BRAMPTON, ON – Galen G. Weston, Executive Chairman and President of Loblaw Companies Limited, has announced the appointment of Pavi Binning as a director to the Loblaw Companies Limited Board.

“I am pleased to welcome Pavi back to the Loblaw board," said Mr. Weston. "Pavi's experience and expertise developed over a career of executive management positions in large international companies, as well as his knowledge base in Canadian grocery retail, will complement and strengthen an extremely capable and robust board."

Mr. Binning currently serves as the President of George Weston Limited, and has been a Director of George Weston Limited since 2012, according to a press release.  He joined George Weston Limited in 2010 as the Chief Financial Office after a year as a director of Loblaw Companies Limited.

Before joining Weston, Mr. Binning worked for Nortel Networks Corporation, where he held the role of CFO and then Chief Restructuring Officer.  He has also held CFO positions at both Hanson plc and Marconi Corporation plc.

Congratulations on the appointment, Pavi!

Loblaw

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Pushbullet

This app bridges the gap between your smartphone, tablet, and PC, allowing you to seamlessly transition between all your devices while never missing a beat. With Pushbullet your phone notifications and incoming calls will display on your computer and you can send links and pictures between devices with just the click of a button. This means less time having to spend the time opening your email just to mail a link to yourself, and more time doing the work that matters.

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Wunderlist

Wunderlist is a great app for busy business managers and produce experts on the go. It lets you make to-do lists, organize different lists, and best of all share them with friends and co-workers. If you're a marketing manager drawing up a project for your sales team, you can easily make a weekly to-do list for your team and share it with all parties so that everyone is on the same page. You can even comment on lists shared with you, allowing for an online collaborative effort that few other free apps offer.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The USDA has lifted PACA reparation sanctions on Sunny Fresh Citrus.

The Vero Beach, Florida-based company may now continue operating in the produce industry after applying for and receiving a PACA license. Robert K. Marinaro was listed as the sole proprietor of the business and may now be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee, according to a press release.

Once a reparation order is fully satisfied and it is confirmed that there are not any outstanding unpaid awards, USDA lifts the employment restrictions of the previously named, responsibly connected individuals.

In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,600 claims filed under 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

BELLEVUE, WA - Salmon are getting some help from an unexpected source: fresh produce.  Well, more specifically, Whooshh Innovations.

Whooshh developed a method of gently and quickly transporting fruit over long distances via a tube.  From apples, to cucumbers and ripe tomatoes, these tubes can safely transport fruit across long distances without bruising.

Check out the video below showing how this technology works:

CNET reports that when the team discovered that hydroelectric dams were causing migrating salmon problems, they decided to adapt the tube to fish.

Salmon live difficult lives.  They are born in fresh water and travel to the ocean to grow but must return back to the very spot they were born to lay their own spawn.  This can mean traveling hundreds of miles and navigating obstacles like swimming up waterfalls and dams.  Fish can lose their bearings and get injured or killed on the journey.  This new innovation should help prevent that.

It works like a pneumatic tube.  The salmon goes in one end, and the soft fabric of the tube forms a seal around the body of the fish, creating a vacuum that propels the fish through the tube at a speed of around 11 – 22 miles per hour, according to CNET. 

The system has been tested at Kalama Falls, Columbia River Gorge and Roza Dam in Washington state so far, where the team have both manually fed fish into the tube and let the fish swim into it themselves -- which, the team said, they seem quite happy to do.

Check out the full video below of the Salmon Cannon in action:

Who would have thought that fresh produce and salmon could be such good friends?

Whooshh Innovations

BENTONVILLE, AR - The release of Wal-Mart U.S.'s Q2 financial report on Thursday marked the warehouse giant's 6th straight growthless quarter, disappointing investors in the retail market.

According to a press release, comparative sales were stagnant as were the comparative sales numbers for Sam's Club which, after subtracting fuel, were flat despite a 11.9% increase in membership income during the quarter. This led to a decrease in diluted earnings per share for continuing operations compared to last year, which fell from $1.23/share to $1.21/share.

While acknowledging the struggles Wal-Mart has faced over the last quarter, company President and CEO Doug McMillon struck a positive note.

“I’m pleased with our solid earnings per share performance,” he said. “As it relates to the positives from the quarter, I’m encouraged by the performance of our International business, our Neighborhood Market sales in the U.S. and by our e-commerce growth. As it relates to our challenges in the quarter, we wanted to see stronger comps in Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club, but both reported flat comp sales. Stronger sales in the U.S. businesses would’ve also helped our profit performance.”

“We see opportunities to improve in merchandising, pricing and store level service in our supercenters, and we are working to close those gaps,” added McMillon. “Our investments in e-commerce and mobile are very important, as the lines between digital and physical retail continue to blur. Our customers expect a seamless experience, and we’re working to deliver that for them around the world.”

According to Fortune, Wal-Mart is citing the rising cost of health care as the chief reason for these poor economic numbers as well as its decision to cut its forward looking guidance for the rest of the year to $4.90-5.15 earnings per share from continuing operations, compared to its earlier estimate of $5.10-5.45.

These numbers seem dreary, but I can see what could be the foundation for Wal-Mart U.S.'s turnaround in its Q2 report.

AndNowUKnow has previously covered Wal-Mart's expansion plans for its Neighborhood Market and Wal-Mart To Go locations. According to Wal-Mart's Q2 press release, comparative sales for these Neighborhood Market locations actually rose by a healthy 5.6%.

