Building on its 100-plus years of carrot farming heritage, Bakersfield, California-based Bolthouse Farms has entered into an agreement to acquire Arizona-based Rousseau Farming Co.‘s carrot operations. This move, part of Bolthouse Farms long-term growth plans, further demonstrates its vision of “Plants Powering People” and its mission to feed and nourish people. “This acquisition will help us scale to serve […]
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.
Gold Coast Launches After-School Program In Santa Maria Valley
Gold Coast Packing, a grower, shipper and processor of fresh produce, has launched its first after-school program, Fantastic Fridays, to bring fresh vegetables to children throughout the Santa Maria Valley in California. On Fantastic Fridays, Gold Coast personally delivers on average 200 to 250 pounds of fresh produce to schools in the Santa Maria Bonita […]
Produce Alliance Names Fyle New Chief Procurement Officer
Produce Alliance has named Stephanie Fyle as its chief procurement officer. She is stepping into the shoes of her father, Mike Williams, who recently retired after holding the position for 26 years. Fyle began preparing for this role early in life. After graduating from University of West Georgia with a degree in psychology, followed by […]
Ark Foods Expands Line Of Veggie Bowls With New Flavors
Ark Foods, a Brooklyn-headquartered modern-day farming brand known for creating fresh produce, is expanding its line of Veggie Bowls with four new flavors: Buffalo Cauli Mac, General Tso’s Cauli, Alfredo Veggie Spaghetti and Sesame Veggie Noodles. This launch will expand its best-selling category and put Ark Foods at the forefront of the plant-based movement, leading […]
Whole Foods Market Honors Frieda’s During International Women’s Month
In support of March being celebrated as International Women’s Month, Whole Foods Market is celebrating women with its Women Makers Raising the Bar campaign, a movement highlighting the accomplishments of notable women makers. This year, Frieda’s Specialty Produce is a focal point in the produce department as a Female First for being a female-led trailblazing […]
Gotham Greens Opens New Hydroponic Greenhouse Near Baltimore
Baltimore-based Gotham Greens announced the official opening of its new 100,000-s.f. hydroponic greenhouse outside of Baltimore. Reimagining a portion of the former Bethlehem Steel Mill located in Sparrows Point, this is Gotham Greens’ seventh greenhouse nationwide and its first that will provide a year-round supply of fresh produce to retail, restaurant and foodservice customers across 10 states […]
Pazazz Apples Prevail Over Honeycrisp In Blind Taste Test
Pazazz apples, the proprietary variety from Honeybear Brands, has been selected as the clear favorite in a blind consumer taste test. The taste test challenged consumers’ perceptions about their own apple flavor preferences, opting for the variety with an “intense flavor pop.” The January study, commissioned by Honeybear Brands and conducted by Leede Research and Churchill Group, […]
Happy Little Plants, Fresh Thyme Highlight Plant Protein In Stores
The Happy Little Plants brand and Fresh Thyme Farmers Market are helping to fuel the plant-based protein explosion by having a dedicated set in each of Fresh Thyme’s 74 locations. The two Midwestern companies are joining forces to help bring plant protein items to consumers across the region. “We know that people are looking to add […]
Whole Foods Market Opens New Store In Downtown Nashville
Whole Foods Market in Nashville opened its new location at 1202 Broadway at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. The new 44,500-s.f. store in downtown Nashville features a variety of items from local producers, prepared foods and grab-and-go meals, natural and organic items and a full-service coffee bar. The first 250 customers in line received […]
New Giant Store In Falls Church, Va., Creates 100 New Jobs
Giant held the grand opening of its new store at 6360 Seven Corners Center in Falls Church, Virginia, on Friday, March 6. The 69,000-s.f. store includes expanded departments, unique product offerings and services from a full pharmacy to a PNC Bank branch and Starbucks. This new location creates 100 new jobs for the local community. […]
Whole Foods Market To Open April 2 In Castle Rock, CO
Whole Foods Market will open its new 43,000-s.f. store in Castle Rock, located at 6384 Promenade Parkway, at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 2. As part of the opening day celebrations, guests can enjoy complimentary coffee, snacks and music before the store opens. The first 300 customers in line will receive a custom Whole Foods […]
Solely Launches 5-Minute Spaghetti Squash Pasta
Solely Inc.—the company behind USDA-certified organic, cold-pressed fruit jerky and dried fruit—is entering a new category with its new spaghetti squash pasta. The shelf-stable boxed pasta, which is sliced, roasted and scooped by hand, cooks in five minutes. It alleviates the lengthy cooking process that often deters seekers of healthy alternatives from vegetable pastas. “These […]
Update: Sprouts Postpones Washington Store Openings Due To Covid-19
Due to the recent developments of Covid-19 in Washington state and the surrounding counties, Sprouts Farmers Market has postponed the opening of its Silverdale and Seattle stores. In a statement issued March 12, the company says, “The health and safety of our team members and shoppers is always our first priority, and we are actively […]
PMA Bringing ‘The Joy of Fresh’ to Austin’s SXSW
The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will return to South By Southwest (SXSW) again this year as a part of the organization’s ongoing work to bring the produce and floral industries to center stage. SXSW attracts half a million attendees each year to Austin, Texas, for 10 days of collaboration. From March 13-22, SXSW will feature speakers, […]
Graphic Packaging Int’l. Launches PaperSeal Innovation To Increase Recyclability
Graphic Packaging International has launched a new line of PaperSeal trays, offering brands and retailers the opportunity to replace Modified Atmosphere (MAP) and Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) plastic trays with a new barrier-lined paperboard alternative. The development of the innovative PaperSeal food tray solution aligns with the company’s Vision 2025, leveraging its sustainability profile to expand and […]
SpartanNash, Family Fare Partner With Flashfood On New Mobile App
As part of its commitment to help customers save money and reduce in-store fresh food waste, SpartanNash is piloting a mobile app at five of its West Michigan Family Fare stores. The app was developed by Flashfood and allows store guests and community nonprofits to purchase food nearing its best-by date at savings of up […]
MIDWEST: Coborn’s To Celebrate Grand Opening Of 3 Newly Remodeled Stores
Coborn’s Inc. has planned the grand reopening of three newly remodeled locations in its chain of 28 Coborn’s stores. The company recently completed significant updates at locations in New Prague, Clearwater and Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. The grand openings will include several events to celebrate each location’s newly remodeled Coborn’s. New Prague will host a ribbon […]
Pete’s Introduces First-To-Market Butter Lettuce Wrap Kits
Pete’s, the California-based produce company specializing in hydroponically grown living lettuce and cress varieties, will debut a new line of fresh convenience products, Pete’s Butter Stuffers, in retail locations in and around the West Coast this spring. Available in three varieties—Asian Style Chicken, Southwest Style Chicken and California Style Chicken— Pete’s Butter Stuffers offers time-pressed […]
Driscoll’s Launches Limited Edition Sweetest Batch Blackberries
Driscoll’s has launched its Limited Edition Sweetest Batch Blackberries. The blackberry marks Driscoll’s as the first company to market a complete berry patch premium flavor offering across strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Driscoll’s Limited Edition collection is a curated series of best of season, ultra-flavorful offerings. The premium blackberries follow the marketplace success of Driscoll’s Sweetest […]
SEPC Unveils New Logo Ahead Of Southern Exposure 2020
Southeast Produce Council (SEPC), the premier produce resource in the Southeast, unveils a brand refresh to mark 20 years of success and symbolize progress as well as the future of the association. Ahead of Southern Exposure, to be held Feb. 27-29 in Tampa, Florida, SEPC is debuting a new logo and website to kick off the […]
