IRVINE, CA - California growers weathered many a storm this winter, but producers like GEM-Pack Berries are hard at work ensuring their retail partners have high-quality berries heading into upcoming spring and summer promotions.

I spoke with Paul Kawamura, Chief Marketing Officer and Director of Sales for GEM-Pack Berries, to learn more.

“Although we have suffered some tough blows from Mother Nature this winter, we are back to harvesting at a steady clip,” Paul explained to me. “The California storms were very difficult, to put it mildly, but GEM-Pack and the berry industry, in general, is resilient and bouncing back.”

As spring progresses, Paul noted that the plants that made it through the storms are looking fantastic.

“Our crops have been delayed but as temperatures warm, promotable volume is just around the corner. Late spring and early summer will see terrific quality and steadily increasing volume,” he remarked.

Although the industry did suffer acreage loss, Paul assured me that he and the company believe there will be higher per-acre harvest yields.

“That will probably help offset the decreased acres,” he added, before diving further into the aspects of GEM-Pack’s program that help the grower stand out. “We are investing in genetics for better tasting and quality berries. For retailers planning for upcoming holidays, like Mother's Day, we will have the Stem packs available, which is a popular option.”

Continue reading us here at ANUK for the latest in industry news.

GEM-Pack Berries

SUNBURY, PA - Community members in Sacramento, California, gathered in local parks this past Saturday, April 22, for this year’s Earth Day celebration. Folks in Pennsylvania seem to be just as excited, as Weis Markets released its 2022 Weis Sustainability Report: Guided by Nature.

“Being good stewards of the environment and giving back to the communities we serve are central to Weis Markets’ mission,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Weis. “The 2022 Weis Sustainability Report: Guided by Nature reflects the ongoing commitment of our associates to live the mission in their work. In the years to come, we will continue to seek out creative ways to reduce waste, implement green design, and support our communities.”

Weis also donated $1,500 each to three organizations that work to improve the environment throughout its market area: Chesapeake Conservancy in Annapolis, Maryland; ClearWater Conservancy in State College, Pennsylvania; and Susquehanna River Cleanup Project in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

A press release added that Weis encourages recycling in the communities it serves. In observance of Earth Day, it donated benches made of recycled plastic grocery bags to Selinsgrove School District to reward students for collecting and recycling 10,000 plastic grocery bags.

Weis’ sustainability achievements in 2022 include:

• Delivered on commitments to reduce waste by:
• Diverting more than 10,000 tons of food from landfills
• Partnering with Invafresh to reduce food waste through artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Conducting a baseline waste audit to evaluate effectiveness of waste diversion programs
• Collecting 3,493 pounds of medication through takeback programs
• Made strides in green design by:
• Completing a five-year rollout of LED lighting in its stores, conserving over 44 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually
• Maintaining its Sustainable Food Retail Certification from the Ratio Institute
• Implementing thermal blanket and thermal heat shield insulation at production facilities
• Piloting HVAC ductwork sealing
• Adopting sustainable trucking practices like backhauling, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems, and route optimization

• A multi-million-dollar charitable giving program in partnership with customers

Weis’ report can be found here.

Keep an eye out for more grocery news from ANUK.

Weis Markets

NEW YORK, NY - An exciting partnership between Bowery and Giant Food has taken place as the vertical farmer bolstered its product distribution. Eager shoppers will now see Bowery’s ready-to-eat salad kits in all 166 Giant Food locations in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington, DC, area.

“This expansion of salad kits will help us meet booming consumer demand in the ready-to-eat category,” said Matt Williams, Head of Sales, Bowery. “Our salad kits provide a healthy, convenient option for a quick meal on the go, traveling fewer food miles and staying fresher longer due to reduced time from harvest to shelf. All Giant customers can now rely on Bowery for an elevated salad kit experience.”

As noted in the release, Bowery is reimagining the entire fresh food supply chain to be smarter, safer, and more sustainable. In 2022, Bowery expanded product offerings into the ready-to-eat category with the introduction of three salad kit flavors featuring forkable greens, bold flavor, and crunchy toppings from pepitas to Parm crisps: Zesty Caesar, Avocado Ranch, and Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Bowery salad kits feature a base of Crispy Leaf, which is grown indoors in completely controlled environments year-round, independent of weather and seasonality. Greens are harvested at peak freshness and on the shelf within days. Bowery designs and builds smart indoor farms near the communities it serves, using technology to create a smart, agile food system focused on flavor and freshness.

