OXNARD, CA - Growers are doing the land shuffle in central California this month, migrating from one field to another in preparation for the next harvest. Salinas and Oxnard, California, are two of the big territories involved in this transition, and Duda Farm Fresh Foods is utilizing both for its celery harvests. The company is currently transitioning from Salinas to Oxnard, so I spoke with Rick Alcocer, Senior Vice President of Fresh Sales, who reported that quality is looking good ahead of the holidays.

“The supply of celery is in transition and we are in the midst of the Thanksgiving demand, which will be closely followed by Christmas, holiday parties, endless weekends of college football bowls, and culminate with the Super Bowl,” said Rick. “Most growers plant in anticipation of the increased demand during this unique time of year, so we anticipate adequate supplies, unless Mother Nature has other plans.”

In addition to this anticipation, Rick said that warm and mild months leading into the Oxnard season have brought about a solid crop. That being said, Duda is confident that it will be well-positioned in the celery department this year.

“The week of November 11 and November 18 should be the heaviest for the Thanksgiving demand, but the gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas is shorter this year, so we do not expect much of a break in demand after Thanksgiving through Christmas,” Rick added. “Last year, we saw prices take off after Thanksgiving into the early spring and peaked at $72 per box due to lighter supplies and the unanticipated demand fueled by juicing. We do not expect anything like that this season.”

With the rise in overall celery consumption last year, fueled by the popularity of juicing, many shippers increased their acreage to meet the demand. According to Rick, that overall increase seems to be between 8-10 percent.

“Like others, we planted additional acreage to meet the overall growth in the celery category. For our fresh-cut operations, we have greatly expanded daily production capacity and matched that with increased acreage of our special proprietary celery varieties,” he remarked.

And while all of this hustle and bustle unfolds in California, the company is looking at another popular growing state for supplies in 2020.

“Our Florida celery season will begin slightly earlier than normal, aiming for the second week of December,” Rick concluded. “This is great news for many of our East Coast customers and we have had excellent growing conditions that should supply a very high-quality crop. The Florida season will run through mid-April.”

That’s all we’ve got on celery for now, folks. To see how growers are ramping up for another successful season, stay tuned to ANUK.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods

LOS ANGELES, CA - Ever since the small-but-speedy grocery warehouse transitioned back into the private sector in June, Smart & Final has fallen quiet on the newswire. We were graced, however, by some exciting news from the company yesterday afternoon. Much to our delight, Smart & Final announced the promotion of Sean Mahony and Matt Reeve to Senior Vice President roles.

“Sean and Matt are two industry veterans with more than a half-century of grocery retail experience between them,” said Dave Hirz, President and CEO. “We are very fortunate to have them on our team. It has been a pleasure for me to work with them both for the past ten years, and to watch them grow in their careers. They are highly intelligent and have similar management styles that include living Smart & Final’s values every day. They’ve both made incredible contributions to Smart & Final over the years, and I’m proud to congratulate them on their much-deserved promotions.”

According to a press release, Mahony began his career at Smart & Final almost 27 years ago as a store associate, working at night while attending college. Since 2015, he has served as Group Vice President of Store Operations, overseeing the company’s operations team for its 255 locations. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from California State University, Long Beach, he also graduated from the Food Industry Executive Program at Cornell University and the Food Industry Management Program at the University of Southern California. As if he weren’t busy enough, Mahony also serves on the Board for Olive Crest, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of at-risk children.

With more than 29 years in the grocery industry, Reeve leads the Sales and Merchandising team responsible for category management and private label. According to the press release, he joined Smart & Final as a Category Manager in 2004. In 2008, he helped transform the company through the launch of its newer, larger format, Smart & Final Extra!, which now accounts for more than 75 percent of the company’s locations. In 2019, Reeve received the Hall of Fame award from the Dairy, Deli, Bakery Association of Southern California and was honored with the Stars & Stripes Good Scout Award by the Boys Scouts of America. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Western Association of Food Chains.

Congratulations to Sean Mahony and Matt Reeves on these exciting promotions!

Smart & Final

WATSONVILLE, CA - This was a banner year for the annual Tour de Fresh, the four-day cycling event that looks to raise funds for Salad Bars for Schools with the United Fresh Start Foundation. And while we reported a big number from the finish line, the biggest yet, in fact, funds still kept rolling in long after the cyclists did.

