YAKIMA, WA - Make way for a new President! Superfresh Growers® recently announced Conner O’Malley has taken on the reins of the company, leading sales, operations, marketing, production management, and grower relations.

“I have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of some industry veterans that came before me,” described O’Malley. “It is an honor to support and work alongside such a hard-working team of men and women. I look forward to the great things we will accomplish in the years ahead, aiming towards the common goal that we share with our grower and retail partners: to increase consumption and feed more people fresh fruit.”

O’Malley is an expert in produce, continued the release, with experiences in farming practices, fruit specifications, manifests, technology, and variety development. He specializes in strategic planning for Superfresh Growers and its long-term sustainability, looking ahead to five, 10, and 20 years. In addition, he excels in all operational aspects of retail support, including forecasting, promotional activities, merchandising, replenishment, quality control, logistics, and accounting. During his time on the sales team, he built transparent and trust-filled relationships with customers across the Superfresh business, including retail, foodservice, wholesale, e-commerce, and export.

As President, O’Malley will continue collaborating with farming operations, marketing, and sales, leading Superfresh Growers into the future. Robert Kershaw, Chief Executive Officer, is enthusiastic about the future of Superfresh Growers with O’Malley at the helm.

“Conner is a gifted leader and has an unparalleled work ethic. At Superfresh Growers, he has been instrumental in cultivating a team-centric mindset. He is empathetic, a clear communicator, and embraces our culture,” commented Kershaw. “He has a unique knack for seeing the bigger picture and planning for the future with people, customers, and growers in mind. As the Kershaw family’s sixth generation and other emerging leaders of this company move into management, he is the bridge to the future.”

O’Malley takes the reins from his predecessor, Tim Lane, who is set to retire later this year after leading Superfresh Growers for 25 years.

“Tim has been a mentor, coach, and friend throughout my career. I certainly would not be where I am in my career today without him, and I don’t think I will ever have the knowledge he possesses. His competitive drive will continue to fuel me and many others,” O’Malley noted.

Check out the full release here for more details.

Congratulations Conner O’Malley on your new position!

Superfresh Growers®

TEXAS - H-E-B’s convenience chain is getting a fresh-forward facelift. It was recently announced that the retailer launched a new brand—H-E-B Fresh Bites—which will provide customers more fresh options such as produce, prepared food, and convenient meal options.

“At H-E-B, we’re always looking to provide Texans convenient ways to get their hands on quality, fresh foods that are good for them,” said Scott Campbell, Convenience Store Operations Manager. “With the introduction of H-E-B Fresh Bites, we’re bringing the freshest products to our customers who are on the go but want a better alternative to traditional convenience store snacks.”

On April 17, the first H-E-B Fresh Bites opened at a new convenience store location. The H-E-B convenience store in Lytle, Texas, which remains operational during renovations, is also currently being updated and will introduce the Fresh Bites brand in the coming weeks.

H-E-B now has 12 convenience stores throughout Texas. Starting this year, the company will continue its plans to update the remaining convenience stores, with many also including a True Texas Tacos restaurant. The concept showcases a menu of more than a dozen breakfast and specialty tacos made with the freshest ingredients.

H-E-B Fresh Bites will provide customers with an array of fresh offerings including produce, salads, sandwiches, fresh juices, Meal Simple options, and more. Customers will find nutritious and wholesome products, including H-E-B Select Ingredients items, in addition to normal convenience offerings.

No plans or timelines have been set for updates to the other locations, a press release noted.

For more details, check out the release here.

Don’t forget to check back in with ANUK daily.

H-E-B

KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA - Step into your backyard and what do you see? Well, for Mucci Farms, that will soon be the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Convention and Trade Show in Toronto. The grower takes a lot of pride in being part of the global produce industry but looks forward to embracing and promoting its Canadian heritage at the event.

“We are excited to showcase our full assortment of products as we kick off the local season. Amongst that assortment, we are highlighting our new Savorries Strawberry Tomatoes. This unique and flavorful tomato variety is perfect for foodies and culinary enthusiasts. It’s sweet like a strawberry, savory like a tomato!” said Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing. “We are also gaining momentum on our Paper Top Seal package, now offered in a reseal format which converts a common footprint container into a fully recyclable item. We are in full production and encouraging retailers to jump on board and partner with us to address one of the biggest challenges in our industry.”

