Shuman Farms, a grower and shipper in the sweet onion industry, is celebrating the beginning of the Vidalia onion shipping season, marked by a series of events with partners Food Lion and Royal Food Service. The Vidalia onion season began on April 17 with Shuman Farms sending the first shipment from its Cobbtown, Georgia, facility. […]
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, West
Sprouts Farmers Market Adds Wild About Sprouts Products
Rä Foods’ Wild About Sprouts brand is continuing its national expansion through a distribution agreement with Sprouts Farmers Market, starting with 134 Sprouts Farmers Market stores in California. The companies expect to expand distribution to additional regions. The Sprouts Farmers Market locations will carry five of the brand’s six varieties: alfalfa, broccoli, clover, clover and […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Flashfood Celebrates Milestone Of 100M Pounds Diverted
Flashfood has reached a major milestone on the path to eliminating retail food waste: 100 million pounds of food diverted from landfills to dinner tables across North America. This is the equivalent to more than 83 million meals and more than $250 million saved on groceries. “Flashfood was founded with the singular mission to reduce […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Produce News, West
Zespri Anticipates Successful Season As ‘Best Snack’ Winner
Zespri is anticipating a successful season this year, due to increased customer demand after receiving the 2024 Best Snack Award from Good Housekeeping. Retailers can expect shipments of the No. 1-selling kiwi brand soon as the first two shipping vessels left New Zealand. The vessels are expected to arrive at the Port of Philadelphia and the […]
Posted inProduce News, National
FMI, IFPA Welcome WIC Food Package Updates
FMI – The Food Industry Association and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) each welcomed provisions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule updating package sizes and increasing fruits and vegetables in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). FMI Chief Public Policy Officer and SVP of Government and […]
Posted inRaley's, Produce News, West
The Raley’s Companies Up Apple Donations To Food Banks
Two grocery divisions that operate as part of The Raley’s Companies – Bashas’, which has stores in Arizona and New Mexico, and Raley’s, with stores in California and Nevada – increased their annual apple donations by 44 percent to area food banks through FirstFruits Farms’ Take a Bite Out of Hunger initiative. Raley’s delivered 22,660 […]
Posted inAsk The Experts, National, Produce News
The Future Of Retail Ripening
Sponsored content We all know the importance of having ripe bananas on display. They are the most visible, popular and profitable item in the produce department, if not the entire store and play a pivotal role in customer satisfaction and loyalty. That’s why nearly all of today’s leading grocery retailers have banana ripening rooms in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, Produce News
IGA, EmpowerFresh Help Independent Grocers With Produce Solutions
EmpowerFresh Co., a Kansas City, Missouri-based provider of AI-driven inventory management and retail optimization solutions for the produce department, has announced a strategic partnership with the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA). This partnership signifies a commitment to revolutionizing the retail produce landscape by providing cutting-edge technology and support to IGA’s independent retail members. “At the Independent […]
Posted inProduce News, Sustainability News, West
The Save Mart Companies, Flashfood Partner To Reduce Waste
Flashfood has partnered with The Save Mart Companies to divert food waste from landfills by offering reduced prices on groceries nearing their sell-by date. The Flashfood app is available at 44 Lucky stores in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and will expand to all of The Save Mart Companies’ banner locations in California and […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, Lipari Foods, West
Mission Produce Names Pawlowski Next President, COO
Mission Produce has appointed John Pawlowski to president and chief operating officer, effective April 1, with Steve Barnard continuing to serve as CEO and on the board of directors. Pawlowski has more than 25 years in the global food and foodservice industry, specializing in business development, system optimization and executive team management. He has led […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
GrubMarket Acquires NC-Based Performance Produce
GrubMarket has completed its acquisition of Salisbury, North Carolina-based Performance Produce, a vertically integrated fresh produce business that sells more than 80 different items to about 100 different retail customers across the Southeastern U.S. In addition to wholesale distribution, Performance Produce also provides comprehensive 4PL services, including inbound and outbound logistics, warehousing and cold storage, […]
Posted inProduce News, National
ReposiTrak Adds 10 Produce Suppliers To Traceability Network
ReposiTrak has announced the addition of 10 produce companies to the ReposiTrak Traceability Network. These members will exchange FDA-required key data elements for each critical tracking event in their supply chains, ensuring proactive compliance before the January 2026 deadline. The new members include: A California-based produce supplier in operation for more than 170 years; A […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Report: Shoppers Want To Add Produce To Meal Occasions
Consumers want to incorporate produce into more meal occasions, reduce produce waste and learn more about the nutritional value of fresh foods, identifying opportunities for growth within this fresh retail department. These were among the findings of the “Power of Produce 2024″ report, released March 8 by FMI – The Food Industry Association during the Southeast […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, Southwest
United Supermarkets Donates Socks In ‘Pears For Pairs’ Program
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 […]
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. […]