Ashley Nickle

Ashley Nickle is a staff writer for The Packer. She started her journalism career while in college, working for three years as the Kansas State football and men’s basketball correspondent for The Associated Press after starting with the school paper. Two weeks after her graduation in 2013, she moved from Olathe, Kan., to Detroit to take a full-time job as a sports writer for CBS Detroit. She covered the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons, daily conducting interviews and writing articles while attending practices and games. A native of Olathe, Ashley returned to the Kansas City area in 2015 and did freelance work covering the Chiefs, Royals, and University of Kansas and Kansas State football for the Associated Press, the Kansas City Star and Chiefs Digest. She also worked as a copy editor for The Topeka Capital-Journal.

Latest Stories
MountainKing is awarding a ThermoPro wireless meat thermometer every week through September to the produce manager with the best-looking retail display using its potatoes.
MountainKing Potatoes highlights grilling cross-promotion opportunity with display contest
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
Listen on the go to industry conversations with The Packer's Tip of the Iceberg Podcast.
Produce Crops
Podcast — North Carolina SweetPotato Commission’s Michelle Grainger
Episode 48 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with Michelle Grainger, executive director of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
Online grocery sales have remained elevated even as consumers get vaccinated and traditional activities resume.
Retail
Online grocery sales remain elevated as consumers plan to continue shopping online
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
Mangoes in the citrus section? The National Mango Board believes there are several reasons these fruits are perfect for each other.
The case for mangoes in the citrus section
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
Jeff Cady received the Produce Retailer of the Year award in 2020.
Nominate for 2021 Produce Retailer of the Year
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
It's the time of year to go big on watermelon.
Annual watermelon display contest kicks off next month
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
Color breaking works even when product is packaged instead of bulk.
Retail
Q1 report from United puts spotlight on retail produce sales
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
Shoppers are looking for unique items with great flavor and color, and their interest in discovering new items is driving sales of specialty varieties, grower-shippers report.
Industry
Specialty produce items spark interest with flavor, culinary appeal
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
Industry leaders gathered at one of the recent United Fresh education session to discuss what's ahead in fresh produce.
Industry
Industry leaders talk labor shortage, rising costs, packaging and more
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
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Ashley Nickle
Clockwise from left: Amy Sowder, Ashley Nickle, Tom Karst
Industry
Packer Insight — TEFAP, PLU stickers, Peruvian avocados and more
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.
November 15, 2022 01:29 AM
 · 
Ashley Nickle
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