Perhaps these growth numbers are why Wal-Mart's stock has held steady despite the disappointing overall report, holding firm at $74.14/share, a 0.15% increase during Thursday morning's trading (as of 1pm EST on August 14th).

Whether the growth of its smaller store formats will prove to be Wal-Mart U.S.'s path back to overall company growth is a question for the future. It is however certainly a welcome sign.  

Wal-Mart

ORLANDO, FL - The National Mango Board is hosting its free Mango Ripening Webinar on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 4 pm ET. 

Mango importers, wholesalers, brokers, retail distribution center and quality assurance experts, buyers, category managers and merchandisers are all encouraged to attend to provide better quality mangos to their consumers.

The webinar will dive into Mango Handling & Ripening Protocol, as well as the best practices for mango handling at the retail level.

Reservations are required and space is limited.  Click here to register to the free webinar.

National Mango Board

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two PACA violators in Florida and New Jersey have been restricted from operating in the produce industry, according to a USDA press release.

Manatee Logistics Inc., a Palmetto, FL based company, failed to pay a $5,600 award in favor of a North Carolina seller. Donald Croslyn was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.

Watermelons Inc., a Howell NJ based company, failed to pay a $19,318 award in favor of a North Carolina seller. Charles F. Pagano 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 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.

USDA

LEAMINGTON, ON - Mucci Farms has been named as a finalist for the 2014 PMA Impact Awards in Excellence in Packaging.

In total, 56 companies entered 67 products.  20 of those submissions have been selected as program finalists, according to a press release.  Mucci Farms has three products that made it:

• The New Pint – Innovative Top-Seal/Re-Sealable Package
• Terreno™ Tomatoes – Custom Lidded TRAY
• cutecumbers™ Stand-up, Re-sealable Bag

“Packaging today needs to entice the consumer by jumping off the shelf with vibrant colors and graphics.  Consumers need to be reassured they are making smart choices.  Mucci Farms packaging demonstrates product usage, educates consumer with nutritional information and environmental benefits, reassures consumer with NON GMO certification logo and directs consumer to further resources with QR technology,” said Emily Murracas, Mucci Farms’ Marketing Director.

Mucci Farms will be at PMA FRESH SUMMIT in Anaheim at booth #4440 displaying these innovations and its full line up of new products.

Mucci Farms

GILROY, CA – 49er fans are gearing up for the start of football season and Christopher Ranch is ready to welcome them though a partnership with the new Levi's stadium which will make garlic fries made from Christopher Ranch Garlic a fixture on gameday.

“As a lifelong 49er’s fan and seasoned ticket holder, I am thrilled they have chosen Christopher Ranch garlic in various food items at the new stadium,” said Bill Christopher, Christopher Ranch's Owner and Managing Partner. “Using our fresh garlic on the new garlic fries is something I can’t wait to enjoy.”

According to a press release, Christopher Ranch will be supplying Levi Stadium' foodservice partner, Centerplate, with two kinds of high quality garlic: freshly peeled cloves and roasted garlic cloves. Centerplate's Gary J. Prell even toured the Ranch in order to shoot a promotional video for the partnership in which he talks about Levi Stadium's commitment to sourcing its products from local growers like Christopher Ranch.

I know I'll be certainly checking out those garlic fries come kickoff. After all, what could possibly be better than football and fresh, hot garlic fries?  

Christopher Ranch

CALIFORNIA - California legislators from both houses have finally agreed to compromise on a $7.5 billion water bond late Wednesday evening, just mere hours before the state secretary began printing election voter guidelines.

The plan now includes $2.7 billion total for water storage, such as dams and reservoirs, and an additional $50 million for groundwater cleanup, $50 million more for river restoration and water recycling, $30 million more for statewide water management projects, and $20 million more for clean drinking water, according to San Jose Mercury News.

Barry Bedwell, President of the California Fresh Fruit Association, said in a statement, “We believe the proposed water bond is a good agreement for California Fresh Fruit Association members and California agriculture, providing real additional water for the years to come.”

Support from both Republicans and Democrats was overwhelming for the proposal as well.

“We hit the sweet spot when it comes to a balance between the various water needs of California – between storage, groundwater, clean drinking water, and the whole host of other investments that are in this bond,” said State Senate Democratic Leader Darrell Steinberg, Los Angeles Times reports.

“It was real critical to get a bond that actually helped fund two reservoirs,” said State Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff, according to the Fresno Bee. “We’ve had a lot of bonds in the last 15 years that haven’t had any storage, so we finally have a water bond that has water in it.”

The new measure now replaces the previous $11.1 billion bond that was originally written in 2009. Lawmakers were naturally concerned that the high price would draw criticism from voters, and had subsequently postponed a statewide vote twice.

Furthermore, a number of advocates have wondered if the new water bond proposal would block bond money from being used on Governor Jerry Brown’s multi-billion dollar plan to build twin tunnels underneath the San Joaquin River Delta to pump water from northern California to southern farms and cities.

Democratic State Senator Lois Wolk assures, however, that the measure is “tunnel neutral” and has sufficient safeguards, though it is still unknown if there will be further amendments to appease certain unpersuaded environmental groups, according to San Jose Mercury News.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we look forward to the hopeful passage of the measure in the upcoming November election.