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The U.S. palate may be more sophisticated and worldly than ever, but sweet bell peppers are still the mainstay over the hotter varieties for many of the nation’s consumers.

Catchweight bags are not going away, but Northwest cherry shippers say there is increasing demand from retailers for fixed weight packaging this year.

The Packer’s editors cover key topics of the week, from cherry season expectations to the West Coast Produce Expo to foodservice trends to the pallet shortage, in this episode of Packer Insight.

Catherine Gipe-Stewart, communications manager for Domex Superfresh Growers, Yakima, Wash., said multiple studies show single-bag cherry sales are over 70% impulse purchases.

Retailers can promote cherries by maintaining off shelf displays with fresh product in key high-traffic areas to maximize impulse purchases/sales, Harter of CMI said.

BrightFarms, Irvington, N.Y., was named in Fast Company magazine’s list, World Changing Ideas.

From a vast array of plumcots and apriums, to a menagerie of melons, to a brigade of roots and radishes, there is no shortage of options in the world of specialty produce, and consumers are intrigued.

For U.S. shoppers who read their sticker labels, they’ll start to notice their hass avocados are more likely from Peru rather than Mexico now through September.

United Fresh recently held the first session in its new education track featuring retail and foodservice industry leaders, and the discussion covered labor, forecasting, rising costs, packaging and more.

The Packer’s editors discuss the big topics of the week, from USDA’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program to PLU stickers to Peruvian avocados — plus an industry conversation on labor, rising costs and forecasting.