Monthly Archives: April 2017

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Sustainability

Seafood Sustainability: Our Efforts and Goals

by | April 24, 2017 | one comment

At Publix, we place a priority on the sustainability practices of our suppliers, including those that provide our seafood products. We consider sustainability a continuous effort, not just a single set of standards and procedures for our suppliers to follow. We collaborate with our seafood suppliers and strive to implement ongoing improvement in regards to the effects of sourcing on our environment. We want to find a balance between providing high quality products and minimizing our impact to the environment.  Our commitment to sustainability is even a part of our mission statement. Curious about how we do this? There are many ways. Check them out below!

 

Ocean Disclosure Project

Publix launched the Ocean Disclosure Project that provides information regarding the details of our seafood suppliers including the locations of fisheries, environmental impacts, and types of fishing gear used in the process. This reference guide explains the different fishing methods and certifications of each fishery we use to source our seafood products from.

 

New State Labeling

Our labeling provides customers with information about what state our seafood products come from and are available in all of our stores.  If you would like more information about these labels, feel free to ask a Publix seafood associate for further assistance. We also launched this local signage for the products in our grocery and produce departments. If the product is grown, harvested, or manufactured within the state the store is located, the product will have the state’s label on the shelf.

 

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)

Our teams work closely with seafood suppliers and producers for the development of Fishery and Aquaculture Improvement Projects. These projects focus on building an agreement for improvements in policies, marine conservation measures, fishing and fish-farming practices. The SFP helps by providing us with different evaluations and tracking methods to assess fisheries and measure the suppliers’ progress and improvement in sustainable sourcing over time. We have also provided $280,000 in funding to help support several fishery improvement projects. These fishery improvement projects are an alliance of buyers, suppliers, and producers who work collectively to improve a fishery or farming area by pressing for better policies, changing fishing practices and reducing habitat impacts of sourcing. Any fishery improvement project must have clear objectives and timelines, as well as progress tracking and reporting.

 

Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI)

Publix has adopted the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative benchmark for the products covered in the Ocean Disclosure Project and our aquaculture products. The GSSI strives to develop an internationally agreed upon set of requirements to compare and measure the performance of seafood certification. This set of requirements helps to establish a consistent global benchmark for ecolabels and promotes continual improvement for sustainability. While these benchmarks will be established over time, this set of requirements will drive sustainability through the collaboration and recognition of legitimate ecolabels, allowing customers to make informed choices on the products they are purchasing.

 

For more information on our other sustainability efforts, you can view our sustainability website. What steps do you take to better our environment? Share them in the comments below.

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Behind the Products You Love, Produce

No Joke — It’s the Season for the Artichoke!

by | April 19, 2017 | no comments

April is the month for jokesters. But did you know it’s the month for delicious artichoke recipes, too? This budding thistle is at its season’s peak right now, so grab your taste buds and check out some fun and exciting  reasons to enjoy artichokes this spring!

 

A Historic Plant

Many often wonder if an artichoke is a vegetable, a fruit, or something else. In fact, an artichoke is an immature thistle, also known as a prickly, flowering plant. Artichokes have been written about and eaten for 4.19_Produce_SW_Artichoke_image 2 resizethousands of years, dating back to as early as 371 B.C., when they were being grown in Italy and Sicily. Wealthy Romans used to enjoy this plant dipped in honey and vinegar. After the fall of Rome, the plant became scarce but reemerged during the Renaissance.

In 1806, artichokes were brought to the United States, where they were cultivated in Louisiana. Today, almost all artichokes in America are grown in California.

FUN FACT:

Mythology says the artichoke was once a beautiful girl who was seduced by Zeus and made into a goddess. After becoming homesick and returning to the mortal world to visit her family, Zeus scolded her for her “un-goddess-like” behavior and hurled her back to earth to live as this prickly plant forever.

 

Tasty and Versatile

Artichokes are not only scrumptious, they also provide important nutrients. A half cup serving of cooked artichoke hearts is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K and folate. They also contain fiber, which helps support a healthy digestive system. Overall, artichokes are a great addition to your diet and are pretty tasty to boot!

FUN FACT:

Artichokes were illegal in New York for one week in the 1920s due to a member of the mafia monopolizing the market and causing “artichoke wars”.

 

Get Cookin’

Now that you know a little more about artichokes, try your hand at whipping up some recipes featuring this delicious thistle. Our Aprons Recipes are a great place to start!

