Archive For The “News” Category
By Idaho Potato Commission
EAGLE, ID — Following an online “Fully-Loaded Idaho® Potato Cook-off” recipes event, Kenmore® awarded Crystal Schlueter’s unique and easy-to-make Mashed-Up Kimchi Reuben Tater Bombs with Sweet Onion & Gochujang Aioli the grand prize. The poppable hors d’oeuvres balance sweet onion, salty reuben, savory mashed potato filling, and spicy gochujang dipping sauce to create an unforgettable flavor experience.
In November, participants entered their favorite holiday-themed recipes to showcase their love for Idaho® potatoes. Kenmore® selected four winners, including a “Social Spud,” the most liked recipe on social media channels.
Grand Prize
Mashed-Up Kimchi Reuben Tater Bombs with Sweet Onion & Gochujang Aioli
Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, CO
Prize: $1,500 cash + full suite of Kenmore® small kitchen appliances
2nd Place
Cream of Potato Jalapeño Soup
Tamie Joeckel, Richardson, TX
Prize: Kenmore® small kitchen appliance + 15 lb box of Idaho® potatoes
3rd Place
Beggar’s Pouch Mashers with Spinach and Parmesan
Sharon Damante, Napa, CA
Prize: Kenmore® small kitchen appliance + 15 lb box of Idaho® potatoes
Social Spud
Grandma’s Shepherd’s Pie
Anna Feliciano, Mahopac, NY
Prize: $500 + 15 lb box of Idaho® potatoes
Idaho Potato Commission President and CEO, Frank Muir, acknowledged the strength of IPC’s partnership with Kenmore® and Momma Cuisine–a well-respected cooking personality with an impressive following on Twitter–for this online event. “Idaho® potato lovers are some of the most dedicated fans out there and we knew that by partnering with Kenmore®, one of the country’s most trusted brands, and Momma Cuisine, we would get some fantastic entries,” Muir explained. “I’m impressed with the quality and creativity of the entries. Thank you to all the participants and congratulations to our winners.”
About The Idaho Potato Commission
Established in 1937, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) is a state agency responsible for promoting and protecting the famous “Grown in Idaho™” seal, a federally registered certification mark that assures consumers are purchasing genuine, top-quality Idaho® potatoes. Idaho’s growing season of warm days and cool nights, ample mountain-fed irrigation, and rich volcanic soil give Idaho® potatoes their unique texture, taste and dependable performance, which differentiates Idaho® potatoes from potatoes grown in other states.
For contest requirements and judging criteria see our news post from Nov. 17, 2016.
By WP Rawl
Pelion, S.C. – WP Rawl, the premier grower, processor and shipper of leafy greens has begun its yearly ramp up of both conventional and organic leafy greens along with various other vegetable production at their Bunnell, Florida facility. This facility supports an increase in production in the latter parts of the year and lends itself to seasonal production in a warmer growing region.
Over four years ago, WP Rawl broke ground on a new farming and packing shed operation in Bunnell that included a 34,000 square feet facility, similar to the facility at their headquarters in Pelion, SC. This year the company has added acreage to their 2016 – 2017 organic production to support the increasing demand from customers.
“Our goal in expanding our operations into Florida years ago was to support our growth and help us better service our customers,” said Ashley Rawl, vice president of sales, marketing and product development. “We are delighted that or production in Florida has continued to grow, and the benefit of a distribution hub has been a vital part of our success and ongoing growth.”
WP Rawl’s Florida facility grows five months out of the year (December – April), complementing the company’s other strategically located growing regions.
About WP Rawl
Dating back to 1925, WP Rawl is a fourth generation family farm which has grown to become a grower/shipper/processor, specializing in year-round bulk and value-added leafy greens and vegetables in the Rawl®, Nature’s Greens®, Palmetto Gardens® and Versatile Veggies® brands.
In the early 1920’s, the late Walter and Ernestine Rawl started a local business known as the Walter P. Rawl Farm selling peaches. Over the years the business evolved into a larger farm selling greens and specialty vegetables and became known as Walter P. Rawl and Sons.
Today Walter P. Rawl & Sons continues to operate as a “family farm” with nine family members still working in the business along with an additional 400 employees.
by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it has completed its evaluation of a variety of pineapple genetically engineered by Del Monte Fresh Produce (DMFP) to have pink flesh, concluding that there are no unresolved safety or regulatory questions about the pineapple. DMFP submitted information to the agency to demonstrate that the pink flesh pineapple is as safe and nutritious as its conventional counterparts. DMFP’s new pineapple has been genetically engineered to produce lower levels of the enzymes already in conventional pineapple that convert the pink pigment lycopene to the yellow pigment beta carotene. Lycopene is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink, so it is commonly and safely consumed.
