CINCINNATI, OH – As retailers continue to announce shifting strategies to tap in on consumer demand and a growing focus on food culture, Kroger Co. has announced that the company will make a sizeable investment into a new culinary training and education center. 

“We believe this will further establish Cincinnati as a hub for the food industry,” CEO Rodney McMullen said. “It’s nice this is in Cincinnati. The food scene here is kind of fun.”

Kroger plans to invest $2.5 million into remodeling the downtown building, with plans to open the 12,270-square-foot facility as a culinary training and education center, according to The Cincinnati Business Courier. The company plans to bring 20 chefs at a time to the location, for a day or two to exchange ideas. 

“We’ll have a facility that’s incredibly up to date for chefs to do what chefs do and make some great product,” said McMullen. “But they’ll also be able to give us more insight on food trends, so when you think about our corporate brands, making sure we’re developing the right flavors, the right trends, the right product lines.”

McMullen said that the company is following a similar trend of several other venture capitalist partnerships and restaurant start-ups, to invest funding into a nationwide burgeoning food scene. Kroger plans to break ground on the project next month, and detailed the project during its annual shareholders’ meeting last week. 

“It’s more about the food experience for us,” Mike Donnelley, Executive Vice President of Merchandising. “It’s about how to stay more in tune with food trends.”

This announcement seems to mark a rising trend in the buy-side industry, as Walmart debuted its own culinary center earlier this year. Kroger looks to be continuing a move towards innovative consumer-based strategies as the company also stated a growing interest in formulating a Kroger delivery meal service, according to The Cincinnati Business Courier. 

As retailers continue to sharpen their focus and hone in on growing trends and strategies, AndNowUKnow will continue to report on these announcements and their impact on the industry.

Kroger

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Putting a new spin on the world of crime and fruit pairings, market value fruit prices were the downfall of this woman’s recent drug smuggling scheme. 

Chinese authorites have announced that a woman from the country’s Guangdong Province was arrested along with two others for using fruit sales as a catalyst to move around 100 lbs. of methamphetamine.

The woman, surnamed Lu, used a van filled with fruit to smuggle the drugs into Shanghai. However, it was the fruit that ended up getting her busted. Having nowhere to offload her unneeded fruit, Lu began selling it herself at a wholesale produce market in Putuo District. 

“Because Lu used fruit to sneak the drug into Shanghai, she was eager to get rid it in case the presence of a large amount of fruit in her apartment made neighbors suspicious,” said Shen Yi, a Putuo police official, according to ShanghaiDaily.com. 

Authorities intercepted Lu’s van at a toll gate after becoming noticing Lu’s fruit sales at well below standard market price, and found bags of the illicit drugs stuffed in metal cans. Police said that about 80 percent of drug trafficking cases involve the substances entering Shanghai by road.

As the market continues to take move, and sometimes surprise items within it, stay with AndNowUKnow as we continue to have the latest.

SANTA PAULA, CA – Continuing its commitment towards clean energy, Limoneira Company announced that the company will begin using solar energy at its operations at Porterville Ranch.

"Clean solar energy is positive for our Company, the communities in which we operate, and for our planet,” stated Harold Edwards, Limoneira's CEO. “These projects are the right thing to do, and they've been successful."

Limoneira’s Porterville Ranch is part of the company’s Northern California operations, and spans 669 acres, with 650 of those acres dedicated to the following agricultural plantings: 

• 145 acres of lemons
• 376 acres of Navel oranges
• 27 acres of Valencia oranges
• 102 acres of specialty citrus and other crops 

The company stated in a press release that its technology has been advancing rapidly, and the Porterville Ranch project is expected to deliver around 385,000 KW of clean energy per year.

"Limoneira's solar facilities are capable of producing 3,900 megawatt hours annually, or 97,500 MW over a 25-year period, which equates to a reduction of 64,000 tons of CO2 emissions," said Mark Palamountain, Senior Director of Agricultural Operations.

