CARMEL, CA – Tour de Fresh riders received a special send off yesterday from Ocean Mist Farms’ mascot, Arti the Artichoke, and U.S. Congressman Sam Farr.

Tour de Fresh is a collaborative industry event that brings produce brands and influencers together for a four-day cycling event to raise money for United Fresh’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools campaign, according to a press release.

The goal of the event is to raise $120,000 to purchase 40 new salad bars to donate to school districts across the country.

Ocean Mist’s John Pattullo and Paul Scheider have taken on the challenge. The 250-mile ride will end at Fresh Summit in Anaheim.

Good luck to all the riders!

Tour de Fresh

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE - The Allen Lund Company is expanding its San Francisco, CA office in size and employment in 2015, according to a press release. Located in San Mateo, CA, ALC San Francisco was opened in 1985, and the growing staff has been under the direction of manager Bob Rose since 1998.

“We have been blessed with some wonderful customers that are poised for growth,” said Rose. “We have been adding several new employees and are looking to grow 25% or more in 2015. Hauling perishables is labor intensive and requires talented, hard working people to add value to our growing customer base.”

Alex Sakai, Transportation Broker for Allen Lund, has transferred from the company’s Los Angeles refrigerated sales office to the San Francsico/San Mateo location.

“Recognizing the enormous potential in the region, Alex will join a strong operation and have an immediate impact there,” said David Lund, Vice President of Sales/Branch Operations.

Congrats on the expansion, Allen Lund!

Allen Lund Company

Allen Lund San Francisco

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Maura Abeln Smith, Delhaize Group’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel and General Secretary, has announced her resignation from the company, effective November 1, 2014, according to a press release. Her successor has not yet been named.

“I am grateful for Maura’s service. She came to Delhaize Group at a time of transition in leadership,” said Frans Muller, President and CEO. “She was committed, worked diligently, and made significant contributions and we wish her well in her future endeavors.”

In May 2013, Maura was appointed as the successor to Michael Waller, who retired from the company. She was formerly the EVP, Government Affairs, General Counsel, and Secretary of PepsiCo.

Maura graduated from Vassar College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, earned with highest honors. She was also one of the first women awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to England's Oxford University, where she earned a Master of Philosophy in economics. She then earned her Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Miami School of Law.

Michael Laurenti, 20 year retail veteran, will be joining Delhaize America as Chief Information Officer and as a member of the Delhaize America Leadership Team on November 17, 2014, according to a press release. He succeeds Deb Dixson, who announced her retirement earlier this year.

“Mike brings a wealth of Information Technology leadership to Delhaize America,” said Kevin Holt, Delhaize America CEO. “I am confident that as our new CIO he will continue to deliver a world-class Information Technology infrastructure and innovation for our company. We look forward to Laurenti joining Delhaize America and tapping into his extensive experience to propel our U.S. operations forward, enhance service in our retail stores, and leverage technology to better serve our customers.”

“I look forward to joining Delhaize America and working collaboratively with Kevin and the entire Delhaize America team,” said Laurenti. “Through technology, I am confident we will continue to help each of Delhaize America’s banners drive sales growth.”

Laurenti will be responsible for all Information Technology and Information Security operations, which support the company’s millions of customers, 100,000 associates and 1,300 stores, according to a press release. 

AndNowUKnow would also like to wish Maura the best of luck in her future endeavors, and congratulate Michael for joining Delhaize America.

Delhaize Group

PINGREE, ID - PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim is just around the corner, and Wada Farms is promising to impress with a couple new items to share in the company’s product portfolio.  Wada recently debuted its exclusive Tater Made Eco-Friendly Bag to align with the company’s ‘green’ ambitions and sustainability practices. With up to 25% of the packaging made out of potatoes and its 100% recyclable nature, Wada is hoping to also address the corporate sustainability goals for its customers and retail partners.

As Chris Wada, Director of Marketing, tells me, "No whole potatoes were harmed during the making of this bag." Now, how can you knock that?

