CHICAGO, IL – As United Fresh draws to a close and attendees prepare their final even farewells, severe storms are looking to move quickly into the Midwest throughout this evening.

Originating from Iowa, ABC7 stated that thunderstorms are expected to move into the Chicago area early this afternoon. Attendees of the show can expect rainfall, and then a short break before weather activity will likely increase later in the evening.

If storm activity does pick up in an un-preferred fashion, The Storm Prediction Center advised it will most likely hit between 5 and 11 p.m. tonight, local time.

Such storms could produce strong and damaging winds, large hail, possible flooding, and small risk of tornado conditions. The National Weather Service has initiated a Flash Flood Watch for the area, which is currently projected to end on 1 a.m. local time.

The weather is expected to affect flights in the area, with officials urging travelers to keep an eye on their prospective plans in case they change shift or delay from the incoming storm.

Keep up with AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on breaking weather coverage. We hope that everyone still at the event easily exits the Chicago area as the storm passes through.

LEAMINGTON, ON – The 2016 R.E.A.CH. International Produce Competition has come to a close, and with it, a whole new list of branded winners and awarded products. Westmoreland-TopLine Farms is pleased to announce that the company took home three awards of its own.

“TopLine Farms is focused on flavor,” stated Jimmy Coppola, Account Marketing Manager. “Innovation on a varietal level starts with flavor, and these three awards are a testament to our commitment on keeping focused on flavor.” 

The awards which Westmoreland-TopLine Farms took home from the event are as follows:

• Best Cocktail Cucumber
• Best Hot Pepper
• Best Overall Pepper: Westmoreland-TopLine Farms Hot Pepper 

At this year’s greenhouse competition, judges anonymously reviewed each product to select the winners. The company stated in a press release that produce items entered into the competition were judged on flavor, taste, look, and smell. 

Judges privately reviewed the entrants prior to allowing the public access to the competition tent, and each entry was marked only with a number to ensure unbiased results were achieved. Winners were selected in each category based on which received the highest score. 

All funds raised from the 2016 Greenhouse Competition will go to R.E.A.C.H. International to help provide children with wellness and living care in Uganda, Africa. 

Keep clicking back on AndNowUKnow as we continue to cover the latest and greatest produce awarded in the industry.

TopLine Farms 

DELTA, B.C. - Always on the lookout for hot trends and innovations, it was great to catch up with Windset Farms’ Director of Sales, Jeff Madu, on one of the company’s latest launches: its new Top Seal tomato line.

“We’ve had really good response to this–the branding, the look…” Jeff explains of the March, 2016, launch, available now for retailers. “Really, when it comes down to everything, it’s always about the flavor, and these are the most flavorful tomatoes we’ve ever produced.

The new Top Seal products include:

• Tango®
• Symphony®
• Cameo®
• Concerto®
• Concerto Gold®

With cold seals implemented in the packaging, Jeff added that this new Top Seal is also resealable for the consumer’s convenience.

To see my entire interview with Jeff on the new five offerings of Windset’s Top Seal tomato line, watch the brief video above.

Windset Farms

ORATINO, ITALY - Produce continues to offer itself to feed consumers imaginations as well as their bodies, as crafty artists look to fruits and veggies as intriguing canvases before diving in to enjoy them as a meal.

The cult following that has been formed around HBO’s Game of Thrones has inspired Valeriano Fatica, who identifies himself as a fruit and veggie carver via his YouTube account, to give a watermelon an intricate, and admittedly a little disturbing, face.

Step aside pumpkins, this could be on the list for carving this next Halloween.

The Night’s King, the creature who terrifies even the toughest in the series, has been mimicked remarcably in a sculpture out of a melon, even incorporating the red flesh of the fruit to make the scene just a bit more eerie.

You can see more of Fatica’s work with fruits and vegetables here.

As we reported recently, this is not the first foodie art to be inspired by a cult-like following. Sushi Chef and Star Wars fan, Okitsugu Kado, also sees fresh produce as the ideal canvas for expression in an act of Japan’s “mukimono,” or the art of decorative food garnishing.

Whether it be served as a garnish in a restaraunt, or garnering 123,000+ views on YouTube, we can’t wait to see how this quirky trend will push produce to the forefront.

SALINAS, CA – As the industry prepares for the upcoming Organic Produce Summit next month in Monterey, CA, the organization has announced that the event has sold out due to overwhelming interest from organic fresh produce and retail buyers. 

As a result of the industry’s positive feedback for this first-time event, the Summit’s organizers have announced that another event is already being planned for a 2017 Organic Produce Summit. This second occurrence of the event will be held in July of next year, again in Monterey, CA, according to a press release. 

