LEAMINGTON, ON - Change is in the air for Pure Flavor, with an eye on growth both within the company and throughout the evolving produce program as a whole. To kick off 2017, Pure Flavor hit the ground running with a ground breaking early this year, on a new office expansion at its Leamington headquarters.

Matt Mastronardi, Chief Marketing Officer, joins me to dish on all things Pure Flavor and to pull back the curtain on the exciting times for the greenhouse innovator.

“The latest office expansion at our headquarters will be bringing the company's footprint to approximately double its size.” Matt shares, “At our recently expanded greenhouse in Canada, we will be adding additional R&D growing zones, all in an effort to continue to enhance what we currently offer our customers and to test new crops/varieties that aren’t available yet in our industry. To accompany our growing R&D, a section of the office expansion will be dedicated solely to market research and product development, with the focus on creating more environmentally friendly packaging, packaging that will enhance shelf-life and consumer experiences, a cooking area to help provide new ideas for the culinary artist, and much more.”

The newfound space has a combination of private offices, cubic sections, open floor plans, and quiet spaces where the Pure Flavor team can cultivate collaboration. With this project, the team will create 20 new full time positions in total.

When I ask Matt, what motivated Pure Flavor to take on this new project, he tells me that the company has been experiencing rapid double-digit growth for several years, which reflects an increase in opportunities for our businesses. This means making more room for current employees working at the headquarters and laying the foundation to future support growth and expansions.

“The newfound space will also prompt the company’s new rebranding initiatives that stimulate the Pure Flavor’s forward-thinking mindset, creative lifestyle, and core values without barriers.” Matt adds, “In preparation for future growth, we intend to provide a paid internship program with the nearby post-secondary education institute to empower the next generation to enter the produce industry.”

Congrats, Pure Flavor, on an exciting year ahead. And as a little teaser for next time, stay tuned for even more news from the Pure Flavor team!

Pure Flavor

SEATTLE, WA - As Amazon continues to seek a firmer foothold in grocery and other retail sectors, its Fresh arm has announced an expansion into the South Florida market.

Bringing delivery of several perishable departments, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood, baked goods, dairy products, prepared meals, and a number of other items, distribution is stemming from the company’s Miami-Dade warehouse, according to the Sun Sentinel.

AmazonFresh’s delivery service is now available exclusively to its Prime members with a $40 minimum order requirement in the following Florida cities:

• Fort Lauderdale
• Hollywood
• Miramar
• Miami Gardens
• Coral Gables
• Hialeah
• Westchester
• Kendall

The company touts a wide selection of organics, daily specials, and deals; the news source reports, for example, a 3-pound bag of Granny Smith apples priced at $5.07, a dozen cage-free eggs at $2.71, and a gallon of organic milk for $6.99.

Customers can expect evening deliveries for early morning orders, as well as next morning deliveries for evening orders.

Amazon Prime members can shop and schedule delivery off its free app or on desktop computers. Its membership is currently priced at an additional $99 a year, or $14.99 per month, for Fresh, on top of an Amazon Prime membership–currently $99 a year or $10.99 a month.

This is the latest from the Amazon umbrella in a series of strategic delivery and transport announcements. Previously we reported the e-commerce giant’s plans for investing in its own air cargo hub, as well as interest in sea transport and logistics.

AndNowUKnow will continue to follow this and other retail moves in the industry.

AmazonFresh

LOS ALAMITOS, CA - As we edge closer to this year’s Southern Exposure in Orlando, Florida, Frieda’s Specialty Produce is extending an invitation to its “Frieda’s School of Purple Magic” Preview Day.

“Purple produce is a major 2017 food trend, and no one knows purple like we do. After all, we have been working with our clients on ‘Power of Purple’ since 2013,” said Karen Caplan, most days the company’s President and CEO, but this weekend the Headmistress of Frieda’s School of Purple Magic.

Supporting the “Magic in Produce” theme of 2017, Frieda’s invites attendees to activities at booth #620 on Saturday, March 11, according to a press release.

“Shoppers really respond to a big, bountiful purple destination display. National media is buzzing with purple produce trends this year, featured everywhere from NBC’s TODAY show to Consumer Reports,” Karen continued. “Retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice providers must take advantage of this hot trend.”

Those interested in being students to this event, which includes discovering top selling purple produce like Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and other trending specialty fruits and vegetables at the booth, can call Frieda’s “admission officers.”

Happy learning and magic making!

