WATSONVILLE, CA - California Giant Berry Farms isn’t one to shy away from innovation—which is why when we heard about the berry grower’s blockchain compliance with IBM Food Trust we began anticipating all the operational possibilities that await California Giant and its partners. The integration of this game-changing technology expands on the company’s commitment to build trust with its trade partners and consumers by connecting all participants of the supply chain with permissioned visibility of immutable data.
“One of Cal Giant’s long-term strategic pillars is Farming The Future. Blockchain compliance through the IBM Food Trust was one of our innovation initiatives. I am pleased at the collaboration of our partners to be the first in our segment to accomplish this goal,” said Joe Barsi, President of California Giant. “It offers us opportunities to embrace and build upon the trust our brand carries around safety and premium quality of our products. As more companies become compliant, it will be exciting to see the overall improvements that will collectively be made around our food supply chain.”
The game-changing technology at California Giant’s back is Glasschain™ integration software, an all-encompassing event database that links California Giant and its customers’ ERP software and provides transparent visibility to the real-time status of the product—including harvest location and advanced shipping notifications—to distribution centers, according to a press release.
“This will allow Cal Giant and our partners to streamline and identify opportunities for improvement around operational efficiencies with a focus on freshness,” added Thomas Taggart, Senior Director of Operations, California Giant, before noting the advantages blockchain compliance creates for food safety. “The turnaround time of the traceback information is rapid. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that our current food supply chain is extremely fragile, the adoption of blockchain can stabilize that fragility.”
Overall, the technology’s permanent information can help the entire supply chain be better informed with improved instantaneous data.
“Companies that are operationally mature can leverage this information around supply chain visibility and traceback data by having detailed conversations with their customers, presenting themselves as industry and category leaders,” said Peter Townsend, COO, Glassbit. “What Cal Giant has done is unique and continues to show industry leadership within their segment. It’s exciting to see more produce companies and retailers coming on board.”
California Giant Berry Farms’ goal is to deliver the best quality strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries when and where customers need them. The integration of this blockchain technology only further helps California Giant meet this goal, while also positioning itself at the head of the pack.
And, already many major players in the supply chain are benefiting from California Giant’s latest move.
"We applaud Cal Giant’s efforts to voluntarily enable visibility back to their berry farms. This mirrors our own work embracing innovative technologies to drive trust and transparency in our food supply chains,” said Tejas Bhatt, Senior Director, Global Food Safety Innovation, Walmart. “From leafy greens to bell peppers, Walmart has been digitizing its food supply chain using blockchain. This enables us to track food from farm to store and helps ensure it is fresh and safe when our customers buy it. By working together with more suppliers to further blockchain’s adoption, we can achieve a safer, smarter, more digital food system for everyone.”
As fresh produce continues to evolve in all the best ways, AndNowUKnow will continue covering this evolution with the latest industry news.
SEATTLE, WA - We have seen bright jades and deep emeralds, but a new green is coming onto the melon scene. A green so dark, it is almost black. Introducing the newly branded YUMI Organic Black Seedless Watermelon, Charlie’s Produce is looking to bring a new edge to the category this summer.
“When our retail customers order YUMI by the bin, they will receive a beautiful high-end graphic bin for their store displays,” Laura Severance, Marketing Manager, shares with me. “This will both entice consumers to discover it’s spectacularly sweet flavor and help tell the story of YUMI.”
Though YUMI watermelons originated in Hokkaido, Japan, Charlie's Produce initially forged a relationship with growers as they cultivated the crop in Eastern Washington. As YUMI grew in popularity, Charlie’s Produce worked with these farmers to increase acreage, spreading its Stateside reach into Central California.
“YUMI was inspired by the Japanese history of the black seedless watermelon and how it’s still considered a very special commodity there. ‘YUMI’ means abundant beauty in Japanese, and we think the name reflects the uniqueness of the black rind,” Laura says, explaining that the team feels that the item's unique story and background will resonate with consumers looking for more global flavors, especially on the West Coast.