“Bowery is a great local partner to Giant Food,” said Josh Hardester, Category Manager at Giant Food. “Their focus on sustainability, while also providing an innovative, high-quality, great-tasting product, really checks a lot of boxes for Giant and our customers.”

Bowery salad kits will also be popping up for sampling at the National BBQ Battle in Washington, DC, in June. Giant Food is a sponsor of this event.

The vertical company is also achieving new scale as it expands to more regions and more retailers. To meet the demand for its produce, Bowery has plans to open two new smart farms in Locust Grove, Georgia (the Atlanta metro area), and Arlington, Texas (the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area).

Keep an eye out for more updates on fresh produce at ANUK.

Bowery

IRVINE, CA - Our industry is advancing quickly, and with that growth comes the need for increased capabilities. One way operators are achieving this is through implementing innovative agtech solutions. A Specialty Crop Automation Report commissioned by Western Growers (WG) revealed that growers are now spending an average of $500,000 a year on automation in response to the persistent ag labor shortage.

"This year’s report takes a deep dive into some new areas: The European market, Controlled Environment Agriculture, and the innovator's side of automation," said Walt Duflock, Vice President of Innovation. "We found progress from a fundraising and traction perspective in key areas like weeding, spraying, and harvest assist—and less progress in other key areas, notably harvest."

This is the second year the report has been released by WG in collaboration with consultants at Roland Berger. It tracks and measures industry progress in harvest automation across the fresh produce industry and is part of WG’s Global Harvest Automation Initiative, which aims to accelerate ag automation by 50 percent in 10 years.

According to a press release, the report's findings include:

• Around 70 percent of participating growers indicated they had invested in automation in 2022, with an average annual spend of $450,000-$500,000 per grower
• Most progress was made in the weeding and harvest assist segments; market-ready solutions are able to meet grower economic targets and alleviate key challenges, such as lack of labor availability
• Growers want more trained agtech personnel, with 50 percent indicating that they had internal employees who dedicated the majority of their time to the integration of automation investments
• The time it takes to build automation solutions is getting shorter and the costs are getting smaller thanks to overall advances in robotics and non-agriculture fields that benefit agtech startups, as well as the increasing talent pool that agtech startups are able to add to their teams

The Specialty Crop Automation Report can be found here.

For more industry insights, keep coming back to ANUK.

Western Growers

OXNARD, CA - Whether you’re honoring it at home or in the restaurant, Cinco de Mayo is a festive holiday worth celebrating. One aspect consumers love about the day is the food, and Gary Clevenger wholeheartedly agrees. I tapped the Managing Member of Freska Produce International to see how the mango provider is preparing for the holiday.

“At the moment, mangos are very tight. As one of the largest shippers in Mexico, we are continuing to support our customers with mangos when others find it hard to source due to our long-standing relationships with packers,” Gary begins. “Cinco will be a tough promotion period, but we will have fruit and will be supporting our retail partners. Get your orders in early to set yourself up for success!”

Due to a shortage of red mango varieties, Gary predicts imports from Mexico will be on a bit of the lower end around the holiday weekend. However, full retail support will be in the cards, and Freska has another ace up its sleeves: avocados.

“We recommend cross-merchandising reds with yellow mangos to really liven up the produce floor,” Gary continues. “This year, there will be plenty of yellow or Honey mangos to display for Cinco de Mayo. Displaying mangos with avocados at the front will do a great job at pushing sales as shoppers enter the store.”

Colorful and attractive displays will surely be a crowd-pleaser as spirit-forward drinks and fresh salsa and dessert abound for the festive weekend. Having a mix of ripe and unripe mangos will also be a successful promotional plan for shoppers to enjoy their fresh fruit either that night or as a sweet treat later on.

“Spring is a great time for mango and avocado sales because shoppers are looking for fresh product now that it’s getting warmer,” Gary concludes. “Freska provides promotional materials and retail support to catch those impulse sales. Cinco de Mango!”

Whether it’s the holidays, seasonal shifts, or splurging on fresh fruits and veg, count on ANUK to bring you the latest.

Freska Produce International

THE NETHERLANDS - In just over a month, a new leader will be stepping into their latest position with Ahold Delhaize. It was recently announced that the retailer has named Boudewijn van Nieuwenhuijzen as its new Brand President of Super Indo, effective June 1, 2023.

Van Nieuwenhuijzen joined Ahold in 2001. Since then, he has held several roles before moving to Indonesia to work at Super Indo. His last role before Super Indo was as Vice President of Commerce and VP of Operations at another Ahold Delhaize banner, Dutch drugstore brand Etos. Van Nieuwenhuijzen also has extensive experience in marketing, retail, and e-commerce, having held positions at Unilever, Hema, and Boost.

