HOUSTON, TX - Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Distributor Sysco Corporation has announced that its specialty produce company, FreshPoint, has agreed to acquire Minnesota-based BIX Produce, a produce specialty and fresh-cut distributor.

“As we continue to invest in our specialty businesses, BIX Produce is an outstanding addition to our family of companies, reinforcing our Recipe for Growth strategy and helping our customers succeed through industry-leading people, products, and solutions,” said Greg Bertrand, Sysco’s Executive Vice President, U.S. Foodservice Operations.

Through the acquisition, FreshPoint plans to retain all BIX Produce associates and its current management team, a release explained. This deal provides a strategic opportunity for Sysco’s specialty produce company to:

• Expand its geographic footprint in an area of the country where it does not currently have operations
• Strengthen specialty produce offerings to its customers, including fresh-cut and grab-and-go items
• Add a custom, high-quality 200,000-square-foot production and warehouse facility to its operations

In addition to whole produce and fresh cut items, BIX Produce also offers a full line of chef-crafted, grab-and-go products, including options across categories such as breakfast, fruit cups, veggie cups, parfaits, puddings, power snack packs, salads, wraps, and sandwiches.

Founded in 1930, BIX Produce primarily services a broad range of restaurants and other foodservice customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Illinois, and Iowa.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

With fresh produce proving to be a point of focus for Sysco, what moves will the distributor make in the sector next? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow to find out.

Sysco

SUMMERHILL, GA - Make way for a new Publix store, for it’s now ready and open for business. The Florida-based retailer is continuing to solidify its presence in its neighboring state as it opened a location in Summerhill, Georgia.

“The community has been evolving for decades now, and the opportunity for us to place a store here is important,” said Brenda Reid, the Community Relations Manager for the Atlanta Division who has opened 200 stores in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee during her career with Publix. “So much didn’t happen here in Summerhill.”

Currently, Publix runs 150 stores in Metro Atlanta. The 48,000-square-foot store is the first major supermarket chain to come to Summerhill in generations, noted The Atlanta Voice. As noted in the source, Summerhill is a food desert.

Along with a pharmacy, the project will also include a Piedmont Urgent Care on the grounds. The store will have between 125–150 associates working in various positions, and it will be located at 672 Hank Aaron Drive, SE.

ANUK will keep an eye out for more updates in the retail industry.

Publix

IRVINE, CA - Western Growers is a staunch advocate for bolstering the workforce in agriculture. The association has particularly been tied to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA), stating that it could play a crucial role in easing the industry’s current labor shortage and lowering high food prices for consumers. News of the FWMA being reintroduced recently came across our desks, and Dave Puglia is beaming with appreciation.

“We thank Representatives Zoe Lofgren, Dan Newhouse, and their colleagues for reintroducing the Farm Workforce Modernization Act this Congress—a bill that passed the House twice in recent years,” the President and Chief Executive Officer commented. “Many of us have spent tireless hours negotiating this bipartisan legislation, and we commend this reintroduction and look forward to continuing to work toward a viable solution for agriculture.”

Western Growers has been supporting the bill since August 2022, as it released a video highlighting the issues and solutions to mend the immigration system.

The bill was then introduced in December 2022, and it was recently reintroduced on June 23, 2023.

For more updates in our industry, keep a tab open for ANUK.

Western Growers

ORLANDO, FL - The name Caesar seems to be destined for greatness, as both the Roman general and the salad have made history for their achievements. To celebrate the beloved salad variety and National Caesar Salad Day on July 4, Fresh Express® is bringing back its Caesar Celebration promotion for the second year.

“Given how many Caesar products we offer, it’s no surprise that we look forward to celebrating National Caesar Salad Day each year,” said Robin Bell, Marketing Manager at Fresh Express. “The Caesar Celebration promotion provides mealtime inspiration through unique recipes to showcase the versatility of our Caesar products and gives consumers a chance to show just how creative they can be in the kitchen, too.”

Three of Fresh Express’ Caesar salad kits have ranked in the top 10 bestsellers for the value-added salad category, according to a release, making the supplier an expert in Caesar.

To celebrate, from July 5–15, Fresh Express will share unique Caesar salad recipes on its social channels and encourage consumers to submit a photo of their Caesar salad creations with the hashtag #FreshCaesarLove for a chance to win prizes. Consumers can also download a free Caesar recipe e-book from the brand’s website, which includes 10 Caesar recipes.

Fresh Express offers over 100 varieties of fresh and healthy salads, including leafy salad greens and premium, chef-crafted salad kits. This includes its Caesar Supreme Salad Kit and Twisted Caesar Lemon Caesar Chopped Salad Kit—two of the brand’s 11 beloved Caesar salad products, which account for 45 percent of all Caesar Salad dollar sales.

