WATSONVILLE, CA - Berries are one of those fresh produce destinations at retail that always seems to draw a crowd—no matter the time of year. With the holiday season ramping up, this segment continues to rise to the top of the consumer’s shopping basket with utility across savory and sweet dishes alike. California Giant Berry Farms is one of those year-round operations helping retailers discover fresh opportunities for sales growth and a more impactful holiday spread, and timing is just right to take advantage.

“We are excited about the holidays and putting some finishing touches on a fun promotion that we hope our consumer followers will enjoy. We are calling it Home for the Holidays in order to truly grasp the sentiment that many share around this time of the year,” Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing, shares with me.“The promotion is all about enjoying our season, and baking new memories with the family, using the kitchen to set the tone with great cooking, baking, and wonderful smells. We will be awarding weekly prizes for five weeks that will inspire folks to create holiday treats in their kitchens—or they can always re-gift! The promotion will launch right after Thanksgiving, so move over turkey, and make way for California Giant berries, the real holiday ingredient of the season.”

For retailers, California Giant brings a consistent and quality supply of berries the entire year-round, allowing fresh produce departments to execute holiday promotions knowing the operation has holiday fruit to support them.

“Being an international company, we have the privilege to draw year-round volume so consumers can enjoy fresh berries for the holidays. We are shipping strawberries and raspberries from Mexico and blueberries from South America and also expect to have promotable volume from now well into spring from those regions,” Cindy says.

California Giant also has blackberries from Mexico with volume ramping up in a few weeks. The company expects to begin harvesting strawberries in Florida by the first week in December and in Oxnard, California, by Christmas. This strawberry volume coming on helps to transition the crop into spring as California Giant’s Central Coast crop slowly comes to a close.

"Typically, at this time of year, we are done harvesting in this region but mild weather has made it possible for our farmers to harvest well into November and provide fresh fruit for Thanksgiving tables,” Cindy expresses with excitement.

And an exciting time of year it is for retailers and consumers alike! Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we bring you more on suppliers creating opportunities for a more valuable and quality holiday push!

California Giant Berry Farms

NOVI, MI - Even the freshest and highest-quality produce is worthless without an efficient and expansive cold supply chain that can move fruits and veg from the field to the produce aisle while maintaining the integrity of the product. This is why companies from every sector along the supply chain are constantly searching for new innovation and global reach in the cold-storage sector. Lineage Logistics Holdings, one of the world’s largest providers of temperature-controlled logistics solutions, has announced its plans to expand its capabilities with the acquisition of Emergent Cold, in efforts to strengthen its port presence in the U.S. and push further into the Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka markets, building on Lineage’s existing presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Food producers, manufacturers, and retailers are looking for cold-chain partners who can offer a dynamic and truly end-to-end temperature-controlled logistics solution, and one that can reach every corner of the world,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lineage Logistics, in a press release. “Welcoming Emergent to the Lineage family not only adds significant capacity to our international footprint, but also deepens our commitment to our port strategy and international trade. We are better able to help customers respond to constantly shifting market dynamics, such as global network optimisation, tariff impacts, consumer preference shifts, and much more, while at the same time unlocking new potential market opportunities to sell their goods.”

Although no financial details were disclosed in the company's press release, Supply Chain Digital estimates that Lineage Logistics is spending more than $900 million on the acquisition, and will be increasing its global footprint by around eight percent of capacity as a result of the deal. The acquisition will add 46 facilities in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, to Lineage’s operations. Once the transaction closes, the company’s combined footprint will feature over 1.7 billion-cubic-feet of temperature-controlled capacity across 260 facilities in 10 countries spanning North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, according to the press release. The transaction includes a newly-constructed distribution center in the Dallas-Fort Worth region; four U.S. port facilities in Houston, New Orleans, and Charleston; and the purchase of real estate at select facility sites currently leased by Emergent.

