Latest News From Retail

Melissa's recently began distributing fioretto and two other new products.
Melissa’s shipping new products

Los Angeles-based World Variety Produce has begun shipping several new items under its Melissa’s brand.

Mango board offers bins to suppliers

The National Mango Board, Orlando, Fla., has new 2018 bins available for suppliers.

<p>Crespo ataulfo graphic</p>
RCF Distributors has organic ataulfos

RCF Distributors, Rio Rico, Ariz., is kicking off its Crespo Organic ataulfo mango program from Mexico and expects ample supplies this season.

Sunny Crunch salad
BrightFarms launches Sunny Crunch salad

New York-based BrightFarms has debuted the Sunny Crunch packaged salad, featuring green leaf lettuce.

Greg Johnson and Ashley Nickle discuss GOPEX
GOPEX offers organic deep dive

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Organic produce isn’t a segment of the business with which to merely flirt. It often takes a big commitment.

<p>Love Beets beet salsa</p>
Love Beets debuts Beet Salsa

Whole Foods Market, Tops Friendly Markets and Wegmans are among the retailers carrying Beet Salsa, the newest product from Love Beets.

The Eat Brighter! initiative has been extended through 2021.
Eat Brighter! initiative extended through 2021

The Eat Brighter! initiative, using the power of Sesame Street and characters to increase fresh produce consumption, has been extended through 2021.

Sales of golden kiwifruit increased 125% from 2016 to 2017.
Zespri reports results for golden kiwifruit

Golden kiwifruit sales more than doubled in 2017, with the SunGold variety from Zespri accounting for 80% of the category.

<p>Avocado trees suffered damage from a wildfire near Fallbrook, Calif. Photos courtesy Mission Produce/Albert Munoz</p>
Despite fires, California forecasts significant jump in avocado crop

Despite the largest wildfire in California damaging some avocado groves, the crop is forecast at 374.6 million pounds — almost double the 2017 crop.

Purple PLU stickers have been a helpful addition to apples this season.
Oneonta sees ‘huge success’ with purple PLUs for organic

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers debuted purple price look-up stickers on its organic apples this season to help differentiate from conventional apples.

The Packer
Packer Insight — Pamela and Ashley on products at GOPEX

Staff writer Ashley Nickle and Produce Retailer editor Pamela Riemenschneider discuss products that caught their eyes on the show floor at the Global Organic Produce Expo.

Amelia Freidline
Capitalize on Saturday sales

One item mentioned in my three-week series “Eighteen Goals for 2018” touched upon weekend in-store promotions.

CMI Orchards' Kanzi apple has sponsored a Red Bull Crashed Ice athlete.
Kanzi sponsors Crashed Ice competitor

CMI Orchards, Wenatchee, Wash., has taken to the ice to promote Kanzi apples.

The Arctic Fuji, approved for the U.S. market in fall 2016, has been approved by Canadian federal agencies.
Canada approves non-browning GMO fuji apple

Following the lead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Canadian federal agencies have approved the marketing of the non-browning Arctic Fuji.

Connie Stukenberg of the California Avocado Commission passes the gavel to new Fresh Produce & Floral Council chairman Alfonso Cano of Northgate Gonzalez Markets at the group's annual dinner dance Jan. 27. Stukenburg remains on the board.
FPFC celebrates 2017, names new chairman

Alfonso Cano of Northgate Gonzalez Markets is officially the new chairman at the Fresh Produce & Floral Council, a role passed on at the organization’s annual dinner dance.

Sweet Sapphire grapes will be available in stores through March.
Unique Sweet Sapphire grapes arrive in stores

World Variety Produce is shipping the season's first Sweet Sapphire grapes from Peru under the Melissa’s label.

<p>Naturipe FeBLUEary promotion</p>
Naturipe’s FeBLUEary promotes Chilean berries

Natureripe is asking retailers to get blue in February, promoting the month as FeBLUEary.

