SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Winter is coming, and with it, big opportunities for boosting fresh potato sales. In the spirit of the season, Fresh Solutions Network is unveiling new winter promotions for Side Delights®, designed to inspire shoppers to purchase potato side dishes with innovative holiday serving ideas.

“Approximately 240 million pounds of potatoes are consumed during Christmas, with potatoes (mashed with gravy) being in the top 15 foods,” explained Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, siting 2013 Pew Research data. “Our winter promotions will continue the momentum through the holiday and the new year when shoppers are seeking easy preparation, warm comfort food, and a delicious potato side dish.”

This three-month winter promotion for Side Delights® uses QR Codes to take shoppers to new recipes, as well as wooing them with visually appetizing merchandisers and point-of-purchase signs that demonstrate the convenience and appeal of tasty potato side dishes.

According to a press release, a few of the new promotions are as follows:

December 

This month’s merchandisers and coordinating point-of-purchase signs focus on providing consumers with the gift of savory potatoes. The “Some Gifts Are On The Table, Not Under The Tree” promotion, uses themed, in-store visuals to celebrate good cheer and good food.

January

This “New Year = No More Boring Dinners” promotion is designed to appeal to shoppers with New Year resolutions on their minds. Fresh Solutions Network will offer creative tips on how to incorporate potatoes in consumers’ resolutions, from everything to losing weight, getting organized, and spending less/saving more. 

February 

For this amorous month, the “Table for 2. Make It Together” promotion will encourage shoppers to prepare potato side dishes together on Valentine’s Day and beyond. The company stated that the quick and easy “Goat Cheese and Chive Potato Stacker” recipe (delivered via QR Code) will create a reason to stay in for the evening, and leave time for enjoying it.

Will this winter season be the most potato-filled yet? Keep following AndNowUKnow as we continue following the season’s hottest eating trends.

Fresh Solutions Network

UNITED STATES - As millions of Americans begin to pack their bags for one of the biggest days of the year for home-cooked meals, Mother Nature is looking to throw a few curve balls.

"The greatest chance of some direct and significant travel impacts through this week and during much of Thanksgiving week will be from the I-70 corridor on north to the Canada border," reported AccuWeather’s Lead Long-Range Meteorologist, Paul Pastelok.

But, regardless of calm weather on either end of travel locations, it seems inclement weather at other airports could displace aircraft and crews, leading to delays or cancellations.

Both air and ground travel could see delays across the board, with a storm pattern that will offer disruptive winds and snow in some areas, and come into the eastern side of the country as early as this weekend.

“The first true blast of much colder air could bring the first snowfall of the season from the Great Lakes to the central Appalachians during Saturday night and into Sunday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity in a recent report.

Potential strong winds will hinder high-profile vehicles on highways, and cause airline delays in some of the nation’s busiest areas, including:

• Chicago
• Detroit
• Pittsburgh
• Washington, DC
• Philadelphia
• New York City

On the West Coast, Sunday night and Monday will see a storm bearing rain for the I-5 corridor that could extend as far as Los Angeles and San Diego.

In the north, it could mean snow for the Intermountain West with some rain over the interior Southwest, including the Phoenix area, late Monday.

"Fog is also a potential threat to ground and air travel with the storm as it pushes from the Midwest to the East spanning Wednesday and Thursday," said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.

By midweek, the delays could extend to travel hubs like:

• Minneapolis
• St. Louis
• Cincinnati
• Nashville
• Atlanta
• New Orleans

Upwards of 48.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more between Wednesday, November 23, to Sunday, November 27, according to the American Automobile Association, making for some of the biggest numbers since 2007.

If either you, or your cargo, plan to be in transit during this busy time, continue to follow developing weather patterns as they may continue to change.

And, from all of us at AndNowUKnow, stay safe as you enjoy the holiday!

DALLAS, TX - DMA Solutions Inc. launched two highly-anticipated marketing tools for produce professionals this week.

The company’s new 2017 Social Media Calendar, available here, is designed to help brands navigate the complex and constantly shifting landscape of social media marketing. The calendar also allows marketers more leisure to plan for, sell more produce, and grow their brands in the coming year. 

“Fresh produce marketers require a certain skill set and strategic mentality to execute effective content necessary to build a brand evangelizing community across multiple social media networks today,” said Dan’l Mackey Almy, President and CEO of DMA Solutions, Inc., in a press release. “Our growing social media team is dedicated to creating useful resources, like the 2017 Social Media Calendar, to help marketers spend less time researching key dates and preparing content on a monthly basis, to give them more time for strategic planning, selling products, and turning the dial on fresh produce consumption.”

This year’s Social Media Calendar offers several new features:

• Social media tips and exclusive articles from DMA’s team of produce-focused social media specialists
• A comprehensive list of dates to capitalize on when planning your social content
• Top forecasted hashtags that can help amplify your reach

Similarly, the company's 2017 Produce Marketer’s Calendar, available here, provides a month-by-month breakdown of industry events, along with helpful tips and information marketers can use to promote their fresh produce brands.