“Joining Lineage accelerates our goal of providing the highest quality global cold chain solutions to our customers,” said Neal Rider, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Emergent. “Lineage has established itself as a leader in our industry, and expanding its global footprint and port presence with the addition of Emergent will create incredible opportunities for our collective customers. I also want to thank Elliott Management for believing in and backing us when Emergent Cold was just an idea, and our Executive Chairman Chris Jamroz for his tireless leadership and support. Their partnership, support, and expertise has been critical in driving Emergent’s success, and we are looking forward to the next chapter with Bay Grove and Lineage.”

After the transaction wraps, Lineage positions itself as a valuable partner to help companies meet growing export demand and an ever-expanding global supply chain. The Australian cold-storage sector in Australia alone is valued at $5 billion, which Lineage is eager to tap into, as well as the rapidly-expanding cold-storage sectors in New Zealand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka that address the supply chain demands in the Asia-Pacific region.

AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the industry impact from the evolving cold-storage sector.

Lineage Logistics Emergent Cold

WASHINGTON, DC - This week, the House Judiciary Committee passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and the industry is celebrating. This places the legislation one step closer to getting passed by the full House of Representatives and, as a result, implementing significant modernization into the agricultural labor system.

“Western Growers applauds today’s passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the House Judiciary Committee,” said Tom Nassif, President and CEO of Western Growers. “We thank the lead authors, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman Dan Newhouse, and the bipartisan group of legislators who have negotiated and supported this bill. Throughout the U.S., agriculture is experiencing a critical shortage of labor that jeopardizes our ability to continue producing an abundant, safe, and affordable domestic food supply. Securing a reliable and skilled workforce is critical to the future viability of America’s family farms.”

In addition to 29 Democratic and 23 Republican co-sponsors, the bipartisan bill has earned the widespread support of nearly 300 agricultural organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and farm worker unions, according to Western Grower’s statement. Support of the bill also includes that of United Fresh Produce Association’s President and CEO, Tom Stenzel.

“The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a testament to the tenacity of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to bring much needed reform to the agriculture industry. The sustainability of American agriculture is at stake if our labor situation is not addressed,” said Stenzel. “It is imperative that the House act quickly to pass this legislation. This bipartisan bill is cosponsored by nearly two dozen Republican members of Congress, demonstrating wide support. We believe a strong vote in the House will lead the way for the Senate to follow suit to finally address the labor crisis in American agriculture.”

According to a United Fresh press release, the bill provides much needed reforms to secure a stable and legal workforce in agriculture, allowing current farm workers to attain legal status and reforming the H-2A guest worker program to ensure a future source of workers on American farms.

“By protecting existing, experienced farm workers, and streamlining the agricultural guest worker program to provide a more accessible, predictable, and flexible future flow of labor, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act contains real solutions to the labor crisis facing the industry,” continued Nassif. “While the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is not perfect, we remain committed to working through the legislative process to address our outstanding concerns, and encourage the Speaker to bring this bill before the House floor for a vote as soon as possible.”

As the Farm Workforce Modernization Act continues on to the House, AndNowUKnow will continue to follow along with all updates.

Western Growers United Fresh

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Instant ramen was a dear friend of mine in college—it got me through many a late night study session. With convenience still high on my list when it comes to recipes, Pearson Foods is answering the call by revitalizing instant ramen with crisp produce. Healthy ramen? Could it be? It certainly seems so, given that the company recently launched its line of Fresh Ramen.

“The project came out of the growing trend for consumers seeking more grab-and-go meal replacement, heat-and-eat options, and also from the consumers’ perspective that they’re looking for more flavorful and unique options for meal replacement as well as ethnic options,” stated Ruta Pearson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

When Japan’s instant noodle soup was introduced to the United States in the 1970s, consumers were hooked. Now, according to a press release, Americans are embracing soba and ramen and want to see these types of meals in grocery stores.