In addition, after consulting with the FDA, DMPF plans to identify the food as “extra sweet pink flesh pineapple” on tags attached to the crown of the fruit. This will distinguish the pink flesh pineapple from DMFPs golden” extra sweet pineapple” which was introduced in the 1990s.
DMFP participated in a voluntary consultation with FDA’s Office of Food Additive Safety about the pineapple. During that consultation, DMFP submitted information to FDA scientists regarding characteristics of the new plant variety, the nature and effect of the genetic change, potential unexpected or unintended effects that could accompany the genetic change, and the nutritional assessment. After review of that data FDA scientists concluded that there were no unresolved safety or regulatory issues under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) for the genetically engineered pink flesh pineapple.
A consultation is not synonymous with FDA approval. Rather, it is voluntary and helps developers of food ensure that foods derived from new plant varieties are safe and comply with the FD&C Act and FDA’s regulations.
Although DMFP will market this pineapple in the United States, they are not planning on growing it here. The company is working with the government of Costa Rica on this matter.
By the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market
Philadelphia — The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) was proud to accept an award for being the winning terminal market in the USDA’s Terminal Market U.S. Food Waste Challenge. Dan Kane, General Manager, and Christine Hofmann, Marketing Coordinator, accepted the award in Washington, DC , recently on behalf of the PWPM.
“We are honored to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for our efforts to reduce waste, said Sonny DiCrecchio, President & CEO of PWPM. “We are most proud of our donations to hunger-relief organizations throughout Philadelphia.”
Supporting the USDA Food Waste Challenge, the National Association of Produce Market Managers encouraged its membership to divert fruit and vegetables from the waste stream, either through recycling (composting/animal feed) or by donating produce to food rescue programs. The Challenge ran from March 29, 2016 through June 30, 2016 and was based on the number of businesses within the PWPM that participated. “We are fully committed to increasing our numbers next year,” said DiCrecchio. “We’re always reviewing our methods on how to reduce our footprint on the environment and donate wholesome produce to people in need.”
About the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market:
The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market is the world’s largest, fully enclosed, fully refrigerated wholesale produce market. Completed in 2011, the 686,000 square foot facility is ¼ mile long and provides customers with security, comfort, efficiency, and cold chain protection. The PWPM is made up of 22 fresh fruit and vegetable merchants who carry a full range of produce including local, ethnic, specialty and commodities. The Market is open to the public and serves all types produce buyers from the home cook to national supermarket chains from Florida to Canada.
Customers range from Florida to Canada. Most come from within a 150-mile radius of Philadelphia. PWPM receives and sells hundreds of truckloads of fresh produce on a weekly basis, leading to cumulative annual sales of one billion dollars.
Find out more at www.pwpm.net
Crunchies Natural Food Co.’s freeze-dried fruit and vegetable snacks will be carried at Sprouts stores.
“Sprouts and Crunchies share the same objective — to provide health-conscious shoppers with a snack option that’s hands-down the best in terms of ingredients, nutrition, taste and convenience,” said Scott Jacobson, president and CEO of Westlake Village, Calif.-based Crunchies, in a news release. “We are excited to help Sprouts give customers what they want: wholesome products from a company they can trust.”
The company’s freeze-dried snacks contain no added sugar, no artifical flavors or coloring and are non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, kosher and halal-certified, according to the release. The company recently added freeze-dried beets to its line, which offers freeze-dried strawberries and mangoes.
The product will be available in Sprouts’ produce departments in January.
About Crunchies
How do we do it? First, we only work with farmers we know. Second, we pick the ripest fruit at the right time to make sure you have a mouthwatering burst of flavor in every bite. Lastly, we keep it simple. We never clutter your mind with in dustry jargon and your body with the bad stuff. We’re about keeping it real with ourselves and with you. PURE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IN EVERY CRUNCH.
Our fruit and vegetables are harvested at the perfect ripeness, cleaned and then quickly frozen. The frozen fruit and vegetables undergo freeze drying with a special combination of temperature and pressure. The majority of the frozen water in the fruit and vegetables turns directly into water vapor, leaving the fruit and vegetables dry and crunchy. This unique process retains most of the color, flavor, and nutritional value of the fresh fruit. Taste the difference!
