SALINAS, CA - Taylor Farms®, already known for vegetable and salad processing, is taking things one step further in innovation with the new launch of its Chef Crafted Salad Blends.

As we reported recently, this latest product line of six flavorful, distinctive blends looks to cater to consumers’ taste preferences, as well as the need to quickly prepare fresh, healthy meals.

In the above behind-the-scenes video exclusive, Director of Product Development Kacie Vieth Ragsdale, Retail President Mark Campion, Vice President of Product Management Bryan Janes, and Vice President of Operations Jerrett Stoffel, discuss the excitement, innovation, technology, and drive that has led to this newest addition to Taylor Farms’ portfolio.

“The benefits of the Chef Crafted Salad Line is that we’ve put a unique blend of vegetables, fruits, and herbs inside the package. Every package that we produce has different ingredients in it that, historically, have not been able to live together,” Campion says, calling it a first in the industry.

Wrapped in the company’s proprietary TaylorClear™ packaging, Stoffel notes an additional key advantage to the line: clarity. “The benefit is you will get optimum clarity, there will be no hiding the vegetable everything will be right at the top for consumers to see.”

See each of the trays up close in the brief, high-graphic video above and hear more on the Taylor Farms team’s excitement about this creation that has been five years in the making.

Taylor Farms

IRVINE, CA - In an era of meatless menus, few fruits do as much heavy-lifting as Fresh California Avocados. With vegetarian-enticing attributes such as a rich, luxurious taste and a smooth, silky texture, these dishes are both pleasing and satisfying when avocados are added. 

“Consumers, both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, are seeking more plant-based dishes when dining out, and it is great news for the produce industry that restaurants are adding vegetarian options to menus,” said Jan DeLyser, Vice President of Marketing for the California Avocado Commission (CAC). “CAC supports foodservice operators by providing menu inspirations including these vegetarian dishes that star California avocados.” 

According to CAC, the vegetarians of today benefit from the global resources and inspiration available to innovative chefs. Here are a few of CAC’s foodservice recipe recommendations: 

Spicy Carrot, Cucumber and Fresh California Avocado Salad

Ginger, Thai chiles, and rice wine vinegar give Spicy Carrot, Cucumber and Fresh California Avocado Salad a distinctively Asian flavor profile.  

Vegetarian Kufteh with Fresh California Avocado Salsa

From Persia, Vegetarian Kufteh with Fresh California Avocado Salsa delivers a hearty grain and legume croquette topped with a lemon and cumin-scented avocado relish. 

Coconut-California Avocado Ceviche

For a vegan version of a popular appetizer, two tropical fruits get a creative spin in Coconut-California Avocado Ceviche.

The Commission’s dedicated foodservice webpage, CaliforniaAvocado.com/Foodservice, houses these recipes and more vegetarian and globally inspired menu ideas with Fresh California Avocados. While on the site, be sure to browse the Fresh California Avocado recipe database and serving suggestions, while finding a wide variety of helpful resources, such as nutrition, selection, storage and handling information—all for optimizing Fresh California Avocado usage. 

California Avocado Commission

LEAMINGTON, ON - As the company continues in its commitment to bring new greenhouse-grown produce options to consumers, NatureFresh™ Farms has recently launched its new TOMZ™ Snacking Tomato product line to meet the increasing demand for consistently flavorful and locally grown varieties—no matter the time of year.

“Our snacking tomato line has been expanding each year as we continue to bring new varieties to market. As a vertically integrated grower and marketer, we are able to maintain a greater level of quality in what we pick, pack, and ship to our customers,” said Matt Quiring, Retail Account Manager. “Our tomato growing philosophy allows us to produce a better quality product which ensures we are delivering an overall better eating experience for the consumer. By launching the TOMZ™ Snacking Tomato line, we are giving customers & consumers alike, a program that caters to all of their taste preferences with locally grown tomatoes, 12 months a year.”

All of TOMZ™ tomato varieties are currently grown in Leamington, and will shift production to Delta, Ohio this fall to provide year-round availability. The NatureFresh™ expansion to Ohio will support the year-round capabilities and not only gives consumers in the mid-west a great tomato on the vine with its OhioRed™ tomatoes, but locally-grown products as well. NatureFresh™ started shipping the new TOMZ™ brand snacking tomatoes to all of their retail partners the week of June 20th, so the line is available now.

