ORLANDO, FL - Created by Shuman Farms in 2002, the Healthy Family Project continues to promote nutrition education across the industry. The organization is kicking off the third annual Mission for Nutrition promotion, a month-long digital and shopper-focused program, in celebration of National Nutrition Month^®. Highlighting the importance of meal planning to make healthy choices while also giving back to Feeding America^® food banks, the program arms retail dietitians with the tools to educate their shoppers.

“As a former retail dietitian and someone deeply connected with this community, I understand the resources and support retail dietitians’ need to succeed in their role. A lot has shifted in how retail dietitians interact with shoppers during the pandemic,” said Julie Harrington, former ShopRite Dietitian and Healthy Family Project’s Authority on Retail Dietitians. “This year’s Mission for Nutrition is geared to help put retail dietitians in the spotlight and reenergize their presence with their shoppers.”

Results from a late 2020 retail dietitian survey conducted by Healthy Family Project indicated that 56 percent of surveyed retail dietitians are able to host a Facebook Live event, 67 percent have an e-newsletter where they can share information with shoppers, 90 percent are able to distribute materials to shoppers, and over 85 percent have space in-store to showcase information.

In mid-February, the organization shipped out a physical Mission for Nutrition box filled with health-focused materials from Healthy Family Project as well as program partners including, Bee Sweet Citrus^®, Crispy Green^® Crispy Fruit, Eat Smart^®, Nature Fresh Farms, Pero Family Farms^®, Sage Fruit^®, and RealSweet^® Sweet Onions. The shipment included items such as a mini-magazine published by Healthy Family Project full of recipe inspiration featuring partner brands and a shopping list to help with the recreation of the recipes.

An online toolkit guiding retail dietitians on how to host a successful virtual cooking class was also created by Harrington. She based the components on her own successful virtual cooking class series along with feedback from her retail dietitian network, according to a press release. Retail dietitians are encouraged to get creative with the items sent to them through hosting an online cooking class, creating a display, or hosting a dry demo and sharing on social with the hashtag #MissionforNutrition.

Like in year’s past, retail dietitians using the hashtag or submitting their events to Healthy Family Project are entered to win a $1,000 continued education scholarship. Past winners have utilized the scholarship to attend retail dietitian-focused trade shows, workshops, and conferences.

“Over and over, we are hearing that families are feeling burned out from cooking at home,” said Trish James, Vice President of the Healthy Family Project. “Mission for Nutrition can help by introducing new ways of meal planning to alleviate stress, offer new inspiration, and give families tools, like shopping lists and recipes, that make mealtime easier.”

Consumers can download a free digital copy of the mini-magazine, access more than 500 registered dietitian-approved recipes, including many plant-based and flexitarian options, and enter to win an air fryer. Additional weekly giveaways of eco-friendly meal planning tools are set to take place on the Healthy Family Project Instagram account. Healthy Family Project will also get in on the virtual event action by hosting a Facebook live cooking class with Amanda Keefer and her daughter, Charli, on March 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Program partners, retail dietitians, and influencers will also interact with consumers during the annual #MissionForNutrition Twitter party on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.

Additional marketing efforts around Mission for Nutrition include targeted e-newsletters, influencer outreach, and promotion on The Healthy Family Project podcast. Since it began in 2019, the program has donated 300,000 meals to families in need through Feeding America.

The team at ANUK extends our appreciation to the Healthy Family Project and all industry leaders who are working to make our world a healthier place.

The Healthy Family Project

PORTLAND, OR - Everyone in the world deserves access to fresh, safe food. The produce industry is a chief champion of this belief, and we couldn’t achieve our goals without the support of tech and services companies like GLOBALG.A.P. To get a closer look at all this company offers, I had the chance to chat with Roberta Anderson, Executive Vice President of GLOBALG.A.P. North America.

“For almost 25 years, GLOBALG.A.P. has been collaborating with both buyers and producers to define standards and procedures that ensure product safety; minimize environmental impact; and maximize the health, safety, and welfare of agriculture workers,” said Roberta. “Our Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)-recognized farm and post-harvest handling certifications are upheld as leading industry standards by both domestic and export markets.”

For producers, GLOBALG.A.P. offers efficient, cost-saving audit solutions that are accepted by both a domestic and global buying audience. These certification standards are based on an individualized risk assessment of each operation that is performed by the farmer. Rather than being a one-size-fits all type of standard, GLOBALG.A.P. makes sure that the risks of each operation are assessed and addressed individually.

