MISSION, TX - Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) is using its expertise to uplift the lime industry, announcing it will soon be hosting a “Lime Grades & Standards Training Day.” The full day of training will focus on several vital aspects, including differences between lime grades, determining color, as well as identifying common defects.

“The volume of limes being traded in U.S. markets has increased dramatically over the last decade,” explains Dante Galeazzi, President of TIPA. “Unfortunately, the understanding of the technical nature of the commodity has lagged behind the volume growth. In meetings with over 30 different lime shippers, it became evident that education was needed across many levels to establish harmonization regarding the interpretation of the standards and grades for limes. That’s why TIPA is excited to announce this FREE event, open to any and all industry members. If your organization grows, packs, sells, buys, or touches a lime, then this event is for you.”

“Lime Grades & Standards Training Day” will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on August 4 in Pharr, Texas, at the training location provided by Pharr International Bridge. As a press release explained, the insightful course will be based on the USDA Grade Standards for Limes with special attention to areas such as grade terminology, blanching vs. yellowing, and distinguishing and scoring appearance defects. It will be led by Mr. Richard Ruiz, an inspector with nearly 40 years of experience conducting USDA inspections throughout Texas, alongside a team from the Texas Cooperative Inspection Program (TCIP).

The first portion of the day will include a morning session with a classroom-style element, followed by afternoon visits to local warehouses, where attendees will be able to see the impact of different lighting conditions on the coloration of the limes.

Attendees will also receive a packet with reference materials covered during the course. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.texipa.org, email [email protected], or contact the TIPA offices at 956-581-8632.

For more industry news, keep clicking on ANUK.

Texas International Produce Association

SALINAS, CA - Peel, enjoy, and reseal. The eating experience will be as simple as that thanks to Earthbound Farm’s latest development. The supplier has eliminated up to 35 percent of its plastic use by utilizing peel-and-reseal sustainable packaging technology.

“We constantly challenge ourselves to do more with less,” said T. Bruce Taylor, Vice President of Organic and Earthbound Farm. “We are thrilled that our new packaging has been a hit with our consumers, while helping Earthbound Farm and our customer partners make progress toward our collective sustainability goals.”

This reduction of 3.5 million pounds per year of plastic is a result of replacing the rigid lid with a resealable lidding film, while also eliminating the top and bottom label, a press release explained. The new design improves the shopper experience with a printed film and maintains a tray made from 100 percent recycled plastic. The press release went on to note that over 93 percent of consumers expressed satisfaction with the new packaging, citing freshness, sustainability, and convenience.

As a result of this new peel-and-reseal packaging design, Earthbound Farm is launching three new Bright and Crunchy blends this fall that bring new flavor, color, and crunch combinations to the organic salad set:

1. Romaine + Butter Crunch: chopped Romaine, baby red butter lettuce, shredded carrots
2. Little Gem Kale Crunch: chopped little gems, shredded kale, chopped radicchio, shredded green cabbage, shredded broccoli stalk
3. Little Gem Butter Crunch: chopped little gems, baby red butter lettuce, shredded carrots, shredded red cabbage

“We are excited to utilize this innovative technology to bring consumers value and convenience,” said Jenny Panziera, Director of Product for Organic and Earthbound Farm. “By combining sweet and butter lettuce varieties with the added crunch and nutrition of fresh-cut vegetables, we are creating new flavor experiences for the organic consumer.”

Earthbound can be found at booth #500 at the Organic Produce Summit today, so be sure to stop by!

Keep clicking back to ANUK for more produce news.

Earthbound Farm

WENATCHEE, WA - If you’re looking to add more cherries to your display, call up Stemilt stat, for the grower has got your orders covered with Stemilt World Famous cherries. Guaranteed for consistent top flavor, size, and quality, you’ll see success this summer on your produce floor as volumes increase.

“Stemilt is a leader in cherries because we provide consistent quality to keep people shopping for them all season long,” said Brianna Shales, Marketing Director. “Size, flavor, and firmness are very important in a high-quality cherry, and we’re obsessive about picking cherries at the optimal times. Cherries don’t get sweeter after picking, so it’s important to pick fruit when it’s ready, even if that means multiple picks to get the best sizes and flavors.”

From the farm to the packing line, there’s a short amount of time to keep cherries fresh. Cherries do not have stored carbohydrates, so Stemilt uses a cold chain from the orchard to the packing line to maximize freshness for the retailer. This process helps put the shelf-life back into the hands of retailers and consumers.

