MIAMI, FL – As the demand for Dave’s Specialty Imports products and expertise continues to increase, the company has announced the appointment of three new employees to bolster its forces. Dave’s has added Eduardo Iruela, Vincent Ferrante, and Erica Smith to its team members. 

“The successful growth of our company is dependent on the right people in the right places. We have grown and changed a lot over the years but we are doing our best to stay true to the values and business ethics that my Dad founded this company with. We have a great team that is really working hard, and I think it can only get better,” said Mike Bowe, President of Dave’s. 

Eduardo Iruela was hired by Dave’s over the summer, and has brought over 20 years of produce experience to the company. As a new member of the sales team, Eduardo has already helped Dave’s cultivate stronger partnerships with key retailers and wholesalers. According to a press release, Eduardo’s proficiency with categories such as asparagus, berries, peas, and other specialty items made him a perfect fit for the company.

“Ed has a personality that just radiates. He is genuine and experienced and he has been a wonderful addition to the team,” commented Leslie Simmons, Vice President. 

Vincent Ferrante was appointed as Dave’s new Vice President of Business Development in late October of this year. “It’s good to be back on the berry side of the produce business, and to be a part of a growing company with great grower partners,” he stated.

Vincent has seasoned produce experience in new business development, agriculture, operations, and management. Vincent’s versatile role will encompass retail and wholesale relations, in addition to outreach for domestic growing partners of Dave’s.

Dave’s most recent hire also sees another member of the family business joining up in its ranks. Erica Smith will be the third granddaughter of Founder Dave Bowe to join the business, joining Leslie Simmons and Jennifer Alessandrini. Erica will focus on sales administration and operational support at Dave’s. Erica possesses a BS in Business Administration, and is coming to produce after 7 years working at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

As Dave’s continues to ramp up growth both inside its company and in consumers’ baskets, keep up with AndNowUKnow for the latest.

Dave's Specialty Imports

LOS ANGELES, CA - Those who tune into global TV show Worldwide Business with kathy ireland® are about to see a familiar face from the produce industry. IFCO CEO Wolfgang Orgeldinger will join the famous host to talk about smart, reusable packaging systems. 

When asked to explain why he thinks IFCO’s customers choose to work with the company, Orgeldinger shared, "I think, first of all it's because we get the basics right by providing an excellent service and making sure that we are a truly customer-centric organization. All of our employees think of what the customer needs. Beyond that, we can bring value to customers that none of our competitors can, because we are the global leader in the segment.”

A leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh food products, IFCO operates in over 50 countries with 270 million RPCs. The Munich, Germany-headquartered company was founded in 1992 and exists under Brambles’ global supply chain solutions group. 

“We have a truly global footprint,” Orgeldinger continued. “We have a very large fleet of containers and 80 service centers around the globe. Combining all of these things, we bring our expertise, more than two decades worth of it, to really help reduce the risk for our customers when it comes to food safety, compliance, sustainability, and social responsibility. That's why our customers choose us.” 

Viewers can watch Orgeldinger as part of Fox Business Network’s sponsored programming on December 4, 2016 at 5:30pm ET, and Bloomberg International at 7:30am GMT, 10:30am CST D.F. and 3:00pm HKT.

“Food safety is a hot topic today, and for good reason,” added JL Haber, Vice President of Programming for Worldwide Business with kathy ireland®. “It's so important that our fresh food delivery is done right. By partnering with leading producers and retailers, IFCO is doing just that. This innovative company works hard every day to create the most cost-effective and sustainable supply chain. We're proud to feature IFCO on our show as they make a positive difference in our world.”

To learn more information about IFCO’s reusable packaging solutions visit IFCO.com, and don’t forget to check out the full interview on Fox Business and Bloomberg next week! 

IFCO

Mississippi Valley - Violent winds on Monday and thunderstorms brewing this morning may signal tornadoes throughout the Mississippi Valley later today. According to AccuWeather, severe storm warnings are in place with damaging winds, localized flash flooding, and isolated tornadoes expected.

"The most likely time for a tornado to spin up will be from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. local time," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson.

Though a lack of humidity limited Monday’s weather to strong gusts of wind, a surge of warm humid air could result in tornadoes and flooding this evening. Risk of tornadoes will extend from central and eastern Louisiana, to western and central Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee—including major cities like Baton Rouge and Monroe in Louisiana, and Jackson and Tupelo in Mississippi.