Frieda's Specialty Produce

UNITED STATES - Picture a vibrant head of lettuce on a pure white plate. Normally, its fate would become fancifully dressed with dressing and blue cheese crumbles for a wedge salad, or perhaps some other aesthetically-driven plate. Instead, hurried hands grab it as the entire head is consumed as quickly as possible.

Such is the fate of lettuce heads procured for a new craze sweeping the nation’s college youths; the Lettuce Club. Members convene to rapturously eat their leafy greens the fastest in order to be crowned as the next Head of Lettuce. And, as the video below shows you, this is no tame thing. 

Strategy prevails at these competitions, with voices, emotions, and adrenaline running high. Thus far, Refinery29 reported, the craze has spread to the University of Maryland where the video was taken. The three rules of the esteemed leafy green are as follows:

• 1. Bring your own lettuce
• 2. First person to finish their head of lettuce wins
• 3. Winner becomes leader of the club and sets up next meeting

The Maine School of Science and Mathematics also picked up the competition, making the rules harsher; banning competitors from future contests if they took too long to consume their green goods. 

Refinery29 stated that the competitive league is spreading, as dozens more Lettuce Clubs have laid roots throughout U.S. colleges thanks to the graces of social media.

Never seen a group of college kids go wild over a lettuce head contest? Me either, but as the trend spreads AndNowUKnow will be sure to break the good, leafy news.

CINCINATTI, OH - More growth is in the cards for the ever-expanding Kroger Co. The company has revealed it is developing a $60 million distribution center in Greater Cincinnati. 

“More than 8.5 million customers shop in our stores every day and our goal is to always have our shelves stocked with the variety and selection our shoppers want,” said Frank Bruni, Kroger’s Vice President of Supply Chain and Logistics in an article by the Cincinnati Business Courier. “The new facility will help our logistics team to improve lead times and drive efficiencies for our stores and ultimately our customers.”

According to the source, Kroger purchased the facility from VanTrust Real Estate LLC for nearly $34 million, with plans to invest another $26 million in developing the building into a 674,000-square-foot distribution center. The company said it will use the facility as “a replenishment center,” servicing the company’s direct-to-store distribution centers across the eastern half of the country, and expects it to house 100 jobs. 

Gary Moore, Judge-Executive of Boone County, called the new facility an “impressive investment” that “will have a positive ripple effect throughout Northern Kentucky.” Kroger employs 20,000 workers in the region. Nationwide, the company employs 443,000 associates at nearly 2,800 supermarkets. 

Want more info on the latest headline-grabbing retail moves? Keep catching up with AndNowUKnow.

Kroger

WATSONVILLE, CA – Monterey Mushrooms is packing up and heading to Natural Products Expo West—with new products to debut.

The mushroom provider will show a variety of new products at the expo, held March 10 through 12 in Anaheim—new products like mushroom powder, GrillaBella mushroom burger patties, and two flavorful new varieties of marinated mushrooms.

“Consumer demand for meat alternatives is growing; our GrillaBella line is the first meal alternative with natural vitamin D,” said Marketing Specialist Lindsey Roberts in a company press release. Roberts noted that the new GrillaBella mushroom burger patties are packed with protein, fiber, vitamin D, and minerals—and are fully-cooked and ready to heat and serve.

The company will also debut a flavorful and nutrient-rich mushroom powder. A good source of vitamin D2, Monterey Mushroom’s new powder can add an earthy, umami richness to soups, and sauces, and even breakfast cereal and smoothies. Available in both organic and conventional forms, the product is heat-stable, maintains its nutritional value when cooked, and is an easy and natural addition to enrich the wholesomeness of nearly any meal.

Additionally, the company plans to introduce two new marinated mushroom flavors—garlic and teriyaki—in both conventional and organic forms, notes Roberts.

The marinated mushroom will be featured in recipe sample at the company’s booth #1043, throughout the three-day expo—along with breakfast sausage patties in the morning, burgers, and meatballs in the afternoon—all made from GrillaBella patties.

For more on Natural Products Expo, Monterey Mushroom, and other important events and outstanding companies in our industry, check in with us at AndNowUKnow.

Monterey Mushrooms

WAPAKONETA, OH - Why not Ohio. That was one of my biggest takeaways from Red Sun Farms’ recent Ohio facility open house, as the team prepares to begin picking its first crop of greenhouse-grown fresh produce for the state and surrounding areas. And “Ohio Proud” only scratches the surface of the program, which taps into the company’s commitment to the Ohio community, its economy, and beyond.

