ISSAQUAH, WA - When you’re at the top of the organic produce game, how do you stay at the head of the pack? A big part of maintaining its over $4 billion dollars in organic sales, Costco says, is through the sourcing of enough fresh produce.

Costco anticipates to over double its organic sales by 2020, reports news source EuroFresh, planning to exceed $10 billion. The company has projected its organics program to grow in double-digits each year in sales until it reaches that goal. In order to keep up with that fast-growing demand, you have to be able to get your hands on a lot of product.

One way Costco has tried to answer this problem is through its work with San Diego-based supplier, Andrew and Williamson, helping them to buy both equipment and land in Baja California, Mexico. In return, Andrew and Williamson says, Costco will have first access to the organic products produced there.

“By helping them with financing, we got access to and purchased about 145,000 cases of organic raspberries that we normally would not have access to,” Costco’s Senior Vice President of Fresh Foods, Jeff Lyons, told the Seattle Times. The paper also reported the retailer’s plans to work with other companies in a similar fashion, including a large group with operations in Chile and Mexico.

 

Standing room only at the Organics panel on Tuesday. People flocked to hear Grimmway's Bob Borda, Costco's Frank Padilla, and Crosset's Bob Lummis talk about the importance of growing the organics sector. @grimmwayfarms @costco #crosset #unitedfresh2016 @unitedfresh

A photo posted by AndNowUKnow (@andnowuknow) on Jun 23, 2016 at 10:00am PDT

At this year’s United Fresh conference during a panel on organic produce, Frank Padilla, Costco’s Vice President and General Merchandise Manager for Produce and Meat, gave a presentation on why organics is seen as such a major focus for the company, listing the following reason:

• Organics resonates with Costco’s members
• Organic eating seen as a lifestyle, not a trend
• Consumers want to eat healthy
• Consumers have concerns about pesticides and GMOs
• Costco believes in sustainable farming

Padilla also noted that Costco does not separate its organics into an ‘organic’ section, instead letting consumers have all their options in front of them. “The danger is that it (an organic product) could be the only choice. If you don’t have the right quality, the right specifications, the right shelf-life and value, you are going to turn the non-organic consumers off,” Padilla told Growing magazine. “We also face the danger that if it’s not available at the time, you may not have that item to sell.”

Along with finding adequate and efficient sourcing, Padilla outlined the following other strategies to increase organic sales:

• Find great growers/partners
• Study the items
• Learn the intricacies of certified organic
• Develop a specification

What partnerships and initiatives will Costco implement as it plans to reach the $10 billion organics goal? AndNowUKnow will keep reporting as each new move is made.

Costco

GILROY, CA – Keeping up with its guaranteed year-round schedule of pepper varieties, Uesugi Farms has announced that the company is preparing to transition from Northern California to Southern California to harvest premium quality peppers out of Coachella. 

“Being a year-round pepper supplier, the cycle just comes naturally. Right now we’re getting ready to start the Coachella harvest, where we’ll grow bells and minis. In November, we head to Mexico to grow the full gamut of peppers, which includes all the bells, minis and hot varieties,” stated Pete Aiello, General Manager.

The company stated in a press release that production will wrap up in Northern California in the next few weeks and the company’s crop in the Coachella Valley is currently seeing strong plants with peppers that are maturing nicely. Uesugi expects a successful harvest out of Southern California.

When the company transitions to Mexico in November, following the Coachelle harvest, Uesugi Farms will grow green, red, and yellow bell peppers, mini sweets, and hot peppers. From there, the company will continue transitioning its harvesting regions to provide a continuous supply of product. 

“The Coachella harvest starts again from May through July where we’ll continue growing our bells and minis. Some overlapping will happen, since we also grow all our varieties in Bakersfield and Oxnard in June, July, and part of August,” continued Aiello. “We then move to Hollister, Morgan Hill, Brentwood, Lodi, and Gilroy for the Northern California harvest, which starts in July and could run all the way into November if the weather cooperates.” 

Uesugi Farms has been harvesting and shipping peppers for 365 days a year since 1998. The company is able to provide its wide variety of peppers due to increased acreage and new varieties to harvest. Some of these varieties include green, yellow, and red bells, mini sweets, Anaheim, Caribe, Fresno, Ghost, Habanero, Hungarian, Jalapeño, Poblano, Serrano, and Shishito peppers.

Uesugi Farms’ portfolio also includes more categories than peppers, as the company also grows and sells tomatillos, white and yellow sweet corn, Napa cabbage, strawberries, pumpkins, squash, and beans.

