Buying produce at Trader Joe’s is about to get cheaper thanks to the elimination of plastic packaging on certain fruits, veggies, and other food staples.
In a new episodee of “Inside Trader Joe’s,” a podcast created by the grocery chain, hosts Matt Sloan and Tara Miller sat down with produce category manager Jack Salamon to unpack how Trader Joe’s plans to reduce packaging on certain products — which means lower prices for customers.
In the interview, Salamon explained how items like potatoes, onions, and apples can be sold as loose products, but were often bagged or bundled together in plastic containers. Now, the store will feature more loose produce.
How does this translate to cheaper prices? Salamon used fresh garlic as an example. Previously, garlic was sold in a pouch. The price a customer paid for garlic included not only the cost of the produce itself, but also costs associated with making the plastic sleeve, bundling the garlic together, and then topping the bag off with a paper header. The packaged garlic fetched $1.39 for two heads. Now, with those extra, hidden expenses removed, loose garlic goes for 49 cents apiece.
In cases where it is difficult to sell items without packaging, like blueberries, the company is trying out different strategies to reduce its plastic waste, such as thinner, biodegradable, and compostable materials. “We are on track to eliminate 4 million pounds of plastic from our stores in 2019 and 2½ million pounds of that plastic has come directly out of the produce section,” said Salamon.
Oxnard, CA– San Miguel Produce, Inc., a leader in the fresh-cut
dark leafy greens category, announces the move to a new state-of-the-art
facility in Oxnard, CA, a few miles from their old facility/headquarter
location.
The 85,000 sq. ft. facility
addresses the increasing demand and growth the company has experienced and
allows for additional office and production space- including the addition of
two new form fill machines.
“We are very excited for this new building and
the opportunity it brings,” says Roy Nishimori, CEO of San Miguel Produce.
“This move will improve our production capacity and support the continued
growth with our customers and the innovation of new items.”
While the construction of the new
facility was completed in the winter of 2018, the busy holiday season pushed
back the installation of the final production line. Now fully operational for
the last few months, the company has been focused on fine-tuning processes in
the new plant.
With the increased capacity, San
Miguel Produce is now positioned to grow its production out of the West and
better serve its customers.
About San Miguel Produce
San Miguel Produce, Inc. is a 4th generation family farm focused on growing and processing nutrientdense greens under brands: San Miguel Produce, Cut ‘N Clean Greens and Jade, Asian Greens. Since 1976, San Miguel has been farming
on the coastal plains of Oxnard, CA and throughout Ventura County. With our
fresh-cut processing plant located near our fields, we harvest to order to
ensure our valued customers get the very best farm-fresh greens…which is our
definition of “Farm Fresh, Grower Direct.”
Cherry shipments from the Northwestern United States have been remarkable this season, but will seasonally come to a close this month.
Loadings are expected to end up around the 22 million, 20 pound equivalent boxes this season, not that much below the 25.4 million boxes a year ago. Although last season was a good quality crop, this year it is marked not only by beauty and taste, but exceptionally large sized fruit.
While there has been a lot of concern over Trump Administration tariff issues with China, exports represented 33 percent of the volume this season. The cherry industry was at best only hoping for 30 percent. A nice surprise.
Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA reports overall, fruit quality is really really high and with great sizing.
Grimmway Farms of Bakersfield, CA has bought Generation Farms of Lake Park, GA, which grows carrots and other vegetables.
The acquisition of Generation Farms includes its operations in southern Georgia as well as in northern Florida. However, the purchase does not include Generation Farms’ Vidalia onion business, which is the former Stanley Farms’ operations.
Grimmway did not disclose the terms of the transaction.
Grimmway began growing carrots in Cook County, GA., and Live Oak, FL., in 2015 and opened its Southeast Regional Packing Facility in Sparks, GA., in February 2018, according to a news release. Grimmway ships conventional carrot products under the Grimmway Farms, Bunny Luv and Premier labels from the facility from mid-December through May.
“Generation Farm’s diverse processing capabilities and productive land base provide a unique opportunity to grow our regional carrot program and expand our organic division,” said Eric Proffitt, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Grimmway Farms.
Generation Farms was founded in 2013, when Coggins Farms and Produce Inc. of Lake Park and Stanley Farms of Vidalia joined operations. Grimmway plans to continue supplying Generation Farms customers in the region.
The company ships carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, blueberries and watermelons.
“We are excited to increase our footprint in the Southeast and welcome the talented team at Generation Farms to the Grimmway Farms family,” Jeff Huckaby, president of Grimmway Farms, said in the release. “We would also like to recognize Steve Grinstead and the Grinstead Group for providing expert advisory service and enabling a seamless transition from beginning to end.”
Grimmway is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
It is still a month away, but Northwest potato shipments are expected to be good this season, following last year when the growing season was plagued by adverse weather.
Earlier this year when weather delayed plantings nearly a month, Mother Nature changed her tune and now the season looks to be pretty much on schedule starting during the first half of September.
Although Washington state acreage is up this season, it is due mostly for processing potatoes.
