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

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

• Green House Dominican Imports Corp., operating out of Hialeah, FL, for failing to pay a $65,080 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Maribel Batista and Cristhian J. Holguin were listed as the officers, directors and/or major stockholders of the business.
• Edgar Espinoza, doing business as Espinoza Always Fresh, operating out of Camarillo, CA, for failing to pay an $8,485 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Edgar Espinoza was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• JRJ Enterprises Inc., operating out of Haskall, NJ, for failing to pay a $6,306 award in favor of a Connecticut seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, James E. Machuca was listed as the officer, director and major stockholder 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 PACA are conducted by AMS, an agency within USDA.

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

SAN ANTONIO, TX ­– Pairing together each company’s strength and approach to long-standing commitments, NatureSweet® Tomatoes has announced the renewal of its partnership with Susan G. Komen for the fifth year in a row. 

“We are thrilled to once again partner with Susan G. Komen, and we are dedicated to contributing to the prevention and search for a cure,” stated Michael Joergensen, Vice President of Marketing at NatureSweet. “Just as Komen systematically invests in education, screenings, treatment, and research, so must we consciously invest in developing our 8,000 full-time associates and raising of our tomatoes right from seed to shelf.” 

For this year’s campaign, the company stated in a press release that its bite-sized Cherubs® will be released in limited edition PINK packaging for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign is active now, and will run through November 5, 2016, in addition to a $100,000 donation from NatureSweet to Susan G. Komen. This donation, will be made regardless of the sales number from the campaign.

Combining Susan G. Komen’s commitment to finding a cure for breast cancer, and NatureSweet’s pledge towards Tomatoes Raised Right, NatureSweet intends to continue the fruitful association of the companies by drawing attention towards the link between healthy diets and a possible reduction in the risk of developing cancer.

“Associates are our greatest competitive advantage and lifeblood of NatureSweet,” continued Joergensen. “Breast cancer has affected too many families, including some of our own. Our partnership is an acknowledgement of those whose lives have been affected by this now increasingly preventable and curable condition, thanks to Susan G. Komen.” 

NatureSweet stated that the company has donated $355,000 since 2012 to aid in the search for a cure for breast cancer. 

NatureSweet® 

LOS ANGELES, CA - Giumarra Companies is continuing its track for growth, this time with a new office and team addition.

The company announced that it has welcomed Matthew Moore to its sales and operations for Giumarra Southeast.

“I’m excited to be a part of a company with such a rich family heritage and immensely-respected brand within the produce business,” Moore commented. “I’m looking forward to representing Giumarra in the southeast.”

The new addition brings previous experience with the Giumarra International Berry division, where he managed East Coast operations and transportation, according to a press release. Outside of the produce industry, Moore also brings experience in global sales, quality control, and operations.

“With the addition of U.S., Peruvian, and Mexican-grown sweet onions to our product line this year, we have seen exciting growth in the Giumarra Southeast division,” John Reese Franklin, Sales and Operations Manager of Giumarra Southeast, said. “Matthew brings a solid combination of grower relations and sales support experience that will benefit our business as we continue to expand.”

Giumarra Southeast also recently opened a new sales office in Valdosta, Georgia, to help accommodate the growth of selling Michigan-grown pumpkins.

“Our new locale in south Georgia is a key access point for serving our family of growers in the southeastern U.S., particularly Florida and Georgia,” Franklin said of the latest opening.

Michigan-grown pumpkins are another of the offerings the company added to its portfolio this year. As Giumarra Southeast gets settled into the autumn season, it stated that it will offer both the newly-added Michigan-grown pumpkins and Peruvian-grown sweet onions.

Giumarra Companies

BENTONVILLE, AR - Could the secret to taking on the Amazon retail beast be in a massive expansion of distribution power? It seems like this is the strategy Walmart, one of the powerhouse e-commerce provider’s biggest rivals, is employing to win the retail war. 

In an announcement made this morning to USA Today, Walmart revealed it would be scaling back the number of stores it plans to open in the U.S. over the next three years to 230 openings in 2016, 130 in 2017, and just 55 in 2018. Instead, the company’s Vice President of E-Commerce Supply Chain, Justen Traweek, told Reuters it will double the number of its online sales warehouses, reaching 10 before 2016 is through. Prior estimates pinned the number at just 8 by the end of 2017.