Uesugi Farms

“It’s evident that businesses in such a fast-paced industry need a solution to stay head of the game and I strongly believe we are that solution,” Frank shares.

It will be exciting to see where this leap takes Frank, and Deacom, in fresh produce operations. 

Congratulations Frank on this newest chapter in your career!

Deacom 

CAMARILLO, CA – With the vision of offering a premium, flavorful, snacking tomato experience to North American consumers, Houweling's is showcasing its Signature Selection medley of exclusive varieties as we look to PMA Fresh Summit 2016.

Lindsay Martinez, Brand Manager for the company, took a few minutes out of her busy pre-PMA schedule to dish on the newest products in Houweling's premium tier line of tomatoes, and how flavor is always top-of-mind for the program.

"This year, we are offering three varieties of tomatoes in our Signature Selection premium snacking range, Sweetoms grape tomatoes, Tomazing cherry tomatoes, and strawberry vined tomatoes,” Lindsay tells me. “The trio offers a versatile mix of varieties that are great for snacking, slicing into salads, and skewering on the BBQ.”

Houweling’s Signature Selection standards dictate strict criteria for packing, with flavor at the forefront of the criteria. Along with the demand for outstanding texture and appearance, and a consistent premium quality tomato throughout the crop’s lifecycle, the company is looking to add-value across the greenhouse-grown tomato category.

“In addition, we are pulling back the curtain on these tomatoes by declaring the specific seed variety on-pack, so consumers can always enjoy and expect a quality experience,” Lindsay adds. 

Houweling's Sweetoms, are a high-brix grape snacking tomato with a firm texture and sweet taste. The Tomazing cherry tomato with its unique red-orange color, offers a crisp crunch and responds to consumer demand for a variety with huge flavor. To round out the experience, Houweling’s strawberry vined tomato brings the palate a balance of sweetness and acidity with a deep red color and firm and juicy texture. A trio of taste. 

With the goal of bringing more frequent repeat purchases to retail partners and creating a loyal following of tomato-lovers, Houweling’s is driving its brand forward with the premium Signature Selection.

Houweling's 

IRWINDALE, CA - Craving a taste of fall but can do without the calories that come with those seasonal flavored lattes? Ready Pac Foods has just the solution in its two new Limited Edition products: Pumpkin Spice Bistro Bowl® single-serve salad, and Autumn Harvest Complete Salad Kit. The company says the two new offerings provide consumers the indulgent, autumn flavors they are looking for, but in a healthier, convenient way.

"We know consumers look forward to indulging in pumpkin spice flavored foods during the fall, but this often means a sugary or sweet treat," explains Tristan Simpson, Ready Pac’s Chief Marketing Officer. "Our culinary team crafted craveably fresh options to give consumers something healthier to enjoy, but still delight in the flavors of the season."

Pumpkin Spice Bistro Bowl® 

This single-serve blend of harvest spring mix, roasted turkey, raisins, pepitas, and dates, is topped with a light pumpkin vinaigrette that’s brightened with hints of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. This new way to taste the season contains 11 grams of protein, four grams of fiber, and contains only 330 calories. Ready Pac suggests the new Bistro Bowl for an on-the-go meal at a game, on a hike, or in the office. 

Autumn Harvest Complete Salad Kit 

Chef-inspired and restaurant-style, Autumn Harvest is a blend of spring mix and carrots, mixed with roasted pumpkin seeds, diced dates, raisins, and pumpkin-spiced cornbread croutons. On top, the salad is finished with a tangy pumpkin vinaigrette. According to a press release, this salad kit can be used to fulfill consumer cravings for an indulgent, holiday-flavored salad, and is perfect as either a side dish at your fall dinner party, or for tailgating at the game.

At a suggested retail price of $3.99, Ready Pac's Pumpkin Spice Bistro Bowl® is available through mid-December in more than 3,000 locations nationwide, including Walmart and Wegmans. The Autumn Harvest Salad Kit is available at Costco stores nationwide through the end of October, also at a suggested retail price of $3.99. 

Ready Pac Foods

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA – It is a time of continued growth and development for Allen Lund Company (ALC), celebrating 40 years in business with more locations, more career opportunities, and more action slated for the future.

“Our biggest opportunities are in our branch offices. It’s really interesting because our industry is such that you can create your own career path based on your own skill-set, because there are so many opportunities out there,” Pam Stumbaugh, Director of Human Resources, tells me as we discuss the opportunities and culture that set the company apart from others in the segment, and the industry in general. “We always have a very family, first-name basis feel that I think makes us quite unique in the industry.”

