PORTLAND, OR – The contest period for the 3^rd annual “Pear Up with USA Pears” display competition has come and gone, and the contest’s sponsors, Pear Bureau Northwest, have announced its list of winners and 39 cash prizes.

“Every year, Pear Bureau Northwest celebrates and rewards dedicated produce personnel who build these creative sales-boosting displays. They are the heroes of the industry,” stated Kathy Stephenson, Marketing Communications Director at Pear Bureau Northwest.

From January 1 through April 15, 2016, the displays made by produce personnel were viewed by consumers in produce departments throughout U.S. and Canada for at least one week. 

Each display featured pear varieties such as Green Anjou, Red Anjou, Bosc pears, and more. Pear Bureau Northwest stated in a press release that it awarded first, second, and third place winners in three separate categories, with ten honorable mentions. The prizes were as follows in each category:

• 1^st place: $1,000
• 2^nd place: $750
• 3^rd place: 500
• Honorable mentions: $150 each

Entries were judged on their appearance, creativity, and educational value, and received five bonus points if the display included a second, smaller-sized fruit in bulk, bags, or totes. Each contest entrant automatically received an Amazon gift card in thanks for their participation. 

“We appreciate the work that goes into each entry and know participating retailers appreciate the pear category increases of as much as 300% reported during the contest,” finished Stephenson. 

The list of winners for each separate category can be found below:

1 – 5 Cash Registers Category:

1^st Place: Tammy McEachron, Mirbitos IGA, Hannibal, NY

2^nd Place: Holly Mathis, Neighborhood Co-op Grocery, Carbondale, IL
(second year placing in top three)

3^rd Place: Margie Hansen, Nilssen’s Foods, Baldwin, WI

Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical Order):

• Sheila Burt, Mike’s Food Center, St. Charles, MN
• Kathy Fleming, Hurley’s Fresh Market, Towanda, PA
• Mike Hearns, Hollywood Markets, Troy, MI
• Nancy Hoffstetter, Cortland Sparkle Market, Cortland, OH
• Kia Lapier, Tops Markets, Schroon Lake, NY
• Tracey Norton, Sumter IGA, Sumter, S.C.
• Lisa Reedy, Community Markets, Oak Harbor, OH
• Rex Titch, Tops Markets, Waterford, PA
• Marcie Zweigart, St. Helens Marketfresh, St. Helens, OR
• Teresa Lewis, Piggly Wiggly, Oak Hill, OH 

6 - 9 Cash Registers Category:

1^st Place: David Scarlett, KVAT Food Stores, Knoxville, TN

(second year placing in top three)

2^nd Place:  Casey Erlacher, Hy-Vee Food Store, Canton, IL

 3^rd Place: Al Poland, Chucks Produce, Vancouver, WA

Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical Order):

• Shannon Adkins, KVAT Food City, Pikeville, KY
• Dawn Beckby, Henderson's IGA, Valentine, NE
• Jose Cruz, Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market, South Elgin, IL
• Steven Davis, Donelan’s Supermarket, Acton, MA
• Brandon Hackbarth, Tops Markets, Hamburg, NY
• Ted Koutsouliou, Haymaker Village Shop & Save, Monroeville, PA
• Tracie Newberry, Piggly Wiggly, Pinetops, NC
• Kenny Ng, Calgary Co-Op, Calgary, Alta., Canada
• Arturo Perez, Pete’s Fresh Market, Chicago, IL
• Rick Weber, Hy-Vee Food Store, Waterloo, IA

10+ Cash Registers Category:

1^st Place: John Weber, Hy-Vee Food Store, Worthington, MN

2^nd Place: Ken Marske, Schmitz’s Economart, Spooner, WI 
(second year placing in top three)

3^rd Place: Doug Van Til, Van Tils Supermarket, Hammond, IN 

Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical Order):

• David A, Calgary Co-Op Association, Calgary, Alta., Canada
• Francisco Andrade, Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, Carol Stream, IL
• Justin Fiscus, Dutch-way Farm Market, Myerstown, PA
• William Gordon, Roche Brothers, Wellesley, MA
• Billy Guidry, Rouses Supermarkets, Thibodaux, LA
• Benjamin Karlen, Hy-Vee Food Store, Owatonna, MN
• Lisa Larson, Calgary Co-Op, Strathmore, Alta., Canada
• Luke Miller, Flemington ShopRite, Flemington, NJ
• Angel Patino, Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, Elmwood Park, IL
• Joe Costa, Red River Co-op Southdale, Winnipeg, Man., Canada

Photos of the winning entries can be viewed online here. For even more promotion and marketing inspiration, continue to follow AndNowUKnow.

