The trail less traveled

Grocery Headquarters congratulates the produce companies that are forging forward with its 2015 Produce Trailblazer Awards.  

The Partnership for a Healthier America recently kicked off the brand FNV in an effort to give fruits and vegetables the marketing “cool factor.” Behind the FNV brand are celebrities, industry organizations and, of course, produce growers.

Many are those same produce companies that have been investing their own dollars and resources to push the innovation bar higher and keep product on-trend for years.

This new initiative represents the industry’s best attribute—the ability to work together. The growers and marketers competing for shoppers’ dollars are the same as those collaborating toward improving consumers’ health and wellbeing.

A number of these companies have also been praised by Grocery Headquarters’ Retail Board for standing out from the crowd through innovation and dedication to the success of both their categories and the overall department.

Grocery Headquarters’ presents its 2015 Produce Trailblazer Award recipients.

California Sun Dry Foods www.calsundry.com

California Sun Dry Foods is pioneering a snacking segment. Through its focus on product quality and innovative flavors, the Danville, Calif.-based company is creating new usage occasions for its sun-dried tomatoes. The launch of two flavors, Italian Style and Southwestern Style, is creating incremental volume and bringing awareness to the category.

The whole category revolves around giving people new usage ideas, says Gary DeAtley, CEO. “Everybody has probably one recipe that they use sun-dried tomatoes in so we constantly have to provide the consumer with new recipe ideas to increase consumption.” Sun-dried tomatoes typically are used as an ingredient, he adds, attributing the success of the company’s Smoked flavor launched a few years ago to its launch into the snacking segment.

The Italian Style Sun Dried Tomatoes has the same flavor as some of the brand’s best-selling items in oil. Using the same herbs and spices, the Italian Style Sun Dried Tomatoes opens up the segment to consumers who may not be participating with the brand or category. DeAtley says it took a long time to develop but was well worth it: “It really is a delicious product.”

Southwestern Style, the second new flavor, brings a unique consumer profile to further expand sun-dried tomatoes’ appeal. Spicy tomatoes are really very popular, says DeAtley. “There was nothing out there in the sun-dried tomato category that came anywhere near having this kind of flavor profile. Adding a Jalapeno type of flavor to the sun-dried tomato category via spices was easy to do from a consumer standpoint. It was something we knew they would respond to.”

Classic Salads www.classicsalads.com

Classic Salads began as a farming company in 1985 called Classic Farms, which today grows the baby-leaf lettuces for Classic Salads. In 2000, the Watsonville, Calif.-based company added processing operations to supply restaurants and supermarkets with value-added fresh packaged salads. These include gourmet baby-leaf salads, such as Spring Mix, Baby Spinach, Arugula and Baby Kale, as well as several unique blends.

Classic offers both organic and conventional versions of all these gourmet salads, with organic showing the fastest growth, 22% growth over the previous year in 2014. Consumers give several reasons for this preference for organics, says John Burge, vice president of sales and marketing. “Most state that they like the fact that the products are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides, making them feel better about eating healthy. Others like the environmentally sustainable growing practices that are used in organic farming. Agricultural land is spared millions of tons of synthetic chemicals, which can find their way into the surrounding environment.”

During late 2014, Classic Salads installed an entire hillside of solar panels to generate its own clean electricity. This system will provide more than 1.5-million kilowatt hours of clean energy per year, providing more than 60% of the electrical needs to power the large salad processing plant, as well as the refrigerated shipping facility. “This strengthens Classic Salads’ commitment to environmentally sound farming and processing methods,” says Burge.

CMI (Columbia Marketing International) www.cmiapples.com

Formed in 1989 by a group of family-owned orchardists who joined forces to combine marketing efforts and expand operations, CMI benefits from the multi-generational expertise offered by owner orchardists: McDougall and Sons, Columbia Fruit Packers, Double Diamond and Highland Fruit. Today, CMI has grown to become one of Washington State’s largest grower/shipper of premium conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries.

