Produce Show Daily at PMA • October 17, 2019 by OserCommunicationsGroup

Oser Communications Group

El Sol: Fresh, Quality Products

El Sol brands began as a sourcing effort to fill the needs of its sister company, Rbest Produce NY, some 25 years ago. Today, the company is the largest importer and distributor of tropical roots in the U.S., with facilities in New York and Miami. El Sol imports fresh quality products from all over Latin America and the Caribbean, including Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Jamaica, just to name a few. All of its products have been standardized to very specific sizing. Meeting the challenge to standardize the demands of this ever-growing demographic has made El Sol a better supplier.

BOOTH #1455

Anaheim Thursday, October 17, 2019

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH PMA

NNZ Inc. Offers Choice in Bag Closures

For many years, U.S. customers have had only one source for their plastic bag closures. Now they have a choice. Steve Greenfield, Director of Sales & Marketing for NNZ Inc. explains, “For many packers there has been a single source for a plastic closure for poly and mesh bags in the United States due to a patent. So for a very long time, U.S. customers had no choice but to use this product. I believe in the value of patents, but I also believe in free market capitalism. So once a patent has run out, it allows the market to dictate whose product to use.” Schutte Bag Closures from the Netherlands has

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Hydroponics: Food Safety at Its Finest

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Able Freight Services Puts Customer Needs First

Driscoll’s Premium Flavor Innovation

For Driscoll’s, the brand promise of Only the Finest Berries™ has singularly allowed the company to focus on its mission of delighting the consumer. Flavor is at the heart of the brand differentiation and this year’s earlier introduction of a premium, high-flavor, specialty program has become a marketplace success. Limited Edition – Rosé Berries™ and Sweetest Batch™ – are a collection of berries that mark the first in a series of offerings designed to give consumers an indulgent new way to experience fresh berries. The Limited Edition Rosé Strawberries have a smooth, silky, creamy texture that delivers a sweet

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Food Defend Plans Introduction of Onion Storage Product

With safety recalls impacting regions across the nation and categories across the industry, those who can impact food safety at any level are making a great effort to do so. “Food safety is foundational for our quality standards,” said Nick Sullivan, Research and Development lead for hydroponic greenhouse-grower North Shore Living Herbs + Greens®. “In all our system designs, food safety risk mitigation is always a top priority.” With many recalls resulting from contaminated water touching edible parts of a product, hydroponic

Able Freight continues to focus on utilizing technology to deliver exceptional services for its customers, ensuring the company is strategically positioned for future growth and disrupting the industry. The key areas of focus include: creating an innovative culture throughout the company; roll-out of its DataHub shipment tracking portal; implementation of commodity-based shelf-life formulas for global clients; piloting a blockchain to DataHub as related to Internet of Things (temperature trackers) and remaining days of shelf-life in real-time along the way. The

Food Defend™, the maker of FruitGard®, announced that it is expecting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval of its proprietary dry fumigant for use in onion storage and transportation. “We’re the top anti-microbial in potato storage. Onions share many of the same decay issues, so we’re accelerating our plans to introduce the benefits of FruitGard into that area,” said Thomas Young, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Market Development for Food Defend. “Obtaining clearances by both the EPA and FDA would make FruitGard extremely appealing for onion grower/shippers. Just like it has for companies handling potatoes, tomatoes and cantaloupes.” FruitGard is a dry, chlorine dioxide (ClO2) fumigant

BOOTH #3577

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Oser Communications Group

El Sol: Fresh, Quality Products

BOOTH #1455

Anaheim Thursday, October 17, 2019

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH PMA

NNZ Inc. Offers Choice in Bag Closures

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Hydroponics: Food Safety at Its Finest

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Able Freight Services Puts Customer Needs First

Driscoll’s Premium Flavor Innovation

BOOTH #3945

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Food Defend Plans Introduction of Onion Storage Product

BOOTH #3577

BOOTH #4534

BOOTH #4203

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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Michigan Apples Provide Shoppers with Many Choices Michigan Apples offer many tastes, but Honeycrisp, Gala and Fuji have become consumers’ favorites not only in Michigan, but across the country. Sweet as honey with a crisp bite, Honeycrisp apples have become wildly popular in a short time. Honeycrisp apples were developed at the University of Minnesota in the 1960s, but were not introduced to the market until the 1990s. Its sweet flavor and crisp flesh make it an ideal apple for eating fresh, whether it’s cut in slices or thrown into a delicious salad. Juicy and sweet, Gala is Michigan’s

most popular apple variety. Related to Golden Delicious apples, the Gala apple originated in New Zealand. Gala apples offer a crisp snappy bite over a mellow sweetness and can be enjoyed fresh or pressed into cider. Developed in Japan, the Fuji apple is a cross of two American varieties – Red Delicious and Ralls Janet. A fantastic mix of sweet and tart flavor, Fuji apples stay crisp for several weeks. Fuji apples are great for fresh-eating and add a unique sweetness to any baked good. In addition to these popular favorites,

The Little Potato Company Feeds Appetite for Comfort Foods

By Christa Wagner, Director of Advertising and Promotions, The Little Potato Company

It’s no surprise that we’re passionate about potatoes at The Little Potato Company. So, we thought it would be fun to conduct a survey to see what other people thought of our favorite vegetable. We learned some fun facts, including that one in four Millennials would rather give up cheeseburgers than potatoes, but it also reinforced that potatoes are truly a staple vegetable for

today’s busy family. “Our survey findings revealed that nearly half of Americans are eating potatoes a few times a week, underscoring the importance of variety and flavor innovation,” said Richard Vann, Vice President of Marketing and Product Innovation. “We’re excited to introduce two products at PMA this year with the launch of our Easy Sides and a new Lemon and Garden Herb Microwave Ready kit that offer even more flavor variety and cooking options for the time-crunched con-

Produce Show Daily many consumers enjoy the unique flavor profile of other Michigan Apple varieties. “There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples in the world,” said Diane Smith, Executive Director of the Michigan Apple Committee. “There are a wide range of flavors from extremely tart to very sweet. Michigan Apple growers produce a wide range of varieties, so consumers have many options to choose from.” Visit www.michiganapples.com and use the flavor-meter to find your next favorite Michigan Apple variety. For more information, visit booth #2445.

sumer who loves healthy, tasty food.” Easy Sides are our latest no-stress meal solution. They are fully cooked, preseasoned Creamer potatoes available in family-friendly flavors including Onion & Garlic, Sea Salt & Black Pepper, Paprika & Bell Pepper and Sweet Bell Pepper & Onion. In our consumer research, we learned that infrequent buyers of little potatoes think they are too time consuming or complicated to Continued on Page 57

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH PMA Kimberly Oser Publisher Jules Denton-Card Senior Associate Publisher Lorrie Baumann Editorial Director Anthony Socci Associate Publisher Jeanie Catron • JoEllen Lowry • Karrie Welborn Associate Editors Yasmine Brown Art Director Jonathan Schieffer Graphic Designer Susan Stein Customer Service Manager Spencer Fisher Customer Service Associate Marcos Morhaim Senior Account Manager Joseph Bellon • Adrian Chacon • Sean Contreras Alisha Dicochea • Adina Morhaim • Amara Turner Account Managers Tara Neal Director of Operations Jay Watson • Hannah Stefanovich Show Logistics & Distribution Enrico Cecchi European Sales Produce Show Daily is published by Oser Communications Group ©2019 All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300 European offices located at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy www.osercommunicationsgroup.com

Lee M. Oser Founder

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Produce Show Daily

Savannah, Georgia: Americold’s PortFresh Location The Port of Savannah, Georgia, is the fastest growing and most conveniently located perishable-handling port in the USA. Now part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s In-Transit Cold Treatment pilot program, it can accommodate perishable products from all South American ports as well as imports from Spain, Morocco, Italy and Asia. Soon it will be able to add South Africa to the list of origin countries that can be handled through Americold’s PortFresh facility. The Savannah, Georgia, facility is the only temperature-controlled logistics solutions provider from Wilmington, Delaware to Miami, Florida, with experi-

ence in drayage and container loading, unloading and washing, along with knowledge and experience in the handling of delicate fruit and vegetable produce; even asparagus, which is typically an airfreight product, can be handled through the facility. The location is a customs bonded warehouse with on-site inspectors, is a certified cold treatment facility and offers on-site USDA inspections, fumigation for up to 600 pallets at a time, and bagging/packing activities. Americold’s PortFresh facility offers faster access to products coming in from Asia and South America when compared to ports further north, enhancing shelf life and reducing

Bella Sun Luci Launches New Plant-Based Jerky Mooney Farms and the Bella Sun Luci brand, which pioneered the California sun dried tomato market over 30 years ago, is introducing a new product to its line-up: plant-based tomato jerky. This new plant-based jerky snack is made with simple, non-GMO, vegan ingredients, and with only 80 calories per serving, you can feel good about chewing on these savory little bites. Bella Sun Luci’s plant-based jerky

line is vegan, non-GMO, kosher and contains a good source of fiber, iron, vitamin C and vitamin K, and an excellent source of potassium. There will be two delicious flavors derived from traditional jerky favorites with a sun dried tomato twist: Hickory Smoked and Sriracha. “We’re excited to bring sun dried tomatoes to the snack market in this new and innovative plant-based jerky,” says Mary Mooney, Owner of Mooney Farms.

Trendy Terrariums By Sharon McGukin, Smithers-Oasis North America Design Director, AIFD, AAF, PFCI.

