Los Alamitos, California-based Frieda’s Branded Produce has picked up four honors in the 2022 Kitchn Essentials, grocery edition. Each year, Kitchn names essential grocery items that have gained fanfare and become staples in consumers’ grocery carts. “Being recognized with four awards is the proof point that our new branding is breaking through and speaking to consumers,” said Cindy Sherman, senior […]
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, Southeast
SEPC’s ‘What’s New?’ Reveals Consumer’s View On Produce
The Southeast Produce Council released “What’s New? From the Consumer View 2022″ in one of two educational sessions at its fall show, Southern Innovations, on Sept. 23. “Only 12 percent of consumers meet the daily recommended amount of fresh produce,” said David Sherrod, president and CEO. “That means there is a lot of room for growth…Exhibitors […]
Posted inProduce News, Sustainability News, West
Taylor Farms Takes California Vegetable Facility Off The Grid
Taylor Farms has partnered with Bloom Energy, Ameresco and Concept Clean Energy to install a microgrid capable of taking one of its California food processing facilities completely off the traditional energy grid. The energy leaders plan to combine six megawatts of Bloom fuel cells, 2MW of solar power from Concept Clean Energy and a 2MW/4MWh […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
AppHarvest Announces Fall Planting Progress
Morehead, Kentucky-based AppHarvest has completed calibration of its “touchless growing system” for salad greens at its 15-acre Berea, Kentucky, indoor farm by having grown more than 20 varieties of lettuce. The company is 80 percent complete with planting of its 30-acre AppHarvest Somerset Farm, which has the capacity to grow about 1 million strawberry plants. The […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Matlin Named Speaker At IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show
Actress and activist Marlee Matlin has been named as the women’s leadership breakfast speaker at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce and Floral Show Oct. 27-29 in Orlando, Florida. Matlin, who will speak during the Oct. 29 morning general session, will speak on “Nobody’s Perfect: Achieving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access.” Due to scheduling […]
Posted inProduce News, Bristol Farms, West
Plenty Partners With Bristol Farms For Produce Expansion
On the cusp of opening its Compton, California, farm, Plenty Unlimited is beginning its expansion to Southern California in partnership with Bristol Farms, a specialty gourmet grocer. Outside of local markets in the Compton community, Plenty leafy greens will be available in Southern California exclusively at Bristol Farms for the remainder of the year. This marks the first […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Stater Bros. ‘Singing Produce Manager’ Embarks On Yacht Concert
By day, Marium “Mario” Bryant is known as the “singing produce manager” at Stater Bros. in Southern California. But in the evening, he is pursuing an entertainment career – and doing so with the full support of his employer. In fact, Bryant won a National Anthem singing contest sponsored by the grocer. Bryant began his […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Produce News, Southwest
FarmBox Foods Launches Indoor Farm Growing Livestock Feed
FarmBox Foods has announced the launch of its Hydroponic Fodder Farm with a public open house Sept. 27 at 5389 Plum Ave. in Sedalia, Colorado. Guided tours of the new indoor farm — the third product line offered by FarmBox Foods — will be provided. Attendees will also receive a tour of the company’s other tech-assisted, containerized farms: […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Flashfood Diverts 50M Pounds Of Food From Landfills
Flashfood announced Sept. 19 at the Groceryshop 2022 conference that the company has diverted 50 million pounds of food from landfills and 95 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent saved from the atmosphere. This milestone was achieved following the company’s rapid expansion across North America, providing shoppers and retailers with a simple solution to reduce food waste. Flashfood […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, Southeast
St George Joins Dole Food Co. As VP Of Sales, West Region
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole Food Company has announced that 25-year produce industry veteran Kim St George has joined Dole Fresh Vegetables as VP of sales, West region. St George will focus on expanding the Dole value-added salad business while working closely with Dole’s fresh pack team in farm fresh vegetables. St George comes to Dole […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
505 Southwestern, Coca-Cola To Host Green Chile Tailgate Event
505 Southwestern, together with Coca-Cola and the Denver Broncos, will host a tailgate party event featuring a large portable green chile roaster before the first two regular-season games at Empower Field beginning Sept. 18. Admission to this event is free and attendees will enjoy fresh-roasted Hatch Valley green chile, Coca-Cola products and samples of green […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Plenty Unlimited To Build Large Indoor Vertical Farm
Plenty Unlimited has secured up to 120 acres of land near Richmond, Virginia, to build the largest indoor vertical farm campus in the world. The land marks Plenty’s expansion beyond the U.S. West Coast and will bring fresh produce to the East Coast year-round. Plenty plans to deploy several large-scale vertical farms on the campus in […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Side Delights Offers Shopping Solutions To Promote Potatoes
Newport Beach, California-based Side Delights offers “any-size solution” to shoppers as they return to school and work. Fortune recently reported that several companies asked employees to return to the office after Labor Day, causing shoppers to shift their routines again. This schedule change affects consumers in various ways, including shopping and dining habits. Shoppers seek affordable […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Mission Produce, NatureSweet Enter Logistics Partnership
Mission Produce and NatureSweet Tomatoes has announced a long-term third-party logistics partnership leveraging Mission’s distribution center in Laredo, Texas. The move will support the expansion of NatureSweet’s greenhouse portfolio, which includes its snacking tomatoes, medium/large tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. In the partnership, Mission will provide NatureSweet with cold storage, cross docking, repacking, inventory management, access to […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
IRI: Volume Pressure Sharpens As Produce Inflation Climbs
Amid continued disruption, IRI, 210 Analytics and IFPA are bringing the industry the latest trends and analysis in fresh produce. “Inflation has been accelerating since early fall 2021, drought conditions are severe, consumer confidence is low and grocery patterns are switching very rapidly,” said Joe Watson, VP, Retail, Foodservice & Wholesale for IFPA. The four […]
Posted inMeijer, Midwest, Produce News
Square Roots Expands Produce Distribution To Meijer Stores
Square Roots has expanded distribution of produce in Meijer’s stores in the Midwest. The company’s greens will be sold at Meijer-branded stores in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. The produce is grown and harvested at Square Roots’ Kenosha farm, the company’s largest indoor farm built to date. “Our new farm in Kenosha delivers delicious, pesticide-free, fresh […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Brighter Bites Receives $300K Grant To Expand Programming
San Antonio, Texas-based Brighter Bites has received a $300,000 Empowering Health grant from UnitedHealthcare to expand its programming in the community. The funding will help serve areas with high rates of food insecurity and diet-related diseases in the San Antonio area by providing fresh produce and nutrition education. “Through our Empowering Health grants and local outreach efforts from UnitedHealthcare, we’re working […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Farmland Begins Second Year Of Honoring The Heartland Tour
To invest in the agricultural industry in Midwest farming communities, Farmland is holding the second year of its Honoring the Heartland tour. The 12-week mission highlights the role the region plays by providing monetary donations to support the next generation of farmers and delivering grab-n-go meals to those working in the agriculture industry, farming communities and grocery/retail establishments. […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Organic Produce Association Elects Crisantes As Chairman
The Organic Produce Association has elected Theojary “Theo” Crisantes Jr., COO for Wholesum, as chairman. Crisantes has been serving in an acting capacity since the fall of last year. “I am honored to be elected as the inaugural Chair of OPA,” Crisantes said. “From the beginning, our goal has been to increase consumer access to […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Brighter Bites Begins Fundraising Campaign For Anniversary
Houston-based Brighter Bites, a nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables and nutrition education resources for families, is celebrating its 10th year of helping under-resourced communities throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 2012, Brighter Bites has shared more than 50 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables and nutrition education to more than 500,000 people across all […]