Tornadoes could touch down for several minutes and the formations may be wrapped in rain, making them more difficult to see. Additionally, much of the dangerous weather is expected to occur after dark, increasing the potential danger.

"As the isolated severe storms move eastward, they will likely form into a squall line," Thompson said. "Once this happens, the main threat will shift from tornadoes to damaging wind gusts on a more regional basis from southeastern Louisiana to Alabama and central Tennessee."

Cities that could be affected by severe storms and flooding overnight include Nashville, New Orleans, and Birmingham, Alabama.

Thompson did note one potential silver lining from this storm front: "While the severe weather and flash flooding threat certainly are not good news, the rain will fall in areas of exceptional drought that have not received much rain during the past few months."

The violent storms over the Mississippi Valley will likely subside throughout Wednesday, though a few localized thunderstorms may spread as far as northern Florida and New York state.

For more on severe weather with the potential to impact our industry, stay current with AndNowUKnow.  

BURLINGTON, WA - With wellness top of mind, health-conscious consumers are exploring hearty, nutritious squash options now more than ever. To help retailers tap into the growing demand, Bay Baby joined me to talk about the squash market, and how to convert the upward trend of the category into shopper dollars.

“Winter squash is continuing to gain popularity, and Delicata and acorn squash are both very popular holiday items,” said Michele Youngquist, Owner of Bay Baby Produce. “And this year, the market is meeting and exceeding expectations.”

According to the company, pricing and volume of squash has remained constant since the crop was harvested in October, and parallels last year's markets. Weather was favorable this year, though there were some slightly cloudy days which ultimately did not impact the market. Yield and quality have both been excellent, thanks to the region’s fertile growing conditions.

So how can retailers harness the demand in the category?

“Work closely with your supplier! Using POS displays, labels, and eye-catching packaging draws in the consumer,” says Michele. “Providing recipes has been an important part of educating the consumer how to eat squash.”

Alongside Bay Baby’s merchandising solutions, buyers looking to share inspiration with customers can start with the Bay Baby website which hosts recipes, such as the acorn stuffed delight, tapping into harvest fall flavors. Bay Baby’s social media platforms, such as Pinterest, also host a wealth of squash-based delight!​​

Bay Baby Produce

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - Mexico’s Popocatépetl volcano, also known as El Popo, has rumbled to life once again, this time spewing ash as high as three miles into the air.

As we reported previously, the volcano put locals on alert in late August, when an earthquake triggered a series of 78 low-intensity exhalations.

This time, the explosion reached more than 5 kilometers (about 3.1 miles) above the volcano's crater, according to Nature World News. It was reported that in 24 hours, from Nov 26-27, El Popo surprised locals with 129 incidents of ash columns, three more major explosions, and a 1.8 magnitude tremor.

Mexico's Director of Civil Protection, Luis Felipe Puente, told the news source that the explosion consisted of steam, gas, and ash.

Local authorities warned both locals and tourists to stay away from the areas near the volcano, particularly its crater, with hiking strongly prohibited.

Ash in the air can cause breathing issues, especially for children, elderly, and pre-existing respiratory problems, so those in the area have been warned to use caution.

While ash has also been an issue for transport in the past, most recently shutting down the Mexico City airport last spring when the same volcano had an eruption reaching a little over the height of this one, there have not been any reports that air traffic in the area has been canceled.

CORONA, CA – Receiving a nomination from the city of Corona, CA, itself, Veg-Fresh Farms has been honored as an entrepreneurial leader in the area by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE). On November 15, the company took home the 2016 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Award in the Family Business Category.

“In our almost three decades of business, our offices have been in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and now, Riverside County. Every location has been great to be in, but the Inland Empire truly feels like ‘home’ for Veg-Fresh Farms. We have felt so embraced by the City of Corona since moving here in 2014, and being nominated by them was such an honor,” said Mark Widder, Partner at Veg-Fresh Farms. “We enjoy being part of the community and will continue to be involved as much as we can.”   