Terrariums are a growing trend. Why has this ‘70s floral favorite made such a popular comeback? Plant enthusiasts are intrigued by the little greenhouses. Millennials love the retro vibe. Urban gardeners enjoy the hands-on “playing in the dirt” experience. Miniature plants under glass are perfect for consumers who want a low maintenance plant that doesn’t take up a lot of space. Glass containers with sealed lids on top offer great climate control for the mini ecosystems. Terrariums are eye-

catching examples of how easily nature can support itself. Plants-in-a-bottle require almost zero maintenance. If humidity is a challenge, choose an open container to allow air movement. Succulents work well for this environment. You can create a fun desert motif using succulents and sand. A Little Rainforest Moisture builds up, sometimes causing the jars to fog up. Moisture-hungry plants enjoy the fog. When the damp air condenses, it begins to “rain” back down onto the plants. As the plants age, leaves rot and fall, which produces the carbon dioxide need-

Selvática Committed to Social Responsibility Selvática is working towards a better future both for the environment and the community. Already environmentally friendly throughout its entire operation and with most of its associated growers Rainforest Alliance-certified, turning the company’s attention to better standards for the community has been a next step. After last year’s focus on the environment, this year’s full-scale commitment to social responsibility spotlights Selvática’s belief that human capital is its biggest asset, and the company invests in that asset by giving everyone the chance to progress and overall sup-

port within the company and the community. In order to improve community standards, the company has focused strongly on helping its growers to acquire the Fairtrade certification. This encourages the growers to establish a fairer environment around workers and the community as a whole. The certification provides more than just intangible social benefits to the banana workers – there’s also a $1 premium per box that goes directly to the community’s programs and infrastructure. Additionally, the company is a mem-

transportation costs for both growers and importers. Americold is expanding the Savannah, Georgia, campus to incorporate extensive blast-freezing capabilities, 37k pallets of frozen temperature storage and value-adding process rooms. The initial expansion of the campus will come online in Q2 2020. Situated on I16 at exit 148 and just a few miles from I95, Americold’s PortFresh location is well connected to road routes and already has a rapid road connection to the Port of Savannah. With the expected completion of the Jimmy Deloach Parkway in the next few years, Americold’s PortFresh location will have a direct express route into the port, so the journey becomes even more efficient. Savannah is evolving for the future.

The Georgia Port Authority, the port’s operator, is heavily investing in infrastructure and capabilities – deepening the channel and installing another crane. Ships from all of the major steam ship lines call at the port almost 40 times a week. If you have perishable product to and from anywhere east of the Rockies, Americold’s PortFresh facility in Savannah, Georgia, avoids the extended transit time, congestion and premium pricing of your traditional channels. Come south and reap the benefits!

“As with all of our products, we’re only using the highest quality ingredients to create a snack that customers can enjoy without any guilt.” Mooney Farms prides itself on understanding the changes of consumer demands and is very excited to be introducing this new and innovative product to its line-up. Bella Sun Luci is a line of premium Mediterranean-inspired products created from authentic family recipes. The line includes a variety of deliciously sweet sun dried tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes in

olive oil, sun dried tomato chipotle sauce, pasta sauces, bruschetta spreads, estategrown olive oil, risotto, marinades and new vegan jerky. Bella Sun Luci is produced by Mooney Farms, a third generation, family-owned company based in Chico, California, that is rooted in quality, integrity and family values. Mooney Farms is the premier producer of sun dried tomatoes in the United States.

ed for their nutrition. This creates a natural atmosphere where thriving plants grow in a natural cycle of life. Water inside the jar is recycled. The plant roots absorb water and transpire it into the air. The water condenses and falls back onto the interior landscape to evaporate again. This water cycle repeats itself continually, creating a miniature ecosystem that is self-sustaining. The environment lives and grows through plant photosynthesis and the recycling of necessary nutrients.

tion and doesn’t require a lid. Sand, stones and driftwood make interesting decor for creating a desert-like environment. Plants like tillandsia, air plants and succulents can be left open and misted occasionally. The desert forms early morning dew, so succulents have evolved to enjoy a little mist of water. Offer a line of pre-made terrariums for purchase and delivery along with traditional potted plants and cut flower designs.

Prefer an Open Container? A succulent terrarium needs little attenber of Sedex, which is a non-profit organization that works to promote labor rights, health and safety, the environment and overall business ethics. All of this is how Selvática accomplishes a fully transparent operation and improves working standards for its employees. This year, the company has also become a UN Global Compact member, which is a United Nations initiative that promotes human and labor rights, environment and anti-corruption practices for companies around the world. In its goal to achieve full sustainability, the company decided it was crucial to be part of this

Visit Americold at booth #3449. more information, email For info@americold.com, call 678.441.1400 or go to www.americold.com.

For more information, visit booth #2002 or go to www.bellasunluci.com.

Visit Smithers-Oasis at booth #1502. For more information, go to www.oasis floral.com or call 800.321.8286. global network and to contribute to a sustainable corporate world. The practicalities of logistics chains are also essential to secure a company’s products and its reputation, and Selvática is committed to this as well. The company repeated its 2017 achievement this year by accomplishing CTPAT validation. As part of that process, its logistic center and one associated banana growers were inspected in August and passed those inspections with flying colors.

For more information, go to www .tropicalfruitexport.com.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Produce Show Daily

Sunions Returning This Fall to Onions 52 An interview with Shawn Hartley, Owner/Vice President of Sales, Onions 52. PSD: What is the Sunions® story?

SH: Sunions are America’s first tearless and sweet onion. One farmer spent his entire career developing the Sunions seed through all-natural crossbreeding techniques by breeding milder onion seeds together every growing season. Two decades later, the Sunion seed was born. PSD: What do Sunions taste like, and how do you ensure quality?

SH: Sunions are a sweet onion, with a crisp, crunchy texture like an apple. We follow a tightly controlled brand process. Sunions do not have a specific release

date, but instead are harvested and tripletested for tearlessness and flavor. Once they reach a peak level of tearlessness and sweetness, they are ready to ship to stores. PSD: What is Onions 52 doing to ensure product traceability and safe working conditions for workers in your fields?

SH: Sunions and organic Sunions are grown in Washington state, where our farms are certified by the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) and exceed all Primus food safety standards. For a product to become EFI-certified, it must meet over 300 requirements for providing a safe and healthy work environment for all field workers. Onions 52 organic Sunions are USDA Certified Organic by the Washington State Department of

Sustainable Packaging from Mucci Farms Mucci Farms is a vertically integrated greenhouse grower, packer, shipper and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables. Located in Kingsville, Ontario, the company owns and operates more than 250 acres of tomato, pepper, cucumber, lettuce and strawberry greenhouses, with a global network of over 1,500 acres. In addition to a warehouse and distribution facility in San Antonio, Texas, its U.S. headquarters is in Huron, Ohio, which currently has a 25-acre greenhouse with 50 additional acres to be built in two remaining phases. Committed to automation and technology, Mucci Farms has a significant amount of acreage under grow lights with

an aggressive expansion plan. “The standard growing season for greenhouse growers in cold climate regions is typically in the 8-9 month range yearly. Grow lights allow us to extend that season to 12 months,” says Joe Spano, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We continue to expand our grow light acreage and encourage our grower partners to do the same. Our goal is to have all of our high-tech glass facilities under lights in the near future.” This year at the PMA’s Fresh Summit Conference & Expo, Mucci Farms is highlighting its response to the ongoing market demand to reduce plastic with its brand new Simple Snack Series.

Avocados From Mexico Launches Educational Campaign Ready to revolutionize the way consumers shop? Avocados From Mexico is ready when you are. There’s no doubt consumers love their avocados, and according to a study funded by Avocados From Mexico (AFM), 73 percent of shoppers would be more likely to buy more avocados if they had more avocado information and knowledge, specifically education related. According to an AFM proprietary study, the marketing group has identified two main purchase barriers to the consumption of avocados; ripening and preserving followed by picking and serving.

AFM is aware that changing behavior through education will be important to continue driving opportunity with avocado buyers and moving them up the purchase funnel. “In our conversations with consumers, we learned how much they value education,” said Stephanie Bazan, Vice President of Trade and Market Development for Avocados From Mexico. “Emotions are especially high throughout the avocado buying experience and perception of wasted fruit can be frustrating for them, lessening the value of their purchase while causing hesitation of future purchases.”

Aquamin: Clean Label Marine Minerals Aquamin is a marine plant multi-mineral complex, derived from red seaweed Lithothamnion sp. It’s sustainably harvested from the pristine waters off of Iceland and is used extensively in fortification of foods and nutraceutical applications. Aquamin is supplied in several grades depending on end food or supplement application.

Aquamin is 100 percent plantderived, which makes it suitable for clean-label, allergen-free formulations. Rich in calcium and magnesium, it possesses 72 trace minerals and has a unique three-dimensional structure that provides novel bioactivities when compared with other forms of calcium and mineral complexes. Distinctive physical properties

Agriculture. The EFICertified emblem can be added on all packaging and marketing efforts to consumers. Bulk Sunions also have their own PLU sticker with a printed GS1 databar that identifies Onions 52 as the grower/shipper of the product for every store location. If there is a food safety emergency, every Sunion onion can be scanned and identified, tracing it back to our company and the shed where it was packed. We even offer a compostable PLU sticker upon request, and recyclable consumer bags for increased sustainability efforts. PSD: What marketing tools are you using to promote organic Sunions?

SH: Onions 52 works with Golden Sun Marketing on all Sunions marketing efforts, in-store merchandising, signage,

geo-targeted digital ads, display contests, social media marketing and all things Sunions. We are finding that influencers and digital media are driving consumer trends, and Sunions have gone viral throughout the digital space. Sunions have been mentioned in publications such as Elite Daily, Bustle, Delish, Today, New York Post and Food & Wine, to name a few. Onions 52 is the nation’s leading grower-shipper of fresh onions. Fifty-two weeks a year our trucks are rolling with red, yellow, white, sweet, organic, and America’s first tearless and sweet Sunions.

Visit Onions 52 at booth #743. For more information, go to www.onions52.com, call 801.773.0630 or email falon@onions52.com.

Part of its sustainability initiative known as GreenERhouse, SIMPLE is an acronym for Sustainable Innovation Made Purposely for our Living Environment. “Simple Snack, Simple Pack,” says Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing. “It’s a series of cardboard containers with 100 percent recyclable lidding film. Not only is the package sustainable, we have lots of real estate for branding and educational info including a QR code that leads people to our website where they can learn more about our sustainability program.” In addition to sustainable packaging, the company is also placing an importance on consumer education. “With so much information and a multitude of

opinions particularly online, there’s a lot of inaccurate information in the public domain regarding packaging, so another focus for us will be to leverage our media channels to get the right information out there,” says Fernanda Albuquerque, New Product Development Manager. Currently in the soft launch stage, the Simple Snack series will have an initial product offering of current popular Mucci Farms snacking items, including Sun Drops™ Grape Tomatoes, Blended Flavours™ snacking tomatoes and Sweet to the Point™ Pointed Mini Peppers.

