NEW JERSEY - It is with a heavy heart we report that a Board Member for Wakefern Food Corp and an Owner of five ShopRite stores in New Jersey passed this past Tuesday night. Ravitz served on the Board of Directors of Wakefern Food Corp for 27 years before retiring in 2015.
The Ravitz family issued a statement, sharing, “We are deeply saddened by the death of our beloved father and friend Steve Ravitz, the patriarch who guided our family business, Ravitz Family Markets, for 40 years.”
Steve Ravitz, who had retired as President of the Ravitz Family Markets in 2019, started the family business in 1968 after working in his father’s grocery business in Philadelphia. He also headed up the Ravitz Family Foundation, which funded programs for needy children in South New Jersey, including Camden.
Ravitz passed the leadership of the family company to his sons Jason, Shawn, and Brett, last year when he retired, the family noted in the statement.
He is survived by sons Shawn, Jason, Brett, and David; his daughter, Remy Strause; daughters-in-law Debbie Ravitz and Lauren Ravitz; son-in-law Brett Strause; his brother, Ron Ravitz; and eight grandchildren.
We at AndNowUKnow express our deepest condolences and our hearts go out to Steve Ravitz’s family and loved ones.
IRVINE, CA - Answering the nation’s call for enhanced food safety measures, Western Growers (WG) has developed a website to facilitate changes to the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)-approved Leafy Green Food Safety Guidelines: www.leafygreenguidance.com. The interactive website now easily allows the public to participate in routine discussions and process amendments that will ensure continuous improvement of the leafy green food safety preventive practices.
“As an industry leader in produce safety, Western Growers remains committed to driving the evolution of guidance for preventive food safety programs in leafy greens as well as other commodities,” said Sonia Salas, Western Grower’s Assistant Vice President of Food Safety, Science, and Technology. “In a time where COVID-19 is top of mind for all industries, Western Growers is committed to ensuring that the important work of improving food safety continues with broad agricultural industry engagement and complete transparency among leafy green growers. This website will ensure access to that process.”
In 2007 following the E. coli O157:H7 spinach outbreak, Western Growers, working with the leafy green industry, facilitated the development of written best practices for the safe production and harvest of leafy greens, currently known as the Commodity Specific Food Safety Guidelines for the Production and Harvest of Lettuce and Leafy Greens (Leafy Green Guidelines). These guidelines were subsequently adopted by both the California and Arizona LGMAs as the best practices for leafy green growers selling to handlers in their states. Since its first publication, the Leafy Green Guidelines have been updated many times as new research has become available and practices have evolved. This website provides an avenue to systemically amend these best practices and allows users to easily submit comments. A new comment period opens in April 2020.
In addition to simplifying the Leafy Green Food Safety Guidelines amendment process, the website also offers the following:
- Master Calendar: calendar that outlines the comment period and deadlines for issues related to agricultural water, field sanitation, soil amendments, and concentrated animal feeding operations; entire amendment process at a glance
- LGMA Final Document: commodity-specific food safety guidelines for the production and harvest of lettuce and leafy greens
- Leafy Green Info Sheet: document explaining how the Leafy Green Food Safety Guidelines amendment process works and the importance of continual incorporation of new science and information
HOUSTON, TX - There’s something about fresh that perks up the spirits of this trade news writer, especially when it comes from the likes of food distributor Sysco. Recently, the company announced it has launched a new Sysco Knows Fresh™ multi-channel campaign designed to promote both the company’s high-quality, fresh product offerings and its widespread availability to customers, consumers, and the industry.
“Sysco continues to lead our industry in providing an expansive fresh product assortment–including fresh meats and seafood, produce, dairy, and refrigerated specialty items. Especially during these challenging times, we want our customers to know they can count on Sysco to help them succeed with the product offerings their patrons need and want because Sysco Knows Fresh,” said Greg Bertrand, Executive Vice President, U.S. Foodservice Operations.
According to a press release, the campaign will use a multi-pronged approach including social media, product catalogs, emails, and videos. Local celebrity chefs in conjunction with Sysco’s own culinary experts will be featured showcasing fresh products, recipe ideas, and menu solutions.
