ST. LOUIS, MO - As the retail landscape changes, so must its players. Schnuck Markets has made the decision to pivot its strategy on the company's Eatwell Market banner. After careful consideration, the grocer decided to discontinue Eatwell Market, which operated stores in Columbia and Chesterfield, Missouri.

“As a company, we embrace trying new things and learning from our experiences to improve future store designs, operations, merchandising, and marketing. Our teams at each Eatwell Market put their best foot forward to nourish the lives of their customers—making this a decision that was not made lightly,” explained Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Todd Schnuck.

The concept of the Eatwell Market banner was simple. In addition to offering natural food items, the grocer focused heavily on organic, local, and specialty items.

“However, after significant analysis and evaluation of what we could do to make each store more successful during current economic conditions, we concluded the most prudent path forward would be the discontinuation of the Eatwell banner," Schnuck added.

According to a press release, all store teammates will remain employed with the company and will retain the same rates of pay.

The Columbia, Missouri, location will soon convert to a traditional Schnucks store. The Chesterfield, Missouri, location will permanently close on June 2, 2024.

We’ll continue to keep you in the know regarding retail updates like this.

FRESNO, CA - Blueberries just make everything better, in my opinion. So, when a new item enters the marketplace, you know my interest is piqued. Enter betterful®, a line of Regenerative Organic Certified® blueberries from AC Foods; grown in California and Oregon’s rich growing regions.

“As betterful blueberries continue to hit the shelves of leading retailers this spring, we are excited to bring a new level of flavor and sustainability to consumers,” said Sunnia Gull, Vice President of Marketing. “Our regenerative organic approach not only delivers exceptional taste but also reflects our dedication to nurturing the planet for future generations.”

These blueberries debuted in April and are available through September. The betterful berries can be found in displays at select Whole Foods, Sprouts, Bi-Rite, NewLeaf, Berkeley Bowl Marketplace, and Oliver’s locations.

The driving mission behind the betterful brand is to enhance each stage of the growing, harvesting, and delivery process. This mission results in berries that are not just tastier and fresher, but also healthier for the planet. These little blues are packed with antioxidants, essential vitamins, and a naturally sweet flavor that's sure to delight taste buds.

This new brand debut was not without effort and dedication. In 2024, after a rigorous certification process, betterful’s Oregon farms will officially become Regenerative Organic Certified. For a little background, being Regenerative Organic Certified brings a revolutionary certification that meets the highest standards in the world for soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness.

Blueberries that taste good and do good. Sounds like a win-win to me.

SACRAMENTO, CA - As new rulings take shape and clarity on their potential impact emerges, the California Fresh Fruit Association is aiming to deliver both information and support for growers. The latest update in question is a finalized rule from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revising certain pre-harvest ag water requirements.

“One of the main drivers for this new rule was the determination that existing pre-harvest water microbial quality criteria alone, particularly as they relate to surface water, were not a reliable indicator of food safety risk, and therefore, an emphasis has been placed on hazard identification and risk assessment to inform management decisions,” the association said in an emailed newsletter.

Compliance dates for the new rule are:

• Two years and nine months after the effective date of the final rule for very small businesses
• One year and nine months after the effective date of the final rule for small businesses
• Nine months after the effective date of a final rule for all other businesses

As part of the assessment, farms are required to evaluate several factors to identify conditions that “are reasonably likely to introduce food safety hazards into or onto produce or food contact surfaces.” Under the rule, requirements are established for systems-based pre-harvest ag water assessments that farms use for hazard identification and risk management decision-making purposes. Further details about the final rule, including overview, requirements, and outcomes, are available here.

Exemptions from the assessments are listed in the rule’s details, such as a number of demonstrations for pre-harvest agricultural water for covered produce (other than sprouts).

We thank the CFFA and associations like it, which continue to take steps to ensure growers are both informed and supported throughout the process of providing fresh produce.