With about 20 produce exhibitors alone and dozens of other food exhibitors besides, the March 25-26 Associated Wholesale Grocers’ seventh annual Innovation Showcase and Annual Meeting was bigger than ever.
With Vidalia onions soon heading to supermarket shelves, retailers have options to enhance their marketing, and the Vidalia Onion Committee and Certified Angus Beef will feature a summer grilling series on social media.
Following Shuman Farms’ acquisition, the company now has 2,800 acres of Vidalia onions in the ground and has solidified itself as one of the largest grower-shippers in the industry, says John Shuman, president and CEO.
San Juan, Texas-based distributor Grande Produce spotlighted the variety during the Associated Wholesale Grocers’ seventh annual Innovation Showcase, held March 25-26.
Programs that provided free, weekly home delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms helped improve health outcomes, according to a study presented at a recent American Heart Association event.
San Antonio-based NatureSweet highlighted its Constellation three-color pack of mini sweet peppers at the Associated Wholesale Grocers’ seventh annual Innovation Showcase.
The bio-engineered purple tomato from Norfolk Healthy Produce will soon reach retail shelves, says Harold Paivarinta, senior director of sales for Red Sun Farms.
Sweetpotato retail per capita availability rose from 3.78 pounds in 2000 to 6.02 pounds in 2020, USDA statistics show. The momentum continued in 2023, according to retail scan data.
Since it began in 2001, the advisory committee has met up to two times per year to develop recommendations for submission to the agriculture secretary on issues affecting the U.S. produce industry.