AFM is overcoming those barriers and revolutionizing the way consumers shop with a first-of-its-kind educational campaign. The guidelines, which are outlined in the new “Avocados From Mexico Education Playbook,” offer importers and retailers valuable new insights for positioning and strategy. AFM has also rolled out an exciting consumer-facing educational initiative: Introducing “Ready When You’re Ready,” a new messaging platform designed to help shoppers feel confident that their avocados are ready when they need them to be. It provides shoppers with simple cues, tips and techniques to build their chances of success and miti-

gate wasted fruit. Consumers are educated on how to pick the right fruit for their needs, how to control the ripening process, how to keep it fresh to enjoy later and how to handle it easily with no mess – all of which helps the consumer get the most out of every avocado, enhancing their perceptions of quality and value. The result? AFM will guide and give confidence to consumers, shoppers, retailers, operators and distributors through consistent educational messaging and resources that drive the value of its amazing, always-in-season little fruit.

from its plant origin, coupled with processing technology, optimized inclusion systems and application development have allowed Aquamin to be successfully included in foods, beverages and dietary supplement formulations. Marigot, the manufacturer of Aquamin, is clear about the need for its inclusion in foods. With increased consumer awareness for clean

label, plant-based ingredients market opportunities have never been higher. Marigot continuously adds value and innovates with this unique ingredient through extensive research, product application studies, enhancing not only the company’s knowledge but ultimately that of its customers.

Visit Mucci Farms at booth #837.

For more information, visit AFM at booth #1049 or go to www.avoreadiness.com.

For more information, call 888.441.4233 or go to www.stauberusa.com.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

ERC Adapts and Adjusts Services to Customer Needs To Alberto Harfusch, Vice President of ERC Trade LP, growing isn’t a business, it is a way of life. The company, which was founded in 1987 and is located in San Luis, Arizona, is family-owned with growing operations in five different regions of Mexico, utilizing a total of 9,200 acres of productive land. ERC’s business organization is a fully vertical-integrated model, which adds to the company’s value proposition by allowing it to be as nimble as possible and react to the ever-changing markets while fostering a long-term relationship with customers. ERC strives for

the highest quality and compliance standards and works to exceed the expectations of its customers in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The company incorporates good manufacturing practices based in teamwork, continuous improvement of its plant along with a three-way communication between direction, management and the production team. Harfusch says the company has both intangible and practical reasons for attending the show. It would like to utilize the show to thank its customers for placing trust in ERC as well as to show-

Fresh Origins Mini Herb, Flower & Fruit Crystals Fresh Origins’ Mini Herb, Flower & Fruit Crystals® are the most innovative choice for all mixologists, pastry chefs and tea/coffee enthusiasts. Mini Crystals are fine granules of flavored sugar that make the perfect glass rimmers and desserts, lattes and foam tea dusters. Unlike other glass rimmers, Fresh Origins Mini Crystals are all-natural with authentic flavors. They are made

with whole flowers, herbs or fruit that are hand harvested at the peak of freshness and combined with pure cane sugar. Their vibrant colors and flavors have no added preservatives, coloring or flavoring. Mini Crystals are a cleanlabel product and kosher certified. They provide fantastic crunchy textures and prominent flavors to any drink recipe or dessert.

Buddy Fruits Celebrates Tasteful Redesign, Impressive Reformulation This year, Buddy Fruits is celebrating a decade of healthy snacking with Buddy Fruits’ delicious fruit puree pouches, loved by children and families alike. To highlight this milestone, the company has designed a brand-new pouch to complement the reformulation of its beloved, all-natural recipe. Buddy Fruits knows fruit is perfectly good by nature. That’s why its fruit-first recipe is clean and simple, using only the highest quality ingredients and superior processing standards. The fruit is sealed in BPA-free, preformed pouches that limit the risk of air exposure and allows the fruit’s natural sweetness and freshness to shine through, without anything added in the process. Each of Buddy

Fruits’ products is made without any preservatives, concentrates, colorings, artificial flavors or corn syrup. That means minimal processing and zero grams of added sugar. Buddy Fruits is certified by the NonGMO Project and Smart Snack compliant. Its products are also allergen free, and contain no dairy, no gluten and no nuts, making it a safe option for most children who love apple sauce. This season, Buddy Fruits is excited to expand its exclusive 3.2-ounce pouches to retailers across the country. Perfect for on the go snacking, the lunch box and meals are the ideal healthy option, great for any time of the day. In addition to this convenient packaging size, the modern

Bella Rosa Takes a Bow at Fancy Food Show Schuman Cheese relaunched off one of its long-standing but lesser-known brands this year at the Summer Fancy Food Show. Bella Rosa, an entertainingfriendly line offered previously in limited distribution, will now be available on a national scale. Vibrant packaging and a new brand platform accompany Bella Rosa’s national rollout. Fresh, modern iconography complements packaging with a progressive, differentiating color palette that reflects the premium brand. At a glance, shoppers can identify whether the cheese they’re selecting is shaved, shredded or

grated, reinforcing a brand promise that emphasizes simplicity: “Good to Go. Real cheese ready for any dish so you can entertain with ease.” “The Good to Go statement is highlighted on the package to let people know Bella Rosa has the quality they want, and that we help them enjoy the occasion they’re shopping for,” said Jim Low, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Schuman Cheese. “They’ll spend less time prepping, and more time in the moment and present for life.” The Bella Rosa line also delivers on the True Cheese guarantee, which

Produce Show Daily case its organic line by complementing it with the addition of asparagus and watermelons, while on core items, the company is including cauliflower. While at the show, ERC also intends to continue promoting sustainable initiatives with potential customers and business partners and create new relationships to develop a win-win environment. The company takes pride in family values, which then translates into the way ERC does business. ERC strives to take care of its customers while being responsible to its growers. This business belief ensures that the company will have excellent sustainability – not only curThere are ten available flavors: Basil, Cilantro, Cranberry, Ginger, Habanero, Fennel, Hibiscus, Mint, Pumpkin Spice and Rose. Just like the original Herb, Flower & Fruit Crystals, but with a finer granule, these unique Mini Crystals are perfect for inspiring forward-thinking mixologists. The Mini Crystals can even be tossed into a cocktail and used as a flavorful ingredient and a splash of color. They look stunning at the bottom of the glass and stay semicrunchy to be savored in the last sip. redesign also features uplifting words of encouragement so kids don’t ever forget how awesome they are. New, playful illustrations are sure to make kids smile as they enjoy the freshest, purest products possible from Buddy Fruits. Buddy Fruits aims to help nationwide retailers meet the demand of supplying their communities with the healthiest snack options possible, while also encouraging less food waste at home and schools alike. Its pouches are shelf stable with a 12month shelf life for reduced waste and shrink and they do not require refrigeration. Parents can feel great about giving their children Buddy Fruits, not only because of the natural fruit health benefits. Buddy Fruits is also the only fruit Schuman Cheese created to assure consumers that what they’re getting is always the highest quality cheese; no fillers, no additives, just pure, 100 percent cow’s milk, free of hormones.

Product Selection New to the Bella Rosa line is a pair of snack format products, aptly named Snacks to Go. Offered in two flavor combinations, each tray offers superior quality all-natural cheddar cheese, premium seasalted roasted nuts and juicy dried cranberries. Snacks to Go will be offered in 16-count display-ready cases. Suggested retail price for each package is $1.33. A staple of the Bella Rosa line is a series of cheese trays featuring collections of sliced cheeses ready to serve a crowd. Each selection has been curated

rently, but also for years to come. The company is expanding its brand by servicing business partners in distribution and food service, as well as with regional and national retailers. As a grower-packer-shipper-marketer, ERC is able to streamline the production process by eliminating intermediaries and maximizing returns for customers. The company continually adapts and customizes according to its customers’ needs. For more information, visit booth #1447, go to www.ercproduce.com or call 619.915.0570.

Recommendations Mini Mint Crystals are the perfect glass rimmer for signature mojitos. Rim an exotic citrus cocktail with the bright yellow Mini Fennel Crystals. Savory and sweet Mini Basil Crystals pair well with strawberry and lemon drinks. Vibrant pink Mini Rose Crystals are a beautiful and romantic glass rimmer for champagne cocktails.

For more information, visit booth #4180 or go to www.freshorigins.com.

puree pouch brand that pledges to help others. Through its “Be a Buddy” program, Buddy Fruits works with its communities to champion friendship and healthy eating while supporting causes that make the world a more inclusive and friendlier place, including initiatives against bullying. The company kicked off this program by donating “Buddy Benches” to elementary schools near its headquarters in Mount Jackson, Virginia. Buddy Fruits is thrilled about expanding its distribution platforms in October 2019 as it continues to broaden its Buddy Fruits communities.

Visit Buddy Fruits at booth #2213. For more information, email sales@buddy fruits.com or go to www.buddyfruits.com. with entertaining in mind and can be offered on its own as a party snack or as a flavorful addition to a sandwich station. The Bella Rosa European Cheese Selection includes Irish Cheddar, Dutch Gouda, Danish Havarti and German Swiss. Two Party Trays are also available; one features Cheddar, Swiss, Colby Jack and Pepper Jack, while the other includes Aged Cheddar, Swiss, Havarti and Gouda. Suggested retail prices for the 16ounce trays range from $7.99 to $9.99. Single cheese varieties include Bella Rosa Shaved Parmesan, Bella Rosa Shredded Parmesan, Bella Rosa Shredded Asiago and Bella Rosa Grated Romano. Each of the 5-ounce cups carries a suggested retail price of $3.69. All items in the new Bella Rosa line are now available for retail and club orders.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Continental Western Corporation: Serving Farmers Since 1952 With its depth of experience and product mix, Continental Western Corporation has been the supplier of choice for a wide range of packaging products and agricultural supplies. CWC has an extensive line of packaging products from stretch film, rubber bands, tape and pre-cut strapping. It also supplies items for tying and trellising, such as green tie tape, sisal twine and synthetic tying twine. Continental Western Corporation’s agricultural prod-

ucts include biodegradable gloves, safety products and rain wear. The company offers great customer service, fast delivery, and innovative solutions and products to help growers with all of their requirements. Continental Western Corporation recently opened two new branches; its location in Chicago, Illinois for Midwest/East Coast customers and its now opened Atlanta, Georgia branch to