The Fresh Ramen line is a heat-and-eat, three-minute meal solution made with fresh cut Napa cabbage, red cabbage, green onion, and carrot. Each broth and vegetable blend is paired with and complemented by an authentic value-added topping of pickled ginger, seaweed, or mushroom. Fresh Ramen offers five flavors that capture traditional ramen styles: Tonkotsu Pork, Spicy Sesame, Ginger Beef, Miso, and Tokyo Chicken.

Pearson's Fresh Ramen delivers on its commitment to using only fresh ingredients, the company noted. The line is currently available at Meijer and Jewel-Osco locations across the Midwest.

As we plumb the depths of product innovation, keep reading AndNowUKnow for the latest in products, consumer trends, and more.

Pearson Foods

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Meijer is rolling out a pretty unique strategy to minimize food waste while still boosting sales. This has led the grocer to partner with Canadian-based Flashfood to unveil a new app that allows shoppers to purchase produce and other fresh food nearing its best-buy date at a reduced price. While the app is not officially on the market just yet, Meijer is piloting the strategy at its Detroit supercenters.

“Food is at the core of what we do, and we are constantly looking at ways to minimize in-store waste because it’s the right thing to do for our communities and our customers,” said Don Sanderson, Group Vice President of Fresh for Meijer. “We are excited to work with Flashfood and learn how much food can be spared from landfills.”

Flashfood works to help retailers upload surplus close-dated foods to an app for consumer purchase. With this know-how to tap in to, Meijer has teamed up with the company to sell close-dated fresh food items, including those in the produce, meat, seafood, deli, and bakery aisles, for up to 50 percent off, which shoppers can then pick up in-store once ordered.

“Bringing the Metro Detroit community the ability to buy such great food at huge discounts while reducing food waste is exciting. Meijer is a well-respected market leader focusing on innovation and it’s evident through our partnership. Both teams are thrilled about the impact we’re bringing to market in this pilot,” said Josh Domingues, Founder & CEO of Flashfood.

Meijer’s latest strategy builds on the work it’s been doing to eliminate food waste, including launching a Food Rescue program that donated more than 10.6 million pounds of food in 2018 to local food banks, according to a press release. In addition, Meijer is transforming waste from its manufacturing facilities into animal feed and compost.

“Reducing food waste is an important goal at Meijer,” said Erik Petrovskis, Meijer's Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability. “There are creative solutions throughout a food’s life cycle that can reduce landfill use and production of greenhouse gases, and I’m pleased we’re looking at another in-store option that benefits our customers.”

To stay on top of grocery retailers’ latest moves, stay right here with AndNowUKnow.

Meijer

FRIESLAND, WI - Fall is when potatoes are the most abundant and at their peak freshness, according to Christine Lindner, National Sales at Alsum Farms & Produce. The company has finished harvest and anticipates having a good supply remaining strong into the winter months. Wisconsin has excellent quality and a full spectrum of varieties and size profiles to offer the potato category. To get a sense of where Alsum stands in all of this kerfuffle, I spoke with Christine about the state of its potatoes.

“Alsum Farms finished our harvest at the end of October,” Christine told me. “We are now pulling potatoes out of storage bins. As the holiday season approaches, we continue to increase the number of russet potato loads washed and packed as Thanksgiving nears to accommodate for the peak of fresh market demand for potatoes.”

Prolonged wet conditions in late September and early October hindered harvest in Wisconsin, which coupled with freezing temperatures in mid-October forced Alsum to leave about 150 of its 2,700 acres of potatoes in the ground. As a result, its potatoes will have a small-to-medium size profile, although the yield is still about the same as years prior.

With the impending fate of the holiday season, growers are feeling the pressure on their promotional volumes. Potato prices are well above last year’s market as the mid-November trend is increasing exponentially. Even so, Alsum is well-positioned for a successful holiday rush.

