Twenty-three Certified Organic produce growers and distributors from around the country, led by the team at Wholesum Harvest, have joined forces to help victims of Hurricane Harvey in Victoria and Corpus Christi, Texas. The growers have shipped 70,000 pounds of organic fruit and vegetables to Harvey Relief disaster zones. Jessie Gunn of Wholesum Harvest, who […]
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, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
‘Salad Bars To Schools’ Campaign Reaches 5,000th School Milestone
In just seven years, Salad Bars to Schools, a public private partnership founded by United Fresh Start Foundation, Whole Foods Market, Chef Ann Foundation and the National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, has given salad bars to more than 5,000 schools, investing more than $12 million across all 50 states and providing nearly 3 million children […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, West
Pear Bureau Northwest Hires Communications Specialist
Neil Ferguson has joined Pear Bureau Northwest as communications specialist. Ferguson brings a range of experience in communications, social media management, content strategy and journalism to the Pear Bureau Northwest team, the organization says. Most recently, he handled editorial and marketing responsibilities as media content developer for Coroflot, a site aimed at connecting creatives with […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News
2018 Retail Produce Manager Award Nominations Now Being Accepted
United Fresh now is accepting nominations for the 2018 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, which recognizes 25 outstanding retail produce managers for their innovative merchandising, produce-related community outreach, increased store sales and recognition among company peers. The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program sponsored by Dole Food Co. and now in its 14th year, pays special […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Produce News, West
CAC To Preview 2018 Marketing Programs At Fresh Summit
With the 2017 California avocado harvest wrapped up, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) is setting its sights on next season and introducing new plans at the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit in New Orleans. The Commission will have a booth during the expo on Oct. 20 and 21. “The California Avocado Commission invites retailers […]
Posted inProduce News, Bakery News, Center Store, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Suppliers
Favorable Midwest Weather Is Good News For Pure Pumpkin Fans
The Libby’s Pumpkin team in Morton, Illinois, the self-proclaimed pumpkin capital of the world, has been hard at work harvesting and canning pumpkins so that grocery shelves are stocked for the start of baking season, the company says. Shipments of this year’s crop of Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin are hitting stores now, and pumpkin lovers […]
Posted inPackaging News, Home Page Latest News, New Products, Organic Natural, Perishables, Produce News, West
Sous Vide Organic Vegetables: A New Ready-To-Eat Option
Las Vegas, Nevada-based Straight From The Root is bringing the French style of sous vide cooking to American kitchens with USDA organic, cut and fully cooked vegetables. Straight From The Root’s sous vide cooking method involves submerging a BPA-free, vacuum-sealed bag of cut, organic vegetables in heated water to cook them completely. The bags are then […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Southeast
SEPC Hosting ‘Auction For Irma’ At Southern Innovations Conference
The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) has added “Auction for Irma: A Benefit for Hurricane Irma Relief” to its Southern Innovations agenda this year. The fall conference will again benefit its traditional charities—Society of St. Andrew and a chosen local charity—through member donations as well. “Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Produce News
United Fresh, Western Growers Provide Produce Recall Insurance
The United Fresh Produce Association and Western Growers (WG) have entered into a formal marketing agreement to jointly promote the Western Growers Shield, an insurance program specifically designed to protect food companies from recall liability. “This program represents an innovative solution to a critical bottom line issue facing our members,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh […]
Posted inProduce News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
Food Lion Feeds To Provide 1 Million Meals To Families In Need
Food Lion is partnering with its customers to help end hunger by launching specially marked Food Lion Feeds bagged apples for sale in its stores. In its fourth year, the bagged apple campaign will help provide more than 1 million meals to families facing hunger in local communities across the grocer’s 10-state footprint. With the […]
Posted inSpecialty, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Organic Natural, Produce News, West
Honey Bee Produce Co. Opens First Store In Draper, Utah
Specialty grocer Honey Bee Produce Co. has debuted in Draper, Utah. A small-format store, Honey Bee says it is the first store of its kind in Utah, catering to shoppers looking for “the freshest produce, specialty items and Utah products.” Its grand opening was held Sept. 13, highlighted by a produce slicing demonstration from a “produce […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Latest News, Suppliers, West
POM Wonderful Acquires Pomegranate Company Ruby Fresh
POM Wonderful, a grower and producer of California pomegranates, pomegranate arils and pomegranate juice, has acquired Ruby Fresh, a processor and distributor of fresh pomegranates and arils. This acquisition, combined with existing operations, “enhances POM Wonderful’s position as North America’s leading pomegranate producer and distributor,” says the company. The Ruby Fresh brand, which leverages both […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News
Senator Jeff Flake To Keynote United Fresh Washington Conference
Arizona Senator Jeff Flake will serve as the opening keynote breakfast speaker at the annual United Fresh Washington Conference, Tuesday, Sept. 19. At a time of heightened political uncertainty in Washington, D.C., Senator Flake has become an outspoken voice on the need for compromise, civility and commitment to conservative values in our national government, says […]
Posted inGrocery News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Produce News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash Expands Double Up Food Bucks To 46 Michigan Stores
SpartanNash is again expanding its participation in the Double Up Food Bucks healthy food incentive program, bringing on an additional 29 stores. That triples SpartanNash’s participation in the Double Up program in 2017, with 46 stores now taking part in Michigan. Double Up Food Bucks matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food […]
Posted inNortheast, Corporate Store News, Grocery News, Merchandising News, Perishables, Produce News
Hannaford, New York Partner On State Grown & Certified Program
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced a partnership with Hannaford Supermarkets to promote local products from farms participating in the New York State Grown & Certified program. Hannaford is the first grocer in New York’s Capital Region to feature products grown and produced by New York farms that the state has certified as using safe food […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Southeast, Suppliers
Sweet Potato Industry Leader Carson Barnes Passes Away
Carson Barnes, a driving force in the North Carolina sweet potato industry, passed away late Saturday evening. He was 82. Barnes began farming in 1960 with three-eighths of an acre of sweet potatoes and eight acres of tobacco. His company, Barnes Farming Corp., has grown to become the largest sweet potato grower and shipper in the country. […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News
Ag Secretary Announces $16.8M To Encourage SNAP Participants To Purchase Healthy Foods
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on Monday announced 32 grants totaling $16.8 million to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables. The program is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The funding comes from the Food Insecurity Nutrition […]
Posted inBeverage News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Produce News, Suppliers, West
Langer Farms Ramps Up California-Grown Apple Cider Line
Family-owned Langer Juice Co. Inc., based in City of Industry, California, is building on the latest addition to its lineup of juices. The company began testing an apple cider under its new Langer Farms brand last year and launched it this year. Soon, Langer Farms will begin peak production of its Unfiltered Apple Cider, according […]
Posted inGrocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News, Suppliers, West
CAC Says July Fourth Avocado Sales Broke Record
According to the California Avocado Commission (CAC), this year’s Fourth of July avocado sales figures indicate 118.3 million pounds were sold in the U.S. in support of holiday festivities, making it the highest Fourth of July consumption period on record. The results were stronger than the 100-million-pound pre-holiday projection and surpassed the 2016 actual by […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Produce News, Store News, West
Utah Grocers Featuring In-Store And Outdoor Farmers Markets
Five Utah grocery chains are making it easier for shoppers to get the freshest fruits and vegetables this season. Macey’s, Lin’s, Dan’s, Dick’s Market and Fresh Market are bringing back the Eat Fresh, Eat Local in-store and outdoor farmers markets, which feature a variety of Utah-grown produce. The farmers markets run through the first week […]