SOUTHERN MEXICO - Tropical Storm Earl has strengthened and was declared a hurricane yesterday afternoon, triggering warnings in several parts of southern Mexico.

As we reported earlier this week, Earl has been moving from just southwest of Jamaica, and westward over the Caribbean as the week progresses, according to AccuWeather, continually getting stronger and bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding.

While it was originally predicted that Earl wouldn’t grow to become a hurricane, the Weather Channel reported that it was elevated to a Category 1 yesterday, August 3, off the Honduran coast, and should landfall in Belize today.

Currently, hurricane warnings are in place up to Punta Allen, Mexico, though Cancun and Cozumel are excluded.

Earl is expected to continue through to eastern Mexico this weekend, but “rain itself out” there, according to the report, having already brought 8-12 inches of rain to the following areas:

• Belize
• Honduras
• Guatemala
• Southern Mexico, including the Yucatan Peninsula

While Earl is looking to keep away from the U.S., its effects may be felt in parts of South Texas this weekend. Some increases rain and higher surf could be seen this weekend as far north as Galveston, TX.

AndNowUKnow will continue to follow and report on the pattern, and any possible influence it could have on the produce industry.

LADERA RANCH, CA – Growth across the melon category is ramping up, and with the consumer’s desire for more flavor-forward fruit, Dulcinea is showcasing one of its many fruit offerings, the PureHeart® mini-seedless watermelons. 

Josh Leichter, General Manager at Pacific Trellis Fruit, Parent Company of Dulcinea, joined me to discuss this popular variety in produce departments, and how PureHeart® can help retailers increase the ring at the register. 

“PureHeart® mini watermelons are a positive sales contributor to the melon category,” Josh tells me. “We address the demand of both the organic and conventional shopper with this program, who seek variety on their shopping lists as well as great flavor and quality.” 

Josh also recommends that retailers promote the company’s Tuscan-Style™ Cantaloupes as well as SunnyGold® yellow flesh mini melons to provide incremental sales in the melon category.

On nearly a year-round supply schedule, PureHeart® watermelons are currently being grown in Huron, California, and are in the middle of summer harvest. Volumes tend to subside for the winter months of December, January, and February, so now is the time to get on board with the program. 

PureHeart® melons are known for their sweet, consistent flavor and aroma, Josh adds, and are conveniently sized and packed full of vitamins A and C. The variety also presents a gorgeous bright red color, and are hand-picked fresh off the vine.  

“Quality has been good, as has demand,” he says. “We are currently transitioning field areas which is providing for lower harvest volumes last week and this week, but in general we have good promotable weekly volumes through the summer.” 

Pacific Trellis Fruit is a top year-round grower, packer and marketer of premium fresh fruits that include apples, apricots, Asian pears, kiwi, nectarines, peaches, pears, table grapes, and tropical fruits like avocados and mangoes. In 2014, Pacific Trellis grew to include the Dulcinea Farms division which now allows Pacific Trellis to offer cantaloupes, honeydew melons, tomatoes, and watermelons.

Dulcinea

ORLANDO, FL - After two successful years, Produce for Kids is launching its third annual Power Your Lunchbox Pledge® campaign. The program encourages families across the nation to pledge to eat a healthier lunch from August 8 through September 23. The pledges can be made at PowerYourLunchbox.com, just in time for the start of the new school year.

“Back to school is a great time for families to make a healthy resolution they can carry on through the duration of the school year,” said Trish James, Vice President of Produce for Kids, according to a press release. “As a mom of two boys, I understand the challenges parents face when packing a healthy, nutritious lunch for their children and for themselves. The Power Your Lunchbox Pledge was designed to help families tackle this universal challenge.”

During the campaign, Produce for Kids will be generating a healthy lunch buzz by giving away a Bentology™ bento box each day and hosting a #PowerYourLunchbox Twitter party. Additionally, for every online pledge, lunchbox-friendly companies supporting Power Your Lunchbox Pledge will make a collective $1 donation to Feeding America® programs that support families and children. Partners supporting Power Your Lunchbox Pledge 2016 include:

• Avocados from Mexico 
• Bee Sweet Citrus
• Crispy Green®
• Eat Smart® 
• Earthbound Farm® 
• GROW Bananas by Organics Unlimited
• Marie’s® Dressings
• Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice
• NatureFresh™ 
• Pero Family Farms®  
• Sun World® 
• Bentology™

Here are a few ways to get involved in the campaign:

