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New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited and a leading Chinese infant food manufacturer Beingmate intend to form a global partnership that will help meet China’s growing demand for infant formula. The partnership will create a fully integrated global supply chain from the farm gate direct to China’s consumers, using Fonterra’s milk pools and manufacturing sites in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. The partnership is intended to increase the volume and value of Fonterra’s ingredients and branded products exported to China.

It will be achieved in two phases:
– Fonterra will shortly start the process to issue a partial tender offer to gain up to a 20 per cent stake in Beingmate
– After gaining regulatory approvals and Fonterra satisfactorily completing the partial tender offer, Fonterra and Beingmate will set up a joint venture to purchase Fonterra’s Darnum plant in Australia and will establish a distribution agreement to sell Fonterra’s Anmum™ brand in China.

Fonterra Chief Executive Theo Spierings said the partnership between two leading dairy nutrition companies will be a game changer that will provide a direct line into the infant formula market in China, which is the biggest growth story in paediatric nutrition in the world. The partnership will also play a part in promoting leading product quality and safety standards in the infant formula market in China, participating in the ongoing development of the Chinese dairy industry, and supporting the development of Beingmate’s business.

“By working together with Beingmate, we will strengthen our infant formula brand presence in China and link China to high quality ingredients from New Zealand, high value paediatric products made at Darnum in Australia, and whey specialty ingredients manufactured at our new plant in Heerenveen in the Netherlands and in alliance with Dairy Crest in the United Kingdom,” said Mr Spierings. “We will also work with Beingmate to evaluate mutual investments in dairy farms in China.

“This will be another milestone in our strategy to create additional demand for ingredients and high-value paediatric and maternal nutrition products made from our New Zealand milk, complemented by milk drawn from our other international milk pools.

“China is our number one market and the proposal to join forces with Beingmate will be an important building block in Fonterra driving volume and value, and taking a step forward in terms of being a globally relevant co-operative.

“Our partnership with Beingmate will show the benefits of an integrated and secure supply chain, starting in New Zealand – our number one milk pool – where we are fast-tracking investment in milk processing capacity to meet global demand.”

Beingmate Chairman Mr. Wang Zhentai said, “Working together with Fonterra, we will create globally competitive, safe and secure supply chains to deliver high quality, advanced dairy nutrition to meet the needs of China’s growing population as well global consumers. The partnership will see our business take a significant step forward in its globalisation ambitions.”

The China dairy industry and infant nutrition market

Fonterra Chairman John Wilson said Fonterra has been committed to being a part of China’s dairy industry and contributing to its development for many years.

“Fonterra is already playing its part in the creation of a vibrant, local dairy industry through our farms investment, sharing technical expertise, providing high-quality imported ingredients to local food manufacturers and innovative dairy solutions to the foodservice sector,” said Mr Wilson.

“We are looking for this global partnership to take our relationship with China and its consumers to a whole new level. It will benefit Fonterra, Beingmate and all our stakeholders and is part of our drive to increase returns to our farmer shareholders.”

Mr. Wang from Beingmate said, “The proposed partnership is well-aligned with the Chinese government’s desire to see a strengthened focus on quality and consumer safety in the local dairy industry. We believe this global partnership will play a constructive role in the development of China’s and the global dairy industry as both parties work together to drive a two-way flow of capital, technology, supply and distribution.”

Mr Spierings said by working alongside Beingmate, the partnership will participate in growth in a category where there is huge demand.

“The infant formula market in China is worth about NZ$18 billion today and is expected to be worth NZ$33 billion by 2017. This growth is driven by increasing urbanisation, higher disposable incomes, a preference for premium brands, and relaxation of the one child policy,” he said.

Mr Spierings said Fonterra and Beingmate have a shared commitment to international best practice quality standards and are committed to stringent processes and controls around procurement of raw materials, fresh milk collection, production process testing, the addition of nutrients, pre-delivery inspection and tracking and tracing of manufactured product.

“In addition, Beingmate has an extensive distribution network and local knowledge that complements Fonterra’s commitment to food safety and quality.

“What Fonterra brings to the table is world-leading expertise in dairy, particularly in the areas of farm management, milk production, dairy processing, quality control, tracking and tracing, dairy nutrition and innovation,” said Mr Spierings.

This is courtesy of www.fonterra.com

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2014 – The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that up to $200 million in competitive grants is available for state SNAP agencies to design and conduct employment and training (E&T) pilot projects to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants find jobs and increase their earnings. A portion of these funds will be used to fund an independent evaluation of the E&T pilots. The solicitation for the evaluation contract was also released today.

“Many SNAP participants are struggling to find work, and a large percentage already have a job but are getting paid so little that they still need assistance to put food on the table,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “When provided the opportunity to obtain additional skills many SNAP recipients are able to obtain a good job and transition out of the program. The grants announced today will allow us to test innovative approaches to give folks the opportunity to get training, get a good job and build stronger futures for their families.”

Authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, the grants will fund up to 10 pilot projects to test a variety of methods designed to enhance employability, increase the earnings of SNAP work registrants, and help people transition from the program. USDA intends to test a wide array of approaches, including those focused on education and training, rehabilitative services for individuals with barriers to employment, rapid attachment to work, and other strategies. USDA is particularly interested in pilots that target hard-to-serve populations, and test job-driven training strategies that include work-based learning or career pathway approaches or utilize strong public-private partnerships.

USDA is looking for states to submit proposals that target populations indicated by the Farm Bill, including individuals with low skills, able-bodied adults without dependents, and recipients who are working in very low-wage or part-time jobs. The grants will be distributed across a range of geographic areas, including rural and urban parts of the country. The rigorous, independent evaluation of these projects will help USDA to identify which approaches are most effective for the diverse populations served by SNAP E&T programs.

In designing pilot project proposals, USDA encourages states to engage employers up front and use data on in-demand jobs in order to open doors for SNAP recipients who are able to work.

“SNAP E&T programs should be designed to address not only the needs of SNAP participants but also the needs of employers,” noted Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon. “These programs should support the economy by preparing SNAP participants for available, in-demand jobs and careers.”

Grant applications are due Nov. 24, 2014. All 53 state agencies currently administering SNAP are eligible to apply (including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands). Awards will be announced in February 2015. The Request for Applications is available on www.grants.gov and on the FNS website. The grants will fund a performance period of three years and USDA expects projects to be operational by Oct. 1, 2015. Proposals to evaluate the impact of the pilots are due Oct. 1, 2014.

Today’s announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit: www.usda.gov/farmbill.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service administers 15 nutrition assistance programs. In addition to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, these programs include Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, the National School Lunch Program, and the Summer Food Service Program which together comprise America’s nutrition safety net. For more information, visit www.fns.usda.gov.

MINNEAPOLIS – General Mills today announced the launch of a global innovation challenge to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) through nitrogen fertilizer optimization technologies for sustainable agriculture. The company seeks commercially available, proven, ready-to-use technologies that minimize the loss of nitrogen to the environment, increase agricultural production and nitrogen use efficiency in the field, and enhance sustainable agriculture.

The innovation challenge is targeted on technologies that improve efficiency of nitrogen use while enhancing productivity, thereby limiting nitrogen loss to the environment through release of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, and/or nitrogen run-off in water systems. General Mills seeks best practices in nitrogen fertilization technologies to minimize the loss of nitrogen from the field while increasing yield.

“Accelerating adoption of innovative on-farm nitrogen management tools will improve farmer economics, environmental outcomes, and farm communities,” said Jerry Lynch, General Mills vice president and chief sustainability officer. “This is an extension of the commitment we made in April with Walmart. It will reduce GHG emissions and nitrogen runoff and aligns well with our commitment to sustainably source our 10 priority ingredients by 2020.”

General Mills is partnering with Walmart to commit $100,000 to provide assistance to farmers for the purchase of these new technologies which will contribute to the six million ton GHG commitment made earlier this year. Although the fund will not cover the entire cost of the technology, the aim is to help offset farmers’ improvement investments.

