MONTEREY, CA - Agriculture is a community bound by more than just the act of growing something from the earth’s soil. When we come together for events like the Organic Grower Summit, nowhere else is this fact more obvious. We are a community that spans generations, languages, and borders, and when we gather together, we form a mosaic of the ag community at large—and the mosaic depicted at the third-annual Organic Grower Summit was one rich in advocacy, innovation, and organic ingenuity.

After attending this year’s event, it’s easy to understand why so many cultures view the number three as the luckiest of them all. The third-annual OGS was a verifiable stand-out, with some of the organic sector’s most passionate, knowledgeable, and inventive purveyors transforming Monterey, California, into a drawing board for the industry’s future. From endless opportunities to rub elbows with some of produce’s leading organic growers to exclusive events showcasing the power of produce, OGS 2019 was the perfect industry event to close out 2019—and the decade!

“With the organic fresh food category reaching multi-billion-dollar levels, there has never been a better time to create an intimate and engaging event focusing exclusively on organic farming,” Tonya Antle, Co-Founder and EVP, Organic Produce Network, shared with me. “The Organic Grower Summit creates the opportunity for growers and allied service suppliers to look towards the future while networking and growing their businesses together.”

This year, exhibitors and attendees showcased the best the organic industry has to offer, with 30 states represented at the third-annual event. On the show floor, some of produce’s most important partners showed up and showed out.

“I’m always willing to seek and learn more about California’s thriving organic community. From new and innovative technologies to growing practices, resources, innovations, and networking opportunities—we are appreciative of what the Organic Grower Summit has set out to achieve to benefit our organic farmers,” said Catalino Martinez, COO of Val-Mar Farms.

As the ANUK team meandered through the rows of booths, we saw the latest packaging launches, tech and logistics inventions, and sustainable initiatives that the produce industry as a whole should be proud of.

“It was a tremendous first day at OGS that featured a pair of engaging and highly informative education sessions related to soil health and technology opportunities for the organic community,” Matt Seeley, CEO of the Organic Produce Network, shared with us after the first day of activities. “The sold-out trade show was very active throughout the day, and the opening reception was packed from start to finish. We continue to hear how great the intimacy of OGS is and how the networking opportunities are first rate.”

OGS kicked off its two-day organic de force with mornings chock full of education sessions. Growers like Naturipe Farms, industry advocates like the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, and even retailers like Walmart were all represented on stage Wednesday and Thursday morning. Many of produce’s brightest minds shared their insight on the hottest industry topics—and I for one am driving away from Monterey with a notebook full of takeaways.

“It’s great to have a conference focused on organic farming and the challenges and rewards we all share. We’ve been excited to participate in the first three years and hope the Organic Grower Summit will continue for many years to come,” said Ben Diesl, Grimmway Farms’ Vice President of Quality Assurance.

Tim Borel of Nunes/Foxy/Blanco Farms added, "Each year the OGS improves. This year, I was impressed by the new perspectives brought by attendees from burgeoning organic sectors. As organics continue to grow, we as producers will always need fresh ideas to fill that growth. The OGS is the perfect place to find these new ideas."

Some of the key takeaways from this year’s panel sessions were regarding some of produce’s hot button topics, like food safety and sustainability. Experts across the supply chain discussed solutions with each other and those in attendance, putting into practice two of the most important solutions: education and collaboration. Many touched on how we can share growers’ stories, relaying the hard work our industry’s backbone puts in to meet consumers’ biggest demands like traceability and sustainability and commemorating their accomplishments in going the extra mile until the last mile.

“The Organic Grower Summit is a great event that brings growers together to network, share best practices, and learn from one another in a small, intimate setting. Because we’re all going to be asked to participate, specifically in the area of sustainability, I like that the Organic Produce Network has initiated these panel sessions to stimulate conversation,” Nikki Rodoni, Founder and CEO of Measure to Improve, shared with me following the panel she moderated. “People are very passionate, and these conversations really help us gather the tools, practices, and initiatives to take a proactive approach, so that looking forward, we know what’s coming and how to work with suppliers and vendors to solve these issues.”

One of the most talked about events at this year’s trade show was the exclusive showing of Driscoll’s The Last Harvest documentary. It was a standing-room-only affair at the Monterey Conference Center as everyone moved from the show floor to their film seats. Following the screening, Soren Bjorn, Driscoll’s President of the Americas; Dave Puglia, Incoming CEO of Western Growers Association; Hannah Freeman, Co-Founder and CEO of Ganaz; and Carmen A. Ponce, Tanimura & Antle’s Vice President and General Counsel of Labor, took to the stage to answer attendees’ most pressing questions regarding the labor crisis.

