SACRAMENTO, CA - There are people in the agricultural industry who were born for the jobs that they now hold with pride. One such person is the newest Executive Director for the Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA), Cheríe Watte Angulo. With over 30 years of industry experience, and a childhood engrained within the world of farming, Angulo will head the powerhouse marketing team that is behind the CA GROWN brand.

“As the Executive Director, I am looking forward to growing our program, working with industry partners and government organizations to expand funding and markets. In California, we grow such an abundance and diversity of delicious fruits, vegetables, nuts, wine, and floral and nursery products that are not only loved by Californians, but are also enjoyed across the country and around the world,” said Watte Angulo.

Raised as the daughter of a California farmer from the Imperial Valley, Watte Angulo has in some ways been practicing for her new role since she was young, but that’s not the only thing that qualifies her for this impressive title. With over 30 years in the agricultural industry, Watte Angulo has served as President and Director of the California Asparagus Commission, Director of International Trade Policy and Manager of Agricultural Export Programs for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and Director of the National Affairs and Research for the California Farm Bureau Federation, according to a press release.

In addition to her former positions within the world of agriculture, Watte Angulo currently serves on the University of California’s President’s Advisory Commission on Agricultural and Natural Resources. To add to her ever-growing list of merits, she was appointed by Governor Brown as a Director of the Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta in 2018 and served as an industry member of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Trade Advisory Committee on Fruits and Vegetables and the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching.

“To say Cheríe Watte Angulo is qualified for this unique position is an understatement,” said Donn Zea, Chairman of the Board for the BCMA. “She is strategic, enthusiastic, and absolutely passionate about California agriculture and its place as a vital part of the fabric of our state.”

As the new Executive Director of BCMA, Watte Angulo will oversee and manage retail and marketing campaigns that utilize social media, digital marketing, and in-store promotions to draw attention to specialty crops in California. Before becoming Executive Director, she served on the same board as a Chairwoman between 2014-2018, helping establish the programs she is now spearheading.

“I am proud to congratulate Cheríe Watte Angulo, our very own homegrown agricultural champion, as she embarks on this new endeavor. The California Grown marketing initiative has become increasingly important now when our local farmers and ranchers need our support more than ever,” explained Assembly member Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), who has authored California Grown legislation. “My district is heavily reliant on agriculture, and Watte Angulo, part of a multi-generation farming family with deep roots in our Imperial Valley community, is an excellent choice to lead this charge. I look forward to collaborating alongside her to promote and protect our state’s agricultural economy.”

With her new title, Cheríe will continue the family legacy that helped initiate her into the world of California Agriculture so many year ago. We wish her the best of luck in her endeavors, and at ANUK we look forward to seeing what CA GROWN and this industry maven have in store for the future.

CA GROWN

CALIFORNIA - Evacuations across the surrounding areas of California’s Salinas Valley are spreading as the state looks to tame the River Fire, which has reached 10,672 acres as of this morning, August 19. While this is the fire nearest to ag-centric lands, it is one of at least 27 the state is currently experiencing, leading to a State of Emergency being declared, as reported by NBC News.

The Monterey County Sheriff shared that more than 5,000 have been evacuated, according to news source KSBW. For a list of areas affected by evacuations, click here.

While we hope for the best, with the River Fire burning so close to one of fresh produce's most prominent areas in conjunction with a heat wave, it is impossible to expect that no ripple effects would be felt from the fire itself or the high temps the state is experiencing.

“Excessive heat is causing increased brown bead in broccoli along with hollow core in both broccoli and cauliflower,” Art Barrientos, Vice President of Harvesting for Ocean Mist^® Farms, shared with ANUK. “Most lettuces in Salinas south are cutting with sun burn/scalding. With slightly cooler temps in the Castroville area, these condition issues are not as prevalent.”

These quality conditions will remain evident through at least next week, if not longer, he shared, adding that although growers are starting the harvest crews earlier in the morning, between 4 and 5 a.m., they still have to stop harvesting around mid-day due to extreme temperatures—further impacted by the heat wave that has blanketed the state.

Additional produce members shared similar outlooks, which are to be expected in the extreme conditions. And it cannot be forgotten, with so close-knit an industry as ours, that the terrible flames hit close to home for more than just product.