The afternoon’s line-up was a host of individuals across the board from PMA’s CEO Cathy Burns, and Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture to Red Sun’s own President Jim DiMenna and Vice President of Golden Fresh Farms Ohio facility, Paul J. Mastronardi. The day wrapped up with ribbon cutting, attended by friends, industry members, local and national news outlets, and local officials to the pleasure of all.

“This vision and journey began in January of 2015. It was a new year, and we begged the question ‘where do we go from here?’” Paul J. Mastronardi, Co-Owner of the project shared as he addressed the hundreds of attendees in the crowd. “After exploring many different states, it was clear within the first month of dealing with JobsOhio that Ohio was the state we wanted to be partnered with. It is incredible to experience a level of support and commitment that these shoulders carried throughout the entire process.”

So, let me walk you through the expanse of this first step in Ohio. Phase 1 of the new facility features 19 acres of greenhouse along with a 23,500-square-foot distribution center in which Red Sun is growing beefsteak, TOV, and cocktail tomatoes. In January of 2017, Red Sun introduced 200,000 plants to the project’s state-of-the-art facility with technology to lower energy costs and increase production in the growing season.

“This new facility is just one more testament to our constant innovation and promise to bring a premium product to market. Ohio has proven to be great community, state, and economy in which to grow the Red Sun brand and vision,” Red Sun Farms Owner Jamie Mastronardi tells me as we stroll through Phase 1 after the ribbon-cutting. “We can essentially create a sunny day in May every day of our growing season with the high-pressure, sodium supplemental lighting. Our ability to offer our retail partners unparalleled quality and flavor year-round is what truly sets us apart.”

This project is really just the beginning for Red Sun’s Ohio program as the team’s ability to expand and diversify their offerings is already built into the blueprint of its vision.

What could the near future hold for Red Sun’s Ohio portfolio? Potentially organics, the team tells me, as they give me a peek behind the curtain of future growth. All segments of retail have seen a heightened demand for organics, from big box stores and national chains to independents, regional, and mom and pop stores.

And as always, it all comes back to Red Sun’s commitment to quality, the care and value they bring to retail partners, the connection to the community, and most importantly the impact on the environment.

“We have been addressing our impact on the environment for years. You have to take action and be sustainable for the future. For us it has always been a choice, not an obligation,” Louis Chibante, Owner of Golden Fresh Farms shares with me. “We have high-tech water and fertilizer recycling systems in place to help reduce our environmental impact, and the facility uses 90% less water than most farming operations while producing as much as a field operation 20 times this size could.”

The location is also equipped to provide fresh greenhouse produce anywhere within a 10-hour transport radius.

It is an exciting time at Red Sun Farms, and the leadership aren’t the only ones feeling the joy that comes with such success.

As Cathy Burns shared as she stood at the podium for her chance to speak to attendees, both Red Sun and Golden Fresh Farms commitment to giving back to the communities in which they operate, is one of the most important pillars they have built their program around.

“Developing partnerships with customers, communities, and employees is, after all, in their vision,” she shared. “From supporting food banks with fresh produce donations to helping ensure that at-risk teenagers graduate from high school and then move on to post-secondary education programs, they firmly believe in supporting the community.”

As Cathy spoke to the crowd, she smiled and said that as she was walking around the operation that afternoon, she ran into four or five employees that worked at the Red Sun and Golden Fresh Farms facility and every single one of them smiled.

“You can’t fake that,” she said. “So what Paul and Louis and the team here have built, and the culture they have created here…was felt in the faces and the pride of each of the associates I came into contact with.”

That is truly a wonderful compliment to be given.

To the team behind Red Sun and Golden Fresh Farms, congratulations on this latest evolution and achievement. I imagine the next great feat is much closer on the horizon than we think.

Red Sun Farms

WENATCHEE, WA – Consumers have been making apples a focus through these colder months, it seems. Stemilt Growers has released its latest Fruit Tracker Fast Facts video analysis with apple category sales for 2017, paired with Nielsen retail scan data in comparison to the same time period from 2016. 

“For the second consecutive month, the Central region topped national performance with 7.6 percent of produce sales coming from apples. This was up 0.1 percent from January 2016. With a large apple crop to move, it’s important that retailers across all regions model the performance of the Central region and continue to push apples with promotions as spring arrives,” said Brianna Shales, Communications Manager.