As energy costs continue to rise in the industry, Limoneria stated that it has locked in electrical rates. Energy projects by the company have reduced its costs from the Southern California Edison by 70 percent.

"Like its predecessors, we expect a good return from this new solar project. We'll continue to evaluate projects that make sense for us,” finished Edwards.

Limoneira launched its first solar facility in 2008, at its headquarters in Santa Paula to provide energy for its packing operations. In 2009, the company added solar capacity to Limoneira’s northern farming operations in Ducor Ranch.

Stay with AndNowUKnow as we continue to have the latest in energy shifts and announcements within the industry.

Limoneira

With the approach that “innovation starts here,” many new and innovative products were the apple of attendees eyes at United Fresh 2016. Here are few that resonated with me as I walked the floor.

Bay Baby's PERSONAL Spaghetti Squash

Cutting a spaghetti squash in half, putting it in the oven, and then adding some garlic salt and pepper is one of my favorite easy dinners. This particular product is right up my ally for both convenience and mitigating leftovers in my fridge.

Mastronardi's SUNSET® Tomato of Yore™

Mastronardi tapped into my, and many others around the world’s, Game of Thrones love with what it calls “the King of Flavor,” with catchy messages about its being greenhouse grown so no need to fear winter's coming. And if the curvy four pack Top Seal is eye-catching on the busy show floor, I'm sure it will have that effect in-store as well.

Sunkist's One Pound Lemon Pouch

This new package is bright yellow and screamed summer to me when I stopped by Sunkist’s booth. The one pound bag showcases the product and offers a sturdy handle to make it easy to carry out of the store and on to whatever party the produce’s destination may be.

Mucci's Naked Leaf

I really like the message the name conveys, with the all-natural trends gripping consumers “naked” seems a perfect word to apply to produce. The packaging was versatile, and the leaves, root and all, were worth biting into.

Rennaisance Food Group's Tropical Juicing Kit

Juicing is a key way fresh produce is making it to kitchens, and at 15.75 oz with several fruits and greens, I can see this being a great starter to getting curious dabblers into more juicing and more fresh produce purchases.

As you can see, this year offered a wide array of innovations as the industry looks to push produce further into the spotlight. I can't wait to see what is to come as the countdown begins to United Fresh 2017.

United Fresh Bay Baby Produce Sunkist Mastronardi  Mucci Farms Renaissance Food Group

NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA- From Little Red Gems and Artisan lettuces to George T’s Special Colossal Romaine Hearts and Boston lettuces, Baldor Specialty Foods is constantly looking to evolve the staple of American salads. And who better to help them do this, than one of the most well-rooted and innovative teams in produce: Tanimura & Antle. 

Kenneth Bower, Senior Buyer for Baldor, took a few minutes from his day to chat with me about the company’s relationship with T&A, and how the partnership has evolved over the years.

“We have been doing business with T&A for quite some time now, but we have really seen the relationship come to a new level in the past four to five years as we put new programs in place,” Kenneth tells me.

When I ask him what made T&A a good fit for Baldor, Kenneth shares that T&A has a real understanding of the New York market and the high level of quality and service its customers demand. And T&A always meets those high demands. 

“We see ourselves as the top-shelf specialty foods provider on the East Coast and we see T&A as a top shelf grower,” he says. “A match made in heaven.”

From the T&A side of the relationship, the facets appear equally as beneficial. Kelsey Crusha, Eastern Region Sales Service Manager for T&A, tells me that Tanimura & Antle and Baldor's success, as partners, begins with the families.

“Both companies are multi generational, family-owned and operated, with the same core values as leaders in the industry. Baldor has done an amazing job supporting T&A's innovative product line and, most importantly, educating the customer on the realities that face our industry,” Kelsey says. “From ownership down the line, the support is unwavering and I know the partnership is only going to continue to grow.”

