WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

According to a recent USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• Global Sunrise Import Export LLC, operating out of Miramar, FL, for failing to pay a $21,054 award in favor of a New Jersey seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Alejandro Machuca was listed as a member of the business.
• Commodities Exchange LLC, operating out of San Antonio, TX, for failing to pay a $27,360 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Eduardo Trevino was listed as a member of the business.

The USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA, which includes buyers, sellers, commission merchants, dealers, and brokers within the fruit and vegetable industry.  All oversight of actions related to PACAare conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service

MURRIETA, CA - In an effort to better connect with consumers, West Pak Avocado, Inc. has launched two new brands: 'AvoMonsters' and 'I Love Avocados.'

“We’re very excited about the launch of the AvoMonsters and I Love Avocados campaigns,” said West Pak Avocado's Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing Doug Meyer, according to a press release. “In an effort to drive up produce sales, each campaign targets very specific and growing markets, and serves up the benefits of healthy eating habits with a diet that includes nutrient-rich avocados.”

'AvoMonsters' is a healthy eating awareness campaign that targets parents with young children. Using whimsical packaging and fun recipes for kid-friendly snacks and light meals, AvoMonsters serves up the benefits of a diet that includes nutrient-rich avocados. The mission is to educate families and arm them in the fight against childhood obesity, diabetes, and other preventable health issues.

The company stated that 'I Love Avocados' is a campaign that inspires health-minded people to live a life of wellness by offering new and exciting ways of enjoying nature’s original superfruit. I Love Avocados offers healthy dishes and easy recipes that provide delicious and nutrient-rich benefits of this superfood.

The new brands are both being unveiled at the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit Conference and Expo, which will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on October 14-16, 2016.

With dynamic year-round and seasonal retail, and online merchandising support programs, as well as flexible and convenient pack configurations, both brands are now available for distribution to restaurants, institutions, and produce retailers throughout the Unites States.

There’s also an immersive online presence for the brands with on-going social media programs and dedicated brand websites packed full of nutritional information, expert tips, and easy recipes for tasty meals and healthy snacking.

For more information about I Love Avocados, visit www.iloveavos.com, and for more information about AvoMonsters, please visit www.avomonsters.com.

West Pak Avocado

FOWLER, CA - Bee Sweet is continuing on its mission of bettering the world around it, with President Jim Marderosian revealing the company has donated $50,000 to Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) for the third consecutive year.

“The Breast Cancer Research Foundation works tirelessly to fund critical breast cancer research,” explained Marderosian. “BCRF is steadfastly working to achieve a future without the devastating disease and Bee Sweet Citrus is proud to support the organization’s mission.” In total, Bee Sweet has donated $150,000 to BCRF.

In addition to its generous donation matching last year’s numbers, Bee Sweet has also placed the BCRF logo on all mandarin packaging. And like in years prior, the company will continue to push breast cancer awareness through its social media platforms and product packaging. 

“At BCRF, we know that research is the only way to eradicate breast cancer–but that research relies on us all,” said President and CEO of BCFR Myra Biblowit. “By uniting with BCRF, Bee Sweet Citrus is helping to support the brightest minds in science. Our partnership reaffirms that together, we can be the end of breast cancer.”

Bee Sweet Citrus Director of Communications Monique Bienvenue noted in a press release that the company plans to assist BCRF’s mission by utilizing the company’s digital platforms. The company says its aim is to improve breast cancer education by bringing attention to useful information for both women and men. 

“It is an honor and a privilege to help BCRF raise funds for breast cancer research,” added Marderosian. “We’re proud to support the highest rated breast cancer organization in the country–transforming lives every day by improving breast cancer diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.” 

Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, BCRF has funded investigators deeply involved in every major breakthrough in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and metastasis over the last 22 years. With Bee Sweet continuing to further its commitment to fighting breast cancer, keep your eyes on this difference maker.

Bee Sweet Citrus

WATSONVILLE, CA - Sambrailo Packaging has welcomed two Pajaro Valley natives to the team, to add to the company’s passion for agriculture.

Marlen Fuentes and Matt Manfre, both veterans of their fields, joined the team in May, adding to the reach and depth of the company culture.

