AUSTIN, TX - As Whole Foods continues its efforts to revamp the retailer’s Responsibly Grown Three-Tier Rating Program, the company is sharing its latest progress and highlights for the program thus far.

As we have previously reported, Whole Foods mapped out changes to the program since it was first introduced as growers voiced concerns over the “Good,” “Better,” or “Best” rating system which some thought devalued the complex structure required by the USDA to adhere to certified organic growing vs. conventional. Whole Foods is continuing to listen while keeping with that commitment to refine the program with these latest events and initiatives.

“Last year, we committed to providing more support and trainings for suppliers across the country to help them navigate our still new, online supplier review and approval process, and to understand new food safety regulations and traceability initiatives that are essential in our business together,” Matt Rogers Global Produce Coordinator for Whole Foods Market, tells me.

Rogers goes on to share that the company has done just that and then some, hosting 11 trainings across the country between January and April 2016 with a total of 450 attendees representing 340 fresh produce and floral suppliers.

“While sharing information about Responsibly Grown and our baseline supplier requirements were important parts of these trainings, we also brought in external experts to talk about the evolving produce business landscape including great presentations on Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) and food safety and the implications of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for small farmers,” Rogers says.

These training events were led by both Whole Foods Market team members along with industry experts from the Produce Marketing Association, FamilyFarmed.org, and IPM Institute.

As Whole Foods noted earlier this year, the company would be simplifying how the program appeared in stores by moving to a single Responsibly Grown rating logo in late spring. That change is now reflected in stores. 

Additional goals to the program are:

• Updates to Whole Foods’ list of prohibited pesticide list are being made following the company’s pesticide policy of “[updating] as needed to ensure continuous improvement in pesticide risk reduction.” These will go into effect early next calendar year.
• All USDA’s Certified Organic produce and flowers at Whole Foods Market are now being granted a Responsibly Grown rating until Jan. 1, 2017, to allow Certified Organic growers more time to become rated under the program.
• Whole Foods is automatically awarding all Certified Organic products with additional points within the rating system. While the retailer has always awarded Certified Organic growers with automatic points and exemptions for their compliance with the National Organic Program (NOP) Standards, they have since added additional areas of overlap for which Certified Organic growers will be rewarded with automatic points.
• Whole Foods are adding support and training to help our growers through the onboarding process and new food safety regulations and traceability requirements. 

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we keep you updated on all things Whole Foods and the company's constant evolution. 

Whole Foods 

SALINAS, CA – As the state reaches its peak blueberry season, Naturipe Farms says that constant improvement, innovative methods, new packaging, and proprietary varieties are keeping the company ahead of consumer demand as the season moves north along the western coast of California. 

“We are in the back half of the peak in Delano, and heading straight into the peak of the Delta region,” said Brian Bocock, Vice President of Product Management. “The Delta growing area is a nice bridge of production between the California and Oregon/Washington seasons, providing a continuous supply of conventional and organic blueberries to our customers.” 

The company said that included in its harvest this year, is the Rocio, an early proprietary variety of blueberries which is typically larger in size, with a sweet flavor. 

Naturipe is also offering other varieties from this year’s crop, such as the Legacy and Draper. “Legacy and Draper from our northern California farms offer the best ‘late season California’ blueberries with their flavor, quality, and superior self-life,” said Mario Flores, Director of Blueberry Product Management, in a press release. 

According to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, consumer demand for blueberries has increased over the past nine years to find Americans now twice as likely to buy the fruit, said the company.

Naturipe grower-owners David and Kable Munger, second generation growers at the head of Munger Farms in the San Joaquin Valley, are matching this consumer demand with new strategies and improvements as growers. 

“It is our mission to deliver the highest quality berries to our customers and the consumers,” said the Munger brothers in a statement. “We are dedicated to finding innovative new technologies to improve and stay competitive in this ever changing marketplace.” 

Such dedication extends to a fully integrated farming family that now includes Kable’s children, Asha and Diwan, as the company continues to focus on improvement. 

“It is an honor to work alongside my family. My sister and I are very fortunate to have the support of not only our Dad and Uncle, but of our dedicated team and extended family here at Munger Farms,” said Diwan Munger. 

Naturipe also noted that the company has released a new packaging feature with a focus on the organic shopper with its a natural fiber, compostable organic tray. The trays feature heat-sealed packaging which upholds the company’s commitment to the environment with a 30 percent plastic reduction rate.