US Pears Pear Bureau Northwest

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

According to a USDA press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:

• K & A Produce, operating out of Staten Island, NY, for failing to pay a $5,258 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Rodin R. Diaz was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.
• Golden Fruit Company LLC, operating out of San Diego, CA, for failing to pay a $267,982 award in favor of a Mexico seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Jose Eduardo Francis Alarcon and Marlon A. Maurasse were listed as members of the business.

The USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.

In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 3,700 PACA claims involving more than $66 million. Its experts also assisted more than 7,100 callers with issues valued at approximately $100 million. These are just two examples of how USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

Agricultural Marketing Service

TURBO, COLOMBIA - In a staggering display of illicit activity and drug bust seizures by authorities, a record-breaking eight tons and $240 million worth of cocaine was pulled off of a banana plantation in Colombia. 

Felicitaciones @PoliciaColombia: operativo en Turbo incautó la mayor cantidad de droga en la historia. Golpe contundente a criminales.⁠⁠⁠⁠

— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) May 15, 2016

This raid targeted the Clan Úsuga, or Urabeños gang, which is renowned for using means of violence and intimidation to push cocaine trafficking. In a public tweet, President Juan Manuel Santos congratulated Colombian police forces in this historic moment, and called the operation a blow to criminals.

Of the eight tons recovered, nearly 1.5 tons were already ready for export, according to a statement made by Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas to the BBC. 

.@PoliciaAntiNar y #BloquedeBúsqueda @PoliciaColombia incautaron 8 toneladas de cocaína del #ClanÚsuga en #Antioquia pic.twitter.com/kiS32BwdB1

— Mindefensa Colombia (@mindefensa) May 15, 2016

This epic seizure is the largest on Colombian territory, although Villegas noted that larger have occurred at sea. During the raid, three suspects were captured and three evaded authorities. Authorities stated that over the past five years, 6,700 of the 8,700 gang members have been seized. 

U.S.-trained Colombian commandos searched for a year leading up to the raid for the gang’s head, Dario Antonio Úsuga, in a campaign called Operation Agamemnon. The gang’s leader is still at large, with a $5 million reward from the U.S. State Department for information leading to his arrest.

Colombian officials said that they are currently encouraging farmers to replace their illicit crops with legal harvests to capitalize and export.

Keep an eye on AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on the changing state of Colombian agriculture, and the battle between the produce industry and the criminal underside.

IRVINE, CA - With fresh California Avocados in peak season now through early fall, what better time to educate your foodservice staff about the popular and versatile fruit. The California Avocado Commission is providing companies with a fast and easy way to get the facts with this 7-minute video, “California Avocados: a Foodservice Perspective.” The video takes you on a trip through the care and craftsmanship that California Avocado growers put into each and every piece of fruit. 

“This California Avocado Commission video takes key foodservice decision makers on a virtual tour of the California Avocado industry from seed to grove to packing, and provides them with valuable, creative menu ideas”, said Jan DeLyser, Vice President of Marketing for CAC.

You can watch the Commission’s full video below. 

From the sunny groves where the fruits get their start and the efficient stations where they get packed, to a busy restaurant kitchen, the video showcases both the culinary benefits and possibilities that can be gained when using locally-grown, fresh California Avocados. California Avocados are grown on nearly 4,000 family farms throughout approximately 53,000 acres in Central and Southern California, a coastal climate that provides the ideal growing conditions. 

To learn more about the California Avocado difference, visit CaliforniaAvocado.com/Foodservice, where you can browse a recipe database and serving suggestions, as well as find a variety of helpful resources, including nutrition, selection, storage, and handling information for optimizing California Avocado usage.