The Produce Marketer’s Calendar includes:

• Conferences and tradeshows related to produce, media, leadership development, influencers, and marketing
• Promotion opportunities, important events, and important holidays
• Helpful tips from the DMA Solutions team addressing the specific needs of fresh produce marketer’s
• Monthly promotional suggestions and inspirational quotes

“Elevating a brand’s awareness to multiple audiences throughout the year takes careful planning to be successful,” added Almy. “Our hope is that the Produce Marketer’s Calendar saves marketers time by providing them with a one-stop- shop resource for the key dates and information that matter most.” 

Both of the company’s calendars launched November 16. Additionally, DMA Solutions offers free marketing consultations to help fresh produce marketers better engage through social media in 2017. 

DMA Solutions

WENATCHEE, WA – Ramping up its presence in the produce department, Stemilt Growers is now making national waves in other consumer realms. The company’s Piñata® apple was recently featured in SHAPE magazine, bolstered by another highlight from MarthaStewart.com.

“Piñata® continues to win people over with its unique flavor profile and incredible eating qualities,” said Brianna Shales, Stemilt Communications Manager. “The feature in SHAPE is exciting, as is the growing distribution of this hit apple. Piñata® apples were displayed in over 7,000 supermarkets in the U.S. last season, and we expect this year to be even bigger for this leading new variety.”

Creating added consumer buzz, Piñata® made an appearance in SHAPE’s “Eat Right” column. According to a press release, the variety was featured in the national publication, reaching 2.5 million consumers, as one of three new varieties to snack on. The Piñata® was chosen for its tropical flavor, which has hints of pineapple and vanilla.

“It’s the best looking and best tasting crop of Piñata® apples that we’ve ever had,” continued Shales. The company’s 2016 harvest of Piñata®’s wrapped in October. “Exceptional fruit quality, finish, and sizing has set the stage for great retail promotions this winter, and the opportunity for the apple to continue to win consumers over.”

A cross between golden Delicious and two European heirloom varieties, Cox’s Orange Pippin and Duchess of Oldenburg, the Piñata® boasts a crisp and juicy bite, high sugar, and high acid. Its thin skin and flesh can withstand cooking temperatures, which makes the variety a great baking and cooking apple for the winter and holiday months.

Likewise, Stemilt’s new digital consumer resource was featured in October on MarthaStewart.com. There’s An Apple for That was named in an article on the website titled “This Site Can Help you Pick the Best Apple Varieties for Fall Baking”. The article tells readers how to use the website as a resource for finding the best apple for any recipe.

“There’s An Apple For That is all about reinventing traditional apple of the month promotions with fun signage focused on calling out the unique qualities of a particular apple variety,” Shales said. “Consumers will be excited to give Fuji a try because it’s the apple for your sweet tooth, or will know to use Granny Smith when baking because of its mouth-watering tartness. The digital component of There’s an Apple For That and the media coverage it's generating in top publications, like MarthaStewart.com, add an unmatched level of support to retailers who merchandise apples through There’s An Apple For That.”

MarthaStewart.com’s article was shared 676 times across social media channels. The website garners 11.4 million unique monthly visits. Stemilt introduced its digital component of There’s An Apple for That earlier this year, and then based its merchandising program around the campaign to further promote an apple of the moth, or multiple varieties of big apple promotions. This merchandising program gives retailers a fresh look with POS signage, display bins, and an apple concierge sampling program.

As companies throughout the industry continue to be recognized on national levels for innovative products and marketing campaigns, AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest.

Stemilt Growers

JALISCO, MX - Consumers could make more than just a spicy guacamole with the “herbs” discovered inside phony avocados by the Attorney General’s Office in a Mexican shipment. A reported 100 kg of marijuana was discovered inside imposter avocados crafted by the drug organization.

The search was part of an ongoing drug investigation into fraudulent fruit used by the criminal group to transport drugs into the United States, according to El Universal. The group made fake avocados to conceal the contraband, then mixed them with real avocados. Additional drugs were discovered inside the centers of pineapple and lettuce.

The seizure was carried out in a late model trailer on a property that was allegedly used as a warehouse for the commission of various crimes.

According to El Universal, the Justice Ministry arrested one person.

What kinds of additional schemes are on the horizon for fresh produce shipments? If the shady crime lords continue with this trend, AndNowUKnow will have more busts coming to your inbox soon.

SALINAS, CA - Affirming its commitment to philanthropy while raising its profile nationally, Mann Packing sponsored bi-coastal events in the last month, benefitting Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County and D.C. Central Kitchen in Washington, D.C., doing good for communities across the nation while promoting Mann’s Tenderbite Green Beans.

“Giving back to the community is a huge part of who we are as a company, especially when we can support organizations that are important to our customers,” said Gina Nucci, Director of Corporate Marketing at Mann’s. “We were more than happy to throw our Tenderbite Beans into the ring in order to bolster organizations who are combating breast cancer and hunger—two causes near and dear to us.”

The 13^th annual Capital Food Fight was held on November 10 at the Ronald Reagan Building on Capital Hill. The even featured 75 D.C. area restaurant stations, and drew over 1,300 attendees. Four local chefs competed to outdo each other in a challenge that involved cooking with mystery ingredients—including Mann’s Tenderbite Green Beans.

