The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) continues with preparations for Southern Innovations: Fresh on My Mind which will take place as scheduled, Sept. 17-19, in Savannah. As a solution to the challenge of connecting Southern Innovations Exhibitors in Savannah with their retailers and foodservice members who are currently under travel restrictions, the SEPC says its conference […]
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.
Food Lion Associate Among Rising Stars In Grocery Industry
Food Lion is celebrating Category Manager Nicole Hulstein, who was awarded the “40-Under-40” award by Produce Business magazine. Winners are chosen from thousands of nominees by fellow industry leaders. “I didn’t find the produce industry, it found me. What attracted me to the industry is the speed and endurance required to thrive,” Hulstein said. “There […]
SOUTHEAST: Publix’s GreenWise Pilots Program To Grow Hydroponic Lettuce On-Site
Publix’s GreenWise Market, which focuses on natural, eco-friendly, local and organic products, has partnered with local hydroponics farmers Brick Street Farms to grow, harvest and pack fresh hydroponic lettuce inside a 40-foot container farm on-site at the Lakeland, Florida, GreenWise Market. The hydroponic container farm: Holds the equivalent of 2.5 to 3 acres of traditional farmland; […]
Fresh Del Monte Produce Adds 6 New Energy Efficient Container Vessels
Coral Gables, Florida-based Fresh Del Monte Produce continues to fulfill its commitment to create a positive impact on the environment with the addition of six new energy efficient reefer container vessels to its fleet. The addition of the new vessels – named Del Monte Gold, Del Monte Rose, Del Monte Harvester, Del Monte Spirit, Del […]
Avocados From Peru, Giant Food Team Up To Support Local Food Banks
Landover, Maryland-based Giant Food is teaming up with Avocados from Peru to donate a trailer of more than 40,000 pounds of summer avocados to Feeding America network members Capital Area Food Bank in Northeast Washington, D.C., and the Maryland Food Bank in Baltimore, Maryland. Both deliveries will take place on National Avocado Day on Friday, […]
Evergreen Kosher Market Offers Wall-To-Fork Fresh Produce
The Evergreen Kosher Market in Monsey, New York, is debuting a 20-foot high geoponic (soil-based) wall farm that lets customers not only choose clean, fresh-picked produce but also see exactly where it comes from. The pesticide-free lettuce, kale, arugula, basil and cilantro from Evergreen’s on-site farm are sold at competitive prices in individual pots, making the “buying […]
United Fresh Promotes McEntire To SVP Of Food Safety/Technology
United Fresh Produce Association has promoted Dr. Jennifer McEntire to the position of SVP of Food Safety & Technology. She joined the association four years ago, bringing her extensive background in food safety, regulatory issues and association management to the United Fresh Team. “Jennifer’s unique skills have proved a perfect match for the produce industry, […]
Kalera To Open Texas’ Largest Vertical Farming Facility In Houston
Technology-driven vertical farming company Kalera says it will open a new state-of-the-art growing facility in Houston, Texas, in the spring of 2021. The new Houston facility – which will be the largest vertical farming facility in Texas – is the next step in Kalera’s rapid domestic and international expansion plan to bring consumers fresh leafy […]
Publix Produce For Kids Campaign Raising Funds For Food Banks
The annual Publix Produce for Kids campaign is underway, with 12 produce partners supporting the 31 Feeding America member food banks in the Publix market area and a new focus on digital shopper communication. Newly designed Produce for Kids campaign signage appeared in produce departments at Publix Super Markets this July, launching the bi-annual campaign […]
Dole, Pixar Animation Studios Alliance Takes Fright Out Of Produce
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole Food Co. is seeking to take the scare out of specialty fruits and veggies with a unique summer initiative designed to widen the public’s produce horizons to create new family favorites. The company has collaborated with Pixar film and characters to launch original recipes, serving suggestions, digital and social activations, family-friendly activities, fun […]
Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Seeking Applications
The application period for the 2020 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship is now open. The scholarship is administered by the United Fresh Produce Association. The Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program was founded in 2001 by sisters Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins in honor of their mother, Frieda Rapoport Caplan. The program […]
Living Greens Farm Hires George Pastrana As New CEO
Living Greens Farm has named George Pastrana as its new president, CEO and board member. Based in Fairbault, Minnesota, LGF is one of the largest vertical, indoor aeroponic farms in the United States, which provides year-round fresh salad greens, exclusive bagged salad kits, microgreens and herbs. Pastrana is a commercial leader with a successful record […]
Side Delights Shares Immune-Boosting Benefits Of Potatoes
Side Delights is reminding shoppers that maintaining a strong immune system and living a healthy lifestyle has been trending since before the shelter-in-place began. A March 10 Seattle Times article, Can you Boost your Immunity with Food?, suggests consumers choose immune-supporting nutrients such as Vitamin C and a plant-based diet. Potatoes are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 […]
SOUTHWEST: Central Market To Celebrate 25th Annual Hatch Chile Festival
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its signature Hatch Chile Festival, Central Market in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, has expanded the annual event to three weeks, Aug. 5-25, featuring more than 400 Hatch-related products in every area of the store and roasting more peppers than anyone outside of Hatch, New Mexico. With more people cooking at […]
Double Up Food Bucks To Offer More Free Produce In Iowa
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Iowans facing food insecurity will have access free fruits and vegetables at more than 100 grocery stores statewide in July. This month, 106 Fareway stores, 13 Hy-Vee stores, additional food co-ops and farmers markets are joining the Double Up Food Bucks program. Double Up Food Bucks received $1 […]
Revol Greens Expands Minnesota Greenhouse To 10 Acres
Minnesota-based Revol Greens has completed its greenhouse expansion, quadrupling its year-round growing capacity. Expanding from two to 10 acres, Revol Greens is now the largest greenhouse in the United States dedicated to baby leaf lettuce. With this enlarged capacity, the company plans to launch additional products over the coming months. “At the core of our […]
U.S. Ag Chief Tours Orlando Hydroponic Company During Visit To Florida
From staff reports The way Sonny Perdue sees it, Kalera and other hydroponic companies and farmers live out the USDA motto to “do right and feed everyone.” Perdue, the U.S. secretary of agriculture, shared this assessment after a June 8 visit to Kalera’s recently opened 30,000-square-foot facility in Orlando, Florida. “Daniel [Malechuk, the CEO] showed […]
Fifth Season Opens Flagship Farm, Partners with NHL’s Mario Lemieux
Fifth Season, a vertical farming company, recently announced its partnership with NHL Hall of Famer and co-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mario Lemieux. Fifth Season combines vertical farming with proprietary robotics and artificial intelligence to deliver hyper-local fresh food. The company says its technology tends to each plant’s individual needs with efficiency and precision, providing […]
Limited Crop Of Angelcots Return This Summer Season
Los Alamitos, California-based Frieda’s Specialty Produce is bringing Angelcots back for this summer season. Angelcots are a special, limited white-flesh apricot grown in California. They have the juiciness of the ripest nectarine with the delicate texture and aroma of an apricot. They have the perfect balance of acid and sugar with a buttery, perfume-like sweetness, […]
PMA To Host Foodservice: Delivered, An Interactive Digital Experience
Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has scheduled Foodservice: Delivered on July 20-24, its first interactive, immersive digital experience for all segments of the global foodservice industry. The event features a menu of activities that attendees can access in live time or can view on demand. “PMA is eager to reconnect growers, business solution providers, chefs, menu […]