According to a press release, the Spirit of the Entrepreneur Award raises awareness of entrepreneurship in the Inland Empire region in Southern California and honors leaders of the sort in the surrounding area. The event was founded and presented by IECE at Cal State San Bernardino’s Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration in a black-tie gala event. 

Veg-Fresh Farms was nominated by Corona in the Family Business category along with two other Corono-based companies, American National Manufacturing and ESL Power Systems, Inc. All company partners went up on stage together to accept the award.

“It felt like a great accomplishment. Being recognized by our peers for the effort we have put toward this business over the last 28 years feels fulfilling and very meaningful,” said Randy Cancellieri, Partner at Veg-Fresh Farms. 

As the event helps to educate and encourage young entrepeneurs at Cal State San Bernardino, Veg-Fresh Farms also contributed to the sponsorship of MBA students entering the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration in 2017. 

During the event, a moment of silence was held to acknowledge the passing of former Stater Bros. Executive Chairman Jack H. Brown, who the College of Business and Public Administration was named after this summer. The school was largely supported by Brown over the years through scholarships and donations.

As entrepreneurs and companies in our industry are recognized for their hardwork and forward-thinking practices, AndNowUKnow will have the latest. 

Veg-Fresh Farms

NORTH CAROLINA - As retail competition continues to get hotter than ever in the United States, it seems as if several retailers are zeroing in on just a few key markets. One such market that is undeniably getting a lot of attention from investors is North Carolina’s Triangle region, or roughly the area between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Over forty new grocery stores are slated for the area in the coming years, including locations from top names such as Walmart, Publix, Wegmans, and more. 

“One reason is just the strength of our economy. The other is just chance and our position on the East Coast, where we happen to be,” explained Charlie Coyne, Director of Retail Services for the Triangle and Triad markets for CBRE-Raleigh, at a NAIOP meeting earlier this month. “One grocery store that starts with a W is moving south, and one grocery store that starts with a P is moving north, and we’re in the crosshairs right now.”

The ‘W’ and ‘P’ that Coyne cryptically refers to, are likely Wegmans and Publix, respectively. Florida-based Publix has already opened three Triangle region stores, and while only four more are confirmed to be in the works more, the Triangle Business Journal reports that this number is likely to grow as the company secures more sites. Wegmans, based in New York, has yet to officially stake its claim in North Carolina, but has confirmed plans for four, 120,000-square-foot prototype locations.

“If you’ve been to a Wegmans, it’s really four stores in one,” Jim Broemer, President of Welcor Development of Raleigh said, according to the Business Journal. “It’s a Panera and a pub attached to a Whole Foods, attached to a Publix, attached to a BJ’s. It’s 35 checkouts. So, they’re going to be kicking at everybody.”

The 42 stores scheduled for the region will likely bring 1.5 million-square-feet of new grocery store space to the competitive market in the next two to four years. That’s almost a 20 percent increase in square footage over the area’s current inventory of 8 million-square-feet of grocery space.

In addition to the large-scale invasions of Wegmans and Publix, new names to the market like Sprouts and Lidl see the Triangle as an opportunity to grow its footprint and marketshare. The Triangle Business Journal also cites behemoths like Target and Walmart, who are planning to add their small format stores in the region. 

As more details on the thriving region are revealed from even more retail interests, AndNowUKnow will update you with the latest.

Walmart Wegmans Target Publix  Lidl US Sprouts Farmers Market

WATSONVILLE, CA - At Driscoll’s, we wanted to know which fruits and veggies have the power to make people happy. So, we conducted a national survey that shows that 85% agree eating berries makes people happy, much more than beets, bananas, kale, and a whole lot of others.

And only one leading brand is trusted the most to bring more berry happiness to humans everywhere–Driscoll’s.

And that’s no surprise to us because we’re serious about happiness. For over 100 years, our joy-makers have been doing the research working with Mother Nature while using natural plant breeding and no GMOs. Fresh, beautiful, delicious. Grown with love by hundreds of farmers all around the world.

The result? Driscoll’s is sharing berry joy and making people smile everywhere. And as we all know, smiles are good for everyone. So take a moment, and take a bite of happiness.

Learn more about the Driscoll’s happiness survey. Driscoll’s, share the berry joy.

