San Francisco-based GrubMarket has named Jim Hohman, former East Coast sales manager, as the new general manager and interim West Coast sales manager for Sierra Produce. Based in Orange, California, Sierra Produce is a provider of fresh fruits sourced nationally and globally and has additional offices in Swedesboro, New Jersey, and Buin, Chile. It is known as one of the largest […]
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
Pacific Trellis Fruit Donates $39K To Tunnel To Towers Foundation
Los Angeles, California-based Pacific Trellis Fruit presented a check for $39,000 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Since 9/11, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star, fallen first responders and veterans’ families. It also builds custom smart homes for injured veterans and first responders. Pacific Trellis […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Duda Farm Fresh Foods Names Bassetti As President
Oviedo, Florida-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods has announced Mark Bassetti, former COO and SVP, as the subsidiary’s new president. “Mark brings 31 years of experience to the role and is incredibly qualified, with both industry knowledge and the leadership traits necessary to lead Duda Farm Fresh Foods successfully,” said Barton Weeks, COO. “Because of the unique demands of […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Sprouts Farmers Market To Participate In Citrus Promotion
Consumers can purchase Rubicon Bakers’ Vegan Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes at more than 380 Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Sprouts Farmers Market is the latest retailer to feature this collaboration between Washington red raspberry farmers and Rubicon Bakers. The cupcakes will be available for a limited time as part of Sprouts’ seasonal citrus event […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Kapi Kapi Growers Hires Business Development Manager
Miami, Florida-based Kapi Kapi Growers, a producer of pineapples and bananas, has hired Wendy O’Brien to help further the company’s U.S. and North American business expansion. O’Brien has more than 20 years of experience in fresh produce sales and marketing. In addition to garnering new business with retail, foodservice, wholesale and processing contacts, she will also work […]
Posted inPublix Super Markets, Produce News, Southeast
Green Life Farms Expands Distribution To 280 Publix Locations
Lake Worth, Florida-based Green Life Farms has expanded distribution to more than 280 Publix stores in the Tampa and Fort Myers area. Green Life Farms serves 270 Publix locations in South Florida. With 13 farms planned in the Southeast U.S., the company will continue to expand its sales territory with a variety of retailers as it grows. […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
G&R Farms Invests In Packing Line With Upgraded Equipment
Glennville, Georgia-based G&R Farms has installed a new grading and packing line. The project has been in the works for eight years and is expected to be in full operation in March. The new grading equipment is more precise, maximizing packing efficiency and product quality almost 80 percent faster. It optimizes accuracy in sizing and provides processing, […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Calavo Growers Announces New ESG Strategy, Commitments
Santa Paula, California-based Calavo Growers has announced its new sustainability strategy and 2030 goals. The company’s strategy is designed to focus its efforts on the environmental, social and governance issues that matter most, such as climate action, social responsibility, sustainable agriculture and sound governance. “ESG is a top priority for our customers, employees and our investors,” said […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Local Bounti, Sam’s Club Partner To Deliver Produce In New Regions
Hamilton, Montana-based Local Bounti Corporation has announced an offtake agreement with Sam’s Club for its leafy greens production, beginning at its advanced greenhouse facility in Byron, Georgia. “This exciting commercial development represents a powerful endorsement of our dedicated team that works to deliver the highest quality locally grown produce to our customers,” said Brian Cook, president. “We will […]
Posted inProduce News, West
ProducePay Appoints McCullough As Chief Executive Officer
Los Angeles, California-based ProducePay has appointed Patrick McCullough as the company’s new CEO, succeeding Pablo Borquez Schwarzbeck, who served as CEO since founding the company in 2014. Schwarzbeck will assume the role of executive director of the board. In his new role, he will continue to help guide the company’s vision and spend more time listening […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Local Bounti Breaks Ground On Agriculture Facility In Texas
Local Bounti Corporation began construction Jan. 4 on a new indoor facility in Mount Pleasant, Texas. To kickoff construction, the company was joined by state and local leaders for a groundbreaking ceremony at the facility. The six-acre facility will utilize the company’s Stack and Flow Technology to grow and sell its indoor grown line of […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Wholesale Produce Supply Acquires Bandwagon Brokerage
Minneapolis-based Wholesale Produce Supply, a fresh produce logistics and inventory management solutions provider, has acquired Bandwagon Brokerage, a specialty produce company. The acquisition will allow both companies to grow by broadening the portfolio of products and services they offer to customers, as well as by broadening their customer bases. Bandwagon’s founder, owner and president, Dennis Berman, […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, Southeast
Fresh Express Celebrates New Year With Intentions Challenge
Orlando, Florida-based Fresh Express is celebrating the new year with its annual Fresh Intentions Challenge, an online and social campaign. For the fourth consecutive year, Fresh Express invites consumers to commit to the 30-day challenge and share their progress for a chance to win prizes. The company offers more than 100 varieties of salads – from leafy […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
AppHarvest Appoints Industry Veteran As COO
Morehead, Kentucky-based AppHarvest has named one of its board members, Tony Martin, as chief operating officer, effective immediately. Martin will retain his board seat, and as COO, he will lead efforts to optimize production and revenue across the AppHarvest four-farm network that includes 165 acres under glass. “I expect Tony’s extensive background in controlled environment […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Sumo Citrus Expands Distribution Across North America
Dinuba, California-based Sumo Citrus will harvest its largest crop to date for the upcoming 2023 season beginning in January, doubling the amount of fruit from the previous season. Customers will find the fruit at more stores than ever before with increased distribution across North America, including Canada. Derived from satsuma, orange and mandarin citrus varieties, Sumo Citrus was […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Brighter Bites Partners With Sunkist Citrus Growers
Brighter Bites has partnered with Sunkist, an agricultural cooperative, to help improve the health of students and families in Bakersfield, California. Bakersfield serves as Brighter Bites’ third location in California, following Salinas and Los Angeles. In early December, Sunkist began providing monthly donations of citrus to the Brighter Bites Bakersfield locations, providing families with weekly access to fresh produce at no cost. “We […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
AppHarvest Completes Leaseback Deal For Kentucky Farm
AppHarvest has finalized the sale-leaseback of its indoor leafy greens farm in Berea, Kentucky, for more than $127 million and has opened its 60-acre high-tech indoor farm in Richmond, Kentucky. AppHarvest has entered an agreement with Mastronardi Berea, a joint venture between Mastronardi Produce and COFRA Holding, for the sale-leaseback of its Berea indoor farm […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Pacific Trellis Fruit Prepares For Cherry, Stone Fruit Import Season
Los Angeles, California-based Pacific Trellis Fruit is preparing for the upcoming import cherry season. “With increased volumes of cherries arriving in the U.S. from Chile and Argentina, we are looking forward to increased opportunities to work with our customers in promoting cherries well into March,” said Marcial Hernandez, director of imported fruit. Pacific Trellis Fruit is […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Pure Flavor Introduces Alonna Canary Melons
Pure Flavor has introduced its Alonna Canary Melons and has expanded production with a new greenhouse in Leamington, Ontario. “We are excited to introduce our second greenhouse grown melon this year. Our innovation pipeline continues to expand to remove the seasonality of fresh fruits and vegetables and believe that new, sustainably grown products like Alonna Canary […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Side Delights Shares Solutions For Upcycling Potato Peels
Newport Beach, California-based Side Delights suggests the emerging trend of upcycling as an economical and sustainable solution to rising inflation costs. Upcycling is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials or unwanted products into new materials and is used for everything from packaging to produce. According to the company, the potato industry is estimated to generate […]