What is your favorite way to enjoy this delectable plant? Share your ideas in the comments.

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Publix Culture

Mr. George Gold Coin Award: Ben Robb

by | April 17, 2017 | no comments

This month, we’re honored to share with you a Mr. George Gold Coin Award story that comes to us all the way from Harvest, Alabama. Why Harvest, Alabama you ask? Well, because that’s where honorary Gold Coin Award recipient and store manager, Ben Robb, calls home.

For a recap on the history behind our Mr. George Gold Coin Award or to take a look at some of the past Gold Coin Award stories, check out this page on our site!

Ben first joined the Publix team in 2003 as a cashier and has held numerous positions throughout the store, working his way up to Store Manager. When 04_17_Customer Service_CM_GC_Image 2speaking with Ben, he told us that it didn’t even take him a month on the job to fall in love with Publix and decide that it was where he wanted to make a career. To him, the Publix culture of ownership and sense of family is what encouraged him every day to want to give his absolute best and to help others succeed.

In his role as Store Manager, Ben’s favorite part is being able to watch his associates grow. He explained that there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing someone you have invested in step into a successful and rewarding career at Publix. He went to the further explain that he feels very blessed to have worked under some great Publix leaders who took the time to share with him what it means to be an owner in our great company. As a store manager, he feels it is now his obligation to share that same culture of ownership and of growing leaders from within with his fellow associates.

In Ben’s job, no two days are quite the same and he never truly knows what opportunities or challenges lie ahead. With that in mind, Ben told us that one thing is for certain — it’s never boring. He attributes his success to his very high energy and strong work ethic and says that he uses them interchangeably to ensure every customer leaves with a smile on their face, knowing that Publix will always be a place where they’ll find the friendliest, most helpful staff and the best products available.

In his free time, Ben enjoys hiking, spending time with family, playing the guitar (which he does fairly well) and singing (which he fails at miserably). He told us that every time, he records himself playing/singing expecting by some miracle to become the next big YouTube sensation, only to find out upon playback that he’s quite tone deaf. We’ll be sure to keep a lookout for his first big hit.

 

The Story

The holiday season was in full swing and if you’ve ever been inside a grocery store during this time (which I’m sure you have) you’ll know that translates to B-U-S-Y. It was Christmas Eve morning and although Ben closed the store the night before, he was excited to get to work and arrived early. Not even an hour into the day, one of the customer service associates notified him that there was a customer who needed assistance in the parking lot. Once outside, Ben found an elderly lady with a flat tire who appeared to be very upset.

She explained that she lives alone and didn’t have anyone to call to come help her with the situation. Of course, Ben assured her that there was nothing to worry about and got to work on changing the tire. Once removed from the trunk and placed on the hub, he noticed the spare was flat and that there was no way the car would be able to make it home. Lucky for them, a gas station sits directly across the street from the store, so Ben took it over to fill up and see if it would hold air. To both their surprises, the tire was able to hold air and it got her home safely. After offering to pay Ben for his time and being refused, she now makes it a point each time she shops to seek him out so she can say hello and give a big hug.

Ben said that at the time, he didn’t think what he’d done was all that out of the ordinary, stating that he only did what he hoped someone would have done for his own mother in the same situation. He went on to say that it just goes to show you how much the little things we do for each other can make such a huge impact on someone’s life. He considers himself fortunate for the opportunity to be involved and says that he is truly humbled to be recognized for his experience.

He ended our chat by saying how proud he is to work for a company that holds to its core philosophy that we should be there in the moment to take care of our customers and fellow associates. We close this story by saying how proud we are to have such an exemplary manager in the Publix family and look forward to seeing what lies ahead for him.

 

Have you ever witnessed an associate truly going above and beyond at your local Publix? Share your story with us on Facebook, Twitter, via our Contact Us page, or give our Customer Care team a call at (800) 242-1227.

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Recipes

Peanut Butter and Jelly – With a Twist

by | April 12, 2017 | no comments

Peanut butter and jelly is a beloved snack that satisfies your sweet tooth and your salty cravings all in one bite. Even better, it’s easy to make and is a favorite with children and adults alike. When it comes to this popular sandwich some like their peanut butter smooth while others like it crunchy ― everyone has a preference. However you like to eat your PB&J, we want to introduce you to a few new ways to enjoy this versatile snack on any day.

