COACHELLA, CA - This year is Prime Time's 25th anniversary, and the company wants to celebrate with you, its valued customers!

So, from now until the end of summer, the company will be giving away Prime Time limited edition commemorative pure silver coins. That’s right, giving them away!

Here’s how it works...

The company will be randomly placing bright red envelopes in a number of Prime Time produce boxes.

If you open the box and see one of these envelopes, then you’re a winner!  All you have to do is fill out the form and send it in to the team, and the company will send you your Prime Time limited edition commemorative pure silver coin — and polo shirt! It’s as simple as that.

Prime Time will be announcing the winners on the company's website and on Facebook on a regular basis, so keep watching!

And good luck – from AndNowUKnow and all your friends at Prime Time!

Prime Time Produce

ALGECIRAS, ES - It seems that the criminal underside will never tire of attempting to circumvent the law in order to make illicit money, as Spanish authorities can recently attest. 

Customs agents in the Port of Algeciras recently uncovered 171 kgs (roughly 377 pounds) of cocaine stuffed into a shipment of bananas. However, adding to the oddity of the fruit bust, was that the drugs were concealed inside plastic bananas, designed to look like an ordinary fruit shipment. 

"During a check of a consignment in Port of Algeciras on April 28th, a pallet marked with a red 'X' was discovered by agents," said a statement from Spain’s National Police, according to The Local ES.

Interceptados en el Puerto de #Algeciras 171 kg de cocaína ocultos en bananas sintéticas procedentes de #Colombia.https://t.co/JiTvmQ19fG

— Policía Nacional (@policia) May 14, 2016

Upon expecting the pallet, authorities discovered 19 boxes filled with 88 synthetic bananas, which were in turn stuffed with €17 million (about $19 million) worth of cocaine.

Police and customs agents detected the drugs after performing a long investigation into criminal gangs smuggling South American drugs into Europe. The banana-masked cocaine was imported from Turbo, Colombia, and was meant to end its journey at a fruit packing company in Huelva, Spain.

Spanish authorities said that in 2015 alone, they had seized 22 tons of cocaine, a 43 percent increase on the previous year, and stated that Spain was the main entry point for smugglers to use for access to Europe.

AndNowUKnow will continue to report as shipments of fruit and vegetables find a surprising starring role in the industry.

KINGSVILLE, ON- Mucci Farms’ latest proprietary product offers its own eating experience, with a capital “X.”

The company’s new Tomato-X is described as an exotic tomato bursting with extreme flavor, standing on its own as a strong snacking tomato with a crisp bite followed by a fresh burst of flavor.

“Our whole team from grower/sales and marketing agreed the features of this tomato are incredibly unique from its appearance, its flavour profile, to even going a step further by saying it presents an ‘experience,’” Emily Murracas, Mucci’s Marketing Manager, tells me. “It possesses somewhat of an “X – factor” and the consumers need to be intrigued by its name, enticed on the shelf, and educated when in hand.”

The sleek packaging achieves this, capturing the eye with a cool X and conveying all the shopper needs to know. The transparent Top Seal still leaves room to allow the intriguingly red-orange tomato speak for itself, with another unique packaging option.

“We also created a more unique option for a cardboard band with laser cut-outs and/or clear film band to maximize the real-estate but still offer good product visibility, as well as a tamper evident seal,” Emily explains.

Overall, Mucci is confident that the look portrays the unique, premium feel of the Tomato-X itself, while the white and blue colors portray a healthy, fitness-like vibe.

You can see this new product at next month's United Fresh Produce Expo, where it will be featured in the Product Showcase. 

Mucci also has three products that have been named finalists for the show in the folowing three categories:

• Best New Package – CutecumbersTM Re-seal Flow-wrap Tray
• Best New Fruit – Smuccies Sweet Strawberry
• Best New Vegetable – Naked Leaf Living Lettuce & Herbs

Keep checking in as we continue to follow out-of-the-box promotions for equally out-of-the-box products rocking the industry.

