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Pure Flavor®’s Mini Sweet Pepper Tribelli Seed Wins International Taste Institute Award
“After years of research & development with Enza Zaden, the Tribelli seed has proven to be a key item for our mini pepper program, said Jamie Moracci, President
Leamington, ON (July 1st, 2019)
Unique flavor profiles are driving consumers wild with authentic eating experiences worldwide. While the choices are endless at retail, greenhouse vegetable growers and seed companies are strengthening their partnerships to develop varieties that continue to raise the bar in quality & flavor. Pure Flavor® vegetable seed partner Enza Zaden recently won the prestigious International Taste Institute Award for the company’s Tribelli® seed which produces Pure Flavor®’s Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers.
“After years of research & development with Enza Zaden, the Tribelli seed has proven to be a key item for our mini pepper program, said Jamie Moracci, President. Packed under Pure Flavor®’s Aurora Mini Sweet Peppers brand, Tribelli® comes in a variety of colors, has an exceptional taste profile, very low seed count, and comes from a plant that produces a consistent flavor, size, and quality, regardless of the season.
“Our partnership with Enza Zaden on this variety is an important one, we have worked very hard on building this brand of mini sweet peppers to meet the needs of retailers expanding their snacking category of items. As a vertically integrated grower, it is a true honor for Enza Zaden to receive the International Taste Institute Award for the Tribelli variety of mini sweet peppers”, said Moracci.
At the International Taste Institute, all products are analyzed, judged, and scored following a strict and objective methodology through a blind tasting panel. While not knowing the origin of the products they are tasting, the experts also give comments and suggestions to the producers to guide them for future product improvements or new item launches. Depending on the results of the sensory analysis, certified products are awarded the Superior Taste Award with one, two or three stars, somewhat similar to Michelin stars. The Tribelli® variety was awarded the Superior Taste Award with two stars.
“Tribelli® has earned praise from the most sophisticated palates, proving that it is more than just a pepper. Tribelli® is the concentration of an intense flavor, where taste is always what makes the difference in customers’ experience,” commented Jean-Francois Thomin, Marketing Manager, Enza Zaden North America.
Grown in a variety of very distinct colors, Enza Zaden partners with Pure Flavor® to develop the product in high tech greenhouses all throughout North America. Pure Flavor® has grown the Tribelli® seed that produces the multiple colors of Aurora Sweet Mini Sweet Peppers for the last 5 years. “I believe Enza Zaden is cracking the code to more vegetable consumption worldwide by developing seed varieties that are flavor forward and building a portfolio of cutting-edge innovations like Tribelli®”, said Thomin.
“As a brand, we take great pride in marketing the exceptional characteristics of the strategic varieties that we grow. Consumers let us know all the time how much they enjoy the product and how easy it is use, no matter the application,” commented Matt Mastronardi, Executive Vice-President. Pure Flavor® has developed an extensive variety of recipe ideas for consumers to create their own dishes from. The flavor strategy for all of Pure Flavor®’s recipes is to ensure exceptional eating experiences where the consumer can fully enjoy the key characteristics of the ingredients in the dish.
The Tribelli variety plays an important role in Pure Flavor®’s product offering not only as the Aurora Mini Sweet Peppers brand but also as a key ingredient in the Pure Flavor®’s Mini Munchies Snack Sized Veggie Program. The Mini Munchies pack contains Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers, Juno Bites Red Grape Tomatoes, and Poco Bites Cocktail Cucumbers in a convenient 4oz pack.
“I love all the the mini sweet peppers, they are so colorful, crunchy, and sweet. I eat them on their own or with hummus in my lunch at school. My favorite one is the Orange one as it has very few seeds,” said Layla, age 13. Pure Flavor® provides fresh vegetable snacks like the Aurora Mini Sweet Peppers to schools in Leamington, ON, San Antonio, TX, and Fort Valley, GA as part of the company’s ‘Adopt-A-School’ Program.
Grown in high tech greenhouses, Pure Flavor®’s Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers are available year-round in pre-packaged to bulk formats for both retail & foodservice customers.
To learn more about Pure Flavor®’s Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers, please visit Pure-Flavor.com/MiniSweetPeppers
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About Pure Flavor® -
Pure Flavor® is a family of greenhouse vegetable growers who share a commitment to bringing A Life of Pure Flavor™ to communities everywhere. Our passion for sustainable greenhouse growing, strong support for our retail & foodservice customers, and focus on engaging consumers is built on a foundation drawn from generations of growing expertise.
We are the next generation of vegetable growers, inspired to put quality, flavor, and customers first by providing greenhouse-grown vegetables from our farms that are strategically located throughout North America.
About The International Taste Institute (formerly ITQi) -
The International Taste Institute, is an independent organization formed by top Chefs and Sommeliers with Michelin star accreditation. The Institute is dedicated to certifying superior tastes of food & beverages worldwide. The jury of experts and opinion leaders from the gastronomy sector, is selected from the sixteen most prestigious professional culinary associations in Europe.
NatureFreshTM Farms Takes Home Accolades for Best Overall Pepper, Tomato & Cucumber at Leamington Greenhouse Vegetable Awards
Leamington, ON (June 16th, 2019) – The Tomato Capital of Canada, Leamington, Ontario, hosted its annual Greenhouse Vegetable Awards this past weekend at the Leamington Fair. Showcasing the best greenhouse-grown produce from leading North American growers, family-owned NatureFreshTM Farms was awarded many top accolades, including best overall Pepper, Tomato & Cucumber.
NatureFreshTM Farms took home top awards in the following categories:
-Best English Cucumber
- Best Speciality Mini Pepper
- Best Beefsteak Tomato
- Best Cluster Tomato
- Best Speciality Tomato for their TOMZ Orange Cherry Tomato
- People’s Choice Tomato for their TOMZ Tomberry® Tomato
- Kid’s Choice Tomato for their TOMZ Tomberry® Tomato
- Overall Best Cucumber for their Long English Cucumber
- Overall Best Tomato for their TOMZ Orange Cherry Tomato
- Overall Best Pepper for their Red Mini Pepper
Accepting the awards on behalf of NatureFreshTM Farms was Executive Retail Sales Account Manager Matt Quiring, “We have an amazing team who works very hard to ensure our produce has top-notch flavor paired with consistency.
Winning the highest overall honors across the board is a great testament to what our team can accomplish; it is more than just about showcasing the best that we grow, it is about our commitment to continuing to push our categories in the right direction.”
This is the second year in a row that NatureFreshTM Farms has won the Peoples Choice Award for Hottest Tomato and the Kids’ Choice Award for Hottest Tomato for their Tomberry® Tomato, an outstanding accomplishment considering the strong competition from other varieties in the market place. The Tomberry® Tomato, with a unique flavor profile & dubbed the World’s Smallest Tomato is one that has seen great response from consumers & continues to grow in demand.
Done under secret ballot, consumers get a true blind taste test on selecting the best varieties. NatureFreshTM Farms has proven themselves deserving of the awards with their continuous efforts toward perfecting flavor and growing the best vegetables they can. With such strong competition, NatureFreshTM Farms is very proud to be
taking home these meaningful awards voted and judged by the locals of Leamington.
All funds raised from the Greenhouse Vegetable Awards go to R.E.A.C.H International.
