Latest News From Retail

The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss the seasonal trade protection conversation and some great columns from industry members in this episode of Packer Insight.

SunWest Fruit Co., Parlier, Calif., is all treats and no tricks for Halloween, with branded yellow peaches — Peach-O-Ween — and mandarins — Mand-O-Ween.

With a record crop expected, the California Walnut industry is focusing on retail promotions to help move it.

Little Leaf Farms, Devens, Mass., has doubled its greenhouse capacity to 10 acres, shipping product from the addition this summer.

GoodLeaf’s 45,000 square-foot Guelph, Ontario, facility is now fully functional.

I love butternut squash — especially during the fall and winter when I want to eat cozy comfort foods but stay healthy at the same time.

Washington apple suppliers say they will survive the COVID-19 pandemic, but getting through it has required some adjustments.

Last week I touched on reasons why produce managers get transferred from one store to another. It happens as managers move about, taking on other responsibilities, opening a new store or transferring for other reasons.

Starr Ranch Growers, Wenatchee, Wash., is using a back-to-school sweepstakes to lighten up the transition more fun this year.

Sober acceptance of and aggressive responses to the coronavirus pandemic are creating a kind of “tempered” optimism among Washington’s apple grower-shippers and marketers in 2020.

Lao Tzu, the famous Chinese philosopher, said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

See the 2020 Fresh Trends Data on kiwifruit!

Here's the latest news on pears from The Packer!

Sliced apple company Crunch Pak, Cashmere, Wash., has new a new product, Lunch Kitz, featuring Woody the cowboy from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story movie franchise.

GrubMarket, San Francisco, has entered a new market — Texas — with yet another purchase of a fresh produce distributor.

Avocados From Mexico has established Avo University, a free online guide with separate training for retailers/wholesalers and foodservice personnel.

FiveStar Gourmet Foods, Ontario, Calif., is introducing a retail and school foodservice line with 12 stock-keeping units, designed to serve families and schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits, Summerland, British Columbia, has hired Bob Wilkinson as director of sales.

Things are sweet for the start of the SweeTango apple season.

As long as the new coronavirus hangs around, bagged potato sales will spike, say marketers of San Luis Valley potatoes.

Attendees will hear from Limoneira, Tanimura & Antle and Raley’s at the Sustainable Produce Summit about how their companies are prioritizing sustainable practices.

Lori Taylor, Kevin Byers and Brent Kawamura will discuss the consumer demand for sustainability in a panel conversation Sept. 24 at the Sustainable Produce Summit.

Four produce industry members will discuss their experiences with social responsibility certifications in a panel Sept. 24 at the Sustainable Produce Summit.

As the official start to autumn neared fall staples took more spots among the PMG top 20, but summer items and year-round favorites still held their own the week of Sept. 7.

Apple grower-shipper Honeybear Brands, Elgin, Minn., is partnering with the National Honey Board and retailers to educate consumers about the importance of pollinators.

Church Brothers Farms has four new value-added fresh-cut items under a new line called Ready Sides.

LGS Specialty Sales, New Rochelle, N.Y., is sponsoring a consumer contest, One Step at a Time, to raise awareness of breast cancer and encourage consumers to take steps toward better health.

Episode 14 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast, brought to you by The Packer and PMG, features an interview with Chris Keetch, director of produce for The Giant Co., and the banner's sustainability lead Kristin Skovira.

Mango and avocado distributor Fresh Directions International, Miami, has hired Andy Garces for the new position of sales and marketing manager.

Retail consulting firm Brick Meets Click found in its most recent consumer survey that roughly 37.5 million U.S. households used online grocery services in the month of August.

Thibodaux, La.-based Rouses Markets has launched a campaign with Produce for Kids that includes in-store signage, features in Rouses publications and Facebook Live videos.

Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis Markets has made significant price reductions on apples, potatoes, bagged salads, tomatoes-on-the-vine and more as part of its Low, Low Price program.

SpartanNash has selected as its new president and CEO Tony Sarsam, who was most recently the CEO at Borden Dairy Co. and before that was CEO of Irwindale, Calif.-based produce industry company Ready Pac Foods.

The Packer’s 2020 West Coast Produce Expo is expanding as a free virtual event.

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.

With another edition of Fast Facts: The Cast video series from Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers provides insights on selling apples in the summer and best promotion bets for the fall.

(UPDATED) Avocado company Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., has filed for an initial public offering, with plans to use the symbol “AVO” on the NASDAQ.

Harvest for this year’s crop of Sunions, marketed as the tearless sweet onions, is over, and the onions are undergoing a curing process.

The California Avocado Commission, Irvine, has opened an online merchandise shop for aficionados of the fruit, with shirts, socks, stickers and other items.

Wholly Guacamole is celebrating National Guacamole Day — Sept. 16 — with a drive-through stand for free guacamole and chips in Dallas.

Chiquita is offering banana-centric virtual backgrounds and new recipes to help keep students entertained in the new school year, whether that’s at home or in a classroom.

The National Potato Council, whose annual meeting is usually in connection with the Potato Expo in January, is scheduled the meeting to coincide with the group’s Potato D.C. Fly-In in February.

Kiwi berry season is underway at Domex Superfresh Growers, Yakima, Wash.

OprahMag.com, the online home of O! The Oprah Magazine, has praized Jazz apples, calling them “irresistibly crisp and juicy.”

It's time once again for fall, with apples, pears, squash, pumpkins and more ready for their turn in the spotlight — and it's also time for the folks who merchandise them to enjoy a little spotlight of their own!

The Packer's editors cover topics this week including a land acquisition by Gladstone, a new partnership on reducing food waste, the Sustainable Produce Summit, and the fall season of the Produce Artist Award Series.

As the next phase for the restaurant industry becomes clearer, how will distributors and restaurants prepare for what could be a very difficult fall and winter?

“You’re being transferred.”

Dole Food Co. is promoting plantains this fall, and with the trend of families eating at home continuing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is exploring ways to include them in comfort food.

Check out the 2020 Fresh Trends Data on eggplant.