Latest News From Retail

FreshDirect partners with Fabric to expand to Washington, D.C
FreshDirect partners with Fabric to expand to Washington, D.C

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

United Fresh to host supplier and buyer matchmaking meetings

The United Fresh Produce Association is bringing back its retail-foodservice speed dating sessions as part of the offerings of United Fresh LIVE! 365.

California Avocado Commission targets at-home consumers
California Avocado Commission targets at-home consumers

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the California Avocado Commission to shift some elements of its planned advertising and social media campaign to use tactics that reach targeted consumers at home.

Onions beat out cucumbers on PMG
Onions beat out cucumbers on PMG

Sweet onions unseated cucumbers as No. 1 on PMG the week of Aug. 10, climbing from No. 10 the previous week, and bulb onions took No. 2.

Marketers expect strong demand for pumpkins despite COVID-19
Marketers expect strong demand for pumpkins despite COVID-19

The fact that COVID-19 may well lead to the cancellation of favorite fall activities, including Halloween, doesn’t bother the vice president of sales and marketing for Keenes, Ill.-based Frey Farms in the least. 

Chilean importers plan plethora of promotions
Chilean importers plan plethora of promotions

It’s too early for an official forecast of how many avocados Chilean growers will ship to the U.S. market this season, but some importers expect volume to be less than last season’s 27 million pounds.

Phillips updates packaging

Phillips Mushroom Farms, Kennett Square, Pa., has updated the packaging for its popular Gourmet Blend, which contains baby bella, oyster and shiitake mushrooms, said Sean Steller, director of business development.

Coosemans DC offers sustainable packaging option for fresh herbs
Coosemans DC offers sustainable packaging option for fresh herbs

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

Avocados From Mexico plans fall promotions
Avocados From Mexico plans fall promotions

Avocados From Mexico is kicking off the fall season with two unique promotional campaigns designed to elevate engagement, expand usage and increase basket size.

Albertsons to bring Plenty leafy greens to 400-plus stores
Albertsons to bring Plenty leafy greens to 400-plus stores

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons has entered into an agreement with South San Francisco, Calif.-based Plenty Unlimited to bring its leafy greens to more than 430 California stores.

Recalled salsa contains onions from Thomson International
Recalled salsa contains onions from Thomson International

Salsa joins the list of recalled food caught up in a nationwide advisory on onions because of an outbreak of Salmonella Newport.

Quebec growers battle a ‘season to remember’
Quebec growers battle a ‘season to remember’

In certain areas of Quebec, crops thrive in that special mucky, black soil that many upstate New York growers enjoy.

Retail produce sales growth slows amid economic pressure
Retail produce sales growth slows amid economic pressure

Dollar sales of fresh produce at retail remained higher than usual at the end of July, though growth was lower than in previous weeks.

Giumarra flies Central Valley peaches to Southern California

Tree-ripened peaches from California’s San Joaquin Valley were shipped by air to four Gelson’s stores in the Los Angeles region, and the experiment was hailed as a success.

National Mango Board to host marketing-focused webinar Aug. 18
National Mango Board to host marketing-focused webinar Aug. 18

The National Mango Board will present next week a webinar entitled “Breaking Point or Pivot Point? How a Microscopic Menace Ignited Monumental Marketing Changes.”

Good Foods receives recognition for R&D
Good Foods receives recognition for R&D

The research and development team at Pleasant Prairie, Wis.-based Good Foods has been named one of the best of the year by Food Processing magazine.

Tip of the Iceberg Podcast — Jeff Cady talks sustainability at Tops
Tip of the Iceberg Podcast — Jeff Cady talks sustainability at Tops

Episode 11 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast, brought to you by The Packer and PMG, features an interview with Jeff Cady, director of produce and floral for Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Friendly Markets.

Companies keep COVID-19 in mind while marketing to parents
Companies keep COVID-19 in mind while marketing to parents

Long-standing components of produce marketing campaigns targeted to kids and parents have taken on a new relevance as a back-to-school season unlike any other approaches.

Progressive Produce recalls onions from Ralph’s, Trader Joe’s
Progressive Produce recalls onions from Ralph’s, Trader Joe’s

Progressive Produce LLC., Los Angeles, is recalling a limited amount of red and yellow onions it distributed to retailers in the Western U.S.

Tops pilots Flashfood program to reduce food waste
Tops pilots Flashfood program to reduce food waste

Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Friendly Markets is piloting in six locations the food waste reduction program Flashfood.

Blue Goose plum season starts for Oppy

The season for The Oppenheimer Group’s Blue Goose plum brand has started.

Hungry Harvest in right spot at right time
Hungry Harvest in right spot at right time

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

Villita Avocados Inc. plans to release its first-ever line of guacamole products and avocado pulp in August, Acosta says.
Villita launches new products

Villita Avocados Inc. has a couple of major projects in the works.

Food stamps for restaurants
Food stamps for restaurants

To stay afloat, many restaurants have reduced offerings, cut hours and increased pricing. For most , none of this is sustainable for the long term. What are we going to do as a country to help restaurants out?

Cailin Kowalewski promoted at New York Apple Association

The New York Apple Association, Fishers, has promoted Cailin Kowalewski to account promotion manager.

Bananas for the grill? Yes.
Bananas for the grill? Yes.

Chiquita has ideas for summer grillers, with four recipes that make bananas the focus of cookouts.