From sourcing fruit only from farmers we know and trust to ensuring you have the most flavor and crunch in every bite, we’re on a mission to deliver the best tasting and highest-quality snacks on the planet. Here’s how we’re changing the game.
Fresh avocados are one of the most successful categories in fresh produce. Nearly 60 percent of U.S. households purchase avocados each year and spend $23.91 on average, driving annual household purchases of over $1.6 billion, according to The Hass Avocado Board’s newly released Shopper Segmentation Study. The study was based on data from The IRI Consumer Network, analyzes the households that are buying avocados and reveals the underlying purchase behaviors that are driving this category.
The segments for the study was conducted by ranking avocado purchasing households by each household’s total annual avocado spend (high to low), and then dividing this ranked list into four equal segments. The top-spending quartile (25 percent) is designated super heavy households, while the remaining three segments are referred to as heavy, medium and light households. Discerning the differences in purchasing behaviors between these households is one of the keys to unlocking the potential of the avocado category.
This segmentation found that a very large proportion of avocado purchases are made by one shopper segment, the Super Heavy segment. While comprising only one out of every four households, super heavy shoppers account for nearly three out of every four avocado purchases. Additionally, super heavy households purchase avocados twice as often as heavy households, and spend twice as much per avocado shopping occasion. This means that the super heavy segment is a particularly influential and important part of the avocado category.
The remaining three segments each account for a smaller share of avocado dollars than their respective share of households would suggest. As the second-highest spending quartile (25 percent), heavy households account for 18 percent of avocado purchases. Combined, super heavy and heavy households account for 91 percent of all avocado purchases at retail. Based on their high level of engagement in the category, super heavy and heavy households are more apt to respond positively to marketing efforts to increase their purchases even further.
SweeTango weekly apple sales increased 43.6 percent in the U.S. between August 7th and October 29th. This was and average of 54 pounds per store over the same time frame in 2015, according to apple grower cooperative Next Big Thing.
The co-op, which includes 47 growers from Washington to Nova Scotia, cited Nielsen Co. data in a news release, saying SweeTango was the 10th-best-selling apple overall — falling just behind Pink Lady and Jazz — and the second-best-selling apple when compared only to club varieties, according to the data.
Pricing for SweeTango averaged $2.33 per pound and $233 a week per store in sales.
A marketing program by Next Big Thing was rolled out across the U.S. and Canada in 2016 that included “refreshed packaging designs” and joint efforts with retailers to invest in digital coupons and in-store demos.
The campaign included a new tagline, “Free the Crunch,” along with a social media contest that generated 1,400 entries on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as a 42 percent increase in traffic to SweeTango.com, over a 47-day period.
The initiative also had a series of short-form animated videos promoting the apple variety’s crunch and flavor, which drew 42,000 views on YouTube and Facebook over a 90-day period.
The effort also included a SweeTango Society blogger outreach program, with 12 bloggers in the U.S. and Canada featuring unique SweeTango recipes on their blogs from September through November.
“Consumer awareness and trial for the brand continues to receive favorable responses at shows as well as with in-store sampling and local marketing events,” said David Williams, vice president of sales and marketing with Wolcott, N.Y.-based Fowler Bros. Inc..
A highlight of the season was partnering with the Syracuse Crunch AHL hockey team to promote the uber-crunchy SweeTango with sampling, in-game fan activities like apple dunking on the ice, and more.
The overall 2016 crop was slightly larger than 2015 but marginally smaller than projected due to Midwest hail in the early growing season and harvest-time cracking in New York, the co-op reported.
Union Pacific Railroad announced recently the acquisition of Railex LLC’s refrigerated and cold storage distribution assets in Delano, CA, Wallula, WA, and Rotterdam, NY. Terms were not disclosed, and the acquisition does not include Railex Wine Services LLC.
Railex, a refrigerated rail service and third-party logistics leader, plays a key role in Union Pacific’s Food Network transporting fruits, vegetables and other temperature-sensitive cargo across the United States.
“The Railex team developed a fantastic business changing how fresh food arrives on America’s tables, offering food shippers fast, reliable door-to-door rail based transportation solutions,” Brad Thrasher, vice president and general manager of agricultural products for UP, said in a press release. “The integration of their highly efficient cross dock facilities and logistics capabilities into Union Pacific’s broader food network allows us to offer our customers increased access to a wider range of capacity and service solutions in a rail-centric cold chain.”
