PHOENIX, AZ - Taking a stand against single-use plastics, Sprouts Farmers Market recently announced it will eliminate single-use plastic bags at checkout by the end of 2023. With this decision, Sprouts will remove over 200 million single-use plastic bags from circulation each year.

“Our customers tell us how much they appreciate Sprouts’ care for the planet and our commitment to doing what’s right for our collective future,” said Nick Konat, President and Chief Operating Officer. “The decision to shift to reusable bags is one of many ways Sprouts will have an even bigger impact on the environment. We understand this will be an adjustment for our customers, and we will be here to help them with the transition.”

Already, Sprouts has eliminated single-use plastic bags at 132 of its California stores and will roll out this initiative in phases next month, beginning with Nevada, Utah, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia stores. To help with this transition, Sprouts will offer customers stronger, reusable plastic bags made from 40 percent post-consumer recycled material designed to be reused at least 125 times and will continue to offer customers numerous other reusable bag options for purchase. Sprouts will encourage customers to bring their own reusable bags by charging 10 cents per reusable plastic bag.

As noted in the release, the company has also stopped offering paper bags at checkout as paper bags are generally not reusable; often are not recycled (with 80 percent ending up in landfill); and have a high environmental cost in terms of water, energy, and raw materials used in their manufacture.

“We like to remind customers that any bag takes energy and resources to produce, which means the most sustainable choice is the bag you already have. Making the effort to reuse any bag that comes into your possession, and disposing of the bag responsibly, is key,” said Konat.

Customers can continue to bring single-use plastic bags to Sprouts stores for recycling after use. In 2022, customers recycled nearly 1 million pounds of soft plastics at Sprouts stores.

Keep an eye on the latest initiatives and advancements our industry makes with ANUK.

Sprouts Farmers Market

YAKIMA, WA - The apple category is ripe with opportunity, according to Proprietary Variety Management’s (PVM) Kathryn Grandy. I recently sat down with the Chief Marketing Officer to discuss PVM’s portfolio of branded apple varieties, and the advantages it provides to retailers.

“Branded fruit that delivers consistently delicious experiences will increase consumption and build shopper loyalty,” she began telling me. “It’s difficult to achieve this brand promise without managed programs like Cosmic Crisp®, Pink Lady®, and other PVM products. Retailer support from sales organizations teamed with consumer education and promotions are powerful tools. When we work in concert with one another, there is tremendous momentum.”

PVM provides trademark protection to licensed growers, packer/shippers, and retailer organizations as well as the development of differentiated brands. Kathryn explained that as categories grow with new products, a differentiated brand strategy is critical.

“As brand awareness grows with consumers, so does the demand for proprietary products. Our model is based on the value chain where everyone who touches the fruit succeeds. For retailers, we are developing strong consumer awareness while our sales organizations assist with supply and retail promotional programs,” Kathryn stated.

In terms of educating the consumer, PVM maintains extensive websites for its family of brands, which provide retailer toolkits as well as sales company designed materials such as POS, merchandising unit design, and other digital assets.

“We also offer custom signage designs for retail and suppliers,” Kathryn noted. “For consumers, we partner with a variety of influencers to showcase various attributes of our branded fruit, particularly in the ‘how to’ culinary category. Today’s consumers are looking to be inspired by new ways to enjoy fruits and vegetables and learn fresh twists on traditional recipes.”

On top of all this, PVM’s marketing team supports brands with out-of-store product samplings and event marketing, awareness campaigns, and an extensive social and digital presence.

“We are also continually developing new secondary products, working to execute joint displays and promotions to build demand. Some retailers enjoy store experiential takeovers, especially during the holidays, where we feature a brand and have activations, demonstrations, and consumer engagements throughout all departments,” Kathryn added. “Often, we provide geo-targeting through social media for our products that are promoted at retail.”

For many of its branded apple varieties, PVM works with research teams at universities such as Washington State University or Cornell to determine the best apple qualities possible and bring them to market.

“A best practice is to ensure that growers, marketers, retailers, and the University breeding team all realize the value in the IP associated with bringing a new apple variety to market,” said Albert Tsui, Senior Plant Varieties Licensing & Business Development Officer and Registered U.S. Patent Attorney, Center for Technology Licensing at Cornell University.

Looking to add more branded apples to your department? PVM just might be the partner for you.

Proprietary Variety Management

CALIFORNIA - Traveling to the Mediterranean can certainly decrease stress, but California Walnuts wants consumers to know that the Mediterranean diet can decrease the risk of dementia. To get the message across, the organization is providing retailers with educational tools that can help boost California walnut sales in the produce department.

The Mediterranean diet puts fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, and seeds at the center of the plate, according to a release. This gives retailers the chance to highlight these ingredients, including walnuts, in-store to help shoppers tap into the trend.

