BATAVIA, IL - The buy-side looks to be on the move as hiring sprees continue to pop up in a number of states. Most recently, Aldi has announced a series of hiring events this month, taking place in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

The retailer had a hiring fair yesterday at three different locations in Gainesville, FL, with another scheduled for Sept. 15th. According to local news source WUFT, positions include store associates, shift managers, and a manager trainee, offering $11.50 per hour, $15.50 per hour, and $45,700 per year. As a store manager, the retailer has announced there is a chance to earn up to $86,500-$94,000 per year.

The same positions are being filled over in the Oak Forest area of Illinois for a number of stores, where the Oak Forest Patch reports that retail and management experience are preferred, with an invitation to join Aldi’s 401(k) program and eligibility for health benefits for any working 25+ hours a week. Hiring events in this region are taking place today, Sept. 7th, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., but did not include an additional hiring event for this month as in Florida and Pennsylvania, where there will be events to fill associate and shift manager positions both Sept. 9th and 10th, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. These events are in the Pittsburgh area, which looks to be a growing retail area in the state.

As we reported recently, Pittsburgh just saw a sizeable hiring spree last week when Giant Eagle announced it was looking to fill 400 positions, and earlier last month Harris Teeter announced it was hiring 3,000 employees across the eastern seaboard.

What will we see in this hiring spike as we approach the Halloween and Thanksgiving holiday preparation windows? AndNowUKnow will report on this and any other fluxes on the buy-side, so stay tuned.

Aldi US

BENSON, AZ – The next time you decide to give your lemons the added heat of a fire-induced flavor profile, be sure that you prepare your selections a bit more carefully than this inflamed trucking incident in Arizona. 

While en route to transport its shipment of fresh lemons to California, an 18-wheeler in Arizona blew out its front tire which sparked a sequence of events leading to the closure of Interstate 10. The highway was closed for 90 minutes while its shipment smoldered on the sidelines.

“The front tire blowout caused a fire to start on the cab portion of the truck and then moved to the trailer,” said Kameron Lee, a Public Information Officer from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, according to bensonnews-sun.com. “The driver and co-driver were able to get out of the cab without any injuries.” 

Thankfully, with no one hurt from the crash, the truck accident made for a zesty sight as the truck and its contents sent up a large plume of smoke throughout the Arizona valley, with scorched and toasty lemons strewn across the freeway.

Traffic Alert! @Arizona_DPS troopers on scene of a TT fire WB I10 near MP 304 (near Benson) a lot of cleanup ahead. pic.twitter.com/5A6mqTm5aS

— Kameron Lee, PIO (@dps_pio_lee) August 31, 2016

Authorities stated that the fire resulted in a total loss of the rig, a 2013 International, as well as its enclosed shipments. Transportation on the freeway remained delayed for the majority of the day while clean-up ensued.

What steamy situations will fresh produce find themselves in next? Stay tuned with AndNowUKnow for the latest in transportation and shipping reports.

MONTEREY, CA – Matching new innovations and expanded portfolios in the foodservice realm, Sakata Seed America has its own fresh offering to put on the plate in its Infinite Gold LSL Cantaloupe.

Alecia Troy, Senior Marketing Manager, recently told me from the bustling floor of PMA Foodservice just what makes this product a stand-out option for foodservice operators. 

“From a foodservice perspective, we’re loving LSL cantaloupes because they give a little more flexibility,” Alicia tells me of the diversity of the fruit. 

This flexibility in the Infinite Gold extends from a longer shelf-life for prolonged foodservice options, into retaining its fresh flavor and juices for a deeper length of time as well. 

“Infinite Gold is great for slicing, cubing, and balling,” Alecia says of the many options the cantaloupe offers to foodservice operators and beyond.

Even better? These diversification of uses extends into delicious blended drinks, such as the company's conceived margarita using the puree of an Infinite Gold melon.

Which qualities of Sakata’s Infinite Gold melon are launching the product even further into the foodservice segment, with opportunities abound? Watch the brief video above.

Sakata Seed America  

WEST MILTON, OH - While I took up a few fun food challenges, both in school and in my fresh produce career, I can say that none of those foods ended in someone having to call 9-1-1.

Not the case for a class full of Ohio junior high schoolers.

Last Friday, Sept. 2nd, about 40 kids ranging from age 11 to 14 were treated by medics after ingesting “suspected ghost peppers” at school, according to a Dayton Daily News report, five of which had to go to the hospital.

The culprit? A food challenge to ingest one of the hottest peppers in the world.

“Kids will be kids, and sometimes they do challenges and dare each other to do things,” Pam Bucaro, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Dayton Children’s Hospital’s ER, said. The hospital’s greatest concern, Bucaro commented, is exposure to hot peppers if the child has a history of asthma or if oils from the pepper reach the skin or eyes. “These are not games and there can be serious effects when ingesting things.”

That is what seems to have happened at the school, where symptoms reportedly ranged from blotchy skin, hives, and eyes tearing, to sweating and general discomfort.

