BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA - EarthFresh has been making waves in the supplier world since its inception in 1963. Its organic varieties have helped catapult it to a leading position in the organic potato market in North America. To learn more about this dynamic company, I spoke with Dan Martin, Chief Operating Officer.
“We have a full organic family line-up of potatoes in an assortment of pack sizes that include mixed, red, and yellow baby potatoes in a 1.5 lb pack size, as well as russet, red, and yellow potatoes in both 3 and 5 lb packs. We are always looking to improve our sustainability programs, so EarthFresh organic potatoes are packed in recyclable bags with light blocking technology that prolongs shelf and minimizes food waste,” Dan began.
With a continuing focus on quality and consistency, EarthFresh recently opened a facility in Atlanta, Georgia, to better service its U.S.-based retail customers. Its facilities in Atlanta and Burlington, Ontario, also allow for the company to keep up with demand.
“We are very pleased with the organic crop, specifically out of our Arizona grower,” Dan explained to me. “The quality continues to be excellent on our yellow and red organic potatoes. We are pleased with our volumes, and right on track with expected yields and availability. We are currently packing product daily at our Atlanta, Georgia, and Burlington, Ontario, facilities. This crop has filled a much needed gap for EarthFresh, as we continue our goal to be able to service customers across North America with organic potatoes 52 weeks of the year. We have partnered with a great grower and with our strategically located packing facilities we can service most of our customers on a daily need.”
Currently focusing on growing regions in Arizona and North Florida, Dan remarked that EarthFresh follows the regions for the best quality and freshest product available—and to stick to consumers’ desire for organic goods.
“We know that from recent polls that consumers value organic more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic and these changes will have a lasting impact,” he concluded. “Organic shoppers are prioritizing produce in their purchases, and conventional shoppers have been adding organic items in their baskets. It’s a complicated time to shop for groceries but we are seeing these main themes in consumer purchases: health, safety, and availability.”
AndNowUKnow will continue to cover the latest news from organic players in the fresh produce industry.
FRANCE - Technology can be a wonderful thing. Modern innovations and partnerships have brought ease and convenience to consumers in many aspects, such as grocery shopping. Long gone are the days where you write down a shopping list only to forget it on the counter, thanks to Carrefour and Google. The two leading giants jointly announced they have launched a voice-based e-commerce grocery shopping service in France.
According to Nasdaq, the service is based on the Google Assistant and is available on smartphones and compatible smart speakers and connected screens. The Google Assistant allows the user to add items to their shopping list by voice using common grocery words. Then, it converts the list into a cart of products available for sale on carrefour.fr.
Once the shopping cart is confirmed on the Google Assistant, the consumer moves seamlessly to Carrefour's e-commerce site to finalize their order, confirm their slot and delivery method, pay, and take advantage of their loyalty benefits, Carrefour said in a statement.
The service is part of a partnership between the two companies signed in June 2018.
This trade news writer can only imagine how long this service will take to reach Stateside. Which major retailer will be the first to snap it up? AndNowUKnow will report on the latest developments in the retail sector.
IRVINE, CA - Some trends never go out of style, and avocado toast is one that has defined the last decade. Kicking off the month of June, in celebration of California Avocado Month, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) has teamed up with award-winning chefs from California, Arizona, and Colorado, to predict the next avocado trends that will leave a lasting impact—along with unique recipes that everyone can recreate right at home for a delicious and memorable meal.
“Year after year, we look forward to June for California Avocado Month and the abundance of produce that’s offered right in our region,” said Jan DeLyser, Vice President of Marketing of the California Avocado Commission. “While this year’s California Avocado Month will likely see more people cooking at home, we’re excited to be working with a great group of talented chefs whose unique culinary styles will help us introduce a new repertoire of avocado-focused dishes to our consumers.”
According to a press release, California Avocado Month marks the delicious peak of California avocado season, where the fruit will be at its highest availability and freshness. To take advantage of the season’s offerings, CAC has called on four chefs to weigh in with their diverse perspectives on the next avocado craze.