“Holiday dinners bring families together for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and many retailers build potatoes as a staple of these gatherings. For just pennies per ounce, potatoes offer some of the best nutritional value of any food,” Christine explained. “For the holidays, we are offering a 20-pound Russet baker pack—as families gather around the dinner table as it provides the best value. Additionally, we are promoting ad volume for b-size red and gold potatoes. This size potato can help retailers bring a fresh offering to the category at a great value.”

Retailers, be sure to check out Alsum’s offerings as you assemble your potato displays. For more categorial updates ahead of the year’s busiest season, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Alsum Farms & Produce

TEXAS - Onions have long been a necessary ingredient in many cultures, with a definitive flavor that brings tears to the eyes—usually. This is an increasingly busy category as it becomes more and more necessary to have the right onion for whatever purpose it might serve. And Texas Sweet Onions, or Texas 1015's, as many call them, holds their very own space in America’s domestic offerings.

“What makes Texas onions so great is they’re the first new crop onions produced domestically. Consumers love these varieties of onions because they have less peruvix (the acidity that makes you cry) so they’re not only great to eat sautéed or grilled, but they have excellent crunch and a milder flavor so that they can be eaten fresh, too. Salads, burgers, and sandwiches just aren’t complete in the spring and summer without Texas onions,” Dante Galeazzi, President and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, shares.

As 2019 winds down, the new year isn’t the only thing approaching.

"Texas 1015 is the first domestic sweet onion on the market for the new year, and one Texas retailers, and retailers in general, really seem to want. We differentiate from other onions on the market in that our growing regions are a bit more spread out than alternative sweet onions, which we do intentionally to help us avoid weather issues," Ted Brasch, Sales Manager at Crescent Fruit and Vegetable, says.

Promotional periods for the Texas 1015 tend to kick off in the spring and go into mid-summer, most commonly during Semana Santa, Easter, Memorial Day, and Father’s Day.

“Thanks to the unique, mild winter weather South Texas enjoys, we can provide the earliest true sweet onion of the year, which perfectly aligns with springtime barbeque weather. Because the Texas 1015 is a short day onion grown throughout the winter, you end up with a crisp, mild, perfectly juicy sweet onion available as early as March,” Courtney Schuster of Rio Fresh, shares.

Trent Bishop, Vice President of Sales for 1015 grower J&D Produce, marks the onion as a traditional calendar event.

“The 1015 signifies the official start of the domestic sweet onion supply. The Texas sweet onion is as distinctive as the state from which it originates and has been the official state vegetable since 1977. There is always an energy and excitement added to the category when consumers learn that Texas 1015 onions are available or about to become available,” Trent says.

If Mother Nature cooperates, I’m assured that there is no reason promotional volumes wouldn’t be available as early as St. Patrick’s Day and as late as the 4th of July, just in time to complement Texas cabbage, greens, and watermelons.

“Texas onion plantings are well underway. At this point, a majority of the crop is in the ground and the weather has been great,” Dante concludes, meaning equally great quality for buyers.

If there is anything life in the produce industry has taught me, it’s that on time is late, Mother Nature always has the final say, and the next season will be here before we know it. So if you aren’t already planning for the 2020 season of Texas 1015, there is no time like the present!

Texas International Produce Association Rio Fresh J&D Produce Frontera

WASHINGTON, DC - Cleveland, Ohio-based Produce Packaging has posted a $100,000 surety bond with the USDA as a means of employing Andrew Weingart. Weingart is the former President and stockholder of Forest City Weingart Produce Co., a company that the Agricultural Marketing Service found committing violations of the PACA in September of 2018.

Direct from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Any PACA licensee wishing to employ individuals who have failed to pay a reparation award, or have been subject to a USDA disciplinary action, must post a USDA-approved surety bond. USDA will hold the $100,000 bond for four years and nine months, providing assurance to the industry that the firm will be able to pay for produce purchased and to conduct its business according to PACA rules.

