STOCKTON, CA - Buyers, get ready to capitalize on a unique new opportunity in the apple category. JJB Family Farms is bringing the Modi^® apple to retail shelves, presenting the category with a key chance to boost sales.

“The Modi is widely becoming popular, and it’s already on school menus and selling in many supermarkets,” said Derrell Kelso, Manager. “What makes us unique is the fact that our Modi apples are grown in California for Californians. We’re planning on future Modi apple products that we will be bringing to our consumers.”

According to a press release, the Modi apple was developed in the valley north of Venice, Italy, with a goal of producing a new variety with a modern flavor profile and an ecologically responsible approach, according to a press release. Its unique name comes from the famed artist Amedeo Modigliani, who is called “Modi” by his friends, and became famous for his female portraits and his use of bright red colors, similar to the deep ruby red color of the Modi Apples. The delicious variety is a natural crossing between the Liberty and Gala varieties, yielding a crunchy, juicy flesh with just the right amount of sweetness.

Modi apple is unique because it grows in an eco-friendly manner, thanks to its trees with an innate resistance to the main pathogens, the early crop, and integrated crop management in the field. As noted in the release, many actions in the orchard are notably reduced, with a positive impact on environment and a relevant saving of production inputs. In addition, the Modi boasts of CfP, as its carbon dioxide emissions are equal to 0.028 kg CO₂ per kg of product in the orchard, with a reduction of up to 49 percent of gas emissions in the atmosphere.

This juicy and flavorful Italian-born and -developed club apple variety thrives in Mediterranean climates, and JJB Family Farms grows the Modi only on its Grand Island ranch, an island surrounded by the Sacramento River and Steamboat Slough.

JJB’s mouthwatering apple variety is currently available at supermarkets such as Safeway and Food 4 Less.

If you’re looking for a significant boost to the apple category, you may just find it on this page.

JJB Family Farms

GREENCASTLE, PA - There are less than two days left until Thanksgiving, and that means frenzied shoppers will be hitting the produce department to stock up on key ingredients like onions. Keystone Fruit Marketing is ready for the push and has all hands on deck as Matthew Gideon, Commodity Manager, spoke with M. Andrea Scoggs to give retailers the lowdown on the company’s sweet onions and how they can be used to boost register rings during the holidays.

“Well, our sweet onions can be used in a variety of dishes for Thanksgiving. Mayan Sweets can elevate just about any meal,” said Gideon. “I think that is what makes them so versatile and easy to use in your cooking on a regular basis! I will use Mayan Sweets in a sweet onion and goat cheese bruschetta, in my cornbread dressing, in my turkey gravy made from the turkey drippings, and in my sweet onion casserole!”

Is your mouth watering? Because mine sure is, and I’m positive consumers’ will be too if they see these decadent recipes displayed next to sweet onions in the aisles. And we all know that tastebuds are the fastest way to shoppers’ wallets.

With Turkey Day just around the corner, Gideon also shared some of his favorite recipes that could be used to inspire larger basket share across the produce department this season.

“My favorite part of my Thanksgiving meal is the dessert! I have a huge sweet tooth and in a perfect world, I’d just eat dessert! I love all things pumpkin. Pies and cookies... all of it! Being from Texas, we mostly prepare cornbread stuffing, so I enjoy making my grandmother’s recipes and then adding my own personal touch to them,” he explained. “We all have had canned cranberry sauce, but I’d say try making your own fresh cranberry sauce. It is very easy, and it definitely takes your Thanksgiving meal up a notch!”

Sounds like a great opportunity for retailers to add pumpkin pie ingredients to their displays—if they haven’t already—to grab a few extra sales. Additionally, merchandising fresh cranberries along with staple ingredients like onions, celery, and carrots for stuffing could prove fruitful as the big day approaches.

Seeing as Keystone has a year-round onion program in place, according to a release, Gideon hinted that he will be utilizing his kitchen skills to promote the category in the future. Could this be more unique recipes to inspire cross-merchandising and displays?

“I’m collaborating with our marketing team to add some spice to Keystone Kitchen. Soon, you’ll be seeing these chef skills on our website…stay tuned!” Gideon teased.

With ovens starting to preheat and the clock ticking down to Thanksgiving, heed Keystone’s advice and watch registers start lighting up.

Keystone Fruit Marketing

MINOT, ND - Working tirelessly to spread the word about fresh produce and the companies that grow it, FullTilt Marketing needs strong leaders to support its mission. Recently growing its team, the company announced that Kari Fox will be coming on board as its new Creative Director along with Dan Kaho, who will become Senior Project Manager.

Fox brings with her over two decades of experience in the private retail sector, with expertise in managing online and in-store retail marketing for a family-run grocery chain. According to a release, Fox also comes from an agency background and is heavily focused on digital design, specially working within the food and beverage industry at a variety of agencies in Wisconsin and Illinois.

