LONG ISLAND, NY - Growth has always been a driving factor for Trader Joe’s, but now the retailer seems to be ramping up its expansion efforts, opening several new stores in new regions across the country. Its latest rumored new store is said to be in Long Island, and though the grocer has not publicly announced the new location, there are signs pointing in that direction.

Trader Joe’s is well-known for being tight-lipped about new stores, a practice that builds considerable excitement from residents. Despite the lack of confirmation directly from the retailer, according to licPost, local real-estate brokers have weighed in on the speculation, pointing out that a lease has been signed for a property on 22-43 Jackson Ave.

The new store is rumored to open in late 2020 and is situated in the city's Prime Building, an 11-story, 70-unit mixed-use building currently under construction, the news source reports. The retailer’s primary competition will come from existing neighborhood grocers, Foodcellar and Urban Market. Trader Joe’s has been expanding in New York City since 2006, and now it seems that the retailer is growing outside the city limits.

When will Trader Joe’s confirm the new location? And where else has it set its sights? AndNowUKnow will report.

Trader Joe's

UNITED STATES - The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which was passed yesterday by the United States House of Representatives, contains provisions related to alien farmworkers, including provisions establishing a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and changing the H-2A temporary worker program. The industry has long been in support of this bill, for it provides much needed reforms to the H-2A program by expanding access to year-round industries, brings certainty to wage costs that have ballooned in recent years, and provides a pathway to earned legal status to the current undocumented workforce.

Several industry powerhouses took to the newswire to share their thoughts.

“With today’s passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act by the U.S. House of Representatives, another hurdle in the race to save America’s family farms has been cleared. Western Growers is grateful for the leadership exhibited by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman Dan Newhouse, and the statesmanship demonstrated by the bipartisan group of legislators who sponsored and voted for the bill,” stated Western Growers’ President and CEO Tom Nassif in a statement. “But the race is far from over. Both the Senate and President Trump must be willing to take the political stand that is required to ensure the continued production of an abundant, safe, and affordable domestic food supply. Our farmers are depending on the present actions of Congress and the Administration to make possible the future viability of the agriculture industry.”

He continued, noting that, “Agriculture has made its case for a narrow, surgical fix to the farm labor crisis. The rationale, that foreign hands will harvest our fruits and vegetables and perform many of the other skilled jobs required on American farms, has long been accepted on both sides of the aisle. The substance, maintaining the existing, experienced workforce while reforming the H-2A program for future workers, has been carefully crafted with the input and approval of virtually every key stakeholder. All that remains now is for the Senate and President Trump to act. Granted, the bill is not perfect. No piece of legislation ever is. However, the need to secure an adequate, reliable, and skilled workforce for U.S. agriculture cannot be overstated. The farm labor crisis is real and crippling, and the demand to provide a workable legislative solution is immediate and critical, which is why we urge the Senate and President Trump to engage in the legislative process to improve the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, adding those amendments that are necessary to secure the mutual support of Congress and the Administration.”

California Fresh Fruit Association President, Ian LeMay, also issued a statement regarding the bill’s passage.

“The ability to have reliable, legal workforce representatives is one of most important steps forward our industry has made in over 30 years," LeMay stated. "The passage of H.R. 5038 will address critical needs within agriculture by providing a pathway to legal status for current undocumented employees, along with reform to the current H-2A program. Our members look forward to continuing to provide the world’s freshest fruit to consumers here domestically and around the world.”

He also remarked that, “there is no doubt the agricultural industry has waited many years for an immigration reform bill to address the labor concerns amongst the many different commodities produced here domestically so that it can continue to provide the nation and world with safe and reliable food supply long into the future. H.R. 5038 demonstrates that bipartisanship still exists, that when faced with a common challenge we can still rise to the occasion and do the right thing.”

United Fresh’s CEO joined in on supporting the passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

“For too long, the fresh produce industry has suffered under a system that fails to meet the labor needs of our industry,” Stenzel explained. “Passage of this legislation represents an important step in ending decades of uncertainty for growers of fresh fruits and vegetables. I’d like to personally thank Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman Dan Newhouse who spearheaded the bipartisan negotiations that led to this agreement. United Fresh looks forward to similarly working with bipartisan members in the Senate to build on the work of their House colleagues and craft legislation that deserves our support.”

For the latest in industry news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

CORONA, CA - While many modern music listeners assumed Justin Bieber’s 2015 chart-topper Where Are Ü Now was about a former flame, I can’t help but listen to the lyrics as a call for sustainability. After all, we need sustainability the most—in our business models and in our buying habits. Luckily, retail partners and consumers alike won’t have to look farther than Veg-Fresh Farms for a simple solution to one of our industry’s most pressing issues.