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

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

For further information, contacts, and to read the press release in its entirety, please click here.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service

LOS ANGELES, CA - Wonderful Halos has officially launched “Camp Halohead,” a first-of-its-kind original entertainment property to debut from a produce brand. The family-friendly, animated YouTube series, created by Wonderful Pictures in collaboration with Six Point Harness Animation, is upping the stakes of healthy eating messaging by introducing consumers to their new favorite healthy do-gooders.

“We’re delighted to introduce ‘Camp Halohead,’ a safe, animated entertainment series on YouTube that shares a positive message that families can feel good about and enjoy watching together for free,” said Adam Cooper, Senior Vice President of Marketing at The Wonderful Company. “‘Camp Halohead’ viewers will also have fun hearing some of their favorite YouTube stars’ voices like Ryan of Ryan’s World and Evan of EvanTubeHD, two of the biggest kid-stars on YouTube today who make special guest appearances in the ‘Camp Halohead’ series.”

The series features five original episodes all set at “Camp Halohead,” where mandarin campers go to earn their halos, one good choice at a time—because only the best mandarins earn their halos, according to a press release. This season, consumers can join Clemmie, Bud, and Tango on an adventure where they’ll learn to make good choices while trying to save all mandarin-kind so that all mandarins can make it to the good place (inside kids’ bellies).

As part of its YouTube screen debut, Wonderful Halos held a private screening and after party at the ArcLight Cinemas and the new Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica, California, with celebrity and influencer guests in attendance.

The latest marketing innovation from Wonderful Halos only furthers the brand’s “Good Choice, Kid®” national advertising campaign, which celebrates kids and adults who make good choices by choosing to be active, kind, and healthy with Wonderful Halos.

To watch the series with your own two eyes, visit the “Camp Halohead” YouTube channel and follow along on Instagram @CampHalohead.

AndNowUKnow will continue to report on exciting produce launches like this, so stick with us.

Wonderful Halos

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Plant-based meals have been gaining popularity for some time, and the numbers prove it—category sales grew by 28 percent and were worth $210 million last year. As the holidays arrive, consumers are faced with meat-heavy meals that feature turkey, ham, beef, and more, often leaving those craving fresh veggies with few options. Side Delights^® aims to tackle that gap in seasonal dining with a curated list of wine and potato pairings to offer a delicious alternative.

“An increasing number of shoppers are integrating vegetarian, whole foods, and plant-based diets into their holiday meal planning,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, in a press release. “Side Delights’ mashed, baked fries, and homemade chips pair well not only with wine, but also bring out the best in any holiday meal.”

The Fat Cork, a popular champagne website, suggests pairing some bubbly with homemade oven fries or thick-cut potato chips, as the salt from the fries or chips balances out the acidic wine. Inspiration for this pairing dates back to the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, in which the iconic Marilyn Monroe arrives at her neighbor’s house with a bottle of champagne and a bag of potato chips, and suggests they dip the chips in their champagne. Shoppers can stock their cart with champagne or any sparkling wine and hit up the produce aisle where they can find the ingredients for Side Delights Easy Homemade Potato Chips. The delicious chips are as good for entertaining as they are for snacking on while preparing a seasonal feast. And for those who prefer French Fries over potato chips, Side Delights also offers a healthy alternative to fried fries with its Family Favorite Baked Fries.

Side Delights also took inspiration from the November 2019 issue of San Francisco Magazine, which suggested a pairing of mashed potatoes with Sauvignon Blanc—one that combines the crisp citrus notes of the wine with the buttery richness of the potatoes. A perfect platform for flavors, potatoes offer a range of tastes and applications that go well with any kind of wine. Baked potatoes, with the earthiness of its skin, are an ideal match for earthy red wines with intense minerality. Side Delights recommends Classic Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes to serve this holiday with the aforementioned wines, or any refreshing beverage being served.

For more ways to tie fresh produce in with the holidays, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Side Delights^®