Latest News From Retail

Amelia Freidline
Support for a super market

Food used to be sold in specialty shops — dairies, bakeries, meat markets, general merchandise, even drug stores.

Seald Sweet offers Argentine lemons
Seald Sweet offers Argentine lemons

After a 17-year hiatus, Seald Sweet International, Vero Beach, Fla., is importing lemons from Argentina.

Oppy names Seattle office sales manager
Oppy names Seattle office sales manager

Audrey Desnoyers has been promoted to The Oppenheimer Group’s Seattle office sales manager.

Amelia Freidline and Ashley Nickle
Millennials Eat — Radishes!

Staff writer Ashley Nickle and copy editor and designer Amelia Freidline discuss the produce age gap as it relates to radishes.

Amelia Freidline
Produce supervisors: helpful or harmful?

Our produce director was very clear about the produce specialist/supervisor role.

Sunions: Don’t cry for me, America

With coverage on national TV shows including “The Chew” and “Good Morning America,” Sunions tearless sweet onions boasts more than 1.2 billion media impressions in its first season.

Low California strawberry prices invite retail ads

Big California volume was contributing to low shipping point prices and strong promotion opportunities for California strawberries in mid-May.

Savor Fresh Farms supports Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Savor Fresh Farms supports Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Savor Fresh Farms is continuing its partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of America this season and will feature the foundation’s logo on netted bags of Kiss melons.

Nora and Ashley’s brand donates to Harvesters
Nora and Ashley’s brand donates to Harvesters

Minneapolis, Minn.-based Wholesale Produce Supply is donating to Harvesters Community Food Network on behalf of its Nora and Ashley’s brand.

Sunions: Don’t cry for me, America
Sunions: Don’t cry for me, America

With coverage on national TV shows including “The Chew” and “Good Morning America,” Sunions tearless sweet onions boasts more than 1.2 billion media impressions in its first season.

Low California strawberry f.o.b.s are making the berries a popular item to feature on retail ads.
Low California strawberry prices invite retail ads

Big California volume was contributing to low shipping point prices and strong promotion opportunities for California strawberries in mid-May.

Idaho Potato displays become photo-ops during contest
Idaho Potato displays become photo-ops during contest

If consumers noticed larger potato displays at their local grocery stores earlier this year, it’s probably because the Idaho Potato Commission’s annual display contest drew the most in its 27-year history.

The Organic Trade Association's 20th annual Organic Industry Survey continues to chart the growth of the category.
UPDATED: Led by fresh produce, organic sales continue growth

(UPDATED May 24) Fresh fruits and vegetables continue to hold the top spot of organic food sales, according to the Organic Trade Association’s 20th annual survey on the sector.

Millennials Eat — Welcome!
Millennials Eat — Welcome!

In this new video series, Ashley Nickle and Amelia Freidline will aim to bridge produce age gaps by providing insight on where the gaps exist, what some of the barriers might be, and how to knock those barriers down.

<p>Big Idaho Potato Truck Pocono Raceway July 2017</p>
Do you have what it takes to join the Tater Team?

The Idaho Potato Commission is seeking out spud lovers for a new consumer contest.

Learn how to properly butcher a watermelon

The National Watermelon Promotion Board is working with food media and editors with a simple message to consumers: watermelon is convenient and portable.

'Novelty' grapes among 24 varieties with new PLUs

The company that brought Cotton Candy grapes to the market has six new Price Look-Up numbers for 24 varieties of table grapes, including 10 considered as “novelty” varieties like the Cotton Candy.

Learn how to properly butcher a watermelon
Learn how to properly butcher a watermelon

The National Watermelon Promotion Board is working with food media and editors with a simple message to consumers: watermelon is convenient and portable.

'Novelty' grapes among 24 varieties with new PLUs
'Novelty' grapes among 24 varieties with new PLUs

The company that brought Cotton Candy grapes to the market has six new Price Look-Up numbers for 24 varieties of table grapes, including 10 considered as “novelty” varieties like the Cotton Candy.

Chinese retailer to use AgroFresh to extend shelf life

AgroFresh Solutions Inc. has signed an agreement with Chinese retailer Pagoda to extend the shelf life and quality of fruit in its stores.

California Giant is compiling a database of consumer research that will help retailers market berries.
California Giant building loyalty from consumer insights

Watsonville, Calif.-based California Giant Berry Farms has been talking with consumers, and conversations from the first quarter of 2018 are in.

Chinese retailer to use AgroFresh to extend shelf life
Chinese retailer to use AgroFresh to extend shelf life

AgroFresh Solutions Inc. has signed an agreement with Chinese retailer Pagoda to extend the shelf life and quality of fruit in its stores.

Perdue visits Sakata Farms, other Colorado operations
Perdue visits Sakata Farms, other Colorado operations

When Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue visits with farmers, he wants to hear their concerns.

Walmart notes increased e-commerce sales, expansion of online grocery

Walmart reported e-commerce sales surged by 33% in the latest quarter and said online grocery pickup and grocery delivery services are expanding fast.