“We have one of the largest networks of on-farm mobile hydrocoolers that allow us to bring the internal temperature of cherries way down quickly after harvest,” noted Shales. “First, they’re picked from the tree, placed in bins, and covered by an icy cold cloth. Then, we take the bins through the mobile hydrocoolers at or very near the farm. Lastly, we transfer cherries in refrigerated trucks to the packing line, where in-line hydrocooling helps us pack them fresh.”

Starting the cold chain early and doing it right means retailers have fresh cherries to sell, improving the cherry-eating experience. There are many elements that go into Stemilt’s cherry program that focus on quality, specifically to help drive repeat purchases at the point of sale.

“We’re very particular about the varieties we grow and focus on selecting the best sites for growing special varieties like Rainier, Skylar Rae®, Kyle’s Pick®, and A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries,” continued Shales. “Packaging is a great tool to use to distinguish the different varieties. Bags are the primary packaging vehicles for cherries, and clamshells or top seal are other great options for organics and specialty items. With an increase in cherry volume this year, there’s traction with 3 lb clamshells and top seal to increase purchase sizes of dark-sweet cherries.”

Rainier, Skylar Rae, and Kyle’s Pick cherries will all be available in July, and A Half Mile Closer to the Moon cherries in August.

Check out the release here for more information.

ANUK will maintain a read on the fields to bring more updates to your screens.

Stemilt

MADRID, SPAIN - An acquisition is taking place between the consortium led by AMFRESH Group and Special New Fruit Licensing Limited (SNFL) to purchase International Fruit Genetics (IFG). AMFRESH, as well as the Swedish fund EQT and the American fund Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP), has entered an agreement to purchase the entire IFG business. SNFL expects to close the transaction in the coming weeks.

“Our entire team and partners are proud to be able to move forward with the green light of the arbitration,” Alvaro Muñoz, Chief Executive Officer, commented. “This is the beginning of a breakthrough for the FRESH food sector and our greatest ambition is to foster the most innovative, natural, sustainable, and healthy products to delight consumers globally. Our aim is to increase consumption and market size of fresh, healthy, and affordable products globally.”

Additionally, Bluestone Food and Tech, Muñoz's family holding, closed an agreement to become the sole 100 percent equity partner of AMFRESH Group and acquire 100 percent of AMC Group.

AMFRESH, a group that in recent years has been in full expansion and involved in M&A activity, will follow its Strategic Plan with the objective of doubling its sales (currently €1.5 billion or $1.6 billion USD in 2023) to reach €3 billion or $3.3 billion USD in 2028 and tripling its EBITDA in the same timeframe.

“At AMFRESH we have been working on the integration of our supply chain with the aim of always adding value to our retail partners. Our focus is on offering innovative solutions that allow differentiation and are always based on technology,” Pablo Sánchez-Lozano, Chief Operating Officer, said. “We have tools that cover the full cycle including genetics, agriculture, technology, and sustainable practices; our degree of flexibility is unparalleled, and our customized models adapt to all clients, geographies, and categories.”

For more information on this acquisition, click here.

Stay fresh on industry news with ANUK.

AMFRESH Group

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - A long-time retail vet is adding “Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer” to their already impressive resume. Target has announced that Lisa Roath will be taking on the central role, guiding growth for its retail operations.

“Target’s marketing has long been a key differentiator for our brand, and it plays a critical role in helping us foster meaningful connections with the millions of guests who shop with us,” said Roath. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead this best-in-class team as we work together to fuel those connections with our guests, driving deeper loyalty and continued sales growth for years to come.”

Taking on this new role, Roath will be responsible for leading the retailer’s core marketing functions, such as guest marketing strategy, retail brand experience, social media, paid media strategy, and marketing strategy and operations.

She will report to Cara Sylvester, Executive Vice President and Chief Guest Experience Officer.

“Marketing plays such an important role in Target’s guest experience and brings to life the inspiration, care, and connection people feel when they shop with us,” said Sylvester. “Lisa’s detailed understanding of the retail landscape, her experience leading teams to deliver strong business results, and her deep knowledge of and empathy for our guests make her the ideal candidate to steward Target’s brand and grow our relationship with guests.”

