GERMANY - Aldi Süd recently announced a partnership with indoor vertical farming company Infarm as it seeks to offer consumers high-quality greens they can see growing in-store.

According to a report from Supply Chain Analysis, by the end of this month, five Aldi stores throughout Germany will be growing fresh herbs and leafy greens in Infarm’s vertical units. By the end of the year, this store count number will jump up by seven.

This is an interesting move from the retailer, whose name is often associated with discount prices—not leading-edge tech. However, this move firmly puts Aldi in line with other retailers chasing after innovation in fresh produce and it’s one that we here at AndNowUKnow are intrigued to see.

Infarm made headlines last November when it partnered with Kroger for similar reasons, bringing its living produce farms right to the retailer’s floor.

Although this Infarm expansion is overseas, we know opportunity when we smell it. How soon will we see more vertical farms in the United States? Perhaps much sooner than we expect. Keep reading ANUK as we cover the latest in retail, innovation, and more.

Aldi

PHARR, TX - Recently, one of fresh produce’s star categories has befallen to the dastardly ways of drug smugglers. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility intercepted 3,159 pounds of alleged marijuana, valued at $632,000, hidden amongst a commercial shipment of fresh broccoli this past weekend.

“This is a substantial amount of narcotics that will not make it into our communities,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

According to the CBP press release, officers assigned to the cargo facility at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge on May 16 referred a commercial shipment of fresh broccoli arriving from Mexico for further examination. Upon inspection, officers discovered 378 packages of alleged marijuana.

CBP OFO seized the shipment, the tractor/trailer, and the marijuana. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) continues with the investigation.

We thank those serving at the U.S. CBP OFO for their continued diligence in keeping our fresh produce and those who consume it safe. ANUK will continue to bring the latest from the industry.

GREENSBORO, NC - In this industry, we often hear that fresh produce is not for the faint of heart. When you have been around for as long as I have, words like resilience, passion, and strength are not just terms you throw around. They are necessary for survival. While nothing compares to what the current state of the industry is facing, I cannot tell you how often I have walked through an unknown and been thankful for what I learned on the other side.

I’m entirely used to the impact that Mother Nature, recalls, and financial crises have on our industry. Even the seasonal challenges brought on by the transition of growing areas keep us on our toes. Now, I will not group COVID-19 into the traditional ups and downs that we face, but we still can find the best versions of ourselves and our companies despite it all.

Product demand is high, and produce grows at its own pace. It’s funny—we all know this while some of the most intelligent people don’t grasp that simple rule. Meanwhile, exposure, social distancing, and self-quarantine have impacted the availability of the labor force. Growers and shippers are doing their best to find ways to protect their people, their assets, and their legacies without risking the business. So, the supply chain needs to modify their expectations of how to work with one another.

What the norm was 10 weeks ago may not be viable now. I encourage all of us to pause and take the time to understand these changes and work together for a solution that best suits the customer—the people who need food. And it’s the responsibility of this industry to continue to support the public in a fashion that supports “doing the right thing.”

There will be impossible moments when the right thing is subjective or buried in fear or chaos. But, our intentions do count, and they will hopefully fuel our actions.

While grocery retailers are reaping the benefits of this situation, it is short-lived. This happened overnight, so we should not bank on the continued revenue growth. What we should be is proud that we can meet the needs of our customers and treat them with respect and appreciation. Because, regardless, customers choose who they want to shop with and be loyal to. So, let’s be the retailer our customers want.

I’m very fortunate to be in a business that is not losing sales nor furloughing associates. I’m sure you have seen the announcement of these businesses hiring. For me, it’s a small blessing during this time that there are opportunities of income for those who need it. At the same time, these jobs can provide an understanding and an appreciation of what this industry deals with every day.

For me personally, I have peace in my heart and mind that this is a situation that is out of our hands. I trust that it will run its course, and we will come out of this strengthened. For those that are sick or have passed needlessly, I grieve and pray for the comfort of their families. I trust that people are doing all they can to control this situation.