By positioning walnuts prominently next to fruits and vegetables, retailers can increase consumer awareness of the health benefits of the category, especially as May is National Mediterranean Month. In fact, as California Walnuts shares, 76 percent of shoppers are more likely to purchase walnuts when they are displayed next to fresh fruits and vegetables in the produce aisle.

Retailers can also share with consumers that walnuts may play a role in helping to maintain and improve physical and cognitive health as people age, scientific evidence suggests. To help spread this information, California Walnuts offers downloadable materials and resources for customer education.

As shoppers look for more better-for-you options, getting a little nutty in the produce aisle could help boost register rings.

California Walnuts

NEWARK, DE - A boost in retail performance is always welcomed, and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is happy to deliver. IFPA recently announced the anticipated schedule for its Retail Conference, held June 7–8 in Oak Brook, Illinois.

“We know that produce retailers and their suppliers face stiff headwinds, and this conference connects them to the people and insights they need to thrive in the current business climate,” said Joe Watson, Vice President Of Retail, Foodservice, and Wholesale Membership. “What stands out to me is the close-knit setting of this event. Because we cap attendance, everyone has the opportunity for real conversation around the most pressing issues our industry faces. Buyers from chains like Albertsons, Walmart, Costco, SpartanNash, Tops, and more join their perspectives with those of leading suppliers.”

The one-day conference will tackle top industry issues, foster strong business relationships in an intimate setting, and enhance networking through a golf tournament on the first day. As noted in the release, the retail-focused event will address:

• Transformative Changes in Food and Beverage Retail and What They Mean for Produce

• Food as Medicine and Produce Prescriptions: What's It Mean for the Produce Department?

• FSMA 204 for Retail

• Retail Relationships - Building Your Business Through Powerful Partnerships

“Not only are we attentive to the issues of the day, but we also take time to enjoy each other’s company and even play a little golf—where each foursome has a buyer,” Watson said. “Business and golf, what a match! Because this event did sell out last year, I’d encourage anyone interested in attending to register as soon as possible, so they aren’t left out this year.”

To see the full schedule, click here.

Check out the latest events and updates with ANUK.

International Fresh Produce Association

NOGALES, AZ - Whether through blood or bond, family is a key pillar of the produce industry, differentiating it from other fields. This is no different for Divine Flavor, whose legacy has been built by generations of growers, all of whom have ties to the distributor through family history and carefully nurtured connections, like its team in Culiacán, Mexico.

“Being a company with strong family roots is what makes Divine Flavor a dynamic produce brand. Family is the epicenter of what bonds our businesses together. It gives us support, strength, and the ability to work closely together in ways other farm companies can’t,” said Carlos Bon, Vice President of Sales. “Each of our partners specializes in the items they produce whether it’s bell peppers, cucumbers, or tomatoes—all key commodities of our product range. Aside from being connected through family, we also share the passion of growing first-class, fresh produce for our customers.”

Divine Flavor is currently harvesting in Culiacán, which complements the company’s principal growing region of Sonora, Mexico, with Grupo Alta, a release stated. In the west Mexico area, the distributor has several key growers who have been producing for Divine Flavor since it was founded in 2007, including Hortifresh, Viva Orgánica, Grupo Chaparral, and Campaña Agricultores.

This year, throughout northern and western Mexico, the colder temperatures have delayed production in several categories for Divine Flavor, including its bell pepper, mini pepper, cucumber, and tomato programs. However, the company expects production to be in a prime position moving into the month of April.

Generally, the west Mexico/Sinaloa season sees peaks from the end of February to mid-March, and different cycles of certain tomato and cucumber varieties start up again at the end of March and early April. This season, the region won’t see the typical flush it’s used to, but the season could finish stronger than usual, which will connect to the other growing regions in Mexico.

To learn more about Divine Flavor’s growers and what the season has in store, click here.

AndNowUKnow will continue to pull back the curtain on the families and individuals behind the companies in our industry.

Divine Flavor

NEWARK, DE & WASHINGTON, DC - It is with great regret that we report on the passing of Peter Goulet. The veteran was a part of the food industry for 47 years and was a past Chair of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), an International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) legacy organization. He was a long-time member and contributor to the fresh produce community and championed food safety.

As Chair of PMA, Peter led the organization forward in the aftermath of the 2006 E. coli outbreak linked to spinach that changed how PMA and the industry addressed food safety.

“You can safely say that Peter played a large role in taking PMA’s role to a much higher level than it had ever been before,” Former PMA Chief Executive Officer Bryan Silbermann reflected. “What flowed from his year as Chair was not only the hiring of our first food safety expert (Dr. Bob Whitaker) a year later, but also the support PMA provided in the creation of the Center for Produce Safety.”