Skagit Valley’s Best Produce of Mount Vernon, WA completed its 20th shipping season in early May. It now has all of its red, yellow, white and purple potatoes in the ground, and the crop is progressing nicely.
Norm Nelson Inc. of Mount Vernon finished its plantings in early June and should start potato shipments in mid September with a bumper crop.
Bouchey Potato of Harrah, WA started harvesting conventional potatoes in July, plus will be shipping organic reds, yellows, russets and fingerlings this season.
Oregon Potato Shipments
Oregon’s upcoming season appears to be following a similar pattern.
Botsford & Goodfellow Inc. of Clackamas, Ore. reports a similar weather pattern experienced by the Washington potato industry, with crops progressing in a similar manner. The company, which is a shipper and broker of potatoes, is just starting its new season.
Riverside Potato of Klamath falls, Ore. reports it is about two to three weeks late this year, overall. It ships reds, yellows and russets.
FOLSOM, Calif. – A new research study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that participants with metabolic syndrome who consumed the equivalent of one cup of fresh blueberries, given as 26g of freeze-dried blueberries, showed clinically relevant changes in measures of heart health. The study, “Blueberries improve biomarkers of cardiometabolic function in participants with metabolic syndrome – results from a 6-month, double blind, randomized controlled trial,” was conducted at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and other UK institutions.
The study found that intake of the equivalent of one US cup per day of blueberries (given as 26g freeze-dried blueberries) resulted in clinically significant improvements in heart health measures, particularly markers of vascular function (blood flow and elasticity of the blood vessels by measuring endothelial function and arterial stiffness). Improved endothelial function and reduced arterial stiffness are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.[i]Importantly, the observed increases in nitric oxide bioactivity in the blood provided a potential mechanism for the endothelial function benefits observed.
Intake of one cup of blueberries per day also resulted in significantly increased HDL-C levels, also known as “good cholesterol,” compared to the placebo. Additional lipid biomarkers researched in the study support these findings, such as significant increases in HDL particle number and APO-A1 levels, which are other predictors of heart disease risk.
Insulin resistance, pulse wave velocity, blood pressure, and other lipid levels (including total cholesterol) were unaffected by any of the interventions. There were also no observed clinical benefits from the intake of one-half cup of blueberries in this at-risk participant group.
Over a six-month period, 115 participants (78 men and 37 women) between the ages of 50 and 75 with metabolic syndrome, were randomly assigned to receive one of three daily treatments: 26g freeze-dried blueberries (the equivalent of one US cup/d); 13g freeze-dried blueberries (the equivalent of one-half US cup/d); or a placebo powder matched for color, taste and consistency. All study subjects were instructed to limit intake of other anthocyanin (the main natural flavonoid constituent present in blueberries) containing foods to one portion per week and other foods known to modify vascular function. Participants also refrained from blueberry intake beyond the assigned daily treatments.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors which includes low levels of HDL-C, or “good cholesterol,” high blood pressure, increased abdominal obesity, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressurerisk for heart disease and other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and stroke.[ii] It represents a health challenge that impacts more than one-third of the U.S. population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of Americans living with metabolic syndrome substantially increased from 25 percent between 1999 and 2006 to 34.2 percent between 2007-2012.[iii]
“The results of this study provide the first evidence from a long-term study examining the impact of blueberry intake on clinically relevant measures of cardiometabolic health,” said Aedin Cassidy, Ph.D., Head of Nutrition & Preventive Medicine Department and Chair of Nutritional Biochemistry at Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia and the study’s lead investigator. “While the conclusions drawn are from a single study that cannot be generalized to all populations, the data add weight to the evidence that a dietary intervention with a realistic serving of blueberries may be an effective strategy to decrease important risk factors for heart disease.”
The research was funded by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC). The USHBC had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the study. For more information on blueberry nutrition research visit blueberrycouncil.org/health-professionals/health-research/.
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About the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is an agriculture promotion group, representing blueberry growers and packers in North and South America who market their blueberries in the United States and overseas, and works to promote the growth and well-being of the entire blueberry industry. The blueberry industry is committed to providing blueberries that are grown, harvested, packed and shipped in clean, safe environments.
A 60,000 square-foot packing facility has been opened by Apple Acres LLC of Lafayette, NY just in time for the new apple crop. Harvesting started in July.
The building, spanning two football fields, features a packinghouse line with a straight path configuration that minimizes fruit handling, according to a news release. It is certified under Global Food Safety Standards. The facility has Compac, Van Doren Inc. and Burg sorting and packing equipment.
The company recently expanded acreage, and apple varieties include Rubyfrost, SnapDragon, Macintosh and Empire. The company also packs for other New York apple growers.
U.S. apple shipments are expected to total over 267 million 42-pound carton equivalents, a 9 percent increase from the 244 million boxes loaded during the previous season.
Washington Apple Shipments
Washington had a smaller crop during the 2018 season than in 2017 – an estimated 117 million 40-pound boxes compared to 133 million boxes. This season increased shipments are expected.
Red delicious, gala, golden delicious, granny smith, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp and fuji are the top apple varieties, with the Cosmic Crisp being shipped in December for the first time.