Previously packed under Charlie’s Produce Farmer’s Own Organics label, YUMI Organic Black Seedless Watermelons are currently grown in both Washington and California.
“All Charlie’s Produce DCs will be selling and distributing YUMI throughout Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Boise, Anchorage, and Los Angeles, along with our Charlie’s Produce Trading Company, who will be distributing it nationally,” Laura says when I ask about who can get their hands on YUMI melons.
With an anticipated mid-June start date, the new brand will be available exclusively through Charlie’s Produce. Packaging availability includes 700-pound bins, designed for beautiful retail produce displays, and 65-pound cartons.
Sleek, dark, and enticing, black looks to be the surprise intriguer of fresh produce, having already left its mark on items like jalapeños and garlic. With melons as its newest frontier, this exciting rebrand is sure to help retailers maximize the potential such an innovation can offer.
RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - Often it is easy to forget the many moving parts necessary to keep our essential industry flowing. Among those behind the scenes always ensuring suppliers can provide safe, high-quality product is Proseal, part of the JBT Corporation family.
“Proseal continues to work around the clock in the current unprecedented times, to supply customers with the machinery and parts that they need while seasonal machinery rental options continue to be available where a full machine purchase may not be feasible,” Kaitlin Wyatt, Brand Supervisor, tells me.
As times challenge us all, Proseal continues to maintain an unrivaled level of aftermarket support, 24 hours a day 365 days a year. In fact, its consistent delivery of leading-edge quality in both manufacturing and overall machine design is what Proseal sees as the key to its continued success.
“With over 20 years’ experience in the packaging industry, Proseal is a world leader in introducing and proliferating new and innovative packaging formats, completing multiple marketplace transformations by sharing its expertise on effective packaging techniques for a multitude of different products,” Kaitlin says, entering the next point of Proseal’s powerful portfolio.
This expansive offering includes:
- Core machinery range featuring models from compact bench-top equipment to fully automated, high-capacity in-line machines that can seal over 240 packs per minute
- Modern GT trays sealing range can be retrofitted with the newest and best technological innovations as and when they become available for protected long-term investment
- Flexible, five minute tool-change on any Proseal GT machine means, creating endless varieties of tray formats on one machine with minimal downtime
- Smallest footprint versus capacity on the market today, allowing producers to maximize throughput in the space available within their factories
“At the core of Proseal’s values is innovation, which is demonstrated through all its machine technology,” Kaitlin continues, introducing me to ProMotion™, ProVision™, and, at the forefront of Proseal’s commitment to more sustainable solutions, Eseal®. “In line with changing consumer demand for more eco-friendly solutions, Proseal offers the technology to seamlessly integrate alternative materials into all their seal functions.”
ProMotion is a continuous motion infeed system, particularly well suited to the fast-paced produce sector, allowing for an increase of up to 25 percent productivity and efficiency. ProVision, on the other hand, boosts connectivity by enabling the Proseal service team to help customers spot evolving machine problems through key indicators delivered by the software’s analytics. Where the former boosts mechanical productivity, the latter saves time and money by avoiding unnecessary site visits.
Completing the trio is Eseal, which Kaitlin says offers operators a high precision, high force electrical delivery system that significantly reduces air consumption by up to 92 percent and increases overall productivity via a reduced seal time.
“Proseal plays a vital role in ensuring that all of the efforts deployed by the supply chain are concluded by the produce arriving to the consumer plate safely, efficiently, and in the freshest state possible,” Kaitlin concludes.
Minimizing production time within the supply chain while maximizing product quality—what more could one ask for in a produce partnership?
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - As online and grocery delivery become the norm, buy-side partners like Postmates have continued to deliver innovative strategies to keep up with rising demands. The app-based delivery company recently announced an alleged industry-first, Curbside Pickup, to bring even more convenience and ease to the buy-side.
"Restaurants and retailers across the country are ready to open their doors again, and we've created Curbside Pickup to help them open quickly and serve customers as smoothly as possible," said Bastian Lehmann, CEO and Co-Founder of Postmates.
