Posts Tagged “fresh produce”
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.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Appearance. No matter how many times we’ve been told not to judge a book by its cover, waiting to pass judgement on something until after we get past its outside has never been an easy task for people to accomplish. Whether it’s what we’re reading or who we’re meeting, people have a tendency to set expectations based on surface assessment. But does the same hold true for what we eat? According to a recent Harris Poll, about eight in ten Americans (81%) confirm that appearance (i.e., not blemished or misshapen in any way) is at least somewhat important to them when shopping for fresh produce (i.e., fruits and vegetables), with 43% saying it is very or extremely important.
When listed alongside other fresh produce descriptors, appearance proved to be more important than provenance (i.e., locally grown or sourced), the retailer’s food waste practices, and organic. However, the price and seasonality are more likely to be important to a purchaser than appearance.
“Whether ‘ugly’ or not, produce is on the rise, up 5% in U.S. dollar sales in the latest 52 weeks ending July 30, 2016,” said Jen Campuzano, Director Fresh Perishables at Nielsen. “Choosing healthier and more natural products has become a priority for households across the country. For some, this means transparency in labeling, opting for foods with basic ingredient lists or embracing fruits and vegetables, blemishes and all.”
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,025 U.S. adults aged 18+ and surveyed online between August 10 and 12, 2016.
Ugly produce
Despite the weight Americans place on appearance, more than three in five adults (62%) say they would be at least somewhat comfortable eating “ugly produce,” that is, fruit or vegetables that may be misshapen but otherwise taste the same. Moreover, three quarters of adults (76%) would expect to pay less for “ugly produce,” while a fifth (20%) could see paying the same as usual.
Despite professed comfort with eating ugly produce, fewer than three in ten Americans (28%) recall buying “ugly produce” in the past year, compared to 51% who are sure they did not and 21% who are not sure either way. And of those who bought “ugly produce,” six in ten (61%) did so for the price discount.
Food waste
While the primary reason Americans bought “ugly produce” was price, the runner up answer from more than a fifth (22%) of purchasers was that they wanted to reduce food waste. Americans estimate that, typically, 10% of the groceries they buy are wasted, that is, spoil or go bad before they can be eaten. Over eight in ten Americans (84%) are at least somewhat concerned about the issue of food waste, primarily because they would like to be less wasteful (62%).
So how do Americans believe we can reduce household food waste? Nearly half (46%) of adults believe better storage for fresh produce is the key to waste reduction, followed closely by more than 2 in 5 (42%) who advocate buying less food, more frequently. Another 38% believe the solution is better meal planning, while 35% say it would help if smaller package sizes were available in the grocery store.
Supermarkets remain a “powerhouse in fresh,” despite an ever-growing variety of food shopping outlets, especially fresh produce, which resides as a “supermarket stronghold” among 68 percent of shoppers.
According to Anne-Marie Roerink, who reviewed the results of the Food Marketing Institute’s second annual Power of Produce report, Supercenters (16 percent) are the second most popular outlet for fresh produce purchases, followed next by warehouse clubs (5 percent).
Highlights of this year’s produce shopper study found nearly 25 percent of shoppers switch outlets when purchasing fresh produce versus the bulk of groceries, primarily to full-service supermarkets, farmers’ markets/produce stands and specialty organic stores.
Roerink, principal of 210 Analytics, which prepared the “mega trends” produce study, warned that younger generations are drawn to alternative channels. She sees this as “a red flag for traditional retailers, as losing the produce basket may result in losing additional spending in center store.”
Ringing up a whopping $61 billion in annual sales, fresh produce is in hot demand with no signs of a slow down. Powered by a 4 percent growth rate, the category is a lucrative and influential element for grocery baskets, which average nearly $30 more with fresh produce than one without.
Beyond price, the most successful incremental produce purchase drivers, per the Power of Produce study, include:
- Eye-catching displays, which are extremely influential
- Produce cross-merchandised in other parts of the store
- Impulse through ideation, including recipes, serving ideas and sampling
- Education/information, especially nutrition call-outs that are relevant to the audience
Notably, consumers are placing increased value on transparency – how and where the crop was grown – as evidenced by how support for the local farmers/economy overtook perceived freshness as the top reason for buying locally-grown. This sentiment also applies double-digit sales gains for organic fresh produce and an expressed need for “free-from” products. Still, organic remains a niche segment to date, according to the Power of Produce consumer research study, reflecting 8 percent of total produce sales, with usage skewing to the more affluent shoppers and families with children.
The finishing touches are being added to the new San Antonio Wholesale Produce Market, but plans are already in place for the second phase of construction in 2017.
Last January, construction of the 30 storage units in each of two buildings was completed. The facility operates much like a condominium complex. Tenants buy or lease the units, and pay dues for maintenance and other services. Office on the second-floor are still under construction.
In July, about two dozen companies will be operating out the market, with most of them handling fruits and vegetables However there also will be companies handling meat, floral and frozen foods.