Now with every dollar tallied, the sixth annual ride is celebrating more than $180,000 to provide salad bars to schools.

“The Tour de Fresh has truly become a special event in the industry, and it’s incredible to see so many friends come together for an important cause,” said Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association. “The idea of rallying-around school salad bars, getting kids access to fresh produce, and helping create excitement in schools and communities for our products, it makes sense on so many levels, and the United Fresh Start Foundation is honored to play our part in moving these efforts forward.”

Through a collaborative effort from riders, friends, family members, and fresh produce industry leaders, the ride surpassed its 2018 total of $149,588 to deliver 51 salad bars to schools in California, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas, according to a press release.

“We’re thrilled about our record-breaking donation to the United Fresh Start Foundation,” said Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing for the California Giant Berry Farms. “By providing more students with access to fresh fruits and vegetables during school, we’re shaping healthy eating behavior far beyond school hours and for years to come.”

If there is anything I have learned from the privilege of riding along five of the six Tour de Fresh events, it is how hard it is to understand the experience of this unique industry event without experiencing it. Coming pretty close, however, is a video interviewing key contributors to the tour, as well as sharing footage of this year’s journey down California's legendary Pacific Highway.

To experience the beauty of the ride, and to feel even better about being in our industry, click here.

Tour de Fresh would not be possible without the support of its generous sponsors:

• Americold
• AndNowUKnow
• Arctic Apples
• Atlas Produce
• Basil Seasonal Dining
• C&S Wholesale Grocers
• California Giant Berry Farms
• CHEP
• Church Brothers
• Coosemans
• DMA Solutions
• Earthbound Farms
• EBX Logistics
• Emerson
• Evolution Fresh
• Famous Software
• Fight Like Britt Foundation
• FreshPlaza
• Gold Coast Packing
• Good Foods
• Gusto Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza
• Interfresh
• iTrade Network
• JAZZ Apples
• Jerue Trucking
• Lipman Produce
• Markon
• Misionero
• Mission Produce
• Ocean Mist Farms
• Paramount Export
• PRO*Act
• Procurant
• Produce Marketing Association
• Regal Marketing
• Renaissance Food Group
• Sakata
• Specialty Produce
• SunFed Produce
• Sunkist
• Tat-On Inc.
• Taylor Farms
• Total Quality Logistics (TQL)
• United Fresh Start Foundation
• Western Precooling

To date, the Tour de Fresh has raised more than $930,000 to fund and place more than 265 salad bars in schools across the United States. By providing this access to fresh produce in schools, children are learning to incorporate a greater variety of fruits and vegetables into their diet, creating a healthy eating lifestyle at a young age.

Tour de Fresh

WASHINGTON - Recently, the Equitable Food Initiative released the results of a two-year study undertaken by BSD Consulting to assess the impact of EFI’s workspace development programs. The study found that a variety of positive outcomes resulted for the business when fresh produce farming operations engaged workers and managers in an EFI leadership team and taught them to work collaboratively to comply with standards for labor practices, food safety, and pest management.

“The staff feel more empowered, more engaged in our business, and their voices matter,” Kevin Doran, CEO of Houweling’s Group, said. “This has led to a tremendous amount of improvements that wouldn’t have been obvious to us unless they brought them forward.”

According to the press release, some of the positive outcomes included improving working conditions, developing skills in workers and managers, strengthening management systems, enhancing business performance, and ultimately creating a cultural shift within grower organizations. The report also shows how EFI helps fresh produce suppliers meet and exceed compliance with the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices as evidenced in the outcome areas defined throughout the report.

One manager interviewed by BSD Consulting noted, “Farmworkers feel more accountable after training and participation in [EFI] leadership teams, as they see the whole perspective of the organization. There is a notion of belonging to something bigger. What we do takes all of us—nobody can do it on their own.”

Another manager stated, “One might erroneously think that a university diploma gives us the pure truth. Those who have the day-to-day detailed knowledge are the farmworkers. The EFI program has helped us reinforce the belief that unleashing their full potential just makes sense.”