Thermal Technologies Takes Ripening to New Heights Since it was patented over 25 years ago, the TarpLess® ripening room from Thermal Technologies has grown to become the industry’s number one choice in commercial ripening. Today, over 70 percent of all bananas processed across North America are ripened in Thermal Tech rooms. Continuous innovation and a firm commitment to customer service and support have been major drivers of Thermal Tech’s success, but that’s just part of the story. The TarpLess ripening room’s ability to deliver consistently superior, high quality fruit, day in and day out, with unparalleled reliability and unbeatable profit has been unrivaled in

the industry. Now, Thermal Tech is taking ripening to the next level with TarpLess SX, its next generation TarpLess ripening room with Fruit-centric Ripening™. “Fruit-centric Ripening is the innovative control technology that forms the beating heart of the TarpLess SX ripening room series,” says David Byrne, Vice President of Sales at Thermal Technologies. Data is streamed directly from the fruit to the system’s intelligent SX control system. Using this data, the system is able to produce and maintain the perfect balance of temperature, humidity and airflow to keep pulp temperatures uniform

Cranberry Cider: A New Twist on a Holiday Tradition Hot Ruby Cranberry Cider, made from fresh cranberries, pineapple, citrus, cinnamon and other spices, began bottling in 2014, and stores across the nation have found that it’s a way to help them create unique shopping experiences, particularly during the

fourth quarter of the year. Ruby always liked to serve it hot, but it’s also awesome poured over ice. And just like Ruby, her gourmet cranberry cider recipe is unique, containing no artificial dyes, preservatives or sweeteners. Hot Ruby is the perfect addition to

Produce Show Daily service the Southeast. This expansion allows for faster delivery and lower shipping costs. Continental Western Corporation is actively seeking acquisitions of like-minded companies and strategic product lines that help it grow the CWC brand, its product offering and its geographic reach. In June of 2018, CWC acquired Wholesale Safety, an industrial safety company that specializes in Metal Detectable for food and drug processing. With this acquisition, CWC is proud to offer a complete line of Metal Detectable

and additional safety products. CWC also continues to hire at all levels, including product and sales managers, outside sales representatives and customer service team members. It is always interested and seeking other opportunities that will have a positive influence on the company as it continues to deliver value and support to its partners.

while optimizing control and efficiency throughout every step of the ripening process. “Having digital feedback from the fruit enables us to fine-tune the ripening process like never before,” says Byrne. “It takes out the guesswork while providing improved control and flexibility, particularly in rooms with multiple temperature control zones.” When combined with Thermal Tech’s exclusive humidification system, TarpLess SX delivers high quality, beautifully ripened fruit that looks better, lasts longer and weighs more with the same unparalleled control, guaranteed uniformity and unbeatable profit that has made the TarpLess ripening room the industry’s number

one ripening room system for over 25 years. “Over 70 percent of all bananas ripened in North America are processed in TarpLess ripening rooms,” says Byrne, “and we want to make sure we continue to build on that success. We work with all the major growers along with 18 of the Top 20 grocery retailers in North America. It’s our firm commitment to their success that drives our innovation. TarpLess SX and Fruit-centric Ripening represents the ultimate achievement in that process to date.”

your mug on a cozy evening, and nothing says “holidays” like the distinctive smell of Hot Ruby warming on the stove and sipped by the fire. A splash of rum or pecan whiskey makes a more “spirited” version, and Hot Ruby becomes a holiday tradition! Celebrate New Year’s with Bubbly Ruby, Hot Ruby with champagne, for a distinctive

For more information, visit booth #4403 or go to www.cwcglobal.com.

For more information, visit booth #3303, go to www.gotarpless.com or contact David Byrne at 803.461.7980.

New Year’s toast. With a twoyear shelf life and ease of sampling, you will add a new customer favorite to your shelves. It’s a unique product that creates the customer experience that your shoppers will value.

For more information, email roxann@drinkhotruby.com or go to www.drinkhotruby.com

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Improved Efficiency, Versatility from Triangle Package Machinery Kim Magon-Haller, Marketing Manager, Triangle Package Machinery, explains recent developments the company has made to help customers in the produce industry improve production and efficiency.

PSD: Tell our readers about Triangle Package Machinery.

KM: With thousands of machine installations throughout North America and the world, Triangle has a reputation for applying state-of-the-art innovation to help our customers become more competitive. Founded in 1923, today the family’s third generation continues a tradition of innovation in packaging machinery. Triangle’s packaging solutions for the produce industry include vertical form fill seal (VFFS) baggers, combination weighers and a rotary depositor/tray loading system. We offer

superior engineering and a complete manufacturing facility at our Chicago, Illinois headquarters, as well as dedicated service and support throughout North America. PSD: What are the latest technologies from Triangle Package Machinery?

KM: Our X-Series VFFS bagging machines offer many unique advantages, such as superior sanitation, ease of operation and state-of-the-art technology. The latest addition to the XSeries is our Model XYRJ vertical form fill seal (VFFS) bagger, which features an easily rotatable sealing jaw to run multiple package styles on the same machine, including Stand-Up Pouches (SUP), 3-sided seal bags, gusseted and pillow bags. Rotating the jaw requires no tools or complicated equipment and offers quick and easy changeover in

Five Ways Data Insights Can Increase Grocery Retail Produce Sales Commodity analysts use data to paint pictures and create stories, helping change the way traditional grocery retailers and wholesalers think about their businesses. But it’s not simply saying, “Sell more of this or less of that” – it’s digging deep to create actionable insights that help drive more sales and improve the bottom line. Here are five ways insights can impact profitability of fresh produce sales.

1. Optimize SKUs. The produce section is the gateway for grocery consumers, so produce managers work to understand what customers want. This allows them to group fresh produce items together to make selections easier. For example, it’s common to display avocados next to tomatoes, onions and jalapeños – all ingredients in guacamole. But by also positioning avocados near complementary meal items, such as

salad or sandwich components, you can drive more impulse sales by giving shoppers additional ideas about avocado uses.

2. Understand regional trends. Every good produce manager knows whether a commodity is over- or underperforming. However, understanding the consumer and purchasing motivations helps take insights to the next level. Tropical fruits are a great example of commodities that follow certain population demographics. Though growing in national popularity, they are in greater demand among Hispanic-based populations who have greater familiarity with tropical fruits and understand how to incorporate them into many meals.

3. Leverage promotional pricing. Anticipating consumer purchases, combined with product availability, is key to a successful product flow strategy any

Why Choose DelFrescoPure? DelFrescoPure® is an innovator and leader in the premium greenhouse produce industry that grows and markets greenhouse tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, eggplant and strawberries. DelFrescoPure now introduces LivingCube™, which offers living lettuce, living basil and microgreens. It is family-owned and has been operating for over 60 years in Kingsville, Ontario, Canada. DelFrescoPure prides itself on the quality of its produce, unsurpassed flavor and personalized customer service. President and Chief Executive Officer Carl Mastronardi has been growing hydroponically for over 35 years. Growing in a greenhouse is very different from conventional farming.

DelFrescoPure is still made up of farmers, but much like the rest of the world today, it uses advanced technology to improve its techniques. Its specialty is hydroponic farming; hydroponic farming is an innovative form of agriculture that involves using a soilless medium to produce its crops. DelFrescoPure uses rock wool, which is the most widely used medium in hydroponic farming. Rock wool is an inert stone wool substance that is free from diseases or any other harmful contaminants. Growing hydroponically within a greenhouse means more control over crops, and growing indoors allows DelFrescoPure to grow for a much longer period of time, allowing the pro-

Produce Show Daily less than 10 minutes. Since introducing Model XYRJ in late 2015, we’ve enhanced its design with an easily interchangeable back seal that allows users to switch between different film structures. In addition, the bagger offers an optional transverse or longitudinal zipper applicator to help packagers meet consumer demand for resealable packages. Ultrasonic sealing is an option that is available on all of our X-Series VFFS baggers. This technology offers numerous advantages to produce packagers, including labor and energy savings, less rejects and wasted product, and improved production and OEE. Ultrasonic sealing is an alternative to heat sealing that can seal through product and push it completely out of the seal, provide 100 percent seal integrity and less rejects, and help produce packagers achieve savings on labor, film, energy and wasted product. In addition to ultrasonic sealing, Triangle has been working on many innovations, including our new product time of year. Most promotional pricing in stores is aligned with supply; however, many retailers look to maximize merchandising opportunities both inside and outside the produce department to drive year-round sales. Asparagus is a great promotional choice during Easter, as it’s a traditional dish at the holiday table and the holiday generally aligns with peak production in Mexico. But during the summer, try featuring asparagus next to grill items or in the meat section to help drive purchases as consumers make last-minute decisions.

4. Align customer demand with the right supply. Because perishable products have a limited shelf life, aligning consumer demand to the right supply is critical. A goal at retail and wholesale is to maximize profitability by maintaining consistent movement and product quality. When either movement slows or product quality declines, shrink increases

duction of higher yields compared to traditional farming methods. Outdoor farming uses more water, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, while hydroponic growing allows for a stronger and more controlled environment. It can regulate the temperature, humidity and much more in greenhouses to better optimize the crops’ ability to grow. It is able to mimic the natural elements used outdoors inside greenhouses; for example, bumblebees in greenhouses are used to pollinate plants. By growing in greenhouses, DelFrescoPure is able to grow produce at exponentially higher yields compared to traditional farming – this method of growing allows DelFrescoPure to grow in safe and economic conditions to supply qual-

stager. The product stager reduces product streaming by compacting the dose from the scale to the bagger, which prevents product in the seals and increases OEE.

PSD: How have food safety concerns affected the products you offer or the produce packaging industry as a whole?

KM: For several years now, Triangle has offered customers a choice of sanitation levels when it comes to vertical form fill seal (VFFS) baggers. These include stainless-steel, stainless-steel washdown and USDA/3-A certified models. To simplify cleaning and maintenance and help food packagers comply with FSMA, our equipment includes features such as a pitched top plate, continuous electropolished weldments, pivoting control box, eliminated crevices and stainless-steel food grade motors. For more information, go to www .trianglepackage.com.

and product margin decreases substantially. Reducing a product’s shrink ties back to regional tastes, knowing your consumers, and aligning them with the right supply at the right time.

