TAMPA BAY, FL - Ever since Aldi made its debut in the United States, the retailer has been working constantly to continue building out its expansion plans. Florida is prime real estate for these plans, given that it has an ample variety of shopping demands and a diverse demographic. So it’s little wonder that the Sunshine State is the spot for more of Aldi’s expanding locations, adding to its already 20 store count in the Tampa Bay Area.

According to Tampa Bay Times, the grocer has filed plans with the city to build the location near the intersection of Highwoods Preserve Parkway and Bruce. B Downs Boulevard. The design of the store will encompass 20,400 square feet. Formerly a Ruby Tuesday restaurant that closed last year, Aldi is asking the city to approve plans to turn the property into the food retailer.

Aldi’s aggressive expansion plans come as no surprise to many as they have made a notable impact over the past few years throughout the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, California—and more often now, Florida. The chain plans to have 2,500 locations by the end of 2022.

The competitive East Coast continues to provide ample hunting ground for those competitive retailers. What steps will Aldi and its fellow retailers take? AndNowUKnow will continue to keep our finger on the pulse of the retail landscape.

Aldi

HUNTS POINT, BRONX, NY - We investigate many cases of produce-related drug smuggling. Would-be Tony Montanas have tried to conceal illicit substances in bananas, jalepeños, and soybeans—and that’s in August alone. But rarely do we get to honor the heroes who intervene and keep our precious fruits and veg pure. Recently, 70 kilograms of cocaine were uncovered in the Bronx, worth an estimated $10 million, hidden among a shipment of rotting fruit. But thankfully, there was one officer who wasn’t fooled by the pungent odor.

According to 1010 WINS, law enforcement became suspicious of the comings and goings of two large trucks at a commercial warehouse—one truck carried a shipping container, and the other was a tractor-trailer with a refrigerated container. Officers proceeded to investigate the vehicles, which was made difficult by the rotting coconuts, papayas, and oregano that filled the containers. However, the officers were aided by one of their more recent recruits.

According to abc7NY, the individual who sniffed out the drugs was none other than Port Authority K-9 Officer Balu. The pupper, a German Shepherd, graduated from the Port Authority Police Canine Unit last year, after 14 weeks of training, where Balu and his fellow cadets learned to identify 18 distinct odors, reported The New York Post. At the most recent drug bust, Balu identified a concealed compartment that had been used to store the cocaine, proving himself to be the goodest of boys and an essential part of his law enforcement team.

Once again, we at ANUK appreciate the dedication and skill of the law enforcement officers that continue to take down produce criminals; and speaking for the entire office, we volunteer to give Balu all the belly rubs he can handle.

WASHINGTON, DC - Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) announced that the year-round sweet corn tray packing company, Rouge River Farms, recently had all of its U.S. operations certified by the organization. Having been the first company on the East Coast to earn an EFI certification, Rouge now journeys onward with nationwide EFI approval under its belt.

“EFI is so much more than an audit. It is a holistic approach that transforms the way workers interact. I have seen how EFI can make a company better,” remarked Margaret Stuart, Senior Compliance Manager. “After the EFI Leadership Team training, I saw an increase in productivity among the workers in our facility. I saw their behaviors and expectations of one another change, and saw that they were taking more pride in their work.”

According to a press release, this marks the 30th certification for EFI, partnering with growers and retailers to create a more transparent chain, safer food, and healthier workplaces. Rouge River Farms’ operates locations in Florida, Georgia, and Virginia, all of which have now met more than 300 rigorous standards to earn EFI certification. An independent assessment conducted by third-party certifier SCS Global Services confirmed the validity of these certifications.

“Through EFI’s workforce development and certification program, Rouge River Farms has demonstrated its commitment to the principles of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices,” stated Bonnie Holman, Sustainability Program Manager in SCS’s Food and Agriculture Division. “Accountability, increased transparency, and responsible labor practices are the guiding principles of the charter, which is why SCS has endorsed this industry-wide effort. Companies like Rouge River Farms should be applauded for its leadership in these arenas.”

Rouge River products feature EFI’s Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured® label, available in select Costco Wholesale locations east of the Mississippi River. Each Rouge River sweet corn purchase made at Costco earns farmworkers a generous bonus. EFI has worked with 21 grower-shipper companies on 64 farm locations, covering 38 produce commodities, and impacting more than 33,000 farmworkers.

