THAILAND – A recent shipment of passion fruit in Thailand had more than just a pulpy inside to display. Earlier this week, authorities uncovered 90,000 methamphetamine pills hidden under the seemingly innocent load of fruit. 

Two men were arrested in Chiang Mai this week after authorities stopped a delivery truck for an inspection. Amongst its other fresh fruit and vegetable inhabitants bound for market, the truck contained three sealed boxes of passion fruit, or saowarot as it is known in Thailand, two of which contained the unsavory addition to its original shipment. 

Split between two boxes, the high number of meth capsules were contained in 21 packages. Authorities stated, according to the Bangkok Post, that the passion fruit shipment was headed to the Talaad Thai, one of the largest fresh produce wholesale markets in its region.

Arrests were made in the passion fruit drug ring with Prasit Raothao, 38, and Singkhon Aryiku, 32, being taken into custody. After searching Raothao’s room, police uncovered more evidence of the crime with empty cardboard boxes, adhesive tape, and a bag containing fresh passion fruit throughout the room.

Both Raothao and Aryiku confessed to having sent at least 10 prior shipments of meth to destinations in Thailand. Each shipment contained around 100,000 meth pills and was hidden in boxes of fresh produce for later distribution.

With this ring halted, where will the criminal underworld pop up in fresh produce shipments next? AndNowUKnow will keep you up-to-date with the latest.

IDAHO FALLS, ID –  Fresh potato and onion provider Potandon Produce announced this week that it is now offering organically grown red and yellow potatoes produced in North Dakota.

“Fresh produce has always been and will continue to be the gateway for organics, and it’s shown steady growth over the last decade,” said Potandon Vice President of Sales, Ralph Schwartz in a company press release. “Almost 13 percent of the produce sold in the United States is now organic—a number which is growing. We’ve watched as organic products, especially produce items have shifted from being a lifestyle choice for a small share of consumers, to mainstream for a majority of Americans.”

While by no means the first organic product to hit the market, Potandon’s new potatoes are the first organic potatoes grown in North Dakota to be marketed for the retail community.

The company’s organic red potatoes are of the Norland and Red Ruby varieties; the organic yellow potatoes are Agatas.

Though the first year’s crop turned out to be smaller than anticipated due to heavy rains, the quality of the product has proven to be excellent. Shipments of the potatoes have only just begun, yet Potandon, confident in the quality of the product and the future of organic produce, has already begun planning increased acreage and expanded variety offerings for next year.  

Check back with us for updates on new organic products as they hit the market.

Potandon Produce

WEST COAST - Californians, even those of us closer to the north end of the state, don’t much count on a white Christmas and certainly not a white Thanksgiving. But weather reports are predicting a series of storms that could have me dreaming about the slopes instead of the dinner table come Turkey Day.

"A series of storms will begin to affect the West during Friday night and continue through at least the middle of next week," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said, with the report noting that these storms could bring the western U.S. the first significant snowfall of the season in some mountains.

While the first storm will mostly be seen by Washington and Oregon, only briefly clipping the north of California, the second promises to hit with more moisture to a wider area.

"This storm will be the coldest of the three, with accumulating snow likely in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada and even in locations farther inland," Adamson said.

Expected on Tuesday, the rain should spread inland into much of the Intermountain West through Wednesday.

Happily, the storms look to be reaching as far as Southern California where moisture is most needed. "Scattered showers may make an appearance in Los Angeles on Wednesday," Adamson said.

Cold air and rain should turn to snow for the Cascades and Sierra Nevada later Tuesday and into Wednesday.

With experts saying that even more storms are likely to hit the West Coast through the rest of November, we may need to keep our umbrellas and snow shoes ready for a real winter, and hopefully more water for California soil.

As we reported recently, October rains saw receding drought numbers in the state but would not be enough to hold if not bolstered by continued precipitation.

We will continue to look to the skies and the soil as we keep you up to date on all the latest fresh produce news.