Michigan Apple Shipments
Michigan apple shipments will get underway on normal schedule around mid- to late August, depending on variety. A good crop is seen. Last year’s volume was 25 million 42-pound box equivalents. The average crop size is about 25.2 million boxes.
Michigan grows many varieties, including consumer favorites like Honeycrisp, gala and fuji. The state also produces a number of popular club varieties, Smith said.
New York Apple Shipments
New York apple shipments for the season are estimated to be around 31 million bushels. Early variety loadings get underway in mid- to late August.
New York will be shipping SweeTango and favorites like Honeycrisp, gala, red delicious, mcintosh, empire, cortland and more.
California Apple Shipments
California apple shipments dipped last year because of bad weather, but should reach 1.5 million to 2 million 40-pound box equivalents, compared to 1.1 million boxes for the previous year.
Although the state had a rainy winter and spring, the apple loadings have just got underway with galas, as usual, followed by granny smith in August, fuji in September, Pink Lady in October and braeburn and other varieties after that.
Some apples you haul this fall may be a part of American history, because they will be the first ones in the U.S. picked by a robot instead of human hands.
Abundant Robotics of Menlo Park, CA, a maker of apple harvesting machines, will partake in Washington state’s next harvest.
Abundant’s picker has been described as having something in common with a really smart Hoover vacuum than a human hand. The robot moves down rows of orchards and uses artificial intelligence with a dash of LIDAR to search for ripe apples. Once spotted, a robotic arm with a vacuum gently sucks the apples from the tree into a bin.
The achievement is a combination of advances in machine learning and robotics, as well as how apple orchards have evolved over the decades. Now apples are grown on trellises similar to tomatoes or cucumbers. Modern apple trees are also smaller, derived from dwarf varietals yielding more per acre and produce fruit more quickly after being planted.
These horticultural leaps have allowed farmers to double their apple yields. They’ve also made the job of picking easier for humans and, now, for robots.
Orchards are now sufficiently uniform and predictable for machines to reliably pick fruit, and canopies are narrow enough for sunlight, the human eye and vision systems to penetrate.
The debut in American follows a rollout in New Zealand, where Abundant started harvesting earlier this year. Abundant has raised $12 million with backing from GV, formerly Google Ventures, among others. The startup formed out of the robotics division at SRI International, a research lab in California.
Abundant’s main competition is Fresh Fruit Robotics, an Israeli startup that’s developing a picker using a claw-like appendage. Both companies have received funding from the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission.
That labor shortage has been accompanied by higher wages. In Washington state, the minimum wage is set to jump by $1.50 to $13.50 an hour next year, an increase that could amount to a quarter of a million dollars for a grower that manages 250 acres. The typical American farm worker makes $11.84 per hour.
Washington state accounts for nearly two-thirds of all apples shipped in the U.S. and robots are seen as playing a vital role in harvesting. American ranks second globally in apple production behind China.
Agricultural robot shipments are predicted to increase from the current 60,000 units to more than 727,000 in 2025.
Reedley, CA – Fruit World Co. anticipates an increased shipments of their organic Thomcord grapes for the upcoming 2019 season. A hybrid of the heirloom “grape jelly” Concord Grape and popular Thompson Seedless grape, Thomcords are known for being exceptionally flavorful and aromatic.
Fruit World expects to begin shipping their 2019 crop of Thomcord grapes in 20 x 1 lb clamshells and 10 x 2 lb brown paper totes the first week in August, and will continue packing and shipping from their Reedley vineyard through early October.
Once again in 2019, each pack of Fruit World Organic Thomcord Grapes will engage consumers by sharing the Fruit World story and inviting consumers to send a text message to the grower.
In 2018, CJ Buxman, co-founder of Fruit World, the largest California grower of organic Thomcord grapes, had a fun idea: “I love the flavor and aroma of our Thomcord grapes, and I wanted to really connect with the consumers’ eating experience,” he explained. “So, we placed cards in over 160,000 one-pound clamshells inviting consumers to connect via text message.” After receiving over 1,800 text messages—and responding to every one of them—there was no doubt that consumers also love Thomcords.
These premium Thomcord organic grapes will once again be in high demand. “The Thomcord yield per acre is less than other varieties of table grapes, but its taste and aroma can’t be beat,” Buxman added. “They also are a perfect example of our obsession with growing the most flavorful fruit possible.”
And once again, Fruit World will be adding their ‘text-me’ cards to each package. “It’s a lot of work responding, but the messages are heart-warming, and our retailers tell us it really drove repeat sales,” said Fruit World co-founder Bianca Kaprielian. “We were blown away by the response last year. We expected people to love the flavor, but were surprised and humbled by the large number of people that took the time to thank us for growing them.”
In addition to Thomcords, in 2019 Fruit World will be shipping an additional ten organic grape varieties grown on the heritage vines of Pete Wolf, one of Fruit World’s grower partners. Pete Wolf was one of the first organic growers in California, and Fruit World proudly sells his fruit, some of the most flavorful, crunchiest grapes around. Fruit World is accepting orders now for these high demand, limited supply grape varieties. Call (559) 650-0334 for more information or visit fruitworldco.com to learn more about the Fruit World story.
