NOGALES, AZ - Land is one of the most integral aspects of the produce business, and as such, state government often works in partnership with growers and associations in order to fortify the land we require to get the job done. The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) along with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and organizations from across the state recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a massive overhaul to State Route 189 in Nogales, Arizona. At an event on March 4, almost 200 people came together to celebrate this $134 million investment for Arizona.
“The road improvement will make sure our roads operate at the speed of business, creating an efficient flow of trade and travelers from the Mariposa Port to I-19,” said Lance Jungmeyer, President. “This project reduces transit time from the port of entry to local warehouses, giving companies a valuable incentive to locate their operations in Nogales.”
SR 189, also known as Mariposa Road, is the main thoroughfare for trucks crossing the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales and heading northbound on I-19 to area warehouses. According to a press release, the funding package leverages state, federal, City, and County funding that make up the entire $134 million price tag.
“This is a project we have been working on for many years. It is exciting to see this come to fruition especially since this is one of the largest transportation improvement projects in our state,” said Scott Vandervoet, Chairman and President of Vandervoet & Associates. “The benefit this will bring to the produce industry is hugely important as we strive to maintain our competitive advantages.”
The City of Nogales and Santa Cruz County are committing approximately $45 million over the course of several years from their share of a fee paid by produce trucks crossing the border. The State Legislature committed $25 million of general fund money to this project. The road is also recognized as vital on a Federal level, and the project received an investment of $25 million through the award of a Federal Tiger Grant.
More than 2,000 trucks a day use this route, and the improvements should save more than 10 minutes per northbound truck, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. “This is huge systems savings. It reduces emissions and makes the whole supply chain more efficient,” Jungmeyer added.
The project will fund important enhancements to the entire length of SR 189 and will also construct a flyover ramp connecting SR 189 to I-19, which eliminates stoplights and left-hand turns that currently hamper movement of heavy trucks onto the interstate.
“We are excited about the positive benefits this will bring to our members in the form of faster, safer, more reliable deliveries to their warehouses,” Jungmeyer continued. “Ultimately this is major win for our customers and the end consumer because we will have faster deliveries of the fresh, high-quality produce that Nogales is known for.”
The project is also designed as a crucial safety measure by separating the ingress and egress of local high school traffic from the intersection where it meets with the commercial traffic on SR 189.
“We know that better roads mean a better future for Arizona,” said Governor Ducey in a release from the Arizona Department of Transportation. “The improvements along State Route 189 will improve safety, enhance trade, and foster an even stronger relationship with our neighbors in Mexico. With record trade already with Mexico, my thanks to the Arizona Department of Transportation, our partners in Mexico, and everyone working to improve our infrastructure and attract even more trade through our ports.”
For more news as it pertains to the fresh produce and retail industries, keep a tab open for us at ANUK.
SANDPOINT, ID - When a company like Litehouse experiences phenomenal growth, phenomenal people are needed to lead the way. The refrigerated salad dressing company has announced two new leaders to help shape the company—Brad Horn will now be the new Vice President of Retail Sales, Produce and Deli, and Chris Blanford has been promoted to the position of Senior Director of Marketing. Horn and Blanford’s extensive experience in consumer packaged goods and retail will help further drive Litehouse’s strategic sales and marketing initiatives.
“As Litehouse continues to grow, it’s important for us to continue establishing team leaders who will not only drive our key business strategies but also represent our core company values and help lead our employee-owners,” said Kelly Prior, President and CEO. “Brad and Chris have impressive experience and a history of driving strong results across key business areas, which will be valuable as we lay the groundwork for future initiatives.”
According to a press release, Horn has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience, including stints with J.M. Smucker Company and Kraft Foods, where he held key leadership positions and grew business sales. In his new role as Vice President of Retail Sales, Produce and Deli, Horn will lead and oversee the Litehouse produce and deli sales team, which includes all Retail Sales Directors, National Account Managers, Regional Business Managers, and Sales Managers. He holds a bachelor of science in hotel, restaurant, and institutional management from Morehead State University and completed the food executive program at Cornell University.
