BETHESDA, MD. — Food safety technology company Novolyze has been certified as a B Corporation by the nonprofit B Lab, which assesses end-to-end operational processes and certifies companies based on their overall positive environmental and social impact scores. Novolyze provides a software platform for food manufacturing companies that sources real-time data unification and increases overall operational efficiency, the company said.
“At Novolyze, we are constantly looking to deliver business value in the most ethical, responsible and progressive way possible,” said Karim-Franck Khinouche, founder and chief executive officer of Novolyze. “And to surpass the criteria of such a rigorous assessment like B Corp, it shows us that we are on the right path to achieving our broader business goals of making the world a better place and establishing ourselves as one of the most sustainability minded partners in the technology marketplace.”
In 2019, Novolyze was selected to join the Chipotle Aluminaries Project, sponsored by Chipotle Mexican Grill, which offers startup ventures the chance to receive coaching and mentorship from industry experts. In late 2021, the company raised $15 million in a Series A fundraising round.
Novolyze utilizes digital systems and microbiology solutions to streamline production and potentially increase sustainability at food companies including Mars, Cargill and Nestle, among others.
“In order to create a more sustainable and resilient world for tomorrow, businesses not only need to focus on their own efforts, but also how they can help others hit their own climate responsibility goals,” Khinouche said. “With that in mind, we have continued to work as hard as possible to emerge as a trusted partner both in terms of performance as well as social and climate responsibility. Thus, to be certified as a B Corp is both a source of tremendous pride as well as a catalyst that we will use to push ourselves further on our journey to hit more ambitious internal and external sustainability goals.”
Moët Hennessy has partnered with singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles-Carter to create SirDavis, a new American whiskey brand. The whiskey is distilled from a mash of 51% rye and 49% malted barley and was developed by Dr. Bill Lumsden of Glenmorangie. SirDavis is named for Beyoncé’s grandfather, Davis Hogue, a farmer and moonshiner. The whiskey is at 44% abv, carries a suggested price of $89 a bottle, and is now available for pre-order through the brand’s website. Wider retail availability across the U.S. will kick off in September.
In a nod to Knowles-Carter’s Southern heritage, the whiskey is finished, blended, and bottled in her home state of Texas. “SirDavis is not only a revelatory and exceptional American whisky, which we are very proud of,” said Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH. “It is also a testament of the unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, heritage and innovation shared by LVMH and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.”—Shane English
SALEM, ORE. — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) postponed a previously scheduled hearing for Aug. 29, regarding Foster Farms’ proposed water quality permit renewal. The permit would allow the processor to reopen its facility in Creswell, Ore., while in effect, but Foster Farms does not intend to.
The plant was originally obtained in 1987 and was last operating in 2006.
“Foster Farms has no plans to resume operation of the plant, but our practice is to remain in timely compliance with all necessary permits at all of our facilities,” Foster Farms said.
DEQ planned to hold a hearing at the end of the month so that the public could weigh in on the decision, and the department said it would also accept written comments through Aug. 31.
The hearing has been cancelled, however, in order “to allow time for the applicant and Lane County to determine if the necessary county land use permit for the property at 33464 E. West Lane near Creswell is still in effect,” DEQ said.
Before receiving a water quality permit, the company must have a land use permit. DEQ plans to reschedule a public hearing when the land use question is resolved.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will address the Democratic National Convention tonight to formally accept his nomination to be vice president.
Other speakers tonight, the convention’s third day, include former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
In the hallways: We caught up with Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum, a senior House appropriator, who criticized cuts in the Republicans’ Agriculture spending legislation. Agri-Pulse Publisher Sara Wyant with Cathy Burns (left) and Rebekah Adcock of the International Fresh Produce Association on the sidelines of the DNC.
“Some of the numbers that they cut, like the Food and Drug Administration and the safety inspectors and all that, take us backwards years and years for where the funding should be,” she said.