Many are in offices or live close to the fire. While no one we spoke with had been evacuated, everyone is keeping a close eye on the event as it develops.

The River Fire, burning south of Salinas, was 7 percent contained amid the most recent reports at the time of publishing, since starting at 3 a.m. the morning of August 16 due to lightning in the area.

Our team continues to keep those living and working in impacted areas in our hearts and thoughts as we hope for a quick resolution and recovery from these events.

BANCROFT, WI - A lot of time, research, and effort goes into bringing a new variety to market, and RPE has hit the spud jackpot. After 12 years in the making, the full-service grower, shipper, and marketer of fresh potatoes is bringing a new, premium red potato variety this fall.

“RPE Golden Red™ premium potatoes are the new gold standard in red potatoes,” said Tim Huffcutt, Vice President Sales and Marketing Operations for RPE. “Compared to common red potatoes, these superior stunners have a vibrant red skin with a rich, yellow interior and a sweet, creamy taste.”

This potato variety started out in the Netherlands where it showed early promise based on yield, internal and external quality, as well as disease and insect resistance. Likewise, the variety performed well in growing regions of the U.S. and Canada.

Sensory testing showed that not only does the Golden Red taste better than standard, mainstream red potatoes, its internal and external appearance outshines its commodity counterpart. Beyond the appearance of the Golden Red is its performance in the kitchen and flavor.

“I truly believe this potato was built for potato salad, it’s phenomenal in that application,” Research Chef Chris McAdams said of Golden Red. “Once it’s cooked, it holds its shape and texture much better than comparable potatoes. When you cut it after boiling, it doesn’t break apart or get grainy, which is what makes it ideal for a potato salad.”

Chef Chris also recommends consumers prepare this potato either boiled, roasted, or fried. “These methods,” he said, “highlight the creamy texture and sweet, mildly-earthy flavor.”

Potato innovation doesn’t happen overnight or even in one growing season. According to the press release, trials could take years, and the number of test candidates at the onset of testing might start out at 200 different varieties with eventually one or two reaching commercial production.

This variety is a fighter! The Golden Red premium potato is an RPE exclusive varietal and will be available this fall in a three-pound, poly light-blocker, bilingual bag.

To stay up-to-date on the most current innovations and products coming out of our fresh produce industry, keep checking back to AndNowUKnow.

RPE

ROSEMONT, IL - When we first reported on ghost kitchens, it was a relatively new concept, with Zuul Kitchens setting the scene in New York City. Now, with the rise in delivery and eating from home, that concept has gained some traction, specifically with US Foods. The foodservice distributor recently announced the launch of US Foods Ghost Kitchens, a program designed to guide restaurant operators every step of the way when opening their own operation, helping them easily add a new revenue stream.

“The Ghost Kitchens program was developed in response to growing interest among our customers, but we’ve also been tracking the trend, and ghost kitchens are projected to reach a $1 trillion global market by 2030, making them an attractive concept for operators even after dine-in restrictions are lifted,” said Jim Osborne, Senior Vice President of Customer Strategy and Innovation.

Ghost kitchens, also referred to as dark or virtual kitchens, are professional kitchen facilities set up to support delivery or carryout meals only, offering restaurant operators an opportunity to start an additional revenue stream.

Currently, with dine-in restrictions due to COVID-19, most restaurants are experiencing challenges with the minimum dining room capacity which operators say is needed to make reopening work financially. As a result, 75 percent of restaurant operators now consider off-premise dining to be their best growth opportunity.

“We also know ghost kitchens are a departure from the traditional brick and mortar format, so some independent operators need help to jumpstart a new venture, which is why our program takes out all the guesswork,” Osborne continued. “We help the operator through every major decision. And since operators using the program often set up within their existing facilities, we’re able to help them open a ghost kitchen with minimal start-up costs in a matter of weeks, with the goal of higher profit margins and expanded customer reach.”

With the addition of this program, US Foods customers now have access to exclusive resources developed to streamline the process of starting a ghost kitchen, including proprietary technology to help identify menu opportunities, a detailed playbook to guide decision making, dedicated marketing support, webinars, and one-on-one consultations with US Foods specialists.