“By collaborating with some of the best companies and technologies in the world, we believe we can find the breakthrough innovation that will help farmers reduce environmental impacts while improving farm profitability,” said Mike Helser, leader of the General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network program. “Our connected innovation approach has enabled product development and enhancements in the past and we are excited to expand our program.”

Proposals are due by September 1, 2014 and winners will be announced on October 1, 2014. The winners of the challenge will be invited present their technologies at the mid-winter Field to Market workshop held in Idaho Falls in early 2015. Entries are now being accepted at gwin.com/sustainability.

About General Mills
General Mills is one of the world’s leading food companies, operating in more than 100 countries around the world. Its brands include Cheerios, Fiber One, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Yoplait, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., USA, General Mills had fiscal 2014 worldwide sales of US $17.9 billion.

About G-WIN
General Mills Worldwide Innovation Network (G-WIN) actively seeks partners who can help deliver breakthrough innovation. G-WIN enhances and accelerates the company’s innovation efforts by teaming up with world-class innovators from outside of General Mills.

CHICAGO, Ill – With the summer grilling season in full swing, Ball Park® brand, the maker of the Park’s Finest frankfurter, is giving Americans another reason to fire up their grills and celebrate all things grilling. Teaming up with Discovery Communications’ Destination America and Discovery Digital Networks’ DIY tech expert Patrick Norton, Ball Park brand announced today the launch of its Finest Grill program, inviting grill masters nationwide to compete for the ultimate grilling prize – the Finest Grill – a fully customized, Americana-themed grill that sits atop a 19-foot trailer and is equipped with beer taps, a wireless sound system with Bluetooth control, custom seating to fit eight, and more. The Finest Grill was developed for America’s finest hot dog, Park’s Finest, a new premium frankfurter introduced by Ball Park brand earlier this year. In addition to the contest, the program includes a three-part web series on DestinationAmerica.com featuring Norton and the TechShop Team building the grill and a mobile sampling tour featuring Park’s Finest from Ball Park brand.

“Grilling has always been our passion and earlier this year we elevated the grilling experience for our consumers by reinventing the hot dog with the introduction of Park’s Finest from Ball Park brand. Now, through the launch of the Finest Grill program, we’re looking to turn things up a notch and take the grilling experience one step further by casting a nationwide search to find the ultimate grill master worthy of owning America’s Finest Grill,” said Kristin Kroepfl, director of marketing, Ball Park brand.

Ball Park Brand and Patrick Norton Unveil the Finest Grill for the Finest Hot Dog
Summertime grilling is hailed as one of America’s greatest traditions and together with Patrick Norton, Ball Park brand is taking this beloved occasion one step further with the creation of the Finest Grill for the finest hot dog, Park’s Finest from Ball Park brand. As part of a three-part web series, Patrick Norton (Revision3’s Tekzilla and DIY Tryin) and a team of experts show what went into building the Finest Grill, which sits atop a 19-foot long trailer and is equipped with beer taps, a wireless sound system, condiment station, custom seating to fit eight, and a top-notch, double wide gas grill. To view Patrick and team in action, from the planning stage to the unveiling,visithttp://www.destinationamerica.com/american-food/videos/americas-finest-grill.htm

“As someone who’s always up for a new, hands-on challenge and a lover of outdoor grilling, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help build America’s Finest Grill,” said Patrick Norton. “This project brings together everything a grill master could ever need to host the ultimate backyard barbecue or tailgating experience to delight—and be the envy of—family and friends.”

Nationwide Search for America’s Finest Grill Master
Beginning August 13 through September 21, fans are encouraged to submit photos and a caption via Instagram showcasing why they are worthy of being named America’s Finest Grill Master using #FinestGrillMaster. Following the entry period, one grand prize winner will be selected and awarded the Ball Park brand Finest Grill. Consumers can learn how to enter and view the official rules by visiting www.finestgrillmaster.com.

Ball Park Brand Takes Park’s Finest on the Road
The Park’s Finest mobile sampling truck hits the road today for a six week adventure and will make stops in New York, Baltimore, Charlotte, Memphis and Chicago, offering consumers the chance to enjoy a taste of a deliciously grilled Park’s Finest frankfurter. Launched earlier this summer, new Park’s Finest from Ball Park brand are a premium frankfurter packed with a variety of big, bold flavors and seasonings you can actually see, and contain no artificial preservatives and no nitrates or nitrites added. During each stop, consumers will also have the opportunity to get an up-close and personal look at the Finest Grill and enter for their chance to become America’s Finest Grill Master.

For more information about Ball Park brand, please visit www.facebook.com/ballparkbrand or www.ballparkbrand.com.

About Ball Park Brand
The Ball Park brand was launched in 1957 in response to a request from the owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball team. The Ball Park Frank was such a success, it was expanded nationally. Today, Ball Park products can be found in supermarkets, convenience stores and a variety of sports venues – including Detroit’s Comerica Park. For more information, visit www.ballparkbrand.com.

About The Hillshire Brands Company
The Hillshire Brands Company (NYSE: HSH) is a leader in branded, convenient foods. The company generated approximately $4 billion in annual sales in fiscal 2013, has more than 9,000 employees, and is based in Chicago. Hillshire Brands’ portfolio includes iconic brands such as Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, State Fair, Van’s, Sara Lee frozen bakery and Chef Pierre pies as well as artisanal brands Aidells, Gallo Salame and Golden Island premium jerky. For more information on the company, please visit www.hillshirebrands.com.

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching 2.7 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content on worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery also controls Eurosport International, a premier sports entertainment group, including six pay-TV network brands across Europe and Asia. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

About Destination America
Destination America is the only network to celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States. The inclusive network targeting Adults 25-54 is available in nearly 60 million homes, emblazoning television screens with the grit and tenacity, honesty and work ethic, humor and adventurousness that characterize our nation. Destination America features travel, food, adventure, home, and natural history, with original series like BBQ Pitmasters; A Haunting; Mountain Monsters; Buying Alaska; Buying the Bayou; and Railroad Alaska. For more information, please visit DestinationAmerica.com, facebook.com/DestinationAmerica, or twitter.com/DestAmerica. Destination America is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 2.7 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.

LOUDON, N.H., Aug. 19, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted the importance of rural entrepreneurs to the U.S. economy and announced investments to help rural businesses grow, diversify and create jobs. USDA is investing $25 million to help 247 businesses nationwide expand their operations and create new products to market, Secretary Vilsack said today during a visit to Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, N.H., a recipient of one of the grants.

The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Value-Added Producer Grant program. The program helps agricultural producers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into value-added products, expanding marketing opportunities and developing new uses for existing products.

“The funding we are announcing today will have far-reaching, positive impacts in rural communities across the country,” Vilsack said. “The investments will help businesses create new products, expand their operations, and support local and regional food systems. The new Farm Bill expands this program to provide even more of these opportunities.”

Since 2009, USDA has awarded 863 Value-Added Producer Grants totaling $108 million. Twenty percent of the grants and 16 percent of total funding has been awarded to beginning farmers and ranchers. The 2014 Farm Bill increases mandatory funding for the program from $15 million to $63 million over five years (while also reauthorizing an additional $40 million in discretionary funding).

The grants can be used for a wide range of purposes. They can support local and regional food systems, further the development of the growing bioeconomy, and finance the distribution of local and regional products.

For example, Miles Smith Farm LLC in Loudon, N.H., has been selected for a $127,732 Value-Added Producer Grant to market and produce burgers made from 55 percent grass-fed beef and 45 percent organically raised pork. By mixing ground pork with extra-lean, grass-fed ground beef, the farm can produce a burger with the ideal fat and flavor levels that grass-fed ground beef does not have alone. Miles Smith Farm’s owner calls the mix “the burger that squeals with flavor.” Value-Added Producer Grants often help business develop markets for niche and specialty products.

In neighboring Vermont, North Hollow Farm LLC, in Rochester, is receiving a $161,204 grant to expand processing and marketing of grass-fed beef and natural meats. FarmieMarket Online LLC in Rensselaerville, N.Y., has been selected for a $24,490 grant to expand its online presence for 16 small farmers who produce a broad range of fresh foods that are aggregated and sold online, expanding their customer base.