“The activities, sounds, and smells at our warehouses are all very familiar to me from my childhood and make me feel at home,” commented Fuentes, who has joined on as the new Master Planner for Sambrailo Packaging.

She brings 10 years of packaging experience, according to a press release, four of which she worked as an operations coordinator. With a father who worked as a raspberry grower for Driscoll’s, she has ag in her blood and seems to bring that passion to her role at Sambrailo.

Matt Manfre, who has both sales experience and family ties to the ag industry, has been welcomed as the new Account Manager in the company’s sales department.

“It is my goal to ensure that we efficiently manage packaging production, inventory, and issuance for my customers, so that they can focus on growing quality produce,” stated Manfre. “Coming from an ag family, I know how important it is to work with a responsive and caring partner.”

In his new role with Sambrailo, Manfre works with row crop growers to ensure that they have the cartons and all other value-added items necessary in one place.

Fuentes reviews forecasts, monitors inventories, and plans the releases of product to various Sambrailo warehouses in the U.S.

Currently, as the growing season for berries in Mexico gets underway, she is also planning and monitoring production and managing inventories for the company’s customers in Mexico.

Find out more about Sambrailo’s passions and operations by stopping by its PMA booth #2365, this weekend in Orlando, FL.

Sambrailo Packaging

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Florida Fresh Tropicals LLC, Miami, FL, for failure to pay for produce.

According to a press release, the company failed to pay $392,127 to seven sellers for 58 lots of produce. This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). As a result of these actions, Florida Fresh Tropicals LLC cannot operate in the produce industry until September 15, 2018, at which time it may reapply for a PACA license.

The company’s principal, Jesse J. Fernandez, may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee until September 15, 2017, and then only with the posting of a USDA-approved surety bond.

The USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.

In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service

WENATCHEE, WA - Magic is in the air this year as PMA Fresh Summit 2016 quickly approaches. One purveyor of this enchantment is Stemilt Growers, which will be setting the stage for the show with the company’s new brands, varieties, and innovations.

Also, back this year by popular demand, is the talent of magician David Harris who has worked for more than the 300 of the Fortune 500 companies during his tenure, bringing a dynamic and unique approach to the traditional trade show experience. Harris will be speaking about Stemilt’s range of brands and exciting introductions throughout the show on both Saturday and Sunday.

Brianna Shales, Communications Manager, joined me to talk about the upcoming event and shares that the booth presentation, paired with the engaging entertainment and education, are not-to-be-missed. 

“This has been a year of growth for Stemilt as we continue to bring more value to both our retail partners and the apple and pear categories,” Brianna says. “Our vision, is to not only elevate the eating experience for the consumer, but change the expectations they may have for quality, flavor, and availability.” 

Stemilt’s new Inspiration Orchard™ branded program will be one of the main highlights at PMA Fresh Summit this year, and is truly a culmination of the company’s vision for innovation within its apple program. Growing apples is not just about those one or two new varieties you hear about in the trade, as the Stemilt team tells me, it is also deeply dependent on those anchors to a program that actually change the category. Inspiration Orchard is a consumer driven program that promotes a new perspective on apple-growing and marketing. The program will be branded, not only at retail, but also in the orchard, in the field, in Stemilt’s facilities. 

While Inspiration Orchard™ is not a physical orchard, it is a concept that creates its own geography as a vision. With the tagline, “Where Flavors Grow,” Stemilt is pulling back the curtain on all its successes, from integration of the ground, to locations, horticulturalists, research and development, and root stock.  

The new branded program will bring together some of Stemilt’s tried-and-true varieties including the Piñata®, the SweeTango® and Pink Lady apples, while also introducing some new developments in the apple category. 

New on the apple front, Stemilt is introducing a trademarked Honeycrisp program called Honeyhill™ which is focused on delivering to the consumer, a great eating experience every time. This variety responds to the need and demand to bring better quality Honeycrisp apples from later winter into the summer months with better flavor, shelf-life, and color.