The category-wide brand TOMZ™ includes red, yellow, and orange grape tomatoes as well as red cherry, sweet cocktail, and medley tomatoes. These product offerings allow NatureFresh™ to consistently market and promote locally grown, year-round, premium specialty tomatoes under a single label, according to a press release. TOMZ™ offers a unique concept that retailers are excited about, one which brings differentiation to the greenhouse tomato destination at retail. 

The TOMZ™ Snacking Tomato Program was recently debuted at United Fresh in Chicago and met rave reviews, the company adds. Attendees enjoyed the color variations in the branding in keeping a consistent message on the label. NatureFresh™ recognizes that building brand awareness across multiple greenhouse varieties with premium tomatoes can help gain consumer confidence and drive repeat sales.

With recent Greenhouse Vegetable Awards for Best Cocktail Tomato & People’s Choice Award for Hottest Tomato, the launch of the new NatureFresh™ snacking tomato program shows its commitment to developing premium produce offerings.

NatureFresh™ Farms, a family-owned and managed company, currently operates 130 acres in Leamington, Ontario, and 15 acres in Delta, Ohio, with 30 more acres in Ohio coming online by November. The company’s new year-round production facility in Delta, will give the company 45 acres of locally grown specialty tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, and its new OhioRed™ TOV’s starting this upcoming winter.

With Phase 1 (15.30 acres) in Ohio completed in late 2015, the company is looking to ramp up construction on Phase 2 (15.30 acres) and Phase 3 (15.30 acres) which will be completed later this fall.  NatureFresh™ reduces food miles from Mexico, Central America, and overseas, to ensure TOMZ™ brand snacking tomatoes will give customers confidence in buying locally grown, consistently flavorful tomatoes year-round.

NatureFresh™ Farms

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - Grocery workers in Southern California have voted to authorize a strike against companies Ralphs and Albertsons, which includes the banners Vons, Pavilions, and Safeway. While there is no set date by the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) to actually strike, the vote now allows the group to stop working at will. 

Union President Mickey Kasparian has commented that the UFCW, which represents about 47,000 grocery employees in Southern California, is committed to meeting with these companies this month for more talks, and after that, “they’ll see,” he says.

"We don't want to strike. We understand the impact on consumers, our communities and our members," said Rick Icaza, President of UFCW Local 770 in a statement. "But the out-of-state corporations and hedge funds controlling the stores may leave us no choice. Despite profits of over a half-billion dollars, they are still demanding our workers give up retirement and health care security and forego raises for two years. That's not fair, and it's not right."

Other officials from the union have said that grocery chains want to cut costs in anticipation of the state minimum wage rising $15 an hour by 2020, according to The San Diego Tribune. The current starting salary at the chains is $10.10 an hour, the source reports.

The retailers originally were seeking cuts in holiday pay and ways to reduce the companies’ additional contributions to pensions, as well as a requirement for entry-level employees to work longer before advancing to higher pay grades, according to Local 135 officials.

"Ralphs is committed to reaching an agreement with union leadership at the one place an agreement can be reached—the bargaining table," the company said in a statement. "A strike authorization vote is premature and only serves to cause concern for associates and customers.” 

Albertsons and Vons Spokesman Carlos Illingworth said it remains committed to negotiating a contract “that is fair to all parties,” The San Diego Tribune reports.

Things will likely change as more negotiations take place, so keep up with the latest at AndNowUKnow.

SANTA PAULA, CA – Limoneira is looking to highlight the diverse application of lemons for the summer-minded consumer, with its recent video featuring Company Spokesperson and Healthy Grocery Girl® Founder, Megan Roosevelt. 

“Summer is here which means great weather and great food, and lemons are a popular staple in the summer because they’re so versatile,” Megan says in the video. “From picnics, light summer dining, to barbequing.” 

Megan outlines four easy ways for consumers bring an added lemon in the basket, to the star of any summer activity: 

• Season Veggies on the Barbeque
• Clean the Barbeque with Lemons
• Hydrate with Lemon Water
• Light Summer Dining with Lemons

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Limoneira also divulged in a recent press release that the versatility of the fruit extends even further from the store shelf, into the following home-based applications of a consumer: 

• Fight voice-harming infections
• Boost energy
• Whiten your smile
• Natural highlights
• Repel insects
• Banish weeds 

Limoneira and Megan also teamed up to address the shifting culinary needs of the consumer as the temperature shifts upwards as well. “A few ways to keep meals light and nutritious are with smoothies and salads,” says Megan. 