• Take the pledge
• Pledge to eat healthier this school year at PowerYourLunchbox.com
• Show off healthy lunchboxes on social media
• Produce for Kids’ Instagram and Twitter followers can use the #PowerYourLunchbox hashtag to show off their healthy lunchboxes to have their lunchboxes featured on the Produce for Kids Facebook page
• Follow along on the hashtag to see great ideas from fellow parents
• Party with Produce for Kids on Twitter
• Parents looking for even more tips and resources for healthy lunchboxes are invited to join Produce for Kids and partner companies at the #PowerYourLunchbox Twitter party at 9 pm ET on August 17

Teachers and dietitians supporting the initiative can find their own dedicated resources on the website. Teachers can find fun, free nutrition-focused downloadable lesson plans, certificates for their students, take home materials for families, and classroom pledging materials. For dietitians “We Heart RDs” kits will be sent out with items such as pledge sheets, “I Pledged” stickers, lunchbox recipes, and more.       

“Retail dietitians are in a position where they can support families during the back-to-school timeframe while they are in the store making decisions,” said James, according to the release. “It made sense to bring the Power Your Lunchbox message to our more than 300 retail dietitians so that they can share healthy back-to-school recipes with shoppers.”

As we previously reported, the campaign has raised more than $15,000 for kid’s health and wellness programs across the country since 2014.

For more information visit poweryourlunchbox.com.

Produce for Kids

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA – The Allen Lund Company (ALC) is promoting Jim Scazzero to Manager of its Atlanta office. Jim has been with the ALC since 1991. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree in finance, Jim was promoted to Assistant Manager in 2001, and promoted to Manager in 2016.

"I am delighted to become the third manager in the 38-year history of the Atlanta office. I have many to thank for guidance through 25 years as part of the Allen Lund Company family, especially Steve Asip," commented Jim Scazzero, according to a press release. "I'm looking forward to this next chapter alongside an exceptional staff we have developed in Atlanta, and continuing our legacy of service, integrity, and family."

"Jim has been a dedicated employee for a long time and it makes us very happy to see him rise up to the level of manager which is well earned. He's a great friend and I'm really happy for him and his family," stated Eddie Lund, VP of Sales & Branch Operations.

This announcement comes amidst the ALC’s initiative to perform 40 Acts of Kindness in commemoration of it’s 40 years in business by the end of 2016. The initiative began in February of this year, starting with a Build A Bike event in San Diego, California, in partnership with Team Bonding to benefit the Boys and Girls Club.

Congratulations and best of luck to you in your new position, Jim!

Allen Lund Company

WENATCHEE, WA - Scott McDougall of McDougall & Sons, a Co-Owner of CMI, has been named U.S. Apple Grower of the Year for 2016 by American Fruit Grower magazine.

Each year the magazine recognizes a U.S. grower that exemplifies progressive leadership in the fruit industry. According to the magazine, McDougall was selected based on his family's “bold approach” to investing the development of high flavor, new variety apples.

Bob Mast, President of CMI, explained that Scott McDougall is unquestionably deserving of the title, Apple Grower of the Year. “Scott and his brother Stuart had a clear vision that American consumers were hungry for new varieties of great tasting apples,” said Mast. “They staked the future of the success of their orchard operations on finding the most progressive direction to take for future plantings and it’s been a huge success for them as well as the entire CMI organization. We couldn’t be happier for Scott and the entire McDougall family.”

Scott and his brother Stuart are the owners of McDougall & Sons, an apple, pear, and cherry growing and packing company formed over 40 years ago with their late father, Bob McDougall. Today the company is known for developing the Ambrosia™ apple in the United States as well as being early adopters in planting Jazz™, Envy™, and Pacific Rose™ varieties. With over 4,000 acres of conventional and organic apples, pears, and cherries, McDougall & Sons provides packing and storage services for approximately 100 local growers, according to a press release.

Mast added, “Ambrosia™ has become a best-seller in the U.S., largely because of the vision of Scott and Stuart McDougall as well as their expertise in the orchard and warehouse.” Scott will be formally presented with the Apple Grower of the Year award later this month at the U.S. Apple Association annual outlook conference in Chicago.

Congratulations to Scott for a year of award-winning apple growing!

CMI

INDEPENDENCE, KY - The Crosset Company is swinging for the fences again this year with its annual Buying Food Show and Educational Seminar at the Great American Ball Park, in Cincinnati, OH. Crosset, a proud member of Castellini Group of Companies, offers exceptional wholesale distribution and logistics resources, as well as a skilled network of in-house and field buyers and in-house ripening and value-added capabilities, including fresh-cut produce.

