Dallas-based Avocados From Mexico is promoting information about the benefit of healthy fats in celebration of National Healthy Fats Day on March 21. Avocados are a heart-healthy fruit, containing 85 percent good, unsaturated fats and nearly 20 vitamins and minerals. National Healthy Fats Day is part of March’s National Nutrition Month and is a time to highlight […]
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.
Living Greens Farm Expands Vertical Aeroponic Growing Facility
Faribault, Minnesota-based Living Greens Farm is expanding its Midwest operations with the addition of a new innovative indoor facility in Muncie, Indiana, for growing and processing a variety of leafy green product offerings. The all-new facility will open in early 2023 and will occupy a 200,000-square-foot industrial building built in 2015 but yet to be occupied. The […]
Brighter Bites Receives $1.5M Walmart Foundation Grant
Brighter Bites, a Houston, Texas-based nonprofit providing under-resourced families with fresh produce and nutrition education, has received a $1.5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation to expand programming in communities throughout the country. The grant will support Brighter Bites’ project, “Build a Better Tomorrow for Our Families,” by creating communities of health through increasing access to fresh […]
Ocean Mist Farms Announces Availability Of Purple Artichokes
Castroville, California-based Ocean Mist Farms, a grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., has announced the availability of its proprietary purple artichokes. This seasonal, limited addition to the Ocean Mist Farms artichoke family is a colorful variety selected for superior flavor and appearance. The company’s Purple Artichokes are back for a third consecutive year. For nearly […]
Dole Food Co. Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day With Menu Alternatives
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole Food Company Inc. will continue its “Healthier by Dole” alternative recipe series during March in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day and National Nutrition Month. “Healthier by Dole” is a series of nutritious plant-forward recipe and menu substitutes. Led by Melanie Marcus, Dole’s nutrition and health communications manager, the reoccurring program offers easy recipes high in […]
Central Market Introduces New Mushroom Varieties To Its Stores
Dallas, Texas-based Central Market will begin growing exotic mushrooms in select stores, including Dallas Preston-Royal, Austin North Lamar, Austin Westgate, Southlake, San Antonio and Houston. Varieties will include Blue Oyster, King Oyster and Lion’s Mane mushrooms. They will be grown in temperature- and humidity-controlled cases, or mini farms, which mimic a damp, shaded forest floor. […]
FMI Releases Results Of ‘2022 Power Of Produce Report’
FMI – the Food Industry Association has released its “2022 Power of Produce” report, revealing 25 percent of shoppers ranked price as the No. 1 factor when making fresh produce purchasing decisions, followed by appearance at 19 percent, health benefits at 19 percent and ripeness at 15 percent. The report also offers insights on consumers’ […]
Bailey Farms Highlights Products, Expansions At Southern Exposure
Oxford, North Carolina-based Bailey Farms highlighted their product varieties and discussed its recent expansions on March 3-5 at Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure. The company put emphasis on its sweet BellaFina peppers and Hotties line at the produce expo. The company’s BellaFina pepper variety is one third the size of a full-size bell pepper. The […]
Eat The Change Launches Cosmic Carrot Chews
Bethesda, Maryland-based Eat the Change has announced the launch of Cosmic Carrot Chews, a vegetable snack for kids. The company was started by Seth Goldman, co-founder of Honest Tea and chair of the board of Beyond Meat, and co-founder of PLNT Burger and celebrity chef, Spike Mendelsohn, “Our new Cosmic Carrot Chews are a tasty […]
GDA Announces Vidalia Onion Season Begins April 12
The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Vidalia Onion Committee have announced April 12 as the official pack date for the 2022 Vidalia onion season. “Each year, I, along with the Vidalia Onion Committee, look forward to sharing when Vidalia onions will be on their way to stores, so I’m pleased to announce April 12th […]
Kraft Heinz And J.R. Simplot Co. Announce Supply Agreement For Ore-Ida