During the past 25 years, the Wenatchee, Wash.-based grower’s domestic and export programs have expanded nationwide and to more than 60 countries worldwide. In addition to a full suite of mainline apple and pear varieties, CMI offers exclusive varieties and brands such as Ambrosia, Kanzi and KIKU brand apples. Through partnerships with first-class growers in Chile, Argentina and New Zealand, CMI is able to offer apples, pears and cherries year-round.

For more than a decade CMI has been actively involved in the organic movement, with more acreage being dedicated to organics each year. “As consumers become more aware of what they are eating and how they are treating their planet, consumer hunger for premium organic produce is rapidly growing,” says Steve Lutz, vice president of marketing. To meet this growing demand, in 2009 CMI created the Daisy Girl Organics brand, a program that is continually expanding to include more varieties. “In only five years, Daisy Girl Organics has grown to be the No. 1 selling branded organic apples in the U.S.,” adds Lutz.

From planting disease resistant trees that reduce pesticide use, recycling and mulching, investing in new technologies that are more energy-efficient, to conserving resources at every opportunity, CMI growers are stewards of the land and care deeply about preserving the “orchard way of life” for generations to come.

Dave’s Specialty Imports www.mydaves.com

Dave’s Specialty Imports was established in 1992 by Dave Bowe. The realization of the company, however, was many hard years in the making. After growing up in an orphanage and working his way up from grocery store bagger to produce buyer to retail storeowner, Bowe, now the company’s president, embarked on an ambitious journey—importing berries, melons and asparagus from South and Central America. 

Over the past 23 years, the company has expanded to include three generations of family employees and a variety of commodities, including conventional and organic blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, red currants and more. In 2011 the company unified its growers under the “Dave’s” label, as the namesake was a reminder of the core values that Bowe founded the company on—honesty, integrity and quality service.

“The name Dave’s has meaning for our growers and for industry members who have had the privilege of working alongside my grandfather,” says Leslie Simmons, marketing manager. “But we are now focusing on an evolution of the brand that will have more meaning for the consumer while still honoring what we stand for.”

The company has also begun to significantly expand its organic categories over the last three years and is looking for new ways to grow with the times. “Our focus over the next several years will be on expanding organics, meeting the needs of the digital consumer and further developing our sustainability and traceability programs,” says Simmons.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods www.dudafresh.com

In 1909, Andrew Duda left his homeland in Europe’s Austro-Hungarian Empire and traveled to the U.S. in pursuit of the American dream. In 1926, the family’s first cash crop of celery was taken to market and A. Duda and Sons was formed. Now called Duda Farm Fresh Foods, the Oveido, Fla.-based company’s Dandy brand of fresh produce includes a variety of vegetables including celery and fresh-cut celery, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, lettuce/leaf and radishes.

Since the beginning, the Duda family’s beliefs and commitment have not wavered from those of Andrew and his three sons. With 46,000 acres across 15 states owned or sustained by the parent company, DUDA, “Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ commitment and responsibility to producing the freshest quality produce while reducing our environmental footprint continues to meet the stringent expectations set out by our company’s founders,” says Dan Duda, president and COO.

Today, the company is focused on innovation and being ahead of culinary trends. For example, the company is reinventing the radish category with Ready to Eat Radishes, a line of three fresh-cut radish products. “Innovation has always been our mission and now with our ongoing research, we know what traits and attributes are most important to the consumer when it comes to the product and the way it is presented in the grocery store,” says Duda.   

Fresherized Foods www.fresherizedfoods.com

Celebrating its ninth year as a brand, Wholly Guacamole has helped grow its segment across the grocery store—literally. Through its guacamole, salsa and dip offerings, the Fresherized Foods brand has turned a barely-there category into one that is eaten at breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time.

