Produce Retail
Canada’s retail market is mature, consolidated and full of demand for produce, according to a USDA analysis of the country’s retail market.
From the moment shoppers enter the 87,500-square-foot Astor Place Wegmans — the Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer’s newest store — the fresh produce storytelling begins.
A new Columbia Business School study, “From People to Produce: How Appearance Bias Fuels Food Waste,” reveals how consumer preference for cosmetically perfect fruits and vegetables contributes to billions of pounds of food waste — meanwhile, companies like Misfits Market are working to change perceptions and reduce waste.
Even if a store doesn’t have a healthy budget for new merchandising tools, a specialist can still go big by making more out of the resources on hand, says columnist Armand Lobato.
Because fresh produce lacks long-term storage and futures hedging, retail buyers must ditch rigid sourcing calendars and build flexible supplier partnerships to navigate constant market shocks.
The International Fresh Produce Association points to next steps in detection and traceability.
From overcoming consumer awareness barriers to expanding year-round usage, inside the brand’s insights-led strategy set to drive a “2X in 5” growth trajectory.
As families swap processed snacks for whole-food nutrition, Zespri’s “Jam-Packed” campaign gives retailers the tools to capture high-growth sales during back-to-school season and beyond.
The grocer’s deli sales rose significantly after production planning moved off paper and onto Afresh’s AI platform, and the grocer is now expanding that platform across produce, deli, meat and bakery.
By adapting to a three-week accelerated harvest timeline through high-impact branding, robust postharvest protocols and strategic merchandising, California table grape shippers are positioning domestic supply to lead autumn produce sets.
The recent cyclospora outbreak in fresh lettuce didn’t just hurt produce sales; it crippled overall grocery foot traffic and retail spend across the store. Circana’s Jonna Parker unpacks the road to recovery.
Fretting over the impending quarter-end inventory? Columnist Armand Lobato offers a few ways to ease the stress.
The East Coast shipper is expanding fall production across North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
The industry has spent decades perfecting how to grow and ship a commodity and almost no time building a brand around it, says guest columnist Ruth Villalonga of Villa Communications, who offers advice on what produce can do to fix that.
Discover how retailers can reverse declining produce sales among high-value Hispanic shoppers by tuning into The Packer’s new on-demand webinar, “Billions in the Basket,” featuring actionable, year-round engagement strategies from industry experts.
Food Lion debuts exclusive violet corn at 500+ stores for Labor Day. Grown in Virginia, this limited-time crop packs twice the sweetness of traditional sweet corn for late-summer grilling.
AFP has teamed with the Indianapolis Colts and Meijer for a football-season partnership celebrating avocados as the ultimate superfood and guacamole as football’s No. 1 snack.
Peruvian sweet onions have cemented their status as the off-season gold standard for Vidalias, keeping category volume high through seamless merchandising, flexible display formats and strategic holiday cross-promotions.
Retailers shouldn’t rush a fall transition in the produce department, as the sales window for high-margin summer favorites extends longer than you might think, says columnist Armand Lobato.
After categorywide disruption from cyclospora outbreaks, the Bonduelle Americas CEO urges retail buyers to look beyond unit price, arguing that chasing the lowest purchase price creates systemic risks for retail brands, growers and consumer confidence.
Specialty produce drives late-summer sales while transitioning retail displays seamlessly into autumn.
Following a strong early harvest, the brand is leveraging new-crop momentum and targeted PR to push medjool dates beyond seasonal holiday peaks into everyday snacking routines.
A new report from Intouch Insight shows that the produce department acts as a direct indicator of overall store health, with 71% of consumers agreeing that a grocer’s produce reputation dictates where they shop.
![Jerry LeClair[12][53].jpg](https://assets.farmjournal.com/dims4/default/a3e0c45/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1198x800+1+0/resize/250x167!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fk1-prod-farm-journal.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb2%2F56%2Faebaeecb45d48854afcfdffe88c4%2Fjerry-leclair1253.jpg)
Jerry LeClair, a 40-year industry veteran who joined the regional retailer in 2019 and served as chief operating officer, has officially stepped into the top leadership role after filling the position on an interim basis since February.
By leveraging football-themed packaging and displays, Bako Sweet drove a 73% lift in Game Day sales, proving sweet potatoes can rival avocados as a tailgate favorite.
Driven by grocery inflation and a surge in home cooking, consumers are adopting “ingredient household” shopping habits, prioritizing long-lasting, low-shrink produce items like potatoes that span multiple dayparts.
Nature’s Frequencies is targeting produce spoilage with its patented Food Freshness Card, a chemical-free, passive technology designed to extend shelf life and deliver a full return on investment in under four months without altering standard cold-chain operations.
Person-to-person relationships are the heart and soul of the produce industry, but getting through the door to make those initial connections sometimes requires perseverance — and a little something extra, says columnist Armand Lobato.
Fresh mushroom growers and importers have unanimously voted to increase their promotional assessment rate to maximum federal limits by July 2027, funding a major digital and retail push aimed at turning younger millennial and Gen Z fans into frequent buyers.
The retail collaboration leverages the immense popularity of the family-favorite brand to boost healthy fruit consumption among kids and offer store owners a distinctive merchandising tool.