Value-Added Producer Grants are an element of USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, which coordinates USDA’s work to support local and regional food systems. Previous Value-Added Producer Grants supporting local and regional projects are mapped on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food compass.

USDA is awarding Value-Added Producer Grants in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Micronesia. A full list of recipients is available here. Funding for each project is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.

The announcement of today’s funding was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve the quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

President Obama’s historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.

In the context of Russian restrictions on imports of EU agricultural products and following on from last week’s Management Committee meeting discussion of the market situation, the European Commission is moving as from today to introduce support measures for certain perishable fruits & vegetables.

Commenting on the decision, Dacian Cioloș, EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner, stated: “Taking into account the market situation following the Russian restrictions on imports of EU agricultural products, with effect from today, I am triggering CAP emergency measures which will reduce overall supply of a number of fruit and vegetable products on the European market as and when price pressures become too great in the coming months. All farmers of the concerned products – whether in producer organisations or not – will be eligible to take up these market support measures where they see fit. Acting early will provide an efficient support to the price paid to producers on the internal market, help the market adjust and be cost effective.”

Background
The products concerned by the measures announced today are the following: tomatoes, carrots, white cabbage, peppers, cauliflowers, cucumbers, and gherkins, mushrooms, apples, pear, red fruits, table grapes and kiwis. The markets for these products are in full season, with no storage option for most of them and no immediate alternative market available.

The exceptional measures announced today will include market withdrawals especially for free distribution, compensation for non-harvesting and green harvesting. The financial assistance will cover all producers whether they are organised in producers organisation or not. The measures will have a retroactive affect as from August 18. In other words, any volumes withdrawn from today onwards (or subject to green harvesting or the other measures) will already be covered by these additional measures, subject to the necessary controls. These measures will apply until the end of November with a budget foreseen of €125 million.

The ongoing market situation for all products will be discussed in another meeting with Member State experts and experts from the European Parliament scheduled to take place in Brussels on Friday.

The European Commission will continue following markets development for all the sectors affected by the Russian ban on agriculture and food products in close contacts with Member States and will not hesitate to support further sectors heavily dependent on exports to Russia or to adapt the measures already announced, if necessary.

Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) , America’s No. 1 agriculture lender for 19 consecutive years, has positioned itself for continued growth in the nation’s $16-billion nursery and greenhouse industry with the hiring of a leading commercial banker for the expanding sector.

Barry Sturdivant, who since 2000 headed Bank of the West’s national Nursery/Greenhouse Agribusiness Center, has joined Wells Fargo’s National Food and Agribusiness Division and will lead its initiative with the U.S. nursery and greenhouse industry. The most recent United States Department of Agriculture Census shows that nursery, greenhouse, and floriculture production grew 13 percent from 2002 to 2007, while sales increased from $14.7 billion to $16.6 billion.

“The addition of Barry Sturdivant reinforces our dedication to growing our agribusiness network,” said Rob Yraceburu, head of Wells Fargo’s National Food and Agribusiness Division. “Barry brings specialized industry knowledge that will greatly benefit our clients in the sector and support the continued growth of our business.”

Sturdivant is a leading authority on the greenhouse and nursery industry and has been published in Grower Talks, Greenhouse Grower, Nursery Product News, Nursery Management Pro, and other industry publications.

“The need for industry expertise, combined with national and local perspective, is rapidly increasing among wholesale nursery and greenhouse growers,” said Sturdivant, who will work with local Wells Fargo commercial bankers in their home markets to serve local horticulture businesses.

Wells Fargo’s increased resources for the greenhouse and nursery industry follow the bank’s recent expansion into food and agribusiness in Eastern U.S. markets. In 2013, the bank announced formation of a National Food and Agribusiness Division to replicate its western specialization to new markets in the Midwest, South, and East.

“Nurseries are emerging from a long and deep recession and must be cautious in growing into their improving market.” Sturdivant said. “Frequent and personal contact from local bankers who understand the local economy will better position these operations for success.”

For the 19th consecutive year, Wells Fargo is the nation’s top commercial bank agricultural lender in total dollar volume, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation data for the first quarter of 2014. Wells Fargo has extended approximately $7.2 billion in agricultural loans, nearly 50 percent more than its closest rivals and well ahead of all its commercial banking competitors. In addition, RCIS – a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo – is the nation’s largest crop insurance provider.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.6 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune’s 2014 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives and stories are also available at blogs.wellsfargo.com and at stories.wellsfargobank.com.

DECATUR, Ill., – Golden Peanut Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM), announced today that it has acquired the assets of SA Groundnut Marketing (PTY) Ltd. (SAGM), which will become part of Golden Peanut and Tree Nut S.A.

“This is an exciting expansion in Golden Peanut’s South African operations,” said Kris Lutt, president, Golden Peanut Company. “The facility in Hoopstad will help us serve our customers by adding to our global capacity while expanding our grower network in one of the best peanut growing regions in South Africa.”

Late last year, Golden Peanut entered into the South African peanut market with the purchase of an 80 percent ownership stake in a bulk warehouse and a shelling plant in Hartswater. The Hoopstad facility, which is located in one of South Africa’s prime peanut growing regions, builds on that investment. Golden Peanut, which has been managing operation of the plant under contract with SAGM since April 2014, intends to retain the vast majority of the company’s full-time employees, and will continue to employ many of the seasonal and part-time workers traditionally employed by SAGM.

“We look forward to welcoming the Hoopstad employees to the Golden Peanut and ADM team, and working with them to help align the facility with our certifications and standards,” Lutt added. “We also are excited to show our new suppliers how they will benefit by working with Golden Peanut and ADM.”

Since 1990, global production of peanuts, also known as groundnuts, has nearly doubled, from 22 million to 40 million metric tons, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

About Golden Peanut
Golden Peanut, a wholly owned subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company, is a leading handler, processor and exporter of raw process peanuts, peanut oil and peanut-related ingredients. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, the company operates seven processing facilities in the U.S. and one in Argentina. In South Africa, Golden Peanut is the majority owner of a bulk warehouse and shelling plant in Hartswater, and is 50 percent owner of pecan processor and marketer GPC Pecan S.A.

About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 31,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 270 processing plants, 470 crop procurement facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 140 countries. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.

WASHINGTON, Today, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden announced the availability of $400,000 in funding to establish the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center. The Center will be established at an 1890 Land-Grant college or university and will specialize in policy research impacting socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Qualifying universities across the country are now invited to apply to be the Research Center’s home.

“America’s farmers and ranchers are more diverse than ever before and it is critical that our policies and programs reflect that,” said Deputy Secretary Harden. “This Center will serve as another tool for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to get the resources they need. It will also assist us in our efforts to help beginning farmers from all walks of life get their start in agriculture.”

According to the 2012 Agricultural Census, minority and historically under-represented communities are part of the continued growth among new and beginning farmers and ranchers. According to the Census, 22 percent of all farmers were beginning farmers in 2012. That means 1 out of every 5 farmers operated a farm for less than 10 years.

Universities seeking to apply to host the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center must apply in the next 30 days. Proposals must be received by September 11, 2014, at 5:00 pm EST, at www.grants.gov.

Last month, Deputy Secretary Harden announced the availability of over $9 million in outreach and technical assistance for minority farmers and ranchers and military veterans that are new to farming and ranching through the 2501 Program. The deadline for applications for 2501 Program funding has been extended to August 27, 2014, and applications must be submitted through www.grants.gov. More information about the 2501 Program is available at: http://www.outreach.usda.gov/grants/index.htm.

Today’s announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

WASHINGTON, – This week, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack joined President Obama, members of Congress and other U.S. government officials to welcome African heads of state and government leaders for the first-ever Africa Leaders Summit. At the Summit, Vilsack announced four new partners in the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) initiative and up to $1 billion in export credit guarantees that will enhance trade between the U.S. and Africa. The export credit is a part of President Obama’s Doing Business in Africa Campaign. The Ghana Open Data Initiative, Sierra Leone, IBM and Kellogg Company will join over 100 GODAN partners who work to make agricultural and nutritional data available, accessible and useable for unrestricted use worldwide.