RIO RICO, AZ - The growth isn’t slowing down anytime soon for SunFed, it seems. The Rio Rico-based company has announced it is expanding its organic produce line, offering new bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, squashes, and melons—all available starting in December.

“We see growth in just about every item, whether it is cucumbers or melons—we become a one-stop shop. Organics keep us on the forefront of growth,” said Craig Slate, Vice President of Sales, North America, SunFed. “It helps us complement conventional core commodities, which in turn helps us add value to current conventional customers and provides an organic solution. All these items are working towards year-round supply, to meet customer and retail demand.”

SunFed says the company is actively looking to grow its business in both the organic sector and beyond. According to a press release, the company will be enhancing its current offerings with the following new organic produce items: 

• Green bell peppers
• Cucumbers
• English cucumbers
• American slicers
• Eggplant
• Grape/Roma/Beefsteak tomatoes
• Standard yellow and green squash
• Melonheads

The company says the introductions are part of its continued effort to meet not only the demand for retail partners, but to simplify organic purchases at the register. SunFed originally introduced an organic band to the line in order to increase profits by providing clarity to both the clerk and the consumer. 

“We have used our organic band now for two years, which has been very well received,” explained Brett Burdsal, Vice President of Marketing, SunFed. “We understand that about 40 percent of organics are mis-rung at the register, resulting in an increase in organics but not necessarily sales of organics. So, to assist our retail partners in addressing this issue while still eliminating touches on the product, we band the organic items here to better clarify to the register that it is organic without breaking the cold chain.” 

Each band contains the name of the product, the PLU, and the scan bar, offering flexible options for retailers, while helping both consumers and cashiers to immediately identify the product as organic, and in turn, helping increase sales. 

SunFed offers its organics in both bulk and smaller pack sizing, as well as in special cases in order to meet the needs of each of its retail partners. 

“First and foremost, we listen to our partners and strive to provide them the perfect solution to their needs,” Craig concluded. “Our post-harvest practices and values are the same across the entire product line, and we are always innovating and adapting to the changing landscape. We recognize that organics is a growth area for everybody and our focus on organics is the same quality as any of our premium produce.”  

All of SunFed’s organic offerings are listed under its registered Perfect Organics®. Those who would like to learn even more about the entire Perfect Produce® line can visit SunFed on line at www.sunfed.net.

SunFed

FOWLER, CA – With winter on the horizon, cold and flu season is fast-approaching.

And while the flu shot might assuage those stabs of panic each time a coworker sneezes, doctors recommend additionally incorporating vitamin- and nutrient-rich foods into one’s diet to help boost immunity. Eating more citrus is a great way to help boost the body’s natural defenses, and Bee Sweet Citrus is hoping to capitalize on the opportunity to deepen consumer ties while promoting wellness.  

“Citrus fruits are amazing because they’re not only delicious, they’re incredibly healthy as well,” said Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Communications Monique Bienvenue. “One medium orange contains about 70 mg of vitamin C, and one half of a grapefruit contains about 40 mg of vitamin C. In fact, eating one whole grapefruit will provide you with the recommended amount of vitamin C for the day.”

The National Institutes of Health recommend a daily intake (RDI) 90 mg and 75 mg of vitamin C for adult men and women, respectively. Vitamin C is water soluble and a powerful antioxidant that fights off free radicals in the body and strengthens the immune system.

“Because vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, it’s important for people to consume foods that contain large amounts of it,” continued Bienvenue. “Fortunately, there’s a plethora of ways for people to consume citrus. Whether it’s incorporating mandarin segments into salads, eating grapefruit as a whole or infusing your favorite citrus variety into a smoothie, there are plenty of creative ways for you to get your daily dose of vitamin C.”   

Bee Sweet Citrus is making it a priority to help consumers stay healthy this winter by offering nutritional information and healthy recipe suggestions on the company’s website and through social media, and of course, by offering shoppers healthy, vitamin-rich citrus products.

