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Stemilt Growers' Brianna Shales Talks Stemilt Harvest for Cherries, Pears, and Apples
WENATCHEE, WA - As the summer continues on, the Pacific Northwest cherry season is nearing its peak of harvest in Washington State, which means Stemilt cherries are coming from the famous Stemilt Hill. Starting at an elevation of around 1,000 feet, Stemilt will continue picking cherries fresh daily into parts of August as it climbs up to 2,500 feet in late July with its special high-altitude cherry program, called A Half Mile Closer to the Moon™.
“Cherry harvest had a record early start in Washington this year and was compressed. This means harvest will wrap earlier than past years. However, with our unique high-altitude cherries, called Moon Cherries, Stemilt can carry retailers further into the summer with freshly harvested premium cherries coming in late July and early August,” Brianna Shales, Communications Manager, tells me.
The company has also kicked off its Kyle’s Pick™ Program which Stemilt will be shipping until mid-July. This program is built around large sizes and top varieties with incredible firmness and dessert flavors.
“We are really taking the best-of-the-best cherries and putting them in these designated packs so that retailers can promote quality for the whole month of July and into August,” Brianna adds. “July is a huge and important month for cherry sales. Promotions should be in full effect now and should continue all the way through the month of July.”
Stemilt is encouraging retailers to promote Cherry Festivals now, by showcasing a variety of different cherries on ad at the same time. Cherries are impulse purchases and big, dynamic, and eye-catching displays of large, high-quality fruit help consumers put cherries into their cart.
“When quality comes first and cherries are well displayed, they become a destination place at retail,” Brianna tells me. “Once the consumer sees the quality and the presentation is there, then the customer will come back and repeat purchase- a goal we all strive for.”
Moving forward, Stemilt is looking to kick off its pear harvest during the second week of August which is not too far form the norm, with Gala apples following soon after that. Stemilt’s apple and pear harvests have great timing for back-to-school promotions for retailers and plenty of Lil Snappers® opportunities are available to promote the ideal kid-friendly fruit in the convenient 3-pound pouch bag. The company’s apple harvest will continue from mid-August all the way until Pink Lady apples are picked from the tree at the end of October.
Keep an eye out for Stemilt’s Artisan Organic™ Summer Fruit program on stonefruit as well, which will begin in late July and run until mid-September, and offers a great differentiation point for quality-focused retailers. This is the seventh year Stemilt’s entire crop of peaches and nectarines has been certified organic.
With the summer heat setting in, the convenience of cool, fresh, fruit is at the top of my list.
Domex Superfresh Growers Promoted Mike Preacher to Director of Marketing
YAKIMA, WA - Produce industry veteran of more than ten years, Mike Preacher, has just been appointed as Domex Superfresh Growers’ new Director of Marketing and Customer Relations.
“I join a great team of marketing and sales professionals, and I look forward to helping them serve customer needs and continue to build the Superfresh Growers brand,” Preacher said on his new position, according to a press release.
Preacher brings a wide range of experience in marketing and leadership, having worked in various roles for Starbucks Coffee Company, including Category Manager and Business to Business Sales Manager for the Starbucks Card.
“Mike has a strong background in marketing, sales, and business development,” said Robert Kershaw, President of Domex Superfresh Growers. “He has a solid understanding of retail, food service, export, and wholesale, and is attuned to the needs of consumers. This experience will be a real asset to our customers, company and growers.”
In addition to his latest role, Preacher also serves on the board of the U.S. Apple Association.
Domex Superfresh Growers is one of the Kershaw companies, who over the years have grown into a vertically-integrated organization to include farming, warehousing, sales, marketing, and logistic services.
As the company makes additional moves for growth, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
WP Rawl Hosts Fourth Annual Katie's Krops Camp
PELION, SC – In the company’s fourth installment of a yearly commitment towards the empowerment of young growers, WP Rawl hosted another occurrence of Katie’s Krops.
“We are so proud to support Katie’s Krops with this dedicated camp once again”, said Ashley Rawl, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Product Development at WP Rawl. “We are truly inspired by this young lady whom we’ve been watching grow year after year. It is refreshing to get to know and interact with young people who are excited to make a difference in their local communities and in the world.”