5. Link supply with demand. Understanding the commodity side – from quality to fresh produce varieties – is helpful in identifying supply-side opportunities based on consumer desires. The growth of organics, or commodities such as kale, can only happen if enough supply can meet the rising demand. This is the benefit of working with Robinson Fresh. It provides key customers with consumer and category insights along with marketing support, so customers are better able to grow their business. For more information, visit www .robinsonfresh.com.

ity produce to a large population. DelFrescoPure is a true believer that you must truly love what you do in order to succeed in any environment. For Carl, growing has always been his passion. Being pioneers of the greenhouse industry, Carl and his family’s commitment to freshness, taste and quality keeps DelFrescoPure invested in the latest and most innovative technology in the industry. DelFrescoPure brands include: LivingCube, YES!Berries Your Everyday Snack!™, Sweetreats ®, Mini Crunchers Cucumbers ®, Euro Bean The Gourmet Slicing Bean ® , Mini Mixers®, Delights™ and Romatalia®. Partners include local and national retailers.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Produce Show Daily

Ruth’s Mustard Named Small Business Champion By Lorrie Baumann

Founded in 2012, Ruth’s Mustard LLC, founded by Laurel Smith along with her husband Ed, is a New Hampshire company that’s one of the businesses operating out of Genuine Local, a shared-use commercial kitchen located in Meredith, New Hampshire and owned by Mary and Gavin Macdonald. Like the Macdonalds and some of the other small food producers there, Smith lost the use of her previous facility when it suddenly closed with little notice. “When that went out, we were out,” Laurel says. With a four- to five-hour trip to the next-closest available commercial kitchen, that might have been the end of the business, but Ruth’s Mustard was rescued by the Macdonalds’ decision to build the new shared-use facility and open it as Genuine Local. “They bought all the equipment and kept it going and kept us going,” Laurel says. Genuine Local is still a two-hour drive from her home, so she still spends a lot of time on the road on mustard-making days, but that’s just part of the price tag for keeping the business going. “When we make it, it’s a haul, but we want to keep doing it,” says Laurel. The “Ruth” in the mustard’s name is Laurel’s Grammy Scranton, who used to

make her special mustard for family celebrations. “I thought everyone ate this as a kid. I didn’t know it was a unique flavor,” Laurel says. “They’d eat it with ham. It was usually what she put on the ham – just drizzled on. Now people use it for everything.” Laurel herself started making the mustard without a thought that she’d ever sell it. Instead, she gave jars to friends. And then friends asked for more. They said they’d buy it. Suddenly, she had orders for 61 jars, and she had to step up her production from the eight jars a night she’d been making when she was handing them out as gifts. “We were now up to 24 jars a night to get this order done,” Laurel says. As the orders kept coming in, it was obvious that she was either going to have to scale back or move out of her home kitchen. “I got an idea, which are the words that totally make my husband cringe,” she says. The idea was that if they took Grammy Scranton’s mustard into real commercial production, they could use it as a vehicle to help others, as Grammy Scranton herself would have liked. “You always felt welcome, and she always made sure people had enough, and she was always concerned about other people,” Laurel remembers. “When we started this, we didn’t feel like it

Barbecue Sauces for the Sugar-Shy By Lorrie Baumann

For health-conscious consumers who’ve woken up to the realization that condiments and sauces may contain ingredients that they’re no longer comfortable with ingesting, Maurice Jenkins, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mugger’s Marrow LLC, has created Stick ‘em up! sauces. These are an organic spin on traditional barbecue sauces that contain no granulated sugar. They’re also low calorie, low sugar and low in sodium. A long-time grilling enthusiast, Jenkins got his start in the food business when he looked at the ingredients label of the barbecue sauce he’d been buying in his local grocery store. “I noticed that

there was a lot of stuff that isn’t good for you,” he said. “I just looked at that and said, ‘That stuff has no business going in your body.’” Other barbecue sauces on the shelf presented much the same issue to him, so he decided that he was going to have to make his own. At first, the sauce was just for his own use, but then he decided to take some barbecued ribs with him over to a dinner at a friend’s house. The fruit that he’d been using as an ingredient happened to be out of season at the time, so Jenkins had to do some tinkering with his recipe, substituting in different fruit, but he had new sauce ready when it was time to fire up the smoker, and the ribs were a hit with his friends – and, more importantly, with an older rel-

True Salt: Clean, All Natural, Affordable By Lorrie Baumann

True Salt is a brand based on the simple idea that the culinary world needed a pure sea salt that would enable high-end chefs and home cooks alike to make the switch from mass-market iodized salts to a higher-quality sea salt in a price-neutral way. “We had been looking at a number of opportunities within the ingredients stack – areas that we can disrupt and add value to the ingredients eco-system,” said True Salt co-Founder Kelly Egan. “We spend a lot of time keeping it as natural and untouched as possible, and that comes out in the end product.” True Salt is harvested in Mexico on

the coast of the Sea of Cortez, one of the cleanest water bodies in the world, according to Egan. “What’s great about the Sea of Cortez is that it’s not really touched by the global water flow. It’s phenomenally clear and pure and beautiful, with sun and consistent temperatures that create a wonderful environment for both salt and natural evaporation,” he said. There, the company produces a natural, unfiltered, unprocessed sea salt that’s separated from the sea water by natural solar evaporation. “It creates wonderfully clean and beautifully tasting sea salt,” Egan said, adding that top chefs in the southwestern U.S. who’ve tried it

was ours, so we used her name and put her picture on the label. And we said we’ll make sure we share.” Today, Laurel and Ed are making nine flavors of mustard in batches of 250 jars. The two of them can make two batches a day, and the mustards are sold in shops across New Hampshire and online nationally – Laurel’s son Cory handles some of the sales. Ten percent of the profits are donated to charities, which have included local charities that serve the homeless, the Make a Wish Foundation and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. “We’ll give 10 percent to feed the need of others, whatever their need may be,” Laurel says. “We feel if you have it and you share it, it comes back. She had the attitude of, ‘Give your best, and God gives you the rest.’” In 2018, Ruth’s Mustards was named a Small Business Champion by SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. Ruth’s Mustard earned the title of American Small Business Champion by submitting an online application describing what makes their business one of the best small businesses in their community, and how they plan to use the prizes to grow their business. Nominations that garnered at least 100 votes were then pre-

sented to a judging panel of small business experts that determined 102 winners – two for each state plus the District of Columbia — including Ruth’s Mustard. Ruth’s Mustard stood out for many reasons, according to the judges, not the least of which is that the company was donating that 10 percent of its profits to charities. Ruth’s Mustards’ nine flavors include Original Hot & Sweet, Sweet Grillin’ Glaze, Cranberry, Raspberry, Garlic, Horseradish, Jalapeno, Cracked Black Pepper and Maple Mustard Marinade. In addition to single 7 fluid ounce jars, Ruth’s Mustard also offers three-jar gift sets packed in miniature crates made by Laurel’s son Dwight from recycled wooden pallets and gallons for foodservice use, and she also takes private-label orders. All of the mustards are gluten free, and the Maple Mustard Marinade is paleo. “All of them have vinegar, mustard and sugar – except for the maple. The maple is made with natural organic maple extract in addition to local maple from our area. There’s no coloring or salt – most of them are three or four ingredients,” Laurel says.

ative who was visiting his host’s home. “Older folks will tell you the god’s-honest truth about how something tastes. He just loved it,” Jenkins said. “He had a big smile on his face, and he nodded and let me know that he really enjoyed the sauce.... That gave me the inspiration to go forward.... The flexibility of the product just gave me the impetus to try to market it.” He’s now offering his Stick ‘em up! sauces in four flavors: Spicy Orange and Pineapple Jalapeno, the first two in the line; Mango Habanero and Agave Garlic. The sauces work well with any sort of meat, fish or chicken, according to Jenkins. “My vegetarian customers love it as well. It’s very vegan friendly,” he said. “It can go into dips, nachos, pizza topping. Mango Habanero, in particular, has been used as a cocktail sauce for oys-

ters, and it makes a great Bloody Mary mix.” Each of the sauces is based on agave and garlic, with three of them containing some peppers for a kick and some fruit to balance out the heat with some sweetness. Spicy Orange is a smoky sauce, the most like a traditional barbecue sauce, with paprika, cayenne and chipotle to provide the smokiness. “Pineapple Jalapeno has a nice balance of sweet and spicy,” Jenkins said, “and the Mango Habanero brings the heat along with the great taste.” They’re packaged in 15-ounce glass jars that retail for $12 apiece. Jenkins drop ships the product directly from New Haven, Connecticut to customers nationwide.

have told him that they still taste the sea, with its brininess without overly heavy salty taste, and the True Salt really acts to bring out the natural flavors. From Mexico, the salt is imported into the U.S. to Phoenix, Arizona, where it’s hand-sifted and packed into 1-pound bags for retail sale at around $3.79 and larger bags and buckets for culinary and hospitality applications. There are currently four products: a fine-grain salt, coarse-grain salt, a kosher grind that’s milled to the same size grain as massmarket kosher salts and a cocktail rimming salt that’s a mixture of fine and coarse grains. A flake salt is on the way.

“We priced competitively, so we’re able to switch these chefs and restaurateurs away from their iodized salt and enable them to use an all-natural sea salt in their foods and enable them to tell that health story,” Egan said. “We are leading demand for the industry to move to a healthier product.” The retail product is currently being sold in Oregon, with distribution into other areas of the Pacific Northwest on the way and nationwide distribution projected for later this year.

For more information, visit www.ruthsmustard.com and look for Ruth’s Mustard on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

For more information, visit www .muggersmarrowllc.com.

For more information, visit www .truesaltco.com.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Produce Show Daily

Painted Pumpkins for Everyone Bay Baby Produce Inc., a North American grower and leader in painted pumpkins, long stem ornamentals and winter organic squash, offers a vast array of painted pumpkin styles to fit every personality and decorating style. Bay Baby Produce began with just 30 acres of soil, and a vision of creating a family-owned farm around the whimsi-

cal notion of giving pumpkins a personality. The original Pumpkin Patch Pals characters were designed and developed as fun characters and ambassadors to kids and young kids at heart for healthy eating and exercise. Bay Baby Produce now offers a vast line of painted pumpkins from fun personalities to many other unique and trendy home decor styles.

