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 […]
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
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 […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
IFPA Announces 2023 Leadership Program Class
The International Fresh Produce Association announced the incoming class for its 2023 Leadership Program during the graduation of the previous year’s fellows. The program, now in its 28th year, is a year-long journey where participants develop essential leadership and business skills through a series of customized trips. These trips are packed with face-to-face meetings, hands-on […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Watermelon Board Reveals 2023 Retail Merchandising Contest Winners
The National Watermelon Promotion Board has named winners in its annual Retail Merchandising Contest, which garnered more than 115 entries from various retail chains, independent retailers and commissaries throughout the U.S. and Canada. This year’s contest – the 15th since its inception – continued to utilize mixed media marketing efforts in addition to in-store displays. […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Sales Of Fresh Produce Increased During September
Fresh produce prices continued to increase in September versus their year-ago levels, but much less so than total food and beverages, according to Circana, 210 Analytics and the International Fresh Produce Association. On a per-pound basis, fruit prices increased by 1.3 percent year-on-year whereas vegetable prices were nearly flat, with just a small increase of […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
NGAF Leads Charge On Produce Prescription Technology Solutions
The National Grocers Association Foundation (NGAF) has wrapped up the Point of Sale Produce Prescription (PPR) Workgroup, successfully creating a core functionality document for efficient and accurate produce prescription POS solutions. This will be added to the association’s collection of resources that guide grocers seeking to offer nutrition incentives and produce prescription programs in their communities. Produce […]
Posted inProduce News, National
IFPA Wraps Global Produce & Floral Show In Anaheim
The International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show ended Oct. 21 in Anaheim, California, with the general opinion that it was “the best show ever.” “Coming back to Anaheim for the first time as IFPA, I could not be more impressed and inspired by the support the global produce and industry gave us […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Schnucks Uses Procurant For Perishables Order Management
Schnucks has partnered with Procurant, a cloud-based software company, to implement its Procurant One technology platform. The technology will help the grocer manage its perishables purchasing, produce inspections and source-to-pay order management. “Perishable goods are critical to our success, and the complexity of our business requires systems that are aligned with our goal to nourish […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Feature, National
Panel At IFPA Global Produce And Floral Show Addresses AI
“Technology does not scale linearly. It scales exponentially.” That comment from Patrick Vizzone, executive director of DiMuto, perhaps best sums up the CEO Panel on Oct. 19 at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim, California. The panel – Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO of SHRM; Elliott Grant, CEO of Mineral, […]