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Kraft Heinz Co. and Simplot Food Group, a division of the J.R. Simplot Co., announced that the two companies have signed a long-term agreement naming Simplot as the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of Ore-Ida. Kraft Heinz will continue to own the Ore-Ida brand. Simplot is expected to help grow the Ore-Ida brand by introducing new innovation and technology […]
Green Life Farms Increases Sales Through Cheney Bros. Partnership
Lake Worth, Florida-based Green Life Farms, a controlled-environment agriculture grower, has announced its partnership with Cheney Brothers Inc., a family-owned and -operated regional food distributor. Green Life Farms will be the exclusive butterhead lettuce supplier to more than 5,000 Cheney Brothers customers. Green Life Farms operates two hydroponic greenhouses in Florida, with 11 more greenhouses in […]
Natural Delights To Push Medjool Date Sales For Ramadan With Displays
Yuma, Arizona-based Natural Delights is offering its two-, five- and 11-pound window boxes again this year to meet the need for Ramadan consumption. April kicks off the holiday, but shoppers are going to be looking for Medjool dates in bulk when peak sales season begins in the month leading up to the holiday. Medjool dates are considered […]
SEPC Announces 2022 Vorhees Vision Scholarship Recipient
The Southeast Produce Council has announced this year’s SEPC Vorhees Vision Scholarship recipient as Alexis Olsen, daughter of Melissa Olsen of U.S. Foods. The Vorhees Vision Scholarship was created to reward the achievements of young individuals who demonstrate a true entrepreneurial spirit in their lives as they pursue their educational goals. This scholarship is named in honor of […]
Green Life Farms Supplies Herbs, Leafy Greens To Farmer Joe’s Market
Green Life Farms has added Farmer Joe’s, a brand-new 55,000 square foot market in Cape Coral, Florida, to its long list of retail partners. Farmer Joe’s is the first Florida location to carry 11 of Green Life Farms’ herb varieties, along with its baby leafy greens and butterhead lettuce. Green Life Farms’ products are prominently featured […]
Natural Grocers Announces Second Annual ‘Celebrate Colorado’ Event
Lakewood, Colorado-based Natural Grocers has announced its second annual “Celebrate Colorado” event on March 3. Customers at its 41 stores across the state will receive a free, Colorado-themed, limited-edition, reusable shopping bag and commemorative sticker, along with special discounts on local brands. Shoppers can also enter to win a $100 Natural Grocers Gift Card – one lucky winner will be announced […]
TIPA Announces McGillivray As Viva Fresh Expo Keynote Speaker
The Texas International Produce Association has announced that Dave McGillivray will be its TIPA 2022 Viva Fresh Expo keynote speaker April 21-23 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. McGillivray has served since 1988 as the technical and race director of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon. He is an athlete, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, philanthropist, […]
Calavo Announces Promotion And Retirement Of Sales Team Members
Santa Paula, California-based Calavo Growers Inc., a global leader in the avocado and value-added fresh food industries, has announced the promotion of Gordon Breschini to director of national sales for the Calavo Fresh team, and the retirement of industry veteran, Bob Collier. Breschini, who has been with the company since 2008, most recently as senior account manager, […]
Wonderful Pistachios Partners With Kenney For World Pistachio Day
In anticipation of “World Pistachio Day” on Feb. 26, Los Angeles-based Wonderful Pistachios has announced a new culinary partnership with plant-based chef, cookbook author and restauranteur Matthew Kenney. Through Feb. 28, Kenney’s restaurants, Sutra in New York City, Plant Food + Wine in Los Angeles, Althea in Chicago and Liora in Baltimore, will offer an exclusive menu item […]
Sysco Completes Acquisition Of The Coastal Companies
Houston, Texas-based Sysco Corporation, a global foodservice distribution company, has completed the acquisition of The Coastal Companies, a fresh produce distributor and value-added processor. The acquisition will operate as part of FreshPoint, Sysco’s specialty produce business, and enables FreshPoint to enhance its service to the Mid-Atlantic region and diversify its portfolio by adding retail and ready-to-eat […]