In Blanford’s new role, he will continue to build Litehouse’s marketing strategy to support initiatives across all business channels, with a focus on driving innovation and brand awareness across Litehouse’s portfolio of brands. Blanford joined Litehouse in 2017 as Director, Consumer Marketing and Communications, and prior to joining Litehouse, held leadership roles in marketing and advertising on both the agency side and the brand side. Blanford earned a bachelor of science in marketing from the University of Idaho.
Congratulations to both Brad Horn and Chris Blanford on their new positions!
For more exciting industry news, keep on the lookout for ANUK.
SOLEDAD, CA - Braga Fresh, a third-generation farming family, and a visionary leader in the produce industry, has been scooping up supplier awards left and right. The grower recently nabbed a National Special Recognition Supplier Award from Whole Foods, and has now announced another award, this time from Walmart as Supplier of the Year in Produce.
“We are incredibly honored to have received this award. It was only made possible by the everyday dedication and drive from our entire team,” said Rod Braga, President and CEO. “It all begins with our farming, from harvesting, cooling, and processing, to sales and logistics, every link in the chain is important. My family has been farming since the 1920s, but we only began marketing under Josie’s Organics and Braga Farms in 2013. Being named the Supplier of the Year by Walmart, who we deliver to nationwide, makes us extremely proud of our 1,400 team members.”
According to a press release, the award was announced at the 2020 Walmart Supplier Growth Forum in Rogers, Arkansas, and Braga was also nominated for “Supplier of the Year” in the broader Food Category.
“I need to thank Nicholas DaCosta, President of Braga Foods specifically. Braga Foods focuses on our fresh-cut, value-added line of products. Nicholas and his team have led our partnership with Walmart bringing an everyday pursuit of excellence,” Braga continued.
Nicholas DaCosta, President of Braga Foods, added, “Being grower-owned allows us to control all aspects of our business. Our partners are our top priority, we strive for excellence by providing everyday supply, top quality, the highest food safety practices, and great customer service from the field to distribution centers."
Farming for nearly a century, Braga, a vertically-integrated company, continues to mix innovation with tradition to grow and ship premium quality salads and vegetables worldwide. The third Braga generation continues to uphold its high standards of quality to ensure fresh and wholesome vegetables. Braga Fresh produces premium quality vegetables, value-added vegetables, premium salad kits, baby leaf blends, and baby lettuces. The grower brings its expertise, authenticity, and standard of integrity to the retail market through the premium brands Braga Farms and Josie’s Organics.
Congratulations to Braga Fresh on yet another prestigious supplier award!
MEXICO - One of the great triumphs for produce in recent history, in my humble opinion, is the U.S.’s discovery of how to enjoy Brussels sprouts, boosting demand for what was once a very underestimated vegetable.
Ippolito International’s Sales Manager, Katie Harreld, and Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Processing, Dan Canales, took some time to discuss the current seasonal outlook for this up-and-comer, as well as the increasing opportunities it provides produce purveyors.
“We expect the Salinas/Castroville, California, deal to begin at the end of June, although the Mexico program will still be in progress, so there’s going to be overlap as far as shipping locations go for a couple of months,” Katie says. She adds that, with a steady supply available, spring promotions are highly recommended.
Both team members emphasize that Brussels sprouts are now a fan favorite, and the industry is obliging. While sales typically peak in the winter months, Katie shares that careful management of multiple growing regions has yielded quality sprouts year-round.
“Demand for value-added Brussels sprouts continues to grow,” Dan comments, continuing to maintain a close watch on customer interest from both a foodservice and retail perspective. “As restaurants cater to evolving consumer tastes, we’ve seen an increased interest in processed, pre-washed sprouts, whether the format is whole, halved, or shaved. There are endless creative ways to present these on the plate, and it seems that customers are eager to add them to their menus.”
Ippolito International’s current production is based out of Mexico, which the team says continues to drive good volume with firm supply and nice, consistent quality. As spring quickly approaches, AndNowUKnow will report on all that blooms throughout the fresh produce industry.
TAMPA, FL - The Sunshine State may have been unseasonably cold, but our industry certainly brought the heat into what was left of winter. Produce pros turned up to the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure ready to kick 2020 off right, and there are a few products and packages left seared in my mind as we look to spring.