I am thankful that my family and friends are relatively healthy and safe. I am especially grateful to be in this industry. I’ve worked in government, manufacturing, and non-grocery retail—for me, there is nothing that compares to the produce industry!

The Fresh Market

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry. Recently, the USDA filed an administrative complaint against JLD Inc., doing business as North Country Wholesale. The New Hampshire-based company allegedly failed to make payment promptly to 18 produce sellers in the amount of $260,260 from April 2018 through January 2019.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

JLD Inc., doing business as North Country Wholesale, will have an opportunity to request a hearing. Should the USDA find that the company committed repeated and flagrant violations, it would be barred from the produce industry as a licensee for three years, or two years with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond. Furthermore, its principals could not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee for two years, or one year with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

The PACA Division, which is a part of AMS’ Fair Trade Practices Program, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses that are operating subject to PACA, including buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.

In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,500 PACA claims involving more than $58 million. PACA staff also assisted more than 7,800 callers with issues valued at approximately $148 million. These are just two examples of how the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

For more information and to read the press release in its entirety, please visit the link here.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service

CHICAGO, IL - It is always tragic when a melon—or any fruit or vegetable—is forgotten until it is time to sadly toss that product into the trash. But it is not a sad story that a new partnership is seeking to make this a thing of the past. Grower Alliance, one of largest importers of melons from Mexico into the United States, has forged a partnership with ​Hazel Technologies Inc. to focus on using Hazel^™ for melon packaging technology to rescue melons from waste.

“Melons were one of the first crops that we saw a huge potential in for Hazel’s technologies and they are still a major focus area for us,” said Aidan Mouat, CEO at Hazel Technologies, Inc. “We are thrilled to continue this partnership with Jorge Jr., Jorge Sr., Luis, and the Grower Alliance team and help them continue to provide the highest-quality melons to retailers and consumers alike.”

Luis Caballero, one of the Managing Members at Grower Alliance, started Grower Alliance in 2007 along with Jorge Quintero, Sr., and Jorge Quintero, Jr. The business has grown to supply over 100 retailers and distributors and is one of the largest Mexican honeydew melon importers in the U.S.

"In our extensive testing, we found that the Hazel for Melon technology resulted in a 45 percent longer shelf-life with our honeydew melons and a vastly improved eating experience 21 days after harvest," said Caballero.

A USDA-funded technology company, Hazel Tech delivers new technology solutions for fresh produce to extend shelf-life, increase sales, and fight food waste. According to a press release, its partnership with Grower Alliance will focus on use of a USDA-funded technology that works by reducing the respiration rate of melons following harvest, resulting in a longer shelf-life.

To work, a single Hazel sachet is placed in each box during the packing process, and the technology, which is designed for the fresh melon supply chain specifically, protects melon quality during transit from the farm to retail shelves and, eventually, to the end consumer.

Hazel^® patent-pending technologies have been tested by many of the country's top academic research programs including UC Davis, Cornell University, and Oregon State University. As the company continues to innovate, what new partnerships will be forged? As we watch to see which category can next plan for food waste to be a thing of the past, AndNowUKnow will bring you the latest.

Hazel Technologies Grower Alliance

SALINAS, CA - As consumers energize their efforts toward healthful eating, growers are helping restaurants expand their menu offerings by debuting innovative salad blends. Ippolito International is one such grower who recently introduced a couple of new leafy green blends to inspire more high-quality eating experiences for consumers.

I chatted with Dan Canales, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Processing, to find out more about the Legacy and Sweet Legacy blends and how both can help foodservice operators diversify their leafy green selections.

“At Ippolito International, we are on the farm daily, and we continually trial new seed innovations. As we evaluated different varieties and considered what products to develop, it seemed clear to us that there are incredible leafy lettuce varieties available that are under-used in today’s processed salad offerings,” Dan shared with me when I asked him what led Ippolito to introduce new blends. “At first glance, these blends may appear like a traditional spring mix, but the varieties of leaves we’ve blended together have more vigor, loft, and strong texture.”