So, what are some of the additional highlights of the T&A partnership? Consistent good arrivals, very high fill rate, top-notch unique product variety, and respect for Baldor and the company’s role in the Industry. 

“Also, T&A’s food safety record is impeccable and the company’s respect for the environment and commitment to sustainable farming is impressive,” Kenneth adds. “The company’s employee and worker relations are great, and this is testament to the care they take with every level, and person, within the operation. They are simply good, honest, people.”

As consumer demand for healthier eating options continues to grow, we will bring you more updates on partnerships and programs in the fresh produce industry.  

Baldor Specialty Foods Tanimura & Antle  

CHICAGO, IL - For those of you who stopped by the AndNowUKnow booth during United Fresh, you found us doing something a little different this year–find the photo in the ANUK Apple.

We wanted to know who had the fastest eyes in the Midwest, and the times were better than we could have imagined. But there can only be one winner, and in the end it was NatureFresh’s Director of Marketing, Chris Veillon, that walked away with an extra $500 and an impressive time of 00:01:01.

“So many photos to take in–so little time. Totally surprised to have the fastest time in the contest! Thanks ANUK!!!” Chris said on the win, adding that it will be a great addition to his daughter's graduation gift.

But the turnout was too good not to share, so here are our top 20 times to find the face in the ANUK Apple:

• 1. Chris Veillon, NatureFresh - 00:01:01
• 2. Dan Walsh, IFCO - 00:01:03
• 3. Caitlyne Johns, Double Diamond - 00:01:80
• 4. Bret Burdsal, SunFed - 00:02:31
• 5. Kari Valdes, Taylor Farms - 00:02:16
• 6. Jennifer Dietrich, Vistar - 00:02:43
• 7. Melinda Goodman, Full Tilt Marketing - 00:02:62
• 8. Barbara Dellavechia, Emerald Packing - 00:02:65
• 9. Mark Munger, 4Earth Farms - 00:02:90
• 10. Michelle McNeece, Ippolito, 00:03:48
• 11. Annie Pape, Frank Donio - 00:03:60
• 12. Heather Hammack, Famous Software - 00:03:82
• 13. Beth Atkinson, DMA Solutions - 00:04:42
• 14. Jay Zimmerman, Crunch Pak 00:05:39
• 15. Teri Miller, Retired Food Lion - 00:06:38
• 16. Hillary Femal, IFCO - 00:06:87
• 17. Danny Elias, Mucci Farms - 00:07:07
• 18. Susan Gardiner, DuPont Tejin Films - 00:07:07
• 19. Kenny Lund, Allen Lund Co. - 00:07:46
• 20. James Munguia, Del Campo Farms - 00:08:62

Thank you to all who stopped by to say hello and join the fun, and congratulations Chris on the win!

See you all back in Chicago for 2017.

KANSAS CITY, MO – Ride shares are the new form of easy and affordable transportation, but what about equipment sharing in the ag world? MachineryLink is looking to bring the successful service-sharing platform model to ag by connecting farmers with the equipment they need. 

As farmers continue to look towards cost saving methods and diversify their operations, this new service is looking to circumvent one of the costliest aspects of farming; the equipment. According to a USDA farm census, farm equipment is the second-largest farm expense. Nationwide, farm equipment totals $244 billion in worth. 

“Farmers have been sharing equipment for decades, of course. A grower alluded to that last week—‘our grandpas were doing this,’” stated Vice President Ben Dye to Delta Farm Press. 

MachineryLink said that its platform is a simple solution to two problems, according to Delta Farm Press; connecting farmers with affordable access to equipment needed, and extending profits to farmers whose equipment would normally be idle.

On the company's site is a variety of equipment used for farming and ag. Users are able to rent out the equipment required, and an optional operator (if needed). The equipment can be transported from anywhere in the country, though users must pay for transportation.

Registration is free, and the site currently boasts more than 1,200 users and tens of millions of dollars in equipment for farmers to choose from. 