At the United Center: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, went after corporate consolidation in his speech Tuesday night. “We must take on Big Pharma, Big Oil, Big Ag, Big Tech and all the other corporate monopolists whose greed is denying progress for working people.”
Farmer at DNC: Avoid regulatory approach
Anthony Flaccavento, a Virginia farmer who’s executive director of the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative, said in an interview on the sidelines of the Democratic convention that he hopes Harris and other candidates start reaching out again to farmers and other working people.
But Flaccavento also warns that Democrats need to avoid a regulatory approach when it comes to addressing climate change. Many farmers believe they’ll be hurt by efforts to address carbon emissions. “They’ve experienced regulation as people coming to them and telling them what not to do, rather than coming to them saying, ‘Hey, we have a problem, can you help us figure out how to fix it?’”
Farmers should be incentivized to implement climate-smart practices, “whether they’re running animals on pasture, whether they’re raising fruits and vegetables, whether they have a big grain operation,” he said.
The Democratic platform calls for getting to net zero in ag emissions by 2050.
J.W. Glass of the Center for Biological Diversity, which sued EPA to force it to develop the herbicide strategy, says the agency was “taking a critical step to finally address its decades-long failure to protect endangered species from toxic herbicides.”National Pork Producers Council President Lori Stevermer with Sara and Agri-Pulse’s Lydia Johnson.
But North Dakota farmer Josh Gackle, who is president of the American Soybean Association, says his group still has “concerns as to the type and affordability of runoff mitigations EPA has provided, the potential distance of spray drift buffers, the number of mitigations farmers will need to adopt, and whether these requirements are supported by the best available science, as the law requires.”
Citing industry sources, the report says traders have adequate stocks of pork and that consumer demand is weak because of a sluggish economy.
As for beef, growth in imports will be limited “owing to economic headwinds and strong volumes of imported beef in previous years,” the FAS forecast says.
Take note: Pork’s share of overall meat consumption has declined over the past 14 years even as total meat consumption has grown by more than 20%, according to the FAS report. “Pork remains a staple meat, but consumers are increasingly exposed to other animal protein sources such as beef, poultry, and seafood – many of which are perceived as healthier,” the report says.Deputy Ag Secretary Xochitl Torres Small
Kroger sues FTC over administrative process blocking merger with Albertsons
Kroger is suing the Federal Trade Commission, arguing it’s unconstitutional to use an in-house agency tribunal to challenge the grocery giant’s planned $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons.
The company has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in a Cincinnati federal court, citing a Supreme Court decision issued this summer, SEC v. Jarkesy, which restricts agencies from handling cases internally without a jury.
“We stand prepared to defend this merger in the upcoming trial in federal court – the appropriate venue for this matter to be heard – and we are asking the Court to halt what amounts to an unlawful proceeding before the FTC’s own in-house tribunal,” Kroger Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen said.
FTC announced it would challenge the merger in February, arguing it would reduce competition and raise grocery prices for consumers.
Food industry giant to begin implementing traceability measures
Sysco Corp., a major global food distributor, has released its plan for complying with FDA’s traceability rule. The rule issued under the Food Safety Modernization Act requires additional recordkeeping for certain foods. The intent is to make it easier to identify and remove potentially harmful foods from the market.
Sysco will begin implementing “advanced traceability measures” and will take steps to also help its suppliers comply, according to a press release. Through its traceability initiative, Sysco will partner with iFoodDS, a food safety and quality management solutions group, to give the company’s network interoperable options for sharing the required data.
The company also plans to establish an internal task force to monitor compliance and improve traceability.
Colorado River water cut levels to remain in place next year
Under previous agreements, this means Arizona will need to conserve 512,000 acre-feet of water, while Nevada will need to conserve 21,000.
Those states and California will have already conserved an additional 1.5 million acre-feet of water by the end of 2024 under a supplemental agreement. The states agreed to preserve a collective total of 3 million acre-feet between 2023 and 2026.
