Williamsville, New York-based Tops Friendly Markets has recognized Justin Rowe, category business manager for Tops, as one of Produce Business 40 Under 40 award honorees. This program spotlights rising entrepreneurs and leaders who have shaped the produce industry in a very short time and are paving the way for what comes next. Produce Business states […]
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
GrubMarket Acquires Frantoni, Granite State Software
San Francisco-based GrubMarket has completed the acquisitions of New York-based Frantoni Corporation and Kansas-based Granite State Software. Both companies are led by software veterans with decades of industry experience in the fresh produce space. Founded nearly 40 years ago, GSS is managed by software engineer Glenn Sherman, who joined GSS in 1990 and took over ownership of the […]
Posted inProduce News, National
IRI: Consumers Navigate Produce Purchases Amid High Inflation
IRI, 210 Analytics and IFPA partner monthly to bring the latest trends and analysis relative to the produce department. “Inflation, COVID and consumer mobility continue to change shopping and consumption patterns,” said Joe Watson, VP, retail, foodservice and wholesale for IFPA. “The consumer reactions to the current environment combined with supply side volatility are keeping […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Weis Markets Employees Volunteer With America’s Grow-A-Row
Weis Markets store managers and employees from the company’s New Jersey and Northeast Pennsylvania stores volunteered Aug. 9 with America’s Grow-A-Row in Pittstown, New Jersey. America’s Grow-A-Row partners with organizations local to its farms to harvest and distribute fresh produce to food insecure families. During the volunteer day, Weis employees helped harvest more than 16,000 […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Kalera Expands Distribution Of Leafy Greens For Trader Joe’s
Orlando, Florida-based Kalera has announced expanded distribution of its non-GMO leafy greens to 40 Trader Joe’s locations throughout Texas. All varieties are grown at Kalera’s Houston facility, providing locally grown produce to urban areas with traditionally short grow seasons. Trader Joe’s shoppers can find Kalera’s leafy greens in krunch, butter and frisée whole-head-sized varieties in the produce aisle for $2.99. Kalera’s current […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Square Roots Celebrates New Indoor Farm At Distribution Center
Square Roots and Gordon Food Service held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 16 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to celebrate their largest indoor farm built to date. “Our new farm in Kenosha, built with our strategic partner Gordon Food Service, is our largest and most advanced farm yet. Together, we can deliver high-quality, pesticide-free, fresh produce to local […]
Posted inProduce News, Grocery Store Layout, Northeast
Stop & Shop Introduces Refreshed Grove Hall Store
Stop & Shop has opened a refreshed store Aug. 19 in the Grove Hall neighborhood of Boston. The grocer will unveil a new community wellness space built to host programming at no cost to the community. Another highlight of the updated Grove Hall Stop & Shop location is an in-store dietitian offering free nutrition programming […]
Posted inProduce News, West
California Fig Growers Celebrate Beginning Of Crop Season
Fresh Fig season is officially underway, according to the California Fresh Fig Growers Association. This year’s initial crop, known as the breba crop, delivered the first Mission figs of the season May-June. The main crop, now underway, is delivering plump varieties, such as Brown Turkeys and Sierras. Additional varieties will continue to become available through […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
IFPA Names Linney As Keynote General Session Speaker
International Fresh Produce Association has announced that Laura Linney will be the keynote speaker for the Women’s Fresh Perspectives General Session on Oct. 29 at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando, Florida. The session, titled “Women in Film: Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry” will feature Linney’s insights on her experience in Hollywood. Laura Linney is […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
505 Southwestern Hosts ‘25 Years Of Flavor’ Celebration Event
Albuquerque, New Mexico-based 505 Southwestern celebrates “25 Years of Flavor” with an event to celebrate the anniversary in the location it was originally founded by entrepreneur Roy Solomon. The celebration is scheduled for Sept. 15 at Tin Can Alley. Tin Can Alley has gained national recognition as an innovative venue featuring locally inspired food, beverages and […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Wisconsin Leads Nation In Cranberry Production