Starting in at the ground level with ALC, Pam explains that any self-driven, customer service-oriented person can begin as a broker’s assistant, and learn the industry details, before becoming a transportation broker and beyond; depending on the focus they choose. “This initial career path gives you a solid foundation so that you understand the process every step of the way.”

Pam knows firsthand all that the company offers, having held her current position for five years and having been with the team 12 years prior to that. “It’s nice to have a long history with the company, especially because when I first started all the personnel files were first name only, and now we have hundreds,” she shares with me.

And the employment rate is not the only place the company has seen growth. Most recently, ALC is celebrating a wider reach with the opening of three new offices in the following locations, each offering numerous opportunities in produce experience:

• Cincinnati, OH
• Greenville, SC
• Little Rock, AR

Talking about opening new locations, “We look to start with the right person to lead, and these offices in particular are truly beginning from the ground up. Now we are looking for key people to bring in and help build them up,” Pam shares. “We generally start out with a few on the team and, as demand rises, continue.”

While these are the latest to join the ranks of ALC’s geographical reach, Pam emphasizes that any and all company locations are constantly offering career opportunities.

“We are growing and we have career opportunities in every one of our locations. Even with the growth of the company, we’ve been around for 40 years, we maintain that we keep a family atmosphere that Allen started."

Additionally, the experience and the chance to learn all the ins and outs of the company aren’t all ALC has to offer. “Our offering of the full package of company culture, benefit programs, and more, have many in disbelief when they first join. We really take care of our people, our recruits often say that we sound too good to be true,” she laughs. “Then after they come on board they say that we deliver on everything we promise during the recruiting process, and it’s really heartwarming.”

Some of the more “mature” offices, Pam explains, are continuously looking for new team members that want to establish themselves and their careers in fresh produce.

“In recognition of our 40 years in business, we have 40 Acts of Kindness initiatives in play. These are acts our employees are completing to help the communities in which they reside,” Pam shares. “That’s what employees often are looking for, we have found, is joining a company that cares, and we truly do.”

With more growth on the way as it celebrates its 40th year in business, stay tuned for more news from the Allen Lund Company for the rest of 2016 and beyond.

Allen Lund Company

LAKEWOOD, NY – As the seasons shift, with the first day of fall now officially behind us, consumers are truly wildin for all things pumpkin. As brands across the nation are looking to tap into this “golden” flavor trend, some are looking to take the distinctive pumpkin taste and use it for a more crafted piece; enter Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Pumking Ale. 

Now in its ninth year of production, the company stated that this complex ale truly stands up to the memorable pumpkin taste which grips consumers each season. In addition to the obvious use of pumpkin, the ale is cultivated by fermenting the gourd with ale yeast, two types of malt, and two types of hops.

With an ABV of 8.6%, this ale is packing more than just a punch of pumpkin in each bottle, with a malty taste of vanilla and spices for consumers to imbibe their way through any traditional holiday meal. And the smell? The company states on its website that the trend continues with hints of pie spices, a buttery crust, and roasted pecans. 

The brewing company has even seen such success with the product that it is now selling branded goblets for the brew, and will hold its first Pumking Fest–complete with beer floats, gourd bowling, and rum barrel-aged Pumking ale. Southern Tier begins brewing Pumking in July, further speaking to the success of this national craze. 

Would I try this pumpkin ale and experimentally throw some whipped cream on top, for good measure? Yes, I believe I would; though I can’t personally say whether a beer-infused whipped cream ‘stache would be the best part of the pumpkin spice trend to aim for.

WILMINGTON, MA – Robots are moving into retail packing. Target has decided to adopt automatons from robotics company Symbotic, LLC, for one of its biggest California distribution centers, the Wall Street Journal reports.

“What we’re doing with autonomous bots is not that dissimilar from what Google is doing with autonomous cars,” grocery giant and Symbotic Owner Rick Cohen told WSJ. “I think within five years, it’ll change distribution.”

The technology, WSJ reports, enables robots to move up and down aisles to stack and retrieve cases autonomously, allowing for Target to upgrade and save on costs.

“Target was going to have to build a new facility in California, which is horrendously expensive,” Larry Sweet, a Georgia Tech robotics professor and Symbotic’s Chief Technology Officer at the time of the Target project, told WSJ. Sweet explained that Target wanted to keep up with demand by expanding, but did not want to build a facility from the ground up. “They wanted that facility to handle more volume, but they couldn’t do it. Symbotic was able to put a system in the building that helped that.”

