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P ro d u c e S h o w D a i l y S u n d a y, O c to b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 4 1 6 RIPENING PLAYS KEY ROLE IN NEW BANANA SUPPLY CHAIN According to a recent United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization report: "The Changing Face of the Global Banana Trade" in the 1980s, the "Big Three" global banana traders, Chiquita, Dole and DelMonte, controlled more than 65 percent of all global banana exports. In 2013, that total was down to just 37 percent. This reflects the fact that the big multinationals have undergone a signifi- cant shift away from plantation owner- ship and production towards post-pro- duction and supply chain logistics, inte- grating purchasing, transportation, ripen- ing and marketing. Sourcing bananas from multiple growers, then marketing and distributing them under a single brand, both for retailers and the Big Three, has placed renewed emphasis on quality control. "Strict quality control is the number one conversation among our customers," said David Byrne, Vice President of Sales for Thermal Technologies, the industry's largest designer/installer of produce ripening rooms. "Working with some of North America's largest retail- ers, we've found that the emphasis has become less about sourcing and more about quality and consistency at the point-of-sale." This new emphasis on quality and consistency at retail pulls together the interests of both retailers and producers, making ripening operations more impor- tant than ever. "The ripening operation is the linchpin that enables retailers to provide the same consistent, high quali- ty fruit whether it comes from one sup- plier or many," said Byrne. "This has created a new partnership mentality in which all the stakeholders share the same common goal." In the same way that politics makes strange bedfellows, this new focus on retail quality often puts competitors on the same team. "Due to the sheer size and volume of our retail customers, we often end up working side-by- side with more than one of the major suppliers for the same retail- er at the same time," said Byrne. "While this may have been unheard of in the past, this new partnership men- tality makes good business sense today, where the needs of the retailer drive the market." While the shift of market power towards retailers has created opportu- nities for smaller growers and suppli- ers, the power of big three and their ability to provide stem-to-store quality control along with value-added servic- es and marketing keeps them in a strong position. The proposed merger of Chiquita & Fyffes is a good exam- ple. The newly formed company would control 18.7 percent of global banana exports, making them the undisputed global market leader. "There's no doubt that the major brands will continue to have a powerful influence on the industry," said Byrne. "They have the biggest combined share of the marketplace, a solid track record of success and well-established industry relationships. As the industry continues to diversify with more growers providing a greater variety organics and other bananas, there's no doubt that ripening will play an increasingly important role in making sure all these products reach the consumer with the predictable high quality and consistency the market demands." For more information, visit booth #3802, contact David Byrne at 803-461-7980 or go to www.gotarpless.com. POLICELLA FARMS INVESTS IN GREEN TECHNOLOGY Twenty-five years ago, Harold Policella and his two teenage sons had a dream that has today become a suc- cessful reality. Policella Farms has become a leader in the greenhouse industry operating state-of-the art facil- ities in Kingsville, Ontario. A new 12- acre greenhouse was completed recent- ly, and the first cluster tomatoes – with excellent quality, superior color and sizing – were picked in September, 2014. The new facility incorporates state-of-the-art technology and is one of the first farms in North America to use double anti-reflective diffused glass. "The benefits of introducing more sunlight into the greenhouse are multi-faceted: it provides healthier plant growth, better temperature con- trol and quality fruit development. These points were paramount to mak- ing this investment for the future," says Sales Manager Domenic Policella. The fourth-generation family-owned company is a HACCP-GFS certified grower, packer and shipper of premium greenhouse products, including: Tomatoes On the Vine (TOVs) in red, yellow and orange juicy and flavorful beefsteak tomatoes; unique heirloom tomatoes; grape tomatoes; red, yellow and orange cherry tomatoes; Luciano's medley-pack tomatoes; strawberry toma- toes; Roma tomatoes; and cocktail toma- toes. Policella also offers sweet red, yel- low, orange and green bell peppers as well as seedless cucumbers and baby seedless cucumbers that are great in sandwiches, salads or snacks. Other products include: Italian eggplants; graf- fiti eggplants; orange, red and yellow colored sweet mini peppers; sweet long peppers and other specialty products. Policella