According to a press release, this new pickup product for merchants is meant to help responsibly accelerate the reopening of local businesses by enabling customers and fleet to pick up orders curbside, rather than going into the physical store—a capability that most businesses don't currently have today. As businesses continue to reopen safely, the new feature will help ensure social distancing practices are followed.
To use this feature, the merchant will turn on curbside pickup from their Postmates dashboard. The customer will be prompted to "Check In" in real-time when they get to the merchant to notify them to come outside.
Will the retail and foodservice landscape change as curbside pickup and delivery innovations capture the market? Stay with AndNowUKnow as we bring you the latest.
UNITED STATES; CANADA - If you can’t tell already, Costco has completely won us over here at AndNowUKnow. With the company’s recent expansion into Arkansas hitting the newswire just last month, we were quick to jump on not one, not two, but three new expansions announced last week. The big-box retailer will continue capturing the hearts of shoppers across the continent as it makes plans for its latest facilities in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Belleville, Canada.
According to EastIdahoNews.com, city officials recently released the news that construction is underway on a new 150,000-square-foot facility to be occupied by Costco. Reports note that the building was scheduled for completion in August, although the exact date is unclear as the company has yet to comment on the new store.
The Oklahoman reported that Costco is also in negotiations to open a new operations center in Oklahoma City after also eyeing locations in Nevada and New Mexico. Mike Stratis, President of Intrepid Properties, the company that oversees site selections for Costco, noted that the plans are not yet finalized.
“We don’t have anything to announce yet, but we hope to, shortly,” Stratis said. “We hope to be able in the next couple of weeks to do that.”
While the rumors have flip flopped in regards to Costco’s upcoming facility in Belleville, Canada, the city’s mayor recently confirmed that the store is most definitely coming. News source The Intelligencer reported that this store will be 155,000 square feet with a gas bar built in as well.
Can you hear that? I think it’s more whispers of future Costco expansions! Follow along with us at AndNowUKnow as we keep on the retailer’s trail.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bolthouse Farms continues to shake the industry, making strategic move after strategic move. Amongst the bevy of acquisitions, innovations, and donations, CEO Jeff Dunn, interviewing on Instagram as @ChiefCarrotOfficer, found time to chat with CBS News Crooked Media’s Alex Wagner, to discuss how the powerhouse company faced the current challenges in our industry and the strategies that will soon be put in motion.
“We’re doing a good job containing [the virus’ effect],” Dunn began. “We’re doing everything we can, but there’s risk, and we need to mitigate it. How do we ensure we have the right standard operating procedures, protocols, and ways of living? I think this will be an ongoing conversation.”
A conversation that the company takes quite seriously. When asked how Bolthouse maintains a safe working environment to provide the baby carrots and other products consumers seek out, Dunn didn’t skip a beat.
“Our employees are incredible,” he continued. “Usually, when you make these changes in big plants, there aren’t a lot of changes. But, people have dug right in and have come up with great ideas about how we can do it even better […] We’re developing an app that allows us to track their badge and temperature, and we’re creating a thermal camera system [for employees] to walk through without the use of a temperature gun.”
These innovative takes have proven to help mitigate the spread for Bolthouse while also ensuring a safe working environment—a huge win for everyone in the supply chain. Dunn further detailed the importance of maintaining strict sanitation protocols across Bolthouse Farms’ plants.
“We’re very disciplined about every single line in the plant; it’s part of our food safety plan. If you don’t do this, you’ll have organisms growing—sanitization works,” Dunn elaborated. “In this environment, any time we’ve had a positive case, we break the shift down and sanitize that whole part of the plant […] I think the next thing you’re going to see are wristbands with Bluetooth to track inside the plant.”
With testing becoming more available, the Chief Carrot Officer emphasized that the track-back to those who have been infected will become a critical component in keeping the exposure at a minimum.