As the produce world continues to look towards cutting costs and streamlining efficiency, stay up with AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on this innovative concept and how it could change operations in the industry.

MachineryLink Sharing

IRVINE, CA - The Supreme Court has tied in a ruling on immigration reform, ruling 4-4 in United States v. Texas to affirm a lower court’s injunction against an executive action that would have shielded undocumented immigrants from deportation.

The case revolved around an executive action from President Barack Obama that expanded the Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and added the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, allowing immigrants who qualified to be eligible to apply to stay in the country for three years to work legally.

Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif, had these comments in response to this week’s Supreme Court ruling:

“We believe our nation’s immigration policies should be determined by the legislative branch of our federal government. We also recognize that Congress has abdicated its duty to reform our broken immigration system, which is why we understand the motivation of the Obama Administration. However, neither DAPA, DACA, nor any other Executive Order will adequately address the long-term immigration challenges facing our country,” explained Nassif.

Nassif continued, “In light of this ruling, we urge the Administration and all members of Congress to reflect on their responsibilities to the American public and renew the immigration reform debate in earnest. Congress should bring forth a comprehensive immigration reform plan that considers agriculture’s unique needs. Any reform measure should include provisions granting legal status to existing farmworkers and one that creates a new, more workable and market-oriented visa program to ensure a future flow of labor."

As more information is released about the pending immigration actions, AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you updates.

Western Growers

MCLEAN, VA - Gladstone Land Corporation has expanded its secured note purchase facility with Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation ("Farmer Mac”), growing from $75 million to $125 million. The deal, through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, also extends its current terms by two years, to December 11, 2018. 

"We are pleased to build on our relationship with Farmer Mac, as they offer some of the best financing terms available," said David Gladstone, President and CEO of the Company. "This expansion and extension will provide us with additional flexibility as we continue our due diligence on the list of farms we're looking to buy, and we believe the attractive rates will allow us to strengthen our margins and enable us to pass on some of the savings to our stockholders in the form of distributions."

A press release on the matter stipulates that bonds issued under this newly expanded facility are secured by mortgage loans on agricultural real estate owned by the company, and have an effective loan-to-value ratio of up to 60% of the underlying agricultural real estate. 

Since the beginning of 2016, Gladstone has purchased several news farms, including 453 Acres in California for about $15.5 million (about $34,200 per acre), and 6,190 Acres in Colorado for $25 million (about $3,117 per acre). Stay tuned for more coverage as this farmland powerhouse continues to grow its portfolio.

Gladstone Land Corporation

WATSONVILLE, CA – As Tour de Fresh is coming upon the industry in just four weeks, the event looked to garner an extra boost of donations during the recently ended United Fresh. Tour de Fresh aimed to raise $2,500, but far surpassed that goal by securing $4,115 to support the event.

“We’re thrilled to have exceeded our goal during United Fresh, thanks to the support of the industry,” said Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing for California Giant Berry Farms, in a press release. “It was inspiring to see people take a moment out of their time on the show floor to rally behind our volunteer riders in support of getting more fresh produce in schools.” 

California Giant Berry Foundation hosted a stationary bike ride with a photo opportunity at its United Fresh booth, to encourage additional fundraising. Sponsors, riders, and tradeshow attendees brought industry colleagues and partners to participate, helping the event surpass its fundraising goal. 

“I’m confident that we’ll meet our goals this year,” shared Adam Linder of CHEP. Linder was nominated to ride the booth’s bike for his entire team at United Fresh. “We have a history of stepping up as an industry to exceed expectations, and this is no exception as made clear by our ability to earn almost double our goal of $2,500 during United Fresh.” 

Currently, Tour de Fresh has raised a total of $64,569 of its goal to reach $175,000+ by July 26, 2016. To continue the momentum and reach the goal, Tour de Fresh and its sponsors encourage industry members to make donations and support the event on social media. Ultimately, Tour de Fresh aims to place 60+ salad bars in schools nationwide.

Tour de Fresh