For more on Bee Sweet and the health benefits of citrus fruit, check in with AndNowUKnow.

Bee Sweet Citrus

GOODLETTSVILLE, TN – As the discount banner looks to bring its store count up, Dollar General has announced that its store formats may be shifting down. Dollar General plans to debut a new pilot store with a new focus on small format. 

The new concept, bearing the name DGX for now, will open its doors in early 2017 in downtown Nashville, TN. According to PYMNTS.com, the chain is building the pilot to appeal to the busy consumers of bustling metropolitan areas.

DGX will be more reminiscent of a convenience store than a standard Dollar General, and will boast a concise 3,400-square-feet of floor space. The chain is looking to offer typical convenience items, along with a supply of fresh groceries and other household, beauty, electronic, and seasonal items that Dollar General is known for. 

If the pilot is a successful one, Dollar General already stated that it will look to build another DGX in Raleigh, N.C.

This new consumer focused concept is just the latest in a string of strategic moves by the chain as it looks to move further into the competitive buy-side segment.

Dollar General is currently aiming to open 1,900 stores by the end of next year, and a total of 20,000 stores by 2020. Dollar General also scooped up 41 former Walmart locations to sell produce. To support this growth, Dollar General is laying the groundwork for new facilities, and hiring a high number of associates.

PYMNTS.com also speculated that this move towards a smaller store strategy is one that could save the chain additional costs as they move further towards its end expansion goals.

What steps will the banner take next to further its impact? Stay with AndNowUKnow as we keep an eye on all things buy-side.

Dollar General

HOUSTON, TX – As the company further expands its business and reach throughout the globe, Sysco Corp. has just released a lucrative report to adorn its financial history. The company announced in its fiscal first quarter, ending October 1, that its profits rose 33 percent. 

“I am pleased with our first quarter performance which built upon the favorable results we have achieved over the past several quarters,” stated Bill DeLaney, Chief Executive Officer. “We continued to focus on supporting the needs of our customers and achieved strong earnings growth through solid execution in a softening industry environment. We remain committed to achieving our three-year plan financial goals.” 

This period of profitability was due in part to the company’s recent acquisition of U.K.-based distributor Brakes Group. Officially acquired in July, Brakes Group has a reach spanning several countries in the U.K., and was acknowledged by Sysco in a press release to have contributed significantly to the company's rise in financial numbers.

Additional highlights to the company’s financial report saw the following movement, including the company’s recently acquired Brakes business: 

• Sales increased 11.2 percent to $14.0 billion
• Gross profit increased 20.3 percent to $2.7 billion
• Operating income increased 14.9 percent to $567 million
• EPS rose $0.17 to $0.58, or $323.9 million 

The company reported that if Brakes were not to be taken into account, its quarterly sales rose by 1 percent to $12.7 billion. In this same vein, the company’s gross margin increased to 18.5 percent which was noted by the Wall Street Journal to be double the average growth over the previous five quarters.

While the Wall Street Journal also noted that the company’s sales by volume wasn’t as strong as seen in prior quarters, DeLaney was noted as saying during a call with analysts that there are “ebbs and flows in many cycles of economies, and I think we’re going through that right now.”

As companies continue to engage in strategic acquisitions throughout the foodservice and buy-side industry, AndNowUKnow will report on their subsequent impact.  

Sysco

WENATCHEE, WA - As Stemilt Growers comes up on the final days of this season’s Pink Lady® harvest, Communications Manager Brianna Shales took some time to share with me how the harvest has been, what to expect in coming weeks, and what retailers can do to boost those apple purchases in-store.

“We are coming to the end of the 2016 apple harvest, and, luckily, we’ve been benefiting from some warmer weather while we wrap up,” Brianna says, commenting that some rain had delayed picking towards the end of October.

But Mother Nature has since turned things around to produce what looks to be a promising close to one of the earliest apple harvests Stemilt has seen.

