Latest News From Retail

Doug Kling starts consultancy business
Doug Kling starts consultancy business

Former Village Farms chief marketing officer Doug Kling has started a new consulting business.

The Produce Aisle with Armand Lobato
Go out on a limb for produce sales

I walked through a few produce departments last week. I like to scout a few as a matter of routine whether I’m shopping or just being the perpetual produce nerd that I am. I must say, I’m a bit perplexed.

Giorgio’s portabella jerky hits on hot trends
Giorgio’s portabella jerky hits on hot trends

If the feedback at the Summer Fancy Foods Show is any indication, Giorgio Foods has hit on a winning idea with Savory Wild Portabella Jerky.

LGS Specialty’s Darling brand now on lemons
LGS Specialty’s Darling brand now on lemons

LGS Specialty Sales is now offering lemons in its Darling brand citrus line, joining clementines, oranges and minneolas with year-round supplies.

Del Rey Avocado’s eastern U.S. demand grows
Del Rey Avocado’s eastern U.S. demand grows

Demand in the eastern U.S. has seen movement from Fallbrook, Calif.-based Del Rey Avocado’s Vineland, N.J. facility grow so rapidly, it’s expanding after 18 months.

California grape marketers plan numerous platforms to reach shoppers
California grape marketers plan numerous platforms to reach shoppers

Color, price and visibility will sell plenty of table grapes at retail, California growers and shippers say.

Kroger is testing a program that will allow groceries to be delivered by unmanned vehicles.
Kroger to test autonomous grocery delivery

Kroger plans to pilot the use of unmanned road vehicles for grocery delivery this fall.

Brian Donato, who was with Amazon for seven years, is now senior vice president of operations at Bowery Farming.
Amazon executive joins high-tech indoor grower

Former Amazon executive Brian Donato has joined Bowery Farming, a high-tech indoor grower of leafy greens.

Numerous hot chile peppers are among Frieda's offerings this summer.
Frieda’s reports growing sales for chile peppers

Chile peppers have been popular this summer for Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s.

Stemilt premium cherry label ready for promotion

Stemilt Growers is offering its Kyle’s Pick label premium cherries for mid-July to mid-August retail promotions.

Eagle Eye Produce, and onion grower Fiesta Farms have merged.
Fiesta Farms, Eagle Eye Produce merge

Onion grower Fiesta Farms, Nyssa, Ore., and Eagle Eye Produce, Idaho Falls, have merged.

<p>C&amp;S Wholesale Grocers</p>
Grocers Supply plans 2019 move to new Houston facility

Grocers Supply, a division of C&S Wholesale Grocers, has signed a long-term lease for a 727,600-square-foot distribution center that is being built in Houston.

Daniel Vanderhorst
Meat and dairy aren’t produce’s enemy

CHICAGO — Sales of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives are up 8% over the previous year. Produce companies should ask themselves if this is a trend they should partner or support. For most, I’d advise against it.

<p>Good Leaf Daikon Radish greens, 75-gram package</p>
Canadian vertical farm recalls microgreens

Goodleaf Community Farms Ltd. is recalling Goodleaf brand daikon radish microgreens due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Crespo Organic Summer Mango Mania display at Healthy Living Market in Sarasota Springs, N.Y.
Crespo Organic runs Summer Mango Mania

With peak mango season in full swing in June and July from Nayarit and Sinaloa in Mexico, Crespo Organic Mangoes is promoting mangoes with retail support and social media contests.

<p>Peruvian fruit exporter plans to open a U.S. office for imports of grapes.</p>
Peruvian fruit exporter looks to add U.S. office

Peruvian fruit grower-packer-exporter El Pedregal S.A. plans to open a U.S. office to handle imports.

Canada’s Loblaw’s pledges to buy local

Canadian retailer Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is signaling a huge commitment to local growers, pledging to spend $150 million more each year by 2025, buying local produce and curtailing imports when possible.

Earthbound Farm parent company considers sale

Danone is considering a sale of Earthbound Farm, the organic produce processor and distributor it acquired in 2016.