California Avocado Commission

SALINAS, CA – Capitalizing on meal possibilities and consumer interest, Mann Packing has announced the launch of a new line of Nourish Bowls™ which are microwavable and feature popular trending vegetables, grains, and sauce.

“Healthy bowl-based meals are very popular in foodservice, so it’s natural to bring a product like Nourish Bowls to retail,” said Chairman & CEO Lorri Koster. “We fully expect this new line to do for the cut-veg category what single-serve salad bowls have done for the salad category.”

The company released in a statement the following flavor profiles for the Nourish Bowls, which are as follows:

• Southwest Chipotle
• Monterey Risotto
• Sesame Sriracha
• Smokehouse Brussels

The warm meals were developed by an expert panel of chefs to appeal to younger generations while still delivering flavor, convenience, and quality of ingredients. Mann Packing suggested that the bowls can be consumed as its own meal or a side dish, and is suited for a wide array of occasions due to its trending vegetable selection of kohlrabi, butternut squash, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, kale, and sugar snap peas.

The company plans to unveil the new line at the United Fresh Show in Chicago this June, but as Koster noted, “Sales performance during our initial rollout has far exceeded our projections. Consumers are loving these products.”

Mann’s Nourish Bowls will have a 16 day shelf life, and will retail between $3.99 - $4.99.

Mann Packing

LA JOYA, TX - Morgan & Son’s Farms is a grower, packer, importer located in south Texas along the Mexican border. Their new 85,000-sq-ft packing shed located on an 11 acre compound is now nearing completion.

President Tyler Morgan, previously the owner of Border Cold Storage in Pharr, TX, says “We are very excited about the new facility and the new operation.”

This facility will allow Morgan & Son’s import program to develop and grow faster and larger as well as offer better service to its clients. The facility will include two large force air cooling rooms as well as custom packing room for retail clients.

In addition, it will also allow the company to sell its own production off the farm too. The farming operation, which is over 700 acres, is currently growing watermelons and greens, and importing limes, pineapples, carrots, and many more items.

Morgan continued, “We know that our three keys to success: Food and Operational Safety, Honesty, and Quality makes the difference for our clients and our partners.”

Morgan & Sons Farms

SEATTLE, WA - Piggy-backing off of its pilot drive-up grocery in the Bay Area, Amazon looks to have purchased a second location to expand on its physical establishment in the market.

Similarly to when the e-commerce giant went about its first operation in the Sunnyvale, CA, area, a site has been identified and linked with Amazon before an official announcement has been made.

As we reported previously, Amazon was rumored to have been behind a new 11,600-square-foot building and grocery pick-up area. Now, Silicon Valley Business Journal reports, a second pattern has arisen in San Carlos, CA.

 

A photo posted by Amazon (@amazon) on Jun 4, 2015 at 5:10pm PDT

According to the news source, public records directly connect Amazon to the site where the project is planned, using the same architects that headed up the pilot.

Bill Bishop, Chief Architect at Brick Meets Click, told Silicon Valley that the expansion into what’s called a “click and collect” model could boost Amazon’s market share even more by furthering the company’s obsession with getting products to customers any way they can.

“They [Amazon] understand that they’re not going to have a single platform that builds this thing out,” Bishop said. “They are going to penetrate half a dozens or more ways. They’re going to sell stuff every way they can.”

Not only is this a move towards growth in the physical grocery market on Amazon’s part, but a new Brick Meets Click study due this week reportedly shows the entity can take up to a third of all grocery spending in markets where it competes.

In 2015, Amazon’s shoppers placed 48 percent of all grocery trips in those markets, a 39 percent boost from two years prior.

What will this mean for the expanding sector of supermarkets? AndNowUKknow will continue to keep its ear to the ground as more information emerges.

Amazon

GLENDALE, AZ - Legend Produce is now in peak production harvesting for its exclusive Origami cantaloupes in Yuma, Arizona, and the company reports that the 2016 season is already proving to be the best crop to date! 

"These are the best cantaloupes we have ever grown," Barry Zwillinger from Legend Produce tells me. "We have perfected the Origami cantaloupe with our high brix, excellent flavor, and bold aromas! The weather in Arizona has been fantastic, allowing for prime growing conditions for our cantaloupes."  

