Throughout February and early March, United Supermarkets joined with Rainier Fruit to donate more than 5,000 pairs of socks across Texas through the “Pears for Pairs” program. In the fall and winter months of 2023, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of Rainier Fruit pears and apples went toward buying new socks for […]
Category: Produce News
The Shelby Report covers the produce industry for grocery retailers nationwide, from fresh fruit and vegetable trends and supplier announcements to merchandising strategies and regional market news. Updated regularly across our five regional editions.
Find all our fresh coverage in Focus on Fresh.
Posted inProduce News, Harris Teeter, Southeast
Titan Farms’ New Website Powering Peach Promotion
Titan Farms, a grower, packer and shipper of fresh peaches and vegetables in South Carolina, has launched a new website, designed to be an immersive hub for peaches. “We are delighted to unveil the new Titan Farms website, a digital platform that truly embodies our commitment to delivering not just the finest peaches, but also […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Acquisition Of Northeast Produce Is Lipman’s 12th In 20 Years
Immokalee, Florida-based Lipman Family Farms – an integrated network of growers, fresh-cut processors and distributors of produce – has acquired Northeast Produce, marking its 12th acquisition over the last 20 years. The Northeast Produce facility in Plainville, Connecticut, will continue to operate and serve customers under the Lipman umbrella. “We are thrilled to welcome Northeast […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
TIPA Taps Lugavere As Keynote Speaker For Viva Fresh
The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) has announced Max Lugavere will be the keynote speaker at its upcoming 2024 Viva Fresh Produce Expo in Houston. A health and science journalist, filmmaker and author, Lugavere will share insights about nutrition, brain health and well-being. Lugavere gained recognition in 2018 for his New York Times bestseller, “Genius […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
SEPC Names 2024 Vorhees Vision Scholarship Recipients
The Southeast Produce Council has announced this year’s Vorhees Vision Scholarship recipients. The SEPC Vorhees Vision Scholarship was created to reward the achievements of young individuals who demonstrate a true entrepreneurial spirit in their lives as they pursue their educational goals. This scholarship is named in honor of the late Terry L. Vorhees, founder and […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Wholesale Produce Supply Acquires G.O. Fresh
Wholesale Produce Supply (WPS Fresh) has acquired the assets of G.O. Corp. (G.O. Fresh). The acquisition expands the fresh cut capacity and product offerings of WPS Fresh, enhancing the company’s ability to meet growing customer demands. G.O. Fresh, a processor of fresh cut produce, joins WPS Fresh’s growing footprint, including Wholesale Produce Supply in Minneapolis […]
Posted inPackaging News, Produce News, West
Side Delights Updates Bakeables Packaging Design
Side Delights Bakeables has debuted its Bakeables microwaveable side dish in a new package that coordinates with its updated Side Delights portfolio of potatoes. “For a decade, Side Delights Bakeables have offered the perfect solution for shoppers seeking healthy, affordable meals for their time-crunched lifestyles,” said Kathleen Triou, president and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. […]
Posted inDollar General, Corporate Store News, Produce News, Southeast
Dollar General Reaches Produce Milestone, Adds AI Ordering
Noting that it now offers fresh produce at more than 5,000 stores across the country, Dollar General said it has more individual points of produce distribution than any other U.S. mass retailer or grocer. First announced in the company’s fourth-quarter 2022 earnings in March, more than 5,000 stores now carry the top 20 items typically […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Kings River Packing Implements ReposiTrak Traceability Network
Kings River Packing, an eighth-generation citrus grower and distributor along California’s Kings River, is the first citrus company to do traceability, according to the FDA’s FSMA 204 food traceability law. Citrus fruits were excluded from the initial food traceability list and are therefore not yet covered under the law; however, Kings River Packing is using […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Baldor Shares New Hires To Senior Leadership Team
Baldor Specialty Foods has announced several strategic hires and structural changes aimed at enhancing customer service, achieving future goals and ensuring continued growth and success. Seth Gottlieb has joined the company as SVP of logistics, bringing more than a decade of experience from Fresh Direct, where he served as the VP of logistics and operations […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