Matrix Manages Flexible Packaging Needs With increasing numbers of consumers interested in eating more whole foods, the fresh fruit, vegetable and IQF markets are booming. Today, these packers and producers need to increase their output and efficiently push more produce into the marketplace. Consumers not only are seeking to purchase family-serving size packages, but they also want conveniently packaged single-serving sizes for easy consumption. As a leader in vertical form fill seal packaging equipment, Matrix can deliver rugged, well-engineered, cost-competitive and easy-to-use packaging systems that are backed by large worldclass service and parts teams. With more than 30 years in the packaging

industry, Matrix demonstrates the ability, knowledge and commitment to create profitable non-proprietary component packaging systems for customers on a global scale. Matrix has been working in the fresh fruit, produce and IQF industries since the beginning of its history. Matrix started out packaging pre-washed lettuce and has expanded to cover most of the industry – from packaging fresh cantaloupe, tomatoes, grapes, carrots, broccoli and potatoes, to IQF fruits and vegetables. Matrix machines are flexible and durable, and the team works collaboratively with each customer to ensure machines meet their unique requirements.

Dryland Farmers Prosper with Organic Specialty Pulses By Lorrie Baumann

Timeless Natural Food offers a gourmet line of heirloom certified-organic lentils, peas, chickpeas and specialty grains. Grown in Montana and its neighboring states, the pulses that Timeless offers in both retail packaging for specialty grocers and in 10-pound and 25-pound packages for foodservice use come from a group of organic farming pioneers on a mission to preserve Montana’s family farms by rebuilding soils subjected to a century of industrial monoculture wheat production. “We are not alone on this planet, and we have an obligation for stewardship, not only to our fellow human beings, but also for the environment,” says company co-Founder and President David Oien. “Through the business that my three friends and I have created, called Timeless Seeds and the brand name Timeless Natural Food, we really have been instrumental in supporting many other farmers around Montana to convert some or all of their acreage to certified organic production to allow their family farms to survive.” Oien grew up on his family’s wheat farm in north central Montana’s Golden Triangle before heading off to college for a degree in philosophy and religious studies that still informs his farming mission today. After several years of working and traveling in Europe following his college graduation, he came back to the family farm in 1976 determined both to repay his parents for the upbringing and education they’d given him and to practice a system of agriculture that’s kinder to family farmers and to the land than

conventional wheat farming. Today, Montana farmers like Oien inherit the state’s history of dryland agriculture, which began with the 1877 Desert Land Act that drew settlers to homestead in arid lands across the American West. These new homesteaders relied on assurances from agriculturists like Charles Dana Wilbur that “Rain follows the plow,” and when the climate refused to obey those prognostications, the development of modern irrigation assisted by the Newlands Reclamation Act of 1902. With the newly opened land, irrigation projects across the American West, improvements in farming technology, and the introduction of hard red winter wheat in the 1870s, American wheat production took off. The country’s annual wheat production more than tripled in the 50 years between 1871 and 1921; increasing from about 250 million bushels during the period of 1869–1871 to more than 750 million bushels during the period of 1919–1921. Then came the Great Depression and the collapse of agricultural markets that led to the paradox of huge national grain surpluses and widespread hunger. The New Deal followed, with the Roosevelt Administration’s Agricultural Adjustment Act, which paid farmers to fallow some of their acreage when the nation had a grain surplus. New Deal agricultural policies that controlled national grain supplies and stabilized markets remained in force until 1971, the beginning of Earl Butz’s tenure as Secretary of Agriculture. Butz’s policies, encapsulated in his decree that farmers needed to “Get big or get out,” reversed the New Deal’s protections for family farmers in favor of industrial agri-

Whatever your personality or decorating style, Bay Baby Produce has the perfect painted pumpkin just for you.

About Bay Baby Produce Inc. Bay Baby Produce, a womanowned business for over 30 years, is located in the Skagit Valley, Burlington, Washington. This area is one of the most fertile growing regions in North America. Bay Baby Produce’s mission Whether you need an entry level machine to use with a hand loading pocket conveyor, or a fully automated computerized net weight scale with a high-speed packaging machine, Matrix has a solution for you. Matrix machines work with a variety of film types – mesh, poly or resistance – and these systems also can produce a wide range of bag sizes from 3 inches to 18 inches. Matrix also provides a comprehensive line of products reaching virtually every industry with its distributor partners; Toyo Jidoki provides pre-made pouch packaging systems that load, open, fill and cap pouches, optional Ultra Clean format. FL TECNICS (a ProMach brand) offers rollstock (HFFS)

culture, bigger equipment, more acreage. That was the farming economy that Oien returned to in 1976. His father had resisted that temptation to get big even as neighbors around him were deciding that, presented with a choice that wasn’t really a choice, they were getting out and putting their farms up for sale. “One of the pieces of wisdom he left me was that he’d rather have the neighbors than the neighbors’ land,” Oien said. “That meant we needed to make our small farm viable in a different way.” Inspired by Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” Frances Moore Lappe’s “Diet for a Small Planet” and the connection between Earth and humanity explicated in “Black Elk Speaks,” Oien set to work to convert the family farm to organic production just at the time Lappe and others were helping Americans understand that there might be a connection between what they were eating and their own health as well as the planet’s. “My approach has always been, ‘Get better and you can stay in.’ For me, getting better meant converting the farm to organic production,” he said. “Our farm is 260 cultivated acres, while the average farm in Montana is about 2,400 acres, nearly 10 times larger. There are some farms in my county that are 20,000 acres, so our farm is not only small – in a sense, it’s obsolete. But on the other hand, converting it to organic and developing the infrastructure to process our crops has allowed the farm to survive another generation.” Practicing organic agriculture meant finding a means of replenishing soil depleted by nitrogen-hungry wheat crops without the use of synthetic chemicals. “The challenge with monocropping, monoculture within a given field, is that it makes those crops more susceptible to disease, to insects, and also requires input

is to be a consistently reliable source for high quality painted pumpkins, long stem ornamentals, organic squash and value-added products grown on its farm.

For more information, email sales@ baybabyproduce.com.

pouch making technology in both carousel and walkingbeam styles, with speeds up to 400 ppm and can produce a pouch with top or corner valve on the same valve applicator. It all boils down to flexibility, whether you have retail or institutional needs, small or large bags, mesh, poly, resistance or some other type of film, low or high capacity. Matrix is uniquely qualified to provide its customers with a wealth of knowledge along the entire packaging line and can facilitate integrating packaging and processing solutions for your products. For more information, go to www.matrixpm.com or email matrix.info @promachbuilt.com.

of chemical fertilizers. The crops that we grow, such as lentils, chickpeas and peas, are soil-building crops by their very nature,” Oien said. “They’re legumes that have the power to capture the atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into nitrogen in the soil that’s accessible to crops.” In 1987, Oien joined three fellow organic farmers: Bud Barta, Jim Barngrover and Tom Hastings, in a company called Timeless Seeds to introduce those leguminous crops to other farmers in the northern Great Plains and spread the gospel of organic production. Their experiments with pulses, the edible seeds of legumes like peas and lentils, coincided with the growth of the natural food industry in the early 1990s that created a demand for organic grains and seeds, and Timeless Seeds capitalized on that demand to grow the infrastructure they needed to turn their raw crops into marketable organic food products. In 2001, the company created its Timeless Natural Food retail line of premium lentils, peas, chickpeas and heirloom grain. To supply that line, the company now works with about 50 certified organic family farms, primarily across Montana with a few in neighboring states as well. “We provide them the opportunity to grow crops that diversify the cropping rotation and to grow crops that are higher value,” Oien said. “I think one of the things that’s most promising is that we are not only supporting these farms, but we’re also having a greater and greater environmental impact across the northern Great Plains. As the market for high-quality plant-based protein grows, farmers can convert some or all of their land to certified organic production, and Timeless is part of the infrastructure to find or create high-value markets for family farms by distributing to food retailers, restaurants and chefs, institutional food service and food manufacturers.”

Thursday, October 17, 2019

A Snack Brand for Comfort and Compassion By Lorrie Baumann

A snack can be more than just a small meal to stave off hunger when the midafternoon doldrums hit hard but there’s still work to be done before dinner, says Robert Ehrlich, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Vegan Rob’s, his brand of chips, puffs and popcorn, since 2013. Vegan Rob’s snacks include Probiotic Dragon Puffs, Brussel Sprout Puffs, Probiotic Cauliflower Puffs, Turmeric Chips, Spinach & Matcha Kettle Chips and Vegan Pop. If the names sound more like “health food” than “junk food,” well, that’s not an accident. “We are positioned in snack foods, which is the most visible product in any situation of retail and commerce. They’re very affordable grab-and-go nutrition with no preparation necessary other than opening the bag,” he said. “Most people buy snacks for stress and anxiety. They don’t buy them because they’re hungry. We’re on the forefront of creating sensory snacks.... We’re onto something huge here. It’s a whole new frontier of creating sensory snacks to calm people’s nerves and to center them – using techniques of meditation and superfood ingredients to enhance their lives for the price of a non-GMO, gluten-free and kosher snack bag. You can finish off a bag and not feel guilty.” Snack foods are currently among the top categories in retail sales of specialty foods, according to the 2019 State of the Specialty Food Industry report unveiled

to the industry during the Summer Fancy Food Show. The report also noted that refrigerated and front plant-based meat alternatives were among the top 10 categories with the highest dollar growth over the past year. Ehrlich has been thinking about the manifold benefits of snack foods and the psychology of crunch for more than 30 years. He founded the Pirate’s Booty brand in 1986, left that behind in 2013 after the company was sold to B&G Foods, and immediately started thinking again about what drew consumers to the snack food aisles of their grocery and convenience stores and how he could make snacks that would capitalize on consumer desires for a little more crunch and flavor with a bit less salt and sugar and an ingredient deck that could wear a halo. As he looked around him at the world he saw almost 30 years after he’d begun building a brand based on puffs made of corn, rice and cheese, Ehrlich had his feelers out – he prides himself on a unique talent for sensing trends and finding ways to act on those intuitions. Corn had lost favor since it had become ubiquitous in the American food chain, but Ehrlich thought he could find another grain that could be puffed and could be produced with less water and energy than corn could claim. What’s more, he could be nimble in a way that a big corporation committed to corn could not be. “We kind of had a feeling – the non-GMO, gluten free, plant-based craze was starting in 2012,” he said. “To me, it’s an

MarDona Bulk Olive Oil & Balsamic Program MarDona has expanded its line to include a new Bulk Food Service Program, which will offer all of its olive oil prod-

ucts: Pure Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Grapeseed Oil and infused olive oils in one-gallon jugs and 5-gallon pails.