The Ippolito team particularly saw an opportunity to capitalize on these varieties with foodservice establishments. The Legacy Blend, which is more of a traditional blend with chards mixed in, is currently only offered to the foodservice sector in 1/3-, 2/3-, and 4/3-pound cartons.

“With the lettuces that make up the Legacy Blend, we saw that the varieties’ unique leaf structure held its shape throughout processing. Notably, these blends didn’t lose their tender texture, and they retain that mildly bitter yet traditional leafy salad flavor,” Dan noted. “Because the flavors blend very well together and are unique in the market, we thought this was an innovation worth commercializing.”

The Sweet Legacy Blend, on the other hand, is as mild of a salad as one can ask for because the blend only contains sweet leafy green varieties.

“Both the Legacy and Sweet Legacy Blend showcase just how Ippolito International is staying ahead of the best varieties,” Dan concluded.

For more of the latest product innovations coming down the fresh produce pipeline, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Ippolito International

UNITED STATES - It is down to mere hours—less than two in fact—until the inaugural Viva Fresh Clean Eating Challenge reaches the end of its countdown. The big reveal takes place today at 12:00 p.m. PST/2:00 p.m. CST. So, if your calendar reminder is not set, please do so as we tune in to produce veterans marking a milestone on the path they have paved for us all.

REGISTER TO WATCH THE CHALLENGE REVEAL

I will not call this a finish line. As Craig Slate, President and CEO of SunFed, pointed out it is far from that.

“This is not a finish line, but the end of the first leg in a journey for each of these amazing produce members to a new healthy lifestyle, packed with fresh produce!” Craig shared.

For months, we have been privy to the journey of fellow produce members Tommy Wilkins, Grow Farms Texas; Ed Bertaud, IFCO; Jed Murray, Tenaza Organics; and Michelle Cortez, Empacadora GAB – Mr. Lucky, as they have strived to set an example for walking the walk of our industry’s purpose. While it is certainly a goal each of them can be proud to have attained, they carry, too, an achievement in leaping a bar set before we first reported the event in November of last year.

“This competition was a tough decision for the Viva Fresh committee because, frankly, we didn’t know if others in the industry would support the effort,” Dante Galeazzi, President and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA), remarked when I asked him about marking the end of the event. “But then our participants rocked this competition, and the support from the industry has been overwhelming. I cannot tell you the number of people that have reached out about wanting to do something similar on their own. This is so exciting because it goes beyond the ‘message’ that fruits and vegetables are healthy. Instead, it shows people’s actual results—not from celebrities, but from industry peers—in seven short months of eating the things we sell. It shows that nearly anybody can be a healthier version of themselves, to see and feel that dramatic difference. That difference, as a result of eating better, was what we set out to highlight as part of our mission with Viva Fresh.”

As Dante further discussed the important precedent this challenge set, he pointed out that, while we have heard since childhood that fruits and vegetables are good for us, this country is plagued by health issues as a result of poor diets.

Melinda Goodman of FullTilt Marketing complemented this, sharing what it has meant to see some of our own share their journey in rectifying that issue.

“It’s been inspiring to work with the Clean Eating Challenge participants over the last few weeks and document all of their final statistics. It’s exciting to see their progress not just in weight loss, but in health outcomes and goals for the future. These individuals are examples of what’s possible when we commit to healthier living. Everyone should tune in to hear their individual stories, and I think you will be motivated to make moves of your own to follow in their footsteps on a better path to health and well-being,” Melinda commented.

The culmination happens today at 2:00 p.m. CST, 12:00 p.m. PST. Click here to register so you can watch and support these trailblazers take what we do to the next level from your very own desk.

Viva Fresh Clean Eating Challenge Reveal

OXNARD, CA - Mission Produce avocados are officially en route to South Korea! This week, the ‘cado purveyor announced its first-ever South Korea-bound shipment of Peruvian Hass avocados has set sail and is expected to make landfall at the Port of Busan in mid-June.

“This was a collective effort that was in process for many years and we are excited to provide South Koreans a consistent supply of healthy and delicious Peruvian Hass avocados for years to come,” said Thomas Padilla, Senior Director of Export Sales.