Through the Sysco Knows Fresh campaign, the company plans to reinforce that it is open for business with fresh, high-quality products and that its network of companies, including FreshPoint specialty produce, stand ever-ready to support its customers’ success.
For more information on the Sysco Knows Fresh campaign, click here. For more insights and industry info, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
NEWARK, DE - New partnerships are things of magic, and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and iTradeNetwork are currently cooking up something straight out of a fairytale. The two have announced a new collaboration that will make iTradeNetwork’s newly-created iTradeMarketplace free to PMA members for six months. iTradeMarketplace is a partner, discovery, matching, and transacting service that provides opportunities for buyers, suppliers, and other organizations in the supply chain to connect and establish trading relationships.
“PMA is excited to continue our commitment to members helping members, particularly during this crisis. To reduce the hurdle of manual processing, iTradeNetwork is bringing our members an opportunity to do business while our traditional face-to-face connections are temporarily on hold. This service, called iTradeMarketplace, will help PMA members connect with others in the supply chain they might not usually do business with and keep fresh produce and floral products flowing to the consumer,” said PMA CEO Cathy Burns.
PMA members who are looking to participate are invited to register on the iTradeMarketplace website where they can provide contact information and identify if they are looking to buy or sell products.
iTradeNetwork will facilitate these connections with no charge for the first six months, which will begin once the trading connection is enabled, as reported in a news release.
“Technology can be a powerful ally in times of crisis, and we are putting our platform to use in a different way that aims to help companies in the food supply chain navigate these uncertain times. The agility of iTradeMarketplace empowers participants to move at the speed of the crisis and respond to local, as well as global, food supply chain needs,” commented Rhonda Bassett-Spiers, CEO of iTradeNetwork.
Keep on seeking out that magic, folks. We here at AndNowUKnow will be doing the same.
SALINAS, CA - Growing together is always better, which is one reason why strategic acquisitions take place in the industry. As you know, acquisition is one of our favorite words here at ANUK, and our good friend Sakata Seed America recently acquired Vanguard Seed, a prominent lettuce seed company based in the Salinas Valley of California.
“This is a mutually advantageous decision that allows us to bring top quality lettuce varieties to the market,” stated John Nelson, Vice President of Sakata Seed America. “Sakata is a market leader in multiple segments, including broccoli, and has an excellent reputation for quality, reliability, and service in the Salinas Valley and beyond. We believe this opportunity will create great synergy for both the lettuce and broccoli markets.”
According to a press release, the purchase of Vanguard provides Sakata Seed America with all existing Vanguard lettuce genetics. Vanguard’s seed team, dedicated to bringing quality lettuce genetics to the market, will join Sakata Seed America and Vanguard’s breeding, seed production, sales, and marketing will be fully integrated under the Sakata brand.
“We are excited for this opportunity to expand our product line into the lettuce segment,” continues Nelson. “Lettuce is a widely consumed vegetable globally and this acquisition will enable Sakata to accelerate the development of lettuce varieties for global markets and position our company as a major player in the lettuce market segment.”
Sakata will also integrate the Vanguard team into daily operations and retain Vanguard’s Salinas warehouse and office location.
“The Vanguard team is excited to integrate operations with the Sakata team, and we look forward to continuing to develop the lettuce program backed by Sakata’s reputation for quality, reliability, and service. Sakata is a leader in the broccoli segment in the Salinas Valley and beyond; together we can create a similar success story for lettuce,” said Dave Henson, Co-Owner of Vanguard Seed.
Congratulations to Sakata Seed America and Vanguard Seed on their next phase of growth together!
LITTLE ROCK, AR - Amazon is no longer known for just its online delivery service as the e-tailer continues its aggressive move into brick and mortar. Most recently on this front, Amazon opened its first cashierless grocery store in Washington this February. On Tuesday, though, we caught wind of another move to fortify its brick-and-mortar presence when Amazon completed a strategic land acquisition in Arkansas for $3.2 million.
“We’re excited today that Amazon has decided to purchase land and have a very significant investment for the city of Little Rock and central Arkansas, today’s a great day,” said Frank Scott Jr., Mayor of Little Rock.
According to news source Talk Business, this acquisition earned Amazon an 80-acre plot of land (about $40,000 per acre) at the Port of Little Rock. Mayor Scott made the official announcement yesterday, stating that construction is already underway.