US Foods is leading the industry with its first-to-market, easy-to-activate program for operators exploring a ghost kitchen service model, noted the press release. The program will help restaurant operators drive profits by:

• Accessing US Foods’ proprietary technology to identify the right concept based on their unique, local market conditions
• Leveraging US Foods’ knowledge and support in building and creating strong brands and digital marketing
• Creating and optimizing the menu based on US Foods’ exclusive food-costing tools, industry analysis and recipes designed by in-house chefs that focus on both profitability and diner trends
• Providing guidance on how to quickly get started so that operators are up and running in a matter of weeks

More information about the US Foods Ghost Kitchens program can be found at the company's website.

Which market will we see this concept spread to next? Keep reading ANUK as we follow updates in retail, foodservice, and fresh produce.

US Foods

MORRO BAY, CA - Getting insight into the mind of the consumer is a major key to staying on top of your game in this industry. As COVID-19 has thrown all of us for a loop, wants and needs have evolved, and with that has come a change in consumer patterns. A recent study showed that a high percentage of shoppers are now searching for healthy ingredients, above all else, when they go to the grocery store. When Shanley Farms heard this news, Megan Shanley Warren, Sales, and Marketing, and her team jumped at the opportunity to tout its range of nutrient-rich products, and give consumers exactly what they were looking for.

“Here at Shanley Farms, we are big believers in communicating directly with our consumer fans. We reach out and communicate on a regular basis with all the consumers that have been buying our Citriburst Finger Limes,” said Shanley Warren. “We call them our Citriburst Champions.”

Shanley Farms’ Citriburst Finger Limes are not only unique in appearance, but also offer a high dose of vitamin C, which is known to boost the immune system, according to a press release. As the pandemic continues to affect the daily lives of consumers, products that offer health benefits—especially an immunity boost—are grabbing the attention across the produce aisles.

To play off of the draw to healthy, fresh ingredients, Shanely Farms has begun implementing further retail strategies to catch the eye of shoppers everywhere.

“Our Morro Bay Avocado season is approaching, we have alerted our Citriburst fans asking them to share with family and friends the unique quality of our Morro Bay Avocados. We have also shared with our fans and asked them to share with their friends and family the retail banners that are planning to carry our Morro Bay Avocado program,” explained Shanley Warren. “In these days of electronic connection versus personal interaction, we are finding people actively looking for new experiences to share. With this in mind, we are also working with HarvestMark’s QR code program to convey a greater depth of product information directly to consumers in order to enrich their experience with Shanley Farms product.”

In addition to its in-store marketing strategies, Shanley has introduced new product lines into the mix, especially as more people are also looking for ease in their hectic daily lives.

To provide consumers with new offerings, the company has established subscription boxes that are shipped from Shanley Farms. The boxes include not only the popular finger limes, but also the Morro Bay Avocados, as well as a host of other family-branded produce. The boxes are accompanied by recipes that show customers how to use Shanley’s produce to create delicious meals.

“By combining our farm’s production, including both Citriburst and our Morro Bay Avocados in recipes, it provides both fun and versatile ways to use our products from smoothies and snacks to main courses and desserts.”

As the industry continues to overcome the wild changes of the day, Shanley Farms has shown that it will continue to serve its consumers in the best way possible. All of us in the produce industry know that to adapt is to succeed, and we will continue to do just that.

Shanley Farms

SEATTLE, WA - Building upon its $89-billion expansion plans in major markets such as Dallas, Detroit, Denver, New York, Phoenix, and San Diego, Amazon recently announced that it plans to create an additional 3,500 new tech and corporate jobs. Tech hubs in the aforementioned cities will see a swell of $1.4 billion in investments as the retail giant expands its operations.

“People from all walks of life come to Amazon to develop their career—from recent graduates looking for a place to turn their ideas into high-impact products, to veterans accessing new jobs in cloud computing thanks to our upskilling programs,” said Beth Galetti, Senior Vice President of Human Resources. “These 3,500 new jobs will be in cities across the country with strong and diverse talent pools. We look forward to helping these communities grow their emerging tech workforce.”

Teams in these cities will support various businesses across Amazon’s operations, including Amazon Fresh. The company expects to hire for a variety of roles, from data scientists, to product managers.