In her new role, Fox will leverage her creative talents to elevate inspired storytelling while also expanding FullTilt’s marketing offerings in the retail space, focusing on digital marketing and client maintenance.

Joining Fox is Dan Kaho, who, before stepping in as Senior Project Manager at FullTilt, served in the same role at Harley Davidson and facilitated onboarding of a new manufacturing line. With a deep understanding of data and tech informed by more than 15 years of experience helping to build and expand digital platforms and improve customer experience, he will be an asset to the team.

Kaho is already using his strengths in digital media and data management to evaluate and create data systems that help FullTilt’s clients leverage more informed selling along with video storytelling.

Melinda Goodman, President, commented on the recent appointment of these new leaders.

“For 10 years, FullTilt has operated as a full-service boutique agency that offers more than creative design, but comprehensive strategic value to every client. Each selection of new team members is meant to grow new and existing relationships and steward opportunities for our clients,” she said. “The food and retail industry is advancing at a breakneck pace, and we must utilize every skillset to expand sales potential and foster the customer journey. Dan and Kari both bring a broad set of talents and strategic mindsets from their past experience to help our clients explore new opportunities to grow their businesses, and I’m excited to have them on our team.”

Congratulations to Kari Fox and Dan Kaho on their new roles!

FullTilt Marketing

UNITED STATES - Recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pricing reports on both broccoli and broccoli crowns caught ANUK’s eye yesterday morning. We reached out to several folks within the industry to learn more details about the state of the market.

So far, we’ve received answers from Ippolito International and Gold Coast Packing.

“The industry is continuing to see an active market with strong pricing for a few reasons. The most prominent issue was, as the industry was looking to finish Salinas and Santa Maria, California, there were a lot of issues from a quality perspective—such as yellowing and pinrot, drastically affecting yields at the field level and thus overall supplies throughout the industry,” Greg Heinz, Ippolito International’s Broccoli Commodity Manager, explained to me.

The USDA pricing report has the cost of broccoli cartons sitting between $26.95 and $30.75. Twenty lb cartons of loose crown cut broccoli shipping out of Phoenix, Arizona, ranges from $32.50—$36.95 per carton.

Heinz also noted that the product projected to be harvested in Yuma, Arizona, and Mexico was trending behind schedule.

“We also saw quality issues on the front end of the Yuma/Mexico season, thus many growers had to wait for sizing to improve for both broccoli bunch and broccoli crowns. As a result, supplies available at market were less aligned with stronger Thanksgiving demand, which resulted in higher FOBs on both the bunch and crown market,” Heinz commented.

Crystal Chavez, Marketing Coordinator of Gold Coast Packing, also offered her insights on the market.

“Pricing for broccoli has been elevated. Currently, it’s a tight supply and high demand situation for the veg. We believe it stems from several issues. One of those goes back a few months when growers were uncertain on how much to plant. Broccoli growers planted less because they were unsure of the demand stemming from COVID, so less is in the ground,” she reasoned. “Also, the desert is weeks behind for this time of year, as the region saw very hot temperatures during typical planting times, so broccoli plants went in later than usual—pushing everything back. To make the situation even tighter, broccoli out of Mexico has had quality issues. The tight supply market is expected to stay this way for a few weeks.”

As the market shifts, ANUK will continue to cover, so stay tuned!

Gold Coast Packing Ippolito International

MISSION, TX - The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) is raising more than the roof with its latest fresh produce celebration. The organization raised funds to support its endeavors in Washington, DC, and Austin, Texas, at the recent annual Pull-for-PAC Skeet Shoot fundraiser. This year's was a sold-out shoot with every team spot filled.

"Our annual Skeet Shoot PAC fundraiser was the brainchild of Mark Santos of Santos International and Scott Fletcher of Allen Lund, two of our event sponsors," said Dante Galeazzi, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Now in our 5^th year, this event has become more than just about the PAC. It has become a great opportunity for the members to get together, have fun, and enjoy much-needed comradery as we all recover from the impacts of the pandemic."

A whopping 23 teams registered, bringing more than 100 people who were treated to a BBQ dinner and drinks at the event.

        

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A press released outlined the title sponsors for the event, which included Santos International and Allen Lund. TIPA's Tex-PAC Committee, which includes Mary Velasquez of Coast Tropical; Tony Martinez of Primo Trading Services; April Flowers of Lone Star Citrus Growers; Mark Santos of Santos International; and Scott Fletcher of Allen Lund, also played a critical role in the event.

Cooks and servers from Grow Farms Texas and Allen Lund Company, led by pit-master Tommy Wilkins, manned the culinary helm throughout the evening.