“We pride ourselves on bringing flavor innovation and variety to the Caesar category and look forward to expanding our offerings inspired by America’s favorite salad flavor,” continued Bell. “After all, Fresh Express accounts for nearly half of all Caesar sales, so if you’re having a Caesar salad, there’s a good chance it’s from us. We are Caesar!”

Embrace your inner Julius Caesar and conquer sales by promoting Fresh Express’ range of Caesar salad kits in your produce department during this exciting promotion.

Fresh Express®

WATSONVILLE, CA - I’ve got berries on the brain, and I know that most shoppers do, too. The category continues to see growth and that shows no signs of stopping. As we approach this year’s Organic Produce Summit, California Giant Berry Farms has a host of berry offerings for attendees. Kyla Oberman walks me through the grower’s organic program.

“With berries in tow, we plan to focus on our year-round supply of sustainably grown organic berries that represent the highest standards for quality—this year with a major milestone under our belt and celebration abuzz for the company’s four-decade legacy,” the Director of Marketing shared with me.

In its product portfolio, California Giant offers organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

Known for quality, the company wants to shed light on its 40-year commitment to delivering the berry best.

“The company’s focus on quality begets quality, whether in longstanding grower partner relationships or committed employees,” Kyla noted. “This year, with our 40^th anniversary top-of-mind, we want to focus on our commitment to quality which spans from our premium grading standards, good ground—literally—to our excellent growers and dedicated people.”

It’s no small feat to supply its partners with high-quality fruit that brings customers back for more, but California Giant’s attention to detail and customer service always pays off.

“We have great quality and availability on organic strawberries and organic blueberries,” Kyla added, emphasizing that promoting organics for the rest of the summer season is key. “Blueberries are ample from the Pacific Northwest for July through August, and then we will see imports come in quickly behind them. We have organic strawberries year-round and continue to promote organics throughout the year with our key organic customers.”

Stop by booth #421 to learn more about California Giant Berry Farms’ vision to provide the highest quality berries in the most sustainable way, and to learn more about its offerings, promotable volume marketing opportunities, and more.

California Giant Berry Farms

MCLEAN, VA - It has been a lucrative week for Gladstone Land Corporation already, as the company has announced the completed sale of an unfarmed parcel in Florida.

"Our strategy is to buy and hold for the long term, but occasionally we receive an offer that warrants serious consideration. We intend to utilize the proceeds from this sale to acquire additional farms through one or more 1031 exchanges, as well as for general corporate purposes," said David Gladstone, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gladstone Land.

The sale took place for $9.6 million, according to a release. This provided Gladstone Land with a 343 percent return on investment and a capital gain of approximately $6.4 million.

With this sale, Gladstone not only recorded a substantial gain, but it greatly benefited the company's shareholders as well.

"We acquired this parcel several years ago as part of a larger farmland assemblage. The parcel was not actively farmed, and the location made it desirable to land buyers in the immediate region. We were able to run a successful sale process and ultimately obtained a contract to sell that had tremendous benefit to our shareholders," commented Bill Frisbie, Executive Vice President of Gladstone Land.

Funds in hand, where will Gladstone acquire its next parcel of land? Only time and AndNowUKnow will tell, so stay tuned.

Gladstone Land

IRVINGTON, NY - Remember back in March, when we brought forth insights regarding a four-part expansion for BrightFarms? As the indoor grower seeks to establish four new regional greenhouse hubs, it has officially broken ground on its newest facility in Texas.

“We are so proud to be expanding our growing facilities into the great state of Texas with a massive new indoor greenhouse hub that’s being built in Lorena,” said John Schaefer, Chief Operating Officer at BrightFarms. “Once it’s fully built and operational next year, it will offer sustainably grown leafy greens and salad kits to more people across Texas and the Central U.S.”

The new 16-acre greenhouse property in Lorena, TX, is one of four expansion hubs announced by BrightFarms at the start of the year; the first hub in Yorkville, Illinois, is currently under construction. The hubs in Macon, Georgia, and the Northeast also will begin in 2023.

According to a press release, operating local greenhouse farms in partnership with major retailers and cities across the country allows BrightFarms to eliminate time, distance, and costs from the food supply chain. The grower’s innovative, scalable model for the future of local sustainable farming uses less energy, land, and water than long-distance, field-grown agriculture.

“We always build our greenhouses near where our consumers live, to ensure we get them the freshest possible produce,” added Schaefer. “Most of the leafy greens in the U.S. are trucked across the country, spending days in trucks before landing in a grocery store. This means the produce is less fresh once it finally gets home and in your fridge. We are confident Texans will taste and experience the difference once getting their hands on our fresh, locally grown greens.”

ANUK will continue to report on this ongoing expansion, so stick around.

BrightFarms

PORTLAND, OR - With nearly a decade of experience at GLOBALG.A.P. under her belt, Roberta Anderson is taking on a new leadership role. The organization’s legal entity, FoodPLUS GmbH, has announced that she will assume the role of President of the United States subsidiary, GLOBALG.A.P. North America (GGNA).

