Produce Marketing
A shorter apple crop and inflationary supply chain pressures have changed the feel of the 2021-22 apple compared with a year ago.
Bagged apple sales haven’t disappeared nearly two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but the trend toward packaged fruit is moderating some, industry leaders report.
Blended products have been the top driver behind product innovation and increasing the consumer-facing portfolio for Rochester, N.Y.-based Leep Foods.
Organic apple supplies are tight and getting tighter in the 2021-22 marketing season.
Watsonville, Calif.-based Lakeside Organic Gardens has entered its 26th year of growing solely organic vegetables, and strong demand is fueling continuing growth, said Marliese McWherter, marketing director.
It is hard to imagine now, but there once was a time when organic produce was not an established part of the modern produce department.
Though hot temperatures in Washington state orchards last summer held back organic output for the 2021 crop, Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit Co. is planning for long-term expansion of its organic program.
Mississippi’s biggest sweet potato grower expects a smooth transition between old crop and new crop supplies this year.
The 775 family farms that cover 34,500 acres play a vital role in the Michigan apple industry, the largest and most valuable of the state’s fruit crops.
BelleHarvest Sales Inc., Belding, Mich., plans to grow its partnership with the PAW Patrol animated kids TV series, said president Nick Mascari.
For the upcoming fresh pomegranate season, POM Wonderful will continue to invest heavily in its health-focused marketing, reminding consumers that POM is The Antioxidant Superpower.
California pomegranates had a big fresh year in 2021, USDA statistics show.
A late bloom resulted in variable pomegranate yields in California’s central valley, says Brian Forrest, sales representative with Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc., Reedley, Calif.
The U.S. Cranberry Marketing Committee in August estimated 2022 U.S. cranberry production at 8.3 million (100-pound) barrels, up 4% from a year ago.
The campaign name, Taylor to Your Tastes, introduces more shoppers to Taylor Farms Chopped Salad Kits and invites consumers to tailor meals to whatever their families’ tastes may be.
Ocean Spray will have ample fresh cranberries this fall, says Jeff LaFleur, vice president of cooperative development and grower relations at the cooperative.
With expectations of a bigger crop than a year ago, Naturipe Farms is bringing fresh cranberries to the market again this year, says Brian Vertrees, director of business development for Naturipe.
Avocado industry group recognizes 29 key supporters who helped grow a thriving organization over two decades.
Fresh Solutions Network, exclusive farmers and suppliers of the Side Delights brand of fresh potatoes and onions, invite retailers who want to see the new packaging line in person to join us at booth no. 2162.
For many years, retail organic sales seemed to increase at a minimum of 10% every year. Times change and the winds of inflation and worries about the economy are slowing the momentum toward organics.
The California Avocado Commission’s 2022 pre-season forecast projects a 306-million-pound crop, which is nearly a 15% increase over the last fiscal year.
Chile doubles volume to the U.S. and implements enhanced marketing campaign.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a referendum Feb. 14 to March 4, 2022, on the proposed changes to the California desert grape marketing order.
Country Sweet Produce’s Bako Sweet sweet potatoes are now certified by the American Heart Association just in time to celebrate American Heart Month and National Sweet Potato Month..
Wenatchee, Wash.-based Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers expects strong demand for organic apples and pears for the balance of the 2021-22 marketing season, said Dan Davis, director of business development.
Ocean Mist Farms is seeing strong growth in year-over-year performance of several of its organic commodities, said Katie Tossie, organic commodity account manager for the Castroville, Calif.-based marketer.
Atlanta, Ga.-based EarthFresh LLC is seeing good quality potatoes coming out of storage, said Libby Massey, marketing manager.
U.S. sweet potato area harvested in 2021 totaled 152,700 acres (data collected only in California, Mississippi and North Carolina), off just 2% from 155,300 acres in 2020 and 4% higher than 146,700 acres in 2019.
The Baton Rouge-based Louisiana Sweet Potato Commission is celebrating its 70-year anniversary in 2022, a milestone that doesn’t even tell the complete story of the roots of sweet potatoes in the state.
One in three people surveyed in The Packer’s 2022 Fresh Trends report said they purchased fresh sweet potatoes in the past 12 months.