Latest News From Know Your Market

Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt said consumers are seeing the value in buying locally grown produce more since the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of the supply chain.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program has been a boon for several produce suppliers in the U.S. Heartland as well as for hungry consumers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

When C&C Produce Inc. decided to take part in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box program, it gave the company an incentive to move forward with some needed enhancements.

Produce suppliers throughout the U.S. Heartland continue to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with most enjoying a sales boost on the retail side while foodservice business is taking a hit.

Politicians know how to win people over to their cause, and Mark Smith is doing just that in the span of two years in the fresh-produce industry.

Business generally remains strong in the St. Louis, Mo., market, with the COVID-19 pandemic having varying effects on sales at area produce distributors.

Produce sales to foodservice operators have dipped significantly in the St. Louis market as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Distributors know that any resurgence won’t happen overnight.

Tom Lange Co. is marking the 60th anniversary of its founding in St. Louis, Mo., this year.

New York-based Bowery Farming has hired Colin Nelson in the newly-created role of chief supply chain officer. 

About 4.2 million people live and eat in the greater Montreal metro area, a population that growers, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants and marketers want to feed with their fresh produce as much as possible

The foodservice sector of the Greater Montreal produce industry held its collective breath for three months between March and June and has been trying to catch it ever since.

Montreal Produce Terminal Market moved in late spring from an outdoor terminal in the Central Market area to a $40 million, 120,000-square-foot renovated and rebuilt facility.

Most people embark on a hodgepodge approach to building sustainability into their business plan, said Andrew Southwood, owner of Montreal-based Fresh Xpressions.

Online ordering has become commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some in the Detroit-area produce industry say there could be a downside for the fresh fruit and vegetable categories.

As in most regions of the U.S., supermarket business in Michigan has been strong since the COVID-19 pandemic hit earlier this year, and foodservice sales dropped dramatically before showing some signs of a rebound.

They say what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Greater Montreal's produce professionals are applying that adage more than ever. See what Pierre Dolbec of Vegpro International has to say about 2020.

Bronx, N.Y.-based online grocer FreshDirect is seeing a 46% increase in year-over-year sales for the back-to-school week that sets the tone for fall sales to come. 

Yes, ginger sales skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic more than any other commodity in Boston, as it did elsewhere.

Produce company leaders in the greater Boston area have been pivoting so much since March that they could enter a dance contest.

The Chelsea-Everett area bordering Boston was hit hard — really hard — by the new coronavirus in March and April, but many of the region’s produce companies are inching their way back to better days.

The Twin Cities supermarket scene is as competitive as ever, giving local consumers an opportunity to spend their food dollars at any of a number of high-performing retail chains.

Bix Produce has swung into action not only to keep its customers well stocked, but to do whatever is necessary to help them adapt to new ways of doing business, said Alejandro Montoya, CEO and CFO.

Minnesota may be the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but it’s also the land of 10,000 restaurants, according to St. Paul-based Hospitality Minnesota.

Produce business seems to be doing well in the Twin Cities area as fall approaches, at least in part due to consumer reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.

WESTCHESTER, NY — FreshDirect trucks, seemingly ubiquitous in New York City, are popping up more and more in surrounding suburbs.

Philadelphia’s produce shoppers are returning to basics while driving digital methods into high gear.

Video: Richard “RJ” Durante, 32, may not have the decades of muscle memory that many of his Philly colleagues do, but he's been around for a few market dips. Hear his take on sales these days.

Like for-profit food businesses, charitable food organizations are having to adjust or pause since the coronavirus started — including groups that redistribute fresh produce otherwise going to waste.

The 2020 Quebec Produce Marketing Association’s live online general meeting and industry brunch shared what the association has been doing the past year and recognized industry leaders.

The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market reduced its waste by 80% in less than six months after hiring professional help.

The coronavirus has thrown new challenges at Philadelphia produce shippers and wholesalers as they manage customer and employee relationships.

Landover, Md.-based Giant Food Stores are king of the hill and likely to stay that way.

Bronx, N.Y.-based FreshDirect is enhancing its service offering to the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Coosemans DC, Jessup, Md., is now offering a sustainable fresh herb bag program in addition to the traditional clamshell packs for retail herbs.

For produce box delivery company Hungry Harvest, COVID-19 has meant big business.

The struggles of U.S. foodservice operators have been well-publicized since March, and the ramifications for the produce trade are well-evident in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., markets.

Coastal Sunbelt Produce was in the room where it all started.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Maryland’s Best program is doing its part to make sure that the state’s fruits and vegetables are top of mind for consumers in the region.

The trend for fresh produce consumption continues to spiral upward, even though the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 has skewed purchases heavily on the retail side, suppliers say.

Sirna & Sons Produce has brought in Allie Sirna as the second member of the Sirna family’s fourth generation to join the company, said Tom Sirna, president.

Sanfillipo Produce Co. has upgraded its online ordering system, said Jamie Sanfil-lipo, partner and sales manager.

The Newcomerstown, Ohio-based Fruit Growers Marketing Association has partnered with Fremont, Ohio-based Great River Organics to launch a local organic line of vegetables.

The Columbus-based Ohio Restaurant Association has launched a couple of initiatives stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, said Homa Moheimani, director of communications.

New York, N.Y.-based Bowery Farming is redesigning its brand with a new logo, website design and product packaging.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put some expansion plans on hold at D.R. Walcher Farms in North Fairfield, Ohio, said Ken Holthouse, partner.

For Ohio produce suppliers and their foodservice clients, things were going — and growing — smoothly through the winter months.

“We’re going to have another set of docks and also getting drawings made to have a 12,000-square-foot addition to our processing center,” said Alex DiNovo, president and COO.

Willard, Ohio-based Buurma Farms Inc. added some new equipment for this year, said Loren Buurma, partner.

Food waste and hunger are entangled problems with a common solution, Talia Shandler of Los Angeles-based SGS Produce said about the message in the Emmy-nominated “LA Foodways” documentary.

There may be a pandemic on, but produce growers and distributors in Ohio say they’re in robust health.