This local charity has continuously hosted this annual competition which celebrates Essex County as being the largest greenhouse industry in North America. As a recognized and registered Canadian charity, R.E.A.C.H International’s humanitarian efforts assist the poor all over the world with their main project currently in Uganda.
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About NatureFreshTM Farms
NatureFreshTM Farms has grown to become one of the largest independent, vertically integrated greenhouse vegetable growers in North America. Growing in Leamington, ON and Delta, OH, NatureFreshTM Farms prides itself on exceptional flavor & quality. Family owned NatureFreshTM Farms ships fresh greenhouse grown produce year-round to key retailers throughout North America.
SOURCE: NatureFreshTM Farms | info@naturefresh.ca T: 519 326 1111 | www.naturefresh.ca
Hemp Fibre-Reinforced Plastic, Hemp Protein Powder And Hemp Face Cream Are “Hemp Products of the Year 2019”
nova-Institut GmbH (www.nova-institute.eu)
Hürth, 6 June 2019
With more than 410 participants from 49 countries and a sold-out exhibition, the conference has broken all records and is now by far the world's largest event for the industrial use of hemp
For the second time, the innovation award “Hemp Product of the Year” has been granted to the young, innovative hemp industry for finding suitable applications and markets for industrial hemp-based products.
After a 10-minute presentation from each of the nominated companies, the three award winners were chosen by the expert audience at the “16th EIHA Hemp Conference”, 5 – 6 June 2019 in Cologne, Germany (www.eiha-conference.org). The six nominees were previously selected by a jury from a total of 30 submissions.
Visuals, German version and PDF file available at http://nova-institute.eu/press/?id=125
With more than 410 participants from 49 countries and a sold-out exhibition, the conference has broken all records and is now by far the world’s largest event for the industrial use of hemp. Practically all companies active worldwide in the field of hemp fibres and shives, hemp seeds and oil and cannabidiol (CBD) meet once a year in Cologne to discuss the latest developments, to strengthen business relationships and create new ones.
The demand for hemp products, especially food, cosmetics and CBD, is growing worldwide. In Europe, a record area of 50,000 ha will be cultivated this year. In Canada the goal is to reach a turnover of 1 billion Canadian dollars by the year 2023 and in the USA Kentucky is entering hemp cultivation with big plans: “Make Hemp Great Again”. As for China, a large hemp textile industry is currently emerging.
Continuous innovation is one of the most important drivers of the hemp industry. Therefore, the innovation award “Hemp Product of the Year 2019” plays a very special role. This year, the innovation award was sponsored by HempFlax, the leading hemp company from the Netherlands, and awarded together with the nova-Institute. Michael Carus, managing director of the nova-Institute, was enthusiastic: “This year’s winners not only convince hemp enthusiasts, they also illustrate the broad spectrum of the hemp plant: Hemp fibre-reinforced plastic for trolleys and lightweight construction, high-quality hemp protein in previously unmatched purity and a face cream that combines the advantages of hemp oil and CBD for facial care”.
The winners in detail:
1st place: Trifilon AB (SE) – Trifilon BioLite Trolley Case made of PP Hemp Fibre
With BioLite, Trifilon offers a green alternative to plastics. BioLite is a polypropylene reinforced with 30% hemp fibres. Hemp is one of the strongest natural fibres in the world, which makes BioLite products strong, light and durable. The use of hemp fibres in BioLite optimises the material properties for many applications – the high-quality trolley case is just one example. This technology gives manufacturers the opportunity to make sensible use of renewable raw materials, and an excellent one is hemp. The new material is suitable for lightweight automotive construction and consumer goods.
www.trifilon.com
2nd place: BAFA Neu GmbH (DE): Absolute HempProtein
The innovative hemp protein powder contains over 70% complete protein. It has a nutty taste and white colour. It has a creamy texture, is mixable with liquids and it doesn’t contain insoluble fibre fractions. The hemp protein powder is naturally white which ensures great bright colours in shakes when mixed with fresh fruit such as strawberries, raspberries or mango. This product is 100% natural and is also available in a certified organic version. Hemp protein powder is an ideal protein supplement for athletic vegetarians and vegans. It is allergen free and a complete protein.
www.bafa-gmbh.de
3rd place: Hemptouch d.o.o. (SI): Hemptouch Balancing Face Cream
Hemptouch Balancing Face Cream is a first ever skin care product formulated with a unique trilogy of industrial hemp extracts such as hemp hydrolate, Cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp seed oil. This innovative face cream combats blemished and acne-prone skin, one of the biggest segments in skin care industry. It brings a brand-new approach to the fight against acne and oily skin, proving that hemp is a powerful alternative to over the counter medicine. Hemp hydrolate has antimicrobial properties, visibly tightens pores and smooths skin texture. CBD extract helps to control excess oil production which prevents blemishes and purifies acne-prone skin. Hemp seed oil with its nurturing omega acids restores healthy-looking radiance. This cream is dermatologically tested, proven to reduce the secretion of sebum.
www.hemptouch.com
The nova-Institute would like to acknowledge HempFlax (NL) for sponsoring the renowned innovation award “Hemp Product of the Year”. Agropro (LT), GenCanna Global (US), MH medical hemp (DE) and Hempro (DE) have been supporting the conference as Gold Sponsors, Fundación CANNA (ES) and Gilson International B.V. Germany (DE) as Silver Sponsors and Canah International (RO) as Bronze Sponsor. BAFA Neu (DE) sponsored the hemp beer.
Source: nova-Institut GmbH, press release, 2019-06-06.
Supplier
Best New Field Technology And Best New Indoor Growing Technology
Innovation Award finalists - Part 2
United Fresh announced 48 new products as finalists for the United Fresh Produce Association’s 2019 Innovation Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in seven categories for the title of Best New Product at United Fresh 2019, June 10-12 in Chicago, where attendees will be able to vote for those winners during the trade show.
Earlier, FreshPlaza presented the finalists for Best New Fruit product and Best New Vegetable product, and today we look at the finalists for Best New Field Technology and Best New Indoor Growing Technology.
Best New Field Technology
Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS)
Stemilt Growers, LLC – Booth # 6015
"Stemilt’s new distribution center welcomes a piece of technology they call the “brains” of the operation: the automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). ASRS is the one-stop-shop for order fulfillment to make the process flawless and speedy, resulting in an experience that is delightful from farm to table."
Produce Plan
Frontera Produce – Booth # 13046
"This technology enhances your supply chain data visualization, actively updates production plans, and protects your crop investment through cultural practice performance monitoring. Soil moisture, heat units and estimated harvest dates per field and lot are just a few examples of how this technology can change traditional farming."
RipeTime
RipeTime – Booth # 18045
"RipeTime has developed world-first patented technology that measures and reports in real-time of ethylene in post-harvest operations from 1PPB. This monitoring and alerting allows post-harvest operators to make decisions to assure the quality of their fruit and assist with prioritizing the load-out operations."
SC iOn™ Trak SC1204
CalAmp – Booth # 18025
"The SC iOn Trak™ SC1204 eliminates the manual processes of automatically logging location and environmental condition data using a wireless gateway (fixed or mobile) that can communicate with several Bluetooth tags for transport and storage applications. The solution is reusable, which helps to increase the technology investment ROI."