The need for a new market in San Antonio was overdue, and some companies also operate similar facilities in McAllen, Texas, and Cancun, Reynosa, Veracruz, and Monterrey, Mexico.
San Antionio is considered by many as a hot spot for distribution, with high demand for fresh produce.
Trucks will be arriving primarily from the Pharr-Reynosa bridge near McAllen, where some of the market tenants have their headquarters. But trucks also will be entering the U.S. at ports in El Paso, Eagle Pass and Laredo.
San Antonio is considered an important point of consolidation and distribution for Texas. It is located at the corner of Loop 410 and I-37, which provides easy access to and from the market.
The 80-acre site’s two buildings have docks on the front and back to provide for easier loading of both light cargo and truckloads of fresh produce from Mexico. Construction of a new building with larger units and dry goods storage space is scheduled to start in 2017.
Palomino Produce LLC on the market is headquartered in Aguascaliente, Mexico. This is the company’s first facility in the U.S., and it was one of the first three companies to sign on to the new market. While Palomino Produce is looking at first to distribute in Texas, it has done some direct exporting in California.
As consumers continue to search for fresh produce that offers the healthiest fare available, they are increasingly turning to berry consumption.
And this trend also confirms that inclusion of berries as an active ingredient in a host of food items at home continues to grow: they are a do-not-disregard ingredient.
One of the rock stars of the berry category is the blueberry, which today is only surpassed by strawberries among consumer berry purchases. Due to their undeniable presence as a superberry and superfood, blueberries have been equally embraced by Millennials who are writing their own formulas for physical fitness as well as seniors, the generation of consumers that continues to embrace food as vehicles of nutrition carefully and naturally packaged to deliver a one-two punch.
According to Josh Borro, author of The Upshot, information released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed that blueberry consumption increased 411 percent from 2000 to 2012. Strawberry consumption increased 60 percent during this time frame, and fresh raspberry consumption increased 475 percent.
Borro said that advances on the supply side, which have resulted in delivery of a superior piece of fruit farmed under optimum conditions, give consumers exactly the kinds of berries they are craving.
While the total percent increases show that Americans are loving their berries, there is a sacrificial side to the equation. According to Burro, increases in berry consumption are reflected in decreases in consumption of other fruit such as apples and bananas.
One of the factors influencing increased — and increasing -– availability of berries is the fact that these categories have been strengthened through increased plantings of superior strains in ever-growing locations around the globe. The berry industry is a global category, and consumers are able to enjoy their berries of choice regardless of the time of year as larger export volumes make their way into the United States during the domestic off-season.
Another factor that has driven berry sales is the fact that they are a perfect fruit to eat “as is.” According to the 2015 State of the Plate report issued by the Produce for Better Health Foundation, 83 percent of all fruit is eaten “as is.”
Crowley Maritime Corp. has started clearing certain produce requiring cold-treatment from more South American countries at the Port of Charleston, S.C.
This has become possible due to expansion of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) cold treatment pilot program.
“We’ve worked diligently with the Florida Perishable Trade Coalition to make the cold-treatment program a reality,” Nelly Yunta, vice president, Customized Brokers, a subsidiary of Crowley, said in a press release. “Each time the program expands to another port of entry or an additional commodity, it’s a huge win for consumers looking to have fresh produce on their tables throughout the year.”
As early as this spring, Crowley will be able to accept those items such as: Peruvian citrus, blueberries, grapes; Uruguay blueberries, grapes; Argentinean blueberries, apples and pears.
The cold treatment process eliminates harsh chemical fumigation, but still ensures that foreign insect and larvae are eradicated from the cargo, according to the release. The program has previously been rolled out in both Savannah, GA and South Florida.
As with previous implementations, containers that do not pass cold treatment will be prohibited from entering the port without being offloaded from vessels. If containers do fail, they will be allowed transit by sea to a Northeastern port for retreatment, or will be re-exported to the country of origin.
This expansion not only serves to filter the import process, but also helps to lower transportation costs, prolong shelf-life by shortening the shipping distance, and help lower grocery prices for those items for southern-based consumers.
There is a 2.3% decline in retail fresh vegetable availability — what’s displayed on store shelves — but a 3.5% increase for fresh fruit in 2013, newly updated per capita availability statistics show.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service reported figures for fresh produce in a recent report. The report said that loss-adjusted U.S. fruit and vegetable availability falls well short of dietary guidelines, with per-capita availability of fruit totaling just 43 percent of dietary recommendations.
Per-capita availability of fresh vegetables are representing 66 percent of U.S. dietary recommendations, according to the report. In contrast, per-capita availability of meat was 131 percent of recommendations, with per-capita availability for grains 112 percent of recommended levels, according to the USDA.
Fresh fruit availability, adjusted for loss at all levels including in consumers’ homes, was projected to be 50.4 pounds per capita, up 3.5 percent from 2012 and 8percent higher than in 2003. For fresh vegetables, the loss-adjusted per-capita was 83.7 pounds, down 2.3 percent from 2012, and down 12 [percent from 2003.