Roath is a 17-year Target veteran, according to a press release, having most recently served as Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage Merchandising. During this time, she led the team through a period of explosive growth as Target grew its annual food and beverage sales by more than $5 billion since 2019. Her focus on innovation also helped quadruple the number of emerging brands in its assortment. Prior to that, Roath held various other key roles with the company.

Congratulations to Lisa Roath on her new executive role!

Target

OXNARD, CA - Deardorff Family Farms has formed a new collaboration, utilizing its industry prowess to help fight hunger in Ventura County, California. The company has announced it is working with Food Share Ventura County to launch a social entrepreneurship project called Farm Share.

“Having grown up in a farming family, I knew that if we could connect the farms more directly with Food Share, we could improve both the quantity and quality of fresh produce available to those who need it most,” shared Kate Deardorff, a senior in high school who has been volunteering with Food Share Ventura County for many years doing produce packing, food distribution, and gardening. As Deardorff noted, she has seen first-hand the huge demand for fresh food as well as the difficulty for Food Share to source good-quality produce for those facing food insecurity.

Thus, the plan to create a collaboration between Deardorff Family Farms and Food Share was developed. Through this alliance, Deardorff Family Farms provides the land and materials to grow fresh produce, while Food Share provides the volunteers to get the work done. As a press release explained, this collaboration between a private farm and Food Share is a whole new approach to sourcing produce for those in need; the name “Farm Share” was created to reflect the unique workings of the farm/Food Share partnership.

One hundred percent of the produce will be donated to Food Share, which traditionally sources food from leftover products. As the company explained, this new model allows food to be specifically grown for Food Share, ensuring better quality and more consistent quantity for families in need.

Deardorff and several daily volunteers are currently planting Romaine, Iceberg, cabbage, and cauliflower to be harvested later this summer. The program will produce over 100,000 pounds of fresh vegetables for those facing food insecurity in Ventura County.

Cheers to this valiant effort to support those in need!

Deardorff Family Farms

CHICAGO, IL - Raul Jaramillo will be taking on the new role of Vice President of Sales for Hazel Technologies. Jaramillo will report to Hazel Chief Revenue Officer Jeff Leshuk.

Bringing over 18 years of multidisciplinary sales and marketing expertise in the food, biotech, retail, and construction industries, Jaramillo has a dynamic track record of individual and team success, both domestically and internationally. The company noted he is well-positioned to lead Hazel’s aggressive expansion into a growing list of new, global markets.

Most recently, Jaramillo served as the Director of U.S. Sales - Food Safety at 3M Food Safety (acquired by Neogen Corporation in 2022), where he was an integral part of the U.S./Canadian Sales Leadership team. He was also the Northeast Territory Manager at 3M Food Safety. Leveraging his analytical acumen and Six Sigma background, he built novel data models and implemented progressive strategies to achieve growth, which earned him annual performance-based awards.

With his diverse background, including positions as North Region Operations Manager at GNC and South Gulf Region Sales and Marketing Manager at GRUMA, Jaramillo has gained valuable insights into different industries and markets. His experience in managing large teams, handling P&L responsibilities, and delivering exceptional results further strengthens his ability to lead and drive success in Hazel’s expanding global footprint.

Jaramillo holds an MBA in International Business from Texas A&M International University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey. His unique combination of business and technical expertise enables him to effectively navigate the complexities of scaling manufactured products and identifying growth opportunities in new markets.

As noted in the release, Jaramillo’s expertise and contributions will be instrumental in driving Hazel’s growth as it continues to develop groundbreaking post-harvest solutions that reduce waste and enhance the efficiency of the fresh food supply chain, in every part of the world.

“We are thrilled to welcome Raul as our Vice President of Sales,” said Leshuk. “His extensive experience, guiding strategic approach, and strong leadership abilities make him the perfect fit for our fast-growing company. Raul’s appointment aligns with our vision of revolutionizing the postharvest industry and delivering our innovative solutions to customers worldwide.”

Congratulations, Raul Jaramillo, on your new position!

Hazel Technologies

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL - July 1 was a celebratory day, as Hazera welcomed Tom Antens as its new Head of the Commercial Department. He returns to the company with significant experience after trying his hand in different sectors of the industry.

“We must strive for quality and excellence in all aspects, to truly make the difference,” Antens stated upon entering his new role. “Even though Hazera is a strong brand in many markets, there’s still a lot of room to grow and new markets to explore. I see a lot of potential.”