Loblaws plans to support Canadian growers by buying their produce; the retailer is pledging millions of dollars to aid in infrastructure costs for greenhouses and other season-extending measures.
Canada’s Loblaw’s pledges to buy local

Canadian retailer Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is signaling a huge commitment to local growers, pledging to spend $150 million more each year by 2025, buying local produce and curtailing imports when possible.

Earthbound Farm's parent company, Paris-based Danone, is reportedly exploring a sale of the company.
Earthbound Farm parent company considers sale

Danone is considering a sale of Earthbound Farm, the organic produce processor and distributor it acquired in 2016.

A secondary sticker on packs of To-Jo mushrooms tells consumers about a summer grilling sweepstakes in partnership with Weber Grills.
To-Jo Mushrooms kicking off grilling sweepstakes

To-Jo Mushrooms is launching its two-week Summer Grilling Sweepstakes, in partnership with Weber Grills, June 30.

Mastronardi Produce won the Best New Vegetable Award at United FreshMKT 2018.
Innovation Award winners include Mastronardi, Apeel

United Fresh Produce Association Expo and Conference attendees chose Aloha Peppers from Mastronardi and Apeel Sciences’ shelf life enhancer as the best new vegetable and fruit products.

Current strawberry, blueberry volumes ideal for promotions
Current strawberry, blueberry volumes ideal for promotions

BLANCO, Calif. – Blueberries will be bountiful the next five weeks, and strawberry production continues to be strong, so Naturipe is encouraging larger pack sizes, cross-promotion and cross-merchandising.

<p>Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue speaks to the United Fresh Produce Association on June 26.</p>
Perdue at United Fresh: We'll help boost produce consumption

CHICAGO — Touching on trade, farm labor and food safety regulations, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue defended Trump administration efforts to help fruit and vegetable growers deal with the tough issues they face.

Oceanside Pole has new branding for its produce with the theme "On a Mission, since 1939."
Oceanside Pole rolls out new branding

Oceanside Pole tomatoes have a new brand this season: “On a Mission, Since 1939.”

Amelia Freidline
Is your produce department summer fresh?

“You can’t improve produce once it’s distressed.”

<p>Concord Foods and the California Avocado Commission are teaming up for in-store demonstrations of Concord's guacamole mixes for Fourth of July promotions.</p>
Concord, avocado commission promote guacamole mixes

Concord Foods and the California Avocado Commission are teaming up for a promotion of Concord’s Fresh Success guacamole mixes for Fourth of July celebrations.

J&C Tropicals, Miami, is promoting white and red dragon fruit under the Dragon Fuel brand.
Sales blaze with J&C Tropicals Dragon Fuel brand

J&C Tropicals, Miami, has a new dragon fruit brand — Dragon Fuel.

Wawona Packing Co. is transitioning its organic yellow peach harvest from clingstone to freestone varieties.
Wawona transitions organic peach harvest to freestone

Cutler, Calif.-based Wawona Packing Co. expects to transition its harvest of organic yellow peaches from clingstone to freestone varieties around July 1.

Emanuel Lazopoulos, senior vice president of North American sales and product management for Del Monte Fresh Produce NA, tell United FreshMKT expo attendees that being "old school" is a recipe for failure for retailers.
Change to meet consumer demands, experts say at United Fresh

CHICAGO — United Fresh Market attendees heard from a variety of experts that changing consumer demands must be met by retail and produce companies willing to change to meet those demands.

Good Foods is launching an Avocado Mash product and a line of plant-based salad dressings.
Good Foods has new avocado spread, plant-based dressings

Pleasant Prairie, Wis.-based Good Foods is launching Avocado Mash, a blend of organic hass avocados, lemon juice, sea salt and black pepper.

Several produce industry groups are voicing displeasure about Kroger's 90-day payment policy, set to kick in Aug. 1.
Produce groups to Kroger on 90-day plan: ‘fix this mess’

Kroger’s new 90-day payment policy has brought more criticism from produce groups, with a California fruit association expressing “extreme displeasure” and a wholesalers' group saying it is “deeply concerned.”

Delaware kicks off Delaware Grown branding initiative
Delaware kicks off Delaware Grown branding initiative

Delaware Grown, a new branding initiative from the Delaware Department of Agriculture, seeks to make its mark alongside Jersey Fresh and other state branding efforts.