Energized by the versatility and dynamic flavors of California avocados, the chefs’ predictions may be surprising. Each tapped into their individual expertise, observations from their distinct audiences, and styles to predict the avocado trends that will have staying power:
- Cold smoked avocado
- Grilled avocados
- Inside-out avocado toast
- Combining balanced but contrasting flavor profiles
Chef Jordan Kahn of Vespertine in Los Angeles, California, known for his enigmatic creations, spoke to his avocado trend prediction, sharing that “the cold smoking technique introduces a complex, smoky flavor that transforms the avocado without actually cooking it, allowing the diner to experience the fruit’s true texture.”
Chef Caroline Glover predicts that grilled avocados will soon be on the rise, emphasizing the technique just in time for summer.
“At my restaurant, our mission is to honor food producers and nourish eaters,” said Glover of Annette in Denver, Colorado. “When incorporating fresh California avocados into my recipes, I take pride in knowing that I’m honoring a fruit that was cultivated by a California grower with the same dedication to quality and freshness as me.”
For an elevated twist on an all-time favorite, Chef Brad Cecchi turns the avocado toast inside out.
“Avocado toast will always be a staple dish, but we really wanted to showcase the shape and texture of the California avocado in its entirety, keeping both avocado halves perfectly intact and stuffing them with breadcrumbs and your favorite toppings,” said Sacramento’s own Chef Cecchi of Canon.
Cecchi has a passion for Northern California growers and artisans, making California avocados a consistent pick for his seasonal fare.
Working with local ingredients of the season, Chef Charleen Badman of FnB Restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, has predicted that avocados inevitably take center stage when combining and contrasting flavor profiles.
“Personally, I love pairing citrus and acid with creamy good fats, like California avocados,” said Badman. “And with my roots in Southern California, I’ve always committed to using ingredients that are grown close to home.”
Looking beyond the June celebration, fresh California avocados can last for up to a month when preserved properly in the freezer. The fruit is a nutrition powerhouse and a delicious inclusion for any culinary creation, as California avocados are a heart-healthy superfood and contribute naturally good fats to one’s diet.
Which new trends will we see catch on to rival the avocado toast? Keep checking ANUK as we discover the latest.
BOULDER, CO - Lucky's Market is no stranger to the competitive nature of the retail industry. After restrategizing and rallying its operations earlier this year, the organic grocer made the decision to sell several of its storefronts. Now, news has hit that in Boulder, Colorado, Lucky’s home town, Whole Foods Market, too, has laid claim to one of its former operations.
In a statement obtained by Daily Camera, Whole Foods signed a lease to take over the 32,000-square-foot space, although no plans have yet been revealed as to when the newly renovated store will open. As of now, Whole Foods operates two other stores in the Boulder area.
Lucky’s, which filed for bankruptcy in January of this year, announced it would sell 32 of its 39 operations. Interested parties have included Publix, Aldi, and Schnucks. The remaining seven are to be purchased by Owners Bo and Trish Sharon.
Amazon-owned Whole Foods has been relatively quiet on the newsfront lately, but this resurgence could mean a grander expansion is in the works down the line. AndNowUKnow will be sure to keep you up to date with what’s shaking down in the retail sector.
UNITED STATES - United Fresh LIVE! is finally here! Though we can’t all stand together as the ribbon is cut, we can join the Grand Opening LIVE! General Session, featuring United Fresh’s President and CEO Tom Stenzel and Chairman Michael Muzyk (President of Baldor Specialty Foods). Today, Monday, June 15, at 12 p.m. Eastern, Stenzel and Muzyk will kick off the new way of doing business and industry trade shows.
Katie Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Feeding America, will take the virtual stage following Stenzel’s and Muzyk’s opening session. This industry leader will deliver the week’s first keynote, in which she will explore how food has become the great equalizer during today’s pandemic and how we can continue to work hand in hand with food banks and other key partners to advance an America—and world—where no one is hungry, according to a press release.
This week’s festivities—which tout the goal of bringing the entire fresh produce community together, to learn together, to create together, and to build our future together—will also include four additional LIVE! General Sessions, including the following:
- Tuesday’s Women In Produce LIVE! General Session
Celebrate Women in Produce Honoree Sarah Frey, President and CEO of Certified Women Owned Business Frey Farms and Founder of Tsamma™ Watermelon Juice and Sarah’s Home Grown - Wednesday’s Organic LIVE! General Session
Get insights on the future of organics in a post-coronavirus environment, as Tonya Antle, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of the Organic Produce Network, will host a panel of top industry leaders - Thursday’s Retail-Foodservice LIVE! General Session
Pay tribute to this year’s 25 Retail Produce Manager Award winners and the nine Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award winning chefs and operators. Our sponsors Dole Food Company and FreshEdge™ will host a look in at the fantastic work of the front-line produce heroes - Friday's Closing LIVE! General Session
As the first virtual event for the fresh produce industry draws to a close, industry leaders from around the globe will gather to explore what’s next. There will be life after this crisis, and food will win! Panelists include executive leaders and chairmen of Freshfel Europe, CPMA, PMA, Western Growers, and United Fresh
If you still haven’t registered, have no fear: click here. You won’t want to miss out on this week’s inaugural event!