“One of the fastest growing parts of our business is the organic business,” Soren shared with me following the screening. “We’ve always been a company that’s made up of a lot of small farmers, and a lot of small farmers focus on growing organic, so the Organic Grower Summit provides the opportunity to introduce those small farmers to us and us to them. I think that’s what makes this such a great show, along with its focus. OGS is also a great opportunity to talk about some of the big issues facing our industry.”

Closing out this year’s show with a keynote presentation for the books was Titan Bioplastics’ Amy Ansel, Indigo Agriculture’s David Perry, and Beneficial State Bank’s Kat Taylor. Each speaker gave Ted Talk-style presentations that touched on a few of the latest exciting opportunities in the organic sector.

“Where else can you go to get all the organic growers and suppliers in one place to gain insight and education into our industry? OGS continues to impress, and we look forward to growing with it,” highlighted Bart Walker, President of Pacific Ag Rentals.

Monica Casillas, CEO of Ferti-Organic, added, “The Organic Grower Summit is good for us because it is a really focused show. This is the only show we attend. The visitors are really high-end.”

How OGS 2020 will top OGS 2019, I do not know! But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my two years in produce, it’s that the industry is always ready with a surprise up its sleeve. From the looks of the current produce landscape, my money is that next year’s surprise will be robots.

Until then, produce industry family!

Organic Grower Summit

EBINBURG, TX - South Texas’ harvest is underway and that means that we humble trade news writers have hit the ground running scouting out the best produce news. For me, I was lucky enough to sit down with Trent Bishop, Vice President of Sales at J&D Produce, to find out about the grower, packer, and shipper’s retail programs and more.

“I would like to share with buyers that we stand ready to partner with them!” Trent expressed immediately. “We can customize regional, seasonal, year-round programs to suit their needs. Whether it’s in our Little Bear label, or their proprietary brand, we are serious about earning their business and adding value to the categories we participate in.”

Currently harvesting its entire line of greens, herbs, broccoli crowns, cabbage, and onions, J&D Produce experienced some unseasonably hot weather. This, combined with cold snaps in the Northeast did amount to a supply shortage as it went into the Thanksgiving holiday pull, but Trent is optimistic about the weeks to come.

“We seem to be in a constant state of growth here at our facilities, constantly updating and adding to the space necessary to operate efficiently,” he shared with me. “This progression and evolution is thanks to the customers that have placed their trust in us and allowed us the opportunity to partner with them with our supply.”

Trent ended our conversation with a teaser of things to come, but it’s not yet ready for industry ears, folks! So stay tuned with us at AndNowUKnow for the latest.

J&D Produce

BRONX, NY - The winter holidays are the time of year when the best of the best truly rise to the occasion, and D’Arrigo New York is one of those companies providing a rising tide to lift all boats. As we move toward Christmas and New Year’s, the family-owned full-line wholesale produce distribution enterprise is providing tips and best practices for its customers and coveted client mix.

I asked Gabriela D’Arrigo, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, what insights she has as we break into December and, as always, she did not disappoint.

“Keep an eye on culinary trends. Most consumers capitalize on these during the holiday season, and suppliers and retailers alike can partner to build merchandising opportunities to feature products in space not traditionally held by fresh produce—or vice versa,” she tells me.

Gabriela also notes that it is essential to take a look at volumes from the previous year, especially with staple items.

“The classics are classics for a very good reason,” she expresses. “And as always, communicate with your suppliers. They hold the keys to success at retail.”

Some of the key categories that D’Arrigo advises have been top of mind for retailers during the holiday run are mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, squash, cranberries, herbs, and salad blends, just to name a few. So make sure that you have checked the list...twice.

D'Arrigo NY helps its partners harness the sales and promotional opportunities of the season by continuously engaging in communication with both its suppliers and customers. There are always items that are in excess come holiday season and it’s a great opportunity for everyone to move product and make money, Gabriela adds.

Do you hear that? We do. It is the ring at the register.

D'Arrigo New York

CINCINNATI, OH - Earlier last month, we reported Kroger had undergone a major brand facelift. The grocer claims it was putting a more focused effort on its grocery business, and that the new look was to break through the grocery retail industry’s “sea of sameness.” Well, it looked like it worked. In its Q3 financial results, the grocer reported positive results alongside intriguing news that it plans to part ways with Lucky's Market.