Final word: “We won’t get as much pushback from farmers and rural people, if they see that the regulations are taking their needs and concerns to heart.” – Anthony Flaccavento, a Virginia farmer who’s executive director of the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative, speaking to Agri-Pulse at the Democratic National Convention.
ATLANTA – Buffalo Wild Wings announced the launch of two new sauce flavors on March 1 and is promoting them as college basketball’s March Madness tournaments kick off. The new flavors, Buffalo Ranch and Honey Garlic, are available on BWW’s wings, sandwiches and wraps. The sports bar-themed foodservice chain said the new Buffalo Ranch sauce is a spicy, buttery flavor, while the Honey Garlic is sweet and savory.
As part of its promotion of the new products and to lure basketball fans to BWW restaurants, the company is offering several prizes and giveaways to customers, including tickets to the NCAA’s Final Four, in April.
“Buffalo Wild Wings has always been the best place to watch March Madness, but this year we have taken it up a notch,” said Tristan Meline, chief marketing officer at Buffalo Wild Wings. “Adding innovative Buffalo Ranch and Honey Garlic flavors to our lineup of signature sauces and offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience for two lucky fans to further solidify B-Dubs as the ultimate destination to enjoy the tournament.”
Asia Fruit Logistica(AFL) has launched the Retailer’s Club, an exclusive program for leading global retailers to enrich business and networking opportunities at Asia’s premier fresh produce trade show.
Only 100 top global retailers have been selected to join the Retailer’s Club. Members include Walmart, Spinneys, Belc, Central Retail, RT-Mart, Parknshop, Aeon, Lotus, Big C, Makro, S&R, and JD.com among other leading names.
Members of the Retailer’s Club receive a full-access pass to AFL, exclusive access to the Retailers Lounge, and an invitation to the Opening Gala Dinner on 3 September.
Retail buyers also benefit from Asia Fruit Logistica’s Speed Dating and Match Making services, which can curate a program of face-to-face meetings with leading companies supplying the exact products and services they need.
Asia Fruit Logistica’s Retailer’s Club creates a bridge between retailers and exhibitors, giving exhibitors exceptional opportunities to meet with top buyers.
A complimentary pass to Fruit Logistica 2025 with Gold Upgrade; and a Retailer’s Club Card providing access to all events organised by Asia Fruit Logistica and FRUIT LOGISTICA around the world.
Additional benefits include complimentary digital subscriptions to Asiafruit Magazine and Asiafruit China, the top business publications produced by Asia Fruit Logistica’s Knowledge Partner.
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Dive Brief:
Food Lion has finished a $365 million campaign to upgrade supermarkets it operates in North Carolina and Virginia, the grocery chain announced Monday.
The Ahold Delhaize-owned chain plans to hold ribbon-cuttings at 167 refreshed stores in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, as well as the greater Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, area on Wednesday.
The renovation project follows Food Lion’s completion last year of renovations to dozens of stores in other parts of North Carolina.
Dive Insight:
The store improvements Food Lion is showing off this week include e-commerce capabilities, upgraded lighting and refrigeration, and an expanded assortment of locally grown produce.
Food Lion noted that the upgraded produce selection available in the renovated stores will include about 25 seasonal items, such as cucumbers, melons and berries. The grocer said the investment also includes an “extensive product assortment” built around affordable meal solutions that are ready to eat, cook or heat. In addition, almost all the stores covered by the renovation effort gained self-checkout technology, Food Lion said.
The upgrades also include LED lighting as well as refrigerated cases with doors to save energy.
“Enhancements were made with our customers in mind. They’ll discover a refreshed look and feel, and more convenient grab-and-go items that make life easier,” Food Lion President Meg Ham said in the announcement.
Food Lion’s completion of the renovation project comes amid continued strong performance by the chain, which operates more than 1,100 stores across 10 states in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. The chain has posted comparable-store sales growth for 47 quarters in a row, Ahold Delhaize President and CEO Frans Muller said during the grocery company’s second-quarter earnings call last month.
