BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA – With a wide selection of organic, greenhouse grown vegetables to offer consumers, OriginOrganic Farms, an Oppy grower, is right in the peak of production for its crops. As Raymond Wong, President, recently told me the company is seeing heightened demand for its product, with plans to expand production even further. 

“Right now, we are in full season for all of our crops,” Raymond says as we discuss the market for greenhouse organics and the company’s selection. “I am seeing a significant demand on organic long English cucumbers and organic bell peppers in both Canada and the U.S. We have not been able to keep up with demand in most weeks.”

Origin Organic Farm grows organic TOV, beefsteak tomatoes, grape tomatoes, long English cucumbers, and color bell peppers on 23 acres of organic greenhouse operations. Raymond and his team market their products under the recognizable OriginO brand. 

Raymond says that in answer to consumer demand for his vegetables, and organically grown greenhouse ones at that, the company has increased production area on both its long English cucumbers and colored bell peppers from last year.

Tomatoes have seen slightly lower volumes this year, which Raymond says is due to a dip in light intensity levels from last year. The TOV market is also moving slower than last year as there is much more supply this year in general. 

“Our quality this year for all of our products is great. As organic continues to become a major part of the produce category, Origin Organic Farms is looking to better signage and marketing materials to highlight that our products are organic,” Raymond tells me. “Most consumers would like to know more about their organics, so retailers are our bridge to educate the consumer.” 

Raymond says that Origin Organic Farms is unique in the organic greenhouse realm for its sustainable concepts which the company implements in all of its practices. Origin received its organic certification in 2005, which Raymond says makes the company one of the first organic greenhouses to do so, and has continued to evolve its technology to stay true to organic and food safety practices in the industry.

“We create an ecosystem to manage our IPM and we feed organic fertilizer for the soil media, rather than for the plants. We are proud to say that we produce the best quality and genuine organic greenhouse vegetables in the marketplace,” Raymond says.

So what does the company have its sights set on next? Year-round production.

“We see the need to have winter production so we can have organic vegetables all year,” Raymond says of the company’s future plans. “We have been actively seeking locations in the U.S. to begin winter production, and expect to have our winter program in the near future.”

As Origin Organic Farms continues to up its production of organic-certified greenhouse vegetables, and looks to expand into the U.S., AndNowUKnow will have the latest.

Origin Organic Farms Oppy 

BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart is coming for the e-commerce throne, Amazon. The retail giant has just announced it is acquiring Jet.com for $3.3 billion in an effort to expand its online shopping footprint.

“We’re looking for ways to lower prices, broaden our assortment and offer the simplest, easiest shopping experience because that’s what our customers want,” said Doug McMillon, Walmart's President and CEO. “We believe the acquisition of Jet accelerates our progress across these priorities. Walmart.com will grow faster, the seamless shopping experience we’re pursuing will happen quicker, and we’ll enable the Jet brand to be even more successful in a shorter period of time.”

The purchase, which includes $3 billion in cash and $300 million in stock, will potentially help Walmart revamp its slowing e-commerce strategy. In the company’s Q1 earnings report, Walmart revealed just a 7 percent year-over-year growth rate. According to a report by CNN Money, Amazon's overall sales have grown to over $100 billion annually.

So how will Jet.com factor into Walmart’s strategy? The online startup, which launched in July 2015, is targeted to younger shoppers who are seeking to buy in bulk to save money. CNN reports that customers can also find savings from purchasing various tagged items that can be shipped in the same box from a nearby vendor. That technology, which is proprietary to Jet, helps bring down logistics costs dramatically.

“We started Jet with the vision of creating a new shopping experience,” said Marc Lore, Jet.com’s CEO. “Today, I couldn’t be more excited that we will be joining with Walmart to help fuel the realization of that vision. The combination of Walmart’s retail expertise, purchasing scale, sourcing capabilities, distribution footprint, and digital assets – together with the team, technology, and business we have built here at Jet – will allow us to deliver more value to customers.”

Lore previously sold his Diapers.com business to Amazon in 2010 for over $500 million.

The acquisition, is still subject to regulatory approval, according to a press release, but has been approved by both companies' Boards of Directors, and is expected to close this calendar year.

Walmart Jet.com

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AgroFresh Solutions is delving into even further growth this year, with two new service centers and 50 new seasonal workers at the helm. The company says these additions will help enable more apple and pear growers to gain the fruit quality benefits of its Harvista™ pre-harvest 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) technology and SmartFresh™ post-harvest 1-MCP technology.

"Our service centers are logistical focal points for coordinating product supplies and application services," said Edgardo Castaneda, Vice President of Operations for AgroFresh. "These two new locations will help us manage customer needs more effectively throughout the upcoming season."