According to Fruit Tracker data, the Central region was the exception, when data showed both national and regional apples as flat when compared to January 2016. The data also showed that apple sales made up 6.8 percent of total produce department sales in January 2017 throughout the nation. 

The company noted in a press release that, of apple sales across the U.S., 11.5 percent of those in January were of Honeycrisp apples. These sales were up 2.8 percent from the same time period in the year prior. The average retail price per pound of Honeycrisp apples dipped $0.55 year-over-year, but still averaged a whipping $2.82 per pound. Stemilt stated that each year, supplies and the season length continue to climb across U.S. growing regions. 

Also in January 2017, 60.7 percent of apples were sold bulk, while the remaining 39.8 percent were sold as bags. Stemilt stated that 3 and 5 lb bag sizes seized most of the bagged apple sales, with a combined 81.8 percent of bags sold coming from one of those sizes.

“There are many club varieties for retailers, and consumers, to choose from now. Our signature apple variety, Piñata®, has been on the market since 2009 and has reached a point where supplies are steady year-over-year. The late winter and spring months are prime time for selling Piñata® along with its tropical theme, and so now is a great time to use this special apple to spark apple sales,” said Shales. 

When looking at club apple varieties with its scan data, Stemilt noted that the following numbers for some of its star apples in comparison to 2016: 

• Jazz: Average retail price increased 14.5 percent, sold 13.4 percent less volume.
• Piñata®: Sold equal volume, retail price increased 2 percent.
• Envy: Volume increased 33.8 percent, retail price increased 2.1 percent. 

“Bulk remains the primary dollar and volume driver to the apple category, and because of this should remain the primary feature in promotions. However, using three and five pound bags as secondary or in-and-out promotions is a great way to drive up the consumer purchase size. Stemilt’s bag line-up includes 3lb. Lil Snappers® kid-sized fruits and 5lb. Apple Lover pouch bags, both of which help retailers segment the apple category, while marketing intent to consumers. These options are ideal for upcoming promotions,” said Shales.

Stemilt noted that the timeframe of January’s scan data also showed the period as an important one for several up-and-coming varieties. 

What's next for Stemilt and apple sales? Stick with AndNowUKnow to find out.

Stemilt Growers

CALIFORNIA - While the snowpack bursts with needed precipitation, there seem to be other areas that California’s long-awaited wet winter has caused turmoil. With flooding and infrastructure prompting need for repair, it looks like the state could be facing up to $50 billion in mending.

This includes roads, dams, and other structures affected by the elements.

John Laird, California Natural Resources Secretary, said proposals by Governor Jerry Brown for $387 million for flood control and emergency response were “an important start” but fall far short of the amount needed to address flood projects statewide, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

The official recently testified at a senate hearing that the state is experiencing what is likely its wettest year ever, with severe winter storms bringing torrential rain and significant snow after five years of drought.

As we have previously reported, the onslaught of needed rain has brought with it damage to the Oroville Dam that necessitated evacuations in the region, as well as an estimated $600 million in highway damages.

Following numerous storms of heavy rain, water managers employed the emergency spillway for the first time in the dam’s 48 years. Likewise, we recently saw that California’s snowpack nears breaking a three-decade-long record and that the regions out of drought are the highest they’s been in years.

As the state adjusts to the shift in Mother Nature, and the costs and benefits of those changes, AndNowUKnow will continue to report the latest.

HOUSTON, TX – Sysco Corporation announced last week that Anita Zielinski will join the company as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Zielinski’s appointment will take effect April 3, 2017.

"We are pleased to have Anita join Sysco and bring her extensive experience in financial accounting and reporting, internal controls, and compliance with GAAP and IFRS," said Joel Grade, Sysco's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “Her vast knowledge of technical and complex accounting matters, including working with large public multinational companies and her strong analytical and managerial skills, make her well-suited to join our finance leadership team.”

Zielinski joins the company from Houston-based Ernst & Young’s Assurance, where she served for 20 years, eventually being promoted to partner in 2013. She has extensive experience working with Sysco as a client, as well as other large and mid-sized companies in a number of industries—including distribution, real estate, transportation, and manufacturing.

As Chief Accounting Officer, Zielinski will oversee all accounting functions and be responsible for financial accounting and reporting, accounting policy, tax compliance and strategy, and internal controls. Zielinski will also act as key liaison to external auditing firms.

Zielinski earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

We here at AndNowUKnow congratulate Zielinski on her new appointment and wish her the best in her new endeavors. 

Sysco