Kroger invested in the upstart natural foods chain Lucky’s Market in 2017, but has since decided to divest its interest in the chain. The retailer said the decision to divest followed a portfolio review. Of the impairment charge, $131 million will go into Kroger's pocket.

“Kroger's customer obsession and focus on operational excellence continued to generate positive results in the third quarter. Identical sales were the strongest since we started Restock Kroger, and gross margin rate, excluding fuel and pharmacy, improved slightly in the quarter. At the same time, we continued to reduce costs as a percentage of sales,” commented Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen.

Highlights from the quarterly included:

• Total company sales were $28.0 billion
• Alternative profit streams are on track to contribute an incremental $100 million in operating profit in 2019 versus 2018
• Adjusted EPS of $0.47 which includes a $0.03 out of period charge
• Achieved Operating Profit of $254 million
• Adjusted FIFO Operating Profit of $653 million EPS and Operating Profit results affected by several adjustment items, primarily by a non-cash impairment charge related to an investment in Lucky's Market
• Alternative profit streams on track to contribute an incremental $100 million in operating profit in 2019 versus 2018 confirms identical sales
• Adjusted FIFO Operating Profit and Adjusted EPS guidance for 2019 and 2020

“We are using the power of Kroger's stable and growing supermarket business to create meaningful, incremental operating profit through the alternative profit stream businesses, which adds up to a business built for long-term growth that generates consistently attractive total shareholder returns,” continued McMullen. “Kroger continues to generate strong and durable free cash flow as reflected by the fact that the company has reduced debt by $1.5 billion over the prior four quarters and continues to increase its dividend to create shareholder value.”

One thing is for sure, it looks like Kroger will be starting 2020 on a strong foot.

“Restock Kroger is the right framework to reposition our business to create value for all of our stakeholders, both today and in the future,” concluded McMullen.

To see the full results of the financial, click here. Keep following us here at AndNowUKnow as we bring you more updates on retailers.

Kroger

NYSSA, OR - Onions are in high demand this time of year, and growers across the industry are staring down their bottom lines. Between an uptick in the market and seasonal transitions supply chain wide, onions of all varieties are on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Owyhee Produce is ramping up its supply ahead of the busy holidays, reporting that its California crops will produce excellent quality through to spring 2020.

"I'm still holding hope out for a slightly higher market, and I guess that's a natural tendency of mine. Definitely, as a grower and as a farmer, I’m connected to the value of that crop and that's really important to me. So, I don't mean to mislead, but I would think that January we will see a little bit of an uptick because we normally see a little bit of a change there," said Shay Myers, General Manager. He continued by saying that overall, the market has stayed soft and has not taken an upward trend as predicted.

According to a press release, Owyhee’s California crop is looking great and won’t come off until June. The Imperial Valley is looking down on its plantings because it had a really challenging season. In the last two seasons, the Imperial Valley has been overlapping with the Northwest, Mexico, Texas, and others all at the same time. Therefore, it is going to have a bit of a tighter market. The Central Valley seems to have made a good profit, and it looks as though there's going to be plenty of onions, but Mother Nature will dictate what happens. Meyers continues to stay hopeful that the market will pick up, but as normal, only time will tell.

To see the final results of Owyhee’s onion crops, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Owyhee Produce

MURRIETA, CA - It’s no secret that avocados are a beloved category in the U.S. With rapid growth across retail, foodservice, and social media platforms, the fruit could practically be called an influencer. Whether on the buy- or supply-side, industry experts have capitalized on the popularity of avocados by finding innovative ways to up their productivity. The California grower, packer, and distributor, West Pak Avocados, has harnessed the excitement of this incredible product, releasing a series of videos at one of the industry’s hottest events, aptly named Avo Affinity at PMA Fresh Summit.

“Everybody loves avocados,” said West Pak Marketing Manager George Henderson. “In fact, avocado consumption has been increasing steadily year over year and has blossomed into a global sensation. In the industry, this super fruit is a force of nature that cultivates opportunity for our many retail and foodservice customers, and industry affiliates alike.”

West Pak Avocado’s 2020 campaign, called the Avo Effect, Avo Affinity at PMA Fresh Summit, covers the avocado’s effect on the largest produce convention in the United States. The company debuted its first installment of the videos this year at the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit event. It provided the ideal setting to demonstrate how this favorite green fruit amplifies excitement within the produce industry. Interviews for Avo Affinity at PMA Fresh Summit include representatives from California Avocado Commission, Avocados from Mexico, The FruitGuys, and Fairtrade America, among others.