With the event just around the corner, Bob Lummis, Sales and Merchandising Manager, joined me to discuss the upcoming show, and what we have to look forward to as August 10th approaches. 

“This year’s theme is ‘It’s a Whole New Game,’ and it truly is for Crosset as we continue to capture more market share across the board,” Bob tells me. “We are thrilled to welcome attendees, buyers, and vendors from the produce community to the 2016 show. With the goal of building relationships, creating opportunities for continued exposure for our suppliers, and driving innovation to the forefront of our initiatives, we hope to hit it out of the park once again this year.” 

The Buying Food Show is another one of the many great Crosset platforms that connect members from around the industry. Attendees will take advantage of special deals with savings on products through the end of the year from more than 50 top produce and floral suppliers. 

“This event is all in the name of profit and driving sales for our attendees. Building our brand and our message is key in increasing produce consumption and growth at both foodservice and retail,” Bob adds.

The day will kick off with Michael Sansolo, Retail Food Industry Consultant and former SVP of the Food Marketing Institute, as the first in a line of influential keynote speakers. Sansolo is now a consultant, speaker, and author who has conducted numerous studies with years of work with some of the world’s most innovative companies. This experience has allowed him a unique and insightful view of the changing nature of trends impacting shoppers, employees, competition, economics, supply chains, and management. Sansolo currently serves as the Research Director of the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Councils of both North and Latin America. 

Kevin Coupe, “Content Guy,” for MorningNewsBeat.com, author of "Retail Rules! 52 Ways To Achieve Retail Success," and Co-Author of “The Big Picture: Essential Business Lessons From The Movies,” will rally the crowd next. Coupe will bring a wealth of experience and insights as well to the show, with unique worldviews and serious levity about the world of business and consumers to share with attendees.

Special guest speaker and former Cincinnati Reds Manager, Lou Piniella, will then grace the podium to round out the morning. As the Field Manager of the Reds’ 1990 World Series Championship Team, Piniella will share his vast knowledge of the game and the story that has colored an amazing career.

"The day will wrap up with a dinner cruise up the beautiful Ohio River aboard BB Riverboats’ Belle of Cincinnati, docked at Newport Landing,” Bob adds. “We look forward to growing our current relationships and creating new ones.”

Crosset maintains over 400 SKUs, one of the largest inventories of Certified Organic Produce. Crosset also maintains upwards of 1000 SKUs of Conventional Produce. Crosset’s products come from some of the most recognized and respected growers and shippers in the industry including Lady Moon, Braga, Cal Organic, Organic Girl, Earthbound, Mother Earth, Greenfield Farms, Organic Valley, Homegrown, Stemilt, Sunkist, Grimmway, Driscoll’s, Chiquita, Del Monte, and Dole.

For those attending the annual event at the Great American Ballpark, I’ll see you all next week! Safe travels!

The Crosset Company Castellini Group of Companies

CINCINNATI, OH - Kroger hosted nationwide hiring events yesterday, looking for hands to help accommodate its recent growth spurts.

"Our growth continues to create job openings across the country for friendly, hard-working associates to join our team, including many roles on our new ClickList teams," said Tim Massa, Kroger's Group Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations, in a press release. "Our stores are filled with incredible opportunities to advance and a variety of career paths. If you love people and love food, Kroger just might be the place for you.”

Massa added that applying to work with the retailer is easier than ever with open interviews and the ability to apply from anywhere, especially as it has now launched “mobile apply,” enabling applicants to submit their applications via smartphones and tablets.

Kroger arms such as Ralph’s and Food 4 Less were included in the hiring, with both banners offering competitive wages, flexible schedules, benefits, and room for advancement.

This one-day hiring event is Kroger’s second this year, having previously hired more than 11,400 associates in May. The retailer did not list how many positions it was looking to fill with this latest move, though hundreds are listed in the image above from the company website.

Kroger additionally disclosed that it is having a third before the year is up, open exclusively to military veterans and their family members. That event is slated for November, adding to the substantial expansion of its team before 2016 is out.

Kroger noted that it has created more than 74,000 permanent, new jobs, more than 9,000 of which were added last year, not including those working as a result of capital investment or increases from its recent mergers.