Fresh online food purchases are often a disappointment to consumers, according to a new survey of more than 1,100 online grocery shoppers.
Consumers were polled who have shopped online for groceries at least once in the previous 12 months . The survey was conducted by organic online grocery service Door to Door Organics.
23 percent said they don’t buy fresh grocery products (produce, meat, fish and dairy ) online. For those who do buy fresh produce and other fresh food online, 57 percent said they have been disappointed in the quality or freshness of those items at least once in the last year.
58 percent of consumers would feel better about the quality of the fresh foods they buy online if they knew the products were recently picked or packaged. Just over half of consumers said they would be more comfortable if the fresh products were sourced from a local farm, and 25 percent said they would feel more secure about the quality of fresh grocery products if they were purchasing from a specialty online grocer.
“Easing concerns about the quality and freshness of produce and other fresh grocery items has always been a top priority for online grocers, especially those like us who specialize in local and organic produce,” Chad Arnold, CEO of Door to Door Organics, said in the release. “Selecting produce, for example, can be a very sensory-oriented experience — consumers like to touch, feel, smell and even taste their selections before purchasing. Online grocery shopping limits that initial sensory experience, so we do everything we can to ensure they experience that same satisfaction each time they open their Door to Door Organics delivery box.”
The survey found that online shopping is increasing, with 54 percent of consumers responding they had increased online shopping in the past year, with less than 4 percent indicating the amount of online shopping has decreased. 42 percent reported their online food shopping remained about the same in the past year.
Survey respondents said they valued their time at $56 per hour and reported it takes them an average of 69 minutes each week to shop for groceries, according to the release.
“It’s becoming increasingly harder for consumers to find a ‘one-stop-shop’ that meets all their grocery shopping needs,” Arnold said in release. “Today’s grocery shopper appreciates variety, wants to have easy access to all kinds of produce and products, but also values convenience based on being busier than ever. This is one of the primary reasons why consumers are making online grocery shopping a more regular part of their week, and I don’t expect that trend to turn downward anytime soon.”
A presentation on consumer trends by the Nielsen Perishables Group seems to contradict the widely held belief hat fresh produce consumption is just not increasing on a per-capita basis. The talk was presented recently at the annual United Fresh Produce Association Convention in Chicago.
Jonna Parker, a director for that organization, said over the past five years, dollar volume of fresh produce has increased about 25 percent while unit volume is up 10-13 percent.
Of the top 10 growth items in the grocery sector, six are fresh produce, including two value-added products, specialty fruit, avocados, pineapples and cooking greens, with that last category topped by kale, she said.
Statistics show that annually the average American household spends $338 on fresh produce, compared to only $299 on meat, which comes in second place in dollar sales.
While most customers claim produce is the most important department in picking a store, there are still many trips to the market that do not include a produce purchase. More than half of the times that a person goes to the supermarket they do not put a produce item in their basket.
Currently, the average shopper makes about 40 to 50 supermarket trips per year. Parker said higher-income households (in excess of an annual income of $100,000) are far more prolific produce buyers. They make 51 trips per year and purchase about $454 worth of fresh produce. The least affluent consumers make about 40 trips per year to the supermarket and spend just $221 on produce.
If you are a produce association, produce grower or shipper, or anyone else in the fresh produce industry looking for ways to market and promote your products, there may not be anyone better than this trucker, who has been a professional driver for over a quarter of a century, and hauls nothing but fresh fruits and vegetables.
Meet Lee Weaver, a driver for Alan DoBorde of Fayettville, GA.
Lee has logged over two million accident free miles during his career, and still runs about 100,00o miles a year.
The company driver not only is proud of his profession, but takes pride in the fact he is delivering such healthy, nutritious fresh food.
“I like hauling produce even though it sometimes can be a hassle,” he notes. “But you are picking up fresh fruit and you are delivering fresh fruit. I am being partly responsible for families having fresh produce on their tables at home. I am making a difference.”
Lee drives a beautiful red 2013 Kenworth powered by a 500 hp Cummins. He pulls a 53-foot Utility trailer with a Thermo King SB-210. His sleeper has all the amenities ranging from a refrigerator to microwave oven and flatscreen tv.
A resident of Roanoke, AL, Lee has a regular run originating in Georgia, where he pick ups produce. He’ll then truck to Texas, then over to Louisiana and up to Arkansas, before heading west to Los Angeles. After delivering and picking up in Southern Calfiornia, Lee heads back to either Georgia or Florida.
Lee has never owned his own truck and has no desire to take on the headaches associated with being an owner operator. At the same time he likes being an over-the-road driver, which pretty much allows him to be his own boss.
“You have to be responsible,” he says, “Plus you are not in the same place everyday. You are getting paid to see the world.”
A concern being on the road is the lack of attention to driving by so many motorists. It is a primary reason for accidents. Paying attention while driving is one reason this long haul truck has an impeccable driving record, covering so many miles over such a long period of time.