B&W Quality Growers True Red Leaf Kale
No longer is it just about “going green,” and anyone who wants consumers snapping photos of their plates should be thrilled. B&W Quality Growers is bringing a new flair to Kale’s former celebrity with this bright spin. Red—the attention-getter, the color of fast cars and daring lipsticks—is ever the queen of catching the eye, and this latest produce launch is no exception.
IMG Citrus White Grapefruit
If my picks speak to what 2020 will be about for me, it’s the stand-outs, the spin-offs, the deviations from what you would typically see in an otherwise familiar category. Much like red kale, I was intrigued particularly by the giant lemon-y appearance of IMG’s white grapefruit and was sold by a distinct sweetness out of the norm for the category. I’m now convinced sampling this alternative option in-store would win consumers, not to mention give buyers a color break in their department.
Pete’s Butter Stuffers
There is a clean, beautiful simplicity to Pete’s latest launch. Butter Stuffers answer today’s call for healthy alternatives on the go. If it wasn’t for the decision to showcase the products’ bright and inviting contents, the packaging could have just been a lunch box. This is undoubtedly a perfect solution for retailers looking to get into the meal kit game without getting into the meal kit game.
Topline Farms Snacking Cucumber
I have always judged my produce by the crunch. I want that movie sound that always makes me crave an apple, a pear, a pickle...and now its parent, the cucumber. It is no secret that snacking is the burgeoning frontier for fresh produce, and Topline is looking to bring the crunch away from chips and cookies into the realm of veggies. I am here for it, and I imagine there are several shoppers behind me.
Wilcox Yellow Flesh Russet Potato
A staple in more ways than one, it seems like potatoes could simply ride the wave of being a necessity with any meal. Yet innovation and experimentation continue, and it’s looking golden. Those who swung by Wilcox know what I mean, having set their eyes on the newly launched yellow flesh russets. Consumers who might have shied away from the traditional brown russets’ misconceptions can now find their gateway spud in this variety while steadfast fans find their love renewed.
If the rest of this calendar year is anything like its start, we are looking at some raging 20s for fresh produce.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - Country Sweet Produce has been on a growth trajectory to rival in recent years with the rising demand for the company’s innovative Bako Sweet portfolio setting the course. With such evolution comes growth across the team as well. The company is kicking off March by welcoming a new member to the family with Alexandra Rae Danell as Country Sweet Produce’s (CSP) new Marketing Manager.
“I am excited to work with the team to elevate the Country Sweet Produce brand in the mind of consumers. My passion is to work on behalf of farmers to promote produce to consumers with the quality and excellence that this company is known for,” Alexandra shares with me as she reflects on joining the company. “The team is giving me that incredible opportunity. Everyone is excited about where we are headed and what is in store for us.”
There are a lot of new things happening at Country Sweet Produce and Alexandra is jumping in at the ground level with dynamic energy to drive the company’s vision forward.
“We are thrilled and grateful to have Alexandra join our amazing team at CSP. She brings such passion and drive—and we are at the stage of the game where having a concentrated focus on brand strategy is so critical,” Mike Valpredo, President, tells me. “There’s quite a bit happening around here right now so she’s hitting the ground running.”
Alexandra grew up around farming in the Central Coast of California and discovered her passion for the produce industry while studying Agriculture Business at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The up and comer worked for Grimmway Farms as its Southern California Sales and Merchandiser and then gained experience Marketing for a medical company.
During that time, Alexandra started a business she calls her passion project, Harvest Joy. Harvest Joy shares food and farm stories from the ground up through photography. Her passion is to connect the consumer and farmers through the content she creates.
Congrats, Alexandra on joining the innovative and dynamic company!
SEATTLE, WA - The age of cashier-less technology is upon us, and it’s becoming increasingly more available thanks to Amazon. Recently, the e-tailer once known for books has taken over the brick-and-mortar space and is in the business of selling its cashier-less technology to other retailers.
In a recent news update, Amazon told Reuters it had signed “several” deals with undisclosed customers, inviting others to inquire about the service on its new Just Walk Out website. This technology was popularized in Amazon’s Amazon Go grocery convenience stores, where consumers would walk into the brick-and-mortar location, peruse, and pay for purchases via their Amazon account with no checkout lanes to wait through.