For buyers with additional expectations of their suppliers not otherwise covered by the company’s standards, GLOBALG.A.P. develops and operates custom add-on solutions for a streamlined audit process. A database for validating certification information is publicly available, and buyers can gain customized access to ensure in real time that their supply chains meet their certification requirements.

“Our Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) standard is available for markets interested in a more comprehensive certification that includes food safety as well as environmental and worker health and safety requirements,” Roberta continued. “We also offer additional GFSI-recognized standards such as the Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS), and Produce Handling Assurance (PHA) standard (currently in final stages of GFSI benchmarking process) for food safety-specific needs.”

With evolving food safety concerns and varying standards required by U.S. retailers and global markets, producers are challenged to efficiently and cost-effectively meet all their audit requirements. GLOBALG.A.P. has used its expertise to sharpen and refine a variety of turn-key audit solutions for North America that meet the needs of the supply chain, including small and large producers, U.S. retailers, and export markets.

“GLOBALG.A.P. standards and implementation are developed in consultation with producer and retailer members to ensure optimal compliance flexibility for producers of all sizes and commodities while securing the highest level of food safety assurance retailers can trust,” Roberta told me. “GLOBALG.A.P. is the only set of standards that allows producers and packers to simplify their audit process and decrease costs while increasing their reach to a global buying audience.”

Additionally, GLOBALG.A.P. offers group certifications that can be used by producer groups to streamline the audit process, reducing cost and time. Producers also have the ability to choose from a large pool of GLOBALG.A.P.-approved, accredited certification bodies for their audits.

As you continue to refine your own strategies for increased safety and decreased environmental impact, be sure to check out GLOBALG.A.P.’s exclusive offerings.

GLOBALG.A.P.

NEWARK, DE - A melting pot of ideas is often the starting point for some of our industry’s greatest innovations. This melting pot begins with diversity in the workplace, bringing together a room full of different perspectives and molding them into one powerful mind. Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has launched a new resource to help many brands across our industry foster diversity and inclusion with its From Planning to Action: Diversity and Inclusion Resources for Members Virtual Town Hall.

“Over the past year, PMA, Center for Growing Talent, and our members have heard from experts about why diversity and inclusion matter and what companies across various industries are doing to be more inclusive, and therefore more competitive,” the association said in a company release.

The Virtual Town Hall will take place on Wednesday, March 3, beginning at 12 p.m. EST.

During the event, members of PMA and Center for Growing Talent’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force will share the association’s main objectives surrounding diversity and inclusion, as well as introduce exciting new programs and resources that companies can use to advance diversity and inclusion within their organization to drive business performance and attract, develop, and retain talent. The events panelists will include Doug Bohr, Adriëlle Dankier, Laura Himers, Kathy Smith, and Joe Don Zetzsche.

To register for this exciting online event, click here.

As always, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on the latest news in the fresh produce industry.

Produce Marketing Association

CHARLOTTE, NC - Dole’s recent rollout of recipe hacks is a boon for the buy-side, as it’s a merchandising and marketing paradise. With 10 recipes and recipe hacks—all of which drive shoppers to the fresh department—the produce purveyor is making sure it’s retail that wins big.

Now that National Nutrition Month is officially upon us, it’s time for the industry to go into maximum overdrive and really pump up the benefits of our beloved fruits and veggies. According to a citation via Dole’s press release, the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020—2025 advises adults to eat between five and 13 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

However, this can seem daunting for many shoppers, but never fear—Dole is here. Culled from its extensive web-based library of fruit-and-vegetable-based recipes, Dole’s 10 top recipe suggestions seek to improve overall nutritional health while arming consumers with globally inspired flavors, ingredients, and entrée and side dish choices.

Dole is supporting its first set of National Nutrition Month recipes, which target breakfast and lunch, with a social media and video campaign that also suggests healthier alternatives to popular dishes like pizza and pasta.

Below are several of the recipes, so be sure to take notes. I’ve got my eye on a certain egg bowl—and I know consumers would love to see suggestions for meals across the produce department!