Keep up with AndNowUKnow as we give you the scoop on the latest proprietary varieties and innovations within the industry.

Naturipe Farms Munger Brothers, LLC

MIAMI, FL - It has been a busy year for Dave’s Specialty Imports as fresh produce demand continues to grow and the company cultivates its ever-expanding program. On the front lines of that growth has been Leslie Simmons, previously Marketing Manager of Dave’s Specialty Imports, who has been named Vice President of the company. On paper, her new role was made effective this year, but Leslie has been actively working behind the scenes for the last few years, becoming more involved in operations and weighing in on the future direction of the company.

“My particular efforts have focused on increasing our organic berry programs as well as formalizing our food safety, traceability, and recall programs,” Leslie tells me as we discuss what her role entails and how she is helping to drive the business forward. “Becoming Vice President strategically solidifies my efforts over multiple areas of our business. I will continue to strengthen our food safety and traceability initiatives, oversee sales and operations, and develop our new business opportunities. As the third generation in a family business, it is critical to touch and understand every part of what we do.”

She adds that it requires becoming more than a manager. It requires becoming a leader, a mentor, and a visionary. “I hope to push our business forward by asking the hard questions and continually learning,” Leslie adds.

Leslie came into the industry after having worked several years in advertising and marketing in New York City. She was an Account Supervisor when she left advertising and transitioned into Dave's as a Marketing Manager. While her day-to-day work predominately focused on marketing, strategy, event planning, and new business development; Leslie quickly jumped into learning about sales, operations, food safety, and traceability.

“I've been in the industry full time for six years but it feels like so much longer. Especially growing up around a family business like this one!” she says. “I've also been grateful to deepen my understanding of our industry by serving for more than two years on the Women's Fresh Perspective's advisory board for the Center for Growing Talent by PMA. And I have recently been accepted to serve on the Southeast Produce Council's Education Committee and Southern Innovations Symposium Committee. Volunteering and staying present has helped me meet so many incredible people and learn even more in such a short amount of time.”

So, what sets Dave's apart from like-companies in the industry? Leslie tells me that many businesses sell berries and many businesses are family-owned and operated, but she hopes that what sets Dave’s apart is the team’s ability to offer honesty, integrity, and quality service. 

“Those are our core values and I hope we always do those things best. To be straightforward when the truth is unpleasant, to always be fair to the customer and to the grower, and to go the extra mile to make things right,” Leslie notes. She smiles, “If you call at 2 a.m. because something goes wrong, you are talking directly to one of us and we are finding a way through it with you.”

It is easy to love produce for its health benefits and natural goodness and for Leslie, it is easy to love the produce industry for the incredible, hard working, down-to-earth people as well. But what she is most passionate about is carrying on her grandfather's values and the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives.

“It is more than being there for our customers,” she says. “It’s about the connections we make, the families we touch, and leaving this world a little better than we found it. Fresh produce gives us this incredible platform. I want to find new ways innovate in our industry and to work with our growers to better serve our communities and educate children about fresh, healthy, real food.”

Congratulations, Leslie, on the path that led you here and what’s to come next!

Dave's Specialty Imports

CARPINTERIA, CA – As the company continues to take steps towards lasting company growth, Hollandia Produce has announced Amber Rappozo as the newest member of its team. Rappozo joined Hollandia as Regional Sales Manager at the end of last month. 

“Hollandia has an awesome, high-quality product and a great reputation,” stated Rappozo. “You can tell a lot about a company by their people. It was Hollandia’s people that really sold me on the company. The team is passionate about what they do, and about working collaboratively. I am thrilled to be part of the Hollandia family.”

The company said in a press release that Rappozo comes to Hollandia with nine years of experience, and will oversee sales for the northern region of the company’s produce. Rappozo is an alum of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Ag Business Marketing. 

“We are excited to have Amber join us. Amber is very passionate, driven and customer focused. Hollandia prides itself on building long-lasting relationships with our partners,” stated Brian Cook, Vice President of Sales. “We have very aggressive growth plans, and adding the right team members at the right time is imperative to our success. Amber demonstrated a drive to succeed with a large fresh-cut vegetable company previous to Hollandia. The team is excited about sharing successes with her at Hollandia as well.”

The company stated that in addition to her professional agricultural experience, Rappozo is also an active member of her local 4-H club, and the Santa Barbara County Fair.

Count on AndNowUKnow with the latest in up-to-the-minute hiring announcements and shakeups within the ever-changing industry.

