WASHINGTON, DC - A new organic market has become available to U.S.-based fresh produce purveyors. The American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States recently signed and exchanged letters on behalf of the United States and Taiwan inaugurating a new organic equivalence arrangement, allowing organic products certified in the United States or Taiwan to be sold as organic in either market.
The arrangement covers products certified to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations or Taiwan organic regulations that are grown or produced in the United States or Taiwan; or have their final processing or packaging in the United States or Taiwan.
“This equivalence arrangement streamlines trade in certified organic goods with Taiwan, a key international partner in the organic market sector,” said Under Secretary Greg Ibach. “This arrangement protects and increases access for American organic farmers, ranchers, and businesses to the fifth largest U.S. export market for USDA certified organic products.”
This agreement eliminates the need for organic operators to have separate organic certification to the U.S. and Taiwan standards, which avoids a double set of fees, inspections, and paperwork, according to a press release.
Equivalence paves the way for the expansion of existing fresh fruit, vegetable, and processed food trade and provides new market access opportunities for organic livestock and other products. The arrangement also allows U.S.-based organic food processors to source Taiwan certified organic ingredients, increasing the range of organic products available to consumers.
Taiwan is the fifth largest export market for U.S. organic products, with sales approaching $92 million in 2019 and is forecasted to grow by almost 50 percent over the next five years, based on Organic Trade Association and USDA analyses. Expanding the AIT/TECRO trade arrangement provides U.S. organic farmers and processors continued access to this significant market.
The U.S. currently maintains organic equivalence arrangements with Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland.
Go forth, friends! A new organic market awaits you.
SAVANNAH, GA - It seems that no commodity is safe from the threat of criminals as yet another shipment of fresh produce has been tainted by a hidden supply of drugs. This time, officials uncovered $1.75 million worth of cocaine hidden amidst containers of oranges arriving in the Port of Savannah last month.
“As the Port of Savannah continues to see growth in volume of cargo processed each year, criminal organizations will continue to try and smuggle their poison into the U.S.,” acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama, said in a press release.
According to the news source islandpacket, 50 kilograms of cocaine was bundled within the packages of oranges. As of this Wednesday, all three of the individuals responsible for this crime have been charged.
As fresh produce gatekeepers continue to fight off those who threaten the wellbeing of our industry, keep coming back to reports from AndNowUKnow.
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - Bolstering its customer relationships, Allen Lund Company is about to show out in full force at this year’s United Fresh LIVE! The transportation and logistics innovator recently released a schedule for the opening day of the conference, June 15, so industry members can learn it is so much than a truck broker.
A press release outlined the following sessions. First up is the Industry Interruptions - COVID 19 session, subtitled How Transportation Has Continued To Be Essential To The Supply Chain. Hosted by Eddie Lund, President, this session covers challenges in 2020, capacity, rates, current protests and the effects on produce, transportation, and individual companies. This will take place at 10 a.m. PST.
The next session, set for 10:45 a.m. PST is titled Resilience vs. Fear: How Are The Produce And Transportation Industries Reacting? Hosted by Bob Rose, Vice President of Sales, this session covers the variety of challenges the produce industry faces and what media’s role is in the dissemination and presentation of information to the industry.
At 11:10 a.m. PST, Eddie Lund will host the ALC Growing With The Times, Even In A Pandemic. In this session, Lund will discuss how to grow and expand business in 2020 and the strategy of Allen Lund Company entering it.
To register for United Fresh LIVE!, click here.
AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest coverage of all things happening in our industry in the lead-up to United Fresh LIVE!.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The bread and butter of our industry is the creation of new partnerships. Recently, C&S Wholesale Grocers announced its own new partnership with Instacart.
“C&S is proud to provide our retail partners with the ability to move their businesses online,” stated Corey Quiring, Vice President of Retail Services at C&S Wholesale Grocers. “Now more than ever before, shoppers need the safety and convenience of online shopping and home delivery. Instacart’s services are unparalleled in providing a seamless shopping experience.”
According to a press release, C&S will help bring Instacart’s network of independent grocers onto its marketplace. Throughout, the companies will work closely to help retailers establish an e-commerce and delivery offering to meet the needs of their customers.
Once grocers are live on the Instacart marketplace, shoppers will be able to access the store via the app.
“Connecting local grocers to their customers online is incredibly important to Instacart, and the need for this has never been greater than it is today,” said Chris Rogers, Vice President of Retail at Instacart. “It’s critical that families have access to groceries and goods from the retailers they love and trust. By partnering with C&S, we’re able to bring more independently-owned grocers online and ensure the communities they serve can more easily access the household essentials they need.”
Which new industry partnerships will we unearth next? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep you in the loop.