Antens previously worked as Sales Manager for the Middle East, North Africa, and Oceania. He later joined HM Clause as Business Manager, working as Commercial Director for Turkey, Algeria, EMEA Export, and Africa, overseeing sales for these high-growth markets during the past four years.

“I’m looking forward to working with both new and familiar faces. My goal is to form a close-knit team and bring stability to the Commercial Department as I have done in previous roles,” Antens added. “From there, we can explore new markets for our Hi-tech and ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes and strengthen existing ones, realizing our growth potential along the way.”

Antens went on in a press release from the company, stating that with Hazera’s people, knowledge, and ambition, the company has huge growth potential, and he looks forward to taking on the challenge.

“The question I ask myself is: how do we make the difference?” Antens continued. “Hazera’s products are widely regarded to be innovative. But, to really understand why clients choose us, we must place them at the center point; not just in the Commercial Department, but in all departments within Hazera. We can excel by listening carefully to our growers and translating their input in our innovations. By combining this with operational excellence, we can grow together and truly stand out from the competition.”

We offer congratulations to the new Head of Commercial!

Hazera

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Are you excited to travel to Monterey, California? I know the AndNowUKnow team is, for organic innovations are just around the corner at the 2023 Organic Produce Summit (OPS). Sarah Quackenbush, Sales Manager for North Bay Produce, and I couldn’t contain our excitement as we talked shop in the lead-up to the show.

“North Bay Produce is excited to talk about our organic North American blueberry crop with OPS attendees this year,” Sarah tells me. “We will be showcasing our beautiful blueberries, which are very large this season with excellent quality.”

As the weather continues to stay hot this summer in the United States, having a punnet of fresh blueberries already puts my mind at ease and into a deep blue sea of fresh sweetness.

Following soon after the show, North Bay is expecting sufficient supplies of more delicious blueberries to keep up with consumer demand.

“Starting in August and through the end of the year, we are expecting large volumes of organic Peruvian Sekoya blueberries,” continues Sarah. “That is a huge opportunity for customers to create incremental sales in the organic berry category.”

I’m already imagining those fresh and delicious berry applications—and I’m sure your shoppers are eagerly enjoying their own berries by the package. With organic interest continuing to rise among consumers, now is the perfect time to put these berries front and center.

“We hope to see our existing customers at OPS, as well as get our face out there with customers we may not know yet to capitalize on organic interest,” Sarah explains. “OPS is important because of the number of buyers it attracts. Additionally, the ever-growing focus on organic products keeps our team engaged and interested to learn how North Bay can continue to advance our progress in the industry.”

Be sure to stop by booth #603 to get a sweet taste of what North Bay offers, and keep a tab open for ANUK for more show updates.

North Bay Produce

COMMERCE, CA - Calling up Dave Hewitt is always an enlightening conversation. Not only do we get to connect over the phone about our hectic schedules, but he’s always available to provide key insights on the latest developments at 4Earth Farms™—especially as the Organic Produce Summit (OPS) comes up.

“We’re not resting on our laurels, and OPS is the best place for us to showcase our core mix of items. Progress is always a focal point for us at 4Earth Farms, and that comes through our enhanced growing regions with emphasis on improving supply, quality, consistency, and year-round availability,” Dave, Vice President of Sales, says. “Attendees will see that through our comprehensive portfolio of organic offerings, such as our Brussels sprouts, florets, sugar snap peas, and both green and French beans.”

This commitment to development is apparent through the grower’s recent progression on increasing access nationwide. Despite the turbulent weather the United States experienced over the past six months, 4Earth’s consistency is expected. The grower’s presence on both coasts allows for fewer miles on the road and more days of shelf-life for its customers.

Additionally, the company’s geographic diversity and expansion have increased delivered program capabilities to all customers across North America. This dedication to top-tier service makes the grower a one-stop destination, and that strength will be on show at OPS.

“The show is unique because it brings the people who buy organic produce together with the people that grow organic produce; it's pretty drilled down,” David explains. “You’ve got a captive, focused audience, so the conversations are very specific and productive. There’s no question that OPS is one of the best shows of the year.”

And 4Earth is certainly not resting on its laurels as the grower continues to build upon last season. One week after OPS, 4Earth will be heading down to Central Mexico to finish out summer and prepare for the upcoming fall season.

Be sure to stop by booth #420 if you’re curious about its summer program or have questions about your fall order. But come back to ANUK to learn more about the industry’s latest.

4Earth Farms™