One area of growth that the Saginaw, Texas-based company does not often promote to consumers is that done internally toward creating a sustainable workflow. Among its achievements, Fresherized has upgraded its equipment to run more efficiently and use less energy, and has achieved SQF Level 3 certification in its Mexican plant, as well as installed its own energy and recyclable water system.

“Sustainability has been a huge area for us over the past nine years,” says Tracey Altman, vice president of marketing. “It is not only about being more efficient and effective in our facility operations, but also about delivering a better product to consumers.”

On the consumer-facing side of the business, Wholly Guacamole’s portfolio has continuously received industry accolades, such as the Minis, which won a 2014 PMA Impact Award. In addition to the Mini’s success, the company’s organic offerings have become popular, as well as its recent line of Chile-based products.

“Organic has been huge,” says Altman. “The organic certification process is very important to us; we have to be able to assure consumers that we are delivering a genuine product.” Right now the company makes organic versions of the 1-pound, 12-ounce and Mini’s. Last year Fresherized introduced a successful line of Chile-flavored products, and they have more “Millennial-based products” in the works.

Giorgio Fresh Co. www.giorgiofresh.com

The Giorgio family has been growing mushrooms for three generations, starting in 1928 when Pietro Giorgi built his first mushroom houses. This was the beginning of a proud and long-standing tradition of growing only the highest quality mushrooms, say company officials.

Giorgio’s tradition of excellence continued decade by decade: From the 1920’s through the 1950’s when the Blandon, Penn.-based company added a cannery to meet the demands of the supermarket industry, right through the 1970’s when it opened a modern facility to produce frozen mushrooms. “As Giorgio continues to grow, we are investing considerable time and energy into the innovative management philosophy called Kaizen,” says Brian Threlfall, executive vice president sales and marketing. “This program stresses the value of seeking ‘continuous improvement’ in everything we undertake—from growing and processing to service and delivery.”

In addition to internal growth, Giorgio has acquired business from Franklin Farms, Creekside Mushrooms, Gaspari Farms and Modern Mushroom Co. The fully integrated grower shipper grows whites, browns/portabellas and various exotics, as well as organic whites, brown and ports; it recently introduced a line of gourmet dried and valued-added products. The company serves the Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Southwest.

“Our mushrooms are grown, handpicked and processed in state-of-art packing facilities under our strict quality control,” says Threlfall. “We are SQF Level 3 and MGAP certified and have an extensive IPM program.”

Hollandia Produce www.livegourmet.com

Hollandia Produce’s CEO Pete Overgaag was destined to be a greenhouse grower. The profession has been a long-standing family tradition started by both of his grandfathers in Holland. Officially formed in 1970 by Pete’s father Art in its now-headquarters of Carpinteria, Calif., it has quickly evolved from growing quality produce and flowers to becoming the largest U.S. grower/shipper of premium, hydroponically greenhouse-grown living lettuce and leafy greens.

Marketed under its flagship brands Live Gourmet and certified organic Grower Pete’s, Hollandia Produce has been able to achieve its goals, by meeting its customers’ and consumers’ demand for produce that delivers “added-value.” For many retailers, this means a decrease in shrink, longer shelf life and fewer merchandising inputs.

“Hollandia meets these demands, by utilizing sustainable, mini-greenhouse clamshell packaging made from post-consumer recyclables that not only protects the product from damage but forms a food safety barrier protecting each leaf while enhancing and extending shelf life,” says Vincent Choate, director of marketing. “Hollandia Produce also code dates every package to help ensure retailers deliver and consumers receive a repeatable freshness experience.”

Hollandia Produce’s Grower Pete’s products are USDA organic certified and comply with the most recent USDA’s NOP ruling and are naturally compostable. The Live Gourmet brand Living Upland Cress and Grower Pete’s Organic brand Living Watercress are certified by the SCS as Antioxidant-rich Superfoods. This means they contain one of the highest concentrations of nutrients, most notably lutein, considered essential for long-term health.