Mucci Farms

MCALLEN, TX - For the fifth year in a row, Triple H has received recognition as a Socially Responsible Company from the Mexican Center of Philanthropy, and the Alliance for Business Responsibility, reaffirming its position as an agent for positive change.

Triple H Group President, Mr. Heriberto Vlaminck Seidel, received the most recent award on behalf of the company, and said, "We know there is much to be done, and this distinction is a commitment, and incentive, to continue on this path."

For every year since 2008, Triple H has received this award in recognition of its initiatives on improving working conditions, transparency, the development of its network of associated growers, environmental sustainability, and support of diverse social causes such as the Red Cross (emergency and disaster relief), Pro-Educa (education for low income children), GANAC (childhood cancer) and APAC (brain paralysis). 

As explained in a press release, Triple H promotes socially responsible practices throughout its entire network of associated growers, in 13 states of Mexico. This helps extend the social footprint beyond the company’s direct reach.

Ethical behavior has always been a core belief for Triple H, the company explains, and it continues to seek better ways to have a positive impact by undertaking new challenges, like SAFE®, its ambitious food safety program. 

AndNowUKnow recently spoke about the program with Heriberto Vlaminck, Vice President of Operations at Triple H, who said the stages of the program increase safety assurance and utilizes more preventative measures. “It’s a continued system that makes their process at getting better,” finished Heriberto. “So everyone gets a safe product.” 

To learn more about Triple H and its commitment to social responsibility and food safety, www.tripleh.com.mx.

HOOD RIVER, OR - Demand for Hood River Cherry Company’s tree-ripened, high elevation cherries is growing to a worldwide cult following, and with good reason.

In a world where everything seems to move faster and faster, we grow cherries worth waiting for the old-fashioned way. Hood River Cherry Company cherries grow on the tree until their sugar level reaches at least 21 brix, far above the 15 brix starting point that the rest of the industry uses. That means sweeter, juicier, riper cherries—Mother Nature’s Magic on a stem.

Why are our cherries so good? Cool summer nights in our orchard, located high on the slopes of Oregon’s Mt. Hood, mean the cherries have more time to mature, resulting in fruit that is sweeter and bigger than traditional cherries. Because of our high-elevation, we provide cherries later in the season. We produce half the tonnage per acre compared to other orchards, ensuring each cherry is packed with more nutrients, more sugar, and more flavor.

Many in the commercial cherry industry are focused on optical sorting and increasing the use of technology to harvest, sort, and get their fruit to market. Not Hood River Cherry Company. When our cherries are finally ready for harvest, our workers pick, sort, and pack cherries within an hour. Unlike our competition, we size and pack fruit by hand, which eliminates bruising. Every box we ship contains hand-selected fruit that is size 10.5 row and larger.

Our cherries are ready to deliver to your stores the morning after picking, packed in the highest-grade boxes and packaging materials to preserve the impeccable quality. The result? Your customers enjoy outstanding cherries, fresh from the orchard, in the perfect state of ripeness.

Our Bings, Rainiers, and Lapins are consistently praised as the best-tasting cherries on the market. The Lapin cherry, with its ability to withstand our high-elevation winters, continues to out-perform all others year-after-year in sugar level, firmness, and flavor.

We set our standards high and refuse to cut corners. That’s why every year our customers wait for their chance to enjoy Hood River Cherry Company cherries — a seasonal, tasty treat. Hood River Cherry Company: a family-owned orchard producing the country’s best cherries since 1996.

Hood River Cherry Company

WATSONVILLE, CA - For more than 15 years, California Giant Berry Farms has sponsored cycling teams, eventually inspiring the company to put into motion the annual Tour de Fresh movement.

This year, the company announced, the team has leapt to a new level in its commitment to the sport, as well as visibility to the California Giant brand.

Comprised of young professional riders ages 19-22 years old, the team is working to ride in the Tour de France, and just completed the 100+ mile Tour of California.

Aexeon Berman, founded in 2009 by former professional cyclist and Olympic bronze medalist Axel Merckx, has teamed up with the company to represent the next generation of cyclists.