Consumers can add the easily-applied zest of lemons to their table-side selections through recipes such as a honey lemon salad dressing, and a summer lemon smoothie. Instructions for Megan’s favorite summer tips can be found in the video above.

As summer trends continue to unfold, keep up with AndNowUKnow for the latest in consumer-minded and foodservice announcements.

Limoneira

CENTRAL VALLEY, CA – As West Coast temperatures continue to heat up and the sun beats down, California scientists have discovered potentially good news for the dried state. A reservoir containing 713 trillion gallons of water has been discovered underneath the Central Valley.

While this development could be a breaking boost for California in terms of water supply, scientists and professors in the surrounding region have cautioned that as of now, nothing is for sure. 

“We don’t want to fool the public into thinking that we suddenly have increased our water supply by a factor of ten,” said Hydrologist Jay Famiglietti, a Professor at UC Irvine and a Senior Water Scientist at JPL, according to new source KPCC. 

Scientists stated that water is located 1,000 to 3,000 feet underground, which poses significant dangers of sinking ground into the reservoir; an issue which is already prevalent in the Central Valley region. 

“There are places where there is good fresh water available, but we’re not saying to run out and drill,” stated Robert B. Jackson, Stanford Professor and Co-Author of a study on the California reservoirs. “We’re saying, let’s quantify this resource, let’s understand it, and ideally let’s save it for the future as a rainy day fund.”

Scientists cautioned that the water could also be contaminated from oil and gas drilling which has occurred in the region. Famiglietti also stated to KPCC, that while deep groundwater basins are a resource, their usefulness tends to vary. 

“It’s not clear at what rate we should extract them, and when we will be able to do that without significant consequences," Famiglietti finished.

As California continues to struggle through the legalities of an ongoing drought, this reservoir could make a sizable impact on water use for citizens and farms, if deemed usable.

AndNowUKnow will keep you updated as more information on the reservoir, and the state of California's drought, continues to be released.

DONNA, TX - In what the company refers to as part of reflecting its new organizational repositioning, Kingdom Fresh Farms has introduced refreshed packaging and launched a redesigned website. 

“For more than a year, we have been actively defining our competitive points of differentiation and refining our internal and external market positions that set us apart from the competition,” explained Guillermo Martinez, General Manager of Kingdom Fresh Farms. “The new packaging and website reflect nearly nine months of hard work to clarify our brand and our message.”

The new packaging and website reflect the company tagline “Cultivating Connections,” which Martinez said both highlights how the company does business, and is intimately tied to the people, and great quality and service they make possible.

Rolling out during June and July, the packaging offers the following: 

• Bold, clean design 
• Easy-to-read product naming to assist with product merchandising
• Highlights Kingdom Fresh employees
• Directs consumers to the website for more information about the company 

“Highlighting our employees on our packaging is about showcasing how proud we are of the people behind the brand. People that have worked with us from the beginning. People whose families we know, whose communities we support,” shared Martinez. “People want to know where their food comes from and the people behind it–that’s what our connections are about.”

These connections, Martinez mentions, go even further on the new organizational website, kingdomfresh.com. There the company explains how they build greenhouses in existing communities, allowing Kingdom Fresh to focus on local labor and avoid the use of more controversial migrant help and labor camps. The new website also highlights Kingdom Fresh’s growth in the tomato industry and emphasis on food safety and sustainability, including new initiatives such as solar power, non-GMO verification, and a line of organics.

“We are a young company just over a decade old, but we’ve proven our commitment to the industry and the communities where we do business with continued strength and expansion thanks to the vision of our founders who believe in growing local economies and creating partnerships with our customers,” Martinez finished. 

In just that past year, Kingdom Fresh Farms has added additional greenhouse acreage in a second location, new packing lines to improve efficiencies to meet increased volume and demand, completed non-GMO certification, and began production of a new organic line of tomatoes.

For more on the company and to see the new branding for yourself, visit KingdomFresh.com. 