“Do customers like standing in lines?” Dilip Kumar, Amazon’s Vice President of Physical Retail and Technology, asked. “This has pretty broad applicability across store sizes, across industries, because it fundamentally tackles a problem of how do you get convenience in physical locations, especially when people are hard-pressed for time.”
According to Reuters, the highly anticipated business reflects Amazon’s strategy of building out internal capabilities—such as warehouses to help with package delivery and cloud technology to support its website—and then turning those into lucrative services it offers others.
Unlike Amazon Go stores, however, shoppers in other retailers will insert a credit card into a gated turnstile to enter, rather than scan an app. The turnstiles will display the logo “Just Walk Out technology by Amazon,” but all other branding and store aspects will be controlled by the retailer using the service. Items picked up by a customer and any guests who enter with them will be added to the shopper’s virtual cart. The store will then bill the credit card once the person or group leaves the store—no bar code scans or checkout lines necessary.
Kumar said Amazon will install the technology including ceiling cameras and shelf weight sensors at retailers’ stores, whether they are new locations or retrofits, and it will have a 24-7 support line.
Which retailers will pick up on this latest technology in the grocery space? Keep reading AndNowUKnow as we uncover more information.
COALVILLE, U.K. - Grocery retailers are getting creative with their expansion strategies, honing in on distribution centers (DC) to deliver on a national scale. Aldi, for example, is continuing to tackle growth overseas by rolling out plans for a new 1.3 million square-foot warehouse in the U.K. This new DC is expected to create 750 jobs in the area.
According to a report by DerbyshireLive, Aldi has officially submitted plans for this new massive facility. In addition to the extensive square footage dedicated to the warehouse, Aldi has plans for new offices to be built on the 72-acre plot of land.
The news source also noted that the new DC will feature sustainable materials and solar panels on the roof. The chain commented, saying that the facility will be a “high spec, high quality, semi-automated, logistic warehouse distribution centre.”
Will Aldi and other retailers continue using new warehouses to catapult their landmark expansions? Or will a new strategy soon take root? Whatever the case, AndNowUKnow will be here to give you the latest reports.
BRENTWOOD, MO - As part of its broad and diverse influencer engagement strategy, the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is bringing more than 40 retail, foodservice, culinary professionals, health and wellness experts, and lifestyle influencers to its Consumer Connection Conference this year, held in Scottsdale, Arizona, April 13-16, 2020. The PBH Consumer Connection Conference is one of the only events that unites industry leaders with this array of high-caliber ambassadors to create meaningful relationships that foster actionable solutions for consumers to eat and enjoy more fruits and vegetables every day.
“As PBH enters the next phase of our transformation, we are thrilled to grow our network with such a passionate group of ambassadors who are on the forefront of driving consumption of fruits and vegetables through the Have A Plant™ Movement,” shared Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, President and CEO of PBH. “It takes a village to create a movement, and the time is now for the industry to embrace an all-hands-on-deck approach as we attempt to solve for what we believe is a true fruit and vegetable consumption crisis.”
According to a press release, PBH has nearly doubled its Fruit and Vegetable Ambassadors in Action (FVAA) class for 2020-2021 with 24 consumer-facing influencers who have agreed to promote and advance the Have A Plant Movement as well as fuel PBH’s digital ecosystem with unique and inspiring content, in-kind, for one full year starting in April at the conference.
“The power of influencers who make a difference in inspiring consumer behavior change is real, and PBH’s Consumer Connection Conference brings this to life for our members,” said Katie Toulouse, Marketing and Communications Director for PBH. “Sponsors of this year’s conference will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with consumer influencers who are fueling retail sales, curating foodservice menus en masse, and driving people to choose fruits and veggies first.”
This year’s PBH FVAA influencer network is made up of a unique group of culinary, agriculture, fitness, health, school foodservice, and lifestyle professionals—all passionate about promoting fruits and vegetables for happier, healthier lives. These ambassadors have significant digital and social reach and engagement on at least one social media platform, collectively reaching nearly 200,000 on Instagram alone. They are content creators who feature produce every day, as well as produce performers that are thought leaders in their own right.