According to a company news release, the Avo Effect is a broad-reaching video campaign that sheds light on the global phenomenon the avocado has sparked within the produce industry. The videos are designed to cover West Pak’s avocado footprint along with the significant reach that the avocados have across core industries. Topics showcase the Avo Effect on trade, retail, foodservice, commissions, California avocado season, organics, sustainability, and social media influence. Each video in the series offers real-life testimonies of how the avocado has had a positive effect on others.

Avo Affinity at PMA Fresh Summit debuted November 18, 2019, while other installments to the Avo Effect campaign are planned for release throughout 2020. All videos can be found at avoeffect.com and under the hashtag #avoeffect on social media. Look out for each video as they launch on West Pak’s Youtube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram (Instagram Feed, IGTV Channel, Stories), and Twitter, plus West Pak’s blog.

In a category that practically sells itself, companies are hot on the trail of innovations that will surpass all expectations, and West Pak is no exception. For more on ANUK’s favorite green gold, stay tuned.

West Pak Avocado

LAKELAND, FL - Since its revamp in 2017, Publix has been pressing the gas on the expansion of its organic- and health-centric banner, GreenWise Market. Now, the retailer seems to be focusing in on a specific region—South Carolina. As we reported earlier this year, Publix has been pursuing growth in the region and will soon be opening a new store under its GreenWise Market banner in Lexington, South Carolina, which will be the second in the state, and the fourth for the banner overall.

“Our GreenWise Market team is very excited to bring this new shopping experience to Lexington and the greater Columbia community,” said Publix President Kevin Murphy. “Our customers can expect to find unique and local products, as well as a gathering place for small meetings.”

Located in the city’s Lexington Marketplace shopping center, the new GreenWise Market will offer residents an expertly-curated selection of specialty, natural, and organic products, according to a press release. The store will also feature a large variety of prepared foods, organic produce, and more. Showcasing the banner’s unique format, the new store is split into specific “experience zones,” like EATS, CARE, and FINDS, which customers can use to more easily navigate the store. The new location will also include a tribute to its local community with a multi-panel mural by local artist and architect, Wayne Rogers. The mural is said to serve as both an abstract lake scene and a metaphor for what ties the town together.

Publix’s GreenWise Market expansion has quickly gained steam—the first location opened in Tallahassee, Florida, in October 2018, and earlier this year the retailer opened two more locations. A total of 12 future locations have been announced, and Publix is still searching for additional locations throughout its operating area.

The new South Carolina store is located at 5336 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington, indicating the retailer’s ongoing plan for expansion is seeing tangible success.

How far is Publix looking to penetrate the Southwest region? AndNowUKnow will bring you updates.

Publix GreenWise Market

DELANO, CA - With fresh produce companies at the top of their game lately, more providers are turning to their packaging to tell their stories for them, especially since the fruit and veg inside already speaks for itself. But instead of crowding its packaging with anything that could distract from the table grapes inside, Jasmine Vineyards is debuting its own clamshell take that is clean, green, and beautifully pristine.

Jon Zaninovich, President of Jasmine Vineyards, pulled back the packaging to give me a glimpse at the thought process behind the grower’s unique, innovative, and eye-catching new design.

“The new clamshell is part of our bigger plan to step up our eco-friendly offerings when it comes to the full line of Jasmine Vineyards’ packaging,” Jon explains to me. “While our bags, punnets, and clamshells are all recyclable, our new backyard compostable clamshell is going to appeal to our health-conscious shoppers who are committed to minimizing the use of plastic.”

 

 

 

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Jasmine Vineyards shares this commitment with its consumers and has already taken steps to minimize its plastic use with its Naked packs, which debuted earlier this year. Now, with the new compostable clamshell, Jasmine Vineyards is taking this commitment one step further.

“The vision behind our new clean clamshell is exactly that: clean! With eco-friendly packaging, the simpler the better, and the grape cutout made both a perfect window and a brand statement,” Jon emphasizes, before giving retailers a shout-out. “We'd love to hear from retailers who want to give these clamshells a try. Our season is coming to an end, but now is actually a great time to test them in stores.”

Jon notes that as the grape season winds down, retailers can use the next month or so to gather customer feedback, which can then inform retailers’ purchasing decisions come June/July 2020.