Hollandia Produce

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Long Beach and Los Angeles ports, a pair of the U.S.’s busiest points of transit, saw truck drivers striking yesterday, June 1st, in an effort be classified as full time employees instead of the current system of independent contractors.

With more than 800 complaints filed with the California Labor Commission against port-trucking companies in the last five years, and more than $35 million to drivers in that time, it is an issue that continues to effect the state’s transportation segment. The drivers’ argue the change could open the door to more opportunities and better treatment, while companies argue the proposed system wouldn’t be sustainable.

As the debate wages, the striking drivers have taken their stance to the ports that see as many as 25,000 short-haul trucks taking product to retail chains like that of Costco, Walmart, Target, and more, according to news source Marketplace.

The current system in place calls on drivers as independent contractors, leasing or owning their own trucks and equipment. For the 750+ trucking companies that operate out of the ports, that majority reportedly own less than 100 trucks to transport.

The reports have not yet released an estimated number of drivers on strike, nor have either of the respective ports said anything to the effect of the action disrupting transportation of fresh produce or any other goods coming through Los Angeles and Long Beach.

AndNowUKnow will continue to follow this and other events for effects they could have on the industry.

ORLANDO, FL - In collaboration with Nielsen-Perishables Group, the National Mango Board has released two category development reports helping both retailers and mango industry members understand the trends and opportunities in mango sales growth.

Both look to have good timing, as NMB just recently announced to retailers and suppliers that, due to high import volumes, now is the time to push mangos.

“Mangos make summertime sweeter for consumers and this is a great opportunity to entice them to take home this delicious superfruit,” stated Rachel Muñoz, Director of Marketing at the NMB, in a press release. “By setting up strong mango promotions and following best mango merchandising practices, retailers can have a sizzling summer mango season.”

The Performance Benchmark Report offers a breakdown of mango sales, volume, and pricing by quarter and sub-region. According to the board, it dives into both organic and fresh-cut trends, comparing 2015 mango scanner data to 2014 from registered FreshFacts data.

The second compilation, the Mango Market Development Index Reports, ranks the nine sub-regions and 48 ScanTrack markets by mango sales per capita using the same FreshFacts data.

This year’s later kickoff to the summer mango season has led to strong volumes, NMB said, which retailers can offer by the case to move big numbers at great prices.

Several mango varieties are currently available, with peak sizes listed as the following:

• Yellow mango through end of June: 18s, 20s, and 22s
• Round mangos through mid-June: 10s and 12s
• Round mangos mid-June through late July: 9s, 10s and 12s

The NMB recently found in its study that placing mangos with stone fruit resulted in increased volume and dollars by more than 40 percent compared to the previous year.

Retailers can find a number of tools and resources to help boost sales for this increasingly popular fruit at mango.org/retail, including POS materials, handling and merchandising tools, crop information, and more.

National Mango Board

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Two billion apple packs in twelve years.

That is the milestone that McDonald’s, fast food giant and purveyor of burgers, celebrated yesterday in its pursuit of offering more fruits and vegetables to its consumers, particularly the youngest ones.

"We are proud of being part of a growing trend through increased access to pre-sliced apple packages," said Steve Kerley, Vice President and General Manager of McDonald's in the Philadelphia Region, in a press release. "This milestone is a marker of McDonald's continuing to play an important role in every community and our ongoing efforts to help increase access to fruit and other nutritious food for children.”

The choice to serve the value-added fruit necessitated suppliers with the capacity to meet the offering, which McDonald’s said boosted pre-sliced apple package availability and, in turn, the impact of that industry on the next generation of consumers.

“The decision to serve real apple slices with Happy Meals more than a decade ago helped make it easier for parents to ensure that their children are getting wholesome options," Kerley stated.

McDonald’s made the addition to its kids menu in April of 2004, one of the first to successfully create a market for convenient, fresh-cut apple packs, with the U.S.’s children of today 12 and under never knowing a Happy Meal that didn’t have the option.

What will coming years hold as the chain continues to pursue its 2014 goal of doubling the amount of fruits and vegetables it sells? Keep checking in with AndNowUKnow as we look to find out.

McDonald's

WATSONVILLE, CA - Costco will now be stocking Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce's (A&W) GoodFarms brand of berries, which have just been certified by non-profit organization, Equitable Food Initiative (EFI). EFI certifies products that comply with its standards for improved working conditions, pest management, and food safety in the effort to produce safer, more responsibly grown fruits and vegetables.  