“This week I had the honor of riding shotgun in the team car with Axel Merckx during Stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California,” Cindy Jewell, VP of Marketing for California Giant, said in a press release. “This stage was an epic ride from Morro Bay to Monterey, CA, via the legendary Highway 1 through Big Sur, which included 133 miles of one of the best experiences I have ever had. Getting a front seat view of over 100 professional cyclists attack Highway One and being able to witness how these young people on our team worked to accomplish greatness is awe inspiring.”

California Giant noted that it is already seeing growth in some cyclists who were on the team before it merged with Axeon, which is now leading cycling's new premier development program with a number of other notable sponsors.

The team finished the Tour of California Sunday, May 22, completing an epic stage of riding into Lake Tahoe, CA, finishing with Team Axeon in the headlines in downtown Sacramento, CA.

California native Neilson Powless earned an overall top 10 result and, at only 19 years old, was named Best Young Rider of the Amgen Tour of California.

And, as after each race and training, the team was met with a very large portion of California Giant berries, surely making them the envy of all those they competed against.

According to California Giant, the biggest story in this latest partnership is maintaining its connection to cycling and, specifically, young ambassadors building on the brand loyalty as they convey the importance healthy eating and living.

California Giant Berry Farms

PEORIA, IL - The Tom Lange Family of Companies has announced that it will be sponsoring Conor Daly in the 100^th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The Indy 500 will take place this Sunday, May, 29, 2016. This race will mark Daly's third time participating, where he will be in the 24^th position.

The company stated in a press release that the sponsorship was originally born of a passion for racing by CEO and Chairman, Phil “Rock” Gumpert. Gumpert took up racing at the age of 40 and held his license for 31 years. Gumper still races SCCA with a Formula Atlantic car, and Vintage Racing with a 1976 Formula One car and several Indy cars.

“Racing is a lot like the produce industry for me,” Gumpert said. “It is a competition within yourself, striving to beat your own best time and excel to your best potential… on and off the track.” 

Being a resident of Noblesville, IN, himself, Gumper became friends with Daly’s father, Derek, who was also Formula One and Champ driver. Gumpert admired the talent and drive of Conor Daly as he watched him race go-karts from the age of 10. Gumpert and the company have sponsored and watched Daly transition into a skilled driver for over 12 years. 

The company also noted that its sponsorship is more than just a shared passion for racing, but also a sponsorship of health and a well-balanced diet. Daly was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 15 years-old, which caused the now 24 year-old to alter his eating habits, begin an active lifestyle, and channel his health frustrations into racing. The company said there was nothing that could slow him down. 

Before every race, Daly follows a strict dietary regiment that is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, a diet that the Tom Lange Family of Companies said it is proud to sponsor. Daly takes insulin shots and wears a glucose monitoring system, in addition to have one in his car.

Tom Lange Family of Companies wishes the best of luck and a safe race to Conor Daly in this Sunday’s race! Daly’s first qualifying run for the Indy 500 was 227.804, with a second qualifying run of 227.862.

Tom Lange Family of Companies

ROSEMONT, IL – Finally securing its initial public offering, US Foods raised $1.02 billion on Wednesday to become the second-largest IPO in the U.S. so far this year.

To secure its funds, US Foods priced its 44.4 million shares at $23 as of market close on Wednesday, which lies within the $21 to $24 range that US Foods previously expected, according to an anonymous source close to the matter as reported by the Wall Street Journal. 

In its first day of trading, the Wall Street Journal also reported that US Foods shares had surged up 5.3 percent at $24.25 in the morning trade. US Foods’ ticker symbol will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under USFD. 

Reuters stated that analysts had been closely following US Foods because it was the first major leveraged buyout going public since the stock market became first apprehensive of such debt-laden offerings at the end of last year. 

US Foods reported $23 billion in revenue and an EBITDA of $875 million for fiscal 2016, as documented in its IPO prospectus. The company has approximately $5 billion in debt which US Foods plans to pay down on with its proceeds from the IPO. Some of the underwriters for the offering include Goldman Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan. 

