Latest News From Retail

Eight companies received kudos for products and services on display at the Viva Fresh Expo, through the inaugural Gateway to Innovation Awards.

Editor Greg Johnson and staff writer Ashley Nickle deliver a rebuttal to the release of the Environmental Working Group's annual Dirty Dozen list that disparages fresh fruits and vegetables.

EcoPack Systems is producing a crate specific to pineapples that features the company’s focus on ventilation, food safety and protecting products being transported and displayed.

Lucky’s Market looks to grow its store count by more than 40% by the end of 2018.

Sprouts Farmers Markets plans to open 13 more locations in the third quarter of 2018.

The United Fresh Produce Association is honoring two industry members, one for advancing indoor growing technology and another for marketing/merchandising unique produce products.

Produce Retailer editor Pamela Riemenschneider discusses Viva Fresh 2018, including a very positive U.S. trade show "first."

Reusable plastic container company IFCO and supply chain solutions provider/pallet company CHEP are touting their role in the fresh produce supply chain.

Raley’s hit the nail on the head with its new campaign — and not just because its photos and videos highlight fresh produce.

California table grape production is seeing a “new normal” of 100 million-plus box crops, according to the California Table Grape Commission.

Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, Calif., recently wrapped up its Unite for a Healthy Galaxy promotion tied to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and announced prize-winners from a sweepstakes contest.

Tom Karst and Ashley Nickle discuss the subjects on which they have been reporting this week, with Tom diving deep on the China tariffs and Ashley gathering insight on avocados leading up to Cinco de Mayo.

California table grape production is seeing a “new normal” of 100 million-plus box crops, according to the California Table Grape Commission.

I was digging in my desk drawer when who else but Russ T. Blade emerged out from behind a collection of old produce manager name tags.

February’s average retail price for apples was up a little at $1.66 over a year ago, according to Stemilt Growers’ latest Fruit Tracker Fast Facts video analysis of Nielsen retail scan data.

LEAWOOD, Kan. — Four recipes featuring California avocados will soon be added to the online menu of meal kit company Chef’d.

Tanimura & Antle is promoting its Artisan sweet Italian red onions during peak season with a retail display contest running from mid-May through early July.

Avocados should be available in promotable volumes leading up to Cinco de Mayo.

Heather Shasa, dietitian for ShopRite of Little Falls, N.J., is the winner in Produce for Kids’ National Nutrition Month in-store display contest.

Raley’s puts a spotlight on fresh produce with its new marketing campaign that launched April 4.

Even as mangoes move more into the mainstream for U.S. consumers, there are ways retailers can make consumers even more comfortable with the world’s most consumed fruit.

Arable Capital Partners has acquired fresh-cut apple company Fresh Innovations California.

Fairtrade avocados are now available from Prometo Produce, and the company expects to have year-round supplies of conventional and organic product.

Raleigh, N.C.-based L&M Cos. and Deming, N.M.-based Billy the Kid Produce LLC have formed a partnership, giving L&M the exclusive rights to market Billy the Kid’s onions.

For the past few years, NatureFresh Farms Sales has been selling long English cucumbers and mini cucumbers grown and packed by Leamington, Ontario, grower Vine Fresh Acres.

Sun World International is using data to develop grape category messages for retailers, pointing to a two-tiered plan that includes a value category and a more specialized proprietary variety category.

Avocado sales were downright spooky last fall, when the week of Halloween posted a 4-year high of $42 million, a 28% increase over the previous year.

Retail expert Steve Junqueiro has entered into an agreement with FreshSource LLC as its exclusive consultant.

Market Fresh Produce has hired Matthew Lamoureux as director of national sales

Morning Kiss Organic, Chelsea, Mass., has a year-round organic mango program.

The empty nest Karst household has fallen to a way of shopping for some “groceries” online.

Avocados are a hit at retail, ranking first among items shoppers said they bought in the past 12 months that they didn't buy previously, according to The Packer's 2018 Fresh Trends.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Both education sessions at the 82nd annual meeting of the California Fresh Fruit Association dealt with changes in consumer behavior and how the industry should adjust in response.

Associated Wholesale Grocers distributed $203.4 million in year-end patronage, with a total payout of $576.9 million in cooperative benefits following a year of consolidated net sales of $9.7 billion.

Keep the produce stocked. That’s kind of a vague statement, isn’t it?

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Some elements of the rapidly evolving retail landscape could be positive for produce, consultant Bill Bishop told California Fresh Fruit Association members March 26.

Yakima, Wash.-based Domex Superfresh Growers is gearing up to commemorate Earth Day, April 22, with a bumper crop of organic apples.

Green Giant Fresh has a new line of meal bowls with six distinct options.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers has added organic bartletts and anjous from Argentina as it moves to a year-round organic pear program.

It’s Cinco Delicioso time, as Avocados from Mexico inspires consumers to kick their guacamole consumption into gear as Cinco de Mayo approaches.

Pint-sized wisecracks paid off for 11 winners of Stemilt Growers’ Snappiest Lil Snapper contest, which asked parents to share funny stories and videos of their kids for a chance to win prizes.

While the California strawberry crop generates sales for the industry, it also generates almost $3 billion in non-farm revenue every year, according to a California Strawberry Commission study.

Mission Produce, which recently began offering small avocados in 2-pound bags, is expanding the Minis brand to include organic avocados.

The official start date for the Vidalia onion season has been set for 8 a.m. April 20.

The back-and-forth between Supervalu and investment firm Blackwells Capital continued this week as the latter nominated six candidates for the Supervalu board.

Produce Retailer editor Pamela Riemenschneider and staff writer Ashley Nickle discuss the recent quarterly earnings call for Dollar General and its continuing interest in offering more produce.

BrightFarms plans to build its newest greenhouse, which will be its fifth, in Abilene, Texas.

National editor Tom Karst and staff writer Ashley Nickle review the big stories of the week, including Mexican produce labeled as Canadian and high demand for mushrooms and limes.

Equal Exchange, importer and distributor of organic Fairtrade bananas in the U.S., is celebrating March as Banana Month to spotlight the small banana operations it partners with in Peru and Ecuador.

The Texas International Produce Association has named the finalists for the first Gateway to Innovation Awards to be awarded at the Viva Fresh Expo.