“At its core, this Summit is about fostering stronger ties between the United States and Africa,” Vilsack said. “USDA looks forward to further partnering with African nations through the GODAN initiative, and with the new trade opportunities that new financing guarantees will make possible.”

Launched in October 2013, GODAN supports efforts to make agriculturally and nutritionally relevant data available for public global use. Open data on agriculture, nutrition and food systems can be a powerful tool for long-term sustainable development by improving the economic opportunities for farmers and the health of all consumers. The initiative encourages collaboration and cooperation among existing agriculture and open data activities, and brings together all stakeholders to solve long-standing global problems. GODAN is the first global open data initiative spanning public and private entities including donors, international organizations and businesses.

Through the Doing Business in Africa Campaign, the U.S. government is strengthening its commercial relationship with the continent of Africa, a diverse region that offers substantial trade and investment opportunities across national and regional markets. The campaign encourages U.S. commercial engagement in Africa by harnessing the resources of the U.S. government to assist businesses in identifying and seizing opportunities and to engage with members of the African Diaspora in the United States. USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation will make available up to $1 billion in financing guarantees to export U.S. agricultural commodities to Africa over the next two years. The Department, which currently works with nine eligible banks in 49 African countries, will also conduct outreach seminars to Africa in 2015 to promote the use of its credit guarantee program for the export of U.S. agricultural products.

The U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit is a historic opportunity to strengthen ties with our African partners and highlight America’s longstanding commitment to investing in Africa’s development and its people. USDA collaborates with its partners in Africa to help strengthen connections between the U.S. and African agriculture sectors and to work towards common goals. USDA implements programs and activities across the continent in a wide range of areas, including food security, trade capacity, investment, climate-smart agriculture, school attendance and literacy, and open data systems.

CAMDEN, N.J., – Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today announced plans to launch more than 200 new products in fiscal 2015 to meet consumers’ changing tastes, preferences and needs.

During a presentation with investors, President and Chief Executive Officer Denise Morrison shared her perspective on the state of the packaged food industry and the consumer environment. Morrison and her management team also outlined the steps Campbell is taking as it aspires to become a profitable $10 billion company within the next five years by strengthening its core business and expanding into faster-growing spaces.

Morrison said, “In the last three years, we’ve been taking decisive action to reshape our portfolio and revitalize our growth trajectory, and you will see more of it in the future. We’re proceeding with a clear strategy and a sense of purpose that are squarely focused on the successful response to dramatic shifts in the landscape for our business, and we are confident that our strategy is moving us in the right direction.”

Campbell plans to strengthen its core businesses beginning with U.S. Simple Meals, which includes soup; revitalize its shelf-stable U.S. Beverages business, led by the “V8” brand; deliver stronger growth at Pepperidge Farm; and stabilize its Australian business, including “Arnott’s” sweet biscuits.

To expand into faster-growing spaces, Campbell plans to drive breakthrough innovation; build its position in packaged fresh foods; expand in developing markets in Asia and Latin America; and increase the availability of its products in all channels.

Highlights for the coming fiscal year include:

Innovation in Packaged Fresh, an $18.6 Billion Category
Bolthouse Farms will launch its first Kids line in August, an innovative portfolio of Smoothies, Fruit Tubes and Veggie Snackers that provides parents with refrigerated fruit and vegetable snacks for their children. The 100 percent fruit juice Smoothies are an easy way for kids to get their fruit and provide 1 ½ servings of fruit per bottle, in varieties such as Strawberry meets Banana. The squeezable Fruit Tubes are made with no added sugar and will come in flavors like Mango meets Banana & Pineapple. Smoothies and Fruit Tubes also come in non-dairy varieties. Veggie Snackers, in single-serve packs, will make eating fresh carrots fun with natural seasoning, in flavors like Carrot meets Ranch.

Bolthouse Farms will collaborate with its retail partners to install merchandising sections in produce departments to create a kids healthy snacking destination. This section will include “Bolthouse Farms Kids” products, as well as products from other companies, such as fruit cups and carrot dippers.

Expanding in the Faster-Growing Organic Category
To meet the growing demand for organic foods and to expand its offerings in the faster-growing premium soup segment, the company will introduce its first range of “Campbell’s” branded organic soups. “Campbell’s” Organic will launch in six delicious varieties, including favorites like Chicken Noodle, Tomato & Basil, Chicken Tortilla and Garden Vegetable. These ready-to-serve soups will be packaged in contemporary cartons that help preserve their fresh taste and goodness. The soups build on Campbell’s current organic offerings, including “Swanson” broth, “Wolfgang Puck” soups and “Plum Organics” baby food.

Campbell will also expand its “Plum Organics” line of organic simple meals and snacks for infants, toddlers and children by launching 22 new products.

Leading the Veggie Craze with “V8”
Veggies are on-trend and here to stay. To respond to consumer interest in juicing, Campbell will launch new on-trend vegetable juices under the “V8” brand that will bring popular juicing flavors and combinations to the center store. These new juices include contemporary varieties such as “V8” Carrot Mango, “V8” Healthy Greens, “V8” Golden Goodness and “V8” Purple Power. Campbell will also launch three new varieties that add a bold twist to the classic “V8” vegetable juice – “V8” Spicy Mango, “V8” Sea Salt & Clam and “V8” Mint & Lime.

Creating a Protein Platform for On-the-Go Nutrition
Consumers are increasingly looking for a balance of protein from both plant and animal sources. To meet this demand, Campbell will introduce “V8” Protein Shakes and Protein Bars that extend the brand beyond juice and into the fast-growing $4.6 billion adult on-the-go nutrition category in the U.S.

The products leverage the vegetable nutrition expertise of “V8” and deliver protein with great taste. The shakes will provide protein from a combination of dairy, soy, pea protein, brown rice and quinoa. The shakes and bars are made with vegetables and other ingredients, like carrot and sweet potato for added nutrition, and sweetened with ingredients like honey. They will also deliver fiber, vitamins and minerals. “V8” Protein Shakes will include varieties such as Chocolate, Vanilla and Chocolate Raspberry. “V8” Protein Bars will launch in Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Pomegranate and Oatmeal Raisin varieties.

Making Dinner Easy with Flavorful Cooking Products
To make it easy for people to create great-tasting meals at home, the company will launch new “Campbell’s” Soups for Easy Cooking – four aseptic soups in varieties such as Savory Portobello Mushroom and Mexican-Style Tomato that will help consumers make delicious meals in just 30 minutes. Campbell will also launch “Swanson Cream Starter” – a base for popular homemade soups, such as New England clam chowder, cream of broccoli and loaded baked potato.

Behind the stove-top, the oven is the second-most used appliance to prepare dinner. For people who want the comfort of oven-baked dinners with little time, Campbell will expand its growing line of dinner sauces by launching “Campbell’s” Oven Sauces. These sauces are designed to create delicious meals with five minutes of prep time, three or less ingredients, and just 35 minutes of bake time. “Campbell’s” Oven Sauces will launch in four varieties, including Classic Roasted Chicken and Sweet Teriyaki Chicken.

Tapping Into Global Snacking Trends

Pepperidge Farm will launch Pumpkin Spice “Milano” cookies for the fall and two varieties of soft-baked Coffee Shop cookies, Cinnamon Bun and Banana Walnut, inspired by popular café treats.

“Arnott’s,” the leading brand of sweet biscuits in Australia, has launched on-trend varieties of “Tim Tam” like red velvet, which was created in partnership with famous Australian patissier Adriano Zumbo. Arnott’s will also expand its “Shapes” savory biscuits to Indonesia, where savory snacking is a $300 million segment.