“Helping consumers understand what an antioxidant is and its impact on the body, enables Hollandia Produce to promote transparency while educating consumers and will help our products stand out,” says Choate.

Lakeside Organics Gardens www.lakesideorganic.com

The Peixoto family began farming in the Pajaro Valley of California in the late 1800s. As the family’s passion for harvesting the riches of the soil grew and evolved, they made a committed decision to convert all their farmland to be 100% organic. In 1996, Dick Peixoto and his extended family started packing organic vegetables with the Lakeside Organic Gardens label.

The Watsonville, Calif.-based company grows field-packs and ships more than 45 commodities year-round. Some of the most notable items are kale, chard, Brussels sprouts, radishes, dandelions, spinach and sweet baby broccoli, says Lindsey Roberts, marketing communications. In the summer months, Lakeside adds seasonal items like green beans, bell peppers, zucchini and cucumber; in the winter months the offerings include winter squash, such as butternut, acorn, spaghetti and sweet dumpling, spaghetti and kabocha.

The company sells to distributors, national chain grocers and processors, as well as personally delivering to grocery stores and restaurants in what the company calls its “local route,” which includes Bay Area cities.

All of the company’s products are grown on certified organic acres in California’s Pajaro Valley, and in order to keep a steady supply for customers through the winter, Lakeside grows on approximately certified organic acres in the Imperial Valley in California. “Partnering with Lakeside Organic Gardens is like having your own local farm, anywhere in the U.S.,” Roberts adds.

Limoneira www.limoneira.com

Limoneira’s 123-year history of stewardship has translated into what is now referred to as sustainability and it is integral to the company’s mission. The Santa Paula, Calif.-based grower’s sustainable practices consist of efforts in a number of areas:

•Limoneira’s solar orchards provide two million watts of clean energy, while the green waste project keeps waste out of landfills and promotes reduced water, herbicide and fertilizer use.

•On the ground, the grower uses preventative strategies to reduce inputs and establish a sustainable production system. The maintenance of geographic and crop diversity means that when one area or crop suffers, others potentially thrive. Old trees, pruned limbs and dry leaves for mulching are utilized to reduce herbicide and water.

•Sustainability extends to human resources, such as its employees, of which many have been at Limoneira for more than 30 years. The company is one of the largest providers of workforce housing in Ventura County, Calif. Within the community, the company supports scores of entities whose missions include educational enrichment, child development, job-creation, economic development, public safety and tourism.

•To connect kids to agriculture, Limoneira offers educational tours to students on the lemon and avocado ranch in Santa Paula. “And we support local FFA programs and a comprehensive program that enables students to learn about nutrition, energy and food production,” adds Alex Teague, senior vice president. “We are gratified that the marketplace is increasingly incorporating these practices into long term business models with integrity.”

On the consumer-facing front, Limoneira brings attention to the countless uses for lemons through its UNLEASH THE NATURAL POWER OF LEMONS campaign, which discusses five important uses for lemons, such as nutritional properties, advantages for beautiful hair and skin, natural cleaning abilities, lifestyle possibilities and as an ingredient in recipes and beverages.

Litehouse Foods www.litehousefoods.com

Litehouse Foods was formed more than 50 years ago by the Hawkins family at their restaurant in Hope, Idaho, when the family began delivering hand-filled jars of Ed Hawkins renowned blue cheese dressing from the back of a pickup truck. From that, the Sandpoint, Idaho-based, 100% employee-owned company has grown to be a leading producer of refrigerated salad dressings, dips, sauces, cheese products, apple cider and Instantly Fresh Herbs. 

Throughout its history, the company has stayed true to its strong commitment to the communities in which it operates, and with every employee being an owner it ensures the future success of Litehouse for generations to come, says Stacey Miller, senior brand manager.