ELGIN, MN - While the new normal shifts, there is at least one thing that has remained consistent: the demand for apples at retail. While the markets across many categories are in flux, apples remain a tried and true staple in the fresh produce department.
“We are seeing steady retail movement of apples as we head into summer months. Our company experienced exceptional sales during the spring period as consumers filled their pantries during the onset of the COVID-19 virus,” Don Roper, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Honeybear® Brands shares with me. “Right now, other commodities such as grapes, soft fruit, and cherries are being harvested and provide more fruit options available at retail, but we anticipate that apple lovers will still want consistency in their baskets and we have good supplies of apples nationwide as apple stocks are over 20 percent greater than the same time last year.”
Don breaks it down even further for me, adding that pricing on most legacy varieties has been pretty stable all spring, and he does not anticipate many changes this summer. The only noted change has been Honeycrisp pricing, as supply has started to shrink quite a bit, resulting in markets strengthening for both small and large Honeycrisp apples, he notes.
“Small Honeycrisp fruit will be in short supply all summer and command a premium,” Don says. “Bulk large Honeycrisp will follow, and there will be adequate volume over the summer months.”
One of the major changes that Don has noticed is how COVID-19 seems to have pushed consumers into buying more packaged items like bagged fruit.
“We are noting a more than 40 percent increase in packaged sales during that time period,” Don reflects. “This number comes from our retail partners along with requests for larger packaging solutions—likely a result of consumers reducing their trips to the store each week. Produce retail departments are also losing shelf space due to social distancing leading to fewer shipper displays and POS in the departments in order to facilitate more customer spacing.”
Full of insights, Don also adds that online shopping and digital programming have reigned supreme; from Instacart and curbside pickup programs to all of the new home meal direct programs. Honeybear’s retail partners are facing new challenges that will become the norm of tomorrow. This will have a direct impact on many growers and they will have to adapt to these real and lasting changes.
And change is definitely in the air—the big question is, how we will adapt?
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry. Recently, the USDA imposed sanctions on three produce businesses: D & T Produce LLC; West Coast Distributing Inc., doing business as West Coast Fresh; and Beulah Land Global Farms LLC.
The companies allegedly failed to meet their contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased and failed to pay reparation awards which, combined, amount to $39,996.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- D & T Produce LLC, operating out of Cordele, Georgia, for failing to pay a $24,567 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Deborah W. Young was listed as a member of the business.
- West Coast Distributing Inc., doing business as West Coast Fresh, operating out of Boston, Massachusetts, for failing to pay a $3,773 award in favor of a California receiver. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Brian V. Bell was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.
- Beulah Land Global Farms LLC, operating out of Greenville, Mississippi, for failing to pay an $11,656 award in favor of an Arkansas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Carl Nicosia and David Nicosia were listed as members of the business.
PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in the 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. The 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, the 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 the 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.
VERO BEACH, FL - At this week’s United Fresh LIVE!, companies across the industry are excited to share their latest innovations. Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet is bringing its own international perspective to the trade show floor. CEO Mayda Sotomayor, and Chairwoman of United Fresh Produce Association’s International Advisory Board, will speak on global trade while the company itself will offer attendees a robust schedule of new and exciting content.
Today, during the Expo Power Hours, attendees will be listening to a panel of Europeans and American executives, who will offer their outlook on the retail landscape and consumer trends post-COVID-19. On Tuesday, the company will participate in a citrus panel with growers from around the world, providing crop updates, complemented by Commodity Managers’ sales perspectives.
On Wednesday, there will be a virtual tour of Seald Sweet’s state-of-the-art facility. During the last Expo Power hour on Thursday, there will be a “More Than Citrus” panel talking about grapes, avocados, and vegetables and how the company approached each category in terms of sales and sourcing.
