Produce Retail
The produce business seems to be gradually rebounding in Los Angeles as stores and restaurants start to reopen after more than two months of shutdowns triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite myriad COVID-19 -related challenges, Los Angeles area grocery stores have fared well from a sales perspective since the pandemic broke out.
The produce industry has been working to help feed families during the COVID-19 pandemic in a number of ways.
The Produce Traceability Initiative has added/upgrade four tools for the industry to support traceability implementation.
Working with farmers in Tennessee, Genera is contracting switchgrass and biomass sorghum as inputs to create compostable, sustainable packaging when its manufacturing facility comes online later this year.
The National Pecan Federation has petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a research and promotion program to expand markets for pecans.
Schnucks Markets Inc., St. Louis, is pledging to buy more than $5 million of local produce and other goods this year.
Hy-Vee, Aldi and Jewel-Osco have recalled private label garden salads supplied by Fresh Express after they were linked to an outbreak of cyclospora, with cases rapidly increasing.
(UPDATED/CORRECTED) Cyclospora infections linked to Fresh Express garden salads continue to rise and now include Walmart private-label bagged salads, including salad served at a North Dakota restaurant.
The National Watermelon Promotion Board is inviting retailers and commissaries to enter its Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest.
California Giant Berry Farms is starting summer blueberry season with strong volumes in the Pacific Northwest.
The Oppenheimer Group has acquired a 50% share in Agroretail, a Peruvian produce supplier.
Stemilt Growers’ summer stone fruit is arriving, giving retailers a chance to boost summer fruit and organic fruit categories.
Washington apple specialty license plates will be available to order from the Department of Licensing July 1.
West Pak Avocado, Murrieta, Calif., has released a new video in its Avo Effect campaign.
Adding a spark to a familiar pear variety, Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers is promoting the starkrimson red pear as the Sparkrimson.
This doesn’t seem to be the year for New York state growers to experiment with the market. Instead, they’re playing it as safe as they can.
Avocados continue to fare better when compared to year-ago numbers, but they’re lagging behind the same comparisons to the overall fresh produce.
There may be a pandemic on, but produce growers and distributors in Ohio say they’re in robust health.
Morning Kiss Organic, Chelsea, Mass., is adding gold kiwifruit to its list of products.
Jac. Vandenberg Inc., Tarrytown, N.Y., will be marketing grapes under the Sunrays brand this winter and launching a new website for the brand.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed 12 new members to the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
A & A Organic Farms, Watsonville, Calif., has added organic French beans from Guatemala to its list of items.
The National Watermelon Promotion Board, Winter Springs, Fla., is asking consumers to put their unique spin on the association’s recipes and carvings.
Dole Food Co. has partnered with Pixar film “Monsters Inc.” to launch recipes, serving suggestions, digital and social activations, family-friendly activities, trivia and influencer partnerships.
Promotora Agricola El Toro, a grower, packer and shipper with nearly 10,000 acres in Baja California, Mexico, has earned Equitable Food Initiative certification.
Homegrown Organic Farms has received Bee Better certification for Oregon blueberries.
Golden Sun Marketing, Mound Minn., has rebranded to GoldenSun Insights and introduced a redesigned website.
North Bay Produce, Traverse City, Mich., has new packaging that emphasizes its logo and focuses on the fresh product inside.