Listeria on packing equipment sparks Freshouse citrus, potato recall
Listeria on packing equipment sparks Freshouse citrus, potato recall

Freshouse II LLC, Salisbury, N.C., is recalling citrus and potatoes that were packed on equipment on which Listeria monocytogenes was detected during routine testing.

Eagle Eye Produce shipping new crop onions

Eagle Eye Produce, Idaho Falls, is shipping new crop yellow and red onions, with white onions to follow soon.

Alsum Farms and Produce starts shipping new crop potatoes

Alsum Farms and Produce, Friesland, Wis., has started harvesting red and gold potatoes at the company’s Arena, Wis., fields.

Northwest peaches and nectarines good to promote into September

Washington state peach and nectarine volume from Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers will continue with promotable volume well into September.

Ayco Farms introduce asparagus bag as pandemic changes norms
Ayco Farms introduce asparagus bag as pandemic changes norms

Ayco Farms, Pompano Beach, Fla., has seen a “substantial increase” in demand for bagged asparagus from retail customers who are acting on changes in consumer preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEPC: No 2020 Southern Innovations

The Southeast Produce Council, Millen, Ga., has cancelled Southern Innovations because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Tanimura & Antle HarvestSelect designed for retail, USDA program
Tanimura & Antle HarvestSelect designed for retail, USDA program

Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, Calif., established the HarvestSelect box program for retail outlets to give convenient and fast options to consumers who want to reduce time spent in stores during the pandemic.

The Blend helps boost mushroom sales

The Blend, a cooking technique that combines chopped mushrooms with ground meat, continues to be the Mushroom Council’s primary promotional focus.

South Mill Champs has new items

South Mill Champs, Kennett Square, Pa., has added a third operation to its company with the acquisition of Loveday Mushroom Farms, Winnipeg, Manitoba, said Michael Richmond, vice president of sales.

Maryland’s Best promotes local fruits, vegetables
Maryland’s Best promotes local fruits, vegetables

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.

Packer Insight — Storm damage, organics, Produce Artist Award Series
Packer Insight — Storm damage, organics, Produce Artist Award Series

Tom Karst and Ashley Nickle bring you up to speed on the big stories of the week, from Hurricane Hannah damage to a new proposed organic rule to the latest on the new Produce Artist Award Series.

Craig Carlson
The produce department of the future

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed the produce industry.

Dole companies partner to fight childhood hunger
Dole companies partner to fight childhood hunger

Dole Food Co. and Dole Packaged Foods have joined forces to partner with No Kid Hungry, a campaign to end childhood hunger in America.

Frank Padilla, Steve Lutz to speak at OPN virtual event
Frank Padilla, Steve Lutz to speak at OPN virtual event

Costco's Frank Padilla will join Category Partners' Steve Lutz in an Organic Produce Network discussion, moderated by OPN co-founder Tonya Antle, about organic produce sales and consumer behavior in 2020.

Haskap berries debut in Vancouver retailers
Haskap berries debut in Vancouver retailers

Vancouver, British Columbia-based Oppy has successfully trialed Haskap berries in select Vancouver retailers and plans to expand the program.

Taylor Farms recalls items containing onions linked to outbreak
Taylor Farms recalls items containing onions linked to outbreak

Taylor Farms Texas, Dallas, has recalled seven products and the USDA has issued a public health alert for six other items from the company because they all contain onions linked to a salmonella outbreak.

Power Your Lunchbox is back, with COVID-19 in mind

Power Your Lunchbox has launched as it does every year in preparation for the back-to-school time frame, but the message is different.

Desbry brand avocados add two-count bags, colorful displays
Desbry brand avocados add two-count bags, colorful displays

WP Produce, Miami, which grows and ships Desbry brand tropical avocados, has new retail pouch bags and displays for the green-skinned fruit.

RFG adds Kate Brooks, Edward Redd in sales

Renaissance Food Group, Rancho Cordova, Calif., has hired Edward Redd and Kate Brooks in executive sales roles.

Heightened COVID-19 concerns drive more produce retail sales growth
Heightened COVID-19 concerns drive more produce retail sales growth

Fresh produce dollar sales at retail remained elevated more than 10% above year-ago levels in late July as more consumers reported worrying about the coronavirus pandemic.

Brighter Bites, 99 Cents Only launch produce coupon program in Texas
Brighter Bites, 99 Cents Only launch produce coupon program in Texas

Produce-focused nonprofit Brighter Bites has partnered with 99 Cents Only Stores on a produce coupon program to help families in need in Mesquite, Texas.

Tip of the Iceberg Podcast — Mike Tipton talks new Eatwell format
Tip of the Iceberg Podcast — Mike Tipton talks new Eatwell format

Episode 10 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast features an interview with Mike Tipton, vice president of produce for St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets, about the company's new EatWell store format.

Investing in a more equitable food safety net 
Investing in a more equitable food safety net 

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited in July with Tevis Foreman, executive director of Produce Perks Midwest, based in Cincinnati.

G&R Farms celebrates 75th year, rainforest certification
G&R Farms celebrates 75th year, rainforest certification

Vidalia onion grower G&R Farms, Glennville, Ga., is celebrating its 75th anniversary, kicking off a consumer campaign featuring the Dasher family’s legacy and Peruvian sweet onions.