Amazon plans to use the land to build a new distribution center, and is reportedly eyeing other acquisitions to further this expansion. This new center is expected to create roughly 10,000 new jobs.
Where will Amazon’s next brick-and-mortar hub be and how will it further the company's previous grocery plans? We can hardly wait to find out, so stay tuned in to reports from AndNowUKnow.
CINCINNATI, OH - As the COVID-19 situation continues, retailers are implementing more and more safety regulations to keep their associates and customers safe. We recently reported Kroger started piloting one-way traffic throughout select stores. Now, the grocer announced a new adoption of health precautions: limiting its stores’ capacity to 50 percent using industry-leading QueVision technology.
“Kroger’s introduction of customer capacity limits is one more way we are doing our part to flatten the curve while operating as an essential business, providing our customers with access to fresh, affordable food and products,” said Mary Ellen Adcock, Senior Vice President of Operations. “During this national pandemic, we are committed to adopting preventive measures to help protect the safety and health of our associates, customers, and communities.”
According to a press release, the standard building capacity for a grocery store is one person per 60 square feet. Under Kroger’s new reduced capacity limits, the number will be one person per 120 square feet. Other retailers such as Walmart, Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and more have rolled out similar initiatives as of late. Kroger will begin to monitor the number of customers per square foot in its stores using its industry-leading QueVision technology, which already provides a count of the customers entering and exiting stores.
“By leveraging QueVision, our technology system that uses infrared sensors and predictive analytics, we will be able to more efficiently support our new capacity limits, creating a safer environment for our customers and associates,” said Yael Cosset, Chief Technology and Digital Officer.
Kroger's new customer capacity limits joins other measures the retailer has established over the last few weeks to promote physical distancing, including the addition of plexiglass partitions, educational floor decals, and healthy habits messages aired via in-store radio to encourage customers to practice good hygiene and spatial awareness.
Kroger and its affiliates have also recently implemented the following protective and preventive measures:
- Protective Face Masks and Gloves for Associates
- Associate Wellness Checks
- Piloting One-Way Aisles in Select Markets
- Waived Prescription Delivery Fees
- Continuing Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Commitment
- Reduced Holiday Hours
For more information on how Kroger is implementing these measures, click here for the full press release.
As we continue to cover more retail news, keep safe and keep checking ANUK for the latest updates.
HOLLISTER, CA - Expansion efforts can take on many forms. For Berry People, its most recent expansion effort is centered around beefing up its team and operations. The year-round, full-line shipper of organic and conventional berries and avocados has created new positions within its organization, added team members, and moved operations to a larger central California office to accommodate this growth.
"We are thankful to be an essential part of the nation’s food supply chain, allowing us to support the people in our Berry People community, including our growers, employees, customers, and consumers," said Jerald Downs, President, speaking of the worldwide effects of COVID-19. "We’re assessing the short- and long-term effects of the pandemic, and taking measures to manage business risk, while also ensuring the safety of our field labor, consumers, and everyone in between. Our cloud-based and mobile work environment allow us to continue the quality of service that our buyers and growers expect, and we are effectively managing our supply-chain to support the market’s demands."
These business moves are consistent with the company’s long-term strategic plan for continual expansion since launching in 2017.
According to a press release, recent key hires include the addition of an ERP-process analyst, financial controller, and regional supply managers.
"These specialized roles improve functional efficiency, optimize deployment of resources, tighten risk management, and deepen relationships with growers and suppliers," said Michael Osumi, Vice President of Supply-Operations.
While many of Berry People’s staff are currently working remotely, these efforts to accelerate expansion are expected to help the company navigate this challenging time.
"Strong core values and a clear company vision support our intentional organization and job design, so our valued team members convey a unified brand promise to our service providers and customers," said Downs. "These characteristics support our ‘unity in diversity’ philosophy, leaning into each other’s strengths toward a common goal. Our growth and building balance sheet also enable us to increase our investment activity in technology, genetics, and packaging innovation, which supports our long-term growth and profitability."
Damon Barkdull, Senior Commodity-Sales Manager, added, "As we approach our third full year in business, our customers can increasingly rely on us for substantially increased volume coverage, and improved continuity across the entire berry and avocado categories, materially reducing the seasonal gaps that are common with young companies like ours. With strong business results and overwhelmingly positive customer feedback to date, we never stop looking for better ways to anticipate needs and shorten response times."