The lineup for the 2020-2021 PBH Fruit and Vegetable Ambassadors in Action are as follows:
- Valerie Agyeman – Flourish Heights (Washington, DC)
- Joan Salge Blake – Dr. Joan Salge Blake - SpotOn! Podcast (Boston, MA)
- Leslie Bonci – Active Eating Advice (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Kristen Carli – Mostly Green (Scottsdale, AZ)
- Neva Cochran – Eating Beyond the Headlines (Dallas, TX)
- Beau Coffron – Lunchbox Dad (Edmund, OK)
- Stephen and Elise Compston – Straight Outta Compston’s Kitchen (Reno, NV)
- Andrew Dole – Body Fuel (Castle Rock, CO)
- Mandy Enright – Food + Movement (Jersey Shore, NJ)
- Abbie Gellman – Culinary Nutrition Cuisine (New York, NY)
- Cara Harbstreet – Street Smart Nutrition (Overland Park, KS)
- Dayle Hayes – School Meals that Rock (Bozeman, MT)
- Kelly Jones – Kelly Jones Nutrition (Philadelphia, PA)
- Kristina LaRue – Love and Zest (Winter Park, FL)
- Andrea Mathis – Beautiful Eats and Things (Pinson, AL)
- Megan McCarthy – Healthy Eating 101 (Atlanta, GA)
- Nicole Rodriguez – Enjoy Food Enjoy Life (New York, NY)
- Sarah Schlichter – Bucket List Tummy (Washington, DC)
- Kelli Shallal – Hungry Hobby (Phoenix, AZ)
- Lori Taylor – The Produce Moms® (Indianapolis, IN)
- Jonathan Valdez – Genki Nutrition (New York, NY)
- Manuel Villacorta – Manuel Villacorta (San Francisco, CA)
- Elisabeth Watkins – Farm Girl Chef (Reno, NV)
- Liz Weiss – Liz’s Healthy Table (Boston, MA)
In addition to the PBH FVAA, the following retail and foodservice companies are currently slated to be at the PBH Consumer Connection Conference as well:
Retailers:
- Albertson’s
- Big Y Foods
- Coborn’s
- H-E-B
- Schnuck’s Markets
- ShopRite/Inserra Supermarkets
- Sobey’s
- Kroger
- Wakefern Food Corp.
Foodservice/Culinary:
- Chris Martone, Foodservice & Culinary Consultant
- Culinary Institute of American (CIA) Healthy Kids Collaborative
- Compass Group
- PF Chang’s
- Shaping America’s Plate, Inc.
- Sysco
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Registration is now open for The Consumer Connection Conference. PBH supports recommendations issued by The World Health Organization stating travelers should practice usual precautions. At this time, the event is still scheduled to take place during the stated dates and times. PBH will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as needed.
For more of the latest news in the lead up to this incredible event, keep reading ANUK.
ORLANDO, FL - Over the weekend, women from across the world were honored and celebrated for their achievements and perseverance through International Women’s Day. The National Mango Board (NMB) was just one produce company celebrating the holiday, recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality. To acknowledge women in the mango industry, inspire conversation, and build awareness of gender equity, the NMB celebrated International Women's Day by changing its name to the “National WOmango Board” for the day.
“International Women's Day is an opportunity for us to acknowledge and appreciate female mango growers and all women in the mango industry,” said Manuel Michel, Executive Director. “We encourage a diverse and inclusive mango industry which supports women in the agricultural workforce and supporting industries. This diversity strengthens the mango industry and agriculture as a whole.”
The NMB recognizes the contribution of all women in the mango industry, from growers on farms in the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, and around the world, through the entire mango supply chain to women in produce, retail, and culinary fields.
This is why the NMB saluted female industry members and their contribution to a thriving mango industry by changing its name for the day. The organization also highlighted the experiences of the female members of its Board of Directors.
Across the globe, there is growth of women in agriculture. In the U.S., 36 percent of all agriculture producers are female; and in mango producing countries such as Ecuador and Peru, women comprise 24.8 percent and 31.3 percent of the agricultural labor force.
Let’s hear it for the ladies! Keep clicking back to ANUK as we continue to cover the latest news in fresh produce.