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Dive Brief:
A Texas federal judge on Tuesday struck down the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on noncompete agreements in employment contracts, holding that the ban violates the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeds the agency’s statutory authority. The ruling applies nationwide.
Judge Ada Brown of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas had already ruled against FTC in Ryan LLC v. Federal Trade Commission last month. Brown preliminarily enjoined the noncompete ban but only with respect to the case’s plaintiffs and plaintiff-intervenors. Her Aug. 20 decision, however, sets the regulation aside entirely, as the APA “does not contemplate party-specific relief,” she wrote.
The FTC’s noncompete ban targeted contractual clauses that apply to an estimated 1 in 5 U.S. workers by the agency’s own estimates. The rule would have allowed noncompete agreements with certain senior executives prior to the rule’s effective date to remain in force while rendering all other noncompetes unenforceable.
In Tuesday’s decision, Brown held that the Federal Trade Commission Act gives the FTC “some authority to promulgate rules to preclude unfair methods of competition” but that the agency “lacks the authority to create substantive rules” such as the noncompete ban. She said this is supported by the fact that Congress did not prescribe sanctions for violations of certain FTC regulations, “which indicates a lack of substantive force.”
Brown also concluded that the FTC’s ban is arbitrary and capricious within the meaning of the APA “because it is unreasonably overbroad without a reasonable explanation.” She said the agency failed to offer evidence for its decision to prohibit all noncompete agreements instead of targeting specific, harmful agreements.
“This is the outcome we have predicted since the FTC first proposed the rule almost two years ago, and we expect it to be upheld on appeal, ultimately by the Supreme Court,” Erik Weibust, member of the firm at Epstein Becker Green, told HR Dive. “This is a perfect example of the judicial system holding unelected bureaucrats to account for their overreach in an area that they have neither the expertise nor Congressional authorization to regulate.”
The following piece is the final installment that sheds light on the production of Yerba Mate and its cultural and economic impacts of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay by Klas Lundstrom.
A single lamp dangles from the high ceiling in the plantation house’s saloon, and smears light on the mansion’s deep-brown walls. The night is quiet, and two Núñez siblings are having dinner. The farmer and the family accountant discuss work. The Núñez family can boast an annual maté production of 30 tonnes, but that is a modest yearly harvest in comparison to the industry’s big guns. The number one producer, Las Marías, produce 65,000 tonnes every year.
But it must never be a question of quantity, Ricardo Núñez explains as he takes a sip of his red wine. “We see over-production, and therefore the main question is how much maté the industry can bear. How we – and whom – will consume yerba maté in the future, remains to be seen.”
In the 1990s, the industry was plagued by crisis and scandals. Pests were wreaking havoc on plantation trunks and farmers introduced pesticides on a large scale. This has upset a balance with nature and put the industry at a crossroads.
“It’s about choices now,” says Ricardo. “You either add pesticides and squeeze out the maximum of each harvest at the expense of the soil’s well-being, or you dare to be patient and let the trees live their own lives in harmony with the soil, without manipulating the production with toxic additives. Sure, you produce less and you better be prepared for long periods of time waiting to be able to harvest again, but you can await a tomorrow with sustainable production.”
Most small-scale producers in Misiones, he says, choose to be patient.
***
In the forests of Treinta y Tres, a sparsely populated department in rural eastern Uruguay, one hears whispers of ecological treasures, lost during the colonial era, being found in the wild again.
One of those treasures is free-growing yerba maté.
It may also be the case that these treasures were never truly lost because they had never been found. No one had ever explored the wilderness, not really. Not like Alberto Demicheli, founder and administrator of Caa Porá plantation in Quebrada Valley, and grandson of Alberto Demicheli Sr., Uruguay’s de facto President for a short stint in 1976. Back then, Uruguay was a military dictatorship ruled by the Colorado Party, and President Demicheli was shortly ousted due to his “liberal leanings.”
