FOWLER, CA - After a generous $50,000 donation, Bee Sweet Citrus is bringing its new partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) into the produce aisle with a new packaging series featuring the Foundation's pink ribbon on its Sweetheart Mandarin label. This new packaging, which will debut in November, will showcase Bee Sweet's commitment to this cause and its dedication to working with the Foundation to build a healthier, cancer-free future.

“The fight against breast cancer is a serious issue in our country and world. We at Bee Sweet Citrus are committed to supporting BCRF and their mission to advancing the world’s most promising research, promoting awareness and finding a cure,” Jason Sadoian of Bee Sweet's Sales team shared. “With our year-round mandarin program, we have the ability to help fund lifesaving research and raise awareness for this cause year-round, keeping it on consumers' minds with every trip down the produce aisle.”

Indeed, Bee Sweet stressed the importance of this key point, that its partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is not just a one month affair, but a year-round commitment to the cause.

“Sweetheart Mandarin shoppers will see the Breast Cancer Research Foundation ribbon on our packaging regardless of whether they purchase our mandarins in November or March,” Jason explained. “We want our retail partners and consumers to enjoy our great tasting mandarins while assisting one of the finest non-profit organizations, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.”

It goes without saying that this is an amazing cause which Bee Sweet is supporting. AndNowUKnow would like to wish Bee Sweet and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation the best as the two work together to combat this terrible disease with this important new partnership.

Bee Sweet Citrus

CASTROVILLE, CA – Ocean Mist Farms has recently debuted four new products at this year’s PMA Fresh Summit as part of the company’s 90th anniversary: Kalettes™, Organic Lacinato Kale, Heirloom Artichokes, and Sweet Baby Broccoli. Each item celebrates Ocean Mist’s long-standing history and its commitment to the highest standards in the industry for food safety, quality, service, innovation, and sustainable responsibility.

Kalettes™: The best of both worlds. This new vegetable combines the best of Brussels sprouts and kale, resulting in a fresh fusion of sweet and nutty flavors. Versatile and easy-to-use, consumers won’t be able to stay away from this vitamin-packed leafy green. All of Ocean Mist’s Kalettes™ are harvested by hand, and are grown in Mexico from January through May and in Salinas Valley, CA from June through September.

Organic Lacinato Kale: Meet the cousin variety of the traditional green kale. It has the same high nutritional value and health benefits as green kale, but has a more textured, bumpy look to its leaves. Lacinato Kale is a great extension for any retail greens program. Its flavor profile has been described as tasting earthy and slightly sweeter than traditional green kale with a green/blue or green/black coloring. This particular variety is grown in Coachella, CA from December through March.

Heirloom Artichokes: This unique variety is exclusively grown along the Pacific Ocean region of Castroville, CA. It grows only from the same root stock that has been passed down for over 90 years. They also take longer to grow than other varieties grown from seed, which helps them attain a thicker center heart and meatier petals with an intense flavor.

Sweet Baby Broccoli: Its sweet, mild flavor and softer texture makes it easier for using in many ways. A special double sided hang tag includes Quick Recipes for consumers. Ocean Mist’s Sweet Baby Broccoli is grown year-round in Salinas Valley, CA.

Ocean Mist Farms

NEW YORK CITY, NY - Each October, Ag Against Hunger holds its “New York Express” fundraiser in order to benefit its Fall and Winter produce distribution programs.

This year, Ocean Mist Farms, The Nunes Company, Steinbeck Country Produce, Taylor Farms, Tanimura & Antle and Dole Fresh Vegetables donated pallets of iceberg lettuce, celery and cauliflower which were sold at Hunt's Point in New York City, raising $14,034 for this great cause. C.H. Robinson covered the transportation and delivery costs for the produce, while M&R Tomato Distributors, Inc. of New York led by Denise Goodman, of M&R Tomato, coordinated the sale of the produce, all free of charge.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ag Against Hunger, I would like to express our heartfelt ‘Thank You’ to everyone involved again in our annual fall fundraiser,” shared Alicia Cask, Board Member for Ag Against Hunger and Transportation Planner for Fresh Express/Chiquita. “We are so very grateful for all the continued generosity and support from our local shipper and carrier partners. Without all the commitment and support of our local growers, we could not make this yearly fundraiser a success. The proceeds from this event will help us to continue to serve the local needy communities with healthy and nutritious choices of fruits and vegetables.”