Over the next three to four weeks, Legend Produce will continue to be in its peak production lasting through the summer. The company's Maricopa-based growing partner, Santa Rosa Farms, is starting its production this week as well. Barry expects Santa Rosa Farms to be in full production by late next week, growing cantaloupes, honeydews, and a few varieties of mixed melons. 

"Our exclusive seed variety, Origami, is creating the demand in the market," Barry continues as we talk about what makes Legend Produce’s program so special. "Because this is a full slip melon, the brix of the Origami is currently averaging 14-16 percent with many reaching 18 percent, which is one sweet cantaloupe! Customers are in for a treat when they cut into this beautiful melon and experience how a cantaloupe should taste."  

Origami provides consumers with a strong inviting aroma, a sweet flavor, and beautiful orange flesh to match—precisely what one expects out of their cantaloupe experience. The company has been, and will continue to be, committed to growing the best tasting, best eating, and highest-quality melon.

PLEASANTON, CA – Veg-Fresh Farms is pledging to take consumers to the next snacking level as the company looks to engage tomato fans with new varieties from its gems family of snacking tomatoes.

“A product line of five varieties of snacking tomatoes was designed with millennial consumers in mind who want to experience more variety in their cooking options, desire healthy recipes, accompanied with a short amount of preparation time,” explained Kate Reeb, Director of Marketing.

Veg-Fresh Farms is showcasing high-res photographs of finished plate recipes for each gem variety to attract consumers' attention, according to a press release. Each label has a photo of the finished plate, and contains a recipe on the inside of the label. The new, featured varieties are as follows:

• Ruby gems
• Mini gems
• Vintage gems
• Garden gems
• Golden gems

  ---

“Our new gems family allows the retailer an ease in merchandising with uniform, stackable packaging that is brightly colored to attract the consumer’s attention,” said Sandy Garcia, Sales Manager. “The gems family of five offers retailers a solution for a consistent, high-quality look that engages the consumers with trending recipes.” 

As we previously reported, on Veg-Fresh's new website online users which will now have access to a consumer page to support ideas, new recipes with trending ingredients, and nutritional education on snacking tomatoes. Also featured is a light and upbeat 30 second gems commercial to showcase the gem lines’ “super market to super star” recipe potentials. 

The company stated that each recipe featured in the varieties launch was vetted and tested in the Veg-Fresh Test Kitchen, and is especially designed for easy preparation, minimal amount of ingredients, with quality results for consumers.

Veg-Fresh said that the new gem varieties are being released in a continued trend of snacking tomatoes, which originally began with cherry tomatoes, and has continued to expand in the marketplace as consumers enjoy new varieties, colors, and portability of the tomatoes.

AndNowUKnow will continue to have your best-picked industry news as new products and varieties appear in the marketplace.

Veg-Fresh Farms

WATSONVILLE, CA – Monterey Mushrooms Inc. has announced Tom McMunn as its newest team member, joining the company as its Gourmet Sales Manager. Tom comes to Monterey Mushrooms from the Schnucks supermarket chain.

“I’m very excited about joining the Monterey team. I look forward to using my experience and passion for food to build strong relationships with our current and future customers,” said McMunn in a press release.

As Gourmet Sales Manager, McMunn will oversee current business of processed foods with both existing and prospective customers in the retail, foodservice, and processor sectors. 

The company said that McMunn will also work with the Monterey Mushrooms product development team to provide sales and marketing support for the debut of new processed and value-added products.

“Tom is a result-orientated merchant with over thirty years of developing and executing corporate strategies,” said Mike O’Brien, Vice President of Sales and Markting. “He is proficient in product development, merchandise planning, and procurement.”

McMunn left his position as Schnucks’ category leader and Director of Private Brands Development to join Monterey Mushrooms. McMunn possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Webster University – Saint Louis, Missouri School of Business and Technology. 

McMunn will report directly to O’Brien in his new position, which came into effect on May 9.

Congratulations to Tom McMunn on his new role! Continue to check back with AndNowUKnow as we report on management shakeups and hirings in the industry.

Monterey Mushrooms