Landover, Maryland-based Giant Food has begun the relaunch of its Local Produce Boxes featuring locally sourced, in-season produce sold through Giant Delivers. Available throughout the summer without a subscription or commitment, the boxes retail for $20 and contain at least six items from farms in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Giant is sourcing all items from local […]
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
Westfalia Fruit Enters The Colombian Avocado Season
Oxnard, California-based Westfalia Fruit Group has announced the beginning of its Colombian Hass avocado season with supply available through late spring of 2023. Westfalia has played a role in developing the Colombian avocado market since the company planted its first avocado orchards in 2015. This climate receives a large rainfall, so much so that irrigation or […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Vita Coco To Create ‘World’s Biggest Coconut’ Roadside Experience
Vita Coco is creating the World’s Biggest Coconut roadside experience July 22-24 in Dallas, Texas. The coconut pop-up invites Texans to celebrate summer and Vita Coco’s hydrating Coconut Juice, which launched earlier this summer. Standing more than three stories tall, the giant inflatable coconut will be visible throughout the neighborhood, a nod to “Everything is Bigger […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast, Snacks Brands
Crispy Greens Promotes Torres As National Sales Director
Fairfield, New Jersey-based Crispy Green Inc. has promoted Janet Torres to the position of national sales director. In this capacity, Torres is responsible for leading and managing the sales team, including brokers and contractors. “No question, Janet has demonstrated leadership skills and abilities over her 2.5 years with the company and has earned the trust and […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
SEPC Announces Southern Innovations Speaker Lineup
The Southeast Produce Council has announced its lineup of speakers for upcoming Southern Innovations, Sept. 22-24. Held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, the conference will continue to build upon SEPC’s “What’s New?” platform, which debuted during last year’s conference. The sessions and speakers for the expo are: Keynote Speaker […]
Posted inProduce News, West
SAVRpak Debuts Moisture Control Technology To Triple Produce Shelf Life
San Juan Capistrano, California-based SAVRpak has launched its SAVRpak Drop-In, the first moisture control technology that extends the shelf life and freshness of produce up to three times. The technology does this by eradicating the No. 1 cause of premature molding, wilting and spoilage of peel-less and packaged produce, including berries, leafy greens and mini cucumbers: condensation. Trials […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Verloop Named Executive Director, CEO Of California Walnut Board
The California Walnut Board and the California Walnut Commission have named Robert Verloop as executive director and CEO, effective July 11. The CWB and CWC represent more than 4,500 California walnut growers and nearly 90 handlers, producing more than 1.4 billion pounds of walnuts in 2021 that ship to 50 countries. “We are excited to […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Driscoll’s Adds Tropical Bliss To Product Line
Watsonville, California-based Driscoll’s has created a new flavor, Tropical Bliss, that expands Driscoll’s strawberry collection, which also includes Sweetest Batch and Rosé Berries. With this new launch, Driscoll’s is the first fresh berry company to offer three very different high-flavor strawberries mapped to a proprietary sensory wheel. This curated collection was developed through traditional breeding methods […]
Posted inProduce News, Snacks Brands, West
Natural Delights Launches Truffles Product Line In Stores
Yuma, Arizona-based Natural Delights has launched Truffles, a take on chocolate covered fruit snacks. After a trial period with retail buyers and consumer media, the brand has launch a full-scale marketing campaign around the product, now available to order. Where traditional chocolate covered fruit snacks list high fructose corn syrup as a key ingredient, Natural Delights Truffles […]
Posted inProduce News, National
IRI: Inflationary Levels For Fresh Produce Stabilize In May
The height, the widespread nature and the continued acceleration of inflation dominated the headlines in May. Whether in the grocery store, at the pump or at the movies, consumers were paying more. “IRI, 210 Analytics and IFPA are committed to bringing the latest trends and analysis relative to the produce department,” said Joe Watson, VP, retail, […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Lori Anne Peaches Available In Select Grocery Retailers
