Latest News From Retail

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.

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.

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.

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 Marketing has promoted Debbie Cintora to account manager.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Potatoes USA has hired Kendra Keenan as assistant marketing manager.

Editor Tom Karst and retail editor Ashley Nickle talk about the big stories of the week, from demand for California fruit to high f.o.b. prices for avocados to an immigration raid on produce operations in Nebraska.

The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association has completed its Fresh Asparagus Category Statistics and Trends document.

In a nod to the apple’s rapid growth, Pazazz has a new brand manager at Honeybear Brands, Kristi Harris.

Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. has recalled containers of Baby Spinach with Tender Reds in five Canadian provinces due to a positive Listeria monocytogenes test, but the product could have been distributed nationally.

Sun World International, Bakersfield, Calif., will be offering a record amount of proprietary grape varieties this fall through its “late-season trio” of Scarlotta Seedless, Autumncrisp and Adora Seedless brands.

Potatoes USA has hired Kayla Dome as global marketing manager for the group’s retail sector.

Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, Calif., has hired Don Klusendorf as executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Orange, Calif.-based Interfresh is now shipping blueberries from Langley, British Columbia-based Driediger Farms.

Minnesota apple growers will market the new MN55 variety under the First Kiss brand name this fall.

Is there ever justification for shopping at your competitor?

Patricia “Trish” Zecca is the new chairwoman for The Produce for Better Health Foundation.

A Nova Scotia farm has recalled its brand of coleslaw products after testing raised concerns of Listeria monocytogenes.

Copy editor and designer Amelia Freidline and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss millennial purchasing habits as they relate to avocados as well as the prevalence of a certain avocado dish on menus.

Editor Tom Karst and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss the big stories of the week, including recommendations from the Leafy Greens Food Safety Task Force and the latest back-and-forth with China on trade.

Albertsons Cos. and venture capitalist Greycroft have created a fund that could put as much as $50 million toward developing technologies for the grocery space.

The Leafy Greens Food Safety Task Force is suggesting changes to the California and Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements metrics in the wake of a deadly E. coli outbreak linked to romaine.

Overall potato volumes sold at U.S. retailers slipped in June compared to a year ago the same month, but with an almost 5% increase in price per-pound, values increased slightly.

Dole Food Co. has introduced another flavor to its line of premium salad kits, the company’s 30th salad kit overall: Spinach Miso Crunch.

Dole Food Co. is notifying customers a limited number of Classic Coleslaw mixes may have been shipped with metal shavings.

Chicago-based Carlson Produce Consulting LLC has launched a new website on its fifth anniversary.

Zest Labs has filed a complaint against Walmart for $2 billion, alleging the retailer stole its technology after an extended relationship.

Naturipe Avocado Farms has hired Francisco Jose Del Rio Alamos as CEO.

Accentuate the positive. Last week I searched my nearby friendly produce department for lemons.

Renaissance Food Group (RFG) has hired Eastern U.S. director of sales and promoted someone to a new position at the company, senior vice president of supply chain.

A chopped romaine recall by Fresh Express, Salinas, Calif., for cyclospora concerns has led Caito Foods LLC to pull 25 deli salads and wrap products from retailers.

Pistachio and almond grower-processor Nichols Farms, Hanford, Calif., is expanding its marketing and sales due to increased supply and demand, and has hired two people in marketing and retail sales.

Hatch chile season is starting a bit early this year, and Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s Inc. has rolled out a new look for the peppers.

Ireland-based Total Produce has been cleared by the European Commission for its plan to purchase a 45% stake in Dole Food Co.

The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences reminds consumers that National Avocado Day — July 31 — is a good time to celebrate the fruit’s nutritious attributes.

Ireland-based Total Produce has been cleared by the European Commission for its plan to purchase a 45% stake in Dole Food Co.

Amelia Freidline and Ashley Nickle discuss the produce age gap for sweet corn, which according to Fresh Trends research is purchased significantly more by older generations than by millennial consumers.

U.S. shoppers 50 and older cite high delivery fees, quality issues, wrong orders and the possibility of difficult returns as barriers to using online grocery services.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide linked to fresh-cut melons distributed by Caito Foods LLC is over, but health officials were unable to find a common source.