This year’s event will feature a sold out exhibition floor of 72 organic produce growers, shippers, distributors, and processors from the industry. Over 60 retail buying organizations, from over 5,000 outlets throughout North America are also confirmed to attend.

The Organic Produce Summit will begin with an opening reception on July 13. On July 14, attendees have access to a series of educational sessions and keynote speakers who will cover a variety of topics related to the $14 billion organic produce category. An exhibit area, featuring a wide array of the world’s largest organic produce companies, will occur after the day's lunch break. 

The 2016 Organic Produce Summit will be held at the Monterey Hyatt. For more information on the event, click here.

AndNowUKnow will continue to have your leading news on industry events, and subsequent announcements.

Organic Produce Summit

LEAMINGTON, ON - The R.E.A.CH. International Greenhouse Competitions wrapped up again this year with a host of winners across the board. Included in that exclusive group is Double Diamond Farms who took the Kids' Choice Tomato Award for the second year in a row, but this year for the company’s Bramato Brown Tomatoes. 

“We are proud to take home this award for our Bramato tomato. These tomatoes are flavor-forward and present a deep, rich color that really helps to diversify our customer’s produce departments,” Chris Mastronardi, President/CEO, tells me. 

The company is introducing new packaging for the Bramato as well, with newly designed 12 oz and 16 oz trays that offer delicious recipes straight from Double Diamond's cookbook. 

“We also took home a 2nd place award for Best Cocktail for our Double Diamond Zebrino, that ripens to a deep reddish brown with unique green zebra stripes,” Caitlyne Johns, Director of Marketing, says. “In addition, we were recognized with a 3rd place award for our Double Diamond Cocktail Cukes.”

Greenhouse industry growers and marketers entered 159 entries into the competitions which celebrate Essex County as being the largest greenhouse industry in North America. A double blind element was introduced to the event this year to ensure that the official and people's choice judging was being done without bias. 

Check out the delicious spread of Double Diamond tomatoes today at United Fresh booth #1650.

Congrats on the awards, Double Diamond! 

Double Diamond

CINCINNATI, OH – As the company announced that current Ralphs President Donna Giordano will be retiring, Kroger has appointed Valerie Jabbar to the position. Jabbar currently serves as Vice President of Merchandising for Ralphs.

"Valerie is an exceptional leader who is passionate about developing associates and serving our customers and communities," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger Chairman and CEO. "She brings to her new role broad retail experience, and a deep commitment to putting our customers first. We look forward to her continued leadership at Ralphs."

Giordano will retire from the company as of July 23, when Jabbar will then take her place.

Jabbar began work with the company in 1987 in the Fry’s division as a clerk. At Fry’s, Jabbar moved through several leadership roles including Assistant Store Director, Category Manager, and Drug and General Merchandise Coordinator. 

Jabbar has also served in a variety of leadership roles in the Drug and General Merchandising sector of Kroger’s general office in Cinncinati, and within the Fry’s division. The company stated in a press release that Jabbar was appointed Fry’s District Manager before being appointed as Vice President of Merchandising for the Mid-Atlantic division in 2012. Jabbar was promoted to her most recent role in 2013.

The retiring Ralphs President joined the King Soopers company as a courtesy clerk in 1972 while attending college. In 1982, Giordano was named Store Manager of King Soopers, and held various director-level positions in advertising, grocery, general merchandise, and other sectors. 

"Donna's distinguished leadership has helped Ralphs continue to grow, serve more customers in the highly-competitiveSouthern California market, and help Kroger across our business," continued McMullen. "She is respected throughout the industry and among our associates for her strategic leadership and engagement in the communities we serve. The entire Kroger family thanks Donna for her many contributions and wishes her and her family all the best in retirement." 

Giordano was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing of King Soopers in 1999, before being appointed to her current executive position in 2011. Giordano still volunteers with the Network of Exectuive Woman, is currently a board member and President of the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), and is a past member of the Orange County Girl Scouts.

Giordano intends to travel with her husband, Mario, and spend time with daughters Amber and Aubrey who reside in Seattle for her retirement. 

AndNowUKnow will continue to have the latest in executive appointments and announcements within the industry.

Kroger Ralphs

BOISE, ID - North Texas, get ready for a whole lot of WinCo. Two new stores are on the books, as well as a new 830,000-square-foot distribution center that's large enough to supply between 25 and 35 stores, according to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Dave Butler.  