Wada Farms has been working for the last 4-5 years on this project, along with a local company in Idaho to convert recycled potato starch into pellets used for making potato bags. Essentially, they are replacing up to 25% of petroleum-based pellets with starch based pellets made with potatoes.   

“We have had great reception with this packaging program and as always, we are looking for ways to offer more sustainable solutions to our customers,” Chris notes.

As the first shipments of the packaging come rolling in, just in time for Fresh Summit, Chris tells me that the company’s objective moving forward is to increase the SKUs in the program.  Currently, the packaging is offered for 5 lb. bags of Idaho russet potatoes.

Along with the new Tater Made packaging, the company will be introducing Wada Farms Smalls – Artisan Mini Potato products, in addition to Wada’s full line of product offerings of all varieties and pack styles of fresh potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions. The Artisan Smalls will include C-size, mini red and mini gold potatoes, no peeling necessary, and will come in microwave friendly 1.25 lb. bags.  These easy-to-prepare potatoes cook in just 5 minutes. Wada is excited to help support the retail launch of Smalls with their brand new digital marketing campaign that targets the consumer down to their zip code.

“Wada Farms has a 70+ year history of pride, excellence and respect – and an obsession for providing things of intrinsic value to our consumers and partners.  We have a reputation not just for quality, but for leadership in new ways of doing things and understanding trends and opportunities,” Chris tells me.

To see the new innovations from Wada Farms, please visit booth 2178 at PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim, California.

Wada Farms

BAKERSFIELD, CA - David Fenn, Senior VP of Farming, Land & Water at Sun World International, joins AndNowUKnow for this exclusive look at the company’s first commercial vineyard of Adora Seedless, a large black variety.  Adora are available to retailers now through the end of November.  At an inch and a half in diameter, these grapes are extraordinary in size, and the color, size, lack of seed trace and high sugar content of 21 brix set this variety apart.

It has taken 14 years to bring Adora to commercial production.  Red Globe, Calmeria and Fantasy were crossed to make this variety.  Red Globe was used for sizing, Calmeria was used for its productivity and Fantasy was used for its color.  The company has used a myriad of testing to maximize and optimize the quality of this new variety. 

Sun World

Albion, New York. October 2014  

Intergrow Greenhouses, Inc. has nearly completed its recent expansion and addition of growing lights in the greenhouse for winter production. The expansion will increase Intergrow's total acreage to approximately 80 acres of greenhouse under glass in the Northeast region. Intergrow installed approximately 9,000 light fixtures in the greenhouse for its winter production.  The addition of lights will allow Intergrow to supply their customers with locally grown tomatoes twelve months of the year without the need to source from other regions or countries. A new Cogeneration - CHP generator will be added to assist in the electrical demand for the growing lights. The pack house facilities are also upgraded with new automated systems to handle the increased production. 

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Kris Gibson added, "The demand for year-round locally grown produce justified the substantial investment needed to grow tomatoes during the winter months in New York. Warm weather and sunlight are in limited supply during the Northeast winters, but with the addition of lights we can now create optimal growing conditions year-round. Our customers will be able to have locally grown tomatoes on the vine and beefsteak tomatoes delivered within 24 hours of harvest providing the freshest tomatoes possible, even in the middle of winter." 

Intergrow Greenhouses Inc. is the largest greenhouse tomato producer in the Northeast located in New York state along the shores of Lake Ontario.  Founded in 1998, Intergrow ships across the Northeast and Midwest with their own fleet of reefer trailers, reducing food miles for retailers and distributors.  Intergrow’s operation is one of the most sustainable in the business.  With an entirely closed irrigation system, the greenhouse uses rainwater to irrigate the plants and biomass fuel to heat the greenhouse that has a double curtain system, reducing heat demand to a minimum.

For more information about Intergrow contact Kris Gibson at [email protected], or visit their new website at www.intergrowgreenhouses.com.

This text was copied verbatim from a press release.

Intergrow Greenhouses

GERMANY – German police discovered that country’s biggest-ever stash or heroin hidden in a truckload of garlic and pickles.

The 730lbs of heroin was found in the city of Essen and has a street value of more than $63 million, according to Reuters.