"Anyone who's been in the industry for a few years understands the importance government plays for fresh produce. Whether it is international produce shipments crossing the US-MX border or it is labor policies governing the domestic workforce, there are issues at the local, state, and federal levels that the association must be engaged and active on. In order to do that, we rely on events like last night's Pull-for-PAC Skeet Shoot, and judging from the great turnout, our members understand that importance as well," said Mark Santos, Chair of TIPA TexPAC Committee and Partner of the Santos International US Custom Brokers. "Yesterday was a great event, with a phenomenal turnout. Over 20 teams of shooters, more than 100 people, all having a great time. It felt like our best PAC event yet. We even had representatives from our local Congressional and regional offices, such as candidates for the Justice of the Peace and Judgeship."

Even though a cold front with heavy rain swept through the region earlier in the day, the rain subsided and made way for a beautiful evening with great food and industry friends.

Cheers to this beloved annual fundraiser!

Texas International Produce Association

IMMOKALEE, FL - Fresh produce sales rain down during the holidays, and there are a few staple items that always make their way into shoppers’ baskets—one of them being green beans. As consumers begin scouring the aisles for the popular veggie to transform into a casserole or serve as a side dish, Lipman Family Farms is cutting prep time in the kitchen this season to give families more time to spend together enjoying the company’s high-quality Clipped & Cleaned green beans.

“Approximately 656,000 tons of green beans are distributed during the holiday season, with an estimated 20 million American households expected to serve green beans during the holidays this year,” explains Sarah Miller, General Manager. “With Lipman’s state-of-the-art fresh-cut facilities strategically placed for optimal shelf-life and freshness, we are able to provide a dependable green bean supply to stores across the west and mid-west regions to meet this seasonal demand.”

Lipman’s Clipped & Cleaned green beans are hand-picked with care and accompany a wide variety of complementary items to make holiday meal prep for consumers easier than ever. Not to mention, the convenient, microwaveable retail bags that the grower/packer/shipper offers give shoppers high-quality green beans that are ready in minutes.

Providing its buy-side partners and consumers with even more tools to add to their holiday arsenals, Lipman has tapped its Corporate Chef Wil Wilbur to create a series of recipes using its green beans.

“Consumers are expected to begin celebrations sooner this year, including an additional focus on gatherings like Friendsgiving, neighborhood dinners, and other events. This includes meal planning, which is predicted to have started as soon as September,” continues Sarah. “With the delicious recipes created by Chef Wil, retailers will be able to cross-promote our green beans with other key ingredients to boost produce aisle sales, while also giving shoppers a variety of mouth-watering options to feed those at their tables.”

Among the recipes crafted by Chef Wil are Vegetable Medley Focaccia and Pepper & Green Bean Corn Bread—both excellent options to showcase Lipman’s Clipped & Cleaned green beans along with bell peppers, onions, and herbs.

Available in 12 oz, 20 oz, 24 oz, and 32 oz pack sizes for any retailers’ needs with tested and food-safe packaging to maximize shelf-life, you can’t go wrong with Lipman’s Clipped & Cleaned green beans on your shelves this holiday season.

Excuse me while I go preheat my oven to bake some of Chef Wil’s savory creations.

Lipman Family Farms

UNITED STATES - If we put the concept of sustainability inside a package, what would it look like? Amazon is venturing to answer this question as it rolls out its latest launch. Aiming to up its sustainability game, the retailer’s items from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market will now arrive insulated in packaging made from all-recycled paper.

“As the leader of Amazon’s grocery business, and as a mom who frequently has her family’s groceries delivered via Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market, I love the convenience, speed, and selection of being able to order my groceries online,” began Stephenie Landry, Amazon’s Vice President of Grocery, in a company blog post. “At the same time, I’m committed to continuing to drive innovation around the packaging that comes with these groceries to make even more of it easily recyclable for customers.”

This new packaging, according to the company, permanently eliminates the need for plastic liners or bubble bag insulation and is also easy and convenient for customers to recycle at home because it’s curbside recyclable.

Moving to all curbside-recyclable insulation packaging reduces material waste, and each year replaces approximately 735,000 pounds of plastic film, 3.15 million pounds of natural cotton fiber, and 15 million pounds of non-recyclable mixed plastic, Landry explained in the post.

The new packaging is also produced regionally in the United States, enabling the retailer to deliver it to Amazon Fresh grocery hubs, stores, and Whole Foods Market locations with fewer miles traveled across the supply chain.

“This new packaging is just the latest step in Amazon’s commitment to both The Climate Pledge, a bold commitment to be net-zero carbon across our business by 2040, and to building a sustainable business for our employees, customers, and the planet—and we couldn’t have done it without Joe Rake who, while as a Senior Program Manager on the grocery delivery packaging team, spearheaded the new project,” Landry continued.

To see the post in full, please click here.

As operators put their own metaphorical and literal packaging around their sustainability plans, ANUK will be here to keep you informed.