Ridge Spring, South Carolina-based Lori Anne Peaches are available at select retailers nationwide. Shoppers can find Lori Anne Peaches at Harp, Central Market, Lunds & Byerlys, Wegman’s and Rouses. Throughout July, Lori Anne Carr will continue holding in store demos at select retailer locations in Minnesota and Texas. “Every year, I look forward to traveling to […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Hydroponic Farm Company Says Lettuce Shortage Is A Global Crisis
Advanced Container Technologies Inc. has announced that GrowPods, transportable modular hydroponic farms, can help reduce the global lettuce shortage. The crisis began back in 2020. According to Growing Produce, California lettuce growers faced hotter-than-average temperatures and crop diseases that led to a shortage of iceberg and romaine lettuce. These tight conditions bled into 2021. Mintec reported that lettuce increased in price 67 […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Little Leaf Farms Raises $300M In Capital To Continue Its Growth
Devens, Massachusetts-based Little Leaf Farms has raised $300 million in new capital, with equity financing led by The Rise Fund and debt funding from Bank of America. The capital will support the growth and expansion of farms and distribution, making Little Leaf Farms’ local lettuces accessible to more than half of the country’s population by 2026. Immediate expansion and […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Entrepreneurs Launch Nabaco’s NatuWrap To Extend Produce Freshness
Gary Beall and Rusty Phillips have teamed up with experts in the produce industry to accelerate the growth of San Marcos, Texas-based Nabaco Inc. Nabaco manufactures a revolutionary safe and edible coating, called NatuWrap, that extends the shelf life of produce. The patented, sustainable NatuWrap coating keeps moisture in, while keeping oxygen and unwanted microorganisms out. The odorless, […]
Posted inProduce News, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Mr Greens Partners With Pepper To Launch Mobile Ordering Platform
Mr Greens has launched mobile and web ordering for customers powered by Pepper, an e-commerce platform for food distributors, to provide a faster, reliable and modern ordering experience. Mr Greens’ clients include restaurants, hotels, country clubs, caterers, grocery stores and retail outlets across the U.S. The company is expanding with five distribution centers in Miami, Plant […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Fresh Del Monte Launches Mini Honeyglow Pineapple
Coral Gables, Florida-based Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. has launched its Mini Honeyglow pineapple in North America. The new product has the same quality and flavor as the original Honeyglow pineapple but is now available in a miniature size for consumers. “The Mini Honeyglow is the perfect addition to Fresh Del Monte’s pineapple offerings,” said Pablo Rivero, VP […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
US Foods Partners With Kalera To Expand Produce Portfolio
Rosemont, Illinois-based US Foods Holding Corp. has announced an agreement with Kalera, a hydroponic indoor vertical farming company. This is US Foods’ largest vertical farming relationship to date. The agreement underscores US Foods’ commitment to bringing foodservice operators a broad assortment of high-quality produce, year-round. It will also expand the portfolio of local farms that US Foods is sourcing […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Vallarta Supermarkets Partners With Flashfood For Five-Store Pilot
Vallarta Supermarkets, one of the largest Latino-owned supermarket chains in California, has begun a pilot partnership with Flashfood, a digital marketplace that provides customers access to heavily discounted food nearing its best-by date. The five-store pilot will bring the app to Los Angeles County shoppers in Palmdale and Lancaster for the first time, expanding Flashfood’s presence […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Green Giant Survey Reveals Broccoli As America’s Favorite Vegetable
Green Giant announced new consumer survey results that found broccoli remains America’s favorite vegetable for 2022. The Green Giant brand polled more than 5,000 Americans for its annual “Favorite Veggie” open-ended survey to determine consumers’ favorite vegetables timed to National Eat Your Vegetables Day, held June 17. Key survey findings include: Broccoli Takes the Crown Again: Broccoli is the […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Fresh Del Monte, Jewel-Osco Break World Record For Fruit Display
In celebration of National Fruit and Vegetable Month, Fresh Del Monte, in collaboration with Jewel-Osco, broke a world record June 8 for the World’s Largest Fruit Display. Sanctioned as an official Guinness World Record, the display was constructed from more than 77,000 pounds of Del Monte bananas at the Jewel-Osco store in Westmont, Illinois, located […]