All eleven of Jasmine Vineyards’ table grape varieties will be housed in the new clamshell, so retailers, what are you waiting for? The packaging future is here, and it’s definitely what you want lining your produce aisle shelves.

For more inside looks at produce purveyors pushing the packaging envelope forward, keep starting your morning off right with AndNowUKnow.

Jasmine Vineyards

UNITED STATES - As the FDA continues to seek a connection between the cases of the most recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak and a singular source, it looks as though the investigation remains in effect, as well as the advisory for consumers not to eat romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas, California, region.

“CDC advises that consumers not eat and retailers not sell any romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas, California, growing region. This includes all use-by dates and brands of romaine lettuce from this region,” a CDC release dated December 4 states.

The PMA alerted industry members of the latest details in the investigation, noting that the latest onset date has been extended to include November 18, 2019. Previously the onset date was November 14. Illness onset dates reported are all prior to the warning issued by the FDA on November 22, according to the report.

As of December 4, the CDC and the FDA report that:

• Reported Cases: 102
• States: 23
• Hospitalizations: 58
• Deaths: 0
• Recall: Yes

To see the full reports from the two parties, please click through: CDC and FDA. The most recent timeline of reported cases since can be found here.

We continue to remain on the lookout for the latest updates while hoping for a swift end to the outbreak and closure for all those affected.

HOUSTON, TX & SANTA PAULA, CA - One of the houses I lived in growing up had this big lemon tree in our backyard. I’ve always seen shows depicting little kids running lemonade stands, but that never came to mind for me. Limoneira, on the other hand, wants to change that—for other kids, of course. Limoneira has partnered up with Lemonade Day National and has established a two-year charitable licensing agreement designed to support Lemonade Day in advancing its mission to equip kids with business and character building skills that will prepare them later on in life.

“The Lemonade Day program teaches the value of hard work, owning a business, and giving back to the community—ideals that could have come out of the mouths of our founders more than 125 years ago,” said John Chamberlain, Vice President of Marketing for Limoneira. “All of us at Limoneira couldn’t be more excited to transform the lives of young people by helping to elevate Lemonade Day’s profile within the organization’s 75+ licensed markets as well as help secure even more Lemonade Day communities.”

According to the press release, the agreement was completed in September and coincided with the launch of the Lemonade Day 2020 season. Lemonade Day is a national youth entrepreneurship program that teaches kids how to launch their own lemonade business. Limoneira will serve as presenting sponsor and fund the prizes for Lemonade Day’s National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, announced every September during the National City Directors Conference. Limoneira will also provide additional benefits that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Delivery of in-kind product to Lemonade Day cities
• Development and co-branding of Limoneira lemonade recipe
• Working with Lemonade Day executives to encourage legislators to loosen permitting requirements and reduce or eliminate fees for temporary food businesses operated by children under 18 years old
• Encouraging its retailers to allow Lemonade Day participants to set up their stands inside or outside their stores
• Coordinating and maximizing collaborative advertising and promotional opportunities
• Sponsorship of the LemonMobile

“What is the LemonMobile?” I hear you ask. Limoneira plans to convert a school bus that will be driven to key promotional markets from coast to coast. The LemonMobile will be available to help kids and their mentors learn about the Lemonade Day program, the health benefits of lemons, and how to make their own “healthy stand” lemonade when it is not delivering lemons to food deserts and other underserved communities.

In order for the kids to learn how to make easy, tasty, and nutritious recipes, Limoneira has teamed up with Megan Roosevelt, a registered dietician and founder of Healthy Grocery Girl, who is also a spokesperson for Limoneira’s Take a Healthy Stand™ platform. Take a Healthy Stand showcases the many ways that citrus and produce can play a role in helping to alleviate serious health issues as well as enhancing personal appearance and well-being. Roosevelt will develop recipes for Lemonade Day participants to offer to customers at their lemonade stands that coincides with that platform.

“As a global citrus supplier, Limoneira is a perfect partner for us. Our Lemonade Day National Board of Directors share my enthusiasm about collaborating with this global company, its employees, and its customers,” said Steven Gordon, Lemonade Day National President. “The company’s founders, Nathan W. Blanchard and Wallace L. Hardison, were pioneers with the spirit and vision that helped to lay the foundations of a thriving California citrus industry. Their guiding principles align with the leadership, confidence-building, and entrepreneurship lessons that Lemonade Day teaches young business dreamers.”

For more inspiring news out of the produce world, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

LimoneiraLemonade Day