Mucci debuted new packages at the inaugural Global Organic Produce Expo. GOPEX is presented by The Packer and parent company Farm Journal.
Mucci transitions packaging

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Mucci Farms is switching over to pre-printed packages.

<p>Genuine Coconut Ecoripe Tropicals GOPEX</p>
Value-added coconut to make debut

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Ecoripe featured its new value-added coconut at the inaugural Global Organic Produce Expo.

The express-bake organic potato is one of the newest products for Farm Fresh Direct. The company showcased it at the Global Organic Produce Expo, which is presented by The Packer and parent company Farm Journal.
Farm Fresh Direct seeing interest in express-bake potato

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. —  Farm Fresh Direct featured its new express-bake potato at the inaugural Global Organic Produce Expo Jan. 27.

Brighthouse Organics has added new items to its lineup, including these grape tomatoes, and showed them for the first time at the Global Organic Produce Expo. GOPEX is presented by The Packer and parent company Farm Journal.
NatureSweet adds to Brighthouse Organics line

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — New products in the Brighthouse Organics line include grape tomatoes, bell peppers and mini sweet peppers.

Amelia Freidline
Dilly dilly to bananas

For bananas, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Retail food prices will rise only slightly, the USDA forecasts.
Retail food inflation tame 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts retail food prices will rise between 1% and 2% in 2018 after dropping 0.2% in 2017.

Amelia Freidline
What’s up at Whole Foods?

Back in December, I defended Whole Foods when Business Insider took its first shot at empty shelves and disorganization.

MountainKing rolled out an oven-themed display bin for winter potato promos.
MountainKing rolls out winter bin

Houston-based MountainKing has a new point-of-sale bin for winter promos.

<p>Marvellous Foods jackfruit</p>
Texas Know Your Market business updates

Catch up on the latest from companies and organization featured in The Packer's Texas Know Your Market.

In advance of the Super Bowl Mann Packing is sending its Snacking Favorites Vegetable Trays to one consumer per day who follows the brand @VeggiesMadeEasy.
Mann Packing offers Super Bowl giveaway

As a prelude to the Super Bowl, Salinas, Calif.-based Mann Packing has a five-day giveaway on its Instagram page.

Blogs and social media posts drove interest during a recent holiday marketing campaign.
Full Tilt Marketing plans more influencer-driven campaigns

Blogs and social media content for the recent #MerryEats marketing campaign generated more than 1.2 million impressions, sparking plans for similar promotions in 2018.

Dragonfruit can be a popular item around Chinese New Year.
Promotable volumes expected for key Chinese New Year items

Specialty produce items popular for Chinese New Year promotions should be in good supply for the weeks surrounding the Feb. 16 holiday.

The Packer AgDay TV
U.S. citrus outlook, water issues, check-out free store

This edition of Packer AgDay TV features the U.S. citrus crops, water rights issues and Amazon's new checkout-free store in Seattle.

Numerous shoppers tested out the new technology at Amazon Go when it opened Jan. 22.
Analysts delve into implications of checkout-free Amazon Go

The opening of convenience-focused food store Amazon Go sparked widespread attention with its checkout-free shopping experience.

<p>Walmart fruit displays, Produce Retailer</p>
Walmart leads market in west Texas, but Albertsons/Safeway show gains

Walmart is the retail market leader the West Texas retail market, but Albertsons/Safeway have gained share in the past year, according to the latest figures from The Shelby Report.

Pazazz apple sales are off to a strong start for the 2017-2018 season.
Pazazz apples enjoy strong sales

Retail sales of Honeybear Brands’ Pazazz apple variety were strong in November and December, leading the company to predict a record sales season.

WP Rawl is continuing its partnership with dietitian and author Cynthia Sass.
WP Rawl continues dietitian partnership

WP Rawl is continuing its “Back to Fresh” campaign by extending its partnership with registered dietitian and author Cynthia Sass.