Best New Indoor Growing Technology
Hoogendoorn Analytics
Hoogendoorn America Inc. – Booth # 18045
"Our online platform for data storage and data analysis. Convert real-time data into valuable information that can give you the possibility of producing more and better. We use this information to track the growth of the plants and look for the best combination to achieve high yield production."
LivingCube™
Del Fresco Produce Ltd. – Booth # 12027
"The LivingCube™ is a system of automated vertical growing machines that continuously produces living lettuce, living basil and microgreens all year long. It's powered using an off-the-grid electrical cogeneration system, which is environmentally sustainable due to its minimal footprint, reduction in greenhouse gases, usage of recycled water and pesticide-free integration."
Virgo
Root AI – Booth # 9028
"Root AI is building autonomous systems that care for specialty crops. Our first product, Virgo, uses the latest advancements in robotic hardware and artificial intelligence software to delicately harvest tomatoes with precision, efficiency, and dependability."
The 2019 United Fresh Innovation Awards finalists will be displayed on the trade show floor at United Fresh 2019 in Chicago, where attendees will have the opportunity to cast their votes for their favorite new and innovative products on Tuesday, June 11 and Wednesday, June 12. United Fresh will announce winners from the Main Stage on Wednesday, June 12 at 2:00 pm at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center.
For more information:
Mary Coppola
United Fresh Produce Association
Ph: +1 (202) 303-3425
mcoppola@unitedfresh.org
www.unitedfresh.org
Publication date: 5/14/2019
DE/EN): Six Candidates Nominated For The Innovation Award “Hemp Product of The Year 2019”
27.05.2019
For the second time, the innovation award “Hemp Product of the Year” will be granted to the young, innovative hemp industry for finding suitable applications and markets for industrial hemp-based products.
Focus of the award is on new developments within these business areas. The winners will be elected at the “16th EIHA Hemp Conference”, 5 - 6 June 2019 in Cologne, Germany (http://www.eiha-conference.org). The conference is the oldest and largest conference on industrial hemp worldwide. Six new materials and products out of 30 applications have been nominated by a jury. After a short presentation of the six candidates, the three winners will be elected by the participants of the conference and honoured with the innovation award, sponsored by HempFlax from The Netherlands.
What to expect – the “Top 6” candidates in detail:
Academy of Design and Crafts Münster (DE): Light Sculptures Monas
The innovative design light sculptures are made of hemp cellulose. For the production of the handmade paper, the artists used hemp cellulose (Cannabis sativa) and potato flour. The round and damp handmade paper sheets dry directly on the wire frame where it is attached. As the damp fibres links together in a natural way, usage of additional glue is not necessary. To improve the stability, certain functional characteristics and for paper finishing, paper pulp is mixed with environmentally friendly wall paper paste. Later the mixture and strips of paper are applied in layers. After the drying process, the wire frame is pressed together and is removed. http://www.akademie-gestaltung.de
BAFA Neu GmbH (DE): Absolute HempProtein
The innovative hemp protein powder contains over 70% complete protein. It has a nutty taste and white colour. It has a creamy texture, is mixable with liquids and it doesn’t contain insoluble fibre fractions. The hemp protein powder is naturally white which ensures great bright colours in shakes when mixed with fresh fruit such as strawberries, raspberries or mango. This product is 100% natural and is also available in a certified organic version. Hemp protein powder is an ideal protein supplement for athletic vegetarians and vegans. It is allergen free and a complete protein. http://www.bafa-gmbh.de
hanfwerk Feinkostmanufaktur UG / haftungsbeschränkt (DE): Hanfling – Hanfling Bombay – Hanfling Chorizo
The Hanfling is an organic, vegan friendly product in three different tastes: Hanfling Nature, Hanfling Bombay and Hanfling Chorizo. These can be eaten raw, but also fried, grilled or toasted, used as a patty for a burger or in a caper sauce (“Königsberger Hanfling”). This product needs to be refrigerated with an expiry date of 6 months. hanfwerk uses hemp seeds as the main ingredient as well as self-made hemp-tofu. The product is available in around 100 organic supermarkets in Germany. http://www.hanfwerk.de
Hempster HB (SE): Raw Vegan Shake
Raw Vegan Shake is a fresh, yummy, organic hemp drink designed to optimize the nutritional benefit of hemp seeds. It is locally produced and comes in four flavours: Chocolate, Chai Latte, Cocos and Vanilla Malt. This shake is ideal for breakfast, as a nourishing snack or as an energy drink and it contains high-quality and valuable essential nutrients. Through a unique production method, Hempster has created a product which ticks all the boxes and gives the customer a pleasant, satisfying drinking experience. http://www.hempster.se
Hemptouch d.o.o. (SI): Hemptouch Balancing Face Cream
Hemptouch Balancing Face Cream is a first ever skin care product formulated with a unique trilogy of industrial hemp extracts such as hemp hydrolate, Cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp seed oil. This innovative face cream combats blemished and acne-prone skin, one of the biggest segments in skin care industry. It brings a brand-new approach to the fight against acne and oily skin, proving that hemp is a powerful alternative to over the counter medicine. Hemp hydrolate has antimicrobial properties, visibly tightens pores and smooths skin texture. CBD extract helps to control excess oil production which prevents blemishes and purifies acne-prone skin. Hemp seed oil with its nurturing omega acids restores healthy-looking radiance. This cream is dermatologically tested, proven to reduce the secretion of sebum. http://www.hemptouch.com
Trifilon AB (SE): Trifilon BioLite – Trolley Case made of PP Hemp Fibre
Trifilon offers with BioLite a green alternative to plastics. BioLite is a polypropylene that is reinforced with 30% hemp fibres. Hemp makes for some of the world’s strongest natural fibres, the products made with BioLite are strong, light and durable. BioLite’s hemp fibres enhance and improve material properties for many applications – the high quality trolley case is just one example. This technology gives manufacturers a way to meaningfully begin working with renewable feedstocks and an excellent one is hemp. http://www.trifilon.com
More than 350 participants from 40 countries are expected to attend the “16th EIHA Hemp Conference”, 5 - 6 June 2019 in Cologne, Germany, the oldest and largest conference on industrial hemp worldwide. The exhibition taking place during the conference includes 27 exhibition stands and is already fully booked.
All information, registration and the conference programme are available at http://www.eiha-conference.org
The nova-Institute would like to acknowledge HempFlax (NL) for sponsoring the renowned innovation award “Hemp Product of the Year”. Agropro (LT), GenCanna Global (US), MH medical hemp (DE) and Hempro (DE) are supporting the conference as Gold Sponsors, Fundación CANNA (ES) and Gilson International B.V. Germany (DE) as Silver Sponsors and Canah International (RO) as Bronze Sponsor. BaFa Neu (DE) is sponsor of the hemp beer.
AEssenseGrows Wins Red Herring 2019 Top 100 North America Award
The AgTech Company’s AEtrium System Uses Automation and Precision
to Deliver Superior Aeroponic Quality and Yields
SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 20, 2019 -- AEssenseGrows, an AgTech company specializing in automated precision aeroponic platforms for consistent high-yield plant production, has won Red Herring’s Top 100 North America award, one of the technology industry’s most prestigious prizes. Winners were selected and announced during a Red Herring ceremony last week in Pasadena, Calif.
CEO Robert Chen receiving the award.