Amazon

CHICAGO, IL - Putting a new blueprint in place to continue its mission of fortifying the produce industry, Hazel Technologies has announced a strategic expansion beyond its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. Recently, the solutions innovator revealed a new research center and West Coast customer support office in Fresno, California.

“Planting Hazel’s flag in California’s produce-rich Central Valley is a milestone moment for our company,” explained Adam Preslar, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer. “But even as we grow, our focus remains the same: customer-centric innovation which results in lower waste and higher profits for our customers.”

The new facility is conveniently located adjacent to Fresno’s Yosemite International Airport, and will help service increasing customer demand and further advance the research and development (R&D) of new technological solutions. According to a press release, Hazel Technologies has already begun an aggressive recruitment process to staff the new facility, as the new office will house a wide range of experts including scientists, R&D, and commercial team members.

California's Central Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions and is home to many of Hazel Technologies’ customers. Currently on track to treat 6.3 billion pounds of fresh produce in 2021, the solutions provider works with over 250 of the world’s largest food producers across 12 countries. With the new cutting-edge facility, the company will continue to focus its research on crops such as avocados, table grapes, cherries, and over fifteen other produce items.

The announcement of this expansion follows Hazel Technologies’ recent $70 million Series C funding round. With a rapidly expanding customer base, Hazel Technologies was recently recognized as a 2021 “Tech Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum and was one of Fast Company magazine’s “World Changing Ideas” in 2020.

With a pivotal expansion underway, what growth will we see from Hazel Technologies next? Keep an eye on ANUK to find out.

Hazel Technologies

BOSTON, MA - Shoppers love seeing the health benefits of fresh produce. To help them connect the dots even further, Ocean Spray Cranberries and Brightseed announced an agreement to leverage Brightseed’s A.I., Forager^®. By doing so, Ocean Spray and Brightseed will profile the compounds in cranberries and surface new connections between cranberries and human health.

“Similar to how different grapes produce different wine varietals, each cranberry strain can be extraordinarily diverse in their phytochemical composition, resulting in different colors, flavor nuances, size, and a trove of health-promoting bioactive compounds,” said Katy Galle, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Ocean Spray Cranberries. “Our agreement with Brightseed puts us on a path to profiling our cranberry varieties and understanding their health potential like never before. The insights from this agreement will support us as we continue to innovate healthy products for our consumers, in addition to informing how we grow, separate, and treat our cranberries to optimize for target health benefits and sustainability.”

According to a press release, this collaboration puts Ocean Spray on the path to having the world’s most comprehensive nutritional profile of the cranberry—including the cranberries’ previously unknown bioactive compounds and potential health benefits.

“Some of the cranberry’s potent health benefits are well-known, including their impact on bladder and kidney function. With over 100 cranberry varieties, the vast majority of compounds in cranberries have never been explored for their impact in the human body, however, they carry enormous potential to open up new dimensions for health and wellness,” continued Galle.

According to Christina Khoo, Director of Emerging Science, Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs at Ocean Spray Cranberries, leveraging the A.I Forager to deep dive into the bioactive components in cranberry varietals helped accelerate Ocean Spray’s innovation activities to evaluate exciting health benefits of cranberries including immunity and cognitive health and build the scientific evidence.

“We are thrilled at the early findings of this discovery work, which is showcasing how important crop diversity and growing practices are for bioactive content and expression,” added Sofia Elizondo, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Brightseed. “The question Forager is able to answer is not just ‘what is in a cranberry?’ but also ‘what is different about all these cranberry varieties?’ With Forager’s insights, Ocean Spray’s stewardship will be taken to the next level and so will consumer comprehension of what a cranberry can do for health.”

To learn more about the partnership and how Forager, Brightseed’s proprietary A.I., works, click here.

For the latest innovations in fresh produce, keep clicking back to AndNowUKnow.

Ocean Spray Cranberries Brightseed

MILWAUKEE, WI - A significant addition to Sysco’s operations is undergoing review. The distributor hopes to nearly double the size of its Jackson, Wisconsin, warehouse to 660,000 square feet.

According to plans filed, Sysco hopes to do the following: “improve staging for inbound trucks with on-site dual lane entry driveway; proposed building expansion for ambient, cool, and freezer warehouse and docks of approximately 300,000 square feet; supporting sitework development for truck staging and maneuvering.”

A report from BizTimes initially noted that Sysco hopes to double the size of the space. GMToday reported that the application included that the expansion would increase the truck operations and traffic for the site, though the building itself screens the on-site dock and truck operations from the roadway.

At this time, specific information on the Sysco expansion, such as building specifications, details on sitework, and timelines, are not included at the concept plan level.

We all know how important warehouse and facility space are in today’s supply chain landscape. Additional space for trucking operations also positions the foodservice distributor to better serve its customers.

Stick to AndNowUKnow for the latest in all things affecting the fresh produce biz.

Sysco