WATSONVILLE, CA - The finalists are in! If you have been keeping up with AndNowUKnow over the past couple of weeks, you know that California Giant Berry Farms is hosting its fifth annual Chef Invitational. The berry supplier has officially announced its People’s Choice winner and chef finalists for this year’s competition.

“The introduction of the trend requirement this year yielded impressive recipe submissions,” said California Giant Director of Sales Tom Smith. “The chefs came forth with innovative, on-trend recipes that leveled up the event as we know it. We’re looking forward to seeing who takes home the title of Top Chef!”

This year’s People’s Choice winner is David McGurn, Performance Foodservice, gaining voters’ attention with his Congee with Brulé Berries and Quick Berry Pickles. McGurn will automatically progress to the final in-person round of the competition and take home a $500 cash prize, accompanied by a matching grant to his selected non-profit organization, The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Alongside McGurn, four chef finalists will attend an in-person, four-day finale event on California’s Central Coast from June 25–28, a press release explained.

The event finalists include:

• Dontre'al Haigler, Denny’s – Fruity Fried Octopus with Blueberry Sticky Rice
• Jereme Nemeth, Sysco – Blackberry Fennel Scallops with Blueberry Risotto
• Katie Bulger, Performance Foodservice – Blackberry Brown Butter Seabass with Strawberry Chimichurri
• Steven Halliday, Gordon Food Service – Red Thai Berry Chicken Curry with Blueberry Lemon Rice

The immersive event will include field tours of California Giant’s berry fields, meet-and-greets with growers, and a grand finale at which the Top Chef will be named. The fifth annual event also introduces an educational session led by Chef Rosalyn Darling, in which she will highlight her culinary innovation methodology that combines macro societal trends and Culinary Compassion™ for meaningful menu development.

Each of the finalists will compete during the finale by re-creating their custom, berry-forward recipe, and a panel of judges will select the Top Chef based on appearance, usage of berries, flavor, and creativity. The panel of judges includes the previous Chef Invitational Top Chefs, accompanied by California Giant Influencer, Chef, and Cookbook Author Marie Reginato.

Stay tuned as we continue to cover this exciting industry event!

California Giant Berry Farms

GLENNVILLE, GA - A long-time Bland Farms® employee is ascending to a new role within the company. Produce industry veteran Sloan Lott will be taking on his newly promoted role as Director of Sales.

“I am just looking forward to continuing what Delbert Bland started so many years ago, selling sweet onions and making friends,” commented Lott on his new position. ”Delbert has built an amazing sales team over the years, and I have been blessed to be a part of it.”

During his career at Bland Farms, Lott worked in packing and operations before transitioning to be one of the company’s Sales Managers. Lott’s passion for the company and commitment to providing his customers with superior service has led him to become a top-producing Sales Manager.

In his new role of supervising sales, Lott will oversee the sales team while continuing to service his existing accounts.

“Lott has been an integral part of our sales team for over 25 years. We are thrilled to promote him to Director of Sales, where he will be an important asset to our entire sales team and company,” said Troy Bland, Chief Executive Officer of Bland Farms.

Congratulations to Sloan Lott on his new journey!

Bland Farms®

WATSONVILLE, CA - The versatility and uniqueness of the berry category is highlighted perfectly by California Giant Berry Farms’ Chef Invitational. Now in its fifth year, the event shines a light on the creative forces within foodservice, creating a ripple effect of market trends seen for years to come. I spoke with Travis Peters, a past Chef Invitational champion and Chef/Co-Owner at The Parish and The Delta in Tucson, Arizona, to learn more about how the event continues to impact his cooking.

“My experience with the Invitational impacted me in several different ways. I was introduced to the amazing California Giant Berry Farms family and the incredible chefs involved,” Travis shared with me. “Both groups have become very near and dear to my heart by creating lasting and meaningful friendships to this day! It opened my eyes to all the care and work that goes into farming berries and pushed me to be much more creative than I was previously with berries in general.”