Driscoll's

NEW YORK, NY – Well known for bringing exploratory dishes and culinary trends to life through the cinematic spotlight, Anthony Bourdain is now looking to take his entertainment, authorial, and chef reach one step further. Announcing a new documentary film project, the renowned figure will now be bringing the food waste epidemic to the big screen.

“Wasted! The Story of Food Waste” will focus on the issue of wasted food on a global scale, an initiative and concern that has been heading the front of our industry as well. According to Variety, one third or approximately 1.3 billon tons of all man-made food goes to waste instead of being consumed. The issues, numbers, and prospective causes which associated with the initiative will be covered by Bourdain in the piece.

“Food waste is a problem that affects people and the planet, yet food waste is also a problem we can solve,” said Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “‘Wasted! The Story of Food Waste’ will show how everyone can make changes to minimize what we throw away.”

The globally illuminating documentary will be produced by Bourdain and the Rockefeller Foundation. Zero Point Zero Production, from Bourdain’s TV series “The Mind of a Chef,” will also partner on the project. The documentary will be directed by Nari Kye and Anna Chai.

 

Today, Friday, I will be taking over the @Red Instagram account for a #NotSoFoodieFriday in hopes of helping to #86AIDS

A photo posted by anthonybourdain (@anthonybourdain) on May 22, 2015 at 4:40am PDT

Bourdain doesn’t have plans to stop just there, however, as he will call on his worldly chef associates to help divulge on the matter of food waste. Thus far, the following names have been noted as participating in the documentary: 

• Massimo Bottura: Italian restaurateur
• Dan Barber: Chef, Author, and Co-Owner of Blue Hill restaurants 
• Danny Bowien: Co-Founder of Mission Chinese Food

As food waste has become a pressing initiative both nationally and internationally, more noted names have been joining the list to combat wasted food and resources, Bourdain being just the latest. His partner on the project, the Rockefeller Foundation, has also pledged $130 million towards educating consumers and eliminating food waste in addition to supporting the film.

The documentary is currently in production and projected to release as part of film festivals in 2017.

As the project moves forward, and more noted Chef names are released as contributors, AndNowUKnow will have the latest. 

PHILADELPHIA, PA & PIEDMONT, ITALY - One of the world’s priciest auctions took place earlier this month, and instead of affluent art traders gathering for an unearthed Picasso, or antique lovers clamoring for a 15th century armoire, this event saw some of the world’s top chefs going to battle over mere ounces of Alba White Truffle.

At simultaneous events 4,000 miles apart, in both Philadelphia and Piedmont, Italy, the culinary world joined for the 17th annual World Alba White Truffle Charity Auction. Bidders were faced with several truffles ranging in size from almost half a pound to close to one and a half pounds. And with NPR reporting an average price of $458 per shroomy ounce, this auction was certainly no joke.

The real prize of the night, however?  

The Grande Truffle, a more than two and a half pound trove of deliciousness, that had bidders in Philadelphia and Piedmont going head to head via simulcast, scrambling to walk away with the rare gigantic treat.

After a tense cross-ocean throwdown, NPR reports, Dong Zhenxiang, Chef-Owner of world-renowned Da Dong Roast Duck in Beijing, China, won with a winning bid of €105,000, or about $112,000. 

"I think that Americans are fascinated by truffles," says Mauro Carbone, General Manager of Italian tourism company Tu Langhe Roero. "The very thin skin of the truffle is influenced by the soil around it, so no two are the same. When you buy a truffle, it's your truffle. No one else will ever have one just like it."

The much-craved white truffle has had the culinary world enamored for some time now. A mushroom that is grown around tree roots, truffles traditionally cannot be cultivated in a farm environment, and used to be foraged by trained pigs.

NPR likens the white truffle's flavor to garlic, musk, and cabbage, calling for a simplistic, raw preparation. Chefs often shave white truffles over freshly made pasta, or pair with lobster and filet mignon.

"It's a perfect storm for a chef," says Patterson Watkins, Executive Chef for Philadelphia’s Di Bruno Bros. "This is what we all live for." 

This wasn’t all for decadence, however. The National Italian American Foundation used $60,000 of the proceeds to support ongoing earthquake relief efforts following quakes that struck central Italy in August and October.

Will another produce item soon find itself in the $100,000 price range with its own dedicated auction? AndNowUKnow will be the first to let you know the hottest culinary trends.