Seald Sweet’s experienced team members will be available throughout the process to answer any questions from growers, partners, and customers. During the show, there is a trivia game to keep engagement up and attendees can win an exciting prize if they don their thinking caps.
Seald Sweet is also partnering with Brighter Bites, a press release noted, so that attendees can donate to the organization. At the end of the show, Seald Sweet will match the donations.
If you’ve yet to register, never fear! The link can be found here.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover all things trade news.
BENTONVILLE, AR - In the retail industry, Walmart truly runs the gamut of all things newsworthy. We here at AndNowUKnow rather creepily stalk the retailer’s newsroom, hoping for the next bit of info. Today, the news gods smiled upon us, bringing down from the heavens the announcement that Walmart has once again found itself a new partner.
In a blog post written by Jeff Clementz, Vice President of Walmart Marketplace, the company reports that it has joined forces with Shopify, an all-in-one e-commerce platform used by more than 1 million businesses. This will open the Walmart Marketplace to their sellers.
“As our CEO Doug McMillon recently said, competition is good in the retail business, and we want more retailers not fewer,” Clementz remarked. “[…] We’re excited to be able offer customers an expanded assortment while also giving small businesses access to the surging traffic on Walmart.com. Shopify powers a dynamic portfolio of third-party sellers who are interested in growing their business through new, trusted channels. This integration will allow approved Shopify sellers to seamlessly list their items on Walmart.com, which gives Walmart customers access to a broader assortment.”
The blog post went on to note that this move is naturally strategic, as Walmart positions itself for further growth.
“Growing our Marketplace is a strategic priority, and we are going to be smart as we grow. We will start integrating new sellers now and expect to add 1,200 Shopify sellers this year. Shopify has a long history of helping small businesses leverage scale, and we’re proud to be part of the solution that is helping customers and other retailers,” Clementz concluded.
How quickly will we see this move grow Walmart’s bottom line? And how many of these small businesses are growers or fresh produce-centric? AndNowUKnow will be here to report.
IMMOKALEE, FL - United Fresh LIVE! is finally here and we at ANUK can hardly contain our excitement! One company we look forward to connecting with this week is Lipman Family Farms and its innovative products. In response to the virtual show format hosted by United Fresh this week, Lipman Family Farms will showcase its extensive line of whole and fresh-cut produce in new ways.
“We are thrilled to provide a glimpse into our upcoming fall and winter offerings, and we look forward to the unique experiences and engaging conversations with those attending our Power Hour events,” said Elyse Lipman, Director of Strategy. “We will also showcase our extensive list of resources, new opportunities, and customizable services that we offer to our customers in one, easily accessible space within United Fresh LIVE!’s virtual show floor.”
As part of the new fresh-cut product launch and expansion of the current produce line, Lipman will host two key Power Hour events that offer attendees a unique look at their new fresh-cut green bean product and provide culinary entertainment from its corporate chef and guest cook.
According to a press release, the schedule is as follows:
- Tuesday, June 16: The Power Hour time slot will focus on the upcoming fresh-cut product line, reserved for attendees and Lipman sales reps to have interactive, engaging chats on all things sliced, diced, clipped, and cleaned. From new packaging to updated facilities and growing areas across the continent, attendees will learn firsthand about the upcoming fresh-cut plans from a Lipman sales representative
- Thursday, June 18: Lipman’s Corporate Chef, Wil Wilbur, will be facing off against Lipman’s charismatic amateur chef and sales representative, Christina Hahn, as things heat up in the kitchen! They will be cooking their own recipes using Lipman’s familiar The Crimson™ round tomatoes, along with some not-so-familiar ingredients to put their skills to the test. Attendees can join Lipman’s ZOOM webinar to take part in the action and vote for their favorite recipe
Lipman will also be offering resources on its core product lines: Lipman’s line of conventional produce, Suntastic® line of greenhouse-grown produce, Grown True line of organic produce, The Crimson™ proprietary tomato line, and Lipman Fresh-Cut capabilities, along with call-outs to seasonal offerings and creative services.
To access Lipman resources and watch the cooking action go down, register and attend United Fresh LIVE! this week, June 15–19. And keep an eye out for this trade news writer as you peruse the show floor!