The student who instigated the event and brought the peppers has since been identified, according to school officials, but whether or not they will be disciplined was not made clear.

“It was definitely a disruption, and school disruptions are in our school code of conduct,” Superintendent Brad Ritchey of Milton-Union Exempted Village Schools said. He also commented, “The response of emergency services was amazing; deputies and help from surrounding paramedics… we really had a lot of help here this afternoon. This was serious but sometimes situations at schools become far more serious than this.”

The actual incident happened during the school’s lunch period, and local police and emergency responders were called at 12:06 p.m. The district sent a one-call to all parents around 2 p.m.

Ghost peppers, or Bhut Jolokia peppers, score a hefty one million units on the Scoville heat scale, continuing to rise in popularity and availability as sauces and flavors. And kids aren’t the only ones learning to respect the capsaicin. We reported recently that a New York building was evacuated when an unsuspecting consumer microwaved an unidentified hot pepper.

AndNowUKnow will continue report on this fiery trend, though hopefully they keep out of reach of children.

MEXICO, SOUTHWESTERN U.S. - Hurricane Newton is emerging from Mexico’s Baja California to bring heavy rains, winds, flooding, and mudslides to areas like Sinaloa, Sonora, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Already having drenched Mexico’s coastline with 3 to up to 12 inches of rainfall, AccuWeather expects winds of up to 80 mph and 6 to 12 more inches of rain to travel through Baja California Sur and western Sonora through Thursday.  

Sinaloa will also see the possibility of flash flooding and mudslides today, with meteorologists predicting more than 6 inches of rain in some areas of the agricultural-focused state.

Meanwhile on the U.S. front, Arizona and New Mexico have also received significant amounts of rain overnight, sparking more heavy rainfall and flooding throughout today.

Northwestern cities like Phoenix will likely be on the periphery of the downpours, AccuWeather says, but cities farther east in Tucson will get the brunt of it.

"Tucson averages just 1.29 inches of rain during the month of September, and some areas in and around Tucson could get that much rain in just one day," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson. "Streams, rivers, and drainage areas can flood quickly with these tropical downpours, so be prepared for rapidly changing conditions into Wednesday.”

As Arizona’s heaviest rain comes to an end tonight, Hurricane Newton will shift towards New Mexico. There, AccuWeather says, flooding will become more localized and downpours will become less intense.

The source names New Mexican cities Gallup, and Truth or Consequences, as among those for flood risk tonight, with the storm moving into Albuquerque at a lesser strength.

AndNowUKnow will continue to follow Newton as it passes through ag hubs in both Mexico and the U.S., so keep watching with us for more.

WENATCHEE, WA – For the first time in 27 years of business, Columbia Marketing International (CMI) has announced a full company rebranding. This milestone comes complete with a new and brighter logo, and a new name; CMI Orchards.

"Over the past two decades, CMI's market presence has grown exponentially," said CMI Orchards’ President, Bob Mast. "Our owners have expanded and replanted their orchards, made significant upgrades in packing facilities, created new product offerings, planted the strongest branded apples available, and created wonderful, consumer-friendly packaging. It’s a completely new era for our customers."

According to a press release, the company decided to change the name from CMI to CMI Orchards to create a focal point for customers and consumers. A national research study was performed to ensure that the new look and logo would resonate with shoppers. 

"We know from the success we’ve had with our Daisy Girl and Ambrosia packaging that consumers actively respond to colors and key words," stated Steve Lutz, Vice President of Marketing. "A big part of incorporating ‘orchards’ in our new name is to transport consumers directly into the core of our operation."

In addition to the name change and rebranding, the company will also make changes to all packaging, including new domestic and export apple cartons. 

Mast said, "We’re very excited that our retail customers will begin seeing CMI’s new cartons in the marketplace almost immediately. New name, new look, same great company."

To even further boost excitement over this first-ever change, a video announcing the company’s fresh new look can be seen below.

Lutz also stated that the rebranding was specifically cultivated with leveraging the legacy of the company in mind, while also focusing on the strong success the organization has achieved in past few years. 

"In 2015, CMI hit a major milestone, becoming America's number one selling apple brand in the United States," said Lutz. "We hold top status on most of our new apple brands, we have the #1 selling pouch bag and even our Sweet Gourmet Pear packaging is changing the way pears are sold."

The company’s full and official rebrand launched officially on September 1, revealing the new and fully encompassing new face of the company to its consumers and retailers alike. 

“Orchards are the core of our operation. CMI’s owners and growers have made huge financial investments and are committed to delivering the finest fruit in the world to our customers,” finished Mast.

What else does CMI have in-store for the company and its growth-minded moves? Stay with AndNowUKnow for the latest.

CMI Orchards

CORONA, CA - Veg-Fresh Farms has always made a promise to its consumers to provide "nothing less than fresh." In order to keep that promise, the company decided to install a mega generator for a comprehensive plan to address emergency planning and business stability in the event of a disaster.

