SALINAS, CA - As suppliers of fresh produce, it is paramount that companies maintain a sustainable relationship with the Earth. As such, many of our industry’s leaders are constantly evolving their extensive sustainability initiatives. Taylor Farms is one such company, recently publishing its 2020 Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report, featuring innovative advancements in environmental, business, and community stewardship.
“We are extremely proud of the hard work that is showcased in this report,” said Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO. “We are committed to leading change to be a force for good in the world and have taken risks as we search for unique breakthroughs and solutions to create positive impacts. This bi-annual report is proof that those risks—made possible by our business and innovative culture—have been successful. I am humbled by how far we have come as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and motivated by the ever-evolving vision of our employees, partners, customers, and consumers to create healthier lives for all.”
Taylor Farms’ 2020 Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report focuses on three core pillars where the company has committed to leaving the world a better place through impactful actions.
As reported in a press release, these three core pillars are interconnected, each sustaining the other, and are brought to life through the company’s transformative business model and innovative culture, which includes maintaining a:
- Healthy Environment – Resource Conservation and Responsible Business Practices
- Healthy Business – Quality and Food Safety, Innovation, Enhancing Consumer Experience, and Workforce Development
- Healthy Community – Youth Development, Food Accessibility, and Health and Wellness
“Our mission to create healthy lives transcends across our entire Taylor Farms ecosystem from preserving a healthy environment, promoting healthy communities, and ultimately sustaining the health of our business,” said Nicole Flewell, Director of Sustainability. “It is because of the entire Taylor team of 20,000 employees that we’ve been able to use our scale for good and make a positive, long-lasting social and environmental impact from farm to fork.”
To read Taylor Farms’ Sustainability Report in full, click here. As always, ANUK will continue bringing you the latest news in fresh produce, so stick with us!
SCHILLER PARK, IL - Is there anything sweeter than a new partnership? We at ANUK believe it’s possible—but only by doubling down on that sentiment with the expansion of an existing one. Sun Belle and Giddings Fruit Mexico jointly announced a long-term exclusive marketing and distribution agreement whereby Sun Belle will market all of Giddings' conventional and organic blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The agreement solidifies Sun Belle’s 18-year relationship with Giddings Fruit and is expected to extend the reach of Sun Belle and Giddings Fruit Mexico as principal producers and distributors of berries worldwide.
“This agreement completely aligns the two companies in their shared mission of providing top-quality berries to consumers reliably and in good quantities,” stated Janice Honigberg, President and Founder of Sun Belle. “For example, we are excited to be marketing peak production through May of the new Aketzali blackberry variety that Giddings developed.”
Giddings has 322 hectares of conventional and 40 hectares of organic Aketzali in production in very good quantities through the end of May. The grower’s state-of-the-art tissue culture propagation lab and extensive nurseries support its own farms and varietal development programs as well as its grower partners.
“The Aketzali is a very sweet blackberry with good size and little regression. It is an excellent alternative to the Tupy variety, which we pioneered together starting in 2003,” Patricio Cortes, General Manager and Co-Founder of Giddings Mexico, said. “While the Tupy is no longer a productive variety, it established Mexico as the largest blackberry grower and shipper in the world.”
According to a press release, Sun Belle has a first-class structure and reliable distribution of products through its four distribution centers in the U.S. Sun Belle expressed equal excitement about the new partnership as it will help both growers bring superb berries to the market.
“The Aketzali blackberry has excellent flavor and appearance while presenting fewer growing and shipping challenges than earlier varieties,” Honigberg continued. “Bringing excellent quantities of Aketzali to market this spring is just the beginning of closer work between Sun Belle and Giddings in developing and marketing other superb blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry varieties next season and in seasons to come.”
Sun Belle is a year-round marketer of a full line of organic and conventional berries and pomegranate arils, principally sold under the Sun Belle and Green Belle brands.
“This new, strengthened relationship between our two companies further integrates the work of Giddings Mexico and Sun Belle at all levels—from top management to sales, logistics, and most importantly, varietal innovation and development,” continued Cortes. “The Sun Belle team brings years of experience and as a result is able to meet the demands of the market with production throughout the year from all major growing regions.”
Sun Belle supports retail, club, wholesale, and foodservice customers throughout North America, Europe, and Asia with distribution centers in Schiller Park, Illinois; Jessup, Maryland; Oxnard, California; and Miami, Florida. The company is recognized for its commitment and service to its customers, its dedication to quality, and its ability to fulfill mixed berry programs.
Giddings is a leading integrated grower and shipper of conventional and organic berries in the states of Michoacán, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Sinaloa, Mexico.
For more sweet partnerships in the produce sector, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
BENGALURU, INDIA - Grocery retailers, distributors, and service providers are keeping the competitiveness of the grocery market high as many form strategic partnerships to expand their operations and strategies during this unprecedented time. Walmart-owned Flipkart is one such grocery retailer whose latest strategy to increase consumer access to essential goods involves a new partnership with Meru.