“Mind your step, it’s easy to forget that this is a forest.”
For someone whose name always will be linked to a sad and brutal past, the forests and wilderness of the Quebrada Valley have always been Alberto’s sanctuary. He is the sole person, other than the Forest Department, to have access to a large portion of this wilderness. At the brink of dusk, after a long day’s drive from the country’s capital of Montevideo, followed by another hour along steep gravel roads, at times no more than scars in the ground, Albert arrives home.
He parks in front of his hut at the heart of the family land and kills the engine. He gets out of the car and breathes the fresh air. His shirt is stained by dust and gravel. Now, with little over an hour of daylight left, he’s determined to make the most of it. He normally spends most of his time sailing from different ports across the vast emptiness of the Atlantic Ocean, but it is here in the Uruguayan wild forests that his heart truly lies. It’s here where his life’s project takes place.
And it’s also where his steps lead him – into the forest.
It all started in 2002, the year when Alberto Demicheli became a pioneer in a country whose maté consumption per capita is the highest in the world – but without its own production, and thus dependent on neighboring countries, mainly Brazil.
“Why doesn’t Uruguay, the country that consumes the most maté in the world per capita, produce its own? Ninety percent is imported from Brazil, the rest from Argentina.”
It simply isn’t doable, has been the recurring chorus. This song has been sung not only from the country’s influential agriculture and cattle industry but from Uruguayan politicians – among them ex-President José “Pepe” Mujica. This is why the Uruguayan maté’s unsung pioneer turned out to be a sailor who picked up on a rumor he heard back in the 1990s.
“I heard about maté trees growing wild around in Uruguay, and became curious,” says Alberto. “So, I started to do a little travel around, investigating the matter.”
Fifteen years and numerous days of travel along the Uruguayan countryside later, 1,450 trees of yerba maté now grow in Quebrada Valley’s vast and leafy forests. These trees grow from seeds Alberto planted in suitable forest spots. He emphasizes that wild-growing maté trees have been here for decades, perhaps even for centuries, without public knowledge. They’ve been left alone in the soil to stretch out and reach for the sky above the thick shrubbery.
“But remember,” he says, “this is not a maté plantation, nor is it a project funded by any commercial or scientific interests.”
It is a mere walk in the forest, listening to a sailor’s story.
“Most Uruguayan believe and are led to think, that we neither have the climate nor the capacity to pull off our own maté production. That’s what we’ve been told for a long time since loggers and the timber industry nearly destroyed Uruguay’s natural fauna. But, as you can see, there are still traces of untouched landscape left, and I’ve talked to people all over Uruguay who’ve either seen wild-growing maté trees or have managed to plant some in their own backyards. So, you might say that I just want to prove that it’s possible to cultivate maté, plain and simple.”
The maté trees thrive in “La Quebrada,” but it is still to be seen whether it would be possible to sustain nationwide production sufficient to serve Uruguay’s two million consumers. Eucalyptus for pulp takes up much of the suitable land, but with unfortunate effects on the environment and groundwater aquifers. There is also the question of whether a domestic investment in a large-scale maté industry would endanger the nation’s relationship with Brazil, whose southern states’ economies are tied up with the “Paraguayan tea,” the name Spanish Conquistadores long ago gave the beverage.
Maté began its extraordinary journey as a local sacred beverage, served only by semi-nomadic Guaraní tribes who held closely the mysteries of cultivating the seeds. It became a tool in the Spanish and Portuguese colonization of South America, leading to its modern-day status as an economic cornerstone of the economies of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its potential as an instrument of political pressure has not been forgotten.
The maté tree’s ability to grow in “La Quebrada” has seen many visitors to the forest throughout the years, and many more are expected to come. Argentine scientists, Brazilian investors, and small-scale Uruguayan maté farmers are all bewildered by Alberto’s achievement.
