Latest News From Retail

Hazel Technologies, Chicago, has a new line of the company’s shelf-life extending products approved for organic produce, Hazel O.

Todd Bernitt ascribes his success to a simple tenet: Be true to your word.

Ark Foods, Brooklyn, N.Y., is showcasing a new line, Clean Label Salads, at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

Produce suppliers and retailers can boost consumption by communicating about how different fruits and vegetables can mitigate the challenges consumers currently face, a Fresh Summit panel of industry members agreed.

Superior Fresh has introduced an organic salad, Citrus Splash.

Watsonville, Calif.-based Discroll’s is capturing authentic family “slice of life” moments with the launch of its Sweetness Worth Sharing promotion.

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce has a new SKU in its on-the-vine snacking tomato lineup: Lolli Bombs.

The Pinkglow pineapple, grown by Del Monte Fresh Produce, is now available for purchase online.

Curious about Tots from Intergrow? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

Curious about the new vegetable meal kits and new chopped salads from Taylor Farms? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series.

Curious about the new salads coming from Bonduelle? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

Curious about Simply Fresh 2GO from FiveStar Gourmet? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

A review of retail sales data by Stemilt Growers’ Roger Pepperl an Brianna Shales shows apples have been a strong performer for the last quarter, and there is more to come.

Curious about Yowzers! from Mastronardi? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

Curious about plant-based dips from Fresh Cravings? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

Curious about Bento Bliss? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

Curious about Lunch Kitz? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

Curious about Ready Sides? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

USA Pears is offering pear consumers a chance to win a outdoor pizza oven with the group’s #pearpizza takeover contest during National Pizza Month in October.

Belding, Mich.-based BelleHarvest  is introducing PAW Patrol branded apples.

In 1927 William Consalo Sr. started the Consalo family business. Two generations later Skip Consalo was born into it. He has been in the produce business his whole life.

Joe Barsi thinks of himself as an optimistic people person who is a lifetime learner.

A survey of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers found more that 85% reported paying more for groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Veg-Fresh Farms, Corona, Calif., is starting its winter citrus season.

Southern Specialties Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The borders may remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Summer Citrus from South Africa is able to participate in the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit Oct. 13-15.

The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst, news editor Chris Koger and retail editor Ashley Nickle bring you the news of the week, from romaine rules to H-2A confusion to news about two Produce Retailer of the Year winners.

Mike Orf, vice president of produce operations for Hy-Vee and the 2018 Produce Retailer of the Year, has retired.

Grower-shippers of Red River Valley potatoes offer a selection of consumer packs in addition to the larger-sized sacks, cartons and totes they ship to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers.

Non-browning Arctic apple slices, grown primarily for the foodservice market, are now available in convenience stores.

Wonderful Pistachios, Los Angeles, is adding BBQ and Sea Salt & Vinegar to its No Shells line.

Dole’s conventional and organic banana supply looks to be at or above normal levels for the near term.

Mission's initial public offering has provided some insights on opportunities the company is looking to pursue in the coming years.

Meijer is recalling whole and fresh-cut cantaloupe products after a sampling program in Michigan detected salmonella.

The organic food industry in Canada continues to see growth, with sales now at $6.9 billion annually, representing 3.2% of grocery sales.

Fresno, Calif.-based Sun-Maid is introducing new flavors and packaging for its yogurt-covered raisins.

Ayco Farms Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., is starting its 15th offshore melon season in November.

Dec. 5 is World Pear Day and Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers says its Rushing Rivers pears offer perfect promotion opportunities.

The Giumarra Cos., Los Angeles, is testing deliveries of fruit by planes without pilots and had its first successful flight recently.

Jeff Cady, director of produce and floral for Tops Friendly Markets, is PMG's 2020 Produce Retailer of the Year.

Episode 17 features an interview with Driscoll's president Soren Bjorn on the growth of the blueberry retail sales, the issue of seasonal trade protection, and alternatives to quotas and tariffs. 

Pre-packaged salads reign in online grocery just like they do in brick-and-mortar grocery, according to the latest FreshFacts on Retail report.

Potatoes, tomatoes, oranges and cherries have seen significant sales increases amid the pandemic, while mixed fruit, tangerines and party platters have experienced dips.

Nearly everyone consumes bananas and that makes the fruit a powerhouse category for supermarkets.

Fresh vegetable sales for the second quarter of the year totaled $9.6 billion, with fresh fruit adding $9.3 billion, according to the newest FreshFacts on Retail report.

Country Fresh has extended a fresh-cut watermelon recall to include items with grapes and fresh-cut apples, mangoes, pineapples and cantaloupe that were distributed to Walmart stores in nine states.

Al Romero, senior merchandising manager for 99 Cents Only Stores, has received the Produce Marketing Association’s Impact Award.

Israeli startup W-Cycle has developed a plastic-free packaging from sugarcane waste, SupraPulp, that can be used with fruit and vegetables and other food.

The Packer’s Tom Karst spoke Sept. 30 with Don Goodwin, founder of GoldenSun Insights about the firm’s transition to new owners Jason Fuller and Randy Riley and the extent of his continuing role with the company.

More than a dozen companies that supply produce in the U.S. have joined the 10x20x30 initiative, in which a group of 10-plus retailers have at least 20 suppliers who pledge to cut foot loss and waste in half by 2030.