“Flipkart Group is committed to customers as India fights this unprecedented battle. This partnership with Meru is a result of our teams exploring new, innovative ways to drive value for our ecosystem of sellers, brands, partners, and customers to ensure the safe and swift availability of grocery and essential goods,” said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart Group. “We have a very secure and safe supply chain where we follow SOPs diligently. We stand by the nation in this fight against COVID-19 as we prioritize the wellbeing and safety of all including our customers and employees.”
Meru is one of India’s trusted app-based ride-hailing cab operators that is teaming up with Flipkart to help the grocer deliver fresh groceries to shoppers across Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Hyderabad.
According to a press release, this partnership is a continuation of Flipkart’s efforts to create innovative models of collaboration to serve consumers and ensure the essential supply chains during this unprecedented crisis.
“This is a unique initiative which we are undertaking with Flipkart which will benefit consumers immensely,” said Neeraj Gupta, Founder and CEO at Meru Mobility Tech. “Meru will use its fleet to ensure the timely and safe delivery of essentials to Flipkart’s large customer base in a hassle-free manner. This service will also offer our driver-partners an additional earning opportunity during this challenging time.”
In one of its biggest acquisitions to date, Walmart became the largest stakeholder in Flipkart back in 2018. How will Flipkart's new partnership with Meru bolster Walmart's standing in the global market?
AndNowUKnow will continue to follow along with the latest grocery giant news.
WENATCHEE, WA - While the name of the game today is “expect the unexpected and prepare where you can,” we are seeing signs pointing to a more diversified shopper who wants options and variety. Essentially the SKU game is in jeopardy. Increased dialogue between suppliers and buyers is more essential now than ever in understanding what is happening in the consumer's mind and wallet.
For context, there had been many retailers eliminating SKUs, not so much concerning the fact that they didn't want the SKU, but they were worried about distribution. Many moved to the 80/20 rule but fruits and vegetables are essential and nothing speaks louder than a limited or empty fresh produce department when demand is high. People are highly concerned about their health for good reasons, and produce has been a winner. We are even seeing more ads on the table with our customers in recent weeks and this is a great sign for all. We hope retailers continue to follow suit. We are starting to see an expansion of SKU’s at some chains in the South and Midwest, recently showing that building categories and taking advantage of the shoppers’ willingness to reach out for more items is starting to happen.
So, what can we do for the health of the bottom line at retail and the consumer? It's time to start diversifying SKUS again.
We at Stemilt Growers, like many in the industry, have experienced the dramatic and volatile push and pull of what feels like an instantaneous fluctuation in demand on the retail and consumer front. During that panic buying phase, demand required we ship everything we had in our coolers. And in many cases, an interesting thing happened: Consumers started pivoting their buying behaviors and began purchasing a range of products—especially certain larger and more diverse quantities, and packaging types, that retailers normally weren't selling at such a high ratio. Nobody buys what they don't want, and they were buying larger packaged quantities and increments in excess on apples.
The silver lining: The new variables in the changing and challenging climate of today's pandemic may be triggering consumers to diversify their buying behaviors and, even more, opening them up to building new patterns and adapting to new priorities.
Speaking specifically of Stemilt, we saw a massive shift to more bagged products because people wanted to get in and out of the stores quicker. While traffic patterns still fluctuate, our 5-lb bag program has remained in high demand, way more than it has in the recent past.
Specialty items are now increasing in demand again at retail as well and we're seeing a rebound in the number of varieties of apples we're selling, not just the quantity of apples. So, our game plan is adapting and we would like to see that follow through at retail.
Consumers are doing less frequency of shopping, but shopping with bigger carts or bigger baskets, and so we were recommending that retailers give them more size options with additional grab-and-go appeal. The consumer's eye is scanning incredibly fast so display-ready cartons and vibrant displays will also be key. And we've been recommending those opportunities for about a month now and it has helped retailers address the uncertainty of the shopper.
Another big data insight this past month is that organic product has sold at a higher rate of frequency and we expect that trend to remain. So, keep organics strong in produce departments.
Another arena to address with urgency is the online shopping area where products are not being categorized correctly—they don't have the right picture by them, they're not in the right location, they're hard to find, and the descriptions are not always true to the product.
We're finding all those errors starting to appear, and we're working with retailers to clean up their online sites because produce buying is impulsive, and we know produce is on the shopping list for a lot of people. If we do not have accuracy on the online shopping platforms, retailers will lose the consumer in a huff of frustration.
The produce department is an essential part of success at retail—whether at brick and mortar or online. If we stop giving consumers what they want, we may lose that brand and store loyalty that has been so coveted throughout the years for our industry.