Inspiration Orchard will also bring the Aztec variety into the fold, which offers a new strain of Fuji apples that Stemilt has pioneered to offer premium-quality Fuji apples year-round. 

Stemilt will also be highlighting its “There’s an Apple for That” campaign, which aims to showcase the many available apple varieties, each with their own unique flavor, texture, and cooking characteristics.

“The notion behind this program is that we have a digital site that instructs apple-lovers, or those curious and with questions about the versatility of the category, on how to use a variety for different uses and occasions,” Brianna tells me. “'There’s an Apple for That’ allows us to share our expertise with consumers and take the dialogue around apples to a whole new level.”

Stemilt is also incorporating “There’s an Apple for That” into merchandising programs at retail with display bins, apple-lover 5 lb pouch bags on several varieties, as well as bulk apple opportunities. 

One of my all-time favorite programs, Lil Snappers kid-sized fruit will also be on full-display. This year, Stemilt is introducing a complete organic apple line of Lil Snappers® Apple products available in 3 lb bags which helps keep the purchase size, and the ring, high for the best produce shoppers that enter the department. The Lil Snappers program will also tie-in Stemilt’s partnership with Sunkist Growers which has helped the brand truly take off in the citrus category. 

In addition, keep an eye out for the ever-popular Fresh Blenders program as well as Stemilt’s Rushing River Pears to raise the bar in produce departments. Check out Stemilt’s booth #2449 at Fresh Summit for even more on the company’s diverse program and innovations! 

With PMA Fresh Summit just days away, I hope you are all packed, energized, and trade show-ready!  See you all in Orlando.

Stemilt Growers

UNITED KINGDOM – As competition in the buy-side segment continues to tighten, retail companies across the board are shifting strategies in order to jump to the front of the pack. Morrisons is now the latest to unveil a new plan for streamlined growth with a set of 12 pledges to overhaul its system and improve relations with suppliers. 

The chain unveiled the new list of commitments during its annual supplier conference. According to news source IGD Retail Analysis, Commercial Director Darren Blackhurst asserted that buyers must also “listen,” “show mutual respect,” and “act with honest and integrity.”

In a similar vein, Morrisons has also put forth four tiers of supplier partnerships to look for further efficiencies and relationship opportunities. The tiers involve trusted strategic partners, transactional suppliers, and more engaged suppliers who will receive preferential access to the senior team of Morrisons. The highest tier will have regular access to the chain’s Chairman and CEO, along with improved access to Blackhurst and subsequent category directors. 

The set of 12 commitments, titled The Way We Work with Suppliers, are as follows:

These new initiatives were composed by the chain in efforts to improve its working relationships with suppliers, which will allow Morrisons to continue the forward trading momentum for the company. Morrisons itself pledged that the new commitments will allow the chain to “pay on time, and work hard to resolve disputes quickly.” 

Morrisons further detailed to IGD that the new focus will allow it to place more emphasis on everyday low price strategies with fewer promotions running. IGD also reported that this announcement comes soon after Morrisons reduced its number of commercial types of income from 37 to just three in recent months. 

The UK-based chain is not the first to place a new highlighted focus on the supply chain in efforts to achieve greater company growth. As we recently reported, Walmart has also announced specific changes to its relations with suppliers.

Will other chains soon pick up this new trend that focuses on the supply-side, and what impact will it have on the industry? AndNowUKnow will break the latest as it unfolds.   

Morrisons

SALINAS, CA - Tender hearts of broccoli, shredded carrots, and red cabbage are joining together this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mann Packing’s nutrition-packed Broccoli Cole Slaw. Welcome to What’s in Store. With Mann’s product innovation continuing to evolve within the fresh-cut and value-added sectors, the company is looking to this time-tested favorite with a quarter-century of popularity under its Cole Slaw belt.

From the mind of the late Joe Nucci at the beginning of his career with Mann Packing, the idea of creating a healthy and unique value-added product using broccoli stalks was, at first, a way to use the part of the company’s product that would otherwise go to feed livestock. Nucci then joined forces with late industry legend David Stidolph to collaborate with expert chefs who coined the term “Hearts of Broccoli.”