These warehouses may be the best way for the retail giant to grow its e-commerce revenue, suggests source The Consumerist. With large distribution centers come large product stocks, reduced shipping times, and cut shipping prices—all recipes to providing more value to consumers at lower prices. 

“We have doubled our capacity in the last 12 months and that allows us to ship to a majority of the U.S. population in one day,” Traweek adds in his interview with Reuters.

This shift in strategy comes just after Walmart announced an over $3 billion acquisition of e-commerce company Jet.com. According to a report by USA Today which cites Moody’s Investor Service, Walmart gets about $14 to $16 billion of its sales through online business. While this maybe isn’t a substantial chunk of Walmart’s overal sales as of yet, CEO Doug McMillon told the news source that he expects that to start to change in the near future.

“We are encouraged by the progress we’re seeing across our business and we’re moving with speed to position the company to win the future of retail,” McMillon said. “Our customers want us to run great stores, provide a great e-commerce experience, and find ways to save them money and time seamlessly—so that’s what we’re doing.”

With these investment scheduled to be complete before the year is through, we may see results as soon as next year. Watch for more coverage from AndNowUKnow as the retail power grab continues.

Walmart

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – While the rest of the produce industry ramps up for this year's PMA Fresh Summit, CarbAmericas is prioritizing its transition into Peruvian asparagus season.

Year-to-date, Peru’s asparagus industry as a whole is down by roughly 300,000 cases in 2016 versus 2015. However, several of CarbAmericas grower partners have increased the size of their programs, meaning the company’s production will be very similar—if not higher—than 2015.

“CarbAmericas expects to grow and ship around one million cases this season” said Jeff Friedman, President of CarbAmericas. “Many farms started harvesting in late September and will have continuous supply through December. Asparagus continues to be a main focus of our business and our experience of more than 20 years allows us to deliver a lot of value to our customers."

CarbAmericas has been a part of the Peruvian asparagus industry since the company was established in 1993, as it was one of the first to import from the South American country into the U.S. One of the differentiating factors for CarbAmericas’ program is the close-knit relationships and strategic alliances they have with its 15 growers who represent around 8,000 hectares in Peru. Additionally, CarbAmericas owns land it plans to develop for farming in the coming years to better serve their customers.

CarbAmericas' year-round asparagus program offers green, white and purple asparagus in 11 lb and 28 lb cases, as well as tips sourced from Mexico and Peru.

The company will showcase the versatility and cross-promotional potential at retail of their items through the presentation of various signature asparagus, broccoli, and mango recipes at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit at booth #1991.

CarbAmericas 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on three 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:

• Lorenzo Morales, doing business as Morales Produce, operating out of Houston, TX, for failing to pay a $3,900 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Lorenzo Morales was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• Thomas Northcross, doing business as Produce Place USA, operating out of McAllen, TX, for failing to pay a $19,568 award in favor of a Texas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Thomas W. Northcross was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
• Greendom Corporation, operating out of Miami, FL, for failing to pay a $5,698 award in favor of a Georgia seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Areo J. Regoli Jr. was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.

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

DELANO, CA - Throughout its more than 90 years of shipping grapes out of Delano, California, it's been no secret that Columbine Vineyards cares deeply about its local community. Throughout this year, President and CEO, Martin Caratan, and his staff have been hard at work to support Delano’s thriving ag-focused community, working with Delano Joint Union High School District Migrant Education program, as well as lending a helping hand to Delano High School’s on school farm.

For 1,400 students Delano area Migrant Education students, from pre-K through high school, Columbine Vineyards provided each student with a backpack filled with school supplies. In an effort to ensure students this year were able to start the school year off with all the needed necessities, Columbine says that this donation is a relief for many families and can make a meaningful impact on our Migrant youth.

In addition to the company’s work with migrant education, Caratan also tasked his staff with collaborating with Delano High School to create a hands-on school farm. In working with the farm, students will learn to plant, grow, and harvest several different types of fruits and vegetables. Columbine provided the school with tractors, workers, and the company’s expertise in order to prepare for planting. After the ground was leveled, weeds were removed, and trash was hauled away, the company then sponsored the installation of an efficient drip system for irrigation. 