With a focus on consumer needs and interest in healthier options, Litehouse launched OPA by Litehouse in 2013, the first Greek yogurt-based salad dressing providing lower calories and fat, along with more protein than a traditional salad dressing. The Feta Dill flavor was recently named dressing of the year as voted by the Association of Dressings and Sauces, note company officials. Litehouse extended the segment to include Opadipity Greek Yogurt sweet and savory dips and a line of refrigerated gluten-free Organic Dressing products.

Another innovation is the company’s Instantly Fresh Herbs. Described as “a garden in your cupboard,” the line offers the convenience of dried herbs with the taste of fresh. “They instantly rehydrate and are a great way to add loads of flavor without sodium, calories or fat. They are just one ingredient, with no additives, preservatives or sodium, and are gluten-free, non-GMO and available in 17 delicious flavors,” says Miller.

The Litehouse portfolio of products also includes artisan blue cheese, which is handcrafted in small batches with rBST free single source milk, and a varietal cold pressed apple cider. Looking to the future, in order to meet the needs of consumers increasingly looking for healthier options, Litehouse will be launching new products with healthy ingredients and clean labels.

Mann Packing www.veggiesmadeeasy.com

Mann Packing celebrates more than 75 years in business. The Salinas, Calif.-based company began in 1939 when H.W. “Cy” Mann opened a fresh carrot packing operation called, H.W. Mann. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Mann found his claim to fame in the fresh vegetable industry, namely broccoli.

In 1976 Bill Ramsey and Don Nucci joined Mr. Mann as partners in the company. Today, the Nucci and Ramsey families lead the firm that now spans three generations. “It was in those early days that Mr. Mann built a reputation for honesty and integrity—one that remains with the company today,” says Lorri Koster, chairman/CEO.

As one of the country’s leading suppliers of fresh vegetables, including washed and ready to use fresh-cut vegetables, snack packs and party trays, Mann is on the cutting edge of package and product innovation. The company pioneered the technology that created fresh-cut broccoli florets and steam in bag cooking, notes Koster. It is now known mostly for its proprietary Broccolini, award-winning Stringless Sugar Snap Peas and Broccoli Coleslaw.

Sustainability plays a big role at Mann Packing, where the goal is to protect and conserve natural resources and continually practice a solid position of environmental sustainability. The sustainability practices are designed to maximize crop yields and limit waste, while improving overall product quality.

At the facilities, wash water is reclaimed into industrial waste systems for use on golf courses and city landscaping, and 90% of the facilities’ wastewater is recycled. Also, the electrical usage at the Salinas plant is the same as it was in 2001 despite a 50% increase in capacity, says Koster, adding, “We are as proud of our environmental record and programs as we are of our quality fresh vegetable products.” 

Mariani Packing Co. www.mariani.com

It is not often that a family business lasts past its second generation—or third or fourth—but Mariani Packing Co. is just such a company. For more than a century, the Mariani family has grown, dried, processed and packaged only the finest dried fruit snacks and ingredient products becoming the largest independent dried fruit processor in the world, say company officials.

Every Mariani Packing Co. product represents the family heritage of premium quality dried fruit, says Miranda Ackerman, director of innovation, marketing and business development. The Vacaville, Calif.-based company has been a leader in dried fruit category innovation by being first to market with new products, processing techniques and innovative packaging.

One thing that sets Mariani apart is that after more than 100 years in business, the family still operates the day-to-day activities. Started by a Yugoslavian farmer with a vision, Paul Mariani Sr. founded the dried fruit company on a small farm in Cupertino, Calif., and four generations later the Mariani and Sousa families continue to produce some of the finest dried fruit products sold around the world.

Mariani Packing Co. continues to build on its legacy of dried fruit innovation through ongoing product development, whether its organic and natural offerings, unique and emerging fruit trends, pure and simple snack bars, functional fruits or healthy indulgence.

The company is also dedicated to innovating delivery methods of dried fruit to the end consumer. “We are also looking at new technologies to provide healthier and more natural fruit products while investing in our global supply chain to better serve our customers as well as to be more responsive to changing consumer demands,” says Ackerman.