As Steve Zaccardi, Senior Director of Sales, told me, all industry members should attend CPMA because even though it’s a Canadian show, many suppliers distribute throughout the continent; there’s plenty of opportunity for partnerships even if you’re a retailer, wholesaler, or foodservice company outside of Canada.

“Our main goals are to reinforce Controlled Environment Agriculture as the future of farming that offers clean growing practices and real solutions to some of the bigger challenges of the day,” Steve added. “What we do is sustainable and efficient, and there is innovation at every level of our business dedicated to maximizing environmental protection while producing clean, fresh, and flavorful fruits and vegetables.”

Mucci Farms hopes to convey the message that it is a one-stop shop that can take care of retailers from end to end across North America.

“We have the experience, the scale, and the supply to build out custom programs that fit any type of retail environment from brick-and-mortar supermarkets to boutique stores and foodservice outlets,” Steve continued. “Mucci Farms has a full support staff to make sure all of our partners in produce can rely on a team of people eager to help them deliver for their customers.”

In addition to its showcase, Mucci Farms’ annual sponsorship of the Relaxation Lounge continues this year. Attendees can kick back and relax at “The Green Lounge”—a great place to get off your feet, have a meeting, or a place to work outside of the busy show floor. The space will be complete with refreshments and, of course, some sample of Smuccies™ Sweet Strawberries to snack on.

Be sure to visit booth #621 and make your rounds at these Mucci Farms attractions to maximize your show experience. For more event coverage, stick with ANUK.

Mucci Farms

FRESNO, CA - Beep beep, new marketers coming through! In the California Table Grape Commission’s (CTGC) latest announcement, the organization announced it expanded its leadership team. CTGC named Darlene Avila as Digital Marketing Manager and Stephanie Soto as Retail Marketing Manager.

In her new role, Avila will focus on developing and implementing digital promotions in partnership with retail marketing teams and shopper apps offered by third party providers. She is a graduate of California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration—Marketing.

According to a press release, Avila’s prior e-commerce experience in the foodservice industry with Lyons Magnus includes working on platforms such as Amazon, Shopify, and Walmart.

Soto will be focusing on developing and implementing season-long promotions for California table grapes in partnership with retail marketing teams. She is a graduate of California State University, Fresno, with a bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition Sciences.

Prior to joining the commission, Soto worked in sales and marketing with Valley Fig Growers.

Kathleen Nave, President, commented on these two leadership appointments.

“Darlene and Stephanie are joining a highly motivated marketing team under the leadership of Chief Marketing Officer Alyson Dias, adding their expertise to key areas of focus to create demand for California table grapes in the U.S. and key export markets,” said Nave. “We are glad to welcome them both to the team and look forward to the contributions each will make in the coming seasons.”

Congratulations to the new marketers!

California Table Grape Commission

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - In our Northern neighbor Canada’s House of Commons, MP Scot Davidson’s Private Member’s Bill C-280, the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act, was tabled for second reading debate. Several trade associations in Canada have voiced their support for this legislation, including Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) Ron Lemaire.

“We are very grateful to MP Scot Davidson for his hard work in bringing this important piece of legislation to the House of Commons,” said CPMA President Lemaire. “We know this is a busy time of the year on Parliament Hill, so we call on MPs to ensure its swift passage through the House. Consumers are very concerned about rising food costs right now, and Bill C-280 would contribute to more stable fruit and vegetable prices because it helps give produce sellers a financial backstop.”

Other associations voicing their support include the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) and the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC). These associations have called on all MPs to carefully consider the positive impact Bill C-280 would have on the fruit and vegetable sector and vote in favor of this bill.

According to the release, this is a critical opportunity for the government to support the fresh produce sector and safeguard Canadian food security. Bill C-280 would establish a critical financial protection mechanism, a deemed trust, for fresh produce sellers in Canada to help secure payment in the case of a buyer bankruptcy.

The deemed trust would operate similarly to the United States model and would not impose any additional cost to the government. Rather, it would help to ensure that fresh produce sellers can continue to support local economies across the country and provide Canadians with safe, nutritious fruit and vegetable products.

“Our members across the country are strong supporters of Bill C-280 and look forward to this bill being passed at second reading and moved on to [the] committee stage for further discussions, debate, and analysis,” said Rebecca Lee, FVGC’s Executive Director.