Katie’s Krops is a non-profit which gives young growers an opportunity to plant vegetable gardens, and donate the harvest to members of their communities which are in need, according to a recent press release.
The non-profit was founded by Katie Stagliano, the program’s Chief Executive Gardener. Stagliano selected 12 campers, ages 10 through 18, from a varied selection of states throughout the U.S.
Campers learned new growing techniques, and visited the WP Rawl Headquarters with private tours of the fields and plant; an addition to the event after campers from the inaugural year expressed interest in ag careers and “behind the scenes” activities.
“I am so grateful to WP Rawl and their generosity year after year,” said Stagliano. “Every time they host us, they make us feel like part of the family and we get more out of this experience than I can begin to describe. I hope they know how much this means to me and to the Katie’s Krops growers who get the opportunity to participate.”
The campers also hosted a service project to aid a Katie’s Krops grower at White Knoll Middle School in West Columbia, SC. This project included expanding the garden and adding irrigation at the site.
Campers at Katie’s Krops also were provided the opportunity to prepare a mock “Katie’s Krops Dinner,” which was modeled after the monthly charity dinners which Stagliano and her friends host for those in need in Summerville, SC.
The camp was held from June 27 through June 29 at WP Rawl’s headquarters in Pelion, SC. The opportunity provided all expenses to be paid for its attendees.
Katie’s Krops stated that it is currently working with Sub-Zero to raise funds to start 25 new gardens. The refrigeration company will donate $5 to Katie’s Krops each time the #FreshFoodMatters hastag is used on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, up to a $25,000 total. This grant from Sub-Zero will provide funding for further education of young growers to continue harvesting vegetables for those in need.
To view Katie’s story on why Fresh Food Matters, visit www.FreshFoodMatters.com.
Fiesta Mart Expands Presence by 50 Percent With Acquisitions From RLS Supermarkets
HOUSTON, TX - The North Texas retail scene is about to add even more heat to its competitive grocery market. Houston-based grocer Fiesta Mart is growing its North Texas presence by nearly 50 percent with the acquisition of 11 RLS Supermarkets-owned stores.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area stores include nine under the Minyard Food Stores banner and two under Sun Fresh Markets. These new additions take Fiesta’s number of stores in the area from 24 to 35, and to 70 across the entirety of Texas. The Dallas Business Journal reports that the acquired stores will transition to the Fiesta brand over the next several weeks.
“We are excited to welcome Minyard Food Stores to the Fiesta family. This action reinforces the strategic growth plan we put forth early last year,” Fiesta CEO Michael Byars said in a statement, Dallas Business Journal reports. “Our entire Fiesta team has worked together to move the brand forward organically, and now through acquisition we continue on our growth plan.”
While no financial terms of the acquisition have yet been revealed, no job cuts are expected as a result of the acquisition, the company says, even hinting at possibly adding jobs in the future.
Dallas Business Journal notes that stores will continue to be supplied by Associated Wholesale Grocers, and now also be supplied by Fiesta’s supplier, Grocery Supply.
It certainly looks like the growing competition in North Texas won't stop any time soon—make sure you check back for even more developments on AndNowUKnow.
A Single Bunch of Ruby Roman Grapes Goes for $11K at Japanese Auctions
JAPAN - Fruit continues to make excitable waves in the luxury line of Japanese foods, with grapes continuing to cause an extra stir.
Most recently, one bidder fought for and won a bunch of Ruby Roman grapes for 1.1 million yen, or almost $11,000 U.S. dollars. At upwards of $350 a grape, the winner seemed to feel it was a deal worth making.
“These are truly Ruby Roman gems,” bidder Takamaru Konishi of western Japan told the press, according to The Guardian. “We will display them at our store before giving our customers a sample taste.”
This bunch beats the record of last year’s reported summer auction of Ruby Romans, which went for a hefty $8,200, and the year before’s best seller of $5,400 a bunch.
This is in line with the Ishikawa prefecture’s Ruby Roman club website, which says that the prices on the sought-after variety have been rising consistently ever since it first went on sale in 2008.
Like other luxury fruits, it is common for the victor of the auction to put the bunch on display in a storefront before they are sold or used as a delicacy. This year’s buyer reported that samples will be provided to a few lucky patrons, though it wasn’t said if there would be a price attached or not.