About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell (NYSE: CPB) makes real food that matters for life’s moments, from high-quality soups and simple meals to snacks and healthy beverages. For generations, people have trusted Campbell to provide authentic, flavorful and readily available foods and beverages that connect them to each other, to warm memories and to what’s important today. Led by its iconic “Campbell’s” brand, the company’s portfolio includes “Pepperidge Farm,” “Goldfish,” “Bolthouse Farms,” “V8,” “Swanson,” “Prego,” “Pace,” “Plum Organics,” “Arnott’s,” “Tim Tam,” “Royal Dansk” and “Kjeldsens.” Founded in 1869, Campbell has a heritage of giving back and acting as a good steward of the planet’s natural resources. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoupcompany.com and @CampbellSoupCo.

As AGCO’s newest core brand, GSI’s long and proud history of supporting farmers has accelerated as a member of the AGCO family. Together AGCO and GSI continue to demonstrate that they are aggressive global innovators of agricultural solutions, offering technology based products that impact many sectors of the agricultural industry.

GSI is the leading manufacturer of grain storage systems and a full line supplier of swine and poultry production equipment. GSI equipment is constantly evolving to give you more control, with less complexity, over your operation. “Technology continues to change farming practices. At GSI we are integrating technology into our product designs to provide industry leading reliability, efficiency, and ease of use” Jeff Feldkamp, GSI’s Director of Engineering – North America.

GSI Grain Systems are designed to give you control over your operation and returns on your investments. Whether you store grain on your own farm or through your local elevator, GSI supports you with quality products and services by providing a complete line of durable storage, drying and material handling equipment. With the largest product offering available to them, GSI Dealers can create a system designed to meet your farm’s specific needs, no matter your size. GSI equipment and control systems have continued to evolve with technology, allowing you to monitor your system and stay in control no matter where you are. GSI Grain Systems empower you to start your harvest earlier, control your harvest schedule, and market your grain when and where you choose, allowing you to capture premium prices when the time is right. With GSI, you get products that not only save you money, but make you money.

GSI Protein equipment, through its Automated Production Systems (AP) and Cumberland brands, deliver swine and poultry farmers a full line of reliable and efficient solutions. GSI provides growers with feed storage and delivery systems designed to perform in the harsh environment of livestock production facilities while optimizing feed conversions to maximize profits. Providing the ideal environmental conditions is essential in maintaining health and achieving the reproductive and growth potential of both swine and poultry. GSI provides a full line of durable and energy efficient heating, cooling and ventilation products combined with sophisticated, yet simple to operate, control systems that monitor and maintain the environment while providing offsite access and notification of any problems that arise. Animal agriculture is a twenty-four hour a day job and swine and poultry producers rely on GSI’s rugged products, industry leading support and trained Dealer network to provide peace of mind and a return on their investment.

As global populations continue to grow, the need for more innovative and efficient grain, poultry, and swine production equipment will become increasingly important. GSI is positioned to support this ever growing demand. Committed to delivering comprehensive solutions, GSI supports farmers around the world by continuously providing you with equipment that works as hard as you do.

www.agcocorp.com

WASHINGTON, – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced continued progress in implementing provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill that will strengthen and expand insurance coverage options for farmers and ranchers. The new Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), available through the federal crop insurance program and set to begin with the 2015 crop year, is designed to help protect producers from yield and market volatility.

“America’s agricultural producers work hard to produce a sufficient amount of safe and nutritious food for the country,” said Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It’s critical that they have crop insurance options to effectively manage risks and ensure that they do not lose everything due to events beyond their control. Following the 2014 Farm Bill signing, USDA has made it a priority to ensure the Supplemental Coverage Option was available to help farmers in this upcoming crop year.”

The 2014 Farm Bill strengthens and expands crop insurance by providing more risk management options for farmers and ranchers and by making crop insurance more affordable for beginning farmers. SCO, which is administered by the Risk Management Agency (RMA), further strengthens the farm safety net.

SCO will be available for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, soybeans, spring barley, spring wheat, and winter wheat in selected counties for the 2015 crop year. Producers should contact their crop insurance agents to discuss eligibility in time to sign up for winter wheat coverage. RMA plans to make SCO more widely available by adding more counties and crops. Information on SCO for 2015 winter and spring wheat is available on the RMA website at www.rma.usda.gov. Selected counties for other commodities will be released later this summer.

SCO is a county-level policy endorsement that is in addition to an underlying crop insurance policy, and covers a portion of losses not covered by the same crop’s underlying policy. Producers who elect to participate in Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC), which is offered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), are not eligible for SCO for the crop and farm participating in ARC.

Producers applying for SCO for the 2015 winter wheat crop may withdraw coverage on any farm where they have elected, or where they intend to elect, ARC for winter wheat by the earlier of their acreage reporting date or Dec. 15, without penalty. This allows producers additional time to make an informed decision related to whether to elect to participate in either the ARC or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for their winter wheat. If producers withdraw SCO coverage for a farm by the earlier of their acreage reporting date or Dec. 15, they will not be charged a crop insurance premium. In order to withdraw coverage without penalty, producers must notify their agents of their intended election for ARC by the earlier of their winter wheat acreage reporting date or Dec. 15.

Today’s announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

MINNEAPOLIS– SUPERVALU INC. (NYSE: SVU), one of the nation’s leading grocery wholesalers, today announced that it has begun supplying the first of 18 Rainbow stores that are being acquired as part of the transactions that were announced May 7 between Roundy’s and a consortium of SUPERVALU and independent retailers. Following the store conversions, SUPERVALU will supply all 18 of the acquired stores out of its Hopkins, Minnesota distribution center.

SUPERVALU along with four Twin Cities-based independent retailers – Jerry’s Enterprises, Haug Enterprises, Lund Food Holdings and Radermacher Enterprises – are expecting to complete the store conversions over the next two weeks. As previously announced, ten of the 18 stores will become Cub Foods locations, two will operate as Byerly’s and the other six will remain Rainbow stores.

“I am very pleased that we are now adding these 18 stores to SUPERVALU’s distribution network and that we are expanding our supplier relationship with a group of very strong independents and longtime customers of our Independent Business segment. We expect these fine retailers will serve the Twin Cities better than ever with an expanded store base,” said Sam Duncan, SUPERVALU president and chief executive officer. “Each of these independent retailers, along with Cub, are longtime grocers who know this market and their customers and are actively involved in their stores and communities.”

The 10 new Cub Foods will be located at:

Chaska – 200 Pioneer Trail
Lakeville – 17756 Kenwood Trail
Minneapolis (Lagoon) – 1104 Lagoon Ave.
Minneapolis (Quarry) – 1540 New Brighton Blvd.
Plymouth (6th Avenue) – 10200 6th Ave. North
Roseville (includes stand-alone liquor store) – 1201 Larpenteur Ave.
St. Louis Park (includes stand-alone liquor store) – 5370 16th Street W.
St. Paul (Arcade) – 892 Arcade Street
Eagan – 1276 Town Centre Drive
Oakdale – 7053 10th Street North
The six Rainbow stores will be located at:

Minneapolis (Lake Street) – 2919 26th Ave. South
Plymouth (Plymouth Station) – 16705 County Road 24
Richfield – 140 West 66th Street
West St. Paul – 1660 Robert Street South
Maplewood – 2501 White Bear Ave.
St. Paul (Midway) – 1566 University Ave. West
The two new Byerly’s stores will be located at:

Eden Prairie – 970 Prairie Center Drive
Woodbury (includes stand-alone liquor store) – 7050 Valley Creek Plaza
Store conversions at the Minneapolis (Lagoon), St. Paul (Arcade) and St. Louis Park locations began Monday and opened today, July 9. The remaining stores are expected to transition on a staggered basis over the next two weeks.

About Cub Foods
Cub Foods offers customers the freshest produce, widest selection and food expertise throughout the store to meet their everyday grocery needs. In addition to innovative local, ethnic and organic food sections, Cub Foods stores offer shoppers multiple in-store services including fresh bakery, full-service deli and meat departments, pharmacy and banking. Cub Foods, based in Stillwater, Minnesota, was established in 1968 as one of the nation’s first discount grocery stores. Cub Foods was purchased in 1980 by SUPERVALU and operates 67 corporately-owned and franchised stores in Minnesota and Illinois. For company news and information, follow us on Twitter at @CubFoods and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Cub, or visit our website at Cub.com.