Berry People and its alliance partners have operations in California, Mexico, Chile, and Peru. The company offers year-round availability of organic and conventional strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and avocados through the Berry People and Avo People brands.
"As we build financial strength, we plan to build our ‘social balance sheet’ as well, increasing our position in and commitment to both the marketplace, and to the communities we work in," concluded Downs. "We look forward to giving back to the stakeholders that have embraced our organization, appreciating the fact that we’re a company whose growth is driven fundamentally by trust."
Berry People’s short-term plans include the significant expansion of its summer organic strawberry program and a substantially increased position in the Peruvian avocado and blueberry industries.
Keep checking in on reports from ANUK as we continue bringing you the latest news.
CHARLOTTE, NC - With stay-at-home mandates effectively rolled out across the United States, a little brightness in the day helps pass the time. Dole Food Company is encouraging Americans to follow social distancing protocols and see the silver lining in stay-at-home orders to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by asking for a banana smile through its latest initiative.
According to a press release, the produce provider’s Silver Lining Selfies asks followers to write the answer to the question, “What is the silver lining to having to stay home?,” on a banana, hold it up as a smile, and share the photo as a selfie on social media along with the hashtag, #SilverLiningSelfies.
Last week, Dole launched an At-Home Resource Page featuring the most useful family-friendly resources it has developed over the years plus new nutrition tips, healthy kid-friendly recipes, free printables, at-home games and activity ideas, and research-backed suggestions from Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole’s Health and Communications Manager.
Silver Lining Selfies is part of an ongoing mission by Dole to help parents build healthier households, which has taken on urgency due to families staying home because of COVID-19. Retailers can take part in the initiative by helping educate consumers of the campaign and offering recipes for cross-promotional opportunities.
The initiative launched on April 8 and concludes on April 15, which is National Banana Day. To participate, followers are asked to go to Dole’s Instagram page.
A highlight of the page is the online Healthy Eating Toolkit created by Dole and the nonprofit Action for Healthy Kids for parents trying to keep housebound kids happy and healthy.
As more industry news come to light, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring latest.
HOOD RIVER, OR - It’s 5 a.m. for cherry blossoms, nestled in their buds and sleeping soundly. Brad Fowler, Co-Founder of Hood River Cherries, tells me that when the daylight begins to shine at 6 a.m. he hopes the cherries sleep in through any remaining chill before it's time to rise and bloom.
“Our trees are still sound asleep for harvest this year, and we would like for the trees to hit the snooze button a bit because right now things are looking a little bit ahead of schedule. That does not mean harvest will be, as it will be at least another month before we have any flowers coming out on cherries,” Brad shares.
He has just come in from counting flowers inside the bud with his team members, and right now things look favorable for the upcoming harvest season, which usually runs from July 15 to September 1.
“Our company’s volume has the potential to be identical to last year, maybe even a little bit more. Last year, it was exceptional and we are hoping all the trees remember what they did,” he laughs.
Both volume and quality mirroring last year’s Northwest cherry season would be a boon to the increasing demand the fruit is seeing year over year from consumers, who consistently keep on the lookout for the first cherries to hit stores and menus.
“Demand has been going up fairly constantly; it’s the supply that goes up and down,” Brad points out. “Mother Nature makes a call, we just have to live with what she decides. At this moment it looks perfect, but there are a lot of forks in the road between now and cherry harvest.”
He explains that part of the fervor is that cherries are the first summer fruit that excites people, followed by the other seasonal bounties they dream of.
“I think the future for cherries is really bright. Go to a party, and bring a bowl of cherries and see what happens. People are passionate about them. At the same time, the American consumer is getting more experienced and sharper all the time. If we as an industry don’t deliver product that really tastes good, the consumer won’t come back and buy it again,” he shares. “Though many of the factors that influence this are out of our control—much of it is up to Mother Nature—we go to extreme measures to ensure our cherries taste good in every area we can control.”
Those factors include best practices, counting those blossoms, and doing whatever the team can to make sure they stay tucked in. Because in terms of harvest it’s still 5 a.m., and even cherries need their beauty sleep.