The new service centers will be built in Sparta, Michigan, and Bologna, Italy, joining the following existing ones:

• Yakima, Washington
• Curico, Chile
• Lleida, Spain

AgroFresh’s Wenatchee, Washington, Technical Center, which is the hub for orchard research and development efforts, also supports service activities, according to a press release.

"With a global strategy in place to grow the AgroFresh presence and to address the increased demand worldwide, we now have the necessary resources in place to enable our customers to gain the highest possible quality and value from their crops,” Castaneda continued.

The company’s technologies, Harvista and SmartFresh, both allow for increased quality of fruit. The former allows growers to pick fruit at peak quality for greater yield and value, the company says, while the latter enables growers to protect fruit quality and value during storage, packing, and shipping.

Just this past June, AgroFresh announced the availability of a new fleet of tractor-pulled ground sprayers to facilitate the self-application of Harvista by growers in the U.S. and optimize its performance based on their individual harvest timing needs.

Castaneda included, ”By adding 48 ground sprayers to our global field operations, we have the ability to apply Harvista on up to 20,000 more acres. This means more growers can harvest apples with the color, crunch and taste that consumers prefer.”

If you’d like to learn even more information about the company’s recent growth, visit AgroFresh.com or contact your local AgroFresh representative.

AgroFresh

SAN DIEGO, CA - Produce for Kids (PFK) is launching a partnership reunion with GROW by Organics Unlimited today, August 8, in a collaboration to inspire healthier lifestyles for children.

“GROW and Organics Unlimited support Produce for Kids’ mission of educating consumers about health and wellness,” said CEO of Organics Unlimited, Mayra Velazquez de Leon, in a press release. “Through our combined efforts, we can help build healthier communities and a healthier nation.”

Teaming up for the third year in a row for the Power Your Lunchbox campaign, which runs from today through September 23, GROW and PFK seek to encourage parents to us the back-to-school season as an opportunity to pledge a healthier lifestyle. Included in the partnership are GROW organic bananas and other participating healthy brands that push more produce consumption in kids.

According to the companies, Organics Unlimited and other sponsor brands will make a donation to Feeding America® children’s programs for each pledge taken.

GROW (@OUGROW) and PFK (@produceforkids) will be hosting a Twitter party Wednesday, August 17, at 6 p.m. PT, a convenient way for retailers and other interested organizations to get involved, with access to other tips and messaging for back-to-school.

Also coming up next month is #GROWmonth, a 30-day-long campaign that looks to partner with retailers and media to create consumer awareness of organic bananas, fresh produce, and eating healthier.

AndNowUKnow will continue to report all the latest campaigns and marketing move to promote fruits and vegetables.

Produce for Kids GROW by Organics Unlimited

Round out poolside parties with a refreshing Cherry Basil Hibiscus Tea, fusing the natural sugar-sweet taste of cherries with a splash of the hibiscus zing. 

Help consumers cool down their summer-flushed kids with the delectable Frozen Cherry Cookie Sandwiches, sure to please even the fussiest eater.

And don’t forget the American classic, Rhubarb Pie - with the twist of cherry flavor. Aromatic and irrestistable, this recipe will be a sure hit as celebrations loom on the summer horizon.

The cherry options are endless as consumers can add a splash of treefruit sweetness to almost any course, with further recipe options like Pickled Cherries, and Cherry Dandelion Farro Salad.

Consumers can appreciate this peak cherry season like never before with fresh options, that support their healthy lifestyles, and keep them right on-track with summer trends.

From the Chelan Fresh family to yours, celebrate the sun this season with Washington’s juiciest-grown cherries.

Chelan Fresh

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:

• East and West Gourmet Afghan Food Inc., operating out of Livermore, CA, for failing to pay a $62,121 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Nazifa Sidiq and Billal Sidiq were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
• El Grupo Oso Inc., operating out of Pompano Beach, FL, for failing to pay a $26,224 award in favor of an Arkansas seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Greyvi Fuenmayor and Robert A. Weiss were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
• Raz Trading LLC, operating out of Jersey City, NJ, for failing to pay a $22,164 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Kevin T. Razzoli was listed as a member of the business.

PACA provides an administrative forum to handle disputes involving produce transactions; this may result in a reparation order being issued that requires damages to be paid by those not meeting their contractual obligations in buying and selling fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. 

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.

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

NEW YORK, NY & HOUSTON, TX - President of Brothers Produce, Brent Erenwert, has been announced as produce industry connection platform, Fruitspot's, new Director of Innovation.

“I am excited to join Fruitspot and look forward to working with the thousands of members who have already signed up and help lay the groundwork for several thousand more to join us,” said Erenwert in a press release. “[CEO] Jose has created a beautiful platform that I feel with my background and experience we can deliver what the industry has been hungry for.”