From Advocacy To Education, IFPA Touts Impacts In 2023
Advancing the health of consumers, the produce and floral industries and the planet are at the heart of 10 key 2023 impacts from the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). “We do so much more together as an association than any individual or company can do on their own,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “Our members […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, Produce News
EFI’s Programs Expanded To Benefit More Growers, Buyers, Farmworkers
Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) is celebrating a year of progress in 2023 toward its mission to offer a full suite of supply chain assurance programs to the fresh produce industry. The group celebrated a new program launch, grew its staff and streamlined certification to make it more cost effective for growers starting in 2024. EFI […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Whole Foods Market Shares Pollinator Health Policy
In recognition of the role pollinators play in the food system and environment, Whole Foods Market has announced a pollinator policy for its fresh produce and floral purchasing. The company has long championed pollinator health through its commitment to organic agriculture, which prohibits toxic persistent pesticides. As part of the policy, by 2025, the company […]
Posted inProduce News, Feature, Southeast
Former Georgia Ag Commissioner: Branding Most Important For Produce Firms
Gary Black, Georgia’s former agriculture commissioner, says producers and retailers should look to branding as the future of selling produce. Black, now a founding and managing partner of On Point Strategies consulting firm, has a number of produce-producing clients, including Lake Park, Georgia-based Corbett Brothers Farms. The company has been producing fruits and vegetables commercially […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Russ Davis Wholesale Continues Growth Trajectory
Russ Davis Wholesale is a 100 percent employee-owned produce wholesaler distributor and processor of fresh fruits and vegetables based in Wadena, Minnesota. The company was started in 1955 by Russ Davis as a one truck business. He called on local grocery stores in the lakes area of northwestern Minnesota. Since becoming employee owned in 1991, […]
Posted inPublix Super Markets, Produce News, Southeast
Publix Produce Donations Boost Feeding America Food Banks
Matching its donation made for Thanksgiving, Publix is giving another 1.3 million pounds of fresh produce to 32 Feeding America partner food banks in eight states this holiday season. The donations are part of the company’s biannual “Feeding More Together” register campaign. Publix gives $10 million each year to purchase and deliver produce to the […]
Posted inProduce News, West
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. Of California Celebrates 100th Anniversary
D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California culminates its 100th anniversary commemoration as a family of farming and wholesale companies. After a year-long social media campaign under the theme “A Century of Excellence” shared on Instagram, D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California reflects back on the key milestones and achievements from each decade of the company’s history, engaging […]
Posted inProduce News, West
ReposiTrak Adds Produce Distributor, New Supplier
ReposiTrak has added a specialty produce distributor and a chile supplier to its Traceability Network. The new users will exchange complex, FDA-required Key Data Elements for each Critical Tracking Event in the supply chain, ensuring compliance ahead of the January 2026 deadline. The produce distributor and supplier will use ReposiTrak Traceability Network to do traceability with […]
Posted inProduce News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Northeast
Ahold Delhaize Sells FreshDirect To Getir
Following a thorough review, Ahold Delhaize USA has entered into an agreement to sell its FreshDirect business to Getir, a pioneer in grocery delivery operating in key U.S. markets and globally. Ahold Delhaize USA said it made the sales decision in order to focus investments on its omnichannel businesses. It acquired FreshDirect, which was founded […]
Posted inProduce News, National
FPAA Inaugural Expo Proves Fruitful For Buyers, Exhibitors
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas recently concluded its inaugural expo, an enhancement to the FPAA Convention, which was held for the 54th consecutive year. Known as the Southwest International Produce Expo, the gathering drew more than 500 attendees, buyers and exhibitors Nov. 2-4 to the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. Over […]