Latest News From Ashley Nickle

The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst, Northeast editor Amy Sowder and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss some of the big topics of the week, from the new infrastructure bill to buy local campaigns to retail strategy.

Disney princesses Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Merida, Moana, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Snow White and Tiana play starring roles in Dole’s newest campaign.

Grower-shippers anticipate a festive fall with gatherings galore – in other words, perfect conditions for pumpkins.

Produce marketers enlist a slew of social media platforms as part of their efforts to provide consumers with health messages, convenient meal solutions, recipe inspiration and more.

Episode 57 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features a conversation with David Magaña, a senior analyst for Rabobank who specializes in fresh produce.

The Packer's Tom Karst, Amy Sowder and Ashley Nickle discuss big topics of the week, from what's on tap for the annual Washington Conference to mushroom updates to the implications of a new Instacart deal.

Tom Karst, Ashley Nickle and Amy Sowder discussed PMA Foodservice, immigration reform, item identification at the register and more in this episode of Packer Insight.

Episode 56 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features a conversation with Bill Bishop about Instacart’s new deal with Fabric that allows the company to expand its ecommerce offerings to include micro fulfillment. 

Check out great content including perspective from industry contributors, commodity features, retailer insights and more in the latest issue of PMG magazine.

Episode 55 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features a conversation with Mike Mauti, managing partner of Execulytics, about assortment, merchandising, rings and more in the melon category.

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Grimmway Farms has voluntarily recalled certain organic and conventional carrot products because they may have been contaminated with salmonella.

Instacart has signed a multiyear deal with robotics company Fabric, expanding its e-commerce offerings to include automated order picking in micro fulfillment centers.

In this episode of Packer Insight, editor-in-chief Tom Karst, Northeast editor Amy Sowder and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss the California water crisis, the tomato wars and recent acquisition activity.

Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, which supplies more than 7,700 stores across the U.S., has agreed to acquire Sheboygan, Wis.-based Piggly Wiggly Midwest.

Kansas City, Kan.-based Associated Wholesale Grocers plans to expand next year with a new full-line wholesale division in the Upper Midwest, its ninth overall.

Tom Karst, Amy Sowder and Ashley Nickle discuss the FDA's exploration of regulating use of the term "healthy" on food labels, plus New York crops and retail awards, in this episode of Packer Insight.

Episode 54 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features a conversation between The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst and Desmond O’Rourke, an economist and longtime apple industry observer.

Episode 53 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features a conversation with three folks from Auburn University about how students are growing produce in shipping containers for use in the campus dining program.

PMG is once again showcasing great seasonal displays through its Produce Artist Award Series program, and all produce merchandisers, specialists and produce managers are welcome to participate.

Meal preparation habits established during the pandemic bode well for the fresh herbs category, as retail sales remain above 2019 levels even as demand flattens out amid the return of foodservice.

Foodservice demand for garlic has increased and retail demand has receded slightly as consumers return to restaurants – though people continue to prepare more meals at home than they did pre-pandemic.

Matthew Ryan, former chief marketing officer for Starbucks, is the new CEO of Rockingham, Va.-based Shenandoah Growers.

Episode 52 features a conversation with Stonehill Produce CEO Keith Slattery on the company's Market Pulse report; how getting strong information leads to better buying; and Mexican avocado supply and demand now.

Check out the video for a roundup of the big topics in produce this week with editor-in-chief Tom Karst and retail editor Ashley Nickle. 

Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets founder and patriarch Angelo Caputo died June 16 at the age of 89.

Total online grocery sales in May were 3.5 times higher than pre-pandemic levels, totaling $7.0 billion, according to the latest report from retail consulting firm Brick Meets Click.

Episode 51 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features a conversation with Kristina Lorusso, business development director for Giumarra, about the company's recent tests of autonomous trucks and aircraft to move produce.

The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst, retail editor Ashley Nickle and Northeast editor Amy Sowder discuss the return of foodservice in the latest episode of Packer Insight.

For Jay Schneider, a new role as head of produce for grocery delivery startup Gorillas US meant an opportunity to build a business from the ground up — and a chance to get back into the produce industry.

How the food dollar ultimately splits out between foodservice and retail remains to be seen, but right now both channels are experiencing growth.

If you've been wondering whether your business could benefit from a podcast, the Tuesday session in the Reimagine Conversations series was made for you, covering content planning, distribution, monetization and more.

Retail fresh produce sales totaled $17.8 billion in the first quarter of 2021, up 3.3% from the first quarter of 2020 and up 11.5% from the first quarter of 2019.

The National Mango Board has a message for retailers: To unlock the sales potential of the world’s most popular fruit in your stores, move mangoes out of the tropicals section and into the citrus set.

Mac Riggan, director of marketing for Chelan, Wash.-based Chelan Fresh Marketing, gives growers credit for their patience in cultivating specialty apple varieties like the red-flesh Lucy Rose and Lucy Glo.

Daren Van Dyke, director of marketing for Brawley, Calif.-based Five Crowns Marketing, reports great early acceptance of a new proprietary melon variety called the Picasso.

From a vast array of plumcots and apriums, to a menagerie of melons, to a brigade of roots and radishes, there is no shortage of options in the world of specialty produce, and consumers are intrigued.

The Packer's editors discuss the big topics of the week, from USDA's The Emergency Food Assistance Program to PLU stickers to Peruvian avocados — plus an industry conversation on labor, rising costs and forecasting.

Planning some wonderful watermelon displays for July and August? Of course you are! And you can get a little extra credit for your efforts by entering the National Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest.

United Fresh recently held the first session in its new education track featuring retail and foodservice industry leaders, and the discussion covered labor, forecasting, rising costs, packaging and more.

The Produce Retailer of the Year award has been presented over the last 25 years to some of the industry's best and brightest produce executives, people who both foster great cultures and achieve impressive results.

Episode 49 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features two conversations.

The Produce Marketing Association and the International Federation for Produce Standards have gone to bat for PLU stickers as environmental groups and some legislation target them for elimination.

The United Fresh Produce Association kicked off its education series Reimagine Conversations this week, and one of those conversations focused on the opportunity of experiential marketing.

Fresno, Calif.-based Trinity Fruit Co. is campaigning for “Peach, Love and Happiness” this stone fruit season, and it has a retail display available to go with its peaches, apricots, nectarines and plums.

Yerington, Nev.-based Peri & Sons Farms has a new gourmet organic line available in biodegradable and recyclable clam boxes.

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Atlas Produce & Distributors, which markets the Fresh Energy Medjool Dates brand, has two new sustainable packaging options.

Episode 48 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with Michelle Grainger, executive director of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission.

Retail consulting firm Brick Meets Click found in its latest consumer survey that online grocery sales continue to remain well above pre-pandemic levels even as month-over-month sales decline.

Grilling is always a significant cross-merchandising opportunity for fresh produce, and this year it is the focus for Houston-based MountainKing Potatoes even more so than usual.

We've got quite a lineup for you in this issue of PMG magazine. Along with a slew of commodity-focused features, the magazine features contributed columns from a number of well-respected industry leaders.