What an awesome accomplishment for Rouge River Farms! Stick around at ANUK to see more from the biggest names in produce.

Rouge River Farms EFI

MCLEAN, VA - Gladstone Land Corporation continues to make farmland available to growers through its most recent acquisition. According to a press release, the company just gained control of a 413-acre plot of land within California’s Oxnard Plain. When the land sold, two unrelated third-party tenants entered lease agreements to operate the property. While the seller plans to continue using the land for its sod business, a local berry grower will lease the remainder of the property.

“This was a rare opportunity,” said David Gladstone, President and CEO. “This farm was operated by a single family for many generations. It’s a wonderful farm located in the heart of the Oxnard Plain, a superior growing region of California. We have several excellent tenants who are long-time farming families in this growing area. The company continues to build a diverse portfolio of farmland focused on healthy foods, such as fresh produce and nuts. Acquisitions like this demonstrate our business strategy of buying high-quality farms that provide steady rental income that is used to pay dividends to stockholders.”

Gladstone capitalizes on the fact that everything in the industry is connected on some level. From growers who rent the property to stockholders supporting the operation, the company jumped at the opportunity to continue its service, acquiring land in a prime growing region.

“Opportunities to acquire large coastal California farmland do not come along very often, and we feel very fortunate to have been able to complete this transaction,” said Bill Reiman, Managing Director. “We had been in discussions with the seller of this property for several years, and only recently were we able to come to terms on an agreement that fulfills all parties’ goals. This property is in a prime location, and we look forward to being stewards of this large farm for many years.”

Congratulations to Gladstone on this exciting new venture! AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the evolving state of the industry.

Gladstone Land

FRESNO, CA - Mandarins have been growing in popularity, rising up the ranks of the citrus category to take their place as one of consumers’ favorite peelable snacks. Fowler Packing Company is leaning into the demand for this tiny citrus with the launch of its new California mandarin brand, Peelz™, its first-ever branded mandarin to hit the market.

“We could not be prouder to launch Peelz today,” said Justin Parnagian, CEO. “Our 70-year farming operation was built on true partnerships with retailers and our family’s commitment to delivering quality, consistency, and flexibility. We are excited to extend that offering with Peelz California mandarins.”

Peelz will be sold in one-, two-, three-, and five-pound pack configurations, starting at the beginning of the California mandarin season in November. Fowler Packing has represented significant volume in the category for nearly 20 years, according to a press release. Now, the company will offer its mandarins direct to retailers under its new Peelz label, joining Fowler Packing’s well-known Samsons™ table grapes.

The new label is backed with an energetic marketing campaign launch that focuses on product trial through targeted demos, digital campaigns, displays, and giveaways while supporting the individual retailer’s needs. The campaign is spearheaded by Sean Nelsen, who recently joined Fowler Packing as VP of Sales and Marketing. In the few short weeks he has been with the company, he has assembled an impressive team with more than 50 years of combined sales and marketing experience.

For more fresh produce news, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Fowler Packing Company

FRESNO, CA - In the world of produce, we obviously want consumers to make fresh fruits and veg their go-to snack, but this captures just a portion of the market, and we want the whole enchilada, as they say. It is up to growers, producers, and retailers to expand consumers’ minds and plant the seeds for a wide world of produce applications. When planning campaigns to drive up consumption and sales, companies are turning to culinary experts who understand the nuances and many uses for fresh produce. Roger Mooking is one such chef who most recently was tapped by the California Table Grape Commission to elevate the humble grape to a position of epicurean honor.

“I'm trying to introduce new ways of utilizing grapes. Everybody snacks on grapes, but as a fresh, light ingredient, we're highlighting different ways to incorporate them into recipes,” he told me. “I created some recipes where you can grill with grapes—like the Chicken Grape Skewers with White Grape BBQ Sauce. We also came up with other recipes, like a tapas dish with Aromatic Marcona Almonds and California Grapes, as well as a Chipotle Pork Taco with California Grape Salsa, to name a few. We want to show people that you can do all the traditional things with grapes, but also incorporate them into savory recipes or grilling in really interesting ways that make sense and that are tasty, with a unique, but familiar pop of flavor.”

Roger is a chef, restaurateur, television host, cookbook author, and Juno (Canadian Grammy) award-winning musician—but that’s a mouthful, so I’ll just call him an all-around Renaissance man. Trinidad-born and Canadian-raised, Roger brings an eclectic and global mindset to all he does, whether it’s cooking, hosting, or recording music. He has made appearances on The Today Show, Iron Chef, Top Chef Canada, Good Morning America, Guy’s Grocery Games, and as a judge on Chopped (where he also won the All-Star Chopped celebrity chef episode). When he’s not gracing our screens or dropping mad beats, he is in the kitchen, cultivating culinary masterpieces.

Bringing his fresh outlook on food and love of produce to his partnership with the California Table Grape Commission, Roger promotes California table grapes in a way that brings fresh inspiration to consumers.

“I eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and herbs of all kinds, and I'm always experimenting with recipes. I also eat tons of grapes—so when this came along it was a natural fit for me,” he said. “I wanted to come up with cool, inventive recipes that use grapes in a way that people haven't seen before, while still being familiar and approachable. I like the challenge of that.”

In this partnership, Roger has contributed three new recipes to the Commission’s online recipe portfolio, paired with an extensive media campaign including a press push regarding his involvement with grapes and a satellite media tour with the Commission. The campaign has already seen a positive response with consumers whose minds are blown by the many uses for grapes. The introduction of alternate applications is key—when consumers can think of more ways to use a produce item, it broadens the methods for consumption, which in turn, drives up volume and sales.

What really struck me when I spoke with Roger, was the way he waxed poetic about cooking with grapes. He can recall the, shall we say, “retro” ways that grapes have been used in the past—marshmallow grape salad was what came to his mind first. But that’s not the path he wishes to go down. Sure, grapes fit well in the dessert category of uses, but it’s the savory applications that most people don’t think of on their own.

“Grapes take on a different character when you cook or grill them because they blister in the heat. They still hold their integrity, but the natural sugars become more highly concentrated. So, you still get that burst, the pop, and the cracks on the skin—like it was a sausage casing—but then you get a super sweet concentrated flavor because it developed in the sugars by cooking it,” Roger commented.

The California Table Grape Commission’s website is packed with inventive recipes for both savory and sweet grape-centric dishes, and with a media campaign to drive consumer interest, the table grape category is undeniably on the rise—no wonder Roger felt inspired to throw his chef’s hat in the ring.

To view all of these inventive recipes, head to the California Table Grape Commission's recipe database here.

For more news on category trends and strategies, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

California Table Grape Commission

IRVINE, CA - Good morning, AndNowUKnow readers!

While nothing is for sure in regard to Dorian, 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.

NORTH CAROLINA WATERMELONS TO SEE BRUNT OF STORM

As of today, per the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center, the heaviest rainfall from Dorian will fall on the coastal plains of North Carolina this Thursday.

The city of Seven Springs is anticipated to receive 6.00” of rain. Clinton will see 5.00+” and Fayetteville will see 2.50+” of rain. Winds are anticipated to be upwards of 30 mph on Thursday for the region.

This region of North Carolina is a large producer of watermelons this time of year. As we have seen with this storm, things can change from one day to the next so trying to anticipate what will actually happen on Thursday is only an educated guess at this point.

FLORIDA AND SOUTHERN GEORGIA WILL BE SPARED

As of today, there is no heavy rain or wind forecast for the main Fall growing regions of Florida or Georgia. In fact, there is only sunny skies anticipated for eastern and northern Florida as well as Southeastern Georgia.

VIRGINIAN TOMATOES TO SEE MODERATE RAIN

As of today, the tomato growing regions of Hanover and Onley, Virginia, will see approximately 2.00” of rain on Thursday and Friday. They are also anticipating winds around 30 mph on Friday.

NOTHING IS FOR SURE

As we have seen, current predictions with Dorian have changed dramatically to what was forecasted only last Friday. What we are presenting today is the latest info we have but there is no certainty as to who will actually see heavy rain totals and who will not. We will have a recap for you on Friday.

Thank you as always! We will be back later this week with another report.

Weathermelon

SOUTHEAST U.S. - Millions living along the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina were forced to evacuate over the holiday weekend as Hurricane Dorian made its way toward the Southeast of the U.S. 

Dorian developed into a Category 5 over the weekend, bringing devastation to the Bahamas into Monday morning before being reported to slowly head toward the States. 

“North Carolina has endured flooding from two strong hurricanes in less than three years,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement. “Now is the time to prepare for Dorian. To the people of North Carolina, particularly those still recovering in the eastern part of our state, we are working hard to prepare and we are with you.”

