Bakersfield, California-based Country Sweet Produce’s Bako Sweet is unveiling its 3-pound and 5-pound conventional and organic mesh sweet potato bags at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show. The new design includes a variety of visuals and tools for consumers, including: Sweet potato variety-specific information with photos and an explanation of the outside and inside color; QR […]
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 inNorthgate Market, Produce News, West
Northgate Gonzalez Market Offers Produce To Underserved People
Anaheim, California-based Northgate González Market recently wrapped up its ¡Más Fresco! More Fresh Program. The program provides community members participating in the CalFresh program up to $100 a month in nutrition incentives when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, with their CalFresh benefits, at any Northgate González Market across Southern California. The ¡Más Fresco! More Fresh […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Apeel Introduces ‘RipeFinder’ Solution To Reduce Food Waste
Santa Barbara, California-based Apeel has announced its plan to introduce innovative new solutions to instantly and non-destructively determine the ripeness of avocados. By coupling advanced imaging technology with machine learning, Apeel has increased visibility into internal quality and ripeness, allowing producers and grocery retailers to make more informed sorting, shipping and merchandising decisions, which has the […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
NWPB Names Winners Of Retail Merchandising Contest
The Winter Springs, Florida-based National Watermelon Promotion Board has named winners in its annual Retail Merchandising Contest, which garnered more than 120 entries from various retail chains, independent retailers and commissaries. This year’s contest utilized mixed media marketing efforts in addition to in-store displays. It began in July to honor National Watermelon Month and ran throughout […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
SEPC Announces Next Generation Leadership Academy
The Southeast Produce Council is expanding its education portfolio with a program designed for up-and-coming leaders. The year-long leadership development program will provide participants an approach to conscious leadership ideals and methodologies. Participants will develop leadership skills and prepare to navigate industry challenges with a growth mindset. The academy will feature quarterly modules that will […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Side Delights To Showcase New Potato Packaging At IFPA’s Show
Newport Beach, California-based Side Delights will showcase its package refresh Oct. 27-29 at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando, Florida. Fresh Solutions Network, the exclusive farmers and suppliers of the Side Delights brand of fresh potatoes and onions, invites retailers who want to see the new packaging line in person to join the company […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Produce Alliance Announces Partnership With Copia
Chicago-based Produce Alliance has announced its partnership with Copia, a technology solution connecting surplus food to nonprofits in need. This partnership enables Produce Alliance to donate pallets of fresh produce and prepared food to community members in need. Food is the single largest component taking up space inside U.S. landfills, making up 24 percent of […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Survey Reveals Price Volatility Is Biggest Produce Growth Hurdle
Los Angeles-based ProducePay has released findings from a national survey that examined the day-to-day challenges of U.S. produce growers and buyers. Survey findings highlight the immediate needs around improving efficiency and profitability in the produce supply chain, particularly as the industry contends with record inflation, rising production costs, supply chain disruptions and extreme weather events. These […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, Southeast
AppHarvest Appoints Martin To Board Of Directors
Morehead, Kentucky-based AppHarvest has appointed controlled environment agriculture executive Tony Martin as an independent director of the company and a member of the audit committee, effective immediately. Martin served as CFO for about 12 years at Windset Farms, one of the largest CEA producers and marketers of indoor-grown crops in North America, with more than […]
Posted inProduce News, Sustainability News, West
Westfalia Fruit Plans To Attend IFPA Global Produce, Floral Show
Oxnard, California-based Westfalia Fruit Group will attend the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show Oct. 27-29. Attendees can visit Westfalia’s booth to meet and learn more about the company, and to discuss the global footprint that brings avocados and avocado products to U.S. grocery stores. Westfalia colleagues based locally in the U.S. will be available, as well […]