Roughly the size of a ping pong ball, each $350 grape must weigh at least 20g and have a sugar content of at least 18%, according to The Guardian.
The sale not only made the books, but also signaled the start of the Ruby Roman season in Japan. Safe to say that this one is starting off with a bang, and we can’t wait to see what other extravagant moves the summer brings for the fruits of the season.
Coliman's Jorge Angel Aguilar Jr. Talks Fair Trade Certification, Rainforest Alliance Certification, and Organic Bananas
COLIMA, MEXICO - “For Coliman, our people as well as their families and our land are just as important as our customers. We feel it is a symbiotic relationship where everyone contributes to the betterment and improvement of both people and mother earth,” Jorge Angel Aguilar Jr., Corporate CEO of Coliman, tells me as we discuss the company’s vision, foundation and Fair Trade Certification (FTC).
With Coliman’s continued goal of becoming a regional, national, and international leader in marketing and distributing organic bananas, FTC is a topic that remains top-of-mind as the company discovers new ways to add value to its product and its family of workers. Consumers continue to support FTC products, Jorge notes, due to their positive social and economic impact on farm labor and its communities, as well as the impact on environmental sustainable farming practices.
“The annual sales of Fair Trade Certified products is $6.5 billion and this program continues to grow in Europe and in North America showing 30% growth in Canada and U.S. sales are now $577 Million,” Jorge adds. “Fair Trade Certification came about as the result of Coliman’s values and commitment to corporate social responsibility. As an important grower in Mexico, our ownership prides itself on the direct and honest communication and dialogue with the industry based on the respect of its workers.”
In addition to the company’s FTC initiatives, Coliman has also achieved Rainforest Alliance Certification on its organic bananas, passing rigorous social and environmental standards set by the Sustainable Agriculture Network(SAN) to ensure the company grows crops and manages ranchlands sustainably.
“The Rainforest Alliance reinforces our commitment to ecosystem conservation, sustainability practices, wildlife protection, fair treatment and good working conditions,” Jorge tells me while we speak about how the company’s goal is to remain stewards of the land. “Coliman has always had the objective of improving the lives of its workers and the community. Our workers come from local communities as our farms produce year round. Our programs include education, housing, promoting exercise and nutrition, and improving our environment. All this ensures that we help to improve the quality of the lives of our workers and their families while providing a high quality product to the marketplace and our valued, socially responsible customers”
The Fair Trade program, through the local committees, has allowed Coliman to buy washing machines, refrigerators and stoves for 260 families, school kits for 136 families, bicycles for 174 families, and the construction of lunch rooms for two public schools in the community. Coliman also works in conjunction with local and state authorities to help in the construction of a city park and reforestation.
So what is it about Colima that makes it such an ideal growing region? Jorge tells me that it has the optimum climate conditions for growing bananas due to its mild year-round weather and low precipitation levels compared with other growing regions.
“In order to be congruent with our values and to maintain the work/life balance for our workers we already have established, it only made sense to become Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance Certified,” Jorge adds.
Coliman is already shipping its FTC products, identified by the FTC logo, to the U.S. through Nogales, Arizona, and McAllen, Texas, for retail partners. Rainforest Alliance Certified products are also shipping now, with certification recently awarded in June of 2016.
As the company continues to expand its retail distribution, and raise the bar on its social and corporate responsibility, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for continued updates on Coliman.
WhiteWave Foods Company to be Acquired by Danone for $10.4 Billion
DENVER, CO – Notable international name Danone has announced that the French company has reached a deal to acquire WhiteWave Foods Co. for $10.4 billion.
“We found in WhiteWave the perfect alliance as we both believe in a healthier future and are conscious of our power to lead society forward,” said Danone CEO Emmanuel Faber in a statement, according to USA Today. “This unique combination positions us better to address tomorrow’s consumer trends."
WhiteWave Foods, which owns popular health-oriented brands such as Earthbound Farm, Silk, and Horizon Organic, will simultaneously double the size of Danone’s U.S. footprint while positioning the company as a global leader in consumer health-food brands.