“From our standpoint, the operational part and worrying about human beings has not gotten any easier, and I don’t expect it to get easier, but we’re more operationally efficient now,” stated Dunn, explaining that the team is looking for every technology that can help Bolthouse improve for the better.
To view the entire interview, which I suggest as it is riveting, click here.
As Bolthouse Farms pushes forward for the betterment of our industry, what other innovations will we see take effect? AndNowUKnow will be right here to bring you the latest.
ITASCA, IL - A “thank you” is more than just a simple expression of gratitude. For the Fibre Box Association (FBA), it’s a core tenet of the association’s values. It recently released a video thank you to our industry’s essential workers, who have been working to keep transport packing flowing to product makers and suppliers on the frontlines.
In the video, FBA salutes the front-line employees of the corrugated industry. The association is grateful for the dedication and commitment of corrugated industry companies—and their employees and suppliers—for the work they are doing to keep the supply chain moving.
As FBA noted, corrugated cardboard boxes are a crucial element in supporting the American supply chain. The U.S. corrugated packaging industry alone is a $35.2 billion manufacturing sector, a press release explained. Across America, 1,183 box plants operate in nearly 1,000 cities and towns and provide employment to more than 100,000 individuals.
More than 95 percent of all goods consumed in North America are packaged and transported in corrugated packaging, with close to 40 percent being used to package food and beverages. It seems obvious that disruption in the availability of these goods can cause significant hardships to consumers across the country.
FBA explained that corrugated cardboard manufacturers are dedicated to continuing to operate box plants under the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure products continue to flow to market.
AndNowUKnow extends its own "thank you" to the brave men and women of this industry!
MISSION, TX - Although we as an industry were not able to gather together at this year’s Viva Fresh, its In Bloom “Bloom Where You Are Planted” virtual event touched many hearts nonetheless. During this virtual experience, more than 80 attendees listened to five different speakers and participated in an ongoing poll that asked attendees what their biggest worries during the pandemic have been, what tactics have helped them juggle and balance life and work, and what new things they’ve tried during lockdown.
“I really enjoyed the webinar—as a mom of a young boy and a wife to a husband who is an essential worker, it’s definitely refreshing to hear how other women are navigating through this time! There were some great tips and lots of nodding along!” remarked Cate Aldrete, Tradeshow and Marketing Manager at Organic Produce Network.
According to a press release, attendees took solace in knowing they weren’t alone in many aspects of the nationwide lockdown. The people polled revealed they are most afraid of the unknown and are anxious regarding COVID-19. Most attendees are moderately concerned about how the current pandemic will impact them, their family, or their business, followed by very concerned and then somewhat concerned. Very few people claimed to not be concerned.
“While we may be having these sorts of conversations with our peers and our families, it was very eye-opening to see and hear how people in our industry are coping,” said Tonya Hill, Owner and President of TM Hill Produce. “As managers and employers, we need to be asking these questions of those with whom we work. Without the face-to-face interaction we were used to in the past, it may sometimes be hard to know that someone is struggling and that they need help. It’s important that we check in and see how this is impacting their lives.”
For a full report on poll findings and a list of helpful resources in navigating these unknown times, click here.
Additionally, the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) would like to invite industry members to attend its virtual Viva Fresh Clean Eating Reveal on May 20. This is a free event, although registration prior to the event is required. For more information or to register online, please click here.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest in all things happening in the fresh produce industry.
SALINAS, CA - With more consumers donning their at-home chef toques, suppliers like Baja Son Growers are helping retailers meet the demand for a diversity of fresh produce products. Ahead of the month of June, Baja Son is encouraging retailers to take advantage of a couple of asparagus and green onion category opportunities while supplies are picking up.
“With increased acreage out of Central Mexico, we will be able to handle more ad opportunities than we have in previous seasons,” said Robert Leonard, Director or Sales.
In addition to increasing its acreage, continual investments in new equipment and technology are helping Baja Son grow its standing in both the asparagus and onion categories.