<p>Chilean fruit retail display</p>
Chile offers ‘a taste of summer’

With a promotable grape crop, Chilean marketers would like retailers to entice consumers to a “A Taste of Summer. Fresh from Chile.”

<p>HEB Central Market citrus displays, Produce Retailer</p>
H-E-B clings to market share lead in East Texas

H-E-B has the leading share of retail sales in east Texas, barely beating Walmart and Kroger in the latest Shelby Report.

A diagram shows how the Fresh Online Experience would work.
Walmart could give online shoppers final OK on produce

A system patented by Walmart aims to address one of the top drawbacks for would-be online shoppers: the desire to pick their own produce.

Chicken curry with California prunes and brown rice is among the first three Chef'd meal kits created in partnership with the California Dried Plum Board.
California Dried Plum Board partners with Chef’d

The California Dried Plum Board has a new partnership with meal kit company Chef’d that kicks off with three recipes created by chef and dietitian Michelle Dudash.

<p>Packer Insight Pamela value-added</p>
Packer Insight — Pamela on value-added and Twitter bullies

Produce Retailer editor Pamela Riemenschneider discusses resistance to some value-added products and why Twitter bullies should think twice.

Amazon Go had been a curiosity for more than a year before it at last opened to the public.
Amazon Go opens in Seattle

Convenience-centric store Amazon Go is now open to the Seattle public.

<p>HEB Plus Austin storefront, Produce Retailer</p>
H-E-B controls south Texas market share

H-E-B holds a market share of an astounding 60% in south Texas, but its number in the region slipped slightly in 2017.

Tammy Wiard is the National Mango Board's retail program manager.
National Mango Board names retail program manager

Tammy Wiard, who’s background includes marketing positions with the Florida Department of Citrus and Albertson’s/Safeway, is the National Mango Board’s retail program manager.

<p>Walmart wet rack, Produce Retailer</p>
Walmart dominates north Texas retail market

Walmart has double the market share of any other retailer in north Texas, according to recent statistics from The Shelby Report.

Christensen, (left), Bishop
Robots and retail: California group looks to the future

The California Fresh Fruit Association annual meeting will feature experts on robots and retailers.

Amelia Freidline
Final retail goals for 2018

Good produce managers and their crews achieve more with detailed goals. As promised, here is the last of three sets to help forge into the New Year, with what I call “18 goals for 2018.”

Staff writer Ashley Nickle and Produce Retailer editor Pamela Riemenschneider.
Packer Insight — Pamela on Whole Foods out-of-stocks

Pamela Riemenschneider, editor of Produce Retailer, sister publication of The Packer, discusses what the reasons might be behind an out-of-stocks problem at Whole Foods.

Alsum Farms, Green Bay Packers announce contest winner

Friesland, Wis.-based Alsum Farms & Produce Inc., in a partnership with the Green Bay Packers, has named Blaine Lehto of Crivitz, Wis., as the winner of its Free Groceries for a Month Fan Contest.

Frieda's Inc. has a new line of clamshell packaging for its specialty onion products.
Frieda’s launches onion packaging

Frieda’s Inc., Los Alamitos, Calif., has new 8-ounce clamshells for its cipolline onions; red, white and gold pearl onions; and boiler onions.

Retailers have had some success turning kids who have new access to fruits and vegetables into consumers. Telling some of those stories are (from left) Kate Olender, United Fresh; Mike Orf, Hyvee; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, professor at Arizona State University; and Jeff Cady, Tops Friendly Markets.
Connecting kids to healthier food

SAN DIEGO — Giving kids access to fresh fruits and vegetables in schools through the government’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is just a step toward a greater goal.

Stemilt Growers is adding four organic apple varieties to its line of 5-pound Apple Lover pouch bags.
Stemilt offers organic Apple Lover bags

Stemilt Growers is expanding its Apple Lover 5-pound pouch bag program to include several organic varieties under its Artisan Organics label.