Photo provided by AEssenseGrows
"Of course, human hunger strikes the most vulnerable countries and the poorest, and technology would not meet its paramount objective if it was not addressing this issue as well,” said Red Herring Chairman Alex Vieux. Vieux said CEO Robert Chen and AEssenseGrows “have demonstrated that tomorrow, one could put an end to this drama which every year kills millions. Increasing the food supply and multiplying agricultural output, offsetting weather uncertainties--all this combined in one concept deserves utmost attention.
“As a result,” Vieux said, “AEssenseGrows has received the Red Herring Top 100 2019 Award and will continue to expand across the globe."
“We at AEssenseGrows appreciate that Red Herring’s judges see the same value in our products that we see—a unique combination of technology and agricultural sciences that can help feed the world,” said Chen. “We’re extremely proud to stand alongside so many other innovators and game-changers in accepting this award.”
The AEssenseGrows AEtrium system delivers sensor-driven automation to simplify aeroponics and amplify its inherent benefits. The company's Guardian Grow Manager central management software monitors grow conditions 24/7 and, if needed, automatically adjusts key variables such as lighting and nutrients to maintain optimal conditions.
The Top 100 companies were chosen from thousands of entrants, Red Herring said, and the companies were judged by industry experts, insiders and journalists on a wide variety of criteria including financial performance, innovation, business strategy, and market penetration. The complete list of winners can be found on the Red Herring website.
In addition to produce, the AEssenseGrows aeroponics system is increasingly being used to grow cannabis and hemp. Last year, Ackrell Capital selected AEssenseGrows as one of the firm's Top 100 Private Cannabis Companies for 2018.
About AEssenseGrows
AEssenseGrows (pronounced "essence grows"), founded in 2014, is a precision AgTech company based in Sunnyvale, CA. AEssenseGrows provides accelerated plant growth SmartFarm platforms and software automation delivering pure, zero pesticide, year-round, enriched growth to fresh produce and medicinal plant producers globally.
With AEssenseGrows, you can precisely control your production operations at your fingertips from anywhere in the world.
Crop One Holdings Wins Best Innovation In Indoor Farming Award For Joint Venture With Emirates Flight Catering
Crop One Holdings, the world’s leading vertical farm operator through its FreshBox Farms brand, has won the Best Innovation in Indoor Farming Award at the 2019 Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Oakland, Calif., April 29, 2019 -- Crop One Holdings, the world’s leading vertical farm operator through its FreshBox Farms brand, has won the Best Innovation in Indoor Farming Award at the 2019 Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Crop One Holdings was recognized for being a leader in confronting core environmental, economic, and social issues, combining spatial optimization with resource efficiency to grow leafy greens year round.
The company announced a $40 million joint venture agreement with Emirates Flight Catering last year, to build the world’s largest vertical farming facility in Dubai, UAE. The controlled environment facility in Dubai, will be 130,000 square feet and use 99 percent less water than traditional fields to produce three US tons of high-quality, herbicide- and pesticide-free leafy greens daily.
“This award is a testament to our commitment to responsibly feed our planet’s 7.4 billion people,” said Sonia Lo Crop One Holdings chief executive officer. “We are firm believers in building a more sustainable world, and aim to continue being a thought leader in this industry.”
Seven years after its founding in 2012, Crop One is now the world’s largest vertical farmer and the only one to consistently maintain a gross profit. The company’s patented grow process, created and augmented by top plant scientists and systems engineers, allows its farm to grow 400 acres worth of outdoor-grown produce in 1 acre of warehouse space. The GFIA judging criteria was on four main criteria: environmental sustainability, innovation, productivity and impact.
“The GFIA Innovation Awards celebrates some of the world’s most pioneering developments in agriculture,” said GFIA Event Director David Stradling. “Crop One has a proven dedication to providing innovative solutions to one of the world’s most complex problems by combining soilless hydroponic growing technology with advanced plant science to produce local, fresh greens globally.”
GFIA was founded in 2014 and is the global authority on innovative, sustainable agriculture practices and food production. Its Innovation Awards are designed to celebrate innovations that help to improve global food security while maintaining and improving sustainable agriculture practices.
About Crop One Holdings
Oakland, California - based Crop One is a vertical farming holding company for two subsidiaries – FreshBox Farms, Millis, Massachusetts, and a joint venture with Emirates Flight Catering, Dubai South, United Emirates. Crop One has been in commercial production longer than any other major vertical farmer in the U.S. It produces the highest crop yield per square foot, at 25% of the capital cost, of any vertical farm, due to its unique combination of proprietary technology platform and best-in-class plant science.
For more information about Crop One and vertical farming follow the link to cropone.ag.
About Emirates Flight Catering
Emirates Flight Catering is one of the world’s largest catering operations. Offering airline, events and VIP catering as well as ancillary services including laundry, food production and airport lounge food & beverage, Emirates Flight Catering is a trusted partner of over 100 airline customers, hospitality groups and UAE government entities. Each day, the company’s 11,000 dedicated employees prepare an average of 225,000 meals and handle 210 tonnes of laundry.
Carl Mastronardi Wins Produce Person of The Year From OPMA
During the annual OPMA Gala on November 9, Carl Mastronardi, President of DelFrescoPure® was the proud recipient of the OPMA Cory Clack-Streef Produce Person of the Year Award. Mastronardi received this prestigious award for his diligence and dedication to the greenhouse strawberry program.
“This is one of the most unforgettable events of my life. To be recognized by OPMA, my peers and the experts in the produce sector is a highlight that I treasure with abundant gratitude!” expressed Carl. “I was completely unaware that OPMA was considering me for this award, so it came as a complete surprise!”
Back in July of 2016, Carl Mastronardi and his partner, Jamie D’Alimonte, decided to test run the growing of one acre of strawberries in their greenhouse. Upon completion of the trial, the analysis of the growth within the greenhouse micro-climate environment coupled with favorable feedback from local and national retailers, had Carl convinced that they had tapped into an important niche market.
By September of 2017, ten acres of cucumber greenhouses were retrofitted to grow strawberries using high-pressure sodium grow lights enabling the strawberries to grow all year long. Production was scheduled for January 2018. "We were the first greenhouse grower in Ontario to offer greenhouse-grown strawberries during the winter season," said Mastronardi. With support from local and national retail partners, the strawberry program was a huge success and drove the further expansion of six acres for a total of seventeen acres of strawberry growing – all year round.
DelFrescoPure® said its strawberry program marketing and communication plan includes: a social media campaign with a local registered dietitian, promoting the ‘locally grown’ and ‘buy local’ message for strawberry sales, a double-sided billboard rental spot at the Ontario Food Terminal, social media outreach with Produce Made Simple, TV segments with RT and other influencers, featured ads with retail partners throughout the year, in-store demos with consumer-facing POS materials about how they grow, editorials in the Windsor Star, multiple interviews with the media, a video on “How We Grow Greenhouse Strawberries”, and outreach with trade publications promoting YES!Berries Your Everyday Snack™ strawberries.
During the launch of our new YES!Berries Your Everyday Snack™ strawberries product, the initiation of these communication plans resulted in multiple compliments for Carl regarding consumer education outreach throughout various social media platforms, according to the company.