 

10 Twists on a Classic

1. Peanut butter is great, but have you ever tried an alternative like almond butter? Give it a shot, then try a few more like cashew and sunflower butters, too.

2. Grape jelly may be your go to, but why not try others like raspberry, blackberry, strawberry or apple? Marmalade flavors like orange and grapefruit are an appetizing change from your regular flavors. Take your taste buds on a new adventure.

3. Fresh fruit is a tasty alternative to jelly. Try cut bananas or apples, raisins, or berries of your choice on your sandwich. It’s delicious!

4. Adding honey or even marshmallow fluff is a sweet addition. Be sure to stop by the Publix Bakery to pick the perfect bread for your spread.

5. If you’re a fan of food from the county fair, think about frying your PB&J and sprinkling it with powdered sugar. For another sweet take, try our Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie. You’re sure to love it!

6. If frying is not for you, what about grilling your peanut butter and jelly? Warm, gooey peanut butter can’t be beat!

7. Use biscuits or crackers for miniature versions of this sandwich classic. English 04_12_Grocery_AJ_PBandJ_Image 2muffins make for a fun PB&J Snack Pizza that’s easy to travel with.

8. Waffles are a fun and scrumptious alternative to bread for your next PB&J.

9. Make a peanut butter and jelly roll. Flatten a piece of bread and spread jelly on one half and peanut butter on the other. Next, roll the bread like a wrap for an on-the go snack.

10. Add peanut butter to a berry smoothie to satisfy your next PB&J craving. This is a cool and refreshing post-workout treat.

 

Bonus: Last but not least, don’t forget the milk. While dairy milk is always a great choice to wash down that peanut butter, there are other types of milk you may be interested in trying. Next time you shop, think about picking up soy, almond, coconut, or even cashew milk to accompany your sandwich.

There you have it! 10 easy and tasty twists on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Do you have a twist of your own? Shout it out in the comments below.

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Recipes

How to Perfectly Hard-Boil an Egg

by | April 10, 2017 | no comments

When asking our fellow associates how they hard-boil eggs, we found that no two people follow the same process, and we have a feeling that you have your own techniques, too. Curiosity struck us as we asked ourselves, is there a “right way” to boil eggs? To solve this mystery, we reached out to our … (Read the full story)

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Sustainability

8 Ways to Reduce Waste

by | April 5, 2017 | no comments

It’s always a good time to think about improving your sustainability practices in your home. This may not be something you think of when you start to write out your goals for the year, but we want tp provide some simple tips to help you reduce waste and support the environment.

1. Washing machines: To conserve water, be sure to only run your washing machine when you have a full load of laundry. This ensures that you are minimizing machine usage and reducing the amount of water used.

2. Composting: Reduce landfill waste by composting your kitchen scraps and other leftover food. Compost is organic material that can be used as an addition to soil or as a method to grow plants. The composting process occurs when this organic material is broken down by microorganisms, creating nourishment for your soil.

3. Reusable bags: Publix reusable bags are not only pretty, they’re also purposeful.  To reduce the number of plastic bags used in our stores, we started offering reusable shopping bags to our customers more than 20 years ago. And guess what? One reusable bag can hold up to three regular plastic bags worth of groceries. Pick some up during your next shopping trip and see for yourself! If you already have a few, try keeping them in the car so you always have them when it’s time to shop.

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4. Double-sided printing: Whether you’re at home or work, one way to reduce waste is to print documents double-sided to use less paper. You can also use discarded documents as scrap paper for notes and lists. Don’t forget to recycle them when you’re finished!

5. Electricity: This one may be a no-brainer, but turning off lights and unplugging electronics when not in use is a great way to save on your next electric bill while maintaining a green routine. You can help yourself save money and energy with just the flip of a switch.

6. Heating and cooling efficiency: Close shades and curtains to keep cool air from escaping in the summer, and warm air in the winter. Be sure to close vents and doors of rooms that are not in use to keep air flow localized.

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7. Smart landscaping: When choosing the perfect flower bed or shrubs for your front yard, try picking foliage that doesn’t require much water. This is a great way to save not only water, but energy too!

8. Dishwasher loads: Similar to our tip on washing machines, it is best to use your dishwasher only when it is full for the most efficient water use.

 

Making small changes now can make a big difference when it comes to sustainability efforts for our future. Start with one thing on the list and work your way down. You can do it!