The grower is helping the buyside check in on our beloved Mother Earth with new Earth-friendly packaging, aptly branded Earth Check. I tapped Randy Cancellieri, General Partner of Veg-Fresh Farms, to find out more about these innovative, and important, packaging options.

“The packaging is a unique package design made from non-bleached, lightweight, 100-percent recycled paperboard that is sourced from local mills. It is also moisture resistant, so it makes the perfect packaging for our tomatoes!” Randy shared.

The Earth Check packaging line consists of two options: the Earth Check Window Box—for those consumers looking for a window into the Earth’s soul and Veg-Fresh Farms’ produce—and the Earth Check Open Pints. Both options rely on little to no plastic. Instead, the Window Box and Open Pints use recycled and non-bleached paperboard, making it a great choice for organic produce.

Randy noted that the Earth Check line already has consumers in their feelings. Like many in the industry, Veg-Fresh Farms noticed how important sustainability is to today’s conscious consumers and so created its latest packaging innovation as a way of meeting that demand.

“Our open-pints have been a great hit with consumers. They really love being able to purchase something that does not have any plastic in the packaging,” Randy continued. “At the moment, we mostly sell them with our Organic Medley Tomatoes, but we have also created a generic open-pint design that can be used for other commodities. We are excited to see these earth-friendly packaging designs continue to evolve and become a staple in the industry.”

As Veg-Fresh Farms’ latest packaging innovation pends a patent, AndNowUKnow will continue to be by the produce industry’s side, reporting on the news you need the most.

Veg-Fresh Farrms

SALINAS, CA - The month of December brings the hustle and bustle of year-end holidays for retailers and growers as sales opportunities arise and consumer demand spikes for the season’s most favorable produce items. During this time, the Nunes Company and Foxy brand are responding to the needs of buyers and shoppers alike as it ramps up with promotable volumes on its coveted program from the desert growing region of Yuma, Arizona.

“We are excited to work with customers as we move through Christmas and into the New Year,” John Amaral, Sales Manager, shares with me. “We offer over 35 different conventional and organic vegetable items for our retail and foodservice trade, which gives great coverage to all of their Western Vegetable needs. Loading off the same dock offers a one-stop-shop which translates to time and money saved on their logistical costs.”

The Nunes Company completely transitioned out of Salinas, California, and has entered full production on its line of Foxy Brand items in Yuma, which includes categories from iceberg and Romaine lettuces to broccoli and cauliflower.

“We are off to a good start with excellent quality and condition. We have strong volume presently and are looking forward to a great Christmas and New Year pull.” John says.

This December will present a quick buying period. Get your orders ready!

The Nunes Company

LOS ANGELES, CA - Zak Laffite is joining Wonderful Citrus as its new President, effective January 1, 2020. David Krause, who has held the President position for the last 20 years, will transition into the newly created role of Advisor to Chairman and President of The Wonderful Company, Stewart Resnick.

“This is an exciting time for Wonderful Citrus as we roll out our newest brand, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, and continue to lead the mandarin category with Wonderful Halos,” said Laffite. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from David, who has been instrumental in growing Wonderful Citrus to the successful business it is today, and I can’t wait to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.”

Since 2004, Laffite has served on the Wonderful Citrus team, holding positions like Chief Sales Officer, COO, Vice President of Supply Chain, and Senior Director of Product Management—positions that have helped him gain the experience that makes him a great fit for the President role.

“Zak approaches this role with a deep understanding of our business and a unique talent for working cross-functionally with our employees, retailers, and grower partners,” said Resnick. “David will be missed by the entire Wonderful Citrus family, but I’m thrilled he has agreed to remain on in an advisory capacity, and I look forward to Zak leading our business well into the future.”

Wonderful Citrus, part of The Wonderful Company, owns, cultivates, and harvests over 60,000 acres of fresh citrus, which it then ships around the world each year to ensure a year-round supply, according to a press release. Wonderful’s citrus can be found in the produce department of grocery stores across America under the flagship consumer brands of Wonderful® Halos® mandarins and Wonderful® Seedless Lemons.

Congratulations to both Zak Laffite and David Krause on their new positions!

Wonderful Citrus

LOS ALAMITOS, CA - Despite the dull and dreary colors often associated with wintertime, walking into this season’s produce department is like a technicolor dream. Citrus will account for much of the warm hues that surface this time of year, and Frieda’s Specialty Produce is putting its most beloved products front and center. The company is offering new grab-n-go citrus pouches for two new items: mandarinquats and lemonade lemons, with the goal of upping the Vitamin C intake for time-crunched consumers.

“Our data shows that the Frieda’s brand means something to shoppers and helps to get them over the hump of trying something new,” says Cindy Sherman, Director of Marketing and Innovation. “Because some of these items can be intimidating, we like to help them get ideas on how to enjoy our products. Using our packaging to educate makes it easy and convenient for shoppers!”

