Latest News From Retail

Mucci Farms opens Texas distribution center
Mucci Farms opens Texas distribution center

Greenhouse grower Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, is opening a distribution center in San Antonio to serve U.S. customers.

Foodservice, retail trends help crop value mushroom

While production of mushrooms in the U.S. was slightly down in 2017-18, sales hit an all-time high, at $1.23 billion, buoyed by per-pound increases for fresh and processed, agaricus and specialty mushrooms.

Which apple is expected to dethrone No. 1 red delicious?
Which apple is expected to dethrone No. 1 red delicious?

Red delicious, once the shining example of how an apple should look, most likely will lose its No. 1 spot as the most-produced U.S. apple, to the gala variety.

Behind the scenes on the Supervalu acquisition deal
Behind the scenes on the Supervalu acquisition deal

Supervalu engaged in prolonged negotiations with United Natural Foods Inc. and another grocery wholesaler before agreeing in late July to an acquisition by UNFI.

“Giving the consumers a chance to find the product again for follow-up purchases — you can’t do that with a bulk peach, but you can do it with a package," says Steve Lutz, regional vice president of the U.S. West and Canada for the Produce Marketing Association.
Packaging key for marketing branded produce

Packaging gives the opportunity to tell a brand story, to cement branding with consumers, to create a visual connection between the product and product qualities and the package.

How fresh produce companies are marketing to kids
How fresh produce companies are marketing to kids

Read how fresh fruit and vegetable companies are reaching out to younger consumers and their parents with promotions, campaigns, packaging, displays and more.

Lime prices on the move

Prices for limes have risen noticeably in the last month, and suppliers listed seasonal factors, weather and the ongoing lemon shortage as pieces of the puzzle.

Brazil begins mango season, Haiti volumes down

Mango shipments from Brazil are underway, with the season delayed compared to previous years.

Brano Popovac promoted to Sun Pacific director of sales
Brano Popovac promoted to Sun Pacific director of sales

Cuties mandarin marketer Sun Pacific has promoted Brano Popovac from senior sales executive to director of sales.

Amelia Freidline
Optimum timing for optimum produce sales

When should a produce department be at its best?

Mushrooms break sales records across the board

While overall production of mushrooms in the U.S. was slightly down in the 2017-18 season, sales hit an all-time high for the crop, at $1.23 billion, buoyed by per-pound increases across the board.

Mushrooms break sales records across the board
Mushrooms break sales records across the board

While overall production of mushrooms in the U.S. was slightly down in the 2017-18 season, sales hit an all-time high for the crop, at $1.23 billion, buoyed by per-pound increases across the board.

Retailers get behind kids’ programs
Retailers get behind kids’ programs

Retailers and distributors who have supported kids-oriented programs like Produce for Kids and PMA’s Eat Brighter! initiative say the programs can help lift sales while encouraging kids to eat healthy.

Naturipe joins blockchain initiative
Naturipe joins blockchain initiative

Berry company Naturipe Farms, Salinas, Calif., is joining a group of food companies using blockchain technology to improve food safety and cut waste.

Misionero’s organic line moves to new packaging
Misionero’s organic line moves to new packaging

Misionero Vegetables, Gonzales, Calif., is packing it Earth Greens organic line into packaging that uses less plastic and features a peel and reseal lid.

Millennials Eat — Plums!
Millennials Eat — Plums!

Retail editor Ashley Nickle and The Packer's copy editor and designer Amelia Freidline discuss purchase statistics related to plums and why millennials report buying them less.

Student group Taste of Immokalee stresses local
Student group Taste of Immokalee stresses local

A group of Florida high school students are using tomatoes grown by Lipman Family Farms to make products that highlight Immokalee’s agricultural offerings.

Monterey Mushrooms is one of the companies that is promoting a retail pack of finely diced mushrooms ready to be used with ground meat, as consumer awareness of The Blend continues to grow.
The Blend makes inroads at retail

The Blend — mixing chopped mushrooms and ground meat — has established a foothold in foodservice outlets. Now, marketers say, it is helping make their jobs easier in retail produce departments.

Packing facility tour highlights NJ peach harvest
Packing facility tour highlights NJ peach harvest

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher visited Eastern Pro Pak, Glassboro, N.J., recently to highlight Jersey Fresh peaches.

Caito Foods recall costs SpartanNash $2.9M
Caito Foods recall costs SpartanNash $2.9M

Voluntarily recalling fresh-cut melon products from Caito Foods cost owner SpartanNash $2.9 million this summer.

Raley’s creates new position for nutrition strategy
Raley’s creates new position for nutrition strategy

Raley’s has created a new position, nutrition strategist & brand influencer, to support the retailer’s move to evolve its brand and stores “to change the way customers eat, one plate at a time.”

Organics Unlimited GROW Month highlights worker initiatives
Organics Unlimited GROW Month highlights worker initiatives

Organics Unlimited is celebrating its 13th annual Giving Resources and Opportunities to Workers (GROW) Month in September with a focus on social responsibility programs.

Mexico’s retail market grows under Walmart influence

Led by Walmart, the Mexican retail grocery market continues to expand, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service.

Amelia Freidline
The changing needs of produce buyers

When discussing the evolution in today’s produce buyer, it’s important to consider how retail has changed.