“We started picking apples earlier than we ever have before, and are wrapping up right on time. Quality is exceptional, which is always good for driving repeat purchases with consumers,” Brianna tells me. “Fruit sizing is also up this year, giving a lot of room for promotion, especially on bulk.”

Adding to those larger fruits is a brand new bag the grower just launched at Fresh Summit: a 5 lb pouch bag fit for Apple Lovers.

“Our Apple Lovers packs are available in key varieties and ideal for capturing the once-a-week shopper, as well as those people planning for holiday meals that are right around the corner,” Brianna explains, adding that as holiday deals come out on Thanksgiving and Christmas staples, apples should be on the list.

Perfect to pair with those promotions is the company’s There’s an Apple for That merchandising platform, which helps consumers to find the varieties that serve whatever dish they are making best.

“Retailers can create multi-variety ads tying to There’s an Apple for That. Right now is the perfect time to sketch out late winter ads and begin planning for the New Year,” Brianna shares.

To check out There’s an Apple for That yourself, click here.

Stemilt Growers

ARLINGTON, VA - More details about Aldi's planned growth have been revealed, with the company seemingly choosing South New Jersey as a hub for four new planned locations. As the German discounter seeks to take the U.S. by storm with 2,000 proposed locations, Aldi is proposing a bit of a takeover into the increasing competitive Jersey market.  

According to news source Press of Atlantic City, Aldi is planning locations in the following new cities: 

• Middle Township, NJ
• Manahawkin, NJ
• Tom's River, NJ
• Egg Harbor Township, NJ 

The middle township location is set to open on November 17, and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and prize giveaway. The other facilities have no announced opening dates as of yet, but the Manahawkin and Tom’s River locations will hold a hiring event on November 15. 

This new foray into New Jersey may not exactly factor in perfectly with its previously revealed strategies, however. As we reported in October, Aldi seems to be targeting wealthier, suburban areas. Wall Street Journal stated that this strategy marked a shift from Aldi’s previous moves to attract budget-focused consumers, with the company now inching closer towards suburban consumers with spending room for higher end foods, such as organics.

The majority of its recent 500 stores have been opened in large suburban retail centers in middle-income or higher neighborhoods. Aldi currently has about 1,600 locations in 34 states in the U.S. market. Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to grow to nearly 2,000 stores in the country by 2018. 

With analysts scrambling to figure out what Aldi’s main strategy will be as it continues to insert itself into different markets, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the details.

Aldi U.S.

POMPANO BEACH, FL – Seeking to appeal directly to consumers, particularly millennials, Southern Specialties, Inc. announced the launch of a new website highlighting the company’s Southern Selects line of specialty produce.

“We created the Southern Selects brand, in 2001, in response to a single customer’s request,” said Robert Colescott, President and CEO of Southern Specialties, according to a press release. “Today, we are proud to have Southern Selects products on the shelves at many leading retailers and club stores in North America. Our new Southern Selects website is part of our ongoing mission to bring additional value to consumers.”

The new Southern Selects website has a variety of attractive features, showcasing the line's convenient “microwave in minutes” products. Features include:

• High-impact graphics
• Delicious recipes
• Nutritional information
• A blog to help consumers stay abreast of new product developments

Southern Specialties’ fine produce offerings have long been prized by celebrity chefs and fine restaurants. The Southern Selects brand offers restaurant-quality, value-added produce to a wide range of consumers, and the new website is the next step in bringing quality specialty produce to increasingly savvy consumers.  

“Our most recent ad campaign notes Southern Selects products are 'Perfect for today’s fresh generation!'” said Charlie Eagle, VP of Business Development. “We believe our new Southern Selects website will hit the sweet spot for millennials, and others. It too, is ‘Perfect for today’s fresh generation!’”

For more on all things produce, check back with AndNowUKnow.

Southern Selects Southern Specialties