Wisconsin’s cranberry growers are expecting a solid 2022 crop at 5.2 million barrels based on crop projections, according to the U.S. Cranberry Marketing Committee meeting held Aug. 16 in Galloway, New Jersey. If the Wisconsin and other states’ projections stay on course, Wisconsin will remain the largest cranberry producing state growing and harvesting more than […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, National
Grocery Retailers Prepare For Hatch Green Chile Season
Grocery retailers across the country are preparing their stores in preparation for Hatch Green Chile season. Hatch chiles get their name from the village of Hatch, New Mexico, where the pepper is harvested only a few weeks of the year. The sunlight and cool nights of the Hatch Valley help to grow the chiles. These […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Brighter Bites, Zespri Kiwifruit Partner For School Programming
Houston, Texas-based Brighter Bites is partnering with Zespri Kiwi fruit as a key produce partner for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Through this partnership, Zespri Kiwifruit will provide product for Brighter Bites’ programming in New York City and Washington D.C., as well as south and central California, supply kiwi nutrition education, recipes and coupons through the upcoming school season and support national […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Ball’s Food Stores Supports ‘Buy Fresh Buy Local’ Program
Kansas City, Kansas-based Ball’s Food Stores is supporting the “Buy Fresh Buy Local” program and local chapters of the movement. August is prime time for harvesting late summer produce, such as peaches, summer squash, tomatoes, eggplants and sweet corn. Working with more than 150 local growers, the grocer provides a selection of natural and sustainable products […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Little Leaf Farms Introduces Sweet Baby Butter Leaf Lettuce
Devens, Massachusetts-based Little Leaf Farms has launched its new lettuce variety, Sweet Baby Butter Leaf. Grown in a hydroponic greenhouse producing lettuce year-round, Sweet Baby Butter Leaf lettuce features a sweet and crispy texture. “With a balance of sweetness, crispness and tenderness, we know Sweet Baby Butter Leaf will be a welcomed addition to our product line,” […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Mariani Probiotic Prunes Wins Healthy Snack Award
The Mariani family has announced that Mariani’s Probiotic Prunes is a recipient of the 2022 Good Housekeeping Healthy Snack Awards. The California-grown prunes are infused with GanedenBC30 probiotics to deliver active cultures that are 10 times more effective than yogurt. The award supports Mariani’s mission to help consumers who seek healthier options, especially with snacks, […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Calavo Growers Names Kurtz To Lead Prepared Segment
Santa Paula, California-based Calavo Growers has named Helen Kurtz as SVP and general manager of Calavo Prepared, the company’s prepared foods segment. Kurtz is a veteran of the food industry with more than 25 years of experience, primarily with General Mills and, most recently, serving as SVP, chief marketing officer of Foster Farms. In that role, she […]
Posted inProduce News, West
The SF Market Elects President, Changes To Board Of Directors
San Francisco, California-based The SF Market, San Francisco’s original wholesale produce market home to 26 merchant businesses, announces changes to its Board of Directors. A new board president has been elected in addition to key role changes and the election of three new members. “We are excited to welcome new voices and talent to our board. […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Calavo Growers Announces Jalisco Facility Open For Exports
Calavo Growers, a global avocado-industry provider of value-added fresh food, announced official certification and opening of its Jalisco packing facility for the American market. “Today, we are proud to announce that we have expanded our partnership with our Mexican growers from Michoacan to Jalisco,” said Dionisio Ortiz, VP Calavo de Mexico. “This will elevate our sourcing […]
Posted inProduce News, West
California Prune Board Announces Incoming Officers, Members
The California Prune Board has seated its 22-member board and 16 alternates for the 2022-24 term. Following certification of the election by the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture, the new board approved the 2022-23 fiscal year programs and budget at its June board meeting. The California Prune Board officers are: Chair: George Sousa Jr., president […]