According to a press release, mandarinquats are a hybrid of two favorites—mandarins and kumquats—both of which can be used to add a punch of citrus flavor to any dish. Frieda’s lemonade lemons are delightfully sweet, so retailers should recommend eating them as is, peel and all.

All this information can be found on Frieda’s branded citrus packaging, which has always been a retailer favorite because of its convenience, ease of merchandising, and low shrink. With a third of all consumers making their purchasing decisions based on packaging, Frieda’s wants to ensure that retailers have the best opportunity to grow incremental winter citrus sales.

All new items will be available in January, so call your Frieda’s Account Manager today for more information about its winter citrus line-up! For more on how companies are supporting their retail partners this winter, keep reading ANUK.

Frieda's Specialty Produce

WASHINGTON - With the end of 2019 so near, the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is looking back on a year chock full of impactful efforts to increase transparency in the food supply chain and improve the lives of farmworkers. Specifically, EFI’s staff, board members, and partners are proud of the strides made to fulfill the nonprofit organization’s mission, which included a whole host of successes.

“From engaging farmworkers who feel more valued to providing bonuses that help cover basic necessities, our success is measured by how we improve farmworkers’ lives,” said LeAnne Ruzzamenti, Director of Marketing Communications for EFI. “And now 57 farming operations are applying the EFI program with active leadership teams who work to create safer and healthier conditions for 34,000 workers. As these numbers continue to grow, it’s important to reflect on the stories of the individuals and organizations who have been impacted.”

In 2019, EFI’s participating growers helped to implement a wide variety of initiatives, including those aimed at improving working conditions, overcoming language barriers, developing a more collaborative work environment, and providing more access to education and skill building. These efforts are strengthened by EFI’s formation of leadership teams. Over time, these teams help create a new culture that is focused on problem-solving and improvement.

“EFI helps us engage our workforce at every level so that they understand and have input on the processes that make our food safer,” added Dan Borer, General Sales Manager at Keystone Fruit Marketing. “Our employees feel like they are part of the organization. If they see something in the field or in the packing house that they know isn't right they have that freedom to come forward. It really makes a difference when you make this type of change. You are telling those workers that you are listening to them and giving them credit for the knowledge they have.”

According to a press release, the extra training and diligence expected from farmworkers on EFI-certified farms is rewarded with a bonus drawn from the sales of EFI produce to participating retailers. This year, more than $2 million will be distributed in bonuses, bringing the total to more than $8.5 million since the program’s inception.

“The farmworkers report on the necessity of these bonuses to cover basic needs such as buying food, shoes, and clothing; paying utility bills; and saving for Christmas gifts,” noted Ruzzamenti. “Many of us might take these items for granted, but the EFI bonus program is helping meet farmworkers’ daily needs.”

In 2019 alone, EFI-certified suppliers reported a number of improvements that came about as a result of the bonus program. For example, one supplier installed high-traffic carpet foam for added foot comfort in the area used to cut and prepare fresh produce, while another team installed a smog vacuum to improve air quality for employees working in its greenhouses and investigated the accidents caused by auto-driving carts.

Inclusivity is also an important component of EFI’s initiatives, which is why a Baja California-based leadership team focused on embracing the indigenous languages spoken by more than 75 percent of farmworkers at their location. As a part of this effort, the team will develop learning materials on the EFI standards in both Ch'ol and Tzeltal so they are accessible to all employees.

“The program has greatly helped those of us who speak a mother tongue. It was difficult before, some barely know how to speak Spanish and they do not understand it well. EFI has taught us that everything is possible,” remarked one of the team members in Baja California.

Improving the lives of farmworkers also includes creating safe spaces for them to bring their concerns. EFI has created these spaces, which have helped address concerns like safety and decreasing interpersonal conflicts. Specifically, greenhouse employees have asked for better lighting in parking lots and behavior guidelines on work-provided transportation.

All of EFI’s work this year to further its mission was further bolstered by accomplishments like:

• Receiving $1.2 million grant from Walmart Foundation to advance responsible labor practices in Mexico
• Welcoming 15 new operations to its program
• Partnering with Costco Wholesale on a joint promotional campaign
• Updating its standards to align to the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices
• Continuing progress toward Global Food Safety Initiative accreditation
• And unveiling a two-year study by BSD Consulting that quantifies effectiveness of its programs

“We’re excited about EFI’s growth in 2019. It’s wonderful to know we are making a difference in helping our growers improve their bottom lines while improving the lives of farmworkers to create a safer and more transparent supply chain for both retailers and shoppers,” concluded Ruzzamenti.