The Food Fight, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, gives 100 percent of event proceeds to D.C. Central Kitchen to provide nutritious meals to 80 nonprofit partners and 15 schools. The organization also helps unemployed men and women begin careers in the culinary industry. Mann’s was also joined by Keany Produce as sponsors of the event.

The Susan G. Komen Culinary Showdown was held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on October 22. Top Los Angeles County fundraisers were trained in a celebrity chef school, then broken into five teams to compete in an Iron Chef-style competition. Participants included Food Network’s Elizabeth Faulkner and Tyler Florence, Top Chef alums Antonia Lofaso and Michael Voltaggio and Chef Ben Ford, all using mystery ingredients featuring Mann’s products. 

For more on the philanthropic side of the produce industry, check us out at AndNowUKnow. 

Mann Packing

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Investors and analysts alike were surprised this week as Target Corp. beat the street with its third quarter of fiscal year 2016.

“We are very pleased with our third quarter financial results, which reflect meaningful improvement in our traffic and sales trends and much stronger-than-expected profitability,” explained Target Chairman and CEO Brian Cornell in the report. “Favorable gross margin mix and efficient execution by our team drove third quarter EPS performance well beyond our guidance. We also continued to gain market share in key Signature Categories and saw unexpectedly strong sales in the Back-to-School and Back-to-College season.”

Highlights for the quarter included:

• Earnings GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $1.06, up 40 percent from Q3  
• Adjusted EPS of $1.04, up 22 percent from Q3 2015
• GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $1.06 and Adjusted EPS of $1.04 were both above the high end of guidance
• Third quarter comparable sales decreased 0.2 percent, near the high-end of the guidance range of flat to down 2 percent
• Comparable sales growth in Signature Categories outpaced total comparable sales by more than 3 percentage points
• Digital channel sales increased by 26 percent

Target also noted that it returned $1.2 billion to shareholders in the third quarter through dividends and share repurchases, and its stock reflected a healthy 6-plus percent boost upon the announcement.

“As we move into the biggest quarter of the year, we are pleased with our inventory position and confident that our team will deliver a great guest experience as they bring our merchandising and marketing plans to life throughout the holiday season,” Cornell said of the retailer’s future moves.

Cornell said in an earnings call following the release that there is much more work to do despite meaningful progress in the company’s efforts to improve traffic in sales compared with the second quarter. The retailer even raised its expectations for fourth quarter comparable sales, expecting growth to 1.0 percent.

Recently, we reported that the retailer’s Senior Vice President of Grocery, Anne Dament, departed the company. A replacement has not yet been announced, but Cornell said her department is still an area of improvement for the company.

As the retailer's plans for its food and fresh businesses continue to solidify, AndNowUKnow will keep reporting.

Target

ORLANDO, FL - With consumers and retailers both looking for ways to bring strong flavors to the plate, California Sun Dry is well-positioned to capitalize. I spoke with Loucy DeAtley, Head of Administration for the company, about the ways in which the brand is working to educate retailers on the enormous sales potential and ample culinary possibilities that sun-dried tomato offers to consumers.

“Most are not familiar with how rich, how diverse, and how flavorful a sun dried tomato can be—especially after the fresh tomato season," remarked Loucy at the well-attended PMA Fresh Summit. "It can add flavor to soups, to stews, to meatloaves, and especially to the things we have on our website.”

California Sun Dry’s website offers a wealth of nutritional facts and product information, as well as a variety of recipe ideas that retailers can reference to better acquaint themselves with the versatile dried fruit. 

For more details on California Sun Dry and the delicious possibilities sun-dried tomatoes can offer, watch the full video above.  

California Sun Dry

SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, House committee legislators will be voting to approve or deny a California irrigation bill that would forgive $375 million worth of debt owed by one of the nation’s largest farm-focused irrigation districts, Westlands Water District.

Approving the plan would, essentially, relieve the federal government of its obligation to provide drainage for each farm in the 600,000-acre Westlands district. According to The Sacramento Bee, the estimated overall costs to the federal government of providing these drainage services is $3.5 billion and counting.

In exchange for taking up the drainage responsibilities, Westlands will be forgiven for the rest of its capital cost debt owed for construction of the Central Valley Project irrigation facilities—now upwards of $375 million. 

“In order to move forward with the settlement agreed to by both Westlands and the U.S. Department of Justice last year, this bill has to be passed by Congress,” Republican Representative David Valadao told The Bee prior to the vote. “Doing so will be a positive step in resolving a long-standing drainage dispute and will ultimately save taxpayers billions of dollars.” 

Several other provisions are also a part of the proposed 10-page settlement plan, including the following: 

• Westlands will pay for a class-action lawsuit filed by farmers against the Interior Department for failure to provide drainage for land
• Westlands will retire at least 100,000 acres of farmland
• Westlands will gain ownership of the federal pipes, canals, and pumping plants serving the district 

Today’s vote by the House Natural Resources Committee will likely be approved by House republicans, The Sacramento Bee reports, but the bill will also need to pass through the Senate.

With an initial Congressional vote set to take place today, stay tuned as we continue to cover the developing deal.