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

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Walmart isn't new to driverless delivery; tests with Ford in Miami and a partnership with Alphabet's Waymo in Arizona were first announced last year, and another pilot in its homestate this past July. Today, the retail behemoth announced a new partnership with one of Kroger's delivery partners. Walmart has teamed up with Nuro, a robotics company transforming local commerce, to test-run in a new delivery market: Houston, Texas. The pilot is set to bring grocery delivery to Houston-based customers through Nuro’s autonomous vehicles.

“Nuro’s vision of using robotics to improve lives runs parallel with Walmart’s mission of helping customers live better,” stated Tom Ward, SVP, Digital Operations for Walmart U.S. in a press release. “Through the Houston-based pilot, Walmart aims to develop, refine, and continue learning how to offer the best end-to-end customer experience."

The service will use R2, Nuro’s custom-built delivery vehicle that carries only products with no onboard driver or passengers, and autonomous Toyota Priuses, all powered by Nuro’s proprietary self-driving software and hardware.

“Walmart’s dedication to its customers aligns with our desire to help people save time and money while making shopping easier. We are excited to join forces with Walmart to help provide the best possible delivery experience to customers,” said Cosimo Leipold, Nuro’s Head of Partner Relations, in a separate release reported on by Seeking Alpha. “Working alongside Walmart gives us an incredible opportunity to improve our door-to-door operations, serve Walmart’s loyal customers, and continue to integrate and engage with the Houston community.”

For now, Nuro’s driverless vehicles are only available to serve a select group of Walmart customers who have chosen to opt-in to the service, according to Business Insider. The service plans to expand to the general public later in 2020.

“Walmart is committed to serving our customers whenever and however they choose to shop,” stated Ward. “We are excited to work with Nuro and continue to learn as we are incorporating self-driving technology in our delivery options, learning more about our customers’ needs, and evolving Walmart’s future delivery offerings.”

This past year, the company has grown its online grocery footprint to nearly 3,100 pickup locations with deliveries coming from more than 1,600 stores. And with recent developments in the produce sector, it doesn’t seem like grocery delivery will go away anytime soon.

“Our unparalleled size and scale has allowed us to steer grocery delivery to the front doors of millions of families—and design a roadmap for the future of the industry,” Ward continued. “Along the way, we've been test-driving a number of different options for getting groceries from our stores to our customers’ front doors through self-driving technology.”

Which major market will see more autonomous Walmart delivery? Keep reading ANUK as we uncover the latest.

Walmart

CANADA AND U.S. - The industry is currently grappling with the romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak that began in the Salinas region of California, but has now been reported in Canada as well. Several industry members have weighed in on the epidemic, and now the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) has released its own public statement.

“Public health officials in Canada and the U.S. are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to a packaged salad mix,” the statement reads. “The salad mix contains several ingredients, including a number of leafy greens varieties. It has not been determined what ingredient in this salad mix is the source of the outbreak. At this time, officials do not believe this new outbreak is part of the larger outbreak linked to romaine grown in the Salinas region.”

16 illnesses in Canada and eight in the U.S. have been linked to the aforementioned salad mix, according to the LGMA.

“Although this outbreak and the one associated with romaine grown in Salinas do not appear to be caused by the same E. coli strain, the timing of the illnesses is similar in both outbreaks,” according to the statement. “If this new outbreak is found to be associated with lettuce, the LGMA is hopeful that investigations of these incidents will provide additional clues on how future outbreaks can be prevented.”

The last reported illness in this outbreak occurred on November 15, and the suspected salad mix is most likely no longer available for sale, but may still be in consumers’ homes.

“To all of those sickened in this outbreak, we are truly sorry for the heartbreak this situation has caused and we are committed to doing everything possible to prevent future outbreaks,” LGMA comments.

AndNowUKnow will continue to offer fresh insight as the story unfolds.