Kingdom Fresh

YAKIMA, WA – As June comes to a close, the industry prepares to step into the full swing of summer. This seasonal shift has found Domex Superfresh Growers halfway through its cherry season, as outlined in its June Orchard Update. 

“Cherries are great this year, the cool weather has a different effect,” says Dave, as he discusses the state of crops following the first day of summer this past week. “Last year we had a very hot summer, and that tended to compress the maturity of the fruit. We make a lot of plans based on when full bloom happens.” 

Dave says that with the summer sunlight, Washington orchards are now seeing around 16 hours of sunlight a day. This sunny extension is not only good for growers, but also lets the fruit mature with lots of sugar and more color.  

“This year we’ve got some of the largest fruit that we’ve seen. It’s an excellent year for large fruit, and sweet, tasty cherries,” continues Dave. 

For more information on the weather’s influence on the bountiful harvest of Washington cherries, check out the update directly from Dave in the above video. 

As cherry season continues to move through the summer holidays, stay with AndNowUKnow as we keep an eye on weather, quality, and quantity in the industry.

Domex Superfresh Growers

VIDALIA, GA - What’s your inspiration? If consumers give the Vidalia Onion Committee (VOC) a great answer to that question, they may walk away with a big cash prize. Through its “V*Inspired,” promotional campaign, VOC is encouraging consumers to share inspirational thoughts, stories, recipes, cooking ideas and more for a chance to win $500, with an additional $500 being donated to a charity of the winner’s choice.  

Consumers can visit Facebook.com/Vidaliaonions.org for their chance to win and give back to the local community. Scheduled to end on July 14^th, in addition to the grand prize winner, there will also be two runner-up winners who will each receive $250, and an additional $250 will be donated. Weekly winners will be selected randomly to win a 5 lb. bag of Vidalia onions, according to a press release.

This year’s V*inspired campaign features two inspirational spokespersons:

• Cookbook author and Season 1 winner of MasterChef, Chef Whitney Miller 
• 13-year old cancer survivor and food truck charity proponent, Chef Lucas Hobbs

This season, the VOC and Chef Lucas will be taking the V*Inspired Campaign on the road, with food truck events in both Minneapolis and Nashville. These events will raise funds for Chef’s Lucas’ non-profit organization, “Doing Good with Food,” serving pediatric cancer patients and their families via restaurants and chef-designed meal kits for cooking at home.

“Chef Lucas has been such an inspiration that we’re proud to raise funds to support his non-profit organization,” explained Susan Waters, Executive Director of the Vidalia Onion Committee. “Our goal is to inspire a new generation of cooks and consumers, while educating them on the versatility and premium flavor of Vidalia onions.”  

For more information and to enter the V*Inspired contest visit Facebook.com/Vidaliaonions.org and click on the contest tab. The direct contest link is http://vinspiredcontest.pgtb.me/HGDHgs.

Vidalia Onion Committee

UNITED STATES – As the nation prepares for a holiday weekend rife with summer fruit, face-painting, cool drinks, and backyard barbeques, authorities are looking to ensure that people stay safe as they celebrate the Fourth of July. 

To put a sugary spin on the very real dangers of explosives and fireworks this holiday season, authorities in several states are using fruit as the metaphorical vehicles of the dangers that explosives can cause to humans.

"We want to reiterate the importance of firework safety," said Detroit Fire Department Captain Chris Dixon, according to MLive. "Fireworks in the past didn't go boom, bang, pow in the air. But now, fireworks that go boom, bang, pow and are very powerful- are what they're selling at the tents." 

Detroit’s Fire Department chose to send splatters of watermelon all over the city streets in a demonstration of the power of mortar firework, as you can see in the above video. 

Authorities in Tampa, FL, wanted its residents to pay close attention to the flashy power of fireworks particularly when children are present, according to Fox13News. The starring commodity in this video? A cantaloupe, magnificently shattered in mid-air. Get your fill of detonated fruit below.

While fireworks should definitely be used carefully and responsibly this holiday season, especially given the recent droughts on the West Coast, it’s also fun to get a dose of exploding fruit with your needed cautionary tales. 

So (safely) let your fruit blast its way into an iced tea or sangria this weekend, and have yourself a great Fourth of July from everyone here at AndNowUKnow.