After a phytosanitary protocol was established on the shipment, the Peruvian Hass container was packed by Mission’s South and Central America team operating out of the company’s Peruvian packing house, which is one of the largest avocado packing houses in the world.

With an advanced avocado network with hotspots around the world at its back, Mission Produce’s global sources of supply allow for additional shipments throughout the year from core growing markets such as Mexico and California, according to a press release.

“Mission’s Peruvian fruit is of the highest quality as a result of our intensive pre- and post-harvest practices,” added Keith Barnard, Vice President of Global Sourcing. “We are proud to deliver our premium fruit and look forward to its arrival in Busan in the coming weeks.”

In addition to its own team, Mission Produce would like to thank Peru’s Ministry for Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri) for helping to making this foray into a new market a reality.

For more of the freshest produce industry news around, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.

Mission Produce

BENTONVILLE, AR - In November, Walmart announced it would double its footprint in China by opening about 500 new stores and delivery depots in five to seven years. Shortly after, news followed that the retail giant partnered with JD.com to debut a new lifestyle format. Now, recent reports surfaced that Walmart plans to expand its members-only warehouse banner, Sam’s Club, in the huge market. Currently, the retail giant operates 26 locations; however, an ambitious growth plan revealed plans to operate 100 stores by 2028.

According to Bloomberg, people familiar with the matter stated that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company told its employees about the goal in a townhall meeting on Wednesday. Unlike its no-frills, bulk-buying approach in the U.S., the Chinese version of the chain sells higher-end, imported groceries to middle-class consumers. Revenue at Sam’s Clubs has grown at a faster pace than the company’s separate network of over 400 Walmart stores selling basic groceries locally.

The news source further noted that, with Chinese consumers buying more staple products to cook at home and avoid restaurants following the recent pandemic, Walmart saw a comparable-store sales increase of 11.7 percent in the Asian nation. Likewise, e-commerce sales rose by 160 percent for the quarter ended April 30 compared to the same period a year ago. Finally, Sam’s Club saw double-digit sales growth in China in the same quarter, according to a company presentation.

AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the retailer’s path as we watch to see how this plan for growth might affect Walmart’s Stateside strategy and market reach.

Walmart

SONORA, MEXICO - Awe Sum Organics is gearing up for a new crop from the Southern Hemisphere. With harvest beginning in the spring, the grower is already ramping up for a fresher-than-ever season chock full of fresh, crisp, and flavorful organic apples, just the way nature intended.

“We ship all of our Southern Hemisphere organic apples to the U.S. in ocean containers and are bringing most of them into the Port of Philadelphia because of the reduced carbon footprint,” said David Posner, President and CEO. “Our studies have found that the amount of carbon or fuel required to ship an ocean container with 1,176 cartons of apples to Philadelphia from the Southern Hemisphere uses 1/12^th the amount of carbon or fuel required to ship a truckload of 980 cartons of apples from the West Coast of the U.S. to the East Coast.”

For retailers, Awe Sum Organics’ new season means a host of benefits, including increased sales and shopper satisfaction. Awe Sum Organics’ latest crop provides a delicious solution for the buy-side before the next domestic harvest arrives after August.

“Because our apples are half a year fresher than domestically grown apples at the same time of year, there is an additional carbon savings from the electricity saved from the fact that our apples are stored for six months less time,” continued Posner.

This season’s organic apple crop is arriving from Chile, New Zealand, and Argentina. For the last 30 years, Awe Sum Organics has partnered with some of the best organic growers around the world in order to provide fresh fruit to its buy-side customers. This year, the organic purveyor is offering customer programs through the months of June, July, and August on varieties like Royal Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Cripps Pink—which are available in bulk sizes, bagged cello bags, or pouch bags.

According to a press release, Awe Sum Organics is committed to growing, packing, and shipping the highest quality, best tasting organic apples available during the summer months—with this season already shaping up to be another winner.

AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest fresh produce news like this.

Awe Sum Organics