CHELAN, WA - Oh, beautiful serendipity. With the coming of June brings two essential aspects of our industry’s success: the cherry season in Washington State and United Fresh LIVE! This year, California provided an ideal high-quality crop of cherries to kick start the U.S. West Coast run, and, as June gets underway, cherry demand is booming. Mac Riggan, Director of Marketing for Chelan Fresh, took a beat from a dynamic whirlwind harvest to talk shop with yours truly.
“We have hit the ground running in an already tight market on premium Washington cherries!” Mac shares with me adding that there may be some potential pricing relief as we move through the middle of June. “Quality and flavor have been excellent so far, and the brix levels have been high as well. Supplies are lighter than anticipated but, as we get closer to July, there will be good promotable volumes and we are partnering with our retail customers to elevate their cherry destinations and strategize the best avenues to drive sales.”
The Washington cherry season for Chelan Fresh will run till about August 10 as it moves through the central growing regions of the Eastern Cascades from the Pasco area, Yakima Valley to Chelan/Brewster and all the way up to Oroville. Chelan grows all its cherries in about a 150- to 160-mile stretch, starting with the Chelan variety and then proceeding through the summer months with Santinas, exclusive Orondo Ruby™ cherries, and then into Rainiers to name a few. From late June through July, Chelan will also be hitting all the Canadian varieties, including Lapins as well as Bings.
Chelan Fresh offers many tailored packaging options for retailers including 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-lb clamshells. The company also ships 1.25-lb bags for Rainiers and 2.25-lb bags for dark sweet cherries. All options and more can be discussed virtually at United Fresh LIVE!
“We are expecting really good retailer participation at the 2020 United Fresh LIVE! event. The beauty of this virtual event is that we can have all our sales and marketing team members on hand for any needs, questions, or solutions from the buyer that might arise. This is not something we have had the opportunity to execute at a traditional trade show,” Mac expresses. “We will be able to offer a tailored retail or foodservice experience for each buyer.”
Chelan Fresh will be showcasing its KORU® and SugarBee® apples as well as its exclusive Rockit™brand program. And, of course, Washington cherries will be top of mind for the benefit of all.
If Chelan Fresh is not already on your target list, you had better shape up before this boat ships out! In other words, the Chelan Fresh experience is not one to be missed.
FOWLER, CA - Full steam ahead for all things citrus! Bee Sweet Citrus has announced that it successfully transitioned into its annual summer program, meaning that industry partners should gear up for high seasonal demand.
"Over the past few months, our industry has seen a huge surge in demand for citrus varieties across the board," stated Joe Berberian, Sales Representative, in a press release. "As consumers continue to invest in their health and well-being, we anticipate that demand will remain steady throughout the summer months."
With a supply of Star Ruby grapefruit, Sanguinelli Blood Oranges, lemons, Valencia oranges, and Chilean Navels and mandarins, Bee Sweet's summer citrus line is diverse enough to meet everyone's seasonal needs, the press release went on to note.
The combination of domestic and offshore product also ensures that the company's "no-gap" promise is upheld, meaning that no buy-side customers are left without access to citrus. And, as always, all of Bee Sweet’s varieties are available in an assortment of packaging styles and meet the highest standards in quality and safety.
"While all of the varieties included in Bee Sweet's summer program are nutritious, each variety has its own set of unique characteristics," remarked Director of Communications Monique Bienvenue. "The versatility of our summer line can meet the needs of any niche market, while also providing consumers with the added nutrition they look for in produce commodities."
Consumers have yet to stop looking for citrus to fill their vitamin C demands, so year-round availability is imperative to meet industry demand for product.
Stick around with AndNowUKnow for the latest in all things fresh.
IDAHO FALLS, ID - The awesome potato has been a hotter category than usual as of late, with demand spiking through the spring months. As we get our foothold in June, the potato market is finding some stability for Eagle Eye Produce, though the consumer’s passion for the produce item is staying strong.
“For Eagle Eye Produce, the market as a whole has normalized and is steady after months of strong retail demand and elevated pricing. We are back to where we typically are for this time of year,” Dallin Klingler, Marketing and Communications, shares with me. “This year has been quite the anomaly for us and the industry as a whole. We are happy to see that foodservice is starting to come back online. We are in a great spot with our supply and expect a smooth transition from storage crop into the new crop as we have made big investments into storage technology over the past few years.”
These recent investments in storage technology are a big value-add for customers as they allow for Eagle Eye Produce to keep its storage crop for longer. As Dallin tells me, Eagle Eye Produce is able to stand out against other growers/shippers in the industry by continuing to supply premium Idaho-grown potatoes including reds and yellows while many others resort to sourcing from distant growing regions.
“The important thing is that we elevate the category as a whole during these uncertain times. We are hoping to see foodservice rebound now that restaurants are starting to reopen across the country,” Dallin expresses. “Foodservice demand is starting to increase as retail demand normalizes. We’re seeing good demand on all sizes, especially small-sized retail bags.”
