Held on April 25, the Viva Fresh Open Golf Tournament launched the Fifth Annual Viva Fresh Expo in San Antonio, Texas. Both the golf tournament and the expo resulted in sold-out crowds, rave reviews and record-breaking attendance. The event also marked a new milestone with the announcement of an annual scholarship program that will be […]
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 Opens Fourth Store Serving Monroe, NC
Salisbury, North Carolina-based Food Lion has served its neighbors in the Monroe, North Carolina, community for 49 years, and opened its fourth store in the community June 26. The new, larger and more convenient Food Lion store is located at 250 N. MLK Jr. Boulevard. This is Food Lion’s 10th store in Union County. It […]
Publix Opens New Store On The Beltline In Atlanta
Publix Super Markets opened a new store Wednesday, June 26, at 7 a.m. at Madison Yards on Memorial Drive in Atlanta. “We are proud to open our newest Atlanta store,” said Brenda Reid, Publix media and community relations manager. “Publix is known for providing excellent customer service in an inviting environment filled with a variety […]
Former Walmart Exec Jack Sinclair Named CEO Of Sprouts
Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market announced June 20 that Jack L. Sinclair has been chosen as its new CEO and member of its board of directors, effective June 24. Sinclair has more than 35 years of experience in retail and grocery, most recently serving as CEO of 99 Cents Only Stores LLC, a Commerce, California-based […]
Merger Expands Vine Line Logistics’ Midwest Footprint
Michigan-based Vine Line Logistics LLC, Heeren Bros. Inc., and Walsma & Lyons are joining forces and rebranding their companies as Vine Line Produce Distribution, positioning the new organization to become one of the Midwest’s leading refrigerated transportation companies. The merged business lines include Vine Line Logistics, Vine Line Trucking, Walsma & Lyons and Heeren Bros. […]
Lawsuit Filed In Michigan Following Pre-Cut Melon Salmonella Outbreak
A Michigan man, represented by The Lange Law Firm and the Zebrowski Law Firm, alleges that he ate Salmonella tainted pre-cut melon packaged by Caito Foods, became ill, and was hospitalized. During his hospitalization, he was diagnosed with Salmonella. This the first lawsuit in Michigan filed in conjunction with the pre-cut melon Salmonella outbreak, during […]
Fourth-Generation Ala. Grocer Jackson Mitchell Buys Five Ga. Stores
Jackson Mitchell is a fourth-generation member of his family’s business, Mitchell Grocery Corp. in Albertville, Alabama. On June 12, Jackson Mitchell Holdings Inc.—of which Jackson Mitchell is founder and CEO—closed on a deal to purchase Little Giant Farmers Market Corp., which operates five Georgia grocery stores. These include the original Riverdale location; the flagship store […]
Study Reveals Significant Produce Shelf Life Variability
Zest Labs has released the results of a research study measuring and comparing the shelf life (or freshness) of produce being sold at major grocery chain stores across the United States. The research found that the freshness of produce varied significantly from store to store as well as within each individual store. This variability causes […]
Shenandoah Growers Opens ‘NextGen BioFarm’ In Jefferson, Georgia
Virginia-based Shenandoah Growers, specializing in indoor bioponic growing, has opened a new, expanded production facility in Jefferson, Georgia. The facility will pack, ship and grow fresh, certified organic herbs to meet local demand, expand Shenandoah Growers’ living organic product line and improve delivery logistics in the Southeast region. The 62,400-s.f. facility is one of Shenandoah […]
The Wonderful Co. To Debut Seedless Lemons This Fall
The Wonderful Co.’s new produce item, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, will debut this fall. Los Angeles-based Wonderful Co. owns the exclusive rights to the naturally seedless non-GMO Project Verified lemon variety. “As the leading grower, shipper, packer and distributor of citrus in North America, Wonderful is uniquely positioned to offer this new and innovative variety of […]
Zespri Marketing Campaign Encourages Purchase Of SunGold Kiwifruit
Zespri has launched its “Let Your Taste Wander” consumer campaign, driving shoppers to stores looking for SunGold Kiwifruit. Getting consumers into retail stores is half the battle, but once in the store, it is imperative that consumers can find the kiwifruit. “Lack of visibility in the store is the biggest barrier to buying kiwi,” said […]
Penske Logistics Opens New Distribution Center To Serve The Kroger Co.
Penske Logistics celebrated the grand opening of its new 606,000-s.f. build-to-suit standard freezer/cooler distribution center in Romulus, Michigan, on June 4. The new facility is responsible for bringing more than 400 new jobs to the region and was opened to serve the food distribution needs of its customer, The Kroger Co. of Michigan. “Our new distribution center to serve […]
Rouses Markets Celebrates Grand Opening Of 63rd Store
Rouses Markets celebrated the opening of its 63rd store May 31, as 300 customers lined up at 7 a.m. to enter the new Daphne, Alabama, location. The 53,000-s.f. store is the company’s eighth in lower Alabama. The emphasis is on fresh. There’s a full-service bakery, butcher shop, floral department and seafood market, along with farmers-market […]
Wholesum’s Greenhouse Expansion To Grow 3.5M Lbs. Of Tomatoes
Wholesum’s greenhouse expansion in Arizona is adding six acres of organic tomato production to its existing 18-acre facility. The new greenhouse in Amado, Arizona, will hold the latest technology for innovative and sustainable production, which is at the core of Wholesum’s social and environmental commitments. The expansion also will bolster its commitment to Fair Trade […]
MountainKing Acquires Colorado Packing Facility For Small Potatoes
In response to the explosive growth and demand for smaller-sized potatoes in smaller-sized bags, MountainKing has acquired a Colorado packing facility in the farm-rich San Luis Valley. The new packing facility will be dedicated exclusively to its fingerlings and new baby versions of MountainKing yellows and reds. The new MountainKing facility in the south-central Colorado […]
Sprouts Hiring 150 For New Lake Forest, California, Store
Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country, is hiring for its soon-to-be finished new store in Lake Forest, California. The nearly 30,000-s.f. store at 24332 Rockfield Boulevard will open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Details about the grand opening celebration will be announced at a later date. […]
Despite Prolonged Winter, Michigan Asparagus Season Underway
The Michigan asparagus season is now underway, it was announced in mid-May, and the vegetable is being shipped to stores on schedule. When late season blizzards dropped six inches of snow on asparagus fields, anxious consumers wondered if that would lead to delays in the highly anticipated Michigan asparagus season. While snows in April and […]
Atlanta’s Food Well Alliance Receives Whole Foods Market Donation
Atlanta nonprofit Food Well Alliance has raised $45,105 in partnership with Whole Foods Market to support its Resource Center for Urban Agriculture. On April 18, 5 percent of net sales from all 11 metro Atlanta Whole Foods stores was donated to the nonprofit as part of the grocer’s semi-annual Community Giving Day. “We are thrilled […]
Giant Food To Open New State College, Pennsylvania, Store On June 7
Giant Food Stores will celebrate the grand opening of its new State College, Pennsylvania, store located at 2121 Atherton Street on June 7 at 8 a.m. The new store replaces Giant’s current store located at 2222 E. College Avenue, which will close for business on June 6 at 6 p.m. The new 68,000-s.f. store will […]
Ocean Spray Opens Lighthouse Innovation Hub In Boston
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., the farmer-owned cooperative, has opened a marketing and innovation hub called Lighthouse within the Seaport District of Boston, Massachusetts, establishing an urban footprint in the Silicon Valley of the East Coast. Ocean Spray’s innovation and marketing teams are based out of the Lighthouse, inspiring collaboration, creativity and ingenuity both internally and […]