Thus, Broccoli Cole Slaw was born, and the rest was history. The innovative product set a precedent for what would become Mann’s expertise, paving the way for other “vegetable-based” or more “nutrient-dense” salad blends such as Mann’s Power Blend and Rainbow Salad.

Widely regarded by the industry as the “Father or inventor of broccoli cole slaw,” Joe Nucci brought value and innovation by creating a value-added product from what was once a byproduct. 

Mann Packing is continuing to celebrate Broccoli Cole Slaw's 25th anniversary with new packaging, a recipe contest, and more, so keep your eyes on this inventive company. Thank you for watching What’s In Store.

Mann Packing 

YAKIMA, WA - Fall is here, and Domex Superfresh Growers® signature Autumn Glory® Apples are coming off the trees just in time for PMA Fresh Summit. The proprietary Autumn Glory variety is crisp and juicy with subtle notes of caramel and hints of cinnamon. Some tasters report an apple cider taste, embodying the essence of fall.

"Autumn Glory provides a consistently delicious and exciting eating experience, and it is easy to grow, producing attractive, eye-catching fruit," says Mike Preacher, Director of Marketing and Customer Relations for Domex Superfresh Growers®, according to a press release.

The Autumn Glory apple is the pride and joy of Superfresh Growers, meeting the company’s high standards. Grown both organically and conventionally, Autumn Glory has options for all consumers and retailers. Superfresh Growers will be producing 100,000 boxes this year, with a projected growth to more than one-million boxes in the next five years. With the volume increasing, Autumn Glory will soon be a year-long program. For the 2016-2017 season, Autumn Glory will be available starting November and until supplies last.

Superfresh Growers is pleased to announce they are a finalist at the Sensory Experience Contest at PMA Fresh Summit on Friday afternoon. The recipe contest features bold, fresh, and innovative recipes that will be judged by both kids and produce professionals. Autumn Glory will be featured in their recipe, Open Faced Autumn Glory Sliders.

These kid-friendly apple sliders use Autumn Glory apple slices as the "bun," and feature three unique toppings. Each topping accents the caramel-cinnamon notes of the apple: Yogurt & Granola; Peanut Butter, Banana & Candied Bacon; and Kale Pesto & Prosciutto. Fresh Summit attendees are invited to sample recipes from the winners and finalists during the Fresh Ideas in Action Reception on Friday, October 14, from 4:00-5:00 PM.

Autumn Glory apples will also be sampled at the Domex Superfresh Growers' booth all weekend long. Stop by booth #2173 for a taste of autumn!

Domex Superfresh Growers®

LEAMINGTON, ON - The countdown to PMA Fresh Summit is on, and on the list for finalists for the association’s Impact Award is Pure Flavor, which recently launched new developments in packaging and sustainability innovation.

“Sustainability has always been a top priority of ours,” said Matt Mastronardi, CMO of Pure Flavor. “We are thrilled to be selected as one of the Impact Award finalists. This nomination truly demonstrates the ability of our marketing/packaging team to push for the highest level of innovation and deliver one of the most sustainable packages in the industry.”

Most recently, the company introduced new packaging made from tomato plant fiber, and the new Cloud 9 snacking tomato; a premium, light red, round cherry tomato with a crispy, crunchy, and juicy bite. These introductions meet the rising demand for both earth-conscious offerings and the snacking tomato trend.

And there is even more in the works, according to Director of Marketing Sarah Pau, who shared with me that the company has spiced up its cyber presence with a new website.

“We’ve made significant changes to the site, including a new modern design, easy navigation for all types of users, and an abundance of new and delicious recipes featuring Pure Flavor® produce,” Sarah shares.

Not only does it feature enticing graphics and an inviting start menu to enhance visitors’ understanding and experience, but the new website also recognizes the importance of staying in the know through blog posts and news updates.

“With this update, users can leave with a thorough understanding and satisfaction–whether it’s regarding our products, company information, or any updates in the media,” Sarah tells me.

You can visit the new website here, giving you a healthy taste of what to expect when you swing by booth #451.

Good luck, Pure Flavor, on this latest nomination and we will see you in Orlando.

Pure Flavor