Pundit’s Mailbag — Imagination Farms
We kicked off last week with an article focused on the rapid growth in the use of cartoon characters to promote produce. The Pundit received an e-mail from Matthew Caito, CEO and a principal in Imagination Farms, the new non-transactional produce company set up to build the Disney Garden brand in the produce section. He […]
Pundit’s Mailbag — Characters and Marketing
One of the industry’s veterans in the realm of marketing has both kind words for the launch of the pundit and also doubts about programs that we discussed to apply cartoon characters across a broad range of products. First, Jim, thank you so much for spreading your abundant common sense on a daily basis. It […]
Who Knew There Was A Tortilla Association?
As if to provide proof that there is an association for every industry under the sun, into my mail box arrives word that the Tortilla Industry will be holding its 17th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition in Las Vegas, NV, from September 15 to the 17th. If you attend, you will acquire the latest knowledge […]
Transportation/Logistics Concerns Still Brewing
One area that the Pundit intends to address a great deal in the months ahead is transportation and logistics. It has always been true that in perishables, the product only has value if you can get it where the customer needs it, when the customer wants it. My family was once considered the “coconut kings” […]
Away-from-home Foods
Get Government Scrutiny
A really fascinating and possibly very important report that was solicited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been received. It is called the Keystone Forum on Away-From-Home Foods: Opportunities for Preventing Weight Gain and Obesity. What makes the report fascinating is that it is the first one I’ve ever seen that focuses on […]
What Consumers Really Want
Hat tip to Lee Smith of DELI BUSINESS for passing on this release from The Natural Marketing Institute, which reports its finding that three quarters of consumers are concerned about their energy level. My first response: only 75%? I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t like a little more energy. The implications of this are significant. […]
That’s A Wrap
A very special thank you to everyone for sharing some of your really valuable time with Jim Prevor’s Perishable Pundit during our launch week. I head into our first weekend invigorated with the advice and well wishes of the many of you who took the moment to send me e-mails. Thank you. Plus, our first […]
WIC Juggling Act
There is nothing more painful in politics than a zero-sum game. The perishable food industry finds itself creating crossfire over the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC for short. For some time now, the produce industry has lobbied to see fruits and vegetables included in the national program. Now the […]
Seafood Prize Goes To Florida Chef
At the recently held Great American Seafood Cook Off in New Orleans, the winner was Chef Justin Timineri, Executive Chef of the Florida Department of Agriculture, who worked with Chef Joshua Butler, Chef for the Governor of Florida. The winning dish, which the Pundit vows to prepare knowing that Mrs. Pundit will be more than […]
Doubtful Immigration Policy
Immigration is a crucial issue to business in general and the food industry in particular. The big growth in foodservice probably wouldn’t be possible without substantial immigration to provide staffing for all those restaurants. And it is said that no industry is as dependent on illegal immigrants as the business of harvesting produce. There are […]