“I would like to congratulate our president, Carl Mastronardi, on winning the OPMA ‘Cory Clack-Streef Produce Person of the Year Award’ and our DelFrescoPure® team in achieving the vision we both had in creating a truly unique, fresh and flavorful product that’s available year-round!” Expressed Jamie D’Alimonte, Chief Operation Officer for Del Fresco Produce Ltd. “To all of our staff from our greenhouses, warehouses, distribution, sales and marketing as well as our many loyal retail partners, we could not have done this without you! A sincere thank you is extended to all of them.”
For more information:
Fiona McLean
DelFrescoPure
Tel: +1 (519) 733-6101
news@DelFrescoPure.com
www.delfrescopure.com
Publication date : 11/28/2018
LettUs Grow Wins "Best Elevator Pitch" At Tech-Xpo Event
Charlie Guy (right) with VWV’s Nathan Guest
LettUs Grow scooped the top prize of ‘Best Elevator Pitch’ last night at SETsquared Bristol’s annual Tech-Xpo event, which was held at Circomedia Bristol.
The start-up, which designs irrigation and control technology for vertical farms, was one of six tech start-ups to pitch at the event, with the audience using a digital voting system to crown the winner.
17 companies, including AutonoMe, Interactive Scientific, and YellowDog, exhibited to a crowd of investors, academics, and business leaders.
The six pitching companies were filmed as they presented their 60-second speed session, with the aim of winning over delegates, and winning the ‘Best Elevator Pitch’ award.
Charlie Guy, Managing Director of LettUs Grow who delivered their winning pitch, collected the prize for their patent-pending aeroponic technology, which delivers consistently high yields for vertical farms.
Aeroponics is a methodology of growing plants without soil, which allows greater oxygenation to the roots, delivering better flavour and faster growth, and using 95% less water than traditional agriculture.
Charlie Guy comments: “We’re absolutely over the moon to have won the ‘Best Elevator Pitch’ at SETsquared’s Tech-Xpo 2018. This is a really exciting time for us as a business, the team is growing, and building Europe’s first vertical farm, and we’re really excited to see what comes next.”
Mucci Farms Takes Home Best New Packaging Award from United Fresh
Mucci Farms Takes Home Best New Packaging Award from United Fresh
June 29, 2018
by Lillie Apostolos
CHICAGO, IL - With so many people looking for inspiration in produce aisles, Mucci Farms is stepping up as a company wanting to lasso in consumers’ interest in new and interesting ways. Mucci's very own CuteCucumber Poppers won the Best New Packaging for this year’s United Fresh Produce Innovation Award at 2018’s Chicago-based FreshMkt Expo. The awarded company was selected after exhibitors and attendees voted on their favorite from a list of seven nominated packages in the category.
Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing, Mucci Farms
“We are delighted to win the packaging award for CuteCumber Poppers because we really feel like we’re bringing something new to the greenhouse produce category by including a tasty dip inside each container,” Director of Marketing Emily Murracas said. “In addition, our focus was to create multiple convenient packages to accommodate a variety of customers in the rapidly growing snacking category.”
The Mucci Farms team posing with their award. The company won this year’s United Fresh Produce Innovation Award
The one-bite variety used in CuteCucumber Poppers are on a roll, having recently won the People’s Choice Award at the Leamington Greenhouse Competition. Offering incredible flavor paired with an irresistible crunchy texture, the product will be available in three pack styles to stay in tune with club stores, retailers, and foodservice.
Fernanda Albuquerque, New Product Development Manager, Mucci Farms
“With this product, we decided to create a lineup of new packages to give our partners multiple options based on their demographics and value proposition,” Fernanda Albuquerque, New Product Development Manager, shared in a press release. “The 1.5 lbs and 5 oz top-seal packages are custom thermoformed trays that securely hold the dip container in place. The 9 oz tray is a 3 x 3 oz format with EZ Snap convenience, allowing consumers to tear off each container for 3 individual snack size packs.”
Mucci Farms' award-winning Cutecumber Poppers packaging
Attendees had the opportunity to check in with the company at their booth. The greenhouse grower also co-sponsored the breakfast session, which announced recipients of the 2018 Retail Produce Manager Awards. This segment of the show celebrated produce and foodservice industry professionals from across the continent.
Joe Spano, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Mucci Farms
“Sponsoring this event is important to us as it recognizes the front-line staff that bring our products to life through merchandising and recipes,” Vice President of Mucci International Marketing Joe Spano shared. “We’d like to congratulate all the award recipients and thank them for all they do to raise the profile of healthy eating.”
Congratulations to the Mucci Farms team! We look forward to seeing how your award-winning packaging pushes the category forward and inspires more consumers to fall in love with produce and the cute offerings our industry provides.
Mucci Farms
Cucumbers Cucumber Mucci Farms New packaging CutecumberTM Poppers Award United Fresh Best New Packaging CuteCumbers
Mucci Farms grows a variety of standard and specialty tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and eggplant. Fresh and delicious,...
Growing a Greener World Awarded Emmy For Green Bronx Machine Episode
Atlanta, Georgia: On June 16, 2018, the long-running Sustainability Television Program Growing a Greener World® received a Daytime Emmy Award® for its powerful episode The Green Bronx Machine.
This is the broadcast’s first Emmy win. The honor comes on the heels of Growing a Greener World receiving the coveted 2017 Pioneer Taste Award® in April.
The mission of the show has always been to help others grow a greener world themselves – through gardening, responsible environmental stewardship and building healthy communities. In 2007, Growing a Greener World explored a non-profit organization known as The Green Bronx Machine and instantly knew this was a story needing to be told.
Moved by emotion at the love and care he witnessed during filming, Executive Producer and show host Joe Lamp’l, states “After filming over 100 episodes of Growing a Greener World®, I don’t think we’ve ever told a story that’s impacted me more emotionally than this one.”
Mr. Lamp’l is referring to the compelling story of educator, entrepreneur and self-proclaimed “People Farmer,” Stephen Ritz, who came from and returned to the Bronx to heal, to show love toward and to nurture generations of school children growing up in this difficult district. His thunderbolt idea, which ultimately formed The Green Bronx Machine, was to utilize gardening in the classroom to improve the lives of inner city youth.
And improve lives it has. In a community where it’s easier to get liquor than lettuce, Mr. Ritz’s non-profit has helped high school attendance improve from 40% to 93% and has reduced behavioral incidents and out-of-classroom time by a whopping 50% in the elementary school in which he teaches.
This humble man with unparalleled charismatic, infectious energy has changed the landscape of students’ lives through tireless 12-hour days where “Garden Time with Mr. Ritz” is always in eager demand. The kids are taught the botany, the biology, and the history of the fruits and veggies they grow in a way that sparks fascination and new-found ownership of the joy of growing food that is improving eating habits and helping create healthy food relationships.
And as the children love and nurture the plants they’re raising, the plants reward them with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, and apples to be eaten during school lunch and taken home to their families. The sense of accomplishment and taste for success that is borne of this symbiotic relationship will carry into the rest of these kids’ lives.
The Green Bronx Machine is truly breaking new ground in the world of education. This investment of passion for our food source isn’t just working, it’s creating one person(al) miracle at a time.
The Growing a Greener World® series featuring this remarkable program will continue to resonate with future audiences, and future seasons will remain dedicated to telling these impactful stories of people creating change.
