Latest News From Retail

It has been a full year since the COVID-19 pandemic began and a May 5 Produce Marketing Association Town Hall program looked at some of the lessons learned.

Growers and packers are using more top-seal clamshell packages for their blueberries to meet the shifting demand from consumers for less plastic.

With more than 20 years of experience in the North American supermarket industry, Mike Mauti has learned “Retail 101” firsthand.

Fresh fruit prices increased 0.7% from February to March, and are now 5.6% higher than in March 2020, a new Food Price Outlook report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says.

Fruit and vegetable benefits under the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program could triple for up to four months because of a funding boost from Congress.

Toronto, Ontario-based Reunion Foods, which markets plant-based brand Mother Raw, has launched three more salad dressing varieties and plans to launch a new line of dips this summer.

Carpinteria, Calif.-based Hollandia Produce, which markets the Pete’s brand, has a new packaged salad line called Greenhouse Fresh.

Rockingham, Va.-based Shenandoah Growers has new prefilled shippers available for its living herbs.

New packaging is coming for Charleston, S.C.-based hydroponic leafy greens grower Vertical Roots.

The extensive salad portfolio of Charlotte, N.C.-based Dole Food Co. continues to grow, with more additions coming this summer and others scheduled for later in the year.

With consumer expectations rising, packaging continues to evolve for organic produce marketers.

Per capita consumption of lemons and limes continues to grow, U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers show.

2020 was a record year for mangoes, with a double-digit lift in volume velocity, at 12%, according to the National Mango Board. And whole-mango dollar velocity was up 19% year over year.

The organic produce category continues to see growth thanks to a devoted group of core shoppers, high interest among younger generations, and the perception that organic is healthier than conventional.

The stand-up pouch bag is still the dominant package for California cherries, but top-seal clamshells are making inroads, shippers say.

The U.S. online grocery market finished March with $9.3 billion in sales, a return to January’s record spending levels.

As National Salad Month approaches, here are a few updates from brands around the country.

Value-added leafy greens accounted for nearly 10% of total fresh produce sales at retail in 2020, bringing in $7.2 billion and demonstrating continued strong demand for convenience items.

The COVID-19 pandemic demanded course corrections for California cherry marketers in 2020.

The digital edition of the March-April issue of PMG is now available! 

Categories we want to spotlight this season are berries, sweet corn, Vidalia onions, asparagus and mangoes.

Walmart U.S. has announced new pollinator commitments that the company said will further its efforts to help reverse nature loss and ultimately bring it closer to meeting nature-related goals.

JAZZ™ apples are joining an epic adventure thanks to an exclusive new partnership with the highly anticipated new DreamWorks Animation film, Spirit Untamed.

A new market research tool shows that produce is among the least vulnerable retail categories when foodservice sales accelerate as the COIVD-19 pandemic eases.

Here’s a recap of opportunities identified and recommendations offered April 7 at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure.

Two experts cover how significant this is for the industry, what new capabilities represent incremental change versus transformational change, and what other areas have truly transformative potential.

Chicago-based market research firm Numerator has launched a Vaccinated Shopper Behavior Tracker to study the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on consumer shopping behavior. 

Twenty-five more produce managers have received a significant career honor this week in being named the 2021 winners in the United Fresh Produce Association's Retail Produce Manager Awards Program.

A multi-year partnership between Albertsons and Google will leverage the latter’s artificial intelligence tools and other technologies with the goal of creating a more convenient shopping experience.

Houston-based MountainKing is introducing new marketing support for its Butter Reds.

Clamshell packaging is still dominant for California strawberries, marketers say, but there is industry investment in sustainable packaging options.

New York City-based vertical grower Bowery Farming has placed its products in 275 Safeway and Acme stores in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Produce retail’s winning streak against year-ago sales numbers continued in February, with the category bringing in $5.3 billion, up 10.1% from 2020.

Cinco de Mayo is coming soon, and once again the holiday presents opportunities to leverage countless cross-merchandising combinations and point-of-sale material.

“We’re kicking your load.” Delivering that message to a produce buyer is the toughest part of the job for quality assurance personnel. 

Cinco de Mayo is coming soon, and once again the holiday presents opportunities to leverage countless cross-merchandising combinations and point-of-sale material.

Cinco de Mayo is coming soon, and once again the holiday presents opportunities to leverage countless cross-merchandising combinations and point-of-sale material.

Cinco de Mayo is coming soon, and once again the holiday presents opportunities to leverage countless cross-merchandising combinations and point-of-sale material.

Cinco de Mayo is coming soon, and once again the holiday presents opportunities to leverage countless cross-merchandising combinations and point-of-sale material.

The latest FreshFacts on Retail report from the United Fresh Produce Association shows that the value-added segment continues to create big value for the produce industry.

Online grocery sales in the U.S. declined 14% in February as fewer consumers – particularly those 60 and older – used grocery pickup, delivery and ship-to-home services.

The Environmental Working Group has released its 2021 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, also known as the “Dirty Dozen” list.  

A new report reveals citrus, Asian and Indian vegetables including cooking roots such as garlic, ginger and turmeric, lead the way in year-on-year growth during 2020 in Ontario retail produce departments. 

New York City-based online grocer FreshDirect has more experience than most retailers when it comes to merchandising produce on an e-commerce platform.

PMG's Produce Artist Award Series wraps up its winter contest March 23, so turn in your favorite displays from this season to ProduceArtistAwards@ProduceMarketGuide.com to join the fun!

Avocados and mangoes are a couple of the top produce items for Cinco de Mayo, and suppliers expect demand to be strong despite different consumer patterns than previous years.

Citrus, Asian and Indian vegetables including cooking roots such as garlic, ginger and turmeric, lead the way in year-on-year growth during 2020 in Ontario retail produce departments. 

Wenatchee, Wash.-based CMI Orchards has released an innovative new program, Flavogram®, to help consumers compare apples to apples.

Summer is several months away, but if there’s one message I think about now, it’s “game on!”

Oxnard, Calif.-based Mission Produce, Inc. has launched Opt For Avo, a health and lifestyle campaign designed to promote healthy lifestyles with avocados.