• Not Your Everyday Smoothie. Plantains and Sweet Potatoes as a morning pick-me-up? Dole’s Pineapple, Plantain, and Sweet Potato Smoothie makes it a tasty, low-fat possibility. (20 min. total prep time; 6 ingredients; Vegetarian and Gluten-Free)
• A Fresh Take on a Childhood Favorite. This One Pot Broccoli Cauliflower Cheddar Chickpea Mac sneaks an extra veggie into the sauce. (30 min. total prep time; 12 ingredients; Vegetarian and Vegan)
• Stir-Fry Satisfaction. Make your own takeout with this Lemon-Ginger Spring Vegetable Sir-Fry featuring DOLE^® asparagus, carrots, broccoli, baby spinach, Tropical Gold® pineapple, and strawberries. The quinoa provides a high-protein substitute for rice. (30 min. total prep time; 14 ingredients; Vegetarian and Vegan)
• Set it and Forget It. Yes, it takes 3 ½ hours in the slow-cooker, but this Pineapple Braised Slow Cooker Chicken with DOLE bell peppers, red onion, and pineapple couldn’t be easier. (3.5 hour total prep time; 10 ingredients)
• Plant-based Pasta without the Pasta Hangover. This Stewed Cauliflower Lentils over Spaghetti Squash satisfies the cold-weather craving for pasta without the pasta hangover. (45 min. total prep time; 9 ingredients; Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free)
• Friday Fish Sticks Were Never Like This. These Breaded Salmon Nuggets with Spinach Cashew Dip feature a plant-based dip to keep dinner hands-on, healthy, and fun. (35 min. total prep time; 13 ingredients)
• Savory and Sweet with Aloha. Dole’s Hawaiian-Style Fried Cauliflower Rice adds Island flair to an already-trendy dish. (40 min. total prep time; 12 ingredients; Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free)
• 10-min Gazpacho. Just empty the non-garnish ingredients of the DOLE Southwest Salad Kit into a blender, add vegetable juice, and blend to create Southwestern Gazpacho. Then watch it disappear. (10 min. total prep time; 6 ingredients; Vegetarian)
• Go Big for Breakfast. Take advantage of 2020 research suggesting that a big breakfast can help you burn more calories throughout the day with this 6-Minute Egg Breakfast Bowl. (35 min. total prep time; 10 ingredients; Vegetarian and Gluten Free)
• Just Desserts in the Morning. This Breakfast Banana Split with DOLE bananas, blueberries, low-fat Greek yogurt, and almond butter can’t wait for later. (10 min. total prep time; 10 ingredients; Vegetarian)

Get ready for increased traffic! AndNowUKnow will be here to report on additional marketing hacks.

Dole

CASTROVILLE, CA - Retailers had better ready their produce departments for the incoming supply of a display-worthy vegetable. Ocean Mist® Farms recently made an exciting announcement, revealing that its proprietary purple artichokes are now available. This seasonal, limited addition to the Ocean Mist artichoke family is a colorful variety selected for excellent flavor and appearance.

Grown in Castroville, California, and available nationwide, the heaviest production period of these purple artichokes is expected to be March 15–April 30. Characteristics of the purple artichokes include a vibrant purple exterior that when cooked may transform into shades of green and purple depending on seasoning and cooking method.

This product has the look and flavor of a Mediterranean old-world variety, with tender, meaty leaves and a rich, earthy artichoke flavor. The variety tends to grow into large and medium sizes (rather than jumbo). This year, the company is introducing a new 4-count clamshell packed with size 30 (medium) artichokes. This is in addition to Ocean Mist’s offering of loose artichokes with a tag.

For nearly 100 years, Ocean Mist has cultivated premium artichoke varieties in California. Tapping into this experience, it developed a purple artichoke variety to enjoy alongside the lineup of other Ocean Mist Farms products, as noted in a press release.

Buyers, if you’re looking for a new veg variety to draw shoppers to the produce aisle, be sure to check out Ocean Mist Farms’ unique purple artichokes.

Ocean Mist® Farms

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Aiming to maintain its values across all operations, Southeastern Grocers (SEG) continues to make advancements in the name of sustainability. The grocer recently released its 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Report announcing its current achievements and ongoing commitment to fostering stronger communities, offering better products, and doing its part to create a more sustainable planet.

“Our associates, customers, and communities are at the heart of everything we do,” Anthony Hucker, President and CEO, said in the report. “Providing our customers and communities with a shopping experience they can always count on is why we exist—and it’s that commitment to being a trusted retailer that inspires us every day to take actions that will bring about a brighter, healthier, happier tomorrow.”

SEG has committed to fostering an inclusive environment where differences are celebrated and everyone is empowered to be their full, authentic selves. The grocer has launched several initiatives to provide inspiration and opportunities for all community members to break barriers and push for equity. As noted in a press release, the grocer has also launched seven diverse resource groups and implemented training sessions to provide education and help encourage constructive conversations among associates.