Posted inProduce News, Marketing News, Southeast
Duda Farm Fresh Foods Begins ‘Snacktoberfest’ Sweepstakes
Oviedo, Florida-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods has begun the “Snacktoberfest” sweepstakes. The promotion seeks to increase the consumption of fresh cut celery among shoppers and highlight the company’s brand, Dandy, as consumers shop for groceries through seasonal recipe inspiration, nutrition information, a list of fall activities and a chance to win one of three prize packs. “Snacking is […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Fresh Del Monte Produce Releases Grandissimo Gold Pineapples
Coral Gables, Florida-based Fresh Del Monte Produce, a distributor of fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, has launched a new pineapple product – Grandissimo Gold. Grandissimo Gold is a larger-sized pineapple offering similar quality, sweetness and nutritional benefits as a traditional Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple. Full of fiber and vitamin C, Grandissimo Gold offers consumers about […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, Northeast
Giorgio Fresh Co. Names Shelton As VP Of Sales, Marketing
Blandon, Pennsylvania-based Giorgio Fresh Company has named Bryan Shelton as VP of sales and marketing. He will be responsible for sales team leadership, marketing and business strategy. Shelton is a CPG industry leader that brings more than 20 years of experience, leading sales teams at Kellogg, Pinnacle Foods and Del Monte Foods. Most recently, Shelton held […]
Posted inProduce News, West
California Avocado Commission Prepares For IFPA Show
The California Avocado Commission team is in final preparation mode for IFPA’s Global Produce & Floral Show held Oct. 26-29 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Commission representatives will be available throughout the event and in booth No. 2343 on the expo days. “We are excited to greet customers and colleagues in person […]
Posted inFood Lion, Produce News, Southeast
Food Lion’s Apple Bag Campaign Provides 4.5M Meals
Salisbury, North Carolina-based Food Lion Feeds set a goal to provide 1 million meals based on sales from its annual Apple Bag campaign. Surpassing that goal, the retailer quadrupled its efforts in partnership with customers to provide 4.5 million meals in time for the holiday season. Food Lion founded Food Lion Feeds in 2014 to […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Eden Green Opens First Phase Of Vertical Farm In Texas
Dallas, Texas-based Eden Green Technology has opened a new two-acre vertical greenhouse in Cleburne, Texas, as well as the onsite expansion of an additional three-acre facility. The new greenhouses are another milestone in Eden Green’s vision to increase local food accessibility, affordability and sustainability. Its vertical-farm-within-a-greenhouse empowers producers, retailers and suppliers to introduce and expand their controlled environment agriculture offerings, including […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Avocados From Mexico Begins Marketing Campaign
Dallas, Texas-based Avocados From Mexico is beginning its national shopper marketing campaign for the Big Game featuring football legend, Deion Sanders and his fiancée, Tracey Edmonds. The celebrity couple partnered with Avocados From Mexico to create their favorite guac recipes and the brand is inviting shoppers to vote for their favorite in the “Tasty Good vs Good Fat […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Pacific Trellis Fruit Launches Black Jam Grapes
Los Angeles, California-based Pacific Trellis Fruit is ramping up programs for an exclusive black seedless variety of grapes. “JAM grapes deliver that jam flavor taste and are similar to the Concord variety in flavor and appearance, however, they are 100 percent seedless and have thinner skin,” said Josh Leichter, CEO. “They have been very well received […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Edible Garden Appoints Pawlowski To Board Of Directors
Belvidere, New Jersey-based Edible Garden AG Inc. has appointed Deborah K. Pawlowski to its board of directors, effective Oct. 14. Pawlowski has also been appointed to the audit, compensation and nominating and governance committees of the board and has been appointed as chair of the compensation committee. “We are pleased to welcome Deborah Pawlowski to the Edible […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Columbia Grain International Expands Footprint With New Facility
Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Grain International has expanded its footprint with the opening of a packaging facility in Nebraska. According to a survey from the Food Industry Association in the second quarter of 2022, 70 percent of retailers reported that supply chain turmoil is continuing within their businesses. Columbia Grain International has broadened its footprint across the supply chain, streamlining its operations as a supplier […]