Managers and workers across departments and levels cited improvements in communication following the implementation of the EFI model on their operations, which led to greater accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement. A manager interviewed for the study shared, “[EFI leadership team members] represent workers and help us manage workers’ questions and expectations. Communication flows better, shedding light to issues we were not aware of before.”

Over the course of 2017-2018, the study concluded and procured 19 farm visits, 21 focus groups, 476 interviews, and the analysis of 81 audit reports. The research assessed the impacts of the EFI program based on the theory that if the workforce is properly trained and incentivized to collaborate with management in developing a safe, stable, and dignified working environment, then new value is created for growers and buyers. To date, 59 farming operations in four countries have implemented the EFI model, resulting in safer and healthier working conditions for 34,000 farmworkers. More than $6.5 million has been generated in worker bonuses through the premium paid by participating retailers on certified product.

As working conditions are discussed more, the fresh produce world as a whole can only grow to be a better, sustainable, and productive industry.

Equitable Food Initiative BSD Consulting Houweling's

ROCHESTER, NY - We like to say the retail landscape is changing, but seriously, the landscape is changing—retailers like Walmart and Amazon that historically focused on consumer goods are now cementing a place in the grocery sector. These mega-retailers often work to introduce as many services, policies, and programs as they can in an effort to cast a wide net and secure the highest percentage of consumers—an understandable use of the tools at their disposal. But smaller, more regional grocers are finding that their best recourse for competition lies not in attempting to replicate and keep up with the others, but in playing to their strengths and offering consumers in their regions something special. Wegmans, Publix, and H-E-B are some retailers that experience the kind of regional success that is natural for smaller grocers.

CNN Business reports regional grocers like Wegmans, H-E-B, and Publix are looking for ways to distinguish themselves in a highly-competitive market. These retailers have turned to strategies that provide shoppers with further savings.

Customer service also factors strongly into the equation—smaller retailers focus closely on their employees to train and encourage their workers to run their stores in a way that can provide an exceptional experience. This year, Fortune rated Wegmans as the number one Best Workplaces in Retail, a spot that the grocer has held for some time.

Wegmans and many other regional grocers are privately owned, and can make company-wide decisions without the approval of stockholders and boards of directors. Smaller grocers may also benefit when it comes to expansion as well—a detailed sense of the area can enable strategic and careful plans on where to open new stores. Publix, for example, has significant insight on the trends and needs of its customers, enabling the retailer to think outside the box, recently with plans for an inventive new waterfront store.

There are benefits and drawbacks to every retail format, and while regional grocers do enjoy certain benefits, there are other ways in which larger retailers excel. Each retailer must do what they can to leverage their strengths and focus on what makes them special. As the industry continues to evolve, companies will seek out and try new directions and new ideas to ensure the highest profitability and customer satisfaction they can.

What can the rest of the industry learn from Wegmans, Publix, H-E-B, and other regional grocers? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.

Wegmans Publix H-E-B

UNITED STATES - This week, the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) is celebrating an exciting milestone: its first-ever research project, Agriculture Water Treatment - Southwest Region. To kick off the project in style, CPS awarded the project $200,000, which will be used to fund the study of the effectiveness of various agricultural water treatments. The University of Arizona’s Channah Rock— (Ph.D.) Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, and a Water Quality Specialist with UA's Cooperative Extension at the Maricopa Agricultural Center—will lead the project. This is the fifth research award she has received from CPS since 2011.

"This project is groundbreaking for CPS and for the fresh produce industry, as we take the first step toward finding solutions to help our industry address the critical issue of safe ag water treatments," said Dave Corsi, Chair of CPS's Board of Directors and Vice President of Produce and Floral for Wegmans Food Markets. "This is also just the beginning—this project sets a precedent for future CPS awards to fund research in this area."

Along with heralding CPS’s entry into researching and solving the safety of water applied to fresh produce crops, this ag water research award by CPS reflects strategic changes made by the organization in 2018 that reflect where fresh produce safety is headed. Specifically, CPS updated its mission to "fund science, find solutions, and fuel change” and revamped its research program to do the following:

• Be more flexible and responsive
• Update rapid response research capability to fund urgent topics in addition to research tracks focusing on ag water solutions,
• Challenge awards to find tools which help growers solve for animal intrusion,
• Increase CPS's annual research funding of ongoing produce safety topics, such as preventive controls and interventions.