Some of Florida’s coastal residents were among the first in America to evacuate. According to initial estimates from the Red Cross, over 13,000 homes have been destroyed in the Bahamas from Dorian. AccuWeather reported that officials are working to prepare residents for similar extreme damage on coastal cities of the southeastern U.S.

President Donald Trump originally had a planned trip to Poland that he has since opted to send Vice President Mike Pence to instead so he can be in the country when the system makes landfall. 

"We just got off a video conference call with President Trump and the FEMA folks, governors McMaster [South Carolina], Cooper, DeSantis [Florida] and I about the path of the hurricane and the preparations,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a video posted to Twitter on Sunday. “It’s still a massive storm and still heading our way. We’re hoping it’s going to turn north, but we need folks to remain vigilant and flexible. We will certainly keep you updated over the next 12 to 24 hours.”

With Dorian’s path still uncertain as we head into midweek, AndNowUKnow’s thoughts are with those affected as we hope for the hurricane’s quick abatement.

WASHINGTON, DC - If the global political climate, existing and potential tariffs, and an idea of what 2020 holds weren’t enough motivation to attend 2019’s Washington Conference, United Fresh just threw another log on the proverbial fire. The association revealed that the industry will get to hear directly from Sonny Perdue as the U.S.’ Secretary of Agriculture appears as a keynote speaker.

“United Fresh is thrilled to further build our relationship with Secretary Perdue as he headlines our advocacy conference this September,” said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “His experience working within the Administration and with Congress positions Secretary Perdue to deliver unique insights to our attendees and to the fresh produce industry overall.”

Perdue will keynote the conference’s General Session Breakfast, Wednesday morning, September 18, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Washington, DC’s Grand Hyatt. According to a press release, he will address the key issues facing the produce industry, from immigration reform and the need for a stable, legal workforce, to expanding fresh produce access for all Americans.

Attending the General Session Breakfast requires a United Fresh Washington Conference registration. If you have not yet registered for United Fresh Washington Conference, which takes place September 16-18, click here to start making your plans to attend.

In addition to this big news, other new events are being introduced at this year’s conference to help prepare attendees for successful meetings on Capitol Hill.

Perdue became the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture on April 25, 2017, bringing a versatile background that included having been:

• a former farmer
• an agribusinessman
• a veterinarian
• a state legislator
• Governor of Georgia

Perdue recognizes that agriculture is an issue and industry which cuts across political party boundaries, having grown up in Georgia where agriculture is the leading economic driver. According to United Fresh, he recognizes that the size, scope, and diversity of America’s agricultural sector requires reaching across the aisle so that “partisanship doesn’t get in the way of good solutions for American farmers, ranchers, and consumers.”

This year is shaping up to be a cannot-miss conference, so get in on those last-minute travel savings and hear for yourself what one of America’s leaders in present-day ag has to share.

United Fresh

BRONX, NY - I think it’s every foodie’s dream to recreate their favorite products. My dad brews his own beer, but his mini-vineyard out front has yet to produce fine wine like that of Musto Wine Grape Company in Hartford, Connecticut. Consumers like my dad are one of the many reasons this distributor has partnered with D’Arrigo New York of the Hunts Point Produce Market in Bronx, New York, to provide access to the best grapes, juices, equipment, supplies, and knowledge available.

"We are very excited to embark on this new partnership. Our families have known each other for some time and we share not only a love for agriculture but a love for family and tradition," said Gabriela D’Arrigo, Vice President of Marketing and Communications.

To provide these offerings, Musto draws from its 100+ acres of vineyard in the Suisan Valley in California. Aside from its own harvest, the company sources wine grapes and juice from the best wine growers found throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, South Africa, and Chile. Now that the two are partners, these growers will benefit from the hands-on approach of two well-run family businesses who share a demand for perfection.

The partnership combines 50 years of winemaking expertise from Musto and 70 years of fruit and vegetable farming, distribution, and marketing from D’Arrigo, taking all of their offerings to the next level. D’Arrigo will have access to everything from wooden barrels to analytical services for lab testing wine, making its mission to offer winemaking kits and classes a small feat. I think it’s safe to say you can sign my dad up for all of the above.

Products and services offered by the partnership include:

• Fresh wine grapes and wine juices
• Winemaking kits
• Winemaking equipment
• Winemaking cleaning, fermentation, and aging supplies

Congratulations to both Musto and D'Arrigo on this unique partnership!

D'Arrigo New York Musto Wine Grape Company