Since 2016, SEG has remained committed to sourcing produce from local farms and orchards, whenever possible, to provide customers with the freshest produce while mitigating waste and limiting unnecessary transportation emissions. The grocer is also focused on offering an increased selection of plant-based products that provide a smaller greenhouse gas footprint, in addition to only working with suppliers who keep animal rights at the forefront of operations.

Last year, the grocer recycled more than 74,000 tons of cardboard, saving 1.25 million trees. SEG also follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Hierarchy to reduce food waste. Increased resource efficiencies through lighting, refrigeration, water use, and beyond is also a top priority to ensure store operations are environmentally responsible for the needs and longevity of the community and the planet.

The grocer plans to continue to expand its commitment to sustainability, people, products, and the planet. To learn more about the grocer’s achievements and goals, please click here.

As we continue to see our industry’s leaders stepping up to the sustainability plate, keep reading us here at ANUK.

Southeastern Grocers

RIO RICO, AZ - As we ride the waves that Mother Nature stirs as of late, retailers and consumers alike are leaning on the steadfastness of fresh produce operators around the world to keep aisles stocked and the consumer basket occupied. Fresh Farms is one such company helping to keep its customers at the forefront of fresh, and bell peppers are allowing the team to do just that.

“Markets have been in flux this year due to COVID-19 and weather challenges. Each day keeping us on our toes,” Alan Voll, Sales, tells me. “The market dynamic has changed a lot over the past year and is highly driven by retail for us. Foodservice sectors have been impacted in larger percentages. Right now, we have promotional volumes across our bell pepper program and our focus remains on our retail industry contracts while also maintaining a grower profit regardless of the ups and downs of the market.”

Currently, Fresh Farms is growing its green bell pepper program out of Sinaloa, Mexico. The company’s most recent colored bell program started around January 25 and came on later than normal due to much cooler weather in the region.

Fresh Farms packs and ships green bell peppers as well as red, yellow, and orange bell peppers in both 11 lb and 25 lb cartons. In addition, Fresh Farms also produces 15 lb cartons of elongated red bell peppers.

“Colored bells seem to be holding their own, while green bells are selling well below break-even in terms of our market pricing as of late February. As discussed, the market can change at any time and see FOBs back up to more profitable grower levels,” Alan reflects. “Markets initially started out very high with much lighter supply, as Florida was hit with early weather systems which impacted volumes, but the market has corrected for us and supplies currently exceed demand.”

With the ever-shifting expectations of the day, it is essential to have great partners in your corner—come rain, come shine, or come Mother Nature.

Fresh Farms

IRVINE, CA - Recently, the Superior Court of California denied motions for preliminary injunctions restraining the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board from enforcing the Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).

After this ruling, a coalition of agricultural and business groups, of which Western Growers is a part, issued the following statement:

“The health and safety of farm and ranch employees is the top priority for agricultural employers. Throughout California, farmers and ranchers have adapted their operations to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. In addition, agricultural organizations have advocated with local, state, and federal elected officials and agencies to prioritize access to vaccines for farm and ranch employees; individual farms and agricultural businesses have sponsored vaccination clinics, with more already scheduled.”

The statement went on to further explain why the coalition was disappointed by the court’s ruling.

“The court’s decision only complicates the ongoing work by family farms and other essential businesses to maintain safe, plentiful food supplies in the wake of COVID-19. The Cal/OSHA Board failed to justify the need for emergency intervention, despite their own staff report that the emergency standards were not necessary to protect employee health.”

The statement concluded by saying that, “With this decision, the court failed to properly exercise its oversight on this critically important issue, and we are now exploring our legal options to ensure the safe and timely delivery of food and essential services to all Californians. In the meantime, we will work with Cal/OSHA to assure the agency better understands the essential businesses and agricultural operations it regulates, and to inject practicality into the Emergency Temporary Standards as it develops forthcoming policies and guidance.”

The five other associations in the coalition include: The California Association of Winegrape Growers, The California Business Roundtable, The California Farm Bureau Federation, and the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.

Continue to read AndNowUKnow as we follow along with this ruling in our reports.

Western Growers Association

TARRYTOWN, NY - Jac. Vandenberg recently called on its retail partners to create the most eye-catching SUNRAYS^® grapes displays, and boy, did they deliver. The contest ran across various retailers under the Associated Wholesale Grocers Pearl River division from January 13 through February 6. Retailers got creative with unique displays of the company’s premium SUNRAYS table grapes.

