Latest News From Retail

Florida crops survive hurricanes; citrus up from 2018
Florida crops survive hurricanes; citrus up from 2018

Hurricanes this year have not caused any major disruptions to Florida crops and actually provided some needed rain, said Mindy Lee, bureau chief at Tallahassee-based Fresh From Florida.

Walmart, Schnucks control most of St. Louis retail scene
Walmart, Schnucks control most of St. Louis retail scene

The two biggest retail forces in the St. Louis market are Walmart and Schnucks Markets, and that reality doesn’t seem likely to change in the near term.

Braga Fresh purchases Pure Pacific Organic facility
Braga Fresh purchases Pure Pacific Organic facility

Braga Fresh Family Farms, Soledad, Calif., has purchased a processing facility from Pure Pacific Organics LLC, Gonzales, Calif.

BrandStorm to host food media panel

United Fresh is hosting a food media dialogue panel at this year’s BrandStorm, moderated by Chadwick Boyd, food and lifestyle expert and TV host.

Sage Fruit uses Apeel technology on organic apples
Sage Fruit uses Apeel technology on organic apples

Sage Fruit Co. LLC, Yakima, Wash., will launch the first rollout of its Apeel technology for retail customers on Nov. 1, said Chuck Sinks, president, sales and marketing.

Sobeys recalls Sweet Kale salad blend
Sobeys recalls Sweet Kale salad blend

Sobeys Inc. has recalled Compliments brand Sweet Kale Blend from stores throughout Canada due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The USDA predicts continued low inflation for retail food.
Low retail food inflation to continue, USDA predicts

Despite above-average inflation for fresh vegetables, 2019 is expected to see retail food prices increase in a modest range between 0.5% and 1.5%, according to the latest government forecast.

Armand Lobato
Time management for produce supervisors

Eighty percent of a produce supervisor’s time is typically spent with 20% of the produce managers.

Classic Harvest mandarin bags celebrating Sesame Street’s 50th

Classic Harvest, Paramus, N.J., is packing mandarins from Chile and Peru in limited edition Sesame Street 50th Anniversary packaging featuring Cookie Monster.

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Produce companies get ready for the holidays
Produce companies get ready for the holidays

Produce suppliers around the country have plans to help retailers grow sales through special packaging, consumer education and point-of-sale material.

Grocery order fulfillment companies receive large investments
Grocery order fulfillment companies receive large investments

Fabric and Green Rabbit, two companies designed to improve the efficiency and profitability of grocery delivery, announced significant investments this month.

Delivery from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods now free for Prime members
Delivery from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods now free for Prime members

Amazon Prime members who live in areas where Amazon delivers groceries can now get their groceries delivered for free from Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh.

Ocean Mist Farms begins Friendsgiving Flavor campaign

Ocean Mist Farms has announced the launch of its Friendsgiving Flavor campaign to promote the Season & Steam product line to shoppers during the holiday season.

Sprout grower Fullei Fresh completes Primus audit

Miami sprout grower Fullei Fresh has completed the Primus GFS audit.

North Bay Produce recalls apples after listeria test
North Bay Produce recalls apples after listeria test

North Bay Produce Inc., Traverse City, Mich., has recalled almost 2,300 cases and two bulk bins of apples because of the potential for Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Associated Wholesale Grocers announces leadership changes
Associated Wholesale Grocers announces leadership changes

Kansas City, Kan.-based Associated Wholesale Grocers has made changes to bring wholesale operations, sales, services and subsidiaries under one operating team.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods discuss new projects at PMA
Duda Farm Fresh Foods discuss new projects at PMA

Ovieo, Fla.-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods has expanded its Oxnard, Calif., facility.

Packer Insight — 2019 Fresh Summit Expo Day 2
Packer Insight — 2019 Fresh Summit Expo Day 2

The Packer editor Tom Karst and Produce Retailer editor Ashley Nickle discuss the second day of the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit, including some of the news and trends from the show floor.

Avocado from Mexico stress education at Fresh Summit

Avocados from Mexico continues to educate consumers about the popular green fruit.

Russets rule, but varieties add appeal to Idaho spuds
Russets rule, but varieties add appeal to Idaho spuds

Potatoes may be a dinner-table staple, but they don’t have to be boring, marketers of Idaho potatoes say.

Xica’s Fresh Summit recap
Xica’s Fresh Summit recap

Fresh-cut jicama company Xica Brands is introducing a new product, jicama noodles.

Mission emphasizes consistent avocado supply at Fresh Summit
Mission emphasizes consistent avocado supply at Fresh Summit

Mission Produce launched a campaign this year describing itself as the most advanced avocado network, and a key component of the message is the company’s commitment to diversifying its sourcing.

Robinson Fresh debuts research focused on Hispanic shoppers
Robinson Fresh debuts research focused on Hispanic shoppers

Robinson Fresh conducted research to better understand Hispanic consumers, and some of the insights included which produce items shoppers describe as hard to find and which items they classify as must-haves for holidays.

Row 7 launches partnership with FreshDirect
Row 7 launches partnership with FreshDirect

Row 7 has begun a new partnership with the online grocery platform FreshDirect.

Tom Stenzel
Throwback: Kids show growing enthusiasm for produce

The evidence shows that millions of kids are making new choices for fresh fruits and vegetables, but sometimes a single kid makes it all real.

From jackfruit to passion fruit, Melissa's talks specialties
From jackfruit to passion fruit, Melissa's talks specialties

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Tree-ripened mangoes and fresh-cut jackfruit are a couple of the hot produce trends to watch for in the coming months.