About SUPERVALU INC.
SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest grocery wholesalers and retailers in the U.S. with annual sales of approximately $17 billion. SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through a network of 3,339 stores composed of 1,819 independent stores serviced primarily by the Company’s food distribution business, 1,330 Save-A-Lot stores, of which 948 are operated by licensee owners; and 190 traditional retail grocery stores. Headquartered in Minnesota, SUPERVALU has approximately 35,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU visit www.supervalu.com.

CINCINNATI and BOCA RATON, Fla., — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) and Vitacost.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: VITC), a leading online retailer of healthy living products, today announced a definitive merger agreement under which Kroger will purchase all outstanding shares of Vitacost.com for $8.00 per share in cash, or approximately $280 million.

The purchase price represents a premium of 51% to Vitacost.com’s closing share price on Feb. 19, 2014, the day before a major Vitacost.com shareholder publicly asked the company to evaluate strategic alternatives. The terms of the agreement were unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Kroger will commence a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Vitacost.com common stock. Any shares of Vitacost.com common stock not acquired in the tender offer promptly will be acquired by Kroger in a subsequent merger. The tender offer and merger are subject to Vitacost.com stockholders tendering at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Vitacost.com common stock in the tender offer, certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to any financing condition. Holders of approximately 26.2% of the outstanding shares of Vitacost.com common stock have agreed to support the transaction and tender their shares in the tender offer. The transaction is expected to close in the third calendar quarter of 2014.

Vitacost.com brings to Kroger its strong position as one of the largest pure eCommerce companies in the nutrition and healthy living market, a team with extensive eCommerce experience, and a substantial platform that includes technology and ship-to-home fulfillment centers to serve customers in all 50 states and internationally. Vitacost.com offers more than 45,000 products including vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, sports nutrition, beauty care products and natural and organic foods to approximately 2.3 million active customers. The company has more than 800 associates and operates distribution centers in Lexington, NC and Las Vegas, NV, and a customer service center in Lexington, NC.

“We are delighted to welcome Vitacost.com to the Kroger family,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chief executive officer. “Vitacost.com’s talented team has built an exceptional online retail destination in the growing nutrition and wellness market, with an enviable technology and fulfillment infrastructure. This merger is in line with our growth strategy to enter new markets and new channels, and – along with Harris Teeter’s online order and pick up service – accelerates our efforts to provide customers with even more ways to shop. Vitacost.com’s core focus on healthy living products is complementary to our fast-growing natural foods business, and we intend to grow Vitacost.com’s strong position in the online nutrition market. At the same time, we will build on Vitacost.com’s eCommerce platform by integrating it with our existing digital offerings to create exciting new levels of personalization and convenience for our customers.”

“We are excited to join such a tremendous organization and believe this will be an outstanding partnership,” stated Jeffrey Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Vitacost.com. “This transaction represents a significant premium for our shareholders and the company will benefit by leveraging Kroger’s scale and resources to further drive the online healthy living industry to new heights.”

Operational Highlights
Vitacost.com’s platform is highly complementary to Kroger’s existing businesses and enhances the company’s growth strategy.

Vitacost.com’s leadership in nutrition and wellness products, including its proprietary brands, complements Kroger’s already fast-growing natural foods business and Simple Truth Organic and Simple Truth corporate brand offering.

The company’s eCommerce platform will enable Kroger to serve customers through ship-to-home orders in all 50 states, including 16 states that are currently not served by Kroger supermarkets, expanding Kroger’s reach into new US markets as well as internationally. Vitacost.com’s website and mobile app offer robust product information, rich content including recipes, videos and customer reviews, and “Set & Save” subscriptions for thousands of items.

Building on Vitacost.com’s technology and fulfillment platform and linking it to Kroger’s existing digital capabilities will accelerate Kroger’s omnichannel strategy. Millions of customers already plan their shopping online using Kroger’s cloud-based shopping list and weekly ad through the company’s mobile apps and Kroger.com, and more than one billion digital coupons have been downloaded since 2009. Kroger offers an order online, deliver-to-home service in its King Soopers division in Denver, and continues to learn from Harris Teeter’s successful Express Lane model, which offers customers the ability to order online and pick up at their local store in 154 locations. With Vitacost.com, Kroger will offer customers the convenience to order online and ship to their door with an expanded assortment online.

Following closing, Vitacost.com will operate as a subsidiary of The Kroger Co. and continue to operate its facilities in Boca Raton, FL., Lexington N.C. and Las Vegas NV.

Financial Highlights
Kroger will finance the transaction with debt. The company expects to achieve a 2.00 – 2.20 net debt to EBITDA ratio by mid-to-late 2015. Kroger is committed to managing its free cash flow to achieve this goal in order to maintain its current investment grade credit rating.

The company also confirmed its net earnings per diluted share growth guidance range of $3.19 to $3.27 for fiscal 2014. Kroger expects to maintain its current long-term net earnings per diluted share growth rate of 8 – 11%, plus a growing dividend.

Vitacost.com reported annual revenue of $382.7 million in fiscal 2013. Vitacost.com reported approximately 2.3 million total active customers as of the end of its first quarter of fiscal 2014, which ended March 31, and reported shipping 1.5 million orders.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is acting as legal advisor to Kroger. Jefferies LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Vitacost.com. Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati is acting as legal advisor to Vitacost.com.

Conference Call Today
Kroger chief financial officer Mike Schlotman will host a conference call for analysts and investors today, July 2, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss this announcement in further detail. To join this conference call, visit ir.kroger.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available from approximately 11:00 a.m. (ET) today through Wednesday, July 16, 2014.

About Kroger
Kroger, one of the world’s largest retailers, employs more than 375,000 associates who serve customers in 2,642 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s. The company also operates 787 convenience stores, 324 fine jewelry stores, 1,261 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and grassroots organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 80 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber’s Million Dollar Club.

About Vitacost.com, Inc.
Vitacost.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: VITC) is a leading online retailer of health and wellness products, including dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, herbs and other botanicals, amino acids and metabolites, as well as cosmetics, organic body and personal care products, pet products, sports nutrition and health foods. Vitacost.com, Inc. sells these products directly to consumers through its website, www.vitacost.com. Vitacost.com, Inc. strives to offer its customers the broadest selection of healthy living products, while providing superior customer service and timely and accurate delivery.

DECATUR, Ill., – Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today announced that it is acquiring WILD Flavors GmbH, giving ADM the ability to offer food and beverage companies a comprehensive suite of systems to enhance and improve their products.

In an all-cash transaction valued at approximately €2.3 billion enterprise value, ADM will pay €2.2 billion to WILD Flavors shareholders Dr. Hans-Peter Wild and funds affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., and assume approximately €0.1 billion of net debt. The transaction is contingent on regulatory approvals and is expected to close by year end.

“This acquisition expands ADM’s ability to serve customers’ evolving needs today and well into the future,” said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz. “Natural flavor and ingredients is one of the largest and fastest-growing consumer trends in both developed and emerging markets, and WILD Flavors is the world’s leading provider of natural flavor systems to the food and beverage industry.”

WILD Flavors, with more than 3,000 customers worldwide and estimated 2014 net revenues of about €1 billion, offers food and beverage companies full flavor and ingredient solutions—known as flavor systems—and fruit juice concentrates and blends, as well as other food and beverage ingredients, including natural flavors and extracts, mint oils and flavors, colors from natural sources, sweetening systems, seasonings, specialty ingredients, taste modifiers, and fermentation technologies.

“Together, ADM and WILD Flavors will create one of the leading flavor and specialty ingredient companies in the world, with sales approaching $2.5 billion and significant room to grow,” Woertz said. “WILD Flavors will be able to reach more customers with an expanded portfolio of innovative ingredients. And ADM, with our own sizeable specialty ingredient business, will have an enhanced platform for the commercialization of our higher-margin food and wellness ingredients.