Farms follows a stringent food safety program in its daily opera- tions and delivers products in packaging designed to appeal to consumers, result- ing in increased retail sales and improved shelf life. The produce is also identified with a product look up (PLU) barcode to ensure product traceability throughout the supply chain. "The company has taken a strong leadership position by investing in green technology that will reduce the industry's dependence on fossil fuels and promote good green practices," says Rick Policella, Vice President of Sales and Marketing For the past several years, there has been a high consumer demand for Policella Farms products. As a result, the company expanded its HACCP-GFS certified packing warehouse to 45,000 square feet and completed a 200 kW solar project that has greatly reduced the company's energy demand while creating clean, green, renewable energy. The new warehouse uses the latest state-of-the-art energy efficient technolo- gy available today. This includes 100 per- cent recyclable, insulated and Energy Star-rated building panels, LED lighting throughout the entire facility, a high-effi- ciency refrigeration system and more than 1,000 solar panels supplying 20 inverters, allowing the company to per- form at peak capacity even on days with low light levels. In its day-to-day operations, Policella Farms' commitment to food safety and green practices includes: inte- grated pest management for pest control; use of certified organic, bio-degradable coco fiber; the recapture, storage, sterili- zation and reuse of greenhouse water; high efficiency energy curtains to reduce energy consumption; and high efficiency natural gas boilers that capture CO[2] and reintroduce it to the greenhouse to assist in optimal plant growth. Policella Farms will continue to be innovators of new varieties of product and environmentally progressive growers who provide the best quality produce to the farm's customers for many genera- tions to come. "If you need something, whether it's for retail, wholesale or food- service, please feel free to call Policella Farms. With our new packaging line, added in July of this year, we have the ability to custom-package tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers – all the items we grow and distribute – to meet your par- ticular specifications for you and your customers' needs," says Rick Policella. For more information, call Policella Farms at 519-326-6450 or fax 519-326- 9214. Email rick@policellafarms.com, or visit online at www.policellafarms.com. LIMONEIRA FOCUSED ON QUALITY, SUSTAINABILITY Limoneira's efforts to create a sustain- able business – and world – can be seen across the board in the company's busi- ness practices. As the largest producer of lemons and avocados in the United States, it is incredibly important that the highest level of quality be maintained at all times. Water, Energy, Soil – Rigorous inspection of water supply to prevent waste/run-off and promote quality, solar orchards that provide 2 MW of clean energy and extensive efforts to keep green waste out of landfills are just some of the ways Limoneira works to protect the planet. Site Selection, Species, Variety – Preventative strategies are used to reduce inputs and establish a sustainable produc- tion system. Pest-resistant crops are selected whenever possible which are tolerant of existing soil/site conditions. Diversity – Maintenance of geo- graphic and crop diversity means that when one area or crop suffers, others potentially thrive. Harvest – Crews are trained in proper harvesting procedures to limit fruit damage with shades break areas provided. Limoneira has a history of making production easier and safer for employees, as safety is a top company priority. Efficient Use of Inputs – Limoneira managers schedule production hours at non-peak energy times, plant more trees per acre and utilize old trees, pruned limbs and dry leaves for mulching to reduce herbicide and water usage. Work Force Housing – Limoneira provides vital benefits such as work force hous- ing and funds for educa- tional and community programs, and is the largest provider of work force hous- ing in Ventura County with recently approved plans for expansion. Integrated Pest Management – Limoneira maintains a complete Integrated Pest Management (IPM) sys- tem to bring its sustainably-grown prod- ucts to market and reduce the use of pes- ticides. Employees – As a seven time "Family Friendly Award" recipient from Ventura County, Limoneira offers com- petitive pay with the highest med- ical/health benefits in the industry, along with competi- tive 401(k) plans. Many employees have been at Limoneira for 30+ years. Community Development – Limoneira's board and management believe that sustainability includes supporting the organizations that make our communities healthy. The compa- ny partners with scores of entities whose missions include educational enrichment, child development, job- creation, economic development, pub- lic safety and tourism. For more information, stop by booth #3138 or visit www.limoneira.com.