The Emmy Award-Winning episode The Green Bronx Machine can be viewed at:
https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode-808-green-bronx-machine/
Pure Flavor® Growing Momentum with New Products, Awards, and Expansion
Pure Flavor® Growing Momentum with New Products, Awards, and Expansion
Leamington, ON (June 21st, 2018) – Greenhouse vegetable production is in full swing in every region of North America which is meeting surging consumer demand heading into the heart of summer. Pure Flavor®’s family of growers are producing more than ever before fueling the company’s momentum in the marketplace. This, in turn, is setting up opportunities to connect with retail & foodservice partners at the United Fresh Trade Show & Convention in Chicago, June 26-27.
“We have a very positive momentum in the marketplace and gaining more steam season over season. Coupled with our brand refresh, increased acreage & product offering, expansion to Georgia, and now receiving Greenhouse Awards for Best Overall Cucumber, Best Cocktail Cucumber, and Best Beefsteak Tomato Grower, it’s been a busy year for us and we are only in June!”, said Jamie Moracci, President.
As a vertically integrated grower/marketer, Pure Flavor®’s year-round programs are supported by a family of growers across many regions to ensure consistency in supply.
With increased acreage and demand for more products, Pure Flavor® will be launching 2 new items at the United Fresh Trade Show & Convention; a Fresh Salsa Kit & a Fresh Guacamole Kit. This in addition to rolling out new top seal packaging for its complete line of snacking tomatoes. Pure Flavor® will be showcasing these items, including their very popular and kid-friendly Mini Munchie Snack Sized Veggie Program in the Featured Product Showcases at the trade show.
“The Fresh Salsa Kit & Fresh Guacamole Kit were created in formats that are convenient for both retail & club stores, the kits touch on everything fresh for the DIY enthusiast”, stated Matt Mastronardi, Executive Vice-President. “Consumers want to spend more quality family time together creating flavorful meals. Fresh focused meal solutions like the Salsa & Guacamoles Kits are fast, easy, and fun! The beauty of these kits is that you can customize them as you see fit to add in your own flavors”, said Mastronardi. (Link: http://www.pure-flavor.com/FreshKits2018 )
“Our Georgia greenhouse project is moving along swiftly with the first phase of 25 acres scheduled to be completed late this summer”, said Moracci. The company announced in late 2017 that the expansion to Fort Valley, GA would be a 3-phased approach with a total of 75 acres of high tech greenhouses being built over a 5-year period. “By growing year-round in the southeast, it will allow us to reduce food miles to our customers while consumers get to enjoy fresher product on the shelves”, add Moracci.
To learn more about Pure Flavor®, visit Booth 819 at the United Fresh Trade Show & Convention in Chicago June 26-27 or visit Pure-Flavor.com.
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About Pure Flavor® -
Pure Flavor® is a family of greenhouse vegetable growers who share a commitment to bringing A Life of Pure Flavor™ to communities everywhere. Our passion for sustainable greenhouse growing, strong support for our retail & foodservice customers, and focus on engaging consumers is built on a foundation drawn from generations of growing expertise.
Ripple Farms Inc. Wins Ontario’s Social Enterprise of The Year Award Presented By Startup Canada
Ripple Farms Inc. Wins Ontario’s Social Enterprise of The Year Award Presented By Startup Canada
Sault St. Marie, Ontario – June 20, 2018 –
"It is an excellent milestone in a long journey ahead, as we continue the pursuit of answering the question – ‘How Many Can We Feed?’”
Ripple Farms Inc. received the Startup Canada Social Enterprise of the Year Award in Sault St. Marie presented by the Centre For Social Innovation. As a proud sponsor of the fifth annual Startup Canada Awards, we are thrilled to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievement in Canada’s entrepreneurship and innovation community across Canada.
“Congratulations to the 2018 winners of the Startup Canada Awards,” said Victoria Lennox, Co-Founder & CEO of Startup Canada . “These winners represent the very essence of entrepreneurship. We are proud to celebrate their success with Canadians and our partners around the world.”
Steven Bourne, Co-Founder & CEO of Ripple Farms Inc., was very grateful after receiving the award, stating: “We would like to thank everyone who has supported Ripple Farms over the past two years, whether it was, engaging in our educational workshops, collaborating on agri-innovations, or - of course - eating our local greens and seafood! This award stands as a great validation of the hard work the Ripple team, mentors, partners, and supporters have invested in our enterprise thus far. It is an excellent milestone in a long journey ahead, as we continue the pursuit of answering the question – ‘How many can we feed?’”
Regional winners will now be evaluated by the National Adjudication Committee; comprised of some of Canada’s leading entrepreneurship and industry experts. The national winners will be announced and celebrated at the Startup Canada Awards Grand Finale in Ottawa on October 18, 2018 following Startup Canada Day on the Hill.
For more information, and to schedule media interviews, please contact:
Maddie Stiles Media Relations,
Startup Canada 613-295-4590 maddie.stiles@startupcan.ca
About the Startup Canada Awards The Startup Canada Awards can be likened to the Oscars for the Canadian entrepreneurship community. The awards celebrate and recognize individuals, communities, and institutions that demonstrate innovation, excellence, outstanding achievement, and impact in advancing entrepreneurship in Canada:
● Celebrate those working to advance entrepreneurship in Canada;
● Increase awareness of the importance of strengthening Canada’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and culture; and,
● Incentivize efforts and elevate the ambitions of the Canadian entrepreneurial and innovation community.
For more information, visit www.startupaward.ca.
About Ripple Farms Inc. Ripple Farms’ purpose is to reconnect urban populations with food by engaging people through hands-on workshops and educational material. Their aim is to tackle food insecurity one meal at a time. With a focus on traceability, Ripple Farms’ wants to make sure that consumers know what they are buying and eating.
Ripple Farms’ is a company that is always innovating in both their technological and biological operations with the intentions of becoming more efficient/productive, all while pushing the boundaries of biomimicry. By partnering with institutions and like-minded organizations, Ripple Farms looks to influence the industry in a positive way.
For more information, visit http://ripplefarms.ca/ .
About Startup Canada Startup Canada is the national rallying community and voice for Canada’s 2.3 million entrepreneurs. Since launching in 2012, Startup Canada has grown to represent more than 200,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots communities from coast to coast to coast.
Through digital programs and flagship events, Startup Canada is the network promoting, inspiring, educating, connecting and giving a voice to Canada’s entrepreneurs; supporting them to start, operate and scale businesses that build a better Canada for the world today and for future generations.
For more information, visit www.startupcan.ca.
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Mucci Farms Awarded For Flavour At The 11th Annual Greenhouse Competition!
Mucci Farms Awarded For Flavour At The 11th Annual Greenhouse Competition!
June 16th, 2018 (Leamington, Ontario) – Mucci Farms announces that it has been awarded several top prizes at the 11th Annual Greenhouse Competition held at the Leamington Fair. The big winner was SmucciesTM Sweet Strawberries that swept the all-new strawberry category with the Best Overall Strawberry, People’s Choice and Kid’s Choice awards. In addition, their newest item, CutecumberTM Poppers, a one-bite cucumber variety was awarded the People’s Choice award in the cucumber category.
To cap off the weekend, RusticoTM Long Red Peppers, an item geared for grilling season took home the award for best Specialty Long Pepper along with English Cucumbers winning the Coolest Cucumber category.