According to a presss release, Amazon’s Tech Hub and corporate expansions include the following:

• Dallas, TX - Amazon will expand the existing Dallas Tech Hub, adding more than 100,000 square feet of space and 600 tech and corporate roles. Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $16 billion in the state
• Detroit, MI – The acquisition of more than 25,000 square feet of office space in Detroit will provide space for an additional 100 jobs. Amazon has invested more than $2.5 billion in the state of Michigan since 2010
• Denver, CO – Amazon’s Denver Tech Hub will grow by an additional 100 jobs with the addition of 20,000 square feet of new office space. Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $2.8 billion in the state of Colorado
• New York City, NY - In Manhattan, Amazon plans to create 2,000 new jobs and has acquired the Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue building, where the company plans to open a new 630,000 square foot office. Amazon has invested more than $7 billion in the state of New York since 2010
• Phoenix, AZ - The company’s 90,000 square foot Phoenix Tech Hub expansion at 100 Mill will bring more than 500 new jobs to the community. Amazon has invested more than $11 billion in Arizona since 2010
• San Diego, CA - In San Diego, an addition of more than 40,000 square feet of office space will allow for the creation of 200 new jobs. Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $50 billion in California

Amazon’s growth is no longer a surprise to anyone in this industry, but what new grocery developments will arise from this expansion. Only time, and AndNowUKnow, will tell.

Amazon

DELANO, CA - The perfect bunch of grapes is pure royalty, and that’s exactly what Sunview Marketing serves up from July through December. The company touts its unrivaled portfolio as a one-stop-shop for retailers, with both conventional and organic varieties aplenty. To gain a better sense of all that Sunview has to offer this time of year, I got in touch with Mitch Wetzel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

“This is a great time of year here at Sunview Marketing. We started our season as usual in early July and the product quality is excellent. This month we have some fresh, crisp, sweet grapes that we are currently harvesting and sending to our retail partners,” Mitch began. “In particular, our Stella Bella® branded green seedless grapes started in July, and we will be harvesting into October. This proprietary brand was introduced several years ago and has gained an incredible following from consumers and retailers. It is amazing the amount of consumer feedback we get as shoppers all over the world recognize and appreciate the quality of grapes out of the San Joaquin Valley.”

Through the month of August, Sunview’s Sparkle™ grapes will continue to be available after the company garnered rave reviews in the marketplace. In addition to Sparkle and Stella Bella, Sunview’s GEM® red seedless grapes will kick off this month. In September, the company will start harvesting its Sweet Carnival™ grapes with promotable volumes available through November and into December. Last year produced Sunview’s first sufficient supply of these golden seedless grapes, and this year another excellent supply available to everyone across the globe can be expected.

“In addition to all of our conventional grapes, Sunview is one of the largest growers of organics here in the Central Valley,” Mitch added. “This area of our business has continued to grow year after year, and we have been dedicating more acreage and resources to this important consumer segment. Our retail partners tell us that they have the confidence in Sunview to not only meet all of their conventional grape needs throughout the entire season but also all of their organic needs. Given the challenges that our retail partners are facing this year in particular, we are glad that we can make their jobs a little easier.”

As Sunview charges into September and fall, it expects to continue its strong sales momentum with promotable quantities of green, red, and black grapes for its partners. A large portion of the total grape harvest occurs during these months, according to Mitch, and Sunview is set up perfectly to handle this increased volume.

“The competitive advantage of Sunview’s program is that our customers count on Sunview as the one source for all their grape needs from July through the end of the year. We work very hard to make the process of getting grapes to their stores as seamless and easy as possible. We want them to know that Sunview appreciates the dedication and hard work of their buying offices, warehouses, and front line teams,” Mitch concluded.

With Sunview Marketing in your network, the grape category is sure to drive shopper dollars to the produce aisle. For more from Sunview and other industry-leading companies, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.

Sunview Marketing

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Side Delights® was an early adapter to the trends of “the cooks of this century” with cutting-edge blogger programs, organic options, convenience products, and packaging breakthroughs. Since the pandemic began, consumers have leaned further into home cooking. The surge in home cooking is a lasting one, and Side Delights is anticipating those needs.

“After sheltering in place, people realized how much money they saved by not going out to eat as often. And with an uncertain economy, data shows that consumers will continue to look for healthy, cost-saving meal alternatives at home,” noted Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “Cooking at home isn’t just good for you. It is good for the wallet.”

