SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Industry veteran M. Clark Wood passed away peacefully on May 21, 2016 at 70 years old.

Born on August 2, 1945 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Louise and Marvin Wood, Clark graduated from South High School and continued onto the University of Utah, where he received a degree in Sociology, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

At an early age, he developed a strong work ethic as well as a passion for sports. He excelled in football at South High and later played at the University of Utah.

Clark married Karen Amundsen in the Salt Lake Temple in August of 1967. According to those close to him, one of his greatest joys was being able to coach his own children and attend their sporting events as well as those of his grandchildren. He was also a lifelong University of Utah sports fan.

Professionally, Clark fulfilled a long tenure in the produce industry, working for Associated Food Stores, Walmart, and, most recently, The Utah Food Bank, cherishing the many relationships developed along the way.

An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Clark served a mission to New Zealand from 1964 to 1966, as well as spending his life serving in various capacities, including: bishoprics, high councils, and many years serving the youth.

Clark's life was filled with opportunities for service, and he is remembered as possessing a genuine love for people, influencing all with whom he came in contact. His enthusiasm and fun-loving personality was infectious and embraced by all, with many who knew Clark considering him to be a role model and father figure.

Clark died peacefully in his home, surrounded by family, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He is survived by his wife, Karen; children Trisha Cutler (Wes), Alissa Hollberg (John), Bryan (Amber), Emily Montmeny (Shawn), Jenni Bjorklund (Russ), and Michael (Liz); siblings Jean Rasband (Phil) and Suzanne Colby (Gary). Clark is also survived by 18 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Kathy Monfrooy.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday May 26, 2016 at 12:00 noon at the Yalecrest LDS chapel, 1035 S 1800 E, SLC, UT, 84108. Viewings will be held Wednesday night from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, and on Thursday from 10:30 - 11:45 a.m. prior to services at the Yalecrest LDS chapel. Interment will take place at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Utah Food Bank.

The AndNowUKnow team would like to extend our deepest condolences to Clark’s family, friends, and those affected by this loss.

ST. LOUIS, MO – After receiving Bayer’s initial bid for a $62 billion takeover, Monsanto rejected the offer yesterday. Monsanto said that the initial offer was too low, though it remains open to talks of future bids. 

“We believe in the substantial benefits an integrated strategy could provide to growers and broader society, and we have long respected Bayer’s business,” said Hugh Grant, Monsanto Chairman and CEO, in an issued statement on the initial $122-a-share offer. “However, the current proposal significantly undervalues our company and also does not adequately address or provide reassurance for some of the potential financing and regulatory execution risks related to the acquisition.”

The Wall Street Journal said that although the move was expected of Monsanto, people familiar with the deal said it can’t be ruled out that Bayer may come back with a higher offer, and the rejection is putting pressure onto Bayer to increase its offerings despite some protests from company investors. 

On its own behalf, Bayer said that it looks forward to continuing constructive discussions with Monsanto regarding the proposed acquisition, though it reiterated that its initial all-cash offer would provide full and certain value for Monsanto shareholders. 

"We are pleased that Monsanto’s Board shares our belief in the substantial benefits an integrated strategy could provide to growers and broader society," said Werner Baumann, CEO of Bayer AG. "We are confident that we can address any potential financing or regulatory matters related to the transaction. Bayer remains committed to working together to complete this mutually compelling transaction."

The Wall Street Journal speculated that a union between the companies would transform the agricultural sector by creating the world’s largest seed and crop-chemical supplier, as well as a revamp to Bayer itself by increasing the company’s agricultural sales to over half of the company’s overall sales numbers.

Both companies stated that they did not intend to make further comments at this time, with Monsanto also asserting that it has not set a timeline for any further discussions. 

Keep your cursor hovered over AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on this prospective buyout and any forthcoming acquisition bids.

Monsanto Bayer

KINGSVILLE, ON - Mastronardi Produce is celebrating spring with honors from the International Taste and Quality Institute in Belgium.

The company received the prestigious Superior Taste Award for the 7th consecutive year, with its SUNSET® Angel Sweet® receiving top honors and an incredible evaluation from the ITQI.

“Angel Sweet® has been our fastest growing grape tomato,” Paul Mastronardi, CEO of Mastronardi, said in a press release. “We’re thrilled that it took the highest honour at this year’s evaluation.”

Several hundred food and beverage brands participate in the ITQI Awards each year, with products being judged on a number of factors, including:

• Appearance
• Aroma
• Texture
• Taste (of course)

SUNSET® Flavor Bombs™ and R’orange Crunch™ also took awards home, with Mastronardi adding that the Flavor Bombs™, a Michigan-grown cherry tomato, has quickly become a go-to snack for local foodies looking for exceptional sweetness.

One of SUNSET’s newest products, R’orange Crunch™, is headed towards becoming a summertime favorite with its citrusy flavor and an irresistible crunch.

“We warmly congratulate Mastronardi Produce on this achievement,” Christian de Bauw, Managing Partner at ITQI, commented. “Mastronardi should be very proud to market products that are so valued for their superior taste.”

Past award-winning SUNSET® products include:

• Kumato®
• Campari®
• Zima®
• One Sweet® tomatoes

If you are looking to get your hands on these award-winning brands, contact a SUNSET® sales representative to learn more.

Mastronardi Produce

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Giumarra Companies has introduced a new Certified Organic vegetables line under its Los Angeles wholesale operation, Giumarra Bros. Fruit Co. The line includes lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, beets, chard, and kale, along with a variety of specialty vegetables, greens, and herbs. The company said the new line is in response to a huge growth in demand for the organic category. 

“The demand for organic produce is rising globally,” explained Chuck Anunciation, Division Manager for Giumarra Bros. Fruit Co. “We feel it is important to continue serving our customers’ growing needs with a broad organic offering.”

Along with the rest of his team, Anunciation brings more than 25 years of organic buying expertise to Giumarra Bros. Fruit Co. The new category is USDA Certified Organic, California-grown, and will be available year-round, according to a press release.

“We have seen double digit growth in our wholesale organic category,” added Kellee Harris, Western Region Business Manager. “Our new vegetable offering will nicely complement our organic fruit offering, as well as our conventional produce.”

In order to accommodate the growth resulting from the new category, Giumarra also recently revamped its warehouse facility.

The company said it will be showcasing the new organic vegetables this summer at the Los Angeles Wholesale Market, using planned demos designed to promote at both retail and foodservice levels.

Giumarra Bros. Fruit Co. Giumarra Companies

MCALLEN, TX – Manufacturing and high tech industry veteran Jeff Nielsen has joined Fox Solutions as its newest Sales Executive for the East Coast region. Now based out of Atlanta, Nielsen has worked in various related positions for nearly 30 years.

“My vast prior experience will lend itself very well to my new position consulting customers about turn-key equipment lines,” explains Nielsen. “I am excited to join such a great team that is focused on delivering quality, customized solutions.” 

A graduate of the Industrial Technology School at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and equipment sales veteran, Nielsen has also gained valuable knowledge in manufacturing, packing houses, the processed food industry, as well as end-of-line packaging systems and materials.

Most recently before joining Fox Solutions, Nielsen was the Regional Manager of the Southeast with TOMRA Sorting Solutions for more than nine years, according to a press release.

“We are pleased to have Jeff join our team,” adds Aaron Fox, Executive Vice President at Fox Packaging. “His years of expertise in both operations and packaging will be a valuable asset in helping us provide the service and support that our company stands for.”

Fox Solutions and Nielsen will be attending this year’s United Fresh Produce Expo in Chicago from June 20 through June 22, so visit them at booth #2007 to learn more!

Fox Solutions

PULLACH, GERMANY – In an international analysis on consumer preference and fresh food packaging, IFCO has announced that The Global Shopper Produce Display Preferences Survey showed shoppers prefer IFCO Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) over cardboard boxes by a 55 percent to 25 percent margin. 

“There are a lot of good reasons to use IFCO RPCs to package, transport, store and display fresh produce. They are safer, more efficient, cost-effective, sustainable and protect food better than one-way packaging,” said Wolfgang Orgeldinger, CEO of IFCO. “Now, we have confirmation that IFCO RPCs are the fresh food packaging choice of most consumers, and that is another critical factor retailers and growers should consider when making supply chain decisions.”

The survey was conducted to find grocery shoppers’ feedback in relation to the two most common types of produce packaging, according to a press release. The company reported the following results according to surveyed consumers:

• IFCO RPCs are more attractive than cardboard boxes by a 59 percent to 23 percent margin

• IFCO RPCs deliver fresher produce than cardboard boxes by a 50 percent to 24 percent margin

• IFCO RPCs deliver higher quality produce than cardboard boxes by a 50 percent to 23 percent margin

• 45 percent would pay more for fresh produce packed in IFCO RPCs, while just 20 percent said they would pay more for produce packed in cardboard boxes

• IFCO RPCs are the top produce packaging choice of men and women surveyed, as well as every age cohort

“We live in a consumer-driven world, and these results show consumers strongly prefer IFCO RPCs for fresh food packaging,” finished Orgeldinger. “The study clearly shows retailers and growers can enhance shopper experience and increase sales by using IFCO RPCs.”

The survey was conducted in February of this year by Brandcheck, and consulted 2,200 consumers from 11 different countries. 

Keep your eye on AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on consumer trends within the fresh produce industry.

IFCO

SEATTLE, WA - After a year and a half of focusing on its current locations, reports have surfaced that AmazonFresh is intending to enter several new markets this year, both in the U.S. and abroad.

The hiatus comes to an end this year, with Boston and the U.K. on the list for AmazonFresh’s newest regions, according to news source Recode.

"[W]e're playing with a lot of different models to see what resonates with consumers and it'll guide our investment decisions going forward," Brian Olsavsky, Amazon Chief Financial Officer, said in response to an analyst's question on Amazon's most recent earnings call, according to the report.

Though a spokeswoman for Amazon declined to comment, sources report growth on the horizon.

 

Breakfast, delivered! #amazonfresh

A photo posted by AmazonFresh (@amazon_fresh) on Dec 10, 2014 at 8:56am PST

Currently, Amazon Fresh is available in the following locations:

• Washington state
• California
• New Jersey
• New York City
• Philadelphia

The U.K. has been in Amazon Fresh’s sights for some time now, with rumors having circulated last August that the service would be introduced in London.

In February of this year, the company struck a deal with regional U.K. supermarket chain Morrisons to distribute both its fresh and frozen products to its Prime customers.

This news comes after we recently reported that Amazon looks to also be opening its second physical location in California, a drive-thru grocery option for consumers that would push it further into the fresh market.

Right now, AmazonFresh is only available to those with a Prime Fresh membership, a $299 subscription that allows shoppers to buy perishables like produce, meat, dairy, and the like online, delivered within the day of the order.

AndNowUKnow will continue to follow the company as further plans for expansion come to light.

AmazonFresh

WASHINGTON, DC - Arrow Farms of New York has paid a $15,000 civil penalty for slow pay violations relating to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).

To settle a complaint, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Arrow Farms of New York entered into a consent decision in which Arrow Farms of New York agreed to pay a $15,000 civil penalty for failing to make full payment promptly to four sellers in the amount of $69,719, according to a recent USDA press release.

The company’s failure to pay all of the undisputed produce debt described in the complaint until January 2016 constitutes slow payment under PACA. The company satisfied the terms of the consent decision and order on May 11, 2016, and, as a result, the finding of violations has been permanently abated.

USDA is required to publish the finding that a business has committed willful, repeated, and flagrant violations of PACA as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business during the violation period. 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 the USDA continues to support the fruit and vegetable industry.

Agricultural Marketing Service

NORMAN PARK, GA - Convenience and extended shelf-life, a combination that pleases both the consumer and the retailer, is now being offered by Southern Valley Fruit and Vegetable in a newly-launched 2lb bag for its yellow squash and zucchini.

Showcasing the produce itself with a transparent front that presents the yellow squash and zucchini for the shoppers to see, these new 2lb Grab & Go bags live up to their name from the packaging handle to help in the kitchen the consumer might need.

On the back of each package is an easy-to-make recipe that makes the product more approachable, and may even add a few extra items to your shopper’s list!

However fashionable the bag may be, it is equally as functional. In-house testing showed that Southern Valley’s new Grab & Go bags extend the shelf-life of its yellow squash and zucchini by up to four times the amount of conventional bulk boxes, with the veggies coming out virtually oxidation-free and tasting freshly-plucked.

The cherry on top? While 2 lbs may be the industry standard, Southern Valley also keeps in mind that it may not be yours. Therefore, the weight of the produce in the new Grab & Go bags can be tailored to the customer’s specific needs.

With the convenience that comes with being able to grab-and-go, extended shelf-life, plus recipes that studies show appeal to millennial shoppers that want to be healthier but are intimidated by food preparation, this is a new offer that is in line with retail needs and consumer trends.

For more information, or to learn where this product is available, please ask for sales at (229) 769-3676, or visit www.southernvalley.us.

If you’d like to see your product in this segment, please send samples to 2020 L Street, Suite 320, Sacramento, CA, 95811.

Southern Valley Produce

ST. LOUIS, MO - From its founding in 1993, Sev-Rend Packaging has expanded from its original role as a b2b supplying primarily tags, to grow an expanded portfolio which now includes film, netting, and labels for the produce industry. As Jeff Watkin, Graphic and Marketing Manager at Sev-Rend, recently told me, the company has plans to take that movement even further. 

“We’ve really expanded out, especially in our sales force,” Jeff says of the company’s recent team growth. “Now we have regional sales managers which are strategically positioned throughout the United States to focus on specific industries.” 

This focus allows Sev-Rend to concentrate on providing a faster turnaround for its customers, as the company manufactures its products right on location. Recently, the company has seen the largest amount of growth in its netting and film offerings. “A thing that we really like to champion on our ourselves and our brand,” adds Jeff, “is that we are a domestic supplier and manufacturing in a field where a lot of manufacturing is done overseas.”

Jeff divulges that company's strategies allow for heightened efficiency, faster lead time, and exceptional quality for Sev-Rend customers. And the company doesn’t plan to stop there.

“We’re very vertically integrated. From substrate development to final product, a lot of it is developed within our plant. It’s been crucial to our growth as a company, because we have our arms around our products so we know how it’s going to react when it gets out into our customer’s hands, which in turn adds to overall speed to market for our customer’s products,” Jeff tells me. 

This adds to the company’s concept of a commercialization approach, which allows Sev-Rend to manage all aspects of the product development. 

So just how is Sev-Rend planning to continue its company growth and brand expansion?

Sev-Rend is already utilizing a forward-thinking recycling program for all of its waste, which was recently instituted within the past 18 – 24 months. “We’re a green manufacturer, we’re very environmentally conscious and lean in our waste,” Jeff says of the company’s innovative recycling program which is specific to the St. Louis area. “All of our waste is converted back into a pellet which can be converted to alternative fuel sources.”

The company also has some new products in the works which Jeff tells me he can’t disclose quite yet. For the meantime, however, the company is continuing to ramp up its core produce-industry specific products: 

• SR Film: Easy to handle design for film bags
• Sof-Net: bag netting specifically developed for packers and growers
• Wineglass tag: tag that attaches to netting of a bag, customizable printing on one or both sides

On top of all this? Excellent customer service. “We pride ourselves on that. Quality, lead-times, and service is what is going to keep Sev-Rend moving forward,” Jeff finishes. 

Stay with AndNowUKnow as we continue to report on emerging innovative companies in the industry, and to see where Sev-Rend heads next.

Sev-Rend Packaging