Kroger

SACRAMENTO, CA - California’s water conservation has fallen 6 percent in the past year, down to 21.5 percent savings, and the State Water Resources Control Board is not taking it lightly. The Board has announced it will now be closely monitoring conservation levels and scrutinizing actions by water suppliers where use has risen dramatically. 

"Californians have continued to conserve without top down mandates, but the question is whether we can save enough and keep it up for the long haul,” explained State Water Board Chair, Felicia Marcus. “While last winter’s rains allowed us to ease state mandated conservation, that didn’t mean the drought was over or that local conservation efforts should stop—and we’re looking carefully at the data to see what’s happening where, and why."

Just announced in June, the State Water Board relaxed its guidelines for emergency water conservation regulations to give urban water agencies the ability to set their own conservation standards based on a “stress test” of supply reliability. According to a press release, water suppliers must demonstrate that they have sufficient supplies to withstand three years of continuous drought or otherwise take additional measures including mandatory conservation targets. That regulation will be in effect through January 2017. 

“Conservation should be the California way of life," added Marcus. "Some relaxation of conservation in light of the relief we got last winter and other supply conditions is appropriate and expected; abandonment of conservation is not. Saving water now extends local water supplies into an uncertain future, and saves money in the long term on the need to develop additional supplies. In particular, the summer months are the time it’s easiest to save by reducing outdoor irrigation to the minimum needed to water trees and shrubs while letting our lawns go the color of the surrounding hillsides.” 

Other highlights from the Board’s June Conservation Data include:

• Local water suppliers have saved 1.75 million acre-feet in the 13 months since mandatory conservation goals began
• Cumulative statewide percent reduction for June 2015 – June 2016 (thirteen months) is 24.2 percent, which equates to 1,752,918 acre-feet (571.2 billion gallons)
• Statewide water savings for June 2016 was 21.5 percent down from 28.1 percent in May
• Statewide average R-GPCD for June 2016 was 104.9 gallons; (an 18 percent increase) up from 86.7 R-GPCD in May 2016

If the Board sill finds that restrictions are needed when the regulations end in early 2017, they say they’re ready to again impose new mandatory water restrictions. As the situation in California continues to develop, AndNowUKnow will keeping pumping information your way.

State Water Resources Control Board

COACHELLA, CA - As we surpass the middle of the summer season, one of the hotter points of the year for the west coast of the U.S., Prime Time Produce’s Mike Aiton, Marketing Director, took the time to share with me that the pepper market is currently above normal FOB levels, and has been staying that way for the past several weeks.

“Overall yields have been lower than expected, not only in California but throughout the rest of the country as well,” Mike shares with me. “This shortage has had a positive effect on pricing for an extended period of time, as high temperatures and other weather-related problems across the country have delayed local programs and kept availability lower than expected.”

The heat in the west put an abrupt end to Prime Time’s Coachella season, Mike explains, with temperatures having hit over 120 degrees.

“History is repeating itself now in central California as temperatures have been in the 110 degree neighborhood for the past few days. Consequently the transition to cooler coastal areas in California cannot come soon enough,” Mike tells me.

As that transition looks to get underway, Mike cautions that volumes for the next week for red, green, and mini peppers will be a bit tight, balancing out and seeing production return to seasonally high levels next week.

“Availability and pricing will then be favorable for promotions throughout the balance of the month and continuing through the Labor Day holiday,” Mike says, adding that more and more states are getting in the game now, alleviating some of the pressure on the west.

As the change in seasons and back-to-school time approaches, AndNowUKnow will continue to keep our finger on the pulse of this and other transitions in fresh produce throughout 2016 and beyond.

Prime Time Produce

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The annual Rising Leaders Program, held in conjunction with the United Fresh Washington Conference on September 12-14, will be growing this year. The event will hold an additional three hours of curriculum for produce go-getters who’d like to better understand how legislation and policy impact their business.

Register Today!

“My staff that have attended grew with this program, expanded their personal industry network at an accelerated pace and felt a measure of pride to be involved in such a unique experience. Each of them returned grateful and motivated to help move the industry forward,” says Brian Kocher, Immediate Past Chairman of the United Fresh Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer of Castellini Company LLC, according to the organization's website.

Success in the current produce industry landscape hinges upon navigating the rules and regulations of government. The Rising Leaders Program will focus on teaching attendees how to effectively communicate with Congress. Attendees will also learn their role in shaping public policy to build a profitable business environment for the fresh produce industry.

There is no additional cost to attend the Rising Leaders Program within the United Fresh Conference, making it a win-win for both employees and employers. Click here to learn more and register today.

United Fresh