“We could not have been happier with how well the first SUNRAYS display contest went. Greer’s Market Store #19, the display winner, really did an amazing job with the SUNRAYS brand messaging and creativity of their display,” said John Paap, Brand Marketing Manager for Jac. Vandenberg. “It was really enjoyable to see how much fun the stores had with this contest and how they communicated the SUNRAYS message to their customers. We were truly blown away.”

Winners of the contest were selected based on the highest SUNRAYS grapes sales, as a percentage of their total produce sales, and on their marketing efforts. The marketing efforts were judged on category visibility, good visual merchandising, and messaging of the brand, according to a press release.

The contest winners for sales included:

• First Place: Greer’s Market (Store #27) in Hurley, MS
• Second Place: Food Giant (Store #6103) in Tylertown, MS
• Third Place: Greer’s Market (Store #19) in Prichard, AL

The contest winner for best display was:

• Greer’s Market (Store #19) in Prichard, AL

Honorable mentions:

• Food Town (Store #14)
• Greer’s Market (Store #04)
• Greer’s Market (Store #11)
• Food Giant (Store #6103)

“Many thanks to Jac. Vandenberg and SUNRAYS grapes for choosing my display as the winner of their contest. With product as beautiful as SUNRAYS, it’s all about just highlighting their quality and their wonderful program. The win means a lot to me and all of the Greer’s family. We’re excited to show what our produce program is capable of, and this win has helped us do just that,” said April Weeks, Produce Manager of Greer’s Market Store #19.

SUNRAYS grapes were recently launched in December 2020 as an extension to the already successful SUNRAYS mandarins. Jac. Vandenberg partners with select premium grape growers in Peru, Chile, and Mexico to source and pack its SUNRAYS grapes, giving retailers and consumers a consistent grape brand they can rely on from November through July.

“The concept for my display was to really show off the wonderful programs Sunrays is involved in and to highlight those key components for the customers,” Weeks continued, sharing the inspiration for her store’s display. “When a company cares, the customer cares. I wanted everything to be bright and vibrant to meet the beautifully colorful aesthetic that SUNRAYS brings to their packaging and product. I wanted the open window to a vineyard scene to be a focal point to portray the freshness of the grapes as if you’d just picked them from the vine yourself. And finally, I wanted the whimsy of the grape and sunshine mural over top to draw in my tiny customers, the children, who are by far the biggest fans in my department of SUNRAYS grapes.”

Strict quality guidelines are in place including brix, sizing, and overall flavor, which are overseen by Vandenberg appointed quality control teams at origin. The majority of grapes packed in SUNRAYS are proprietary varieties such as Sweet Globes, Sweet Celebration, Jacks Salute, Timco, Allison, and Sweet Favors.

Congratulations to all of the talented retail leaders who pulled off this win!

Jac. Vandenberg

DUBLIN, IRELAND - Fyffes is optimizing its operations through its latest sustainability goals, all of which fall under its Healthy Food for Healthy Lives pillar. Hoping to address food waste and educate consumers, Fyffes is committing to reducing food loss in its own operations by 80 percent by 2030.

“Our commitment to reducing food loss from our production processes is part of our Sustainability Strategy,” stated Caoimhe Buckley, Director of Corporate Affairs. “We are planning to do this by repurposing our food loss through the development of new applications and uses for our core products, as well as further improving our logistics and planning capabilities. As the world’s population increases, the challenge must be to feed more people by wasting less of the food being produced rather than to grow more food.”

According to a press release, about a third of all the food produced in the world goes to waste each year, representing about seven percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Fyffes hopes to educate people on food waste and has partnered with a United Kingdom-based sustainability charity Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) for a Food Waste Action Week campaign. Taking place from March 1 to the 7, the aim of the initiative is to raise awareness about food waste and its impact on climate change.

Additionally, Feedback Global, a campaign group working to regenerate nature by transforming our food system, noted that nearly one billion hungry people across the globe could be fed on less than a quarter of the food that is wasted in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe.

To reduce poverty and hunger, Fyffes also works with qualified partners around the globe to donate surplus food to people in need, including Philabundance in North America, Global Foodbanking Network in Latin America, and FoodShare in the United Kingdom.

We as an industry are heavily invested in the future of our planet and its inhabitants, and we look forward to more sustainability goals to come.

Fyffes