Chef Travis Peters took home the Top Chef title in 2019 for his Blueberry Sweet Tea Quail in Raspberry BBQ sauce, served over Blackberry and Blueberry Brussels Sprouts and garnished with Strawberry Infused Oil and Toasted Pecans.

“After my win, I wanted to really explore all of the different applications I could think of with berries, and California Giant’s items quickly became as much a staple on my recipe and menu development as any protein or vegetable had been. It really opened my eyes up to how versatile berries can be, especially for savory applications,” Travis added.

With his love for berries already prominent, Travis continues to elevate the category any way he can.

“After discovering the best in the biz, my only option was to help tell the world about how awesome berries are,” he says. “We did this by showcasing the versatility and high quality that California Giant is known for through our food and beverage programs, my signature hot sauce series, and even a collaboration with a local brewery. At home, there are always a few pints of California Giant berries in the fridge. The whole family loves them!”

We’ll be awaiting more news of the finalists for this year’s Chef Invitational, so stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest.

California Giant Berry Farms

ROSEMONT, IL - Key changes occurred within US Foods' Executive Leadership Team (ELT) as Andrew Iacobucci announced his intent to step down. The Senior Executive Vice President of Field Operations and Chief Commercial Officer will be leaving US Foods to accept a Chief Executive Officer role outside the company. Jim Sturgell will take on the role of Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer as part of this transition, and Randy Taylor will now be the Executive Vice President, Field Operations.

As noted in the release, Iacobucci served as the company’s Interim CEO in 2022 prior to Dave Flitman filling the permanent CEO position in January 2023. With Flitman at the helm, Iacobucci then took on his current role in March 2023. Iacobucci has been with US Foods since 2017.

CEO Flitman commented on the transition.

“We thank Andrew for his leadership, particularly for his service as Interim CEO last year, and wish him much success,” said Flitman. “We have a strong bench of talent here at US Foods. I am confident that Jim and Randy will bring their years of experience, strong track records, and leadership skills to their new appointments and play key roles in driving continued execution against our long-range plan.”

With Iacobucci’s departure, the company has taken the opportunity to flatten its ELT structure.

Jim Sturgell will now be EVP, Chief Commercial Officer responsible for Local Sales, Commercial Excellence, and Merchandising/Marketing. He joined US Foods in 1992 and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Commercial Excellence and Local Sales. Sturgell has held various leadership roles within the company including Senior Vice President of Commercial Excellence, Region President, Area President, Division President, Vice President of Sales, Regional Sales Manager, District Sales Manager, and Territory Manager. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Salisbury State University.

Joining Sturgell in the ELT is Taylor, who will take on EVP of Field Operations with P&L responsibility for the company’s Broadline business and Stock Yards.

Taylor has been with US Foods for more than 15 years and served as Regional President Southeast since 2016, where he was responsible for leading the execution of US Foods’ strategy in the region. Prior to that, Taylor was Senior Vice President, Field Operations Deployment. He previously served as Division President, Southern New England, and Vice President, Finance for Manassas, Virginia.

As noted in the release, Taylor earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from James Madison University and a Master of Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.

Both executives will report to Flitman as part of his ELT. Click here for more information on these leaders.

Congratulations and best wishes to all on their new journey!

US Foods Holding

MIAMI, FL - Another tool is in Moxxy Marketing’s diverse arsenal now that Candy Rauber recently completed additional training and received her certificate in FDA Food Labeling Compliance. The agency’s award-winning Art Director now has an FDA Food Labeling Certification, bolstering Moxxy’s services to deliver high-quality work that meets regulatory requirements for food and beverage labeling and packaging.

“The FDA is just one government agency food producers have to contend with, and the first step is understanding which regulations to follow,” said Rauber. “From there, we have to consider what is said on the label—such as ingredients and nutritional claims and where and how various statements are presented. Color contrast, font sizes, and placement are all specified within regulations—it’s an exacting process. And designing packaging for export to Canada, the E.U., and other countries adds more requirements and layers of complexity.”

Moxxy has long been known as an expert in designing food and beverage packaging, creating brand-building, strategic designs, and production-friendly files that help get attention in-store and increase sales. According to the release, the agency also has a stellar reputation among packaging suppliers for producing quality files that can be easily reproduced without modification or additional cost.

“One of the most common causes for a food recall is that the packaging was incorrect,” said Karen Nardozza, Moxxy President and Chief Executive Officer. “It’s rewarding to design standout packaging that boosts sales and builds brands for our clients, but the best design is of little value if it costs the company’s reputation and impacts the balance sheet because regulations weren’t followed.”

In the marketing agency’s recent Three Ps of Packaging details how Promote, Protect, and Preserve can elevate your product. Protection includes the physical packaging design to protect products, but also protection of companies from legal and regulatory action because a packaging design is out of compliance.

“Our clients depend on us to get it right, protect their brand, and save them as much money as possible throughout the packaging production process, and that’s why we continually invest in training and stay on top of packaging requirements,” concluded Nardozza.

For more information, click here.

AndNowUKnow will continue to keep an eye on the industry for the latest updates.

Moxxy Marketing

CENTRAL MEXICO - News of the Popocatépetl volcano’s recent activity has many citizens in Central Mexico concerned for a potential evacuation. The volcano, which has been active in recent years, has reportedly been spewing ash into nearby towns for the last week.

According to a report from CNN, the Popocatépetl volcano is in a central part of Mexico and has been the cause of transport delays. Roughly 25 million people live in a 60-mile radius of the volcano, whose location is about 45 miles southeast of Mexico City.

Although we have yet to hear any negative reports from Mexican growers and suppliers, the transport delays are of importance. According to airport authorities, Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM) was temporarily closed on Saturday, and some flights were delayed on Monday due to the presence of volcanic ash.

Central Mexico remains an essential region for both the buy- and supply-sides, and any potential inclement weather should be closely monitored.

We will continue to keep an eye on the situation and report accordingly. In the meantime, keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow.

OAHU, HI - Nothing beats hands-on experience. Consumers are hungrier than ever for a connection to the food they eat, and Dole plc has created an opportunity that does exactly that. In a strategic move, Dole Food Company Hawaii—part of Dole plc—launched a hands-on, behind-the-scenes agricultural tour of the original Dole pineapple farm on Oahu in Hawaii.

“With the renewed interest in agriculture and food tourism, there has been a growing demand by locals and visitors to see, touch, and taste an authentic slice of Hawaii,” remarked Dan Nellis, General Manager. “We launched the Dole North Shore Pineapple Farm Tour to share our history and to give guests a chance to follow the pineapple-growing process from seed to fruit for the first time.”

As a press release outlined, the Dole North Shore Pineapple Farm Tour is a full-day, door-to-door experience starting with a morning pickup by semi-private shuttle and ending with a freshly harvested DOLE® Royal Hawaiian pineapple.

Those on the tour will see the full production lifestyle of the aforementioned pineapple, seeing every step of the process from planting to harvesting and then packing.

As this tour kicks off, it will be interesting to see how this blend of education and a peek into the supplier’s operations will further spur on shopper loyalty.

ANUK will continue to bring you the latest in fresh produce news, so keep clicking on that green apple.

Dole plc

LONGWOOD, FL - Recently I spoke to finding your way as a leader. Well, during my tenure as a Senior Director in strategic development for a Global Fortune 100 company, there was a management standard for growth and development in order to enter the executive team. This standard was known as the three A’s and has stayed with me for a long time.

The three A’s are accountable, adaptable, and assertive. All have been and continue to be extremely important dynamics for my personal growth, along with teams I’ve been with along many journeys. Sometimes the best lessons or drivers are the simplest ones.

Without accountability, leaders, teams, and companies lack responsibility in generating net value for stakeholders, stockholders, and partners. One learning point for me has been that without personal accountability as a father, brother, team leader, and executive, there is no one else to blame for alternate outcomes. Engage and be accountable for that engagement.

Without adaptability, organizations that don’t change and adapt will eventually fail. A great example of this would be buggy whips at the turn of the last century. This was a $100-million industry. Today they sell around $2 million.

In the produce industry, at one time, you could only sell items on a seasonal basis. However, organizations developed better farming, CEA (controlled environment agriculture) technology, logistical practices, and many items are now sold year-round on a global basis. Those sticking with seasonal items and not expanding mindsets will lose market share and vital profits for growth and expansion.

Being assertive is no different from communicating your ability to deliver and build as well as, if not better than, a competitor. It is advocating for yourself, your product, your team, and your company. The old term “no guts, no glory” comes to mind.

Although we live amid challenges, based on what seat you sit in, these are also exciting times.

From a historic perspective, there have always been challenges and opportunities. But, as a global body, we have many new technologies in agriculture, medicine, communication, education, and sustainability that allow for new engagement and partnerships for growth.

There is an old saying from the Peace Corps in the 1960s: “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”

Engage and be part of the solution.

Doug Kling, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner, Kling Strategic Partners

Mr. Kling is an experienced executive leader who has been involved both on a board and senior management level with Cadbury Schweppes, Johanna Foods, Life Savers Inc., and other Fortune 500 consumer products companies, institutional associations, and government agencies on a national and global level for over 35 years. He just completed four years on the Board of Directors of the United Fresh Produce Association and served on the Fresh Summit Advisory Board of the Produce Marketing Association. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Black Gold Farms, one of the largest potato farming operations in North America and is President and Chief Executive Officer of Kling Strategic Partners LLC., a global strategic development partnership working primarily with companies in the food, CPG, and agricultural industries.

Mr. Kling holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida; completed MBA studies in marketing management at Pace University in New York City; post-graduate work in Strategic Marketing at the Harvard Graduate School of Business; and post-graduate work in negotiation at Harvard Law School.

Kling Strategic Partners

UNITED STATES - News regarding Albertsons and Kroger’s merger recently hit the wires. The Philadelphia Business Journal reported that Jim Perkins, former President of Acme Markets, will lead the planning efforts for a standalone public company.

The company, operating under the name of SpinCo, will consist of approximately 100 to 375 divested stores that may need to be established to obtain regulatory approval for Albertsons’ planned merger with Kroger.

Although both Albertsons Chief Executive Officer Vivek Sankaran and Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen spoke before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights regarding the deal, the Philadelphia Business Journal notes that a divesture of hundreds of stores is considered inevitable to appease regulators.

Perkins will help Albertsons prepare for the possible need for SpinCo to absorb those stores, beginning his new duties next week.

He was previously appointed President of the Mid-Atlantic division in September 2020 when it was formed through the consolidation of Albertsons' Acme Markets and Eastern divisions. He continues to serve as Executive Vice President of Retail Operations and Special Projects for Albertsons.

We will continue to keep abreast of this situation, so stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest updates.

Albertsons

LYONS, GA - As far as partnerships go, there’s nothing sweeter than a co-branded opportunity. L.G. Herndon Jr. Farms announced the second year of partnership between itself and the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) as the 2023 Vidalia® onion season continues.

“We had a great first year of working with the Gary Sinise Foundation, and we’re looking forward to continuing to highlight the amazing work the GSF does across our country in year two,” John Williams, Director of Sales, noted.

This partnership, according to a press release, will have two cycles during the Vidalia onion season. The onions will be shipped with special co-branded packaging that highlights the work of the Foundation, as well as promotions for Memorial Day and July 4^th.

L.G. Herndon Jr. Farms will offer a high-graphic display bin where retailers can showcase the partnership within their produce departments. As the release explained, each consumer bag will feature a unique QR code to drive shoppers to a dedicated site in partnership with GSF where they can learn more about the many programs that are offered.

The grower will donate 5 percent of the gross sales, up to $25,000, during the campaign to the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Keep reading us here at ANUK for the latest news regarding fresh produce.

L.G. Herndon Jr. Farms