NEWARK, DE - Growers, shippers, distributors, and retailers all play their part to bring the best fruits and vegetables to grocery shelves. However, there are times when the consumer is unsure of what to do with the fresh produce on hand. Tossing a lifeline, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has launched its latest initiative, Joy of Fresh, to assist the buy-side in connecting with consumers.
“Joy of Fresh is the next evolution of the broader conversation about driving consumption. We’re doing it in a way that's beyond just providing assets—we want our members and the industry as a whole to understand it at a deeper level,” says Lauren Scott, Chief Marketing Officer. “Our latest initiative focuses on working with industry and media partners to connect with consumers; providing resources, information, and tools for our members to use in their promotions; and listening to what the consumer sentiments are.”
As we previously reported, the Joy of Fresh campaign provides information to its members in a convenient format that is easily digestible for consumers, especially during this time when many are affected by COVID-19. With it, PMA is able to offer tools such as:
- Assets to use on social media platforms
- Research data
- Answers to sentiment studies
- Insights into consumer shopping behavior
“This information is available for our members to use to help make decisions for their business,” Lauren continues. “Consumers hear from brands they know and trust, and the industry usually relays urgent information when it’s in critical situations. Getting messages out on a regular basis and sharing a broader narrative, consistently, is really the spirit of the campaign.”
PMA created Joy of Fresh as a way for its members to reach out to national and local media in order to influence the stories that are being written about our industry.
“Without our members, we wouldn't be able to put this together. Having that continuous communication will be critical to understanding what issues they are seeing,” concludes Lauren. “By spreading the #joyoffresh, PMA can continue to build upon the information we have with the help of our members. We can create more and better content to change conversations with consumers and drive the consumption of fresh produce.”
For more information on this initiative and to access these assets, click here.
AndNowUKnow is always in the business of spreading the #joyoffresh message, so keep reading as we bring the latest in the industry.
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative complaint under the PACA against PK Produce Inc. The company, operating from Ohio, allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 14 produce sellers in the amount of $827,222 from November 2017 through October 2018.
Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:
PK Produce Inc. will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should the USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.
The PACA Division, which is a part of AMS’ Fair Trade Practices Program, 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.
For further information, contacts, and to read the press release in its entirety, please visit the link here.
NORFOLK, NE - We recently caught wind of a unique grower partnership between Hy-Vee and Sol Group as the two donated nearly 2,000 watermelons to Channel One Regional Food Bank. The retailer is at it again this week, aligning with the industry-leading supplier Grimmway Farms to donate over 33,000 pounds of carrots to the Orphan Grain Train.
“We are extremely grateful for our partnership with Grimmway Farms,” said Tina Potthoff, Hy-Vee’s Senior Vice president of Communications. “We hope this donation provides some relief to or local communities especially as more families become financially impacted during this time.”
Spurred by increasingly empty shelves within food banks as the COVID-19 pandemic persists, the donation will be distributed across central Nebraska to benefit individuals and families in need. With these two massive donations of fresh produce, Hy-Vee joins several other retailers in supporting local food banks.
Jeff Huckaby, President of Grimmway Farms, expressed how important moves like these are.
“There’s no better time than now to give back to our communities,” he said in a press release. “We are proud to work alongside Hy-Vee and support their mission of providing assistance to individuals and families in need across its eight states.”
Hy-Vee noted it is planning to link up with more of its suppliers to distribute additional supplies throughout the chain’s reach.
It’s trying times like these that the fresh produce and retail industries can form some of the most meaningful partnerships. As more news comes to the forefront, keep checking in with us at ANUK.
SANTA MARIA, CA - There’s nothing quite like cracking apart a fresh head of cauliflower. From the crisp stems to the crunchy tops, this versatile veg presents endless retail and foodservice opportunities for unique eating experiences. As the cauliflower program at Gold Coast Packing continues to accelerate, consumers will be flocking to the produce aisle in hopes of snagging a SKU or two. To find out what we can expect from the grower’s harvest this year, I tapped Crystal Chavez, Marketing Coordinator.
“All of our cauliflower is grown in the Santa Maria Valley of California,” she began. “We grow cauliflower year-round, but the program is currently ramping up. The varieties we are harvesting now include Absolute, Paciencia, and Symphony. Quality this year is about the same as the year’s past.”
Crystal went on to explain that quality can be a bit challenging to maintain during the spring transition, but Gold Coast hasn’t seen any major issues or concerns. The grower’s supply is ideal at the moment, and retailers should look to highlight the category’s versatility during this promotional period.
“Cauliflower is such a trending vegetable. It is growing more and more,” explained Crystal. “Cauliflower is being used as a carb substitute in so many applications. At first it was the perfect pizza crust, but it has evolved to nugget breading, dips, and is now making its way into quick service restaurants as a healthier alternative. Don’t count cauliflower out, because it is the trending item that keeps evolving and with innovation can be almost anything!”