Melissa’s / World Variety Produce www.melissas.com

More than 20 years ago, El Paso Texas native Joe Hernandez and his wife Sharon founded World Variety Produce with a small, dedicated group of family and friends. The company’s first brand was named after their daughter Melissa. Beginning in a small, rented produce warehouse lunchroom, the Los Angeles-based company now occupies a 300,000-square-foot office/warehouse complex. Well-known for its extensive specialty lines, such as its Latin and Asian produce, organic produce, exotic fruits and variety squash, the company offers more than 1,200 produce items to retailers nationwide.

In response to consumer demand for vegetarian and organic meal solutions, Melissa’s introduced a soy line of products consisting of a group of all-natural, vegetarian products for health-conscious consumers. The company is a certified organic produce distributor under CCOF (USDA) and an active participant in HACCP, a well-known food safety program overseen by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) to insure a quality food safety at the facility.

Melissa’s will continue to discover new, exciting produce and food items to meet the changing demands of consumers, says Hernandez. “We are committed to educating consumers and guaranteeing their complete satisfaction.”

Mission Produce www.missionpro.com

Founded in 1983, Mission Produce has grown to become a powerhouse in the global avocado industry. The company attributes it success to an experienced field staff, efficient packing facilities, a national distribution network, a progressive sales force and a global grower base, as well as its year-round source of avocados from California, Mexico, Peru, Chile and New Zealand.

In 2015 Mission will open two state-of-the-art packing facilities in Oxnard, Calif., where it is headquartered, and in Viru, Peru. The company’s two existing packing facilities are in Mexico, along with numerous co-packing partners in Mexico, Chile, Peru and New Zealand, says Robb Bertels, director of strategic marketing. “Mission’s roots run deep in the avocado industry in California, and have only deepened as the company has expanded its supply and distribution in North America, Europe, Asia and South America.”

More than 15 years ago Mission began its nationwide Ripe Program; as a result, many retailers experienced significant growth in product movement—as much as 300% just offering hard avocados. “Ripening avocados is both a science and an art,” says Bertels.

Mission’s seven nationwide Ripe Center locations are specifically designed for avocados. “The ultimate benefit of Mission’s Ripe Center technology has driven avocado consumption to higher and higher levels, giving consumers access to ripe fruit from multiple countries of origin on a year-round, worldwide basis,” adds Bertels.

NatureSweet www.naturesweet.com

At NatureSweet, everything is done with the consumer in mind, starting with a promise that the tomatoes will taste great. Behind unique and attractive retail tools, consumer promotions and TV, digital and print advertising campaigns, the company believes in the importance of a great tasting product.

“As a fresh tomato pioneer, NatureSweet is the first and only company in the fresh tomato category to grow for flavor and guarantee it year-round to both consumers and retailers alike,” says Michael Joergensen, vice president of marketing. “And we know that different varieties of tomatoes yield different flavor profiles depending on how they’re used, so we offer a variety of fresh tomatoes based on usage occasions.”

In addition to standing out for flavor, San Antonio, Texas-based NatureSweet Tomatoes have been recognized for their award-winning packaging. The packaging is designed with food safety in mind for fruit protection, extended shelf life, unique merchandising, user-friendly rinse and storage functionality, and it is 100% recyclable.

Sustainability plays a major role in the grower’s business. As a privately held, 100% vertically integrated company that believes in transparency, NatureSweet publishes an annual Sustainability Report that discloses information on its associates, goals and facilities. “We’re proud to be named a 2015 Produce Trailblazer,” adds Joergensen.

Ocean Mist Farms www.oceanmist.com

Ocean Mist Farms is a fourth-generation grower-owned business founded by Italian immigrants in 1924 by growing artichokes and Brussels sprouts along the Pacific Ocean’s Monterey Bay in Castroville, Calif. Today, the company grows 30 fresh vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, spinach, lettuce, celery and fennel, in multiple locations throughout California, Arizona and Baja, Mexico, in addition to being one of the largest growers of fresh artichokes in North America.