According to a press release, the money raised from the New York Express fundraiser is the equivalent of nearly 351,000 servings of fresh produce for the nation's food banks. The money raised will also go towards supplying the salad bars for local schools through Ag Against Hunger's More Produce for Schools program.

AndNowUKnow would like to congratulate all of the companies which participated in this fundraiser for achieving such an impressive accomplishment. Events such as these truly show the character and civic responsibility of the companies which make up our industry.  

Ag Against Hunger

CHARLOTTE, NC – Chiquita Brands International has reported its financial results for Q3 2014.  The company saw EBITDA of $26 million for 2014 compared to $18 million in 2013, and a 4% increase in banana sales to $477 million.

“Chiquita's results in the third quarter were the strongest in the last five years for this period,” said Ed Lonergan, Chiquita's President and Chief Executive Officer. “The momentum generated by Chiquita's 'return to the core' strategy resulted in higher sales in our banana segment, and improved pricing in both bananas and salads & healthy snacks.”

Chiquita also reported a GAAP net loss of $18 million and GAAP operating loss of $1 million. In the report, Lonergan credits this to higher banana sourcing and transport costs due to atypical weather conditions that required higher than anticipated purchases of bananas sourced in the spot market.

“Relative to 2013, the second half of the year will benefit from reduced levels of excess supply of fruit, as well as favorable comparisons in the salad business as a result of third quarter-deployed salads pricing actions and improving performance of our Midwest salad facility, which incurred significant expenses last year,” said Lonergan.

As we covered extensively, Chiquita’s third quarter was full of merger talks and takeover offers before the company agreed to a $1 billion acquisition with Brazilian companies Cutrale and Safra.  In the report, Lonergan added, “With the announced sale of Chiquita to the Cutrale and Safra groups, we are working to ensure an efficient closing and successful integration by the end of the year or early 2015."

As of 1:42 pm ET, Chiquita stock is up $0.01 to $14.43 for a 0.07% increase.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track Chiquita and its acquisition.

Chiquita

Cutrale

Safra Group 

WASHINGTON D.C. - Four PACA violators in New York, Virginia and California have been restricted from operating in the produce industry, according to a USDA press release.

Salinas Valley Spinach LLC, a Salinas, CA based company, failed to pay a $51,976 award in favor of a California seller. Andrew N. Cumming, John H. Cumming, and Metz Fresh LLC were listed as members of the business.

Victor Moreno, doing business as EPM Mango Sales out of Chula Vista, CA, failed to pay a $23,502 award in favor of a Texas seller. Victor Moreno was listed as the sole proprietor of the business.

KHA Wholesale Inc., a Annandale, VA based company, failed to pay a $21,490 award in favor of a California seller. Jihyung Nam was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.

GNS Produce, a Brooklyn, NY based company, failed to pay a $10,800 award in favor of a Canadian seller. Sergey Nashonov was listed as the Officer, Director, and major stockholder of the business.

In the past three years, the USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims under the PACA involving more than $87 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.  

Agricultural Marketing Service

PHOENIX, AZ – Sprouts Farmers Market has released its third quarter 2014 financial results. 

The retailer saw adjusted net income of $27.4 million, a 21% increase over the same period in 2013, and adjusted EBITDA of $65.5 million, a 24% increase also over the same period in 2013.

"In a competitive environment, Sprouts is pleased to report another quarter of strong top-line growth with solid financial results," said Doug Sanders, President and CEO of Sprouts Farmers Market. "Our combination of healthy products at affordable prices, unparalleled customer service, and strong operational execution continues to separate Sprouts from the competition by meeting the needs of today's growing number of health conscious consumers.”

During the quarter, Sprouts opened 14 new stores, bringing the 2014 openings to 24.  The retailer now has 191 stores in ten states and unit growth of 14% for the year, according to the report.

Other highlights from this strong Q3 include:

• Net sales of $766.4 million, a 21% increase from the same period in 2013
• Comparable store sales growth of 9.0% and two-year comparable store sales growth of 19.2%
• Net income of $26.1 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.17
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.18, a 38% increase from the same period in 2013
• $50 million voluntary pay down of term loan

As of 1:00 pm ET, Sprouts' stock price was up $0.42 at $31.70, a 1.34% increase.

Congratulations on the strong quarter, Sprouts!