According to a press release, he will succeed Johan Boeijenga, who stepped down on March 31. Boeijenga will now serve as an advisor to Van Nieuwenhuijzen and Super Indo to ensure a smooth transition.

Wouter Kolk, Chief Executive Officer of Ahold Delhaize Europe and Indonesia, commented on the appointment.

"I am pleased to announce this appointment, as I see Boudewijn as a solid successor to Johan. Boudewijn has been working at Super Indo since last year as VP Operations,” Kolk said. “Boudewijn is a focused and knowledgeable leader who has proven to be able to make the connection between online and offline go-to-market strategies, seize opportunities, and always focus on the customer. He has a good connection with the team and adds value to the brand with his all-around experience. Under the inspiring advice of Johan, Boudewijn will make a strong start as Brand President."

Congratulations to Ahold’s newly named leader!

Ahold Delhaize

THE DALLES, OR - One hundred years is quite the legacy, and for Orchard View Cherries, it’s a legacy that encourages steps toward an even brighter future. I spoke with Brenda Thomas, President, to learn more about what this milestone means.

“We are so proud to be celebrating 100 years dedicated to producing the best-tasting, most beautiful cherries in the world,” Brenda shared with me. “But it doesn’t stop there. This anniversary only gives us an opportunity to reflect and look toward the next 100 years. To us, it will be a year like any other—marked by long days dedicated to picking, packing, and shipping fruit grown on our beautiful cherry orchards with commitment and care.”

Over the last 100 years, Orchard View Cherries has taken that considerable care and used it to strengthen its operations while staying true to its roots.

“Our company ethos hasn’t changed after all these years, and it’s always been most important to my family to conserve resources,” Brenda noted, an ethos that has been in place since the company’s founding in 1923. “As sustainable farmers, we don’t just harvest the land, we make choices that preserve the natural elements of the farm for the long term. Our key priorities remain our family, neighbors, land, and water. We think of ourselves as stewards of this land and remain grateful that we’re the lucky ones who get to take care of it.”

But innovation is never far behind for Orchard View, as the company continues to set its sights on exciting new opportunities.

“Our mindset remains steadfast on continuous innovation. It’s a privilege to have 100 years of experience, experience that helps us grow and find new ways of doing things to continue being a leader in the cherry industry,” Brenda shared. “That cherry savvy is the result of both nature and nurture. We’ve planted our trees with intention, matching each variety to its ideal microclimate and elevation along the rolling hills and rain shadow of The Dalles. This unique combination of terroir and experience allows us to deliver the right cherry at the right time, every time.”

Orchard View will be planting new trees with an eye to the future, featuring such varieties as the Pearl and Royal series, both new to the grower’s portfolio.

“We see growth as the continuous renovation of our orchards, facilities, and equipment,” Brenda continued. “We’re always looking for areas we can improve. Our journey is grounded in a belief that doing right for the land and our people leads to a better world for all, and better cherries from Orchard View.”

The cherry grower recently modified its worker housing facilities on its 3,500 acres, adding playgrounds for workers’ children as well as a soccer field for all to enjoy.

“While many on our team live in the community, we also celebrate the return of well-trained seasonal workers every spring. We value the biodiversity of our unique corner of the world, and the dignity of those who work with us,” Brenda added.

Although the celebration won’t start until the very last truck pulls out of the yard in August, Orchard View’s gratitude for this moment is palpable.

“We’ll take a moment to appreciate the accomplishment and start preparing for our next season of ripe and delicious cherries sought the world over,” Brenda expressed.

Cheers to 100 more, Orchard View!

Orchard View Cherries

MISSION, TX - Viva Fresh has been a hot topic of conversation here at ANUK in recent weeks. The excitement continues today, as the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) made an announcement following the show. At the conclusion of the Viva Fresh Expo, a total of 21,806 lbs of fresh produce was donated to the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB).

“Our organization and industry members work tirelessly to grow and ship the healthy fruits and vegetables that end up in stores and on our tables,” Dante Galeazzi, Chief Executive Officer of TIPA, remarked. “By making this donation, not only are we able to evoke positive change, we’re also able to meet the needs of a community experiencing an unprecedented level of food insecurity.”

A press release explained that this donation would not be possible without the approximately 200 fresh fruit and vegetable growers, shippers, and importers that exhibit at the Viva Fresh Expo. Viva Fresh’s donation will help fight food insecurity in the region and be distributed through North Texas Food Bank’s network of more than 400 partner agencies.