The Ocean Mist Farms brand stands for integrity, quality, passion and success, says Diana McClean, director of marketing. “These are the company values that permeate all activities and interactions with employees, partners, consumers and the community.”

Environmental stewardship is also a core value for Ocean Mist Farms. Respect for natural resources, including the employees who make success possible and the environment in which they work, is central to the organization. “We wish to inspire local, regional and global communities toward continuous environmental stewardship and to improve our way of life by protecting our natural resources today for a better tomorrow,” says McClean.

Last year, to celebrate the company’s 90th year in business, Ocean Mist Farms rebranded its green globe variety artichokes as Heirloom artichokes. The rebranding strategy used multiple channels and technologies to educate shoppers about this seasonal variety including the company heritage and the superior eating quality of this variety of artichoke.

Southwind Farms www.southwindpotatoes.com

Southwind Farms may be made up of a small group of farmers, but the Heyburn, Idaho-based company exhibits a big commitment. For four generations, Southwind Farms has been sustainably and responsibly farming the land in the Snake River Valley, with the three partners, Robert Tominaga, Jerry Tominaga and Rod Lake, now in their 16th planting season.

Southwind specializes in Fingerling varieties, which is experiencing growth in demand and popularity recently, note company officials. The varieties include Gourmet Russian Banana Potatoes, Purple Fiesta Potatoes, Red Thumb Potatoes and French Fingerling Potatoes.

“We are also fortunate that through the Internet and food television, in-home chefs have been exposed to new ways to create restaurant quality meals at home,” says Robert Tominaga, partner. “These media outlets introduce consumers to specialty produce and fingerling potatoes are part of that mix. We see that trend continuing.”

Personalization is at the heart of Southwind Farms’ business, whether its for an individual customer or a national company. The company grows potatoes and markets specialty farm products with an unprecedented level of dedication.

In 2013, Southwind Farms demonstrated this dedication by undergoing a $2 million facility renovation that doubled the size of its facility. The renovation has contributed to the company’s dedication and commitment to food safety, quality and sustainability efforts.

USA Onions/Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee

www.usaonions.com

Organized by a group of onion growers and shippers in 1957, the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (IEOOC), branded as USA Onions, represents more than 300 growers and 30 shippers in Southwestern Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon.

With this responsibility, the Parma, Idaho-based IEOOC works with all segments of the produce industry to provide consistently sized onions at the best possible quality. The organization aims to increase consumption of Idaho-Eastern Oregon onions through the use of promotional programs, education, advertising, communications and partnerships with growers and shippers.

The yellow, red and white varieties of sweet Spanish seed, also called “Spanish Onions,” grown in the region are known for their superior quality and a product that retailers can be proud to sell to their customers, says Sherise Jones, marketing director. “Our retailers enjoy stocking USA Onions because of their beautiful shape and color, which boosts customer increase and purchasing. USA Onions also store well so retailers can feel confident about freshness and quality.”

The rich volcanic soils and dry climate in the region that is known for producing outstanding potatoes also produces some of the finest onions in the world, say IEOOC officials, noting their unique combination of mild flavor, large size and tight, dry skins. “We feel these attributes are ones consumers are looking for in the selection of their produce and retailers would benefit by communicating this message to their customers,” says Jones.

Sustainability has taken a leading role in the committee; part of the IEOOC’s role is to engage and fund research programs to develop ways to increase sustainability throughout the growing region. Many of the growers and packers/shippers operating in Idaho and Eastern Oregon have instituted the latest technology that supports this effort; the installation of state-of-the-art energy-saving storage systems and the use of irrigation systems designed to conserve water are a few of the technologies currently being used to ensure sustainability for the future, says Jones.