That background includes more than 18 years in the produce industry, having previously pioneered digital solutions specifically for the industry. Now, while maintaining his role as President of Brothers Produce, Erenwert will use those skills to oversee strategic direction, expansion, and operations of Fruitspot’s online industry network and social platform.

“I am thrilled that Brent will be joining our team,” Jose Baptista, CEO of Fruitspot, commented. “He shares our values and focus on innovation, and he places the same strong emphasis as we do on the user experience and providing real value for the industry. He has shown himself to be an extraordinary leader throughout his career, with a proven track record in both produce and building online networks for the industry.”

The company's technological network and social platform will seek to connect commercial buyers and sellers of fresh products faster, enabling the following to find new partners, manage their contacts, and solve business needs:

• Growers
• Shippers
• Wholesale distributors
• Retailers
• Foodservice companies

Taking place on one free online platform, with on-demand support and troubleshooting service, the company added that it will be available in more than 100 countries as of this month.

Fruitspot

ONTARIO, CANADA – Walmart Canada has cut the ribbon on its newest Walmart Supercentre, as well as the innovative layout the company plans to use as a sort of prototype for its future stores. 

The new store, located in the city of Guelph, boasts 121,000-square-feet, and emphasizes a new layout and signage to engage consumers in an easy manner. Guelph Today reported that one of the most noticeable additions was a large grocery section, displaying many Ontario-grown products.

“This store just brings a different shopping experience for our customers,” stated Truax to CTV News. “We have more of a contemporary feel, we’ve introduced lots of new organic items into the store, and we’re really trying to appease the customer.” 

The new store opened in the vacant space previously held by Target, and will provide jobs for approximately 170 people. This store marks the 406th location for the retailer in Canada. Guelph Today reported that “shoppers were impressed” with the new layout and store format. 

The Mayor of Guelph, Cam Guthrie, issued a written statement that he valued the “human-scale” of the store’s layout, which opened up the store’s space, made merchandise more visible, and added brightness to the store. 

The city celebrated the opening yesterday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the city’s mayor, and a giant Walmart cake. More festivities are planned for this Saturday. 

As Walmart expands its North American reach, and retailers continue to shift strategies and store formats to stay ahead in the competitive market, AndNowUKnow will have the latest.

Walmart Canada

CHELAN, WA – As the industry gears up for another season flush with pears, Chelan Fresh is looking forward to an exceptional harvest and a variety of consumer-friendly packaging to meet demand.

As Kathryn Grandy, Marketing Manager at Chelan Fresh, recently told me, the company is offering a wide variety of pears this year to provide retailers with plenty of options to enhance the pear-buying experience. Main line varieties will be shipped in new variety specific, high-graphic pouch bags.  

“This year, we are growing nine varieties of Organic Asian pears,” Kathryn says of the company’s Organic lineup. “Both our crops for our Organic Anjou and Organic Bosc pears have doubled in size this year.” 

Kathryn expects the company’s crop of Organic pears in general to continue its significant increase over the next year. Chelan Fresh growers continue to transition many acres each year to Organic in response to consumer demand for the burgeoning segment. 

The company also continues to ramp up production of its Conventional pear varieties as well, offering unique varieties such as Starkrimson and Concorde.

Chelan Fresh has started packing both its Conventional and Organic pears over the past week, and will pick pears through September. The company will offer its consumers pears all the way into spring.  

“North Central Washington has the perfect pear-growing climate,” states Kathryn. “Where Honeycrisp grows exceptionally well, so do pears!”

As the season continues and Chelan Fresh begins to pack and ship pears, AndNowUKnow will keep up with the lastest pear-focused news within the industry.

Chelan Fresh

UNION GROVE, NC - The black market continues to seek a piece of the produce industry, with melons looking to be sought after on an international scale.

A number of watermelons and cantaloupes were reportedly stolen last weekend, at some time between 5 p.m. Saturday, July 30, and 6 a.m. Sunday, July 31, in North Carolina.

The victim is a Union Grove farm in Iredell County, according to news source Statesville Record & Landmark, from whom five varieties of watermelons and cantaloupes were taken.

The specific varieties stolen were not reported. Deputies from the local sheriff's office were called to the scene upon the discovery, but no suspects were listed and the case remains open with the melons still unfound.

This is the latest in a string of reports where produce has been the product of choice for nefarious purposes, as we have previously reported. In recent weeks a man was arrested and charged for stealing 2.66 tons of tomatoes in India, while a “theft ring” was recently exposed after taking approximately $190,000 worth of produce freight for resale.

As we look to push more legitimate means of increased popularity for fresh produce, continue to get all your industry news from AndNowUKnow.