Side Delights saw a significant increase in organic web traffic to the Frequently Asked Questions page of Sidedelights.com during the Shelter in Place. The most common searches were for the best way to prep, cook, and store meals at home. Shoppers were also looking for ways to put a new twist on their recipes. With an eye for what consumers were looking for, Side Delights tailored its FAQ page in response to these trends.

“The new FAQ page is organized to be incredibly user-friendly. Combined with most frequently searched questions and a fresh, new way to present the answers, we are giving consumers more of what they are looking for,” added Triou. “Added bonus, now consumers can find specifically what they are looking for all in one place.”

As noted in the press release, the revamped SideDelights.com/FAQ continues to educate consumers about potatoes’ nutrition and preparation, along with new tips, tricks, and time-saving hacks on the topics they are most interested in.

All digital content drives consumers to GrownWhereItMatters.com. With fresh ingredients and simple, timeless recipes that boost nutrition, Side Delights is offering shoppers solutions and supporting them with exciting new resources. This online community will help consumers find what they’re looking for more easily, which also benefits retailers by providing insights on the trending recipes to cross-promote with.

To increase engagement and answer more specific details, Side Delights created a new Side Delights YouTube channel with an array of “how-to” videos. The brand will continue to enhance the channel with new videos throughout the year.

Stay ahead of the trends and shopping habits with ANUK as we bring you the latest in fresh produce.

Side Delights®

WENATCHEE, WA - At a time when the world is facing unprecedented challenges, we all need an excuse to have a little fun. This year, Stemilt’s annual National Chant at the Moon Day comes at the perfect time for consumers to let loose while indulging in the unique Moon Cherries that Stemilt is famous for. The yearly celebration that also serves as a successful brand campaign for the company took place on Saturday, August 15, and brought people out in droves to partake in the holiday festivities.

“Not only does National Chant at the Moon Day bring brand recognition to our A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries, but it also encourages people to get outside and have fun during these beautiful summer nights and have a delightful eating experience with our product," said Roger Pepperl, Marketing Director.

The annual event was originally created to bring attention to the innovative techniques of Kyle Mathison, which are used to grow Stemilt’s Moon Cherries. Mathison utilizes lunar cycles and gravitiational pull to enhance nutrients and give the cherries an out-of-this-world flavor, according to a press release.

This year, Stemilt took the event one step further by partnering with social media influencers across the country. Some of the Instagram personalities that the company paired up with include Vanessa Mota of Smart Little Cookie, Remy Morimoto Park of the NYC Vegan, and Stephanie Simmons of Blue Bowl Recipes. Together, the three shared snapshots of the celebration with a whopping 170,000 followers, who were able to ring in National Chant at the Moon Day as well.

“We push National Chant at the Moon Day direct to the consumer so that the next time they head to the grocery store and they see a bag of our Moon Cherries, they will have something fun to associate it with,” explained Pepperl. “So far, we have been thrilled with the success of this program.”

Stemilt has already proven to create unique, exciting marketing programs that catch consumers’ eyes in the produce aisles. As the company continues to innovate and expand across the creative sector, we are counting down the days until the next National Chant at the Moon Day to see how the event continues to evolve. Here at AndNowUKnow, we look forward to seeing what Stemilt has in store for us next.

Stemilt

ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - Crimes involving fresh produce have been thwarted once again this past weekend. In a monumental crackdown, the police and customs officials in the Netherlands seized nearly three tonnes (around 6.6k pounds) of illicit drugs in fresh produce shipments over the course of three days.

The total street value of the drugs is around €213 million (around $253 million), officials said. According to the DutchNews.nl, the seizures were made at the Rotterdam port in three separate shipments of pineapples and bananas.

On Sunday night, officials seized one tonne of cocaine hidden in a container of pineapples from Costa Rica. The consignment was heading for a company in Barendrecht which probably knew nothing about the drugs, police said.

On Saturday, officials found 1.1 tonnes (around 2,425 pounds) of cocaine in a shipment of bananas from Ecuador. Last week, they had also found 743 kilos of the drug in another banana shipment from the South American country.

We thank these officials for working tirelessly to keep both fresh produce and their country safe. Keep checking back to AndNowUKnow as we bring the latest in the industry.