Sprouts Farmers Market

TAMPA, FL - IFCO SYSTEMS has opened a new 200,000 square foot RPC Service Center in Fresno, California, the company’s sixth in the U.S. The new facility is equipped to wash, sanitize, and dry more than 95,000 RPCs per day, and ship and receive approximately 120 truckloads of RPCs for IFCO’s grocery retail partners and grower shipper customers weekly, according to a press release.

“We are pleased to open our most advanced facility to date in Fresno, complete with the latest food safety systems and sustainable operations,” said Dan Walsh, President of IFCO North America. “Our growth during the past few years has demanded the expansion of our service center network so our grower and retailer partners have all the safe and clean RPCs they need to serve their customers.”

The Fresno service center currently has more than 80 employees and is designed to allow for further expansion.

IFCO’s five other service centers in the U.S. are located in San Antonio, TX; Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Atlanta; Portland, OR and Chicago. The company owns and operates 49 service centers in 19 countries.

Congrats on the opening of this newest facility, IFCO!

IFCO

PORTLAND, OR – Pear Bureau Northwest has hired Kathy Stephenson as the company’s Marketing Communications Director.

“I feel I have found the perfect niche: marrying my passion for marketing communications and fresh produce and agriculture. This is an exciting time to champion a message about healthy eating with the growing awareness that our diet impacts our well being. The Pear Bureau programs are innovative and refreshing, and I feel privileged to join this well organized and hard working team,” Kathy said.

According to a press release, she brings over 25 years of food experience in marketing communications and product development to the Pear Bureau Northwest team.

Kevin Moffitt, Pear Bureau Northwest President and CEO said, “We are very pleased to have Kathy join our team. Her experience will move us forward with our promotions at retail as well as our PR and advertising aimed to increase consumer awareness and consumption of fresh pears.”

Most recently, Kathy provided marketing and advertising management support to Oregon Fruit Products LLC and Brucepac Inc. along with other clients.  She has an MBA from UC Berkeley in Berkeley, CA and a B.S. in Food Science Technology from Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR.

Congratulations on this new position, Kathy!

Pear Bureau Northwest

SALINAS, CA – The holiday season is proving to be a busy, yet productive one for Naturipe Farms. The company’s cranberry season is in full swing as Thanksgiving is just weeks away, and the crop this year is looking just as good, if not better, than the last.

“Naturipe Farms has a very strong organic and conventional cranberry program,” Keith Parker, Cranberry Product Manager, told AndNowUKnow. “What makes us unique is we pack each order as they come in. At Naturipe, we feel it is better to pack each order fresh to ensure the best quality for customers. This helps alleviate any soft or shriveled cranberries in the package.”

Naturipe has a full conventional and organic line-up of fresh cranberries. Packaging options for its organic line include a 7.5 oz. clamshell, 8 oz. bag, and 12 oz. bag. For the conventional line, Naturipe offers a 12 oz. clamshell and bag, 2 lb. bag, and 3 lb. bag.

Kyla Oberman, Naturipe’s Marketing Manager, recommends that retailers cross-promote cranberries with complementary products such as oranges and cloves or goat cheese and crackers to gain consumer attention. “Sampling this product combination as well as handing out recipe ideas and product information, including health benefits, are also well received by consumers.”

The company can load cranberries out of multiple facilities: direct out of Wisconsin, or out of its two distribution centers on the East (Manfredi, PA) and West (Oxnard, CA) Coast. “This makes it easier for our customers to load the cranberries with the other berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries) they might be loading with us,” continued Parker. “This also makes it easier for customers to load lesson pallet quantities if needed.”

Congrats on the excellent start to the Thanksgiving season, Naturipe! 

Naturipe Farms

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Target has announced that it is closing 11 underperforming U.S. stores.

The retailer said in a press release, “The decision to close a Target store is only made after careful consideration of the long-term financial performance of a particular location.  All eligible store team members are being offered the option to transfer to other Target stores.  Team members who choose not to transfer will be offered a separation package.”

The stores that are closing are located in Georgia, Iowa, Illinois (2 stores), Indiana, Kansas, Michigan (3 stores), Minnesota and Texas.

Though this is Target’s largest round of store closures in recent years, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal points out that the retailer opened 63 stores over the past three years.  The company currently has approximately 1,800 U.S. stores.

Even after the announcement of these closures, Target’s stock closed yesterday at $61.89 per share, up $0.77 for a 1.26% increase.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more updates and the latest retail news.

Target