LGMA

LOS ANGELES, CA - Calling all produce suppliers! It’s all hands on deck in Southern California as the fourteenth-annual Navidad en el Barrio, put on by the Allen Lund Company, draws near. Allen Lund currently has pallets in Yuma, Arizona, and Oxnard, California, where the team is picking up donations, so the time is now to help out the cause! The company will also coordinate the transportation and accept donations delivered to its warehouse in Bell, California, by the end of the day Thursday. ’Tis the season for giving, and the company is asking for your support in making this year’s initiative the most influential yet.

“Since generous growers were added to the Navidad en el Barrio event where we assemble Christmas Dinners for 15,000 families, the meal has become so much healthier,” said Nora Trueblood, Marketing and Communications Director at Allen Lund. “Fresh produce is so well received and appreciated by these families who are the most underserved in Southern California. We are coordinating the logistics of Navidad en el Barrio again in 2019 and would welcome donations, especially in California and Arizona, as the distribution is Saturday, December 14, here in Los Angeles.”

Over 75,000 are served annually through the efforts of Navidad en el Barrio and the team at Allen Lund. Dinner delivery will take place December 14, so there is simply no time to waste! Get moving, folks, for Christmas dinner cannot cook itself. Stick with us at ANUK to see how the holidays shake out for the fresh produce industry.

Allen Lund Company

IRVINE, CA - Good morning, AndNowUKnow readers!

Today, I am bringing you some of the category and weather news from around the industry. Check back twice weekly to see the latest around all growing regions.

FLORIDA TO WARM UP THIS WEEK

Look for southern Florida to have above average temperatures this week leading to a possible uptick in production of veg and berries. At the southern end of the peninsula in the region of Homestead look for maximum temperatures in the mid-80°s all this week with minimum temperatures in the upper 60°s and even some possible 70° minimum temperatures this week. Excellent weather for maximum production.

Further up the state in the areas of Belle Glade and Plant City, look for maximum temperatures in the mid 80°s and minimums in the upper 60°s. Friday temperatures will cool somewhat with maximum temperatures in the low 80°s and minimum temperatures in the low 60°s for Belle Glade. There is a slight chance of daily rains starting tomorrow and lasting through Saturday.

Immokalee will be the hottest place in Florida today with a maximum temperature of 90° and a low of 68°. These excessive high temperatures will last through tomorrow and then cool off to the low 80°s by Friday.

CALIFORNIA BEGINS TO DRY OUT

After two weeks of stormy weather in California, the berry growing regions will finally have a chance to dry out. Over the weekend Salinas, Santa Maria, and Oxnard all received rains ranging from totals of .5” up to 1.00”. This has been an unusually wet start to the winter in CA. It will be interesting to see if this winter season is anything like last year with above average rainfall.

In the meantime, the next ten days appear to be dry with normal temperatures for this time of the year. Expect maximum temperatures to be in the mid 60°s and minimum temperatures in the upper 40°s and some low 50°s. Santa Maria will actually get up to a high of 70°s on Friday. Look for berry numbers to recover this week out of these regions.

PERUVIAN BLUEBERRY AND GRAPE REGION TO SEE WARM SPELL

The region of Ica, Peru, will see a warming trend starting today. Normal temperatures for this region are a high of 75° and a low of 60°. Today the maximum temperature will be 89° with a minimum of 64°. Maximum temperatures will remain in the mid to upper 80°s all week long. Look for a possible increase of product coming from this region over the next week to two weeks.

CHILE EXPERIENCING PERFECT WEATHER

All the major growing regions of Chile are experiencing perfect weather at the moment. Temperatures are normal with highs in the 70°s and 80°s depending upon the region and min temps in the 50°s and 60°s. There is no chance of significant rainfall in any region over the next ten days.

Look for production of grapes, blueberries, and stonefruit to come in the marketplace on track.

CULICÁN, SINALOA, MEXICO, TO EXPERIENCE PERFECT WEATHER NEXT 10 DAYS

After the rains of 10 days ago that left their mark on production (and also the markets) temperatures are looking very stable for the next ten days. Maximum temperatures will be in the mid to upper 80°s and minimum temperatures in the upper 50°s and zero chance of rain. Hopefully this perfect weather will get production back on track by the Christmas.

Thank you as always for your support. We will be back later this week with another report.

Weathermelon