Latest News From Produce Retail

The store is the retailer's fifth neighborhood market, and it aims to bring fresh, local and convenient food to the city's Fairfax neighborhood.

Natural Grocers and its team of nutritional health coaches are kicking off the new year with “21 Days to a Healthier You,” a free three-class series from Jan. 22 to Feb. 11.

The annual meeting in Washington, D.C., brought grocers from across the country to finalize policy priorities aimed at strengthening the independent supermarket industry.

The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer has opened its first store in Kentucky, entering its eighth state of operation, with a 55,701-square-foot Louisville store.

With a large crop in apple-producing states, like Pennsylvania, marketers say there is a need to boost consumption. "That will take some time and some effort," said Chris Sandwick of Hess Bros. Fruit., Lancaster, Pa.

Are you eating five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day? Produce department staff can easily surpass that while on the job and be better prepared to educate customers about items, says columnist Armand Lobato.

The new subsidiary will provide fresh, prepared food and assembled goods for retailers, businesses and industry customers.

Aldi initiates positive impact by removing plastic shopping bags and sets goal to transition to natural refrigerants by the end of 2035.

The specialty artichokes are shipping now and will be intermittently available throughout the winter, the company says.

The year-end results highlight the challenge facing regional grocers in growing e-commerce in today’s competitive environment.

Though retail prices for fresh produce were down compared with a year ago, the inflation rate for all consumer prices ticked higher in December, the Commerce Department reports.

The new and improved Upside Dashboard redefines measurement, giving retailers data needed to make decisions regarding industry changes.

Stop & Shop and Badger Technologies are partnering on a #MartyTheRobot special promotion at the National Retail Federation 2024 in support of the School Food Pantry Program at New York City-area schools.

The Greensboro, N.C.-based grocer has named five food and beverage trends it predicts will be hot in the year ahead, with produce playing a role in each.

Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace will carry Edible Garden’s products in its retail locations throughout New York and New Jersey.

Retailers looking to better support and equip their produce managers have a new resource to explore.

Organic spinach has proven to be an essential ingredient in a successful modern produce department. Here's what The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 survey learned from produce shoppers' responses.

Michigan apple growers experienced some localized frost damage in the spring but still had a great growing year.

After growers faced a year of weather extremes in 2022, Washington state rebounded in 2023, increasing production by about 38% year over year, according to the U.S. Apple Association.

Adding these relatively simple showcases can compel customers to spend more time in the produce department — and raise the potential for purchases, says columnist Armand Lobato.

How does the fresh produce industry earn the business and sustain the trust of today’s conscious consumers committed to responsible purchasing? GOPEX 2024 will explore this with industry leaders across the supply chain.

The new study attempts to determine the value of “food-as-medicine” programs to treat diabetes by means of improved nutrition.

The National Grocers Association has announced promotions for three key senior staff executives.

The Boise, Idaho-based company said it will offer double rewards for healthy choices and quadruple rewards for Own Brands purchases during January.

With an emphasis on local produce, the specialty supermarket — boasting 15 stores in New York and one in New Jersey — sources the majority of its produce from Hunts Point Market in the Bronx, N.Y.

Giving consumers more options is a good way to promote mushroom sales, marketers say.

In November, all food prices were measured 2.9% higher than a year ago, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. The USDA has also provided an outlook for food prices in 2024.

How much is a good produce professional worth? Columnist Armand Lobato takes a look at how labor market conditions and employee intangibles factor into pay.

Will they or won’t they? Opposition remains as the planned transaction between the two retail grocery giants appears to be moving ahead.

The Ontario, Calif.-based Hispanic food retailer says it’s brightening the holidays for residents in the communities where Heritage banner grocery stores operate.

The growers of Envy apples recently collaborated with Hallmark Channel actor and entrepreneur Andrew Walker for a holiday apple sampling experience at Longo’s in Toronto. 

The versatile potato is one fresh produce commodity that consumers turn to when they are faced with grocery price inflation, The Packer's Fresh Trends 2024 survey reveals.

Dumping produce onto a fixture may make for a quick and easy display, but that "shortcut" ultimately costs a department in terms of sales, increased shrink and lower customer satisfaction, says columnist Armand Lobato.

Instacart and Fairway Market have announced the launch of "Fairway Now," a new fast home delivery service powered by Instacart.

This holiday season, Healthy Family Project and Lowes Foods partnered with 21 health-conscious brands for the first-ever Season of Sharing, providing 525,000 meals to local Feeding America food banks.

As inflationary pressures wage on this holiday season, the Cincinnati-based grocer continues to promote affordable and convenient meal planning ideas.

A California-based citrus brand is gearing up for a zestful celebration Dec. 20-23 at Tops Friendly Markets as part of its nationwide "Peelz on Wheelz" Citrus Road Tour.

Retailers can add to the excitement of the Super Bowl by enhancing their avocado categories with some innovative product tie-ins.

From the moment shoppers enter the 87,500-square-foot Astor Place Wegmans — the Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer's newest store — the fresh produce storytelling begins.

After a produce show ends, the work begins with developing your new contacts into strong business relationships — and there's a surefire way to make a great early impression, columnist Armand Lobato explains.

Consumer retail prices in November were up 3.1% compared to a year ago, down slightly from the 3.2% annual inflation rate reported in October.

The trade organization says it recognizes the dominance of Mexican avocados during this time of year and goes all out to help retailers score big returns by promoting the fruit.

It’s still December, but suppliers of avocados and avocado-related products say it’s not too early to start making plans for 2024 Super Bowl promotions.

Don't miss out on sales because a customer wandered the store looking for an item they couldn't find. Columnist Armand Lobato explains how your produce merchandising can help shoppers.

The report also said many shoppers have an interest in learning more about nutrition and health.

The Kearny, N.J.-based commercial-scale indoor vertical farm has added a new fruit tomato, available at select Whole Foods Markets.

The contest challenges contestants to build a snowman out of Fresh Del Monte Produce and Mann Packing Co. fruits and vegetables, with a chance to win a prize.

Heritage Grocers Group, an Ontario, Calif.-based Hispanic food retailer, is expanding its Las Vegas footprint with a new Cardenas Markets location slated to open Dec. 6.

The Arlington, Va.-based company says its CSR strategy includes working to provide solutions to environmental and social issues that matter most to its team members, communities and other valued stakeholders.

Like chess or any good board game, making sure that all the merchandising pieces fit together requires planning and anticipation, says columnist Armand Lobato.