The mystery of the forest, of Caa Porá, embodies the mystery of yerba maté itself. A man with a machete wandering through a forest puts all life on high alert.
“And that’s the way it should be,” says Alberto, and stops by a two-headed, thick tree trunk. He smiles and recalls what happened here – “right here” – a few years ago.
As of now, it was dusk.
“I was dead-tired after an entire day out in the forest, harvesting maté leaves and clearing up passages. I sat down for a smoke and some air, I was on my way back up to the house, and leaned my back against this beautiful trunk – and fell asleep. I woke up when a wild boar tried to remove my shoe, intending to feast on my foot. I literally jumped up screaming, and took refuge in this very tree – and the boar ran away, frightened by my sudden moves.”
Alberto pauses and looks to his left, where a passage has sprung up in the shape of a natural tunnel. “This is the core of La Quebrada,” he says. “Any human being that comes here has to realize that he or she is just one of many living things.”
***
Darkness has swept its blanket over the forest when Alberto opens the door to his hut. He pours water into a kettle and fills the stove with wooden stickers. He then collects a bag of four-year-old maté; picked, heated, dried, and stored in his hut built and inspired by Guaraní custom. Its tipi architecture welcomes the coming of the night and the living beings that springs to life with it.
Alberto organizes a circle and passes the gourd and bombilla around. The Guaraní custom is to use the maté circle as a gateway to talks and company. In the morning, one can share dreams; in the evening, after dark, the events of the day. The silence settles, the sounds and echoes of the world outside of the hut form shapes of organic symphonies. Vapor from the maté gourd sails through the damp indoor air. A scent of burning wood and watered yerba maté.
The aroma of life.
About the author:
Klas Lundstrom (b. 1982) is a self-taught writer and journalist based in Stockholm, Sweden. He started writing as an eleven-year-old trying to cope with the death of his father. Author of numerous nonfiction books on, e.g., the U.S. uranium industry and its social and environmental impacts, Latin America’s forgotten regions, and East Timor’s walk from Indonesian occupation to U.N. colony. As a reporter, he has contributed numerous media outlets throughout the years, e.g. The Guardian, The Jakarta Post, and TT, Sweden’s equivalent to Associated Press. He has lived in both Brazil and Uruguay and is a dedicated yerba maté consumer and hopes that his reporting on the maté industry can help other consumers understanding the business, and thus make more ethical and aware choices regarding products, companies, and origin.
WESTMINSTER, COLO. – Coleman All Natural Meats announced on March 13 that it would start its rebranding effort to support the company’s strategic shift to more branded consumer retail and expand nationally into foodservice locations.
The company stated it made the move after positive customer feedback and consumer desire for claim-based meats like no antibiotics ever, no added hormones, and humanely raised crate-free pork.
“In recent years, consumers have become increasingly more knowledgeable about where their food comes from, and in turn, demand greater transparency and clarity with food package claims,” said Patricia Bridges, senior director of marketing and communications at Coleman.
The meat company conducted a series of consumer focus groups, in-depth interviews, and a national online survey that tested design elements, packaging attributes, and claims as part of the rebranding campaign.
After those results, Coleman picked a new logo and packaging that reflects the brand’s family farm heritage and commitment to all-natural products.
The new packaging also features the tagline “Always Natural Since 1875,” which speaks to the brand’s longevity against the background of a bright, contemporary farm with clean, easy-to-read typeface.
“For nearly 150 years, my family has committed to high standards for animal care and quality ingredients,” said Mel Coleman Jr., fifth-generation Coleman family member and spokesperson for Coleman All Natural Meats.
Along with the new packaging and logo, Coleman states that consumers will see a bigger on-shelf presence from the company as the brand expands various product lines, including fresh primals, case-ready pork, dinner sausage, ground pork and bacon.
The company added it would shift all pork production to Heritage Duroc, which is known for marbling and more tender, juicy, and flavorful pork.