Prior to becoming Chair in 2006, Peter was a consummate volunteer for PMA, where he previously served as Fresh Summit Chair, the Retail Division Board Chair, and member of the Retail Division Board of Directors, the Food Safety Task Force, and Returnable Packaging Task Force to name just a few.

As noted in the release, he also provided his time and expertise to retail advisory boards of the Washington Apple Commission and Ready Pac Produce, as well as served on the Board of Directors for the New England Produce Council.

“Peter was a true produce professional who always had an eye on giving shoppers the absolute best fresh fruits and vegetables and in-store experience,” IFPA Chief Executive Officer Cathy Burns, who worked alongside Peter in her time at Hannaford Bros., stated. “But most importantly, he was a friend and someone who wanted to do right by everyone he met. I will miss him dearly, and the IFPA team extends our condolences and sympathies to Cathy and the whole Goulet family.”

Peter met the love of his life, Catherine Blunt, in 2007, and after a ten-year courtship, they married on August 15, 2020. His family would like to thank The Maine Health Cancer Center staff for their excellent care and compassion during his long 2-plus-year cancer journey.

Services will be held April 2–3 at Cote Funeral Home in Saco, Maine.

We encourage you to read his obituary here.

Our hearts go out to all of Peter Goulet’s family and loved ones during this time.

DELTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Farmworkers are a vital part of our industry, and their contributions cannot be celebrated enough. For companies like Windset Farms®, appreciating farmers is a crucial part of their mission and values. As National Farmworker Awareness Week (NFAW) takes place, we sat down with Windset Farms for more insight on what this week means.

“We’ve been celebrating our farmers since our inception in 1996,” began Jeff Madu, Vice President of Sales and Operations. “Farmworker Awareness Week provides an opportunity for Windset and the industry to acknowledge the essential role of the farmworkers that ground our supply chain and ensure the availability, quality, and safety of our fresh food.”

Windset Farms works to express its gratitude for its farmworkers every day of the year, taking certain steps to further celebrate its workers. These run the gamut from bringing in food trucks for lunches to monthly giveaways and even a soccer tournament.

“We do everything we can to support our employee’s mental well-being and provide mental health initiatives for temporary foreign workers. Last year, we participated in an AgSafe BC music video that depicted a Windset Farms employee’s journey to overcome the struggles they faced working in a new country. The video was part of a province-wide campaign supporting our farmer workers,” Jeff noted.

Aside from its day-to-day support, Windset Farms works hard to make sure that, at the operational level, the company has the proper certifications to support its team. This means that Windset’s facilities are certified by the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI).

“Being an EFI-certified farm builds on Windset’s existing employee wellness programs, providing employees with added trust that we are putting their needs first,” Jeff added. “EFI allows us to support our workers and further promote the importance of buying from socially responsible growers and retailers! Consumers continue to take a real interest in where their food comes from and the workers who help bring that food from farm to table. The EFI label on our products lets our consumers know they are supporting a more sustainable food system.”

A partner of EFI’s since 2017, Windset continues to build on the relationship.

“Windset Farms stands out as a leader in the industry with its early adoption of EFI,” LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing Communications for EFI, shared. “The Windset team embraced the worker-manager collaborative team model required for EFI and became the first greenhouse operation to receive an EFI certificate. Since that time, they have been a true best-in-class partner with EFI, helping us grow our reach and recognition within the industry. More recently, Windset served on EFI’s Leadership Team Committee and worked on a waste reduction project at the Santa Maria facility.”

Building awareness of the importance of NFAW is another aspect of the partnership between Windset Farms and EFI, as both see this week as a chance to underscore the value that each person brings to their jobs every day, ensuring a safe food source and quality products.

“EFI Certification demonstrates that we prioritize sustainability, quality, and ethical practices, which are increasingly important factors for businesses and consumers,” Jeff remarked. “This can help us establish long-term relationships with partners who share similar values. We will continue to utilize the opportunity to build awareness of EFI, and our #AlwaysEssential farmworkers, and encourage consumers to show the same cooperation when supporting growers and retailers in the marketplace.”

Keep reading us here at AndNowUKnow for the latest on what’s happening within the industry.

Windset Farms®

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - We’ve been following the meteoric rise of GrubMarket for quite some time now. From a flurry of acquisitions to product launches, the company has become quite the name in the produce industry. As we head into Viva Fresh Expo, I wanted to touch base and see what GrubMarket will be promoting at the show.

Bryan Barsness, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, clued me in.

“We will be showcasing two of our leading products, WholesaleWare and GrubMarket Orders IO, from booth #917. We will have live demonstrations of both software products. GrubMarket Orders IO is our independent e-commerce and mobile ordering solution, and WholesaleWare is the produce industry’s new leading ERP system,” he explained to me.

Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a food tech and e-commerce company operating in the United States and Canadian food supply chain, serving both business customers and end consumers. The company provides software-as-a-service solutions (SaaS) to digitally transform businesses throughout the food supply chain.

“Our innovative and proprietary WholesaleWare software suite is a 24/7, cloud-based software-as-a-service platform that provides food industry wholesalers, distributors, and suppliers with seamless financial management, powerful sales and online ordering features, precise inventory management, lot traceability, grower accounting, and automated routing and logistics,” Bryan noted.

He also remarked that attendees and industry members, in general, should pay close attention to exciting news soon to drop surrounding GrubMarket's newest product release into financial services for the fresh industry, GrubPay.

“This is in regard to payments, GL, bookkeeping, reporting, and more,” Bryan said. “We have solutions for you, regardless of what accounting system you use. GrubPay makes it easy for your customers to pay via ACH or credit card. You can also use it to pay your own bills with some of the lowest rates available in the payment space. Imagine if payments for businesses were as easy as Venmo or Apple Pay. Welcome to GrubPay!”

I’m sure booth #917 will be bustling with attendees, so be sure to link up with GrubMarket asap!

GrubMarket

NEW ZEALAND - The widespread greenery that covers New Zealand is something to behold, and avocado orchards certainly add to the beauty. The country’s growers will be welcoming industry members next month as they descend upon the 10^th World Avocado Congress, hosted in New Zealand for the first time.

“We are showcasing our wonderful country, our growers, our technology, and of course our avocado sector,” said Jen Scoular, Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand Avocado and President of the World Avocado Congress Committee.

Eight different field days will take 760 delegates to South Auckland, Northland, and Bay of Plenty to visit orchards and packhouses, hear science presentations, and see agritech businesses in operation. Products will be showcased in the orchards while plant and food research presents four topics under a marquee at David French’s avocado and kiwifruit orchard. Delegates will also be taken through the brand-new MAF RODA technology installed at Just Avocados packhouse in Katikati.

TOMRA Food will offer a tour of its Auckland premises prior to the congress as an additional networking opportunity, according to a press release. Then, at the Congress in Auckland, New Zealand, exporters will exhibit in front of over 1,150 delegates from 32 countries.

New Zealand delegates will hear from over 140 presenters from outside New Zealand on topics from science in avocados to consumer marketing to the sustainability initiatives of Chile, Peru, and the United States. Climate change and sustainability will be a hot global topic. Dr. Brent Clothier will present his climate change research and expertise as a keynote speaker, and four keynote speakers will cover sustainability from different perspectives.

“As an avocado sector, we are both passionate and engaged,” said Scoular. “We recognize the amazing opportunity with the world coming to us. Delegates will learn so much from this congress, it’s professional development you cannot get anywhere else. Learning, sharing, and understanding our global customers, networks, and scientists—this congress has the ability to unlock amazing and diverse opportunities. We know our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and delegates will leverage that opportunity.”

As we continue to keep an eye on the global fresh produce industry, keep a tab open for ANUK.

New Zealand Avocado

ROSEMONT, IL - Andrew Iacobucci has his eye on the prize. The industry expert has entered a new executive role with US Foods, recently being named as the Senior Executive Vice President, Field Operations and Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately.

“US Foods is on a great trajectory, delivering significant value for its associates, customers, and shareholders,” Iacobucci said. “I am eager to bring the learnings from my career experiences here at US Foods to this new role and excited to partner with Dave [Flitman] and the rest of the Executive Leadership Team to build on our momentum.”

Iacobucci joined US Foods in 2017 and most recently served as Chief Transition Officer, according to a press release. He also served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of US Foods from May 2022 to January 2023. Prior to that, Iacobucci was the Chief Merchandising Officer before becoming the Chief Commercial Officer. Prior to joining US Foods, Iacobucci was Executive Vice President, Merchandising for Ahold Delhaize USA and spent 10 years at Loblaw Companies Limited. He is a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and University of Toronto Law School.

In his new role, Iacobucci will oversee the company’s local sales, commercial excellence, merchandising, marketing, CHEF’STORE, US Foods Direct, and MOXē teams and have P&L responsibility for the company’s broadline business. He will report to Dave Flitman, Chief Executive Officer.

“I am thrilled that Andrew is taking on this important role as Senior Executive Vice President, Field Operations and Chief Commercial Officer,” said Flitman. “Andrew is a talented, strong, and respected executive, as he proved throughout his leadership as Interim CEO last year and most recently during my onboarding process. I look forward to partnering with Andrew in his new role to drive strong execution of our long-range plan.”

Congratulations to Andrew Iacobucci!

US Foods