As part of these changes, the one-year-long project will examine the effectiveness of antimicrobial ag water treatments in the Southwest region of the U.S., recognizing that there may be regional and/or site-specific variations for effectively treating water.

"Growers have access to a myriad of options for water treatment, with limited guidance to help them be successful," said Rock, "Our goal is to develop scientific data that will inform growers on how to use ag water treatments more effectively and confidently."

Specifically, Rock and her team will evaluate three treatment options: peracetic acid, calcium hypochlorite, and ultraviolet light. At the request of CPS, the project will be mindful of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Rule requirements for treating ag production water, to ensure that resulting industry guidance will be FSMA-compliant, according to a press release. CPS is also establishing an industry advisory committee to inform and support the research team.

In addition to CPS’s monetary contribution, regionally-sourced produce safety stakeholders, including produce industry, academia, local and federal government, and technology service providers, will match the award equally.

For more of the freshest, safest, and greatest produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Center for Produce Safety

ANAHEIM, CA - When the ANUK team is in Orange County, California, it only makes sense to talk about citrus till our heart’s content. To accomplish this, we swung by Vision Import Group’s booth at PMA Fresh Summit to pick the brain of Tony Mitchell, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, and find out all that there is to find on the importer’s latest citrus programs.

“We’re here promoting our retail bag line,” Tony shared with me. “We have wonderful products: It’s a 2 lb Mr. Squeeze Lemon and 2 lb Mojito Limes. People are looking to more convenient type items, and these products are an easy way to go in and grab a bag.”

On top of the insane convenience the Mr. Squeeze Lemons and Mojito Limes bags offer consumers, Tony also revealed that the product has maximum staying power both in and outside of refrigeration. This eliminates the worry of shrink at both the retail and consumer level.

Vision Import Group adds another layer of convenience to its lemon and lime programs with its 52-week availability.

“We do a lot of Spanish lemons. We do a lot of Argentine lemons. We also have a very beautiful organic Mexican lemon, so we’re very proud of what we do,” Tony continued, emphasizing the variety Vision Import Group offers its customers within its 52-week programs. “Limes are 52 weeks out of Mexico into Texas. We have a lot of programs we can offer, and we’re ready to sell.”

To hear more from the citrus expert himself, check out our interview with Tony above. And for more exclusive produce news, stick with us at AndNowUKnow.

Vision Import Group

LEAMINGTON, ON - NatureFresh Farms’ 20-year anniversary celebration brought about more than just confetti and champagne pops earlier this month. On November 8th, the company threw an anniversary event that marked this major milestone, along with the announcement of an exciting addition of a Group Retirement Plan to its existing benefits plan.

“The 20th anniversary celebration gave us the perfect opportunity to express our appreciation to our employees by announcing the extension of their current benefits plan, which now includes the Group Retirement Plan,” shared John Ketler, General Manager. “NatureFresh Farms’ most valuable asset is its employees, and we want to help provide for our amazing team.”

The special event was organized at NatureFresh’s Phase 3 facility where 270 employees gathered to commemorate the company’s 20 years of success. With everyone in high spirits and enjoying the afternoon event, Ketler and CEO Peter Quiring took the opportunity to extend their gratitude to the employees. Noting their hard work and dedication over the last 20 years in business, the two announced that NatureFresh Farms will now be offering its employees a Group Retirement Plan.

The Group Retirement Plan allows employees to conveniently contribute to the plan through payroll deductions before tax is calculated. The amount is then matched by NatureFresh Farms, allowing employees to save more for their retirement and receive immediate tax relief from those savings. The company hopes this new benefit will help existing employees plan for their future, while also acting as an incentive to attract new hires.

Within its 20 years of innovation and growth, NatureFresh Farms has had many accomplishments, according to a press release. It recently rolled out a 32-acre expansion, which brought its total family-owned facilities to 200 acres, advancing operations to year-round growing in Leamington. NatureFresh has taken significant steps to further integrate sustainability within its operations, exemplified this year by the successful introduction of its new compostable cucumber trays.

NatureFresh Farms aims to continue providing quality greenhouse-grown vegetables through its advancements in sustainable technology, and is looking forward to another 20 years of offering retailers and consumers consistency in supply, quality, and flavor.