“It is a great honor to lead GGNA at this time of change for farming and our food system. Farmers are increasingly being highlighted for their critical role in supplying us all with safe food while protecting the environment and caring for their workers,” said Anderson. “GLOBALG.A.P.’s uniquely comprehensive and trusted certification solutions enable farmers of all sizes to build strong internal programs and meet evolving market needs. I am especially excited about some of the tools and resources we will release in the coming months to support the success of farmers as they adapt to changing market requirements. I will proudly work alongside GGNA’s incredible team of professionals and expanding community of industry collaborators in North America toward the GLOBALG.A.P. vision: a world in which farms are recognized for their efforts to continuously produce enough safe food while safeguarding our environment and the welfare of farming communities.”

Anderson first came on board at GLOBALG.A.P. in 2014, according to a release. Since 2017, she has served as Executive Vice President of GGNA. Now building on two decades of career experience advancing responsible agriculture, Anderson will lead the organization’s drive to grow GLOBALG.A.P. certification solutions as cost-effective and streamlined options for farmers to meet food safety, environmental, and social responsibility assurance needs in North America.

She has a background rooted in agriculture, coming from multiple generations of Illinois farmers. Anderson holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in International Agriculture and Business Administration.

This news comes after the recent departure of Kristian Moeller, who was a Managing Director of FoodPLUS GmbH and the President of GGNA. Anderson and the GGNA team will advance the work of GLOBALG.A.P., begun by Moeller within the U.S. and Canada as the devoted extension of the company headquarters in Cologne, Germany.

Congratulations to Roberta Anderson on this new role!

GLOBALG.A.P.

SANDPOINT, ID - What’s low in calories, high in flavor, and sure to drive an increase in salad consumption among shoppers? A new line of Creamy Dressings from Litehouse®! With only 40 calories per serving, the supplier’s newest yogurt-based dressings set out to appeal to current consumer dietary needs without compromising on taste.

“At Litehouse, we believe you should never have to sacrifice taste,” said Krystle Turnbull, Product Manager at Litehouse. “These new yogurt-based Creamy Dressings offer consumers a way to indulge in their favorite flavors at just 40 calories per serving. We're excited to bring these delicious products to the market, just in time for salad season, because there’s nothing more refreshing than a crisp, cool salad topped with a flavorful dressing.”

This expansion of Litehouse’s extensive refrigerated salad dressing portfolio brings four classic and trending flavors to shelves:

• Creamy Ranch – Introducing your new go-to ranch, with all the creamy garden herb flavor of a classic dressing with 40 calories per serving
• Tzatziki Ranch – Featuring a creamy blend of dill and cucumber flavors combined with delicious ranch dressing, this dressing is bursting with summer-forward flavor that pairs perfectly with chicken gyro bowls and crudité
• Classic Caesar – Add a flavor boost of garlic, Romano cheese, and lemon to your next Caesar salad, without the guilt
• Avocado Cilantro – Packed with zesty citrus flavor, this creamy avocado and cilantro dressing screams cool summer salad

These dressings provide a quick and easy option for consumers who are looking for lower-calorie products that are tasty and versatile, especially as more than half (61 percent) of U.S. adults reported undesired weight change during the pandemic, according to a press release. The dressings are also gluten-free and made with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

The new 12 oz Lower-Calorie Creamy Dressings can be found in the refrigerated department of retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Albertsons, and more.

How will the supplier continue to tap into the rising demand of the salad dressing sector? Keep reading ANUK to find out.

Litehouse

GLENNVILLE, GA - Blink and the Fourth of July will be here. Just a week away, there is still time for retailers to take advantage of the prime merchandising window, and one way to do it is by promoting Bland Farms’ Vidalia® onions.

“At Bland Farms, we are having a great Vidalia Sweet Onion Season. We are continuing to see increased movement on Vidalia’s with the Fourth of July rapidly approaching, and the demand for Vidalia Sweet Onions remains high,” says Sloan Lott, Director of Sales. “So, we are even more excited to announce that Bland Farms has extended our Vidalia season through mid-to-late August this year.”

With this extended season, Bland Farms is expecting a continued increase in demand. It will also allow the grower to build a solid inventory of Peruvian Sweet Onions for consumers to enjoy after the Vidalia season comes to a close.

Right now, the Bland Farms team in Peru is working hard to get ready to ship some of its first containers of Peruvian Sweet Onions, which the supplier expects to be on the water on their way to the farm in the coming days.

“It will take about two weeks for us to get the Peruvians here, and we anticipate shipping those to customers around mid-August,” details Sloan.

Bland Farms, in the meantime, is helping to promote its coveted Vidalia onions through its Southern Stars campaign.

To carry out this unique promotion, the producer has partnered with country music star Billy Currington to give away concert tickets and other prizes. So far, it has garnered significant excitement around Vidalia onions and made for eye-catching produce aisle displays.

As always, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more category updates and promotional opportunities.

Bland Farms