The new crop harvest in Idaho will start at the end of July. Eagle Eye Produce will be growing several varieties of russet, red, and yellow potatoes for retail and foodservice partners.
With potatoes still riding the wave of high demand at the doors of foodservice beginning to further open, only time will tell where the market will jump to next. Then again, time in this industry passes in the blink of an eye.
OXNARD, CA - It’s all about growth over at Mission Produce this week. The company announced today it has broken ground on a mega distribution center in Laredo, Texas, which will create approximately 75 jobs to start. The 262,000-square-foot capital project will serve as a major distribution hub for Mexican avocados to the United States and is one of many key global investments Mission has made in recent years.
“The Laredo, Texas, facility will shorten our replenishment time to our network and add flexibility in managing inventory,” said President and CEO Steve Barnard. “The city of Laredo is strategically positioned on the border of Texas and Mexico, making it an ideal location for the distribution of Mexican avocados into the United States. By investing in Laredo, we are redoubling our commitment to serving customers, providing value-added services, creating jobs, and leading the avocado industry.”
The mega distribution center will not only bolster Mission’s advantage within the avocado sector, but it will also favor the company’s ability to provide third-party services to other businesses in the produce industry.
According to a press release, the facility will accommodate ample refrigerated dock and cooler space designated for third-party logistics crossings and short-term storage. With the completion of this project, Mission can house, cool, and cross-dock the countless fresh products that cross the Mexico-United States border each day.
“We are excited to welcome a great global brand like Mission Produce to Laredo,” said Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz. “Mission Produce’s decision to invest in Laredo speaks volumes for the city’s international trade and logistics industry, which has made Laredo the number one port in the country. The new distribution center will create a great number of good-paying jobs for Laredoans, and I look forward to working with the world’s largest shipper, packer, and distributor of avocados.”
Built with scalability and versatility in mind, the center will initially provide Mission with forty dock positions, ripening rooms, bagging operations, and pallet cooling capacities suitable for any commodity.
A M King performed design services for the new ripening, cold storage, and distribution center. The company began construction in May 2020, with the project expected to be completed mid-2021.
“We are happy to join Mission Produce in the design and construction of the largest avocado plant in the country,” said A M King Vice President Dan Crist. “Our food industry expertise, coupled with our track record of successfully completed cold storage and distribution projects, makes this an ideal partnership.”
As additional expansion efforts continue to hit the market, you can count on AndNowUKnow to bring you the latest.
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 two produce businesses: Lau Enterprises II Inc., operating out of Miami Lakes, Florida, and Loreas Fresh Produce Inc., operating out of Pharr, Texas.
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 $11,402.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
The following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Lau Enterprises II Inc., operating out of Miami Lakes, Florida, for failing to pay a $7,132 award in favor of a Honduras seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Leonardo Gonzalez was listed as the Officer, Director, and/or Major Stockholder of the business.
- Loreas Fresh Produce Inc., operating out of Pharr, Texas, for failing to pay a $4,270 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Rolando Loera Mendoza was listed as the Officer, Director, and/or Major Stockholder 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.
NEWARK, DE - Ever at the forefront of industry growth, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) continues to come out with new ways to honor our hard-working produce champions. Most recently, the association created a new PMA Impact Award to honor everyday heroes who advance the global produce and mass-market floral industries and contribute significantly to supporting PMA’s vision to grow a healthier world.
“Whether it’s an initiative or activity that provides visibility for produce and floral; a new technology that addresses industry challenges; exemplary leadership; or work that closes the last mile to get produce or floral from the farm to the consumer, PMA wants to honor and recognize those who do an exemplary job in championing our vision,” said Joe Don Zetzsche, Chair of PMA’s Board of Directors and Director of BLOOMS Flowers for H-E-B.
As noted in a press release, this award recognizes and celebrates individual or organizational achievements that have had a transformative effect on the fresh produce and floral industry, the public, or the world.
“When we last gathered at Fresh Summit in October 2019, I shared that increasing produce and floral demand includes ensuring our industries are being heard where conversations about health, technology, talent, and sustainability are taking place. To succeed, we must ally with innovators, partners, and problem solvers both inside and outside our industry,” explained Zetzsche. “This award recognizes those ambassadors who bring the Joy of Fresh™ to consumers and best exemplify bringing the produce and floral community together to grow a healthier world.”
PMA began accepting nominations June 3 and review will begin June 30. The first award will be presented during PMA’s Foodservice: Delivered virtual event scheduled July 20-24. PMA invites anyone to self-nominate or nominate another organization or individual to be considered for this award. Nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis. Individuals recognized as a PMA Impact Award laureate will be featured in a mini-documentary and will be honored at a PMA industry event.
Now is the time to name names! For additional information on criteria and to submit a nomination, visit PMA’s website.