Gourmet News

USDA Sets Virtual Meeting on Urban Agriculture

Published March 30, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture encourages urban producers, innovative producers and other stakeholders to submit comments for and virtually attend the fifth public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on April 18.

“The Federal Advisory Committee is a valuable source of on the ground information and recommendations for USDA,” said Terry Cosby, chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, which houses USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. “I encourage members of the public to attend and submit comments for the Committee to help us better serve urban and innovative producers and their communities.”

The Committee is part of USDA’s efforts to support urban and innovative agriculture, creating a network for feedback. Members include agricultural producers and representatives from the areas of higher education or extension programs, non-profits, business and economic development, supply chains and financing. The committee last met in February 2023.

Topics for the upcoming meeting will include addressing public comments and discussing the following recommended topics:

A new public/online database for grant and funding programs
Farm Service Agency loan programs
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Food loss and waste; and
Food labeling.

The Committee will deliberate and vote on proposed recommendations and address public comments during the meeting. USDA will share the agenda between 24 to 48 hours prior to the meeting.

The virtual meeting runs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern on April 18. To attend virtually, register by April 18 on the committee’s webpage. To submit comments, send by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 2 through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Docket NRCS-2023-0006.

For special accommodations, contact Markus Holliday.

Additional details are available in the Federal Register notice.

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Southern Glazer’s Appoints Finley to Sales VP

Published March 29, 2023

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, has appointed Cassie Finley to the role of vice president, national retail sales, strategic accounts.

Finley, who will report to Scott Moore, senior vice president, national accounts, off premise, will be responsible for identifying macro and shopper trends and providing customer-centric recommendations to retail partners to achieve growth and deliver a best-in-class shopping experience. Finley has extensive expertise in applying data and analytics to create customer-first strategies that drive profitable growth.

“The team is excited to elevate our focus on customer planning and execution through data, insights and technology,” said Moore. “I’m looking forward to welcoming Cassie to our team as the expert in this space. She brings an abundance of knowledge and experience from her two impressive decades in the industry.”

Finley’s 21-year career in the retail industry began in 2002 with Walmart, where she spent the following 15 years in various leadership roles of increasing scope and responsibility within merchandising and operations. In 2017, she stepped into the role of senior category merchant – adult beverage at Whole Foods Market, where she led category management for wine and spirits, and was the architect for the joint-business-planning process with key suppliers and distributor partners.

Most recently, Finley served as director of merchandising for Kroger Co., where she acted as a champion for change within the fresh-forward initiative and direct store delivery governance, and utilized best-in-class customer data to develop personalized strategies and offers for customers. Finley was nominated for Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery in 2019, 2020 and 2022, in addition to Progressive Grocer’s NextGen award in 2021.

“Our vision to be the indispensable, trusted partner for our retail customers is a three-pronged approach,” said Chris Williams, executive vice president, national accounts. “Fortifying our B2B execution metrics, as well as delivering world-class insights and joint business planning is certain to deliver transformational growth for our customers and supplier partners. Cassie’s expertise supported by Scott Moore’s three decades of experience and leadership are a winning combination.”

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The Company has operations in 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. In 2022, Southern Glazer’s was listed as one of Forbes Best Employers for Diversity. In 2021, Southern Glazer’s was selected as a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, as well as named by Newsweek as a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace. Southern Glazer’s urges all retail customers and adult consumers to market, sell, serve, and enjoy its products responsibly. For more information visit www.southernglazers.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @sgwinespirits.

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San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition Entries Being Accepted

Published March 29, 2023

Entries are being accepted for the eighth annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition; Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Flavored Olive Oil entries from commercial producers in the State of California are eligible and olive oil must be made from producers’ most recent olive harvest. Deadline for entries is May 12.

“This competition continues to draw in the best olive oil producers from throughout California and grows a little each year. We are honored to shine a light on this craft – especially our local olive oil producers with the ‘Best of the Valley’ category,” said Lauri L. King, CEO of The Big Fresno Fair.

Participating producers must enter their harvest into one of two different classes: Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Flavored Olive Oil. Competition categories in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil class include: Spanish Blends (arbequina, arbosana, etc.); Spanish Singles; Italian Blends (ascolano, etc.); Italian Singles; Other Blends (picholine, barouni, etc.); Other Singles. Competition categories in the Flavored Olive Oil class include: Citrus; Herbal (rosemary; basil, etc.); Pepper (chile, jalapeno, habanero, etc.); and Other Flavors (garlic, truffle etc.).

Awards will be given out for Gold and Silver medals in each category, as well as one overall “Best of Show” in both the Extra Virgin Olive Oil category, Flavored Oil category and the “Best of the Valley” award. Judging will be evaluated and scored as follows:

Gold Medal: Awarded to an olive oil that demonstrates its type and/or varietal character, balance, structure and complexities to the highest standards. Gold Medals will be awarded to those oils receiving scores between 86 – 100 points.
Silver Medal: Awarded to an olive oil reflecting the correct distribution of balance and character of its type or variety; an oil deemed to be well crafted and of excellent quality. Silver Medals will be awarded to those oils receiving scores between 76- 85.99 points.
Best of Show: Awarded to an olive oil recognized to possess special characteristics of the highest quality overall. All Gold Medal winners are eligible to compete for Best of Show in their division.
Best of the Valley: Awarded to the oil that scored the highest with the ranch or office located in the San Joaquin Valley. Medals will be awarded for both EVOO and flavored oils. (Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties eligible)

Producers may submit multiple entries under one category but may not submit a particular entry to more than one category. All entries must be available for commercial sale at the time of entry. Entries are due by May 12. Judging will be held on May 24 and winners will be announced on June 6 by 5 p.m.

Gold Medal, Best of the Valley and Best of Show winners will all have the opportunity to have a booth in the Agricultural Building on one day during the 2023 Big Fresno Fair where they can taste, display and sell their award-winning product. Additionally, educational information will be set up so that Fairgoers can learn more about the art of making olive oil, its health benefits and more.

Each submission must include an entry form, at least two 250 ml bottles of the olive oil with retail labels attached and a $60 non-refundable fee per entry. Each entry must also contain a third-party chemical analysis in order to verify extra virgin status. Entries can be dropped off at The Big Fresno Fair Administration Office or can be shipped to SJVOOC – The Big Fresno Fair, 1121 S. Chance Ave. Fresno, CA 93702 no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 12. Any entry delivered by mail, freight or express must be prepaid. The Administration Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for drop offs.

Last year, 69 entries from all throughout California were received. Below is a list of the Gold Medal and Best of Show winners. For a complete 2022 winners list, go to: www.FresnoFair.com/SJVOOC.

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