“Together, we will be uniquely positioned to offer a broad range of customers—from the largest CPG’s to fast-growing innovators—comprehensive systems-based solutions for food, beverage and personal care products. With our combined global networks, world-class research & innovation capabilities, WILD Flavors’ natural flavor systems, and ADM’s texture, nutrition and functional solutions, we will create an unmatched capability to respond to local consumer preferences and offer complete food solutions that taste great.

“The addition of WILD Flavors balances and extends our value chain,” Woertz said. “It is consistent with our long-term strategy to diversify the crops we process and expand and diversify our product portfolio. It complements the ingredient, organic-growth investments we’ve recently made—including our Brazil protein complex and soluble-fiber expansion in China. And it is consistent with actions we’ve taken to dampen the volatility of our earnings mix and deliver on our commitment to profitable growth. The acquisition will meet our return objectives, with estimated cost and revenue synergies of €100 million by year three.”

Dr. Hans-Peter Wild, chairman of WILD Flavors GmbH, said, “I am very pleased by ADM’s acquisition of WILD Flavors and the future business we will build together. WILD Flavor’s unique natural flavors strength and total systems approach will create a very strong and positive development platform within ADM for our customers as we continue to drive innovation in the food and beverage industry. With the strong financial resources, and expanded customer base, product offering and global footprint, I am confident WILD Flavors will be well-positioned for growth.”

“We have tremendous respect for the culture and business that Dr. Wild has built,” Woertz said. “Given the strong brand WILD Flavors has with customers around the world, we intend to maintain the WILD Flavors name and grow the brand and the innovative, entrepreneurial culture that sustains it. We appreciate the difference in our business models, and will support continued success of the WILD Flavors model by establishing a new business unit called WILD Flavors and Specialty Ingredients. The new unit will include many of our specialty ingredients. We are also excited to work with the WILD Flavors team. With more than 400 scientists and applications specialists and a global sales force, they will bring exceptional expertise and new capabilities.”

Johannes Huth, member and head of KKR Europe, Africa and Middle East operations, said: “WILD Flavors represented for KKR the opportunity to partner with an innovative family entrepreneur in developing a high-quality, R&D driven, Germany-based Mittelstand business. The partnership was tailored to the family ownership and the vision of Dr. Wild to develop WILD Flavors into a globally integrated producer of flavors and flavor systems. The substantial growth and global expansion of WILD Flavors over these past years helped make the company an attractive and valuable partner for an industry-leading global company like ADM.”

Barclays is acting as financial advisor to ADM. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as legal advisor.

Investor Call
ADM will host a conference call and audio webcast today, July 7, 2014, at 8 a.m. Central Time. A slide presentation will be available to download prior to the call.

To listen to the call via the Internet or to download the slide presentation, go to www.adm.com/webcast. To listen by telephone, dial (888) 522-5398 in the U.S. or (706) 902-2121 if calling from outside the U.S. The access code is 70905489.

Replay of the call will be available from July 8, 2014 to July 14, 2014 10:59 p.m. Central Time. To listen to the replay by telephone, dial (855) 859-2056 in the U.S. or (404) 537-3406 if calling from outside the U.S. The access code is 70905489. The replay will also be available online for an extended period of time at www.adm.com/webcast.

About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 31,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 270 processing plants, 470 crop procurement facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 140 countries
ADM’s Foods & Wellness group offers a range of innovative specialty ingredients and products for the beverage, meat, snack, bakery, cereal, wellness and personal care markets. As a global market leader in food-grade proteins, ADM’s Foods & Wellness group also markets numerous health and nutrition products, lecithin, acidulants, hydrocolloids and polyols. Some of those products include Textura™ protein and fiber pieces, Clarisoy™ beverage protein, and Ultralec® lecithin. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.

About WILD Flavors GmbH
WILD Flavors GmbH is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, and is one of the world’s leading suppliers of natural ingredients to the food and beverage industry. Its management offices with production sites are located in Heidelberg-Eppelheim, Germany (Rudolf Wild GmbH & Co. KG) and Erlanger, Kentucky, USA (WILD Flavors, Inc.). Thirteen further production sites are located in Europe, USA, Canada, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and Dubai.
The WILD Flavors product portfolio includes full flavor and ingredient solutions, known as flavor systems, fruit juice concentrates and blends as well as other food and beverage ingredients including natural flavors and extracts, mint oils and flavors, colors from natural sources, sweetening systems, seasonings, specialty ingredients, taste modifiers, and fermentation technologies. WILD Flavors GmbH provides the global beverage and dairy market as well as the baked-goods, confectionery and ice cream industry with its products. In the USA and Canada, WILD Flavors GmbH is a supplier for the cereals, snacks, and processed food markets as well. For more information about WILD, please visit: www.wildflavors.com.

About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages investments across multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation at the asset level. KKR invests its own capital alongside its partners’ capital and brings opportunities to others through its capital markets business. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com.

WASHINGTON, – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that approximately $13 million in Farm Bill funding is now available for organic certification cost-share assistance, making certification more accessible than ever for small certified producers and handlers.

“Consumer demand for organic products is surging across the country,” said Secretary Tom Vilsack. “To meet this demand, we need to make sure that small farmers who choose to grow organic products can afford to get certified. Organic food is now a multi-billion dollar industry, and helping this sector continue to grow creates jobs across the country.”

The certification assistance is distributed through two programs within the Agricultural Marketing Service. Through the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program, $11.5 million is available to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. Territories. Through the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost-Share Program, an additional $1.5 million is available to organic operations in Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

These programs provide cost-share assistance through participating states to USDA certified organic producers and handlers for certification-related expenses they incur from October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014. Payments cover up to 75 percent of an individual producer’s or handler’s certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 per certification. To receive cost-share assistance, organic producers and handlers should contact their state agencies. Each state will have their own guidelines and requirements for reimbursement, and the National Organic Program (NOP) will assist states as much as possible to successfully implement the programs. State contact information can be found on the NOP Cost Share Website, www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing.

In 2012 alone, USDA issued close to 10,000 cost-share reimbursements totaling over $6.5 million, to support the organic industry and rural America. Additional information about resources available to small and mid-sized producers, including accessing capital, risk management, locating market opportunities and land management is available on USDA’s Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources webpage.

USDA has a number of new and expanded efforts to connect organic farmers and businesses with resources that will ensure the continued growth of the organic industry domestically and abroad. During this Administration, USDA has signed four major trade agreements on organic products, and is also helping organic stakeholders access programs that support conservation, provide access to loans and grants, fund organic research and education, and mitigate pest emergencies. Through the NOP, USDA has helped organic farmers and businesses achieve $35 billion annually in U.S. retail sales. The organic community includes over 25,000 organic businesses in more than 120 different countries around the world.

Today’s funding announcement for organic certification cost-share assistance was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

For additional information contact Dana Stahl, Organic Certification Cost Share Program Manager, Dana.Stahl@ams.usda.gov, (540) 361-1126. Additional information is available on the NOP’s website at www.ams.usda.gov/NOPCostSharing.

The NOP is responsible for ensuring the integrity of USDA organic agricultural products in the United States and throughout the world. Find out more about organic certification by visiting www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

Welcome to the future of agricultural technology! AGCO’s Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) department is dedicated to providing high-tech solutions for professional farmers feeding the world, and on July 9, 2013 ATS announced an important milestone in carrying out that vision.

Introducing FuseTM Technologies: a new global corporate initiative that encompasses all aspects of AGCO’s technology offerings. It will enable farmers to optimize their farms through current and future AGCO products and services. “These ideas of connectivity and deeper integration are at the core of Fuse Technologies,” said Matt Rushing, Vice President, Product Management, Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) and EFG. A major focus of Fuse Technologies will be to ensure an “open” approach to technology integration in AGCO equipment. AGCO’s current technology offerings including AgCommandTM, VarioDocTM, Auto-Guide 3000TM, VarioGuideTM, and future generations of these as well as other core precision farming technologies will be added to the Fuse Technologies portfolio.