Chocolate  bell peppers to turn heads in produce aisle

This is chocolate you won’t feel guilty for eating.

Chocolate  bell peppers to turn heads in produce aisle
Chocolate  bell peppers to turn heads in produce aisle

This is chocolate you won’t feel guilty for eating.

Get ready for Lemonade, that cool, refreshing apple
Get ready for Lemonade, that cool, refreshing apple

The Giumarra Cos., Los Angeles, will have more volume of Lemonade apples, and more marketing to promote them.

Sun World grape director to retire
Sun World grape director to retire

Sun World International’s world grape category director Richard “Rick” Paul is retiring after 26 with the company.

Mastronardi Produce's Sunset-brand Aloha peppers are competing in the Best New Vegetable Product category of the United Fresh Produce Association's Innovations Awards during the association's June 25-27 show in Chicago.
United Fresh Innovation Award finalists chosen

The United Fresh Produce Association has chosen the 36 finalists for its 2018 Innovation Awards.

National Strawberry Month sees peak volumes from California

Naturipe Farms is seeing peak supplies of strawberries from California.

Women in Produce — Ruth McLennan
Women in Produce — Ruth McLennan

Success in bakery opened the door to produce for Ruth McLennan, vice president of fresh produce and floral for Southeastern Grocers.

Dave Mitchell, president of The Leadership Difference, speaks with education session attendees during his presentation May 12.
Education program delivers insight at West Coast Expo

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Retailers, a metacognition expert and a venerable football coach shared experiences and applications for produce professionals May 12 during the education program of the West Coast Produce Expo.

National Strawberry Month sees peak volumes from California
National Strawberry Month sees peak volumes from California

Naturipe Farms is seeing peak supplies of strawberries from California.

Get ready for Artisan Organic apricots
Get ready for Artisan Organic apricots

As summertime approaches, Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers is gearing up for the start of its apricot season.

Amelia Freidline
Keep the produce hustle going

Where is your sense of urgency?

Industry can bring value to food waste discussion

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently hosted a roundtable about reducing food waste, and it seems to me the produce industry could be a significant contributor to future talks on the topic.

Time for 'berry season' promos
Time for 'berry season' promos

Berries are one of the few remaining categories that still have an air of seasonality about them, and that’s something retailers can use to their advantage.

Lucky’s focusing on local with new director
Lucky’s focusing on local with new director

Lucky’s Market has named Tim Overlie to director of local.

Report: Retailers should prepare now for NAFTA failure

U.S. retailers and consumers would face substantially higher costs for fresh produce and other items if the effort to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement fails, according to a new report.

Romaine prices slide as outbreak drags on
Romaine prices slide as outbreak drags on

A multistate outbreak connected to romaine from Arizona continues to have consequences for romaine from California.

West Coast Expo preview video
West Coast Produce Expo gets bigger and better

The Packer expects its 4th annual West Coast Produce Expo to be the biggest and best.

Case count in romaine outbreak nears 150
Case count in romaine outbreak nears 150

Twenty-eight more illnesses have been attributed to the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine from Yuma, bringing the total to 149 cases.

There’s a SupercrispiOpalicious Jingle winner
There’s a SupercrispiOpalicious Jingle winner

Yakima-based FirstFruits Marketing of Washington has crowned a winner of the SupercrispiOpalicious Jingle contest for Opal apples.

More illnesses with later onset dates linked to romaine outbreak
More illnesses with later onset dates linked to romaine outbreak

Health officials in Minnesota have linked 10 illnesses in the state to the nationwide E. coli outbreak connected with romaine from the Yuma, Ariz., growing region.

Frieda’s brings tropicals to West Coast Produce Expo
Frieda’s brings tropicals to West Coast Produce Expo

Los Alamitos, Calif.-based Frieda’s Inc. is gearing up for its first appearance at The Packer’s West Coast Produce Expo with a two-tier display unit and tropical fruit.

After a slow start to the season, California strawberry volume has picked up momentum.
California strawberry volume gradually increasing

California strawberry growers are hopeful they’ll make up some of the Easter sales they lost when Mother’s Day arrives May 13.

The Hass Acocado Board's latest report breaks down purchases by region.
Avocado purchases suggest opportunities by region

Where you live says something about what you eat — a trend highlighted by the newest Hass Avocado Board research into regional consumption of the fruit.

Zespri's new SunGold kiwifruit campaign focuses on consumers, trade and retail as the season starts in May.
Zespri’s SunGold kiwifruit see consumer, retail promos

Zespri is kicking off its SunGold kiwifruit season with a new consumer campaign, in-store demos, custom point-of-sale materials and other retail promotions.

Rainier apples fuel Boston Marathon events
Rainier apples fuel Boston Marathon events

For the third year in a row, runners at the Boston Marathon and associated events were treated to Rainier Fruit Co. apples, with almost 100,000 apples handed out at the events.

Wonderful promotes its ‘naked’ pistachios
Wonderful promotes its ‘naked’ pistachios

Los Angeles-based The Wonderful Co. has a new campaign around its no-shells pistachios.