Wada Farms www.wadafarms.com

For Wada Farms, sustainability is all in a day’s work. For more than 70 years, the Pingree, Idaho-based potato grower has prioritized sustainability practices throughout its farming distribution business, as well as its retailer and community relationships.

That is the mindset across the entire family of businesses, which includes logistics and software solutions, transportation, category management services and the company’s latest venture into eco-friendly packaging, Tater Made.

“The whole point is sustainability is a little bit of everything,” says Chris Wada, director of marketing. “We are not confining it to being good land stewards. It is our people, our impact and in the case of Tater Made, solutions for our retailer customers that demonstrates their commitment to eco-friendly alternatives.”

The Tater Made bag, specifically, defines the innovation that is happening behind the scenes at the company. The 100% recyclable bag made from up to 25% potato starch, will begin to break down in landfills in as quickly as three to five years, notes Wada. Much of the motivation behind this venture was the realization that very few people recycled potato bags; and Tater Made has received a significant amount of interest from produce companies and retailers.

A key characteristic of the technology, says Wada, is that it allows the company to do more than just “reduce waste;” it allows them to “reclaim waste product” from renewable materials and turn them into an eco-friendly product.

Crowning achievements

The Produce Trailblazer Achievement Award was created to specially acknowledge those companies that demonstrate a specific commitment to an element of the produce industry.

For its commitment to innovation in servicing the produce industry, Grocery Headquarters presents an Achievement Award to Clear Lam Packaging.

Clear Lam is a developer and manufacturer of innovative flexible and rigid packaging materials used in the produce industry with other perishable goods.

Clear Lam, based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., has chosen to focus on three main categories of sustainable packaging development; packaging made from renewable raw materials such as bio-plastics; packaging that incorporates some form of recycled plastic or paper; and packaging that delivers lightweighting benefits. This final category is not just about making packaging materials thinner but includes changing packaging designs to those that can eliminate heavy preformed cans, bottles, jars and trays.

Each retailer and CPG has individual sustainability goals, but shares an interest to reduce overall environmental impact, says Roman Forowycz, chief marketing officer. “Clear Lam feels that sustainability has become a normal part of doing business today and is no longer an exception. Developing technologies that minimize impact on the environment is a key goal for today and for the future.”

Clear Lam offers a variety of products to compliment retail and CPG sustainability needs in the produce industry. The PrimaPak is the “first of its kind,” flexible, stackable, recloseable package produced from a roll of custom film on bagging equipment. Another product that addresses consumer demands and sustainability goals is a new line of Snap Apart Multipacks designed to offer health-conscious consumers a convenient grab-and-go, portion control package for fresh cut fruits and vegetables. www.clearlam.com

Grocery Headquarters presents an Achievement Award to Braga Fresh Family Farms for its Josie’s Organics brand, noted as an up-and-coming organic produce brand.

Braga Fresh Family Farms’ Josie’s Organics brand is based on the Braga family story. With the cornerstone and inspiration being CEO Rod Braga’s grandmother, Josie, the certified organic brand is targeted toward women and is all about family and authenticity.

The Soledad, Calif.-based grower was a pioneer in the organic movement, committed to growing organic produce early on, well before organically grown food was in high consumer demand. To the Braga family, this commitment was easy, because essentially it meant farming pretty much the same way the Braga family farms had been cultivated when they started in the 1920s, says Rod Braga.

“Josie was a real working mom who loved to feed her family vegetables,” says Braga. “The fact that Josie’s Organics cultivates the land and grows its vegetables using similar sustainable practices as the Braga family did three generations ago is a huge advantage with consumers because it’s real.” The line includes more than 20 organic vegetables and herbs.

More and more growers are introducing brands to the produce department. According to Braga, it is a natural progression in the grocery world. “More consumers, especially Millennials, want to know where their food sourced, who created or farmed it and where it has come from—and whether it is local, regional or imported,” he says. “This is especially so in the organic produce world.” www.bragafresh.com