Latest News From Ashley Nickle

The latest episode of Millennials Eat is all about melons, from varieties to selling strategies to taste testing. 

Episode 9 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with former Walmart produce executive Bruce Peterson, who discusses his expectations for the evolution of produce retail in the coming years.

Rouses Markets has big plans for Hatch chile season.

How was your experience at PMA Foodservice Delivered? The Packer's Tom Karst, Ashley Nickle and Amy Sowder compare notes on the second big online event for the produce industry in this episode of Packer Insight.

Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Friendly Markets has kicked off an eight-week Summer Sell-a-bration display contest for its produce departments.

Datassential found in a recent survey that many foodservice operators are purchasing less fresh product as they reduce their order frequency to adjust for lower demand.

Publix has again partnered with Produce for Kids to encourage its shoppers, particularly families with children, to eat more produce.

National Mango Day is arriving on the heels of strong growth for sales of the fruit in the first half of 2020.

Retail sales of fresh vegetables continue to significantly exceed 2019 as many consumers continue to eat more meals at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Episode 8 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast, brought to you by The Packer and PMG, features an interview with Shannon Kyle, who handles sales and marketing for Torrey Farms in Elba, N.Y.

Aldi now has 2,000 stores, and it plans to open another 70 new locations by the end of the year.

Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce has entered an exclusive partnership with Hazel Technologies for a new program called AvoLast that keeps fruit ripe longer.

Editor-in-chief Tom Karst, retail editor Ashley Nickle and Northeast editor Amy Sowder discuss key topics from the week, including how growers, school foodservice and retail are adjusting amid COVID-19.

Fresh produce dollar sales for the biggest holiday week of the summer totaled $1.54 billion, up 9% from 2019.

Episode 7 of the Tip of the Iceberg Podcast, brought to you by The Packer and PMG, features an interview with industry veteran John Pandol, director of special projects for Delano, Calif.-based Pandol Bros.

While it’s often used in sweet dishes and beverages – smoothies, breakfast bowls, ice cream, tarts, cocktails – some chefs are branching out.

Episode 6 of the Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with retail veteran Mike O'Brien, whose tenure included 15 years as a vice president of produce, on the topic of produce manager succession planning.

The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss the big stories of the week, from Farmers to Families Food Box Program contracts to USMCA to new store formats for Raley's and Schnucks.

Pleasant Prairie, Wis.-based Good Foods Group plans to debut in the coming weeks a direct-to-consumer site.

The first Raley’s O-N-E Market made its debut in late June in Truckee, Calif., its produce department filled with organic fruits and vegetables.

Fresh produce plays a starring role at EatWell, the new natural store format St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets debuted in late June in Columbia, Mo.

Retail Feedback Group reports in its 2020 U.S. Online & In-Store Grocery Shopping Study that 50% of in-store supermarket shoppers also ordered groceries online in the last 30 days.

Fresh produce dollar sales growth over 2019 topped 15% in the third week of June, boosted by Father’s Day weekend, with vegetables experiencing sales growth of more than 20%.

Albertsons co-chairman Jim Donald will discuss the role of organics, changes in consumer behavior due to COVID-19 and more during an online Organic Produce Summit session July 9.

Bert Barnes, account manager and corn commodity manager for Oviedo, Fla.-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods, provided an update June 29 on how sweet corn supply and quality are looking heading into the Fourth of July weekend.

Episode 5 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with Karen Lewis, Washington State University regional tree fruit specialist, about the future of robotic apple harvesting.

Tom Karst, Ashley Nickle and Amy Sowder discuss some of the key topics of the week, from requested changes on direct payments to growers, to COVID-19 outbreaks at produce operations, to retail awards.

Fresh produce dollar sales growth fell below 10% for the first time in nearly two months as the timing of Father’s Day produced unfavorable sales comparisons for some items.

Episode 4 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features a discussion between editor-in-chief Tom Karst, retail editor Ashley Nickle and Northeast editor Amy Sowder about the industry's first virtual trade show.

Sunkist's Julie DeWolf and Christina Ward spoke with The Packer's Ashley Nickle about what the company did to make the most of the industry's first virtual trade show.

Mary Coppola, vice president of marketing and communications for the United Fresh Produce Association, said the engagement of retailers on its United Fresh Live! virtual platform exceeded United's expectations.

The award recipient each year is featured on the cover of our magazine — now PMG, formerly Produce Retailer — and recognized in a ceremony at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit.

Editor-in-chief Tom Karst, retail editor Ashley Nickle and Northeast editor Amy Sowder discuss their experiences on the trade show "floor" and what they heard from exhibitors at the United Fresh Live! virtual event.

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce highlighted at its United Fresh Live! booth several of its newest products, including its Honey Bombs cherry tomatoes-on-the-vine and its Shazam! and Kaboom! peppers.

Windset Farms spoke with visitors to its United Fresh Live! booth about its greenhouse-grown Cameo cherry tomatoes-on-the-vine, its Crescendo long peppers, its Fresco Baby Cucumbers and other items.

Pharr, Texas-based wholesaler Sweet Seasons spoke with booth visitors at United Fresh Live! about its recently opened online store and kept an eye out for producers and tech companies with which it could partner.

Mount Maunganui, New Zealand-based Zespri and Miami-based Fresh Directions International shared a booth at the first-ever United Fresh Live! virtual event.

Bancroft, Wis.-based RPE discussed at its United Fresh Live! booth products including the American Blend, which features red, white and blue bite-size potatoes in a 24-ounce bag with an American flag graphic.

Seald Sweet made a point at its United Fresh Live! booth to emphasize the international aspect of its business, introducing visitors to its growers around the world as part of its video education offerings.

Pharr, Texas-based Villita Avocados plans to debut in mid-July a guacamole product line under its We Love Guac label.

If you read the headline and shuddered a little inside, you’re not alone.

Yuma, Ariz.-based Bard Valley Date Growers has introduced a new product: dark chocolate-covered Medjool dates with sea salt.

Fresh produce companies that exhibited at United Fresh Live! praised the organization for adapting amid the COVID-19 pandemic and creating a positive experience despite having to hold the event online.

The United Fresh Produce Association had a surprise waiting for the finalists of the Retail Produce Manager Awards and Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards at the general session of United Fresh Live! on June 18.

Five produce managers being recognized this year by United as some of the best in the nation listed partnerships, marketing investment and sampling as key factors in successful new product launches.

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers has been talking with virtual booth visitors at United Fresh Live! about its cherries, its Rave apples and its stone fruit.

Robinson Fresh had been laying the groundwork to help customers handle more e-commerce business since before the pandemic, and at United Fresh Live! they talked with booth visitors about their findings in that area.

Plant City, Fla.-based Wish Farms introduced a brand refresh and new labels at the United Fresh Live! virtual trade show.

Fresh produce dollar sales remained 13% above 2019 in the first week of June, boosted by solid performance from the fruit category.

The Packer's Tom Karst, Ashley Nickle and Amy Sowder share their first impressions of the United Fresh Live! trade show, the first of its kind for the produce industry, after day one of the virtual event.