Produce Show Daily everyday event to seek out new paths for food and nutrition.” As he considered the spectrum of consumers who were driven by those concerns, he saw the vegans at one end, a small fringe group of consumers as sheer numbers went, but a group comprised of passionate advocates for causes with emotional resonance among their peers – people who’d respond to the appeal of snack foods with righteous ingredients, real flavors and the satisfaction and comfort of a crunch. Veganism still carried a bit of a stigma in those days, but Ehrlich thought the times would move past that, and attitudes would soften – he decided to brand his new snack line with a name and colorful packaging that wore the title with pride: Vegan Rob’s, and sell it to consumers who fancied the idea of becoming a vegan – even if only until they’d reached the bottom of their bag of snack puffs. “We’re not trying to be anything but transparent in our attempt to modernize the snack as a therapy tool, not just a frivolous meal replacement, but something that’s much more than that for consumers,” Ehrlich said. “The big companies don’t seem to get it, but we do. When you buy a product, you’re buying it for a reason. Sometimes it’s to calm you, sometimes to make you feel important. There’s a sociology to consumerism.” Ehrlich easily embraces the contradictions between lofty abstraction and the concrete realities of selling snack foods in a crowded conventional marketplace. He’s now making his Vegan Rob’s products in six plants in the U.S. and three in the U.K. and selling them around the world. Products sold in the United States are made domestically with ingre-

dients sourced in the U.S., while the U.K. plants make chips and puffs for sale in Britain, the European market and elsewhere. He’s taken the brand from the coops and independent natural foods stores where he started out into mainstream channels with products like the 2019 sofi Award-winning Dragon Puffs, whose flavor starts smoky and spicy and finishes cool. “It takes you on a journey,” Ehrlich said. “Once that cool is gone, you need another bite.... Smoky’s hot now.” His love of that kind of contradiction is evident, too, in the Burger Puffs he launched at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo – it’s a vegan puffed snack with the flavor of a “flame-broiled” fast food burger. “You can’t get any more contradictory than saying ‘vegan’ and ‘burger’ on the same package. The flavor makes people think about burgers and the beach, gives the mind a chance to reflect on the memories,” Ehrlich said. Burger Puffs came to the Summer Fancy Food Show this year along with Vegan Rob’s newest products – canned sorghum potato crisps with probiotics and vegetable seasoning and a popcorn that also offers a vegan collagen derived from sea buckthorn. For the future, Ehrlich is planning to take the Vegan Rob’s brand on beyond snack foods and into other lifestyle products that share his philosophy of humanity, health and compassion. “We’re looking at anything and everything. It’s not just snacks that we’re involved in, though they’ve made a nice platform. The bottom line is that we’re fun. People are looking for fun these days and not just nutrition. “If you’re grateful and humble, that’s going to come back to you in so many ways, and that’s what’s missing in life,” he said. “We try to do that here.”

Additionally, due to overwhelming popular demand, MarDona has included its TruffleInfused Olive Oils – both the Black Truffle and White Truffle oils. MarDona also makes available its aged Balsamic Condimenti product line in one-gallon jugs and five-gallon pails. This line includes the MarDona Traditional Imported Balsamic and all of the company’s infused fruit-flavored balsamics,

such as Fig, Blood Orange, Strawberry, Raspberry, Chocolate, Coffee and much more. MarDona’s fusti container program is also part of the bulk program. The fusti containers are available in 5and 15-liter units.

For more information, call 855.645.7772, email info@mardona specialtyfoods.com or go to www .mardonaspecialtyfoods.com.

Nando’s New PERinaise Brings Peri-Peri Flavor Home Nando’s new PERinaise offers the famous flavor of the South African–born restaurant chain known for its signature PERiPERi sauce to home cooks in condiment form, giving heat-seekers and sauce-lovers alike a PERi-PERi blended mayo full of flavor for all their dipping, spreading and mixing needs. PERinaise hit U.S. shelves this spring 2019, retailing for $3.99–$4.99 in select Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Safeway stores across the country as well as online at www.amazon.com.

Ahead of the spicy flavored mayo trend for over two decades with their signature PERinaise in Nando’s restaurants worldwide, Nando’s, now due to popular demand, has (squeeze) bottled their famous condiment in three unique flavors, including Hot PERinaise; Original PERinaise, with medium heat; and Lemon & Herb PERinaise, which has mild heat. For more information, go to www .nandosperiperi.com.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

2006 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required food manufacturers to declare trans fats on their product labels. Trans fats were banned from the nation’s food supply in 2018, three years after the FDA ruled that they are unsafe to eat. Demand for the oil was also prompted by the passage of laws by Western nations in the mid2000s to encourage the use of vegetable oils in fuels, which was supposed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help curb global warming as well as cut the United States’ dependence on foreign oil. The boom in demand for the oil led to widespread clearing of tropical rain forest to plant oil palms. Global palm oil production increased from 15.2 million tons in 1995 to 62.6 million tons in 2015, according to the Palm Oil Alliance. European Production is led by Indonesia and Malaysia, which are the leading exporters of palm oil worldwide. By 2018, more than 3.5 million hectares of Indonesian and Malaysian rain forest had been cleared, destroying about 80 percent of orangutan habitat and putting the apes on the World Wildlife Fund’s critically endangered list. Fewer than 80,000 orangutans survive in the wild today, according to the WWF, and shrinking forest habitat in the region is also threatening elephants, the Sumatran Rhino and the Sumatran Tiger, all also critically endangered. Environmental organizations alarmed by the loss of wildlife habitat

and by the climate change impacts of widespread deforestation began applying very public pressure to industrial users of palm oil. Under pressure from these powerful advocacy groups, some manufacturers and restaurant chains have eliminated palm oil from their recipes, other palm oil buyers have switched to palm oil that’s certified not to have contributed to deforestation, and some are still embroiled in the controversy. The World Wildlife Fund provides an online scorecard that scores Ahold, the Delhaize Group, Walmart and Britain’s Marks & Spencer with a perfect 9 out of 9 points on a scale that rewards companies for commitment to responsible sourcing of palm oil; Costco, Kroger and Target with a 2 score and Safeway with a 1. Among manufacturers, Ferrero, FrieslandCampina, Mars and Hershey all received perfect 9-point scores, while Smucker’s got 4 points and Campbell’s got 2. It’s not all about shame and blame, though – the World Wildlife Fund is also a founding member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil, which creates standards for sustainable palm oil production and certifies qualified growers and processors. According to the WWF, about 20 percent of the world’s palm oil is now certified sustainable by the RSPO. Blomquist is the Director of Innovation and Business Development for Natural Habitats, which produces palm oil in Ecuador, and he’s a fan as well as an employee. He says that his company, a member of the RSPO, complies with the strictest RSPO standards to ensure that entire supply chain is fully traceable, that all of its oil is

grown under sustainable organic practices to protect the watershed and the soil and that Natural Habitats has also gone above and beyond by adopting social justice practices that protect the workers that produce the oil. He says that his company is one of three major producers in the world that protect both the environment and the indigenous communities in the tropical regions where the oil palm is cultivated. Natural Habitats calls its approach “Palm Done Right.” The company is currently sourcing its oil from 180 small Ecuadorian farms converted from conventional to organic agriculture. “There are new farmers in queue all the time because we’re growing and need more oil,” Blomquist said. “Our focus is on transitioning conventional farmers to organic.” “When you look at the mill itself, we have a much more sustainable system: little to no waste, and water effluent is treated into a final water that you can grow tilapia in,” he added. “When you press the oil, you get fiber, which is collected and used as fuel for the boilers.” Ecuadorian law provides some protection for the farmers, with labor laws that mandate a minimum wage and provide for health care coverage for workers, but enforcement is spotty, Blomquist said, and so Palm Done Right also carries Fair for Life certification, which provides additional protection for both the workers who grow the oil palms and those who process the oil. “It’s a much more transparent relationship with the workers,” Blomquist said. “We make sure the farmers follow these higher level rules as well.”

stays up at night so that you won’t have to. The consumer list of the category El Sol serves goes beyond Hispanic demographics. Asian, Indo-Chinese, African and many other people of the tropics form part of El Sol’s demographic target.

In addition, consumers in the general market are also experimenting with El Sol’s products. If you and your team lack the whats, the whys and the hows, El Sol will train you and your team. Eliminating that intimidating factor of

not understanding the category is nothing new. The future starts today. Are you ready? If not, call El Sol, and the company will get you on your way.

product in its seven warehouses throughout the U.S. to allow for just in time delivery, without the two week delay for production. The product is packaged in the same quantities as the current product (number of clips/roll, number of rolls/case, number of cases/pallet) so that no new calcula-

tions are necessary to determine what is needed for production and ordering. In addition, the Clipps product has been competitively priced, which allows for a cost savings to the customer base. “Competition is good for all,” remarks Greenfield. “It fosters innova-

tion and ultimately it benefits the customer. While patents have their place, it is always good to have a choice. Now the market has that choice. Hopefully people will choose the Clipps product.”

panies to create a Technology and Innovation Department. “Able’s leadership in the transportation and logistics industry is because of the company’s focus upon real-time data visibility, atomization and predictive systems,” Wong notes. He sees an even greater technological focus over the next five years. Such focus has created a culture of innovation within the company and gives all employees a sense of community for its new technology vision. One of Able’s recent projects from its technology department is its new customer portal called DataHub®. A web and mobile-based system that provides realtime data pertaining to any shipment a customer has going through Able Freight Services, DataHub provides one-stop,

real-time visibility of all the related documents of the customer’s shipments and allows for proactive resolutions and communications. Another application of technology involves Able’s “Freshport®” initiative, piloting a cutting-edge blockchain enhancement to its DataHub for temperature measurements deploying commodity-based shelf-life formulas for its global clients. The company is also leading the way for electronic airway bill (eAWB) integration allowing optimized efficiencies, real-time status updates and paperless communications with airlines. In fact, Able was No. 1 at LAX for implementation in 2018 and the first half of 2019. Recently, Able Freight also intro-

duced a new mobile Quality Control tool which resulted in improved reporting of the product’s quality as received in realtime. Wong looks forward to the tremendous improvements that technology is affording the shipping industry. “If the industry does not effectively adapt the opportunities in technology, then the risk of obsolescence becomes very real, very fast,” notes Wong. Able Freight Services is based in Los Angeles, California, and is a global expert in importing and exporting perishable commodities from the United States to destinations worldwide.