Here’s to 20 years for NatureFresh Farms! To keep up with all the latest news in the industry, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

NatureFresh Farms

AUSTIN, TX - The natural food retail scene has been trending upward for some time now—the success of companies like Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, and Sprouts Farmers Market are concrete proof. There are profits to be made by investing in food providers that can offer the sorts of natural foods that consumers seek out. Moberly Natural Crush, LLC, a natural food company specializing in soybean meal and oil, has received a boost from Whole Foods’ leadership, as Scott Allshouse, the retailer’s President of the Mid-Atlantic Region, will be taking his place on Moberley Natural Crush’s (MNC) Board of Directors.

“The natural food industry was built on the backs of small, start-up food companies like Moberly Natural Crush,” said Allshouse. “It’s not that much different from how Whole Foods got started, and I look forward to helping MNC reach its full potential. There is a lot of growth opportunities in this part of the supply chain.”

Having spent his entire career in grocery retail operations, Allshouse was a key executive who helped transform Whole Foods from a regional grocer to one of the world’s largest natural food and organic retailer, according to Moberly Monitor-Index. Since 2012, Allshouse, in his current role, has been responsible for over 13,000 team members across seven states, and he has a company-wide position as a member of the Whole Foods Leadership Team, the news source reports. He started with the retailer as a New Jersey Store Team Leader and quickly transitioned into regional operational positions, before assuming the role of President of the South Region in 2004.

“Scott Allshouse provides us the highest level of connectivity to the natural food industry,” Pat Conners, one of the Founders of MNC, commented. “Since 2000, Scott has been on the front line of shaping and implementing some of the strictest natural food standards, and he has played a prominent leadership role in making Whole Foods the industry leader.”

Allshouse will help forward MNC’s strategic growth plan in his new role as a Director, and has plans to foster relationships with Missouri farmers.

Moberly Natural Crush is in a state of growth, and is in its phase two equity drive, with plans to raise $5 million to purchase equipment necessary for operating its soybean processing facility in Moberley’s industrial park.

With this kind of star power on its team, what is in store for Moberly Natural Crush? AndNowUKnow will report.

Moberly Natural Crush Whole Foods Market

MILWAUKEE, WI - Kroger and Ocado are making headway on their 20 distribution centers, with the sixth one officially in play. This week, the partners named Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, as the home for their next Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC).

"Kroger is incredibly excited to construct one of our industry-leading Customer Fulfillment Centers in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, in relationship with Ocado to bring fresh food to our customers faster than ever before," said Robert Clark, Kroger's Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Sourcing. "Through our strategic partnership, we are engineering a model for the region, leveraging advanced robotics technology and creative solutions to redefine the customer experience for our customers in Wisconsin and Illinois."

According to a press release, the Pleasant Prairie CFC will measure 350,000 square feet and is expected to create up to 400 new jobs. The facility will also serve customers in Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and northwest Indiana.

"We are excited to bring Kroger and Ocado's latest automated warehouse to Pleasant Prairie. As this site develops and goes live, it will be instrumental in delivering fantastic grocery experiences and exciting job opportunities to households across Chicago, Milwaukee, and beyond," said Luke Jensen, CEO of Ocado Solutions. "Today's announcement marks another big milestone on the road to developing a seamless fulfilment ecosystem for Kroger customers across the United States. Ocado's proven technology will allow Kroger to achieve the lowest cost-to-serve in the market, combined with the best freshness, accuracy, and service."

Thus far, Georgia, Ohio, Texas, and Florida have all been chosen to house CFCs, with some states, like Ohio, even housing two. All of the distribution centers are part of Kroger’s and Ocado’s plan to bolster the supply chain and stay on top of consumer demand.

"This project expands Kroger's commitment to continued investment in Wisconsin and Illinois. With this cutting-edge technology, Kroger is confident our partnership with Ocado will play an integral role in the continued commerce growth of this dynamic region," added Michael Marx, Kroger Roundy's President. "This transformative fulfillment center will create local jobs and accelerate Kroger's ability to expand our products and services to a larger footprint, providing customers with anything, anytime, anywhere."

While Kroger didn’t disclose the specificities of when it will be breaking ground and opening the doors on its CFC in Wisconsin, it did note that the facility will be operational 24 months after the project begins construction.

AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest in fresh produce news.

Kroger