New to the competition this year was the highly anticipated Strawberry category, one gaining lots of notoriety in the greenhouse space in recent years. “Smuccies are a prized possession for us, so it’s really special to win three awards in the category in the inaugural year,” said Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing at Mucci Farms. “At Mucci Farms, we prioritize flavour right from the first step which is to identify the best seed varieties, followed by the best and safest growing methods.
We’re grateful to the judges and the local community for recognizing our team and our growers for all the work they’ve put in.” This year, the community had the opportunity to experience the RCMP Musical Ride, known around the world for its equestrian performances choreographed to music. Members of the RCMP enjoyed award-winning SmucciesTM throughout the weekend, donated by Mucci Farms.
The Greenhouse Competition is presented at the Leamington Fair by REACH International to celebrate Essex County as being the largest greenhouse industry in North America. All net proceeds from the event are dedicated to REACH International's Uganda project aimed at building schools, clinics and providing care for impoverished children in the African country. “The objectives of REACH International lineup seamlessly with our goals of giving back to those less fortunate, so we enjoy participating in this competition for the charity aspect as much, or even more than receiving awards,” remarked Danny Mucci, President of Mucci International Marketing.
Winners for the two-day Greenhouse Competition were selected in two stages. Judges from across the food industry judged each entry on Friday before the public was allowed in the competition tent. The entry with the highest score for each category and the overall competition were declared the winners. Once official judging is complete, the public is given the opportunity to taste all the entries and vote for the People’s Choice Award and Kid’s Choice Awards.
The awards ceremony was held on Saturday evening, June 16th at the Leamington Fair.
NatureFresh™ Farms Takes Home People’s & Kids’ Choice Awards At Leamington Greenhouse Vegetable Competition
NatureFresh™ Farms Takes Home People’s & Kids’ Choice Awards At Leamington Greenhouse Vegetable Competition
Leamington, ON (June 17th, 2018) – The Tomato Capital of Canada, Leamington, ON, hosted its 11th annual Greenhouse Vegetable Awards this past weekend at the Leamington Fair. Showcasing the best greenhouse-grown produce from leading North American growers, family-owned NatureFresh™ Farms was awarded many top accolades, including People’s and Kids’ Choice Awards for 2018’s Hottest Tomato, the Tomberry®.
On Saturday evening, NatureFresh™ Farms took home awards in the following categories:
- People’s Choice Award for Hottest Tomato – NatureFresh™ Tomberry® Tomatoes
- Kids’ Choice Award for Hottest Tomato - NatureFresh™ Tomberry® Tomatoes
- Kids’ Choice Award for Coolest Cucumber – NatureFresh™ Mini Cucumbers
- Kids’ Choice Award for Perfect Pepper – NatureFresh™ Yellow Bell Pepper
Matt Quiring, Executive Retail Sales Accounts Manager at NatureFresh™ Farms, was especially excited that NatureFresh™ took home the coveted Kids’ Choice Awards in the Tomato, Bell Pepper, and Cucumber categories: “The People’s Choice and Kids’ Choice Awards are such impactful awards to win because they have everything to do with the end consumer. They’re also incredibly important because children are the buyers of tomorrow – knowing that they choose NatureFresh™-grown products above every other label is a huge testament to what we do and what’s in store for the future.”
At the Awards, the Tomberry® Tomato was chosen by both adults and children as this year’s Hottest Tomato. Benny Teichroeb, a member of the Trial Development team at NatureFresh™ Farms, was confident after his experiences with the Tomberry® that it would perform well at the Awards this year: “The Tomberry® is definitely one of the most unique Tomatoes we have ever trialled in the Discovery Center. It performed beyond our expectations from the start, and due to its small size and sweet flavor, it tends to draw a lot of positive attention. People of all ages love the World’s Smallest Tomato, and we are very excited to now have it in our program full-time!”. The NatureFresh™ Farms team is looking forward to watching this little Tomato do big things within the Tomato category.
All funds raised from the Greenhouse Vegetable Awards go to R.E.A.C.H. International. This local charity has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to build clinics and schools, drill water wells, and sponsor and care for impoverished children in Uganda, Africa.
Greenhouse Training Online Courses Win National Award For The University of Florida
Greenhouse Training Online Courses Win National Award For The University of Florida
BY urbanagnews
May 15, 2018
The Greenhouse Training Online (GTO) program offered to growers by the University of Florida IFAS Extension is the winner of the 2018 Extension Division Education Materials Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science. Over 1300 growers have participated in GTO courses, with an 80% success rate.
Eight courses for greenhouse and nursery growers are offered this year last 4 weeks, and include streaming video lessons, readings and assignments (about 2 hours total commitment per week). Courses are in English and Spanish and can be accessed at any time of day. Click here to register (hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/).
The first two courses begin on June 4, 2018: Greenhouse 101 and Costing & Profitability.
Greenhouse 101 teaches basic horticulture science and is designed to help staff with no formal training make better crop management decisions.
Costing and Profitability helps grower managers develop the skills to accurately estimate production cost and profit for your greenhouse or nursery business.
For more information, go to hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/, or contact Greenhouse Training, Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, USA,
Email: greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu.
She Saw Her Family Lose Its Farm, So She Became An Attorney To Advocate For Small Farmers
MARCH 14, 2018
She Saw Her Family Lose Its Farm, So She Became An Attorney To Advocate For Small Farmers
Renewal Awards finalist F.A.R.M.S. helps aging farmers and farmers of color keep their small businesses in the family
MARGARET MYERS
Jillian Hishaw is an attorney specializing in agricultural law and the founder of the nonprofit F.A.R.M.S. Photo via video by Meg Sullivan/Clif Bar Family Foundation
Jillian Hishaw has dedicated her life to service. As the founder of Family Agriculture Resource Management Services, or F.A.R.M.S., she advocates for small farmers, especially farmers of color in high poverty rural areas. As an attorney specializing in agricultural law, Hishaw uses her expertise to fight for America’s small farmers so they can keep their land and grow their businesses. The loss of her family’s own small farm inspired her to pursue this work.
We asked Hishaw to tell us about her passion for serving this community of small farmers, and how F.A.R.M.S. is expanding to help communities serve families who are food insecure. The following is an edited and condensed version of that conversation. Learn more about F.A.R.M.S. on Instagram, or on Twitter at @FARMS30000, and follow Hishaw at @jillianhishaw.
Tell us what F.A.R.M.S. is currently working on.
Currently, we are busy working on providing legal and technical services to aging small farmers to make sure the family farm is protected from predatory lenders, nursing homes, and other people and entities who want to take advantage of the elders. On a weekly basis, I get calls from farmers who need encouragement because many farmers and landowners are under intense stress.
Who is part of the F.A.R.M.S. community?
We work not only with small farmers of color in high poverty rural areas in the South and Southeast but as the challenges of small farmers have gotten worst our clientele now is small farmers in general. When I first started this work, I primarily worked with black and indigenous farmers because in the black community, nearly 30,000 acres of land ownership is lost annually. It’s why I named our website www.30000acres.org. As the years have progressed and small farmers are constantly being forced out of business and off their land, we now focus on providing services to small farmers across the country.
How did you start your community work?
I started volunteering in different capacities in the late 1990s—whether it was donating clothes to the domestic violence shelter or volunteering in church or with environmental organizations, I knew my career path would always be dedicated to public service. Since finishing my education 12 years ago, every position I have held or created has been at a public service entity. I have to see positive change in my work on the ground and in the field, even if I hire people to do it. Over the past 12 years, I have established programs ranging from green job training for ex-felons to legal services for small farmers.