“While we are here to support and provide backup, Columbine’s main focus is to help the students shine, to let them take the lead in the care of the farm. The students and staff have been so helpful and wonderful to work with. Their excitement for this project is contagious! Thank you Delano High School for allowing us to be part of this awesome endeavor,” the company said in a press release.

What the company says emerged from the farm’s transformation was an amazing opportunity for Delano High School students to immerse themselves in agriculture, science, and life skills. According to a press release, the school is currently growing broccoli, pumpkins, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, with more vegetables and fruits slated for future growth. 

To learn more about Columbine Vineyards and more of its #ColumbineCares initiatives, visit www.ColumbineVineyards.com.

Columbine Vineyards

NEW YORK, NY - D’arrigo Brothers of New York has announced its mission for the economic power of produce to be heard in one of the U.S.’s most dynamic cities.

As we reported recently, the wholesaler further bolstered its investment in its home of New York City by joining the 300+ member organizations that make up Association for a Better New York (ABNY), a powerful coalition of major corporations and institutions looking to strengthen the city’s economic fabric and quality of life.

“D’Arrigo Brothers’ enlistment as a member of ABNY reflects its intention to seek an equal seat at the table because we helped set it,” the company stated in a recent release. “We would respectfully suggest there is a similar place for the produce industry across the United States because we not only help feed America, we employ it.”

The company explained that creating a credible presence sitting alongside fellow ABNY members with brand names such as Citibank and Columbia University requires statistics. With that in mind, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reviewed the company’s economic reach, occupying some 100,000-square-feet of space at the Bronx’s Hunts Point Terminal Market. His findings included that:

• The Terminal Market is the largest produce market in the world, requiring 112 acres
• More than 50 cooperative merchants distribute fresh fruit and vegetables from 49 states and 55 countries
• The market sells 3.3 billion pounds of produce, generates a projected $2 billion in annual revenue, and generates 8,500 direct and ancillary jobs

What do such numbers mean? That the market makes up a key part of a regional economy which D’Arrigo Brothers feels means an obligation to be part of the conversation about where public resources are placed.

“For generations, the nearly-exclusive focus of D’Arrigo Brothers has been to efficiently serve hundreds of clients with a daily supply of fresh produce. It was a conscious decision to leave public policy and macro-economics to others and reflected the opinion of many in our industry,” the company stated, commenting that the more complex business life for every sector of our industry has created a need to advocate for specific issues.

This is the latest in a string of moves D’Arrigo Bros. has made as an active member of the New York community for over 50 years. To see what it does next, and other key strategies in the industry, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.

D'Arrigo Bros. of New York

SOUTHEAST U.S. – As the nation eyes Hurricane Matthew's swirl around the Caribbean, authorities are urging U.S. citizens and businesses to prepare for the oncoming storm with projections for its arrival later this week. 

"While the strength of Matthew will fluctuate as it approaches the U.S. coast late this week, it will remain a powerful and dangerous hurricane with threats from storm surge flooding and high winds," stated Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski, according to AccuWeather. 

Experts have issued evacuations for areas of Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, as of Wednesday. While there is no guarantee that the hurricane will make U.S. landfall, it is still expected to get very near to the Atlantic coast.

The affected areas will experience strong winds and heavy rains, with subsequent flooding from downpours and coastal waters. The hurricane was creating winds of 120 mph as of Wednesday as it moved towards the Bahamas, and is 70 miles long, according to CNN. 

"Matthew will track very close to the east coast of Florida from late Thursday through Friday," Kottlowski said. "Even if the eye of Hurricane Matthew remains just offshore, gusts to hurricane force can occur along the immediate Atlantic coast along with storm surge flooding.”

Authorities are re-directing interstates to one-way travel as people leave the states. Once the storm gets closer and weather effects increase, roads are expected to close. Airline delays are also expected, with some smaller airports potentially closing for an extended period of time.

CNN stated that Hurricane Matthew was 400 miles from West Palm Beach, FL, as of 2:30 pm (PST) on Wednesday. All four states have declared varying levels of states of emergencies throughout their states, with severe weather expected throughout the weekend before the storm is expected to move back out to sea next week.

As authorities keep a close eye on Hurricane Matthew and its forthcoming impact on U.S. transportation and land, AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest.