LOS ALAMITOS, CA – The Wall Street Journal is going bananas for bananas!

In a recent article published in the Wall Street Journal entitled “Is the Time Right for Baby Bananas?,” Barry Newman focuses on the development of small bananas and their growth from a test case to a staple at Brooklyn, New York's Key Food store.

That store’s Produce Manager, Mario Marabello, first brought the “babies,” as they are known, into the store. In the beginning, their market was limited to customers who had sampled the banana internationally and were excited to re-experience the taste. This grew, however, until people who’d never ventured into the small banana market were giving them a try. It took off from there.

Dole Spokesman, William Goldfield, spoke to Newman about bananas at the New York Produce Show in December. According to a press release, Goldfield said that the Cavendish, the big banana in the U.S. market, is the “only banana consumers are comfortable with.”

Frieda’s President and CEO, Karen Caplan, gave Newman a different perspective. She spoke to him at the show saying that the U.S. banana market needs a “disruption,” adding, “Did people ask Chrysler for the minivan?”

This Wall Street Journal article comes as a result of an effort by the New York Produce Show to solicit coverage of the produce industry in the mainstream press. 

Frieda's

PASADENA, CA - Some things do get sweeter with time.

Sun Pacific is debuting its newest product this month - Vintage Sweets Heirloom Navel Oranges. Harvested from Sun Pacific's most mature orange groves, these oranges are individually tested for high sugar content to ensure outstanding quality, and a superior, sweet eating experience.  

“With high brix, exceptional color and a rich, sweet taste, we're very excited about the launch of our Vintage Sweets line,” Sun Pacific President Bob DiPiazza tells us. “It's a flavor brought to California in the early 1900s with the planting of the original 'Washington' variety navel orange trees. Some of the trees are as much as 80-100 years old and they produce our best eating, sweet and juicy oranges."

With specialized equipment on the packing line designed to test the brix level of each Vintage Sweet orange, Sun Pacific is able to assure retailers that each order will be filled with exceptional quality.

Vintage Sweets Navel Oranges begin shipping starting the week of January 19th initially in 6 count trays overwrapped in a tight shrink wrap. Sun Pacific will offer bagged Vintage Sweets starting in mid-February.

For more updates on Sun Pacific’s latest, keep it here on AndNowUKnow. 

Sun Pacific

CHARLOTTE, NC - Now that the acquisition by Cutrale/Safra is completed, Chiquita has announced the closure of its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Charlotte Business Journal reports that recently named interim Chiquita CEO, Brian Kocher, told employees through a letter this morning that these changes are part of the transition to a privately held company.

“We wish to inform you to changes at the company that will result from our transition towards a more simplified and streamlined business model appropriate for the competitive markets we serve, and from a publicly listed company to a private enterprise,” Kocher stated in the letter. “The story of Chiquita’s relocation to Charlotte is a good one.”

Several key members of the Charlotte community have mirrored this sentiment. The Charlotte Observer reports that Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter thanked Chiquita in a statement for its “contributions to the community during their time in Charlotte.”

Charlotte Chamber President Bob Morgan also spoke positively about Chiquita’s time in Charlotte saying, “We wish the very best to the company in its next chapter and to all the employees and their families.”

Chiquita was promised about $22 million worth of state and local incentives to locate its headquarters in Charlotte in 2011 on the condition that the company would stay there for at least 10 years. Mayor Clodfelter says that the new Chiquita leadership will honor promises made for the city incentives, according to the business journal.

The timing of the office closing has not been disclosed as of yet. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this story.

Chiquita

CHICAGO, IL - Hamilton Partners has purchased Jewel-Osco’s headquarters for $23.7 million, which is approximately $128 per square foot.

Chicago Real Estate Daily reports that Hamilton purchased the 185,020-square-foot office building from Bethesda, MD-Based pension fund adviser ASB Capital Management.

For now, one key question remains. Will Jewel-Osco be relocating?

The news of this sale comes as Jewel-Osco’s parent company, Albertsons, is continuing its merger with Safeway.

This merger has created uncertainty in real estate circles about Jewel-Osco’s plans for its headquarters. According to property records, the retailer signed an 11-year lease in 2008 when it moved into the location.

Though Hamilton declined to comment of the specifics of Jewel-Osco’s lease to Chicago Real Estate Daily, it did say, “we feel confident that Jewel is going to be a tenant in the building long-term.”

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow all of the potential changes as the Safeway/Albertson’s merger continues.

Jewel-Osco

Safeway

Albertsons

PROVO, UT - Want kids to eat their fruits and veggies? The secret might be a good game of dodgeball.

A study conducted by researchers with Brigham Young University and Cornell has revealed that kids who have recess before eating lunch consume 54% more fruits and vegetables than their counterparts. 

“Recess is a pretty big deal for most kids. If you have kids choose between playing and eating their veggies, the time spent playing is going to win most of the time,” said Joe Price, the study's lead author and Economics Professor at Brigham Young University. “You just don’t want to set the opportunity cost of good behaviors too high.”

Cornell's David Just collaborated with Price for the study. Listen to him explain the duo's fascinating findings:

With a sample of 22,939 data points gathered over the course of 13 days in four separate schools, the researchers concluded that recess made all the difference. In addition to the 54% increase in produce consumption, Price and Just also noted a 45% increase in the number of children consuming at least one serving of fruits and veggies. As for the children that had to wait to have recess? Produce consumption actually decreased, according to Brigham Young.

Given the nutritional impact of produce consumption, especially for young people, the importance of work like Price and Just's cannot be understated. As the researchers themselves noted, “increased fruit and vegetable consumption in young children can have positive long term health effects. Additionally, decreasing waste of fruits and vegetables is important for schools and districts that are faced with high costs of offering healthier food choices.”

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to bring you the latest news and analysis related to the fresh produce industry.

ROCHESTER, NY – New York Apple Growers (NYAG) is greeting the new year with the launch of a new apple variety: RubyFrost®. With a rollout across participating retailers in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the East Coast, NYAG is excited for the potential of this variety.

According to a press release, RubyFrost is being marketed as a seasonal wintertime apple available for a limited time. Developed by Cornell University, RubyFrost is prized for its vibrant color, excellent crisp texture, and delicate balance of sweet and tart flavors.

“We tested this apple this past January in select New York stores and the results were very positive,” shared Jeff Crist, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of NYAG. “In-store surveys revealed that consumers really liked the sweet and tart flavor and crisp texture of this apple.”

“Families who enjoy eating apple slices will find that ‘Rubyfrost’ not only tastes great, it does not brown quickly after slicing,” agreed Susan Brown, an apple breeder with Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. “It is great as a quick, healthy, enjoyable snack, great on a cheeseboard or fruit salad and also performs well in baking.”

In order to maximize sales and exposure for this new variety, NYAG will be supporting its retail partners with a variety of in-store demonstrations, POS materials with high graphic bins, online coupons, food blogger outreach, public relations and social media activities. NYAG has also launched a website dedicated to providing consumers with nutritional information, recipes and pairing ideas, as well as information about the growers responsible for bringing this new variety to market.

Together with SnapDragon™, RubyFrost has been in the works since 2011. As the trees mature, NYAG is expecting significant increases in harvest size beginning in 2016.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more updates on the new varieties making an impact on the fresh produce industry today.  

New York Apple Growers

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Trader Joe's is expanding its distribution center in Daytona Beach with a new $12.46 million construction project. Once completed, the facility will boast a new 101,125 sq. ft. freezer warehouse complex, helping to grow the retailer's capabilities in the area. The building is set to be located adjacent to another 524,000 sq. ft. facility which has been under construction since October.

“They are moving ahead at a fast pace out there,” shared Mike Garrett, Director of Permits and Licensing. “They are not letting grass grow under their feet.”

“It’s nice to see someone come in with a project, get approvals and permits and go right to work. They are doing that,” agreed Richard Walton, Daytona's Planning Director. “They are going right along with the site plan that was filed.”

According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, the center is projected to be completed by the close of 2015. Once finished, it will service Trader Joe's Southeastern United States region and employ 450 workers and 100 delivery drivers.

Public records obtained by the News-Journal reveal that Trader Joe's plans to spend at least $55 million total on renovating the facility, including $7.8 million to purchase a development site in Consolidated-Tomoka. A third 6,000-square-foot truck maintenance and wash station is also in the works, but no building permit application has been filed for this project yet, Garret revealed.

“That would be the final thing, but as far as time line goes, we have no valid deadline when they plan to be done,” Garrett said.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track the expansion plans of Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's

PHILIPPINES – Criminal charges have been filed against 127 government executives in the Philippines, including former Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Clarito Barron, over allegations of collusion with traders in a ‘garlic cartel’ that caused prices of garlic to skyrocket last year.

From 2010 to 2013, garlic prices rose from $3.69 to $8.94 per kilo and then went even higher in 2014. In July of last year, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the soaring garlic prices.

According to ABS-CBN News, the NBI probe covered all issuances of PQCs (Plant Quarantine Clearances) and SPS-ICs (Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Import Clearances) by the BPI from 2010-2014.

BPI, an agency under the Department of Agriculture, issues all of the required PQCs and SPS-ICs for the importation of garlic.

MSN reports that charges were filed against the executives by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and include direct bribery, profiteering and cartel under the Price Act, monopolies and restraint of trade under the Revised Penal Code, use of fictitious names and obstruction of justice were filed against them with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Aside from Barron, other notable individuals charged include:

• BPI-Plant Quarantine Service Chief, Luben Marasigan
• BPI-PQS Officer-in-Charge, Merle Palacpac
• Lilia Cruz, aka Lea Cruz, head of the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines Inc. (VIEVA Phils.)
• Chairman of the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) and National Onion Action Team (NOAT)

According to MSN, Barron denied the allegations, saying the DOJ failed to establish that collusion took place in the garlic trade.

“The results of the investigation of the DOJ-Office of Competition is unfounded as its conclusions are based on weak accusations tainted with politics. It was not properly determined how collusion took place. It was just declared that there was one between traders and officials of the BPI,” Barron said.

He added, “If prices rise, we no longer have control in these. It is the Bureau of Customs that is expected to monitor this.”

The case will now be assigned to a panel of Department of Justice prosecutors who will then set the preliminary investigation.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track this developing case.

NIXA, MO – The residents of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas have a new produce player entering the mix with the opening of Market Fresh Produce's Monett Repacking Facility. Market Fresh was joined by the Monett Chamber of Commerce for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, January 7, 2015.

“The facility will allow us to service Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas,” Tyler Phipps, General Manager, said. “Reworking, ripening, cross-docking and redistribution services will be offered as we are able to handle the rapid growth we expect.”

According to a press release, the facility was purchased from the Harlin Fruit Company. After the acquisition, Market Fresh began to renovate the complex, upgrading it to a repacking facility. From August 2014 through the new year, the company worked to install a state-of-the-art hands-free wash and dry room for the employees, LED lighting, new security system, six walk-in coolers.

Steve Phipps, Market Fresh CEO and Owner, shared that in the long-term the company plans to expand the facility's footprint outside of just tomatoes until it is able to offer a full category selection, creating a local produce program for the community.

“This is an exciting time in the life of our company,” he said. “Having a local facility will provide further research and development opportunities as Market Fresh continues to be one of the most innovative brands in the produce industry.”

Market Fresh offers full line procurement and category management in tomatoes, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, peppers, avocados, and kiwi.

Stay tuned as we continue to track the latest news from Market Fresh.  

Market Fresh Produce

AUSTIN, TX - The industry’s biggest buyers and retailers are already lining up for one of the year’s hottest shows in produce – the Viva Fresh Produce Expo.

Bret Erickson, CEO, Texas International Produce Association; Tommy Wilkins, Director of Sales and Business Development for Grow Farms Texas; and Jimmy Bassetti, President, J&D Produce, joined us to discuss why this exciting convention is a must-see event for grower/shippers and retailers alike.

You can listen to our exclusive interview with Bret, Tommy, and Jimmy above.

Previously on AndNowUKnow, H-E-B’s Hugh Topper, Group Vice President of Fresh, also chimed in on the event, telling us, “Connecting with suppliers is key to our success and the Viva Fresh Expo brings all of Texas and Mexico to us. It’s the best of both worlds, a regional expo that stretches international boundaries.”

For more information on the Viva Fresh Produce Expo and what to expect from Austin, Texas, check our previous coverage by clicking here.

Don’t miss it!

Viva Fresh Produce Expo

Texas International Produce Association