As reported by The Dallas Morning News, the distribution center will be built in Denton, Texas, where the company is also opening one of its two new locations. The other will be in Arlington, with each employing about 115 to 130 people.

And that’s no stopping point for the Boise, Idaho-based retailer. Butler says the company has a real estate staff that is "actively searching the region" for new store sites, building on its portfolio of seven already established sites in Texas.

Current WinCo locations in Texas include:

• McKinney
• Fort Worth (two locations)
• Duncanville
• Lewisville
• North Richland Hills
• Garland

WinCo has four other distribution centers in Boise, ID, Modesto, CA, Woodburn, OR, and Phoenix, AZ. While the distribution center will open with only about 165 employees, it expects to increase to a staff of 250 to 300 as more retail stores open.

WinCo’s high-volume, 95,000-square-foot stores sell $1.5 million worth of inventory per week, The Morning News reported. The retailer currently operates 107 stores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

Winco

FOWLER, CA – As the company looks to continue engaging consumers in the connection between local produce and its benefits, Bee Sweet Citrus has announced a new partnership with news station KSEE 24 and its Central Valley news segment, Valley Delicious. 

“In addition to providing consumers with fresh citrus year-round, Bee Sweet Citrus is determined to help improve the health of our community by educating them about the health benefits associated with citrus,” stated Monique Bienvenue, Director of Communications, Bee Sweet Citrus. “Partnering with Valley Delicious has given us the opportunity to not only discuss the health attributes of citrus, but to also showcase easy, healthy citrus-inspired recipes to residents of the Central Valley.” 

Valley Delicious was created by KSEE 24 to give Central Valley California consumers a more well-rounded understanding of where their produce is grown. Bee Sweet stated in a press release that the segment provides an educational platform for viewers in line with California’s ongoing farm-to-fork movement. 

“Valley Delicious is the one show that connects consumers with local farmers,” said KSEE 24 Account Executive Serena Garza. “Informative, educational, and a reminder to  support our local economy - we value partnerships with local agribusinesses because it encourages consumers to learn more about their food, and reminds them to keep grocery dollars close to home.” 

In addition to the segment giving local growers a chance to showcase their products, the Valley Delicious partnership is also an extension of Bee Sweet’s ongoing digital health campaign #EatMoreCitrus. The company utilizes various social media outlets to provide consumers with citrus-based health tips, recipes, and other industry information. 

“Citrus is an amazing commodity because all varieties are healthy, delicious and extremely versatile,” continued Bienvenue. “We’re extremely excited to see how consumers enjoy learning about our products, and look forward to continue sharing healthy, wholesome recipes.” 

To watch the latest segment of Bee Sweet Citrus on Valley Delicious via KSEE 24, watch the video above!

Stay with AndNowUKnow for more industry news and features on social media, news segments, and more.

Bee Sweet Citrus 

PORTERVILLE, CA – As the company continues steps to ramp up its blueberry production, Homegrown Organic Farms has announced a newly solidified partnership with a new Pacific NW facility. 

“This growth in our organic blueberry category has been strategically planned for the past several years, and this partnership is just the next step for our growers and customers alike,” said Scott Mabs, Homegrown Organic Farms’ CEO said. “We know this will have a marked impact on our business and our customers. We are excited about what the future holds for Homegrown, our growers, and our valued customers.” 

This new partnership with the facility with allow the company to increase its organic blueberry production, which Homegrown plans to up its capacity for the category in the coming years. Homegrown will consolidate packing and shipping operations for fruit within the Pacific NW to move through this new facility. 

The company stated in a press release that the partnership with the Pacific NW facility will also provide its customers with advantages in logistics and transportation, particularly as the company’s domestic season moves from California up through Oregon and Washington. The facility will provide Homegrown and customers these advantages when loading with other regionally located products. 

“This new location will not only provide excellent customer service, but also provide fantastic opportunities for our growers. We are excited and grateful for the responsibility to continue to create impact and change lives,” stated Chad Hansen, Homegrown Organic Farms’ Blueberry Category Director. “By participating in a more sustainable and regional production model we can support local jobs while maintaining our keen focus and commitment to exceptional quality and program consistency for our retail and wholesale partners. It’s really a win-win-win for everyone involved, and simply stated, it just makes sense.”

Homegrown said that in addition to his new partnership in the Pacific NW, the company will continue to utilize its packing and shipping facilities in Kingsburg, CA, and Riverside, CA, for its central and southern California production.

Keep clicking on AndNowUKnow as we continue to provide you with the latest breaking news on strategic alliances and production announcements within the industry.

Homegrown Organic Farms