sector. Schools, restaurants, theme parks, cruise lines, and resorts all closed.
Some demand shifted to the grocery stores, but it was not enough to absorb the supply of the highly perishable products intended for those entities. As a result, the specialty crop producers lost approximately $12.5 million from January 15, 2020 to April 15, 2020.
“Because specialty crops do not participate in the traditional Title 1 safety net programs, specialty crop producers have not organized their business structures similar to row crop farmers,” cited the AFPC study. “Although Congress has not traditionally subjected specialty crop producers to payment limits, a significant number of farmers will have binding payment limits imposed by USDA which means [they] were eligible for more assistance to cover their losses than they ultimately received.”
As a result, the consequence would be many small family farms in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector qualifying for only $250,000 in covered losses, as opposed to the $750,000 limit simply due to their organizational set-up.
The good news is that a fix to the CFAP program is entirely possible. Galeazzi posed possible solutions that the USDA and Congress could implement.
“USDA, or Congress, must integrate a change into the CFAP program for the Specialty Crop section,” says Galeazzi. “At the minimum, these producers should be eligible for the full $750,000 limit regardless of their structure or ownership model. The combination of the perishability of fresh fruits and vegetables and the inability to access markets during this pandemic created a storm of conditions that sadly resulted in farmers having to destroy or discard their crops. We are only asking that USDA allow them to access the funds the CARES Act intended for them.”
For access to the full study, please click here.
ANUK will continue to provide the latest updates from our industry.
MIAMI, FL - Consumer behavior has changed since the advent of COVID-19, and industry innovators are turning on a dime to meet these new expectations. WP Produce recently introduced a new protective, two-count bag for its Desbry® Tropical Avocados.
"Since retailers aren’t doing in-store sampling, our bags and bins provide retailers with an alternative—using visual, virtual sampling by showing beautiful slices of cut fruit, plus recipes and tips for use, to catch shoppers’ attention and promote sales," said Chris Gonzalez, Vice President of Sales, WP Produce. ”The two-count bags are convenient for shoppers and give retailers a way to demonstrate how responsive they are to rapidly changing consumer preferences."
According to a press release, these pouches are part of a comprehensive, value-added merchandising program.
The grower is offering retailers signage, recipe tear pads, and striking display bins to educate shoppers and increase sales for this fruit that is already benefitting avocado sales.
"These in-store displays of bagged Desbry Tropical Avocados in bins definitely turn shoppers’ heads and provide retailers a turnkey way to implement a category extension and keep growing profits with avocados," said Karen Nardozza, President and CEO of Moxxy Marketing. "In addition to education on the bins, and a simple, delicious family recipe on the bag for Willy’s Avocado Salad, more tips and recipes are shared on the Desbry Instagram, and through partnership with The Produce Moms, to make sure retailers have consumer support—both in-store and online."
The press release went on to note that Tropical Avocados have been gaining distribution with major retailers, earning attention from food writers and media, and gaining in popularity across a variety of consumers.
Retailers, are you ready to hop on the tropical train?
YERINGTON, NV - When the best minds in our industry come together, major milestones can be achieved. Just ask industry pioneers The Nunes Company and Peri & Sons Farms. The joint-venture partners recently completed the 2020 expansion of their state-of-the-art Walker River Cooling Facility and Distribution Center in Yerington, Nevada.
“Our commitment to customer service is our driving force. By tripling the size of our facility, we can increase our forward distribution capacity to not only be able to load more trucks directly to the eastern part of the United States, but to increase the distribution of our California-based crops in the summer months,” said Tom M. Nunes (T5), President of The Nunes Company, Inc. “Through the expansion of this facility we also set ourselves up to be in great shape for expanding our acreage for future growth. Having the ability to consolidate loads, gives us the opportunity to offer a heightened level of quality and consistency, while still giving our customers a diversity of produce options. ”
In response to much anticipation and heightened demand, the expansion has added extra cooling capacity, warehouse space, six additional loading docks, and also saves the trucker approximately 600 miles in distance by not going into and out of California. All of this ultimately leads to the consumer receiving a fresher and higher quality product.
“We value our partnership with the Nunes Company. Seeing the impact of The Walker River Cooling Facility, not only on the customer level, but also at the community level to the people of Lyon County, goes to show that great accomplishments can be made when two produce giants join teams and share a common vision. We are proud to be on this adventure together and look forward to our future progress,” said David Peri, Owner and Founder of Peri & Sons Farms.
The Nunes Company and Peri & Sons first opened this facility in May 2017, and it has been servicing retailers, wholesalers, processors, and other buying organizations throughout North America ever since, according to a press release. Nevada–based Peri & Sons is one of the country’s largest onion growing operations while and Salinas, Calfornia-headquartered The Nunes Company, is one of the nation’s largest grower/shippers of fresh organic and conventional produce marketed under the Foxy Organic and Foxy Brands.
The Nunes Company and Peri & Sons have been working together since 2008, growing and marketing organic fresh vegetables in Lyon County for consumers across North America. Starting with 16 acres 12 years ago, the two companies continue to grow and ship more than 40 million pounds of organic baby greens and 50 million pounds of organic fresh vegetables per year.
We would like to offer our congratulations to The Nunes Company and Peri & Sons Farms on this significant step in both expansion and excellence!