Mark Sandell joins Homegrown Organic as senior account manager
Mark Sandell joins Homegrown Organic as senior account manager

Homegrown Organic Farms, Porterville, Calif., has hired Mark Sandell as a senior account manager on the company’s sales team.

Vince Ferrante leads Southern Belle into vegetables
Vince Ferrante leads Southern Belle into vegetables

Southern Belle Organics, Bladenboro, N.C., has hired Vince Ferrante to help the blueberry company expand into organic and conventional vegetables.

Hunger program donates nearly 110 tons of apples
Hunger program donates nearly 110 tons of apples

FirstFruits Marketing of Washington has wrapped up the eighth year of its annual Take a Bite Out of Hunger program, partnering with retailers to donate 219,640 pounds of apples to local food banks.

Best ways to spur organic sales

What are the best ways to spur organic sales at the retail level?

Packer Insight — Shortages of lemons and iceberg lettuce
Packer Insight — Shortages of lemons and iceberg lettuce

Editor Tom Karst and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss two big topics this week — the continuing lemon shortage and supply issues for iceberg lettuce. 

Old-fashioned shortcuts still winning over online orders, meal kits
Old-fashioned shortcuts still winning over online orders, meal kits

Americans continue to name takeout and restaurants as their go-to time savers when it comes to food, rather than online grocery orders and meal kits.

Report suggests health halo may be fading for produce
Report suggests health halo may be fading for produce

The latest FreshFacts on Retail report shows produce sales slowing for a third straight quarter.

Romaine slowly rebounding; iceberg shortage helping demand
Romaine slowly rebounding; iceberg shortage helping demand

Interest in romaine increased in mid-August as iceberg prices rose due to supply issues — an about-face from the situation earlier this year when romaine demand dropped following an E. coli outbreak.

Okanagan Specialty Fruits has hired JM Gamelin as director of sales.
Okanagan Specialty Fruit names sales director

Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., Summerland, British Columbia, has made recent hires, including JF Gamelin as director of sales.

September is Mushroom Month: prepare to be bowled over

With the U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaiming September as National Mushroom Month, the Mushroom Council is promoting bowls as a meal option from breakfast to dinner.

September is Mushroom Month: prepare to be bowled over
September is Mushroom Month: prepare to be bowled over

With the U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaiming September as National Mushroom Month, the Mushroom Council is promoting bowls as a meal option from breakfast to dinner.

Amelia Freidline
August: Produce shrink awareness month

As we’re in the thick of heavy August sales, we also need be aware that this is traditionally the heaviest shrink month of the year.

Infographic: Growing Better Food for a Better World (Sponsored)

Divine Flavor is a strong believer in taking care of its people and the environment. Check out this infographic to learn how Divine Flavor is promoting social responsibility and sustainability among the food industry.

Moxxy promotes Debbie Cintora
Moxxy promotes Debbie Cintora

Moxxy Marketing has promoted Debbie Cintora to account manager.

Produce suppliers reach out to kids
Produce suppliers reach out to kids

As pressure mounts for parents to provide their families with healthful eating options, suppliers are getting innovative to persuade kids to prompt their moms and dads to purchase more produce.

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Ahold Delhaize flexes muscle in Baltimore/D.C.

Ahold Delhaize controls about 35% of the retail market share in Maryland/District of Columbia, northern Virgina and Delaware in 2018.

NW pear growers gearing up for large crop
NW pear growers gearing up for large crop

Northwest pear growers are starting the season with an estimated 20.2 million 44-pound box equivalents, which is the fourth-largest crop in history.

Millennials Eat — Mangoes!
Millennials Eat — Mangoes!

Who buys mangoes? Retail editor Ashley Nickle and designer and copy editor Amelia Freidline dig into The Packer's Fresh Trends consumer data to bring you the details. 

Kantar Media reveals the most-used words in food advertising
Kantar Media reveals the most-used words in food advertising

Fruits and vegetables check many of the boxes when it comes to the words being used to sell food.

Rutter’s convenience stores now offer local produce
Rutter’s convenience stores now offer local produce

Convenience store chain Rutter’s has added local fruits and vegetables to its retail and foodservice offerings.

BrightFarms delivers greenhouse tours with in-store virtual reality
BrightFarms delivers greenhouse tours with in-store virtual reality

Irvington, N.Y.-based BrightFarms has gotten creative in granting consumer requests to tour its greenhouses.

Amelia Freidline
The art of being relevant

At Golin, we believe that being relevant isn’t the only measure of success, but it’s the most important.

Marketing to kids creates lifelong produce fans
Marketing to kids creates lifelong produce fans

A good produce marketing program not only increases sales for growers, shippers and retailers, it also helps promote a healthy lifestyle for consumers.

Value-added asparagus gains popularity
Value-added asparagus gains popularity

Importers of Peruvian asparagus continue to see increased demand for bagged product.

California avocado growers have dealt with adverse weather this season, but volumes should significantly more than last season.
California avocado season closes early, but volume up

With a season hampered by heat, wind and fire, California avocado growers have been challenged.

Kendra Keenan joins Potatoes USA
Kendra Keenan joins Potatoes USA

Potatoes USA has hired Kendra Keenan as assistant marketing manager.