Rehabilitating Palm Oil’s Reputation By Lorrie Baumann

Neil Blomquist is on a quest to persuade consumers that palm oil isn’t inherently either unhealthy or immoral. He’s fighting his battles in a world in which his audience has already been bombarded with publicity that suggests otherwise. Palm oil came to dominate the vegetable oil market after trans-fats were discovered to be harmful to human health, partly because, like coconut oil, it’s a solid at room temperature and has a high smoke point and largely because the trees that produce the fruit from which the palm oil is made are so productive. Oil palm trees are six to 10 times more efficient at producing oil than oilseed crops such as canola, soybean, olive and sunflower. A hectare of oil palms (about 2.5 acres) produces an average of about 3 tons of oil per year, and theoretical productivity is more than 8 tons of oil per year. Soybeans, the world’s second-leading source of vegetable oil, yield about half a ton of oil per hectare. In addition, oil palms are a permanent crop that doesn’t have to be replanted every year. “You plant a tree, and you can harvest fruit from that tree for up to 40 years,” Blomquist said. “It doesn’t require annual replanting. Farmers are cutting fruit from the tree every week and get a constant flow of income.” That productivity made the oil cheaper to produce than its alternatives, which made it a natural choice in

El Sol (Cont’d. from p. 1)

El Sol answered the call to very strict packing and traceability requirements. Its associates, growers and packers are Global Gap and Primus certified to ensure your peace of mind. El Sol NNZ (Cont’d. from p. 1)

partnered with NNZ Inc. to distribute Clipps closures for bags. Clipps work on all existing automated bagging machinery and come in the same styles and opening sizes as the current product. NNZ Inc. will be stocking the Able Freight (Cont’d. from p. 1)

company is also leading the way with integration of electronic airway bills (eAWB) with airlines, while introducing new mobile Quality Check (QC) tools for better freshness grading and quality reports. Orlando Wong, Able Freight Services’ Executive Vice President, notes that Able Freight remains committed to embracing new technology. “Able Freight adapts relevant technology for use in the perishable freight forwarding industry, as the market demands more and more high-performance and precision among its players,” explains Wong. Able Freight has become one of the first perishable freight forwarding com-

Produce Show Daily

For more information, visit booth #1455.

For more information, call 800.634.7666 or go to www.nnz.com.

For more information, visit booth #4435/4534, email sales@ablefreight.com or go to www.ablefreight.com.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Produce Show Daily

Nancy Johnston Joins Renaissance Food Group Renaissance Food Group (RFG) has announced that Nancy Johnston has joined the company as Vice President, Produce Procurement. In this role, Johnston will continue to drive the company’s procurement initatives and lead all aspects of the corporate sourcing and regional procurement teams. Food Defend (Cont’d. from p. 1)

that Food Defend has been developing for over 15 years. First introduced in the potato storage industry in 2015, it quickly became the industry standard due to its proven superiority as an antimicrobial agent against fungal and bacterial rot organisms in potatoes, tomatoes and cantaloupe. Based on those results, Food Defend expects FruitGard to provide similarly excellent post-harvest control of decay affecting both sweet and pungent types of onions. FruitGard is usually applied while onions are held in storage, or during transit after removal from storage. FruitGard penetrates the pile of onions and kills microorganisms without adding Driscoll’s (Cont’d. from p. 1)

peachy flavor paired with a soft floral finish. The Rosé Strawberries quickly garnered unprecedented press coverage to include such high-profile publications such as Good Morning America, Today Show, Food and Wine, People Magazine, Food TV Network and Late Night with Seth Myers. Capturing the millennial mindset of the #RoséAllDay along with an incredible wow flavor, Driscoll’s new product launch brings excitement and innovation to the produce industry. Hydroponics (Cont’d. from p. 1)

growing methods took center stage as the industry sought solutions. “Our hydroponic growing system allows us to deliver the water directly to the roots so our herbs rarely have water touching their leaves, if at all,” explained Tiago Castro, Production Manager at North Shore. “Just as importantly, we have systems in place to guarantee that our water is completely free of pathogens.” Hydroponic growing methods have long been understood as environmentally sustainable and are now sought for their high standards in food safety. “Our state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouses protect our plants from the hazards of mother nature,” Sullivan outlined. “We further minimize handling The Little Potato Company (Cont’d. from p. 4)

prepare. So, we’ve taken all the complication out. Just open and heat for seven minutes in a skillet for crispy potatoes that can be paired as a quick side dish to accompany a protein or served as a hearty main dish by topping with an egg or tossing into a salad. The quest for convenience continues

Johnston brings to RFG a wealth of experience and knowledge from her past 30 years in the produce industry. She received her bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Wichita State University, and her background includes: sales management, purchasing, team building and mentoring, budgeting, moisture to the stored bulbs. Application requires no modification of existing storage facilities. Food Defend notes that, while approval is expected in the future, FruitGard is not yet labeled for use on onions and cannot currently be lawfully used for this purpose. The spectrum of activity of FruitGard against onion decay organisms is broad and includes:

Bacterial Soft Rot FruitGard eliminates the causal bacteria from wounds contaminated in the field or during harvesting. FruitGard is effective at low rates because it circulates around the onions as a dry gas, which condenses in moisture-rich environ-

Available now is the newest launch, Limited Edition Sweetest Batch Blueberries, that is popping with flavor. Plans are underway for blackberries, making Driscoll’s the first company to offer a complete berry patch premium offering across strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Driscoll’s is one of the few berry companies with a dedicated research and development department focused on breeding high-flavor proprietary berries exclusively for its network of independ-

and exposure through careful facility layout, production methods and harvesting processes that are not achievable in field and other non-hydroponic systems.”

Real Solutions Now While technology is often a reliable source of solutions, it’s only part of the equation to ensure food safety at every level. “Technology and leadership both play a role in the effectiveness of any food safety program,” said Sullivan. “The best technology can still fail without diligent individuals to ensure a program’s success.” Therefore, when technology and generations of growing knowledge join forces, solutions can be sustainable and substantial. “It will always be a blend of both.

to be a top priority among consumers, with our survey revealing that microwaving is the third most common way to cook potatoes. “When developing the newest Microwave Ready flavor, we combined the familiar flavors of fresh herbs and bright lemon to create a classic combination that is the perfect companion for any type of protein,” said Vann. “Our

relationship building, new product development, marketing and brand development. Prior to RFG, Johnston served as senior sales manager for Sysco Corporation, where she launched and managed the new Sysco/FreshPoint brand revitalization. She also held various other roles within Sysco Corporation, The Richard Kaiser Company, and TKO Farms Inc. In addition, Johnston is committed to making a positive impact on the industry through Produce Marketing

Association programs such as Center for Growing Talent Women’s Fresh Perspectives. She mentors students each year at PMA Fresh Connections: Retail and PMA Foodservice Expo, taking care to maintain relationships with students after their graduation. She also actively participates with Produce for Better Health Foundation and Southeast Produce Council. Johnston’s role with RFG began effective June 3, 2019, replacing Debbie Vest, who retired effective June 30, 2019.

ments such as wounds.

FruitGard’s rate of release can be varied with the use of an activator. FruitGard is non-corrosive to metals and building materials; it will not harm cooling coils, insulation, motors or other parts of storage facilities. FruitGard is not a restricted use pesticide and no special certifications are needed for applicators. Storage and handling require no special conditions or practices. Spent FruitGard can be disposed of in a landfill. Always read and follow label instructions before using FruitGard.

Black Mold and Blue Mold FruitGard is very effective against Aspergillus and Pennicillium species. In addition, it provides protection of healthy bulbs that may have been harvested before they completely cured.

Botrytis Botrytis is very well controlled by FruitGard on sweet types; data do not yet exist on pungent types. One of the strengths of FruitGard application equipment (drums) is that they also function as air scrubbers and remove and kill fungal spores from the air. This mode of action helps to reduce secondary spread of spore-borne diseases such as Botrytis.

Visit Food Defend at booth #4203. For more information, email Dave Paulshock at dpaulshock@food defend.com, call 833.888.3381 or go to www.fooddefend.com.

ent growers. Nicknamed Driscoll’s Joy Makers, a team of agronomists, breeders, sensory analysts, plant health scientists and entomologists research and develop proprietary varieties, including these new limited-edition offerings, through traditional breeding methods – no GMOs. Each proprietary variety takes years to perfect, but promises to bring even more joy to the experience of biting into a berry. The fresh berry segment has led the growth of the produce industry for almost the last decade. As the No. 1

Visit Driscoll’s at booth #3945. For more information, go to www.driscolls.com.

Timing Is Everything This increased scrutiny comes at a time when the demand for produce has never been higher. According to Nielsen research, consumers now report “highquality produce” as the number one rea-

For more information, visit booth #3577, go to www.northshore.farm, call 760.397.0400 or email sales@northshore.farm.

Technology will provide people the tools to do a better job on monitoring training and control points,” Castro said. “But I believe that at the end of the day, there will always be best practices established by a thoughtful person guiding decisions.” Those decisions not only make for a safer product, but also a more flavorful one. Research at The University of Minnesota found hydroponically grown herbs have 20-40 percent more aromatic oils when compared to herbs grown in conventional fields.

Microwave Ready Lemon and Garden Herb kit is versatile enough to be enjoyed for every kind of meal, from busy weeknights where you need a quick option to holiday meals where you can savor food and family.” At The Little Potato Company, we are focused on transforming the way consumers enjoy nutritious and delicious whole foods and bringing excitement

brand in produce, Driscoll’s 100-year farming heritage is dedicated to flavor first. Most recently, the company has evolved to understand the emotional drivers of what has grown the brand and now celebrates the happiness that comes from eating fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. The #BerryTogether campaign has reached millions of consumers through digital, experiential and channel marketing.

son they choose any given retailer, supplanting price and location from previous years. This creates pressure for retailers to offer the utmost in quality, as well as for growers and shippers to ensure they deliver. “We put a great deal of effort into projects focused on improving efficiency and capabilities in our facilities,” said Sullivan. Facilities where this is accomplished while also maintaining only the strictest standards of food safety. As Castro added when asked what North Shore is most proud of: “The total and undisputed commitment to do the right thing! We will never compromise in food safety!”

back to the potato category. Creamer potatoes is all we do, so we have to be the best. We see it as our mission to feed the world better, all starting with the humble Little Potato. Visit The Little Potato Company at booth #789. For more information, go to www .littlepotatoes.com, call 604.999.5033 or email christa.wagner@littlepotatoes.com.