Ranking as the fifth most food insecure region in the nation, approximately 700,000 North Texans face food insecurity. The North Texas Food Bank is dedicated to creating a hunger-free, healthy community. Thanks to donations and fundraisers, it provides access to nutritious meals to families, children, and seniors in its 13-county service area.

“The North Texas Food Bank is proud to be a dedicated provider of food for those in need and this fresh produce donation is a welcome gift that allows us to offer many fresh produce offerings our families may not have typical access to,” said Mike Robinson, Director of Food Sourcing for NTFB. “Our mission to close the hunger gap in North Texas by providing access to nutritious food continues to be an exciting possibility thanks to the generosity of organizations like the Texas International Produce Association and their grower members.”

We applaud Viva Fresh for its generous donation!

Texas International Produce Association

NOGALES, AZ - With growth in its viewfinder, Divine Flavor has tapped a new leader to join its ranks, playing a key role in its development. Recently, the grower and distributor announced that Patrick Cortes has been appointed as its Director of Business Development and Strategic Planning.

“I’m thrilled to join the Divine Flavor team and contribute my experience to an already innovative brand that’s poised for growth,” said Cortes. “Divine Flavor is such a family-oriented company that values not only its workforce, but each of its stakeholders, whether it's their clients, growers, or anyone affiliated with the institution. Applying my knowledge from retail, foodservice, and wholesale, I plan to use this expertise and take Divine Flavor to the next level.”

Prior to joining Divine Flavor, Cortes spent the last eight years at Mission Produce as Vice President of Business Development, according to a release. Before that, he served as an Export Manager for the Gourmet Trading Company, where he oversaw markets outside of the United States, focusing on categories including berries and asparagus.

Now, he will use that expertise to bolster Divine Flavor’s growth and ongoing company development.

“The thoroughness with which Divine Flavor made sure I was the right candidate shows their commitment to cultivating the best talent,” said Cortes. “It demonstrated to me this is an organization which invests in the people they bring into the company, and their core family values greatly align with mine.”

President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Aguirre believes that Cortes will be a core piece of the company moving forward as they look to upcoming projects.

“We see Mr. Cortes in a pivotal role in our plans for the future,” he stated. “His knowledge and professionalism will bring balance and great things to our organization, and we are very excited he has joined the Divine Flavor family.”

Carlos Bon, Vice President of Sales, sees Cortes as a professional that not only has vast experience but also is passionate about produce.

“During the whole process, I became more and more excited about hiring Patrick,” said Bon. “Interview calls quickly became deep conversations about our industry, and you could really get a sense of his passion for the work he does. What did it for me was speaking with our customers to get their point of view, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive about him.”

Cheers to Patrick Cortes on his new role!

Divine Flavor

GERMANY - Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) expert IFCO is doubling down on its sustainability commitments and expanding its pooling capacities. The provider recently announced that it has opened a new state-of-the-art service center in Dannstadt, Germany.

“This flagship service center underscores IFCO’s commitment to provide the most comprehensive, sustainable, and efficient reusable packaging which enables our customers to actively participate in the circular economy,” said Mike Pooley, Chief Executive Officer. “This is how we make the fresh grocery supply chain sustainable.”

Located in a central European transportation hub, the new service center sets impressive standards in terms of energy-efficiency, conservation, and sustainability measures. These are in line with IFCO’s goals to be carbon-neutral in operations by 2025 and to reach net-zero emissions across the whole business by 2040. The facility was also awarded the gold certification for green buildings from the German Sustainable Building Council.

The Dannstadt service center is one of the most modern and technologically sophisticated facilities of its kind in Europe, a press release stated. Equipped with an automated sorting and crate recognition system, the entire high-pressure wash and sanitization process is fully automated and designed to handle and sort all sizes and types of IFCO RPCs.

“The new facility will benefit customers on multiple levels,” Dirk Schaich, Director Supply Chain and Operations, said. “The Dannstadt area is one of the largest agricultural regions in Germany and is ideally positioned to optimize transport routes to serve our retail partners in the southwest of Germany. Additionally, by inspecting, repairing and sanitizing our RPCs in this state-of-the-art service center, we will serve our customers with reusable packaging in the most sustainable way.”

The site was designed and developed with the local community and natural ecosystem in mind. While fostering employee wellbeing, the park-like design, wildflower meadow, and natural pond offer a haven for native birds and local wildlife. In addition, the roof features greened areas and is fitted with a photovoltaic system that supplies power to the building, which is also equipped with modern underfloor heating and LED lighting.

For more on the new center, check out the press release here.

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IFCO