The deal, expected to close later this year, will increase Danone’s North American business from 12 percent of its portfolio to 22 percent. The company stated that the deal will be entirely debt-financed and will boost earnings from the first year after closing.
"We are creating a truly global leader in line with lasting consumer trends for more healthier options," Faber stated in a call with analysts, according to Reuters.
Danone reportedly agreed to pay WhiteWave investors $56.25 a share, according to Bloomberg, which is 19 percent higher than WhiteWave’s closing price on Wednesday and 24 percent higher than the company’s average 30-day closing price.
This deal agreement is the first major transaction for Danone after Faber took over as Chief Executive for the company in 2014, and pledged to position the company for strong and sustainable growth.
WhiteWave has positioned the company and its brands as a leading contender in U.S. for tapping in on consumer-minded health food trends. Analysts quoted to Bloomberg that the company’s sales are expected to increase 11 percent this year, after doubling since 2010, with 86 percent of the company’s revenues coming from North America.
"Danone is a unique company with distinctive capabilities that will enable WhiteWave to reach its next phase of growth," said WhiteWave CEO Gregg Engles in a statement, according to USA Today. "Danone is a great cultural fit for our organization and I am excited for our employees."
Analysts have not discounted that investors could be expecting a higher bid for the fast-growing company as WhiteWave’s share rose to a record high of $56.82 and remained above Danone’s offer price, as reported by Reuters.
If the deal falls through, WhiteWave will reportedly have to pay Danone $310 million.
As more details are released on this acquisition, and the rising influence of the organic and health food markets, AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest.
Engage3 Appoints Rob Culin as Senior Vice President of Personalization
DAVIS, CA - Competitive intelligence and consumer engagement company, Engage3, has announced the addition of former Senior Vice President of Shopper Insights and Strategic Programs for dunnhumbyUSA, Rob Culin. Culin will now serve as Senior Vice President of Personalization for Engage3, taking up the task of leading and implementing the company's Consumer Engagement and Personalization Platform as it looks to launch for consumer media, retailer loyalty programs, and the connected home.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Engage3 over the last 6 months in an advisory capacity and I am immensely excited to join full time as the company implements its Consumer Engagement and Personalization Platform,” explained Culin as he addressed his new undertaking. “The platform and the company’s partner ecosystem have been designed to allow us to simultaneously help businesses build loyalty and acquire new customers.”
Culin continued, “The 5x improvement that the platform has demonstrated when compared to traditional mass promotions far exceeds the industry standards and I am excited to partner with retailers and manufacturers to roll this out.”
Having served as Senior Vice President of Consumer Products Industry and Collaborative Programs for IBM DemandTec and five years in his position with dunnhumbyUSA, Culin is no stranger to shopper insights and targeted marketing. According to a press release, the industry veteran’s other positions include roles at Kraft Foods, Kurt Salmon Associates, Andersen Consulting, and AT Kearney. Culin holds an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BA in Engineering and Economics from Brown University.
“Rob has demonstrated a history of creating win-win solutions for retailers and manufacturers, particularly when it comes to trade optimization and targeted marketing,” explained Ken Ouimet, the Founder and CEO of Engage3. “This is an exciting time for the company and I cannot think of a better person to lead our personalization efforts.”
As Culin and the company embark on their mission to engage even further with consumer media companies, retailers, and beyond, we look forward to updating you with the latest.
USDA Restricts PACA Violators in California and New York from Operating in the Produce Industry
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on five 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:
- Excell Prod., Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, CA, for failing to pay a $15,526 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Wing Tsan was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.
- Torres Produce, operating out of Delano, CA, for failing to pay a $23,820 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jose L. Torres and Angelica Torres were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
- Edgar Garzon, doing business as GSP Distributors, operating out of Los Angeles, CA, for failing to pay a $7,466 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Edgar Garzon was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.
- Legacy Produce Inc., operating out of Santa Cruz, CA, for failing to pay a $38,818 award in favor of a California seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Sue S. Herfurth and Ken G. Herfurth were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
- Penny Tsigaris, doing business as Manavi Produce, operating out of Oceanside, NY, for failing to pay a $117,544 award in favor of an Arizona seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Penny Tsigaris was listed as the sole proprietor 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.