Be the holiday plant-based destination with help from Frieda’s

Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s is offering solutions for plant-based eating during the holiday season.

Bland Farms partners with The SpongeBob Movie for 2020 Vidalia season
Bland Farms partners with The SpongeBob Movie for 2020 Vidalia season

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bland Farms announced at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit a partnership with The SpongeBob Movie: It’s a Wonderful Sponge for the 2020 Vidalia season.

Walmart, Hy-Vee battle for Midwest
Walmart, Hy-Vee battle for Midwest

Walmart, Hy-Vee and Associated Wholesale Grocers are three of the heavyweights in the Midwest markets, industry sources and Shelby Market data show.

Bee Sweet California mandarins are here for the holidays
Bee Sweet California mandarins are here for the holidays

Easy-peel mandarins have risen in popularity for consumers looking for a healthy snack, and the Bee Sweet Citrus sales team is celebrating the beginning of the domestic season with its most popular varieties.

Pacific Trellis’ Jam Grapes back in the market
Pacific Trellis’ Jam Grapes back in the market

Pacific Trellis Fruit, Los Angeles, is offering the proprietary Jam Grapes from October through July from Brazil.

Fresh Summit Retail Tour — Bristol Farms, Grocery Outlet, Albertsons
Fresh Summit Retail Tour — Bristol Farms, Grocery Outlet, Albertsons

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Produce industry members visited Bristol Farms, Grocery Outlet and Albertsons on a retail tour during the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit. 

What's hot on Produce Market Guide? Pink pumpkins, cabbage and citrus
What's hot on Produce Market Guide? Pink pumpkins, cabbage and citrus

Pumpkins maintained their six-week reign on Produce Market Guide last week and got even more love from the platform's users as pink pumpkins entered the top 20 at No. 12.

Packer Insight — Fresh Summit Expo Day One
Packer Insight — Fresh Summit Expo Day One

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Packer's editor Tom Karst and Produce Retailer editor Ashley Nickle talk about what they saw in the first day on the show floor of the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit.

United Fresh seeks retail award program nominees

The United Fresh Produce Association is seeking applications for its 2020 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, the annual recognition program that culminates in a celebration at the association’s show.

Bolthouse debuts functional shots, CBD beverages at Fresh Summit
Bolthouse debuts functional shots, CBD beverages at Fresh Summit

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bolthouse Farms sampled multiple new product lines at Fresh Summit, from keto-friendly protein beverages to CBD drinks to carrot-based functional shots.

Fresh Cravings launches line of plant-based dips
Fresh Cravings launches line of plant-based dips

Fresh Cravings, a member of Phoenix-based FoodStory Brands, has a new line of plant-based, vegan, gluten-free dips.

2020 food trends predicted by Whole Foods Market
2020 food trends predicted by Whole Foods Market

Fresh snacking, plant-based foods beyond soy and regenerative agriculture made the list of Whole Foods Market’s 2020 food trend predictions.

Mastronardi’s Wow berries win best promo award at Fresh Summit

Mastronardi Produce, Kingsville, Ontario, was recognized as having the Best Overall Product Promo at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit for Wow berries.

The Produce Marketing Association awarded Mucci Farms with Fresh Summit's Most Sustainable Packaging Award at Fresh Summit for its Simple Snack line packaging.
Mucci recieves Fresh Summit sustainable packaging award

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mucci Farms received Most Sustainable Packaging honors for its Simple Snack lineup at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif., Oct. 17-19.

Amy Sowder
Fall cookbook crop serves up delicious ideas for produce

Depending on where you live, you may think of fall as a time of culinary abundance.

California carrot campaign: Crunch, crunch, crunch to conquer chaos
California carrot campaign: Crunch, crunch, crunch to conquer chaos

While the Crunch, Crunch, Crunch Council isn’t real, its mission to get consumers thinking about carrots — and eating them, of course — is very real.

2019 Mango Retailer of the Year is Mary Zink of Wegmans
2019 Mango Retailer of the Year is Mary Zink of Wegmans

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The National Mango Board has named Mary Zink, product category manager for Wegmans, its 2019 Mango Retailer of the Year.

2019 Pear Retailer of the Year is Harris Teeter
2019 Pear Retailer of the Year is Harris Teeter

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Pear Bureau Northwest named Harris Teeter its 2019 Pear Retailer of the Year at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Pomegranates on the rise on Produce Market Guide
Pomegranates on the rise on Produce Market Guide

Pumpkins, chili peppers and apples held on to the top three spots on Produce Market Guide the week of Oct. 7.

The Little Potato Co. launches new line at Fresh Summit, adds flavor
The Little Potato Co. launches new line at Fresh Summit, adds flavor

The Little Potato Co., Edmonton, Alberta, is extending its easy potato side dish options with a new line, Easy Sides.

Cathy Burns talks macro trends, opportunities in State of the Industry
Cathy Burns talks macro trends, opportunities in State of the Industry

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Cathy Burns discussed global macro trends and consumer behavior trends during her State of the Industry address and encouraged industry members to consider how they can leverage those trends.

Fresh Summit panel jumps into ‘hot’ industry issues
Fresh Summit panel jumps into ‘hot’ industry issues

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The title of a morning “Experience Extensions” session at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit on Oct. 17 was “What’s Hot and What’s Not in Produce Science & Technology.”

Rich Dachman
The produce industry can make a difference

I am challenging you, the produce industry, to collaborate with each other to move the needle on our children’s health.