For more fresh produce companies’ year-in-reviews, stay right here with AndNowUKnow.

Equitable Food Initiative

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - Fresh food in the Greater Toronto Area (or GTA for those in the know) is going to explode ten-fold thanks to Farm Boy. Sobey’s parent company, Empire Company, announced yesterday that it’s going to be expanding more in the Greater Toronto, Niagra, and Ottawa areas with ten Farm Boy locations, set to open the next two years.

“We’ve delivered a world-class fresh-market shopping experience for 38 years,” said Jeff York, Co-CEO. “Our in-store experience and fresh food offering continues to evolve with our customers and get stronger with each store we open. We’re delighted to see how well our offer continues to resonate with our customers. Farm Boy is entering an exciting phase of our growth plans as we expand our presence in the GTA and Ottawa, while also entering new markets like the Niagara region.”

According to the press release, the announcement comes following the December 5 opening of Farm Boy Walkers Line in Burlington, the first store in the expansion plan. Including Burlington, the ten stores will bring the total Farm Boy Ontario store count to 37. The Farm Boy locations will be developed in a mix of urban and suburban communities with diverse store sizes and formats to fit the needs of local communities, ranging in size from 12,000 to 38,000 square feet. All will feature the core Farm Boy fresh food experience including an extensive selection of farm-fresh foods, chef-inspired take-out meals, and popular private label specialty products. The stores will also continue to offer a broad selection of locally-made, organic, and plant-based foods.

“We’ve come a long way from our first small produce store in Cornwall,” says Farm Boy Co-Founder and Co-CEO Jean-Louis Bellemare. “Since day one, we believed that if we made our customers happy, they would come back. This concept has worked for us so far, and we will continue to focus on providing an outstanding customer experience as we grow. The customer will forever be at the heart of everything we do.”

For the list of new stores opening, click here for the full press release. Keep reading AndNowUKnow to stay up-to-date in all things retail.

Empire Company Farm Boy Sobeys

CINCINNATI & DEERFIELD, IL - Kroger and Walgreens Boots Alliance first joined hands back in 2018, launching an exploratory pilot that has since seen a recent expansion. Now, the companies have formed a new group purchasing organization (GPO), a joint venture that will be known as Retail Procurement Alliance.

“This collaboration is an extension of the strategic collaboration announced last year to create value for customers and shareholders of both companies,” said Gary Millerchip, Kroger's Chief Financial Officer. “Kroger and Walgreens share a commitment to finding value and efficiency improvements by increasing innovation and competition through sourcing. This concept brings together the best of two great organizations to reinvent critical components of our sourcing practices.”

CNBC reported that the chain retailers are aiming to increase sales while lowering costs by looking for overlaps in the products they are receiving, consolidating on orders and aiding both businesses. Millerchip continued stating to CNBC that both companies will also see if Kroger can start manufacturing items in-house for Walgreens, and vice versa.

“Through this unique joint venture, Walgreens and Kroger have the opportunity to use our collective resources to create efficiencies across our supply chains,” said Alex Gourlay, Co-Chief Operating Officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance. “This collaboration will also enhance our ability to drive innovation for customers, including both of our private-label brands, to further meet their evolving needs for value and convenience.”

Millerchip further commented that he hopes other retailers are interested in taking part in this cost-saving venture.

“If another organization thinks they have significant buying in these areas, they could partner with Kroger and Walgreens to save and reduce waste,” Millerchip said.

Would this new strategy be enticing enough for other retailers to hop on? Keep reading AndNowUKnow to learn more retail news.

Kroger Walgreens

CANADA - It’s not every day that we hear from the Ontario-based food distributor, Metro. The last whisper we heard came back in May when the company invested $400 million into expanding its Etobicoke distribution center, touted as the latest and greatest in food distribution technology. The mysterious Metro resurfaced this morning as it announced plans for a sale of its MissFresh assets to the ready-to-cook meal company, Cook it. MissFresh is Metro’s meal kit delivery and pick-up service, providing fresh and convenient solutions to its customers.

According to a press release, the combination of these two young, complementary companies will consolidate Quebec's expertise in ready-to-cook meals and allow it to continue to grow. Under the new agreement, Cook it will now serve current customers within its own clientele as well those of MissFresh. Although MissFresh is separating from Metro, customers will still be able to pick up their ready-to-cook meals at participating Metro stores.

Metro's divestment news hit newswires amidst other movements in Canada's ready-to-eat grocery meal sector. Specifically, Loblaw teased a new division focused entirely on meal solutions earlier this fall— which, when coupled with the latest from Metro, suggests the possibility of an oncoming category shake-up in the Canadian market.

Metro operates as a franchisor of a network of more than 600 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, and Food Basics. For more of the latest in the fresh food sector, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Metro