You heard it here first, folks: Cauliflower is one of the top categories to tackle for retailers looking to beef up their bottom line. Keep checking in with us at AndNowUKnow for more of the latest reports in fresh produce.
CORAL GABLES, FL - Fresh produce is an essential component of any grocery format due to its impact and importance in the daily diets of so many consumers. Helping to ensure that those in need find relief on the fresh produce front, Fyffes North America has made a donation of 10,000 pounds of fresh bananas and pineapples to support the City of Philadelphia’s coordinated hunger relief efforts. This effort was spearheaded by Fyffes North America leadership, representatives from Holt Logistics Corp, the City of Philadelphia, and Philabundance.
“Access to fresh food during the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming an increasingly urgent issue in the Philadelphia area,” said Juan Alarcon, CEO of Fyffes North America. “As the largest importer of fresh fruit into the Port of Philadelphia, we are uniquely suited to address food insecurity at this moment. We are thankful for Mayor Jim Kenney, Holt Logistics, and especially Philabundance for their tireless efforts to provide hunger relief for thousands of residents in Philadelphia and beyond.”
This gesture, executed on Monday, was Fyffes second round of weekly donations. Fyffes and Philabundance delivered the shipment to a warehouse site in Roxborough that has been set up as an emergency operations center to get food to local residents in need, according to a press release.
Nearly 60,000 pounds of product has been sent by Fyffes to city distribution sites so far, according to Philabundance. Fyffes expects additional weekly donations to contain melons and other tropical fruits as the season progresses.
Leading by example, our industry continues to make strides to address the challenges of so many during today’s current climate, and we thank them every day for their charitable acts.
MONTEREY, CA - The Organic Produce Network (OPN) has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception just over three years ago. Founded in response to double-digit growth in one of the fastest-growing retail food categories in the U.S., the company has pulled together a best-in-class team cultivated by Founders Matt Seeley and Tonya Antle. The organization now sits as an organic resource for many, offering a strong rallying cry within the industry. To bolster its value and capabilities, OPN welcomed two team members over the last year, Cate Aldrete and Kelli Runge as Tradeshow/Marketing Managers.
In Cate’s role with OPN, her primary objective is to help produce a pair of premium events specific to the organic fresh produce industry: the Organic Produce Summit (OPS) and the Organic Grower Summit (OGS). Cate’s goal is to be a resource for those involved with organic fresh produce. Every day in Cate's role looks different, and that's one of her favorite things about the job. Planning for the tradeshows is cyclical and the team is busy year-round. Excitement peaks in the three to four months leading up to the event.
Even though the recent cancelation of OPS was only just announced, you can believe that strategic planning for the remainder of 2020 and the kick-off of 2021 is already amassing on the OPN team's place.
Cate is responsible for day-to-day operations for each event, interacting with sponsors, attendees, exhibitors, and prospects, partnering with vendors, engaging with speakers, and assisting with the strategic planning of both OPS and OGS. And last but not least, she has already been primed for her role with industry blood pumping in her veins as the daughter of Matt and Marilyn Seeley.
As OPS and OGS grow, Kelli is continuously looking for new ways to elevate the experience for all attendees in her role, while increasing the exposure for each event’s sponsors and exhibitors. Kelly is continually researching advancements in technology, marketing, and communication strategies, and tradeshow management in helping to produce trades shows that provide education and outstanding networking opportunities.
On top of this host of responsibilities for both industry up-and-comers, Kelli and Cate are responsible for publishing the weekly editions of OPN Connect, an e-newsletter that connects the organic fresh produce community through information, education and live events.
“We are so fortunate to have a pair of young, talented and highly motivated people like Kelli and Cate on the OPN team. They are similar in so many ways, and their skillsets reflect the way business is continually evolving in our industry,” Matt shares with me, adding that they are both very outgoing, detailed-oriented, and true ambassadors in OPN’s mission of connecting various aspects of the organic produce industry. “As a pair of young mothers, they are truly passionate about organics and how organics are changing the world for the better. Their energy and enthusiasm are contagious. In the short time they have been with OPN, they have really helped us up our game on many levels.”
Before joining the OPN team, Cate spent several years in Silicon Valley, California, and worked at Facebook for five years, driving recruitment and client management for engineering teams. Cate was born and raised in Salinas, California, and graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2012.
Kelli is a native of Monterey, California, and graduated from Sonoma State University in 2011. She moved back to Monterey in 2015 with her husband Scott and started a small business, which she sold at the end of 2018. She is the proud new mom to Archie, who came as an early Christmas gift in December 2019.
A huge congrats to Cate and Kelli on their evolving positions at OPN, and to OPN for making the organic game great!