WATSONVILLE, CA – As the seasons continue to shift, the raspberry segment remains on the rise. As Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing at California Giant, recently told me, the company is matching consumer demand and a strong season with quality products and plans for the future.

“We have had a very mild and cool summer which has helped all berry types in timing, providing for a nice and long, even season,” Cindy tells me of the company’s crop coming out of Watsonville, CA. “There have not been a lot of drastic peaks and valleys in how the plants are producing fruit.” 

Cindy says that California Giant is seeing excellent quality and size of raspberries, with delicious and large-sized fruit keeping the segment in high demand. California Giant expects to be packing raspberries for the next couple of months.

“We are not seeing a dip in demand or pricing since our volume is lower than some other companies that may be producing a higher volume of berries,” Cindy continues of the current market’s state. 

Demand for raspberries will remain strong both domestically and internationally as consumers continue to demand and purchase berries. Cindy says that the company plans to match the rising demand by focusing on the future.

“Our volume is consistent this year, but we are expanding for the 2017 season due to this year’s positive results on quality and flavor,” continues Cindy. 

California Giant further maximizes consumer interest by having longer availability of quality products to keep berries in the cart beyond just the summer months. Cindy says the company will continue to offer consumers fun and new ways to use raspberries as long as its taste selections remain excellent.

As raspberries and berries continue to garner consumer demand, stay with AndNowUKnow for continued coverage on the market.

California Giant Berry Farms

SAN JOSE, CA - California Water Service (Cal Water), has formally filed a settlement agreement among Cal Water, the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC's) Office of Ratepayer Advocates (ORA), for its 2015 General Rate Case (GRC), in a move that would both increase its rates, while increasing revenue by 7.5%.

"I am pleased that we were able to reach agreement with ORA and the other settling parties on nearly all issues in the rate case,” explained President and Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki. “A general rate case in California is a complicated matter with hundreds of potential points of disagreement. The parties negotiated professionally and diligently to come to consensus on the vast majority of these issues.”

According to a press release, Cal Water would be authorized to increase gross revenue by approximately $45.0 million in 2016, $17.2 million in 2017, $17.2 million in 2018, and up to $30.0 million upon completion and approval of the company's advice letter projects under the terms of the settlement. The company says the 2016 increase equates to an approximate 7.5% revenue increase overall, with specific rate increases varying by service area.

"I am confident that our customers will benefit from the agreed-upon capital programs and will be pleased with our efforts to enhance affordability in higher-cost and low-income communities, while we continue to provide high-quality water service,” Kropelnicki added. 

The CPUC still has the right to deny the settlement, but if approved, Cal Water would also be authorized to invest $658.8 million in districts throughout California over a three-year period. This includes $197.3 million of water system infrastructure improvements, with the parties agreeing to an improved ratemaking treatment and a change to the use of industry-standard methodologies for project financing costs.  

According to the schedule adopted by the CPUC, the final decision on the case is expected in late 2016. California Water Service Group is the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States, with more than 509,000 customer connections, more than $400 million in annual revenue, and more than $1.5 billion in gross utility plant assets.

California Water Service

PULLOCH, GERMANY - IFCO delivered annual revenues of $992 million (USD) for the 2016 fiscal year, which marks a 16% spike in year over year growth.

“Fiscal year 2016 was an incredible year for our company,” said Wolfgang Orgeldinger, CEO of IFCO, according to a press release. “This high rate of growth is a testament to the value our customers receive from their use of our products. We are very grateful to all of our customers, suppliers, and employees worldwide for their support.”

One of the major factors the company credited was increased use of IFCO RPCs by its current retailer customers, which the company said are continuing to realize greater efficiencies and product quality benefits through increased supply chain standardization.

Other key highlights attributed to the growth IFCO saw over the last year include:

• Major new retailer contracts, particularly in Europe
• Expansion into new markets via acquisitions of market leading RPC providers in Japan, Chile, and Colombia
• Expansion of solutions for fresh products beyond fruit and vegetables, like adoption of IFCO RPCs for meat and eggs, and the launch of new solutions for bread and seafood

IFCO also invested in new innovations to enhance its service offerings to customers, including the launch of the proprietary SmartGuardian™ RPC wash process control technology, a variety of innovative merchandising solutions, its new wood grain RPC for use in an expanded partnership with Walmart US, and peer-reviewed Life Cycle Analysis study comparing IFCO’s RPCs to single-use cardboard boxes.

“Our customers worldwide are focused on delivering the freshest food to consumers in the most efficient way possible, and we are committed to helping them achieve this,” said Orgeldinger. “Our business is growing because IFCO RPCs reduce costs and environmental impact and improve product quality and efficiency throughout the supply chain.”

While all regions of its more than 50 countries contributed to the growth of the company, Europe remains IFCO’s largest market. The company said that it will continue its strong growth strategy in all markets, as well as introduce a new brand campaign to better align the company’s image with its mission and rapidly-growing, diverse business.

Stay tuned for more information about the global launch of this exciting new step, slated for September 13th.

IFCO