Union Pacific, based in Omaha, NE, food trains directly serve Railex’s Delano and Wallula facilities, located in the heart of major agricultural-production regions. The food train network provides a fast and reliable service from these growing regions to the Midwest consumer base via Chicago and further into the heart of the Northeast region via the CSX. Railex will continue managing facilities during the transition and integration of its operations with Union Pacific.
In an Aug. 24, 2016 post, HaulProduce.com rported the following:
Even refrigerated carriers have their challenges hauling fresh produce, but it is an awesome mountain for rail entities, which is why there have been so many failures over the years. Now we hear Railex LLC is ending service to the Southeast, although it claims it will be back one day.
The rail logistics transporter, based in Riverhead, NY, ceased operations in Jacksonville, FL August 13th with its refrigerated perishables. Rumors of the closing had been circulating since July. The company apparently felt it was in its best interest to reassess the Southeast receiving location and close the Jacksonville location…..Paul Esposito, executive vice president of corporate affairs said. “The transit times were two days longer than what we had planned and what our customers expected. Now, two years later, during the peak summer season, with transit variabilities as well as the decline in truck rates, we find it difficult to sustain any significant volume into the area.”
To read the entire post from last August, click on “Sections” and then click on “News,” then scroll down to the 8/24/16 post.
Over 11 million wood-grain reusable plastic containers have been shipped by IFCO since entering the market in January.
More than 300 growers have placed orders that are destined for Wal-Mart stores with fresh produce, according to a news release.
“We are proud to partner with Wal-Mart and its fresh produce suppliers to provide them with innovative, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable reusable packaging that transitions easily to in-store display,” Daniel Walsh, president of IFCO North America, said in the release. “Surpassing the 11 million wood-grain RPC threshold so quickly is an impressive accomplishment made possible through strong collaboration between Wal-Mart, the grower community and IFCO.”
After reaching an agreement with Wal-Mart in October of 2015, IFCO designed the RPCs to the retailer’s specifications and also took into account feedback from growers.
“Wal-Mart chooses to use wood-grain RPCs to deliver produce for a variety of reasons,” Shawn Baldwin, senior vice president of produce, floral and global food sourcing for Wal-Mart USA, said in the release. “They have better ventilation, they’re ergonomically designed and very easy to use, and our customers really like the new wood-grain RPCs because they look more like a farmers market or roadside fruit stand, which provides a level of comfort during the shopping experience.”
About IFCO
IFCO Systems North America, Inc. designs, develops, and manufactures reusable plastic containers for fresh products, including fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs, and bananas to grocery retailers in North America. IFCO Systems North America, Inc. was formerly known as PalEx, Inc. and changed its name to IFCO Systems North America, Inc. in March 2000. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Houston, Texas. As of March 22, 2000 IFCO Systems North America, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Ifco SYSTEMS N.V.
IFCO offers the complete RPC solution, managing all aspects of container logistics: pool management, inventory, tracking, repair, sanitation and transportation.
A $300 million upgrade is coming to The Port of Philadelphia for upgrading its infrastructure, warehousing and equipment. Fresh produce is a major beneficiary of the improvements.
“Absolutely. It’s one of our key commodities we handle at the port,” said Sean Mahoney, marketing director for the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. “We’re known for refrigeration, and we want to upgrade.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced the project, which will include about a $200 million investment in the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal — the port’s primary container terminal.
“The place we’ve always continually handled fruit and produce is Packer Avenue,” Mahoney said.
The plans call for doubling the cargo-handling capacity at the terminal, which already is the port’s busiest.
Container-handling capacity will increase, with a 900,000 20-foot-equivalent (TEU) capacity immediately resulting from the improvements, scalable to exceed 1.2 million TEU capacity in the future, a significant improvement over the terminal’s current 400,000-plus TEU capacity.
The Philadelphia port has long been known for handling Chilean fruit, and now it is expanding its presence for other countries such as Peru. This is resulting in a shift from the old form of shipping from break bulk to more containers. The increased port capacity will reflect this trend.
Construction will continue through 2020, leading to a doubling of container capacity, increasing efficiency and allowing an opportunity for future growth.
“This capital investment program will give the Port of Philadelphia the tools it needs to improve its competitive position and create thousands of family-sustaining, middle class jobs while increasing state revenues,” Wolf said in a news release.
A total direct job increase of 70 percent is projected from the current level of 3,124 to a projected 5,378 direct jobs. Total employment at the port will grow from 10,341 to 17,020.
The improvements at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, the Port’s primary container facility, will occur at about the time that the Delaware Main Channel Deepening Project, which is deepening the Port’s main shipping channel from 40 to 45 feet, will be completed.