For example, we not only provide legal services within F.A.R.M.S. but we also have a hunger relief program where we have donated over 220,000 lbs. of produce to food banks and hunger relief agencies in our seven-state region, which continues to expand each year. These types of results keep me going, even in times when we are functioning on a pro bono basis. Rural communities are in need of F.A.R.M.S. services and as government funding cuts back, programs like ours become more of a necessity.
What inspired you to do this work?
Due to my own family’s experience in losing our farmland as a result of our elders trusting a dishonest professional, I knew I wanted to go to law school and provide honest services to landowners to prevent the land loss my family suffered.
What ways are you helping to make your community thrive?
Working with an attorney to save a farm that had been in a black family since Post-Reconstruction and to visit the farm and see it thriving with produce and trees gives me joy! We prevent eldercare abuse from predatory lenders; we protect family farms to ensure the land stays in the family; we protect natural resources; we feed people in rural communities from our hunger relief efforts. These are just some of the ways F.A.R.M.S. helps people in our communities.
What do you love about your community?
I love helping the aging farmer find solace in knowing that the land will be passed down and ensuring those feelings of security when they are at the latter stages of life in providing proper estate planning services to the farmer.
What’s one thing you want outsiders to know about your community?
They think they are unforgotten and F.A.R.M.S. is one of the few entities that reminds them they are not forgotten. Rural communities need funding and support just like urban causes but the communities we serve are neglected. F.A.R.M.S. along with other rural nonprofits need support because urban and rural development go hand and hand. Once people start to realize that the dynamic between urban and rural communities won't be so divided.
What leaders inspire you?
Shirley Sherrod of the Southwest Georgia Project and Dean Walter Hill, my former dean at Tuskegee University. Their decades of self-sacrifice inspires me to continue the work because they suffered under extreme circumstances to advocate for farmers of color in the South.
EDITOR'S NOTE
Meet the finalists for The Renewal Awards, a project of The Atlantic and Allstate. These individuals are the forces behind the 25 nonprofits competing for $150,000 in grant money. Ten winners will be announced March 27 at The Renewal Summit in New Orleans, on TheAtlantic.com, and here, on The Renewal Project.
#food insecurity #the renewal awards
Margaret Myers
Margaret Myers is the editor of The Renewal Project. @margaretvm
Mucci Farms Strawberries Wins President’s Choice Fresh Product of The Year Award!
Mucci Farms Strawberries Wins President’s Choice Fresh Product of The Year Award!
April 11th, 2018 (Kingsville, Ontario) – Mucci Farms announces that they have been awarded by Loblaw Companies Limited for President’s Choice Fresh Product of the Year for PC Ontario Greenhouse Strawberries. “We’ve been growing traditional greenhouse items for over 50 years but strawberries were our first attempt at growing an unconventional greenhouse product,” said Danny Mucci, President of Mucci International Marketing. “Our team and I were completely blown away and speechless when we got the news that we were nominated.”
The criteria for the prestigious award required the product to be launched between Fall 2016 and Summer 2017 and had to be a truly unique stand alone as first to market in Canada. Additionally, the item had to be a commercial success generating additional sales and profit, resulting in having a major impact on the category. The winner was determined by a ballot vote by colleagues of Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Marketed by Mucci Farms under the SmucciesTM Sweet Strawberries brand, they first began trialing the product in 2014 eventually going to market with full-scale production in 2016. The award-winning product is grown in the largest indoor strawberry farm in North America with phase two of a three-phase 36-acre expansion completed in October of 2017, with the final 12-acres to be completed in the Fall of 2018. The final phase will include supplemental HPS grow lights to accommodate year-round growth, and the company has plans for further expansion in the future.
“Mucci Farms is passionate about growing because growing is what they love to do,” remarked Dan Branson, Senior Director; Produce, Floral & Garden at Loblaw Companies Limited in a video aired at the award ceremony. “What’s important to both of us is that we really behave as partners in development. Not only is the greenhouse strawberry an amazing tasting piece of fruit, the greenhouse strawberry is moving to a point of where we are producing it year round so it’s taking a lot of trucks off of the road, it’s giving amazing consistency and more importantly than anything, it tastes like a strawberry is supposed to taste.”
“I would like to thank the entire LBL-PC Team for working closely with us and entrusting us with this ambitious project,” said Joe Spano, Vice President of Mucci International Marketing. “The PC, procurement and merchandising teams showed a great deal of interest in the greenhouse growing process. From R&D to traveling with us and learning about our industry, they were with us every step of the way. This not only strengthened our relationship, it helped us establish a unified vision for the program. We have truly been Partners in Produce.”
In addition to searching for potentially new greenhouse items, Mucci Farms is also highlighting an emphasis on greenhouse education. “There is a story and a strong message to be told and shared about greenhouse-grown produce and as we build on the consumer education component, we believe that the greenhouse story will become the greenhouse revolution,” remarked Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing. “Mucci Farms is committed to being at the forefront of that movement, and building on our success.“
The award was presented at the 2018 Loblaw Brands Innovation Summit held in Toronto, Ontario on Thursday, April 5th at The Carlu. Danny Mucci and Joe Spano were on hand to receive the award. PC Greenhouse Strawberries are available across Ontario in several retail supermarkets owned and operated by Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Ontario Greenhouse Grower Wins PAC Award For Veggies To Go
Ontario Greenhouse Grower Wins PAC Award For Veggies To Go
Mucci Farms announces that they have been awarded a Best In Class Award in the New Brand – Food & Beverage category at the 2018 Packaging Consortium (PAC) Awards. Highly regarded as a global industry leader, PAC is a not-for-profit corporation that includes over 2,500 members throughout the packaging value chain. Their networking process includes webinars, seminars, conferences, competitions, facility tours, education programs, trade shows, technical work groups and social activities throughout the year.
“We are excited and honoured to receive another award for Veggies To Go™," said Emily Murracas, Director of Marketing. “Having been recognized within the produce industry for this product and package, it’s particularly exciting to be recognized in a broader context amongst well established world class brands and packages.”
From left to right Ajit Saxena – Digital Media Coordinator, Fernanda Albuquerque – New Product Development Manager and Wayne St-Denis – Senior Graphic Designer
The annual PAC Awards were judged by a panel of international brand design packaging experts from around the world. Well over 200 entries were judged on a variety of criteria requiring entrants to submit detailed responses to several questions pertaining to sustainability, food safety, cost, packaging material, graphic design, print process, practical usage and the story of the product from inception to market.
“Veggies to Go™was an exciting and challenging project that took us three years to bring to the market, so it’s very rewarding to have it received so well by retailers, consumers and now industry packaging experts” said Fernanda Albuquerque, New Product Development Manager.
Veggies to Go™has received several awards including the Freggie Approved award at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Convention & Expo recognizing the best kid-centric product and package, and most recently won the Award for Best New Package Promo at the PMA’s 2017 Fresh Summit Conference and Expo. The PAC Awards were presented at Brand Experience Magazine’s BXP Live! Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida on Tuesday February 27th, 2018.
A team from Mucci Farms was on hand to accept the award. Veggies to Go™ will be featured in the new product showcase at the SEPC’s Southern Exposure Conference this week in Tampa, Florida.