Public Prosecutor, Anette Milk, said that two men had been arrested in conjunction with the drug seizure, and local German media reported that the drugs came in a truck from Iran and the two men arrested were brothers who belonged to a Syrian-Iraqi drug gang.

The International Business Times reports that although the truck came from Iran, authorities have not confirmed that the drugs originated from that country.

This drug seizure was so massive, it totaled out at more than the entire amount of heroin seized in Germany during all of 2013.

For bite-sized tomatoes packed with garden fresh flavor, check out Village Farms’ Lip Smackn’ Grape Tomato Rinse & Serve Reusable Bowl and its exclusive Heavenly Villagio Marzano. The proprietary Rinse & Serve Reusable Bowl presents an innovative packaging concept. The venting in the lid lets you fill, rinse, and serve for a quick & easy meal choice staple. Great for snacking or adding your favorite dressings. And for a classic favorite, Heavenly Villagio Marzano is picked at the peak of vine-ripened flavor. The unique flavor profile delivers a slightly acidic, but overall sweet taste. Don’t miss Village Farms’ latest! If you’d like to see your product in this video segment, please send samples to 2020 L Street, Suite 320, Sacramento, CA 95811.

TAMPA, FL - IFCO has appointed Greg Kurkjian and Tammy Gainey to its North American retail sales group. Kurkjian will serve as Vice President of Retail Sales, while Gainey is joining as Director – Wal-Mart.

“Greg and Tammy are excellent additions to our Retail Sales team and will make an immediate impact for us in the marketplace,” said Dan Walsh, President, IFCO RPCs North America. “Their experience, network of business relationships, and understanding of the industry will ensure our present growth trajectory continues.”

With more than 22 years of produce industry sales and management experience, Kurkjian will be responsible for building and strengthening IFCO’s retail partnerships, according to a press release. He most recently served on the Retail Sales team at Mann Packing, and previously worked at HealthPro Brands, Ready Pac Foods, Club Chef, and Fresh Express.

Gainey, a 15 year sales, logistics, supply chain and packaging veteran, will be responsible for increasing RPC penetration at Wal-Mart, according to a press release. Prior to IFCO, Gainey was Director of National Accounts – Wal-Mart at Ready Pac Foods. Two years before joining Ready Pac, she was formerly IFCO’s Director of Central and East Region Sales, where she played an instrumental role in developing IFCO’s RPC program with Wal-Mart.

Congratulations on joining IFCO, Greg and Tammy!

IFCO 

BRITISH COLOMBIA, CANADA - John Anderson, Chairman, President and CEO of Oppy, was honored as the recipient of the BC CEO Award in the major private company category during the third annual BC CEO Awards this year.

“John is a remarkable person and an exceptional leader,” said Nancy MacKay, Founder of MacKay CEO Forums, one of the principal sponsors of the BC CEO Awards alongside of Business in Vancouver Magazine and Deloitte. “He has shaped Oppy into a high-performing enterprise with a model that is unique in our business community. And while the company has operated in BC for over 155 years, John’s vision keeps it nimble, diverse and contemporary.”

John is hardly new to these industry honors, having been named the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Canada’s Pacific Region in 2002. Throughout this process he has remained humble however, thanking the people around him for helping him bring Oppy to its present levels of bustling success. He took care to note that the best reflection of an effective leader is the performance and morale of their team.

“It certainly is an honor to be chosen,” John shared. “It’s one thing to have the vision. It’s another thing to execute on it. The highly talented people at Oppy drive our business forward with our 'expect the world from us' promise always front and center. I am very proud of what we have achieved―and will continue to achieve―together.”

Candidates were selected for this award based on their successes in a series of categories, including financial performance, industry leadership, vision, innovation and culture, business, community and environmental sustainability. Oppy's strength in these categories, as well as record of strategic revenue growth and stability since 1993 when John took the helm, put it over the top with the judges.

According to a press release, Oppy was also named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies since 2001, and has been part of its esteemed Platinum Club since 2008.

Congratulations on this latest honor, John!

Oppy