Asparagus harvest began on May 1, with the Salinas-based grower-shipper anticipating volume yields as high as 2 million boxes of fresh asparagus each year—in part thanks to new plantings in Baja and Caborca. In the green onion category, Baja Son grows and packs 2 million conventional cases and 250,000 organic cases each year, according to a press release.
“We are expanding our production volume in both green onions and asparagus. We plan on increasing our green onion volume by 5-8 percent per year for the next five years," Leonard added. "Additionally, we plan on expanding our asparagus volume by 10-15 percent annually for the next five years."
Alongside category growth, Baja Son Growers kicked off 2020 with a bang by introducing a new website to better tell its brand story to key customers. The new website features product details, farming information, and education for both its customers and the end-consumer.
For more ways suppliers are helping retailers add value to the produce aisle, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
SACRAMENTO, CA - An important aspect of our industry is ensuring the safety of the consumers eating our products. California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) has continued investing in this mission for years and is doubling down even harder on strengthening food safety practices.
“California’s leafy greens farmers are hard at work every day implementing new, more stringent food safety practices on their farms,” said Scott Horsfall, CEO. “At the same time, we’re all focused on further strengthening the food safety standards required under the LGMA to protect consumers and prevent future outbreaks.”
In order to review and update these required food safety practices for farming leafy greens, the association has put together a webinar series to gather input. A subcommittee of industry experts and scientists has been reviewing existing LGMA water metrics since August and already have proposed changes to existing requirements.
“Some 30 suggested changes for water use have been recommended by this subcommittee on water,” said Sharan Lanini, Director of Food Safety at Pacific International Marketing and Chair of the LGMA’ Technical Committee. “The recommendations include updated requirements for drip and furrow irrigation as well as water used for chemical applications. These updates are in addition to enhanced water metrics adopted by the LGMA last year for sprinkler applied water treatments during the last 21 days prior to harvest.”
Below are additional actions conducted by the LGMA to strengthen food safety practices:
- Appointed subcommittees to address several topics including water, equipment sanitation, soil amendments/crop inputs, adjacent land use, and proximity to animals
- These subcommittees include industry experts from both California and Arizona who are systematically reviewing each section of the accepted food safety practices as well as other potential food safety issues of concern from a scientific perspective
- The LGMA’s subcommittee on soil amendments/crop inputs has met several times since December 2019, and is looking to develop more detailed standards to address requirements for existing best practices that include compost applications; other crop and soil inputs; storage, handling, and transportation; container ID and tracking; and inputs applied to neighboring properties
- A subcommittee on equipment, packing materials, and field sanitation is looking to develop enhanced standards related to harvest equipment, harvest personnel, and training that also encompasses human vectored pathogens such as Cyclospora and COVID-19
- The public comment period for water has just ended, and the one on harvest related equipment sanitation practices is open through the end of May. Future comment periods will cover the topics of soil amendments/crop inputs and adjacent property/CAFOs. LGMA subcommittees will make recommendations in all of these areas
A press release noted that the process for updating the LGMA standards is being facilitated by Western Growers as an independent party to solicit and collect input from all stakeholders.
“The goal is to create unified standards for how leafy greens are farmed using the best science and expertise available from throughout the leafy greens community,” stated Horsfall. “Water is just the first topic to be addressed. This same process is planned for other areas of the LGMA metrics.”
Through this collaborative process, recommended changes will be finalized and presented to LGMA for adoption. Those approved updates will then become part of the required food safety practices and included in mandatory inspections for LGMA members.
Horsfall went on to emphasize that safety audits conducted through the LGMA program are still taking place even with the COVID-19 situation. Each LGMA member will be audited about five times this year, through both announced and unannounced field audits, and every farmer will be audited at least once.
“The real work of implementing food safety practices is being done every day by leafy greens farmers,” said Horsfall. “The role of the LGMA is to unify the industry under one common set of science-based food safety practices.”
AndNowUKnow will follow along as advancements in food safety tech continue to revolutionize the industry.