GoodFarms™ will debut its craft blueberries, craft strawberries, and organic strawberries from EFI-certified farms at Costco locations on the West Coast, Northeast, and in Hawaii. According to a press release, GoodFarms™ believes in using sustainable growing practices, farmworker empowerment and affordable access to fresh, healthy food.

“When workers participate in EFI’s leadership team training, they better understand their role in the value chain and become more engaged,” shared Ernie Farley, Partner at A&W GoodFarms, adding that EFI’s workforce development has been integral to the successful certification of the farms. “That engagement benefits all of us – from the grower to the farmworker, all the way to the consumer.”

GoodFarms™ and Costco’s product availability is now as follows:

• Craft blueberries from an EFI-certified farm in Oxnard, California, will be stocked by Hawaiian Costco locations
• Craft strawberries and organic strawberries from EFI-certified farms in Watsonville, California will be in California, Arizona, Oregon, some of the Hawaiian Islands, and the Northeastern United States Costco locations

The company says that it already has plans to increase this distribution even further.

"Andrew & Williamson was a real pioneer in the development of the Equitable Food Initiative. We're excited to see their commitment to their workers and to consumers reflected in their GoodFarms™ brand," added Peter O'Driscoll, EFI’s Executive Director. "This effort to educate consumers should increase demand for produce that is responsibly grown and farmworker assured. More retail sales generate a premium so that growers can reward workers for their hard work. Together, EFI and GoodFarms™ create value for workers, growers, retailers and consumers alike." 

Those who want to learn more about EFI certification can visit http://www.equitablefood.org/, and be sure to check back with AndNowUKnow for even more coverage on responsible growing practices.

Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce GoodFarms™ Equitable Food Initiative

BENTONVILLE, AR – Debuting the latest in its strategic utilization of recent technology, Walmart unleashed the newest member of its team; a drone.

Featuring a custom-built camera that takes 30 pictures a second, the drone is being tested in a distribution center near the company’s headquarters in Arkansas. Walmart is currently testing the effectiveness of the drone in roles which can be dangerous and more time-consuming for its human counterparts. 

Shekar Natarajan, Walmart Vice President of Emerging Sciences and Strategy & Planning, said in a statement to Bloomberg that the drone is still in its testing stages, and is expected to remain there for the next six to nine months. 

The drone flies, pilot-free, amongst shelves of merchandise and takes pictures of every item, making sure that each product is placed in the correct spot so it can quickly be found when needed. If the drone finds an incorrectly placed item, an employee manning the “air traffic control” center will be notified in real-time of the improperly located item's location on a computerized map. From there, a worker can move and correct the item. 

The company reported that this task usually takes two people at least one month to perform manually, and can be dangerous as it requires them to ride a lift several stories above the distribution center floor to reach high shelves. The drone, however, can complete this task with ease within an hour.

The company eventually hopes to use drones as part of its logistics network of over 100 distribution centers and 4,500 U.S. stores. Walmart also has interest in using the drones to assist with tracking merchandise and trailers outside of its distribution filings, according to a filing with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

Last year, Bloomberg reported that Walmart asked the FAA for a waiver to test its drones outdoors so the company could eventually use them to deliver products straight to consumers, similar to moves seen by Amazon and Alphabet Inc.

Consumers, however, will have to continue to wait until the FAA finalizes its regulations before they can expect the arrival of product-laden drones at their doors. 

As the buy-side continues to look towards technology innovations to keep ahead of the competition, keep up the buzz with AndNowUKnow.

Walmart

WENATCHEE, WA - There’s never a dull moment in the orchard of a cherry grower, and as CMI's Jack Raines can tell you, it’s those differences from year to year that keep him going. 

The company recently released a “Meet the Grower” video starring Raines and his orchard, to show CMI consumers an orchard in harvest and hear what motivates its growers.

“The biggest joy I get out of the orcharding, is the challenge. The challenge to try to create something better than it was, create bigger fruit than we used to have,” says Raines in the video. “I guess my joy comes more from the achievement of getting out here and trying to make something better.” 

In the video, viewers can watch Raines sort through his crop and work amongst the trees, as he gives a more personal meaning to the labor behind the fruit. Raines is a cherry grower from the Northwest, and as the company said in a statement, is one of the top and best growers for CMI. 

To learn more about CMI’s “unsung heroes of the harvest,” and to find out what keeps Jack Raines in the field at 80 years-old, watch the video above!

CMI