Del Monte is using AgroFresh's RipeLock system to improve the shelf life of bananas at retail.
Del Monte partnership aims to extend banana shelf life

AgroFresh Solutions Inc. and Del Monte Fresh Produce NA are collaborating to give retailers tools to extend the shelf life of bananas across the country.

A retail summer grilling promotion features a cross-promotion between veal and mushrooms, a partnership between the Mushroom Council and the Beef Checkoff.
Mushroom Council, Beef Checkoff partner for grilling promotion

For a fourth year, the Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Mushroom Council and the Centennial, Colo.-based Beef Checkoff are partnering for a summerlong veal grilling promotion at retail.

Dustin Hahn is the West Coast sales director for Naturipe Avocado Farms.
Naturipe Avocado Farms hires Dustin Hahn for western sales

Dustin Hahn is the new West Coast sales director of Naturipe Avocado Farms, Salinas, Calif.

Millennials Eat — Bell peppers!
Millennials Eat — Bell peppers!

Amelia Freidline and Ashley Nickle discuss the produce age gap for bell peppers, which Fresh Trends research shows that millennials are significantly less likely to buy at retail than older generations.

West Pak to introduce 3 organic avocado labels
West Pak to introduce 3 organic avocado labels

West Pak Avocado Inc. plans to unveil three organic brands at the United Fresh Produce Association’s Organic Showcase.

Index Fresh adds Lamb hass avocados in July
Index Fresh adds Lamb hass avocados in July

Grower-shipper Index Fresh is adding California Lamb hass avocados to its offering, with a short season that runs July to September.

Avocado brand connects campaign with World Cup, MLB All-Star Game
Avocado brand connects campaign with World Cup, MLB All-Star Game

A new campaign for Avocados From Peru aims to reach sports fans on social media, online and on television during the next month.

Putting only black grapes on ad can be a way to drive category sales, Sun World says.
Sun World offers black grape sales tip

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Sun World International reports that retailers are seeing success by promoting black grapes by themselves.

Amelia Freidline
Your reputation is your brand's reputation

What kind of ambassador are you? If your company’s logo is on your ball cap, your cooler jacket or even your vehicle, you are indeed an ambassador.

Costco Wholesale stores and Harps Food Stores are carrying avocados treated with Apeel Sciences' shelf life-extending plant-derived coating.
Apeel avocados rolled out at Costco, Harps Food Stores

The first test of a highly touted technology, avocados are the first commercially available produce item to be treated with the Apeel plant-derived post-harvest solution.

Index Fresh offers customers AvoConcepts, a program that includes everything from education sessions to custom bags and point-of-sales materials.
Index Fresh introduces AvoConcepts

Index Fresh is using a new custom sales program, AvoConcepts Retail Design Studio, that goes beyond point-of-sale materials and similar support, with a plan that includes education and strategy.

Red Sun Farms earns greenhouse awards
Red Sun Farms earns greenhouse awards

Kingsville, Ontario-based Red Sun Farms took home some honors for its tomatoes and cucumbers in the 11th annual Leamington Greenhouse Vegetable Awards.

NatureFresh vegetables earn People’s and Kids’ Choice awards
NatureFresh vegetables earn People’s and Kids’ Choice awards

Leamington, Ontario-based NatureFresh Farms’ produce got some love in the 11th annual Greenhouse Vegetable Awards with a People’s Choice award and three Kids’ Choice awards.

Mastronardi earns honors in greenhouse competition
Mastronardi earns honors in greenhouse competition

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce recently earned seven awards for its tomatoes and peppers at the 11th annual Leamington Greenhouse Competition.

Dragon fruit, turmeric, jackfruit among specialty standouts
Dragon fruit, turmeric, jackfruit among specialty standouts

Specialty produce items heating up lately include Asian vegetables and tropical items.

Millennials Eat — Tomatoes!
Millennials Eat — Tomatoes!

Copy editor and designer Amelia Freidline and staff writer Ashley Nickle discuss the produce age gap for tomatoes.

Del Monte recalls vegetable trays as cyclospora cases grow
Del Monte recalls vegetable trays as cyclospora cases grow

Del Monte Fresh Produce has recalled vegetable trays at retail stores in six states, a week after health officials first alerted consumers the products might be contaminated with cyclospora parasites.