Reuters also noted that this IPO securement offers a way for its private equity owners, Clayton, Dublier & Rice LLC and KKR & Co LP, to sell their own shares in the company after a prospective sale of US Foods to Sysco Corp was blocked last year by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

US Foods’ IPO was only beat out by MGM Growth Properties LLC’s initial public offering of $1.2 billion last month, and is the third private equity-backed IPO to have raised more than $1 billion since the start of 2015. 

Stay with AndNowUKnow as we watch how its public stature will affect the company.

US Foods

ISSAQUAH, WA - Costco has released its third quarter financial report, spurring its highest period of stock growth in more than six years. In a particularly rough retail climate, the company was able to beat analysts’ estimates for earnings and maintain investors confidence.

During the third quarter, Costco’s net income rose 5.6 percent to reach $545 million. At $1.24 a share, this beat what Bloomberg reports was the average analysts estimate of$1.22 a share. Following this announcement, Costco’s share price jumped over 6 percent to $153.88 as a high, the most since September 2009, according to Bloomberg. As of 12:30 PM EDT, shares were up a little over 4 percent.

Earlier this week, we had reported on analyst Jim Cramer’s theory that company shares could jump as high as eight percent following the finalization of Costco's projected revenue increases.

On the other hand, total sales for Costco missed the mark, climbing 2.6 percent to reach $26.77 billion, off from the $27.07 billion that analysts expected. Comparable sales, sales in stores open at least a year, also remained flat in the third quarter, rising 1 percent in Canada and falling 2 percent in all other countries.

Costco currently operates 705 warehouses, including 493 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 90 in Canada, 36 in Mexico, 27 in the United Kingdom, 25 in Japan, 12 in Korea, 12 in Taiwan, eight in Australia and two in Spain. Costco also operates electronic commerce web sites in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Korea and Taiwan.

Costco

SALINAS, CA - Debate continues to heat up about a proposed $76.7 million Interlake Tunnel project. The project, which proposes connecting California’s Lake Nacimiento and Lake San Antonio with a 10-foot thick, 12,000-foot-long pipeline, is in the midst of a 46-day scoping period, which allows for the public to weigh in on what should be included in the environmental impact report.

The pipeline is considered by some to be a key part of the Salinas Valley’s effort to add new water supply, with others insisting for a more comprehensive environmental review.

Ideally, the pipeline will allow for transportation and storage of excess water from Lake Nacimiento to Lake San Antonio, which fills up three times slower, according to the Monterey Herald. As suggested by the project’s proposal, the tunnel will reduce flooding by 60 percent, increase available water by an average of between 8,000 and 20,000 acre feet per year, and add 59,000 acre feet of water storage capacity at San Antonio.

Earlier this month, the first of two scoping meetings for the Interlake Tunnel project’s environmental impact report was held at the Agricultural Commissioner’s office in Salinas, with fierce debate from both sides of the issue.

Steve Blois, Nacimiento property owner, argued that the tunnel project environmental impact report should cover the potential impact on lakefront property values and recreational opportunities due to lower water levels, as well as a replacement water supply plan for property owners who rely on the lake for their water. A board member for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Blois debated that the project could represent a “taking” of property values, according to the Monterey Herald. Other critics of the project argued that the region has better alternatives to the Interlake plan.

Chris Bunn, who the news source describes as an agri-businessman, said the project is very valuable, meaning that local officials should do whatever it takes to get the project to work. “If we get too tough on (the project) we’ll kill it and then where will we be?” Bunn said. “We’ve been fighting just to get the river cleaned up so the flood control would help. This is a win-win thing for everyone.”

Comments will be accepted through 5 p.m., June 13, and a draft project environmental impact report is expected to be completed by lead environmental consultant Horizon Water and Environment early next year. The final report is expected to be completed by late summer or early fall 2017, and if approved, the project will be complete by 2019.