Symbotic’s robots can put any product in any spot on the racks and clock where they are, allowing for denser storage and branching out of the human need for packing conventionally so that we know where products are stored. The robots' software notes where each product is stored, constructing “perfect pallets” organized according to individual supermarkets’ floor plans.

With the ability to drop off and retrieve one case of products a minute, about five times as fast as a human on foot, measuring at 28 inches wide, the aisles the bots travel are only slightly wider than conventional warehouses.

Cohen’s vision of robots running warehouses, storing, handling, and hauling goods is one he is looking to bring to some of the U.S.’s biggest grocers and retailers, offering more control on labor, time, and real estate costs.

Not only is the executive carrying out the technology testing in his own practices as Owner of C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., but Walmart shared with WSJ that it, too, is testing Symbotic’s system for use in up to two of its large distribution centers, with interest in how the robots allow it to store more products in its warehouses. Walmart also has tested the use of drones in its warehouses, as well.

While the trend continues to rise more rapidly in Europe, stateside stores like Kroger and Meijer are dabbling in it with more possibly on the way. Could Cohen’s vision be the future of retail operations?

We at AndNowUKnow, who are constantly on the watch for both tech and retail trends alike, can’t wait to find out.

Target Symbotic

NEW YORK, NY - Now through October 13, moviegoers will have a good reason not to miss the previews. Screenvision Media’s “Reel Content” programming is launching “Reel Food,” an innovative new short series hosted by lifestyle expert Chadwick Boyd, as part of its Front + Center pre-show content before the feature film.

"I am thrilled to be part of a groundbreaking new venture to bring food, flavor, and fun to millions of movie lovers across the country," said Boyd, according to a press release. "As a film buff myself, it's really cool to be able to create and share recipes and kitchen tips inspired by current movies that entertain people before the show and motivate them to get into their kitchens at home," Boyd added.

In the Reel Food series, Boyd features "spicy and sweet" dishes inspired by the hottest upcoming films. The recipes are tailor-made for any level of home cook and appeal to food lovers of all ages. They are also customized depending on where moviegoers are located. For midwesterners, Boyd has a playful twist on deep dish pizza. Southerners get a creative shortcut for crispy, crunchy chicken tenders. Movie lovers out west are served up a simple and surprising update for #TacoTuesday. Northeasterners get a delicious game-changer for game day.

"We are always looking to enhance the moviegoing experience for our audience, and are excited to bring original food programming to the big screen. This is our first original lifestyle segment to roll-out under our new programming block called 'Reel Content', and Chadwick is the perfect person to kick things off for us," said John McCauley, Chief Strategic Development Officer of Screenvision Media, according to the release. "Given the exceptional popularity of food in pop culture today, it was a natural fit for us to create original programming around it for our pre-show, and we see plenty of opportunities for integration with national, regional, and local advertisers alike."

Movie fans can sign up on Boyd's Facebook Fan Page to get the recipes. Throughout the Reel Food run, he will host Facebook LIVE broadcasts each week to interact and engage with followers as well as share new tips and tricks to make the dishes shown on screen. To find a Screenvision Media theater and watch Reel Food, moviegoers and go to screenvisionmedia.com/find-theatre

TORONTO, ON - The magical land of Italian food known as Eataly is about to grace the foodie hub of Toronto for its debut in the Canadian market.

"Eataly Toronto will be spectacular. Firstly, the city of Toronto values high-quality food. And we do, too,” shared Eataly Founder Oscar Farinetti. “Secondly, this will be our first Canadian location, and with every first in a new market comes something full of excitement and adrenaline. Lastly, and above all, we are entering the market with people we fully trust and we share the same passions with. We can't wait to get to work and start this partnership!"

Planned for early 2019, the bustling marketplace filled with Italian-themed food stores and eateries will occupy 50,000-square-feet, and anchor the newly-renovated Manulife Centre in the heart of Toronto’s trendy Yorkville area.

Though it is an Italian company, Eataly has expanded in key metropolitan areas stateside since its introduction in 2010, having been popularized with the help of culinary giants like Mario Batali, Lidia and Joe Bastianich, and Adam and Alex Saper.

According to a press release, Eataly expects the new location to help continue to push the area as the ultimate destination for Toronto shoppers and food lovers.

Eataly is not a chain, it's a family, the company assures, with each location as distinct as the city and people who reside there.

Partnering with local experts, the Selfridges Group and Terroni Restaurants, for the Canadian location, the company announced that it plans to give the newest addition a distinctive look and experience for the Toronto crowd.

With the combined force of one of my favorite cities and my favorite places to stuff my face, there's no doubt this will be a winning combination.

Eataly