The perishability of fresh produce, as well as the common industry payment terms, make it impossible for sellers to recoup money lost when a buyer goes bankrupt, continued the release. The recent example of Lakeside Produce in Leamington, Ontario, demonstrates why a financial protection tool is needed to protect our essential sector and food security in Canada.

Visit the Protect Produce Sales website here to learn more about Bill C-280.

For more industry news and updates, keep a tab open for AndNowUKnow.

Canadian Produce Marketing Association

SAN JOSE, CA - If you weren’t already pumped for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) upcoming convention, let me give you some news that will get you there. During the show’s “Cybersecurity – Before and After an Incident” panel, ZAG Technical Services Chief Executive Officer Greg Gatzke will be sharing his exclusive insights.

“It cannot be said enough, cybersecurity is one of the greatest risks to modern agriculture and today’s food supply chain,” Gatzke commented. “As we’ve seen, recent ransomware attacks left businesses unable to operate and food not delivered, highlighting the reach a single attack can have. Cyberattacks do not affect their target alone, but potentially anyone up and down the target’s supply chain, as well.”

The session will be moderated by Oppy’s Steve Roosdahl and presented so industry members from every level of the supply chain can understand the risk and responsibility of cybersecurity challenges. Speaking to the before and after of a cyber incident, the panel will include how companies prepare and protect themselves, what happens when an attack occurs, and how to plan for recovery with limited business interruption.

According to a press release, other members of the panel include Erik Larsen of Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Kevin Potter of L&M Companies, and Sem Ponnambalam of Xahive. ZAG Business Strategist Dave McCary, a 17-year industry veteran, will also be in attendance at the show.

“Every competitive advantage in the fresh food supply chain is dependent on technology for success,” remarked McCary. “Protecting the IT assets of the agriculture industry is how we ensure we can continue to feed the world fresh food, year-round, with consistency and confidence.”

This will be ZAG’s first year at CPMA, so be sure to connect with the team at the event. We hope to see you there!

ZAG Technical Services

WATSONVILLE, CA - Another one is in the bag for California Giant Berry Farms, as it recently gained its second strawberry supplier’s sustainability certification. The grower received the Sustainably Grown certification for its strategic strawberry grower-partner Wysiwyg Farms from SCS Global Services.

“As leaders in agriculture, we take our commitment to protecting our most precious natural resources seriously because our futures depend on it,” said Joe Barsi, President of California Giant. “We are constantly challenging ourselves and our growers to find the best ways to reduce water usage, improve air quality, and support the ecosystems in our growing areas and beyond. The recent certification of Wysiwyg Farms demonstrates our commitment to farming for the future and aligns with our strategic sustainability goals.”

SCS is an internationally recognized third-party certification leader. Watsonville, California-based Wysiwyg Farms is reportedly the second strawberry operation in the world to achieve this prestigious certification, following another grower-partner of California Giant, Satsuma Farms, who was the first.

Deeply rooted in the stewardship of the land, California Giant’s strategic plan adheres to a triple bottom line approach to sustainability of People, Planet, and Profit. The company noted its goal is to home in on the three pillars of the triple bottom line and ensure all aspects of sustainable agriculture are being served with intent and attention to better serve our customers and the community.

“Working with our existing domestic and international growers to achieve sustainability certifications demonstrates California Giant’s commitment to pursuing an equity-based business model, which we hope will become the gold standard in the berry industry. California Giant strives to be at the forefront of sustainability, resiliency, and social responsibility,” added Justin Kosta, Director of Sustainability at California Giant.

For grower-partner Wysiwyg Farms, sustainability simply makes sense. Recent years have shown a marked increase in buyer and consumer interest in produce grown sustainably, with an emphasis on equitable social practices. This certification further exemplifies Wysiwyg Farms’ founding principles of good stewardship of the land.

California Giant has no intention to slow its sustainability plans. The company will continue to increase sustainability certifications for more of its growers over the next few years.

Find out which one becomes the third certification owner right here on ANUK.

California Giant Berry Farms

MONTREAL, CANADA - A new program, strong promotional strategies, and more headline METRO’s most recent period of growth. The retailer just released the results for its second fiscal quarter, which ended March 11, 2023. Most notably, METRO surpassed $4.5 million in sales, which is up 6.6 percent from the previous year.

“We are pleased with our results in the second quarter as our teams continued to deliver value to our customers in the current high food inflation environment with competitive everyday prices, growing private label sales, and effective promotional strategies,” said Eric La Flèche, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We will continue to invest in our people, our retail network, and the modernization of our supply chain, and we are well-positioned to achieve our long-term growth objectives. Finally, we are looking forward to the launch of our new loyalty program MOI later this spring.”

According to a release from METRO, the jump in sales is due to the change in demand that came along with COVID-related restrictions.

Other highlights from the report include:

• Food same-store sales up 5.8 percent
• Net earnings of $218.8 million, up 10.4 percent, and adjusted net earnings of $225.4 million, up 10.1 percent
• Fully diluted net earnings per share of $0.93, up 13.4 percent, and adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share of $0.96, up 14.3 percent

For the full report, check out METRO’s posting here.

Stay tuned for more retail news from ANUK.

METRO

IRVINE, CA - Ah, Cinco de Mayo. A holiday that celebrates victory and independence through one of nature’s perfect mediums: food. As retailers prepare for their Cinco de Mayo sets, one important factor to keep in mind is how best to merchandise one of the reigning kings of this holiday. I speak, of course, of the avocado.

To learn more, I turned to California Avocado Commission’s Terry Splane.

“With the slower start to California avocado harvesting due to weather this season, Cinco de Mayo is generating a lot of excitement since it’s the first big merchandising event when California avocados have promotable volume available,” the Vice President of Marketing shared with me. “The commission is optimizing promotions by offering additional POS choices as well as customized promotion options for retailers to build larger displays in creative ways.”

In addition, retail interest in sampling fresh products for consumers is high, Terry noted. Sampling delicious, diced California avocados or fresh-made store guacamole calling out the California origin is one fantastic ways to boost sales.

To help draw attention to the produce department, CAC also offers in-store promotions, point-of-sales materials including display bins, appetizing recipe content, and social media that connects with consumers to encourage awareness and demand.

And with Cinco de Mayo falling on a Friday this year, this may spark some at-home parties that rely heavily on avocados for menu inspiration.

“For some retailers, Cinco de Mayo serves as a kick-off for California avocado season. Shoppers associate the California origin most with spring and summer and appreciate seasonal produce,” Terry added. “During the summer, avocado consumption increases. Locally grown California avocados are the preferred avocado origin for consumers in the West, so we encourage retailers to prominently call out the California avocado origin to optimize their spring and summer sales.”

California Avocado Commission has got your back for all of your merchandising needs, and AndNowUKnow has got you covered on coverage.

California Avocado Commission

ALBERTA, CANADA - At this year’s Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show, The Star Group is issuing a challenge to industry attendees: Be the change. The grower and supplier is advocating for the reduction of single-use plastics and is calling on the fresh produce industry to conduct trials with next-generation bioplastics.

“Recycling of lower-grade plastics—such as berry clamshells—simply has not become a reality. The vast majority of plastics thrown into our blue recycling bins are sent to landfills or incinerated. Very little of it is actually recycled,” says Star Group Chief Executive Officer David Karwacki. “While some ‘compostable’ plastic alternatives promised a potential solution, this first wave, notably PLA, only composts in ideal, industrial-grade conditions, and most of these facilities reject the material anyway. So, many of these materials are no better than conventional plastics. But there is hope!”

The hope that David speaks of is a new wave of bioplastics that are backyard compostable and break down in a wide variety of conditions. In fact, they will even decompose in a landfill, leaving behind no microplastics.

To support the implementation of these options, The Star Group has partnered with Canadian-based bioplastic manufacturer CTK Bio. The company makes several types of plastic replacing materials that are not only backyard-compostable, but also use waste byproducts in their formulation. This works to divert waste from landfills and ensure carbon neutrality or better.

“This material is very promising as a plastic alternative. We believe the next step is a wide-scale commercial trial to test its overall viability and start to achieve some economies of scale, but we can’t do it alone!” adds David. “This is why we are challenging others in the produce industry to sign our Un-Plastic Pledge and conduct their own commercial trials with their products.”

With enough critical mass, The Star Group believes the pledge can help the industry innovate faster, scale costs more efficiently, and begin to address the serious problem presented by single-use plastic.

To learn more about how you can help be the change, stop by The Star Group’s booth, #329, on the show floor.

The Star Group