The Fuse Technology strategy aims to deliver on three key customer benefits that help farm operations run more efficiently:

Always running… Optimized
To maximize productivity, growers need all their farm assets running at optimum efficiency. Fuse Technologies helps minimize downtime while improving the overall farm enterprise through wireless connectivity and diagnostic services. From machinery to grain storage solutions, Fuse can help anyone run a smarter, more profitable enterprise.

Right place, Right time… Coordinated
Ensuring that equipment and resources know where they need to be, and how and when to be there, is critical to keeping an operation moving. Fuse Technologies provides connectivity tools that help growers manage and communicate with their equipment, mobile or stationary, making sure they are in the right place at the right time and working together – regardless of brand.

Connecting the Crop Cycle… Seamlessly
Farming is a year-round business. From planting to growing to harvesting, Fuse Technologies provides seamless connectivity across a grower’s farm enterprise and throughout each step of the crop cycle. Keeping growers in constant contact with their AGCO dealer and the other trusted advisors that they rely on to help make the right decisions throughout the year.

Fuse will deliver on these benefits through five pillars that underscore the Fuse strategy:
AGCO Brands: AGCO is a global provider of agriculture solutions through a unique offering of brands and products that deliver the AGCO vision of “High-tech Solutions for Professional Farmers Feeding the World.”

On & Off Board Technologies: Seamlessly integrate all farm assets – resulting in higher yields, less input costs and greater profits.

Support & Training: A new global customer call center and leading-edge product training means growers get the expertise and answers they need to run their operation more efficiently.
Dealer Network: One of the world’s most extensive dealer networks gives growers global access and support – any time, any place.

Service Providers: Connect with preferred service providers and enjoy the freedom and convenience to continue working with local business partners that growers trust.

Fuse represents a new day for AGCO; the company is more than doubling its resources in key areas that will lead to more new products and services in the precision agriculture category. This new initiative is a major global investment with an outstanding growth opportunity. Fuse is a promise to AGCO’s customers for a consolidated approach to precision farming technology that will help to transform their business through innovation, integration and enhanced optimization resulting in improved profits and yields.

The creation and launch of Fuse Technologies brings forth a connected strategy that encompasses and includes all technology products offered by AGCO across all brands and regions.

This news is courtesy of www.agcocorp.com

Summer is in full swing. It’s the time of year we get to relax a bit, spend time outdoors, and enjoy simple pleasures with family and friends.

All along the way, traditional summer favorites – like soda, snacks and beer – will be must-have favorites at summer celebrations, get-togethers and other seasonal demand moments.

So this summer PepsiCo and our friends at Anheuser-Busch have partnered to put great-tasting Pepsi, Frito-Lay and Anheuser-Busch products together, front-and-center in retail stores across the United States.

PepsiCo’s partnership is designed to help shoppers find big-brand, party essentials quickly and help drive sales during key sales seasons.

Memorial Day and July 4th
The summer program started with the Ready. Set. Summer. campaign that kicked off Memorial Day and is being refreshed with the United We Celebrate campaign for July 4th.

Both Memorial Day and July 4th, and the get-togethers that celebrate them, generate strong salty snack and soft drink sales.

To help drive sales during these key demand periods, the campaigns promote iconic products that are frequently purchased together using unified, point-of-sale displays.

This in-store creative is designed around simple moments when family and friends get together to enjoy good food and great company, says Jessica Robinson, director, PepsiCo Portfolio Marketing. “The creative celebrates those times that our products help make a little more special,” she said.

Sales teams from Pepsi, Frito-Lay and Anheuser-Busch have access to a variety of co-branded, point-of-sale displays that can be staged to feature Pepsi, Frito-Lay and Anheuser-Busch products together in store lobbies, perimeter aisles and other high-traffic locations.

In addition to providing a one-stop, summer-product shopper experience, putting products together from PepsiCo’s diverse drink and snack portfolio and Anheuser-Busch helps maximize PepsiCo’s inventory on display and the number of displays in stores during the key summer sales period.

At one major U.S. retail chain, the combination of Pepsi and Lay’s potato chips drove increases in display inventory of approximately 40 percent and resulted in gains in sales during the 2013 Fourth of July holiday season.

Promotions and Sweepstakes
The partnership also offers the opportunity for national and local promotions and sweepstakes that can be tailored to the specific needs of retail customers.

During the month leading up to Memorial Day, for example, Publix grocery stores piggybacked on the Ready. Set. Summer campaign to offer its customers a chance to win gift cards for gas and groceries. The company leveraged the promotion by modifying point-of-sale displays to include sweepstakes information along with photographs of Pepsi and Frito-Lays products.

More to Come
While many people will hate to see the summer end, the post-Labor Day timeframe does have a silver lining – NFL football. And you can be certain that PepsiCo will be back in the stores, leveraging its longtime NFL partnership with NFL and team-specific point-of-sale displays that combine great products for tailgating and football parties.

So stay tuned.

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WILMINGTON, Del., – Today, the DuPont Advisory Committee on Agricultural Innovation & Productivity issued an updated progress reporton the global food and nutrition landscape, highlighting substantial gains in global food production rates, improvements in nutritional quality, and advances in eradicating extreme hunger and poverty, while also acknowledging that serious challenges remain.

DuPont convened the Advisory Committee in 2010 to explore in depth the global issues affecting food and nutrition security. Chaired by former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, the Advisory Committee brings together a group of experts in global agriculture development, science, policy and economics.

Since its initial report in 2011, the committee has monitored global progress on food and nutrition security issues and explored three aspects in greater depth – the role of technology and innovation in agriculture, opportunities for advancing nutrition security, and the need for environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable agricultural systems.

Among its key findings, the committee concluded that in the short period since 2011, the world has made significant progress toward eradicating extreme hunger and poverty:

Developing countries have managed to reach the point of nearly halving the proportion of those suffering from hunger.
At current rates, the prevalence of undernourishment in developing regions is expected to fall to 13 percent by 2015, or half the rate from 1990 to 1992.
From an efficiency perspective, global agricultural productivity is currently on track to meet the greater global food demand.
Ongoing trade negotiations hold the promise of enabling increased movement of food around the world.
Enhanced public-private sector collaborations are creating new, sustainable models for improving the livelihood of smallholder farmers.
Despite this progress, the committee stressed that critical challenges remain, with one in eight people remaining undernourished. Continued challenges include:

Providing all available tools to farmers.
Building sustainable agricultural systems.
Empowering women farmers with resources, such as land and technical training.
Toward this end, the report stressed two themes as critical to food and nutrition security – the central role of farmers and giving them access to key technologies; and the need for a comprehensive and collaborative approach across multiple partners and sectors.

“The committee applauds the progress made to date, but a range of issues still need to be addressed, from ensuring farmers have access to all tools to improve productivity to building sustainable agricultural systems,” said Senator Daschle. “We’re already seeing public-private partnerships working to develop innovative, scalable food security solutions, and we must continue to foster these creative collaborations if we are to continue to build on this progress.”

DuPont Executive Vice President James C. Borel said, “We’re optimistic about the improvements in the global food and nutrition security landscape, driven in part by a higher prioritization from major global governing bodies, greater awareness of the underlying factors through new measurement tools and increased innovations and youth engagements. However, we still have a long way to go, and we must continue to support smallholder and women farmers, protect natural resources and expand initial successes to a larger scale.”

The DuPont Advisory Committee on Agricultural Innovation and Productivity is a group of experts in global agriculture development, science, policy, and economics. The Committee includes former Senator Tom Daschle (chair); Jason Clay, senior vice president of Market Transformation at the World Wildlife Fund; Charlotte Hebebrand, director general of the International Fertilizer Industry Association; Jo Luck, former president and CEO of Heifer International and World Food Prize Laureate; Ruth Oniang’o, founder and director of the Rural Outreach Africa; J.B. Penn, chief economist for Deere & Co.; and Pedro Sanchez, director of the Agriculture and Food Security Center at The Earth Institute, Columbia University and World Food Prize Laureate.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.