More than half of all households in the U.S. are now purchasing organic produce, according to an Organic Trade Association/Nielsen report. Sales of organic bananas alone—now a $165 million market—soared by more than 30 percent last year. Organic “value-added” vegetables (think chopped kale, peeled carrots and ready-to-cook squash) grew by a whopping 54 percent in […]
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 in, Grocery News, Northeast, Organic Natural, Produce News
NEPC To Partner With PMA Talent Group At September Expo, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… The New England Produce Expo (NEPC) and Center for Growing Talent by PMA (CGTbyPMA) will join forces again this year at the Annual Produce, Floral & Foodservice Expo in order to attract new talent to the fresh produce and floral industry. The event is scheduled for Sept. 21-23 at the Ocean […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Produce News, Suppliers
First Pick Marks The Start Of Michigan Blueberry Harvest Season
Blueberry harvest is officially underway with the annual “First Pick” in Grand Junction, Michigan. To kick-off the season, South Haven Mayor Bob Burr and Larry Ensfield, president/CEO of MBG Marketing, a grower-owned cooperative and a founding partner of Naturipe Farms, which manages the sales, marketing and distribution of the co-op’s blueberries, visited with Harris Blueberries LLC […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News, Suppliers
United Fresh Opens Application Period For Caplan Scholarship
The United Fresh Produce Association is now accepting applications for the 2016 Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship. 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 provides the opportunity for representatives from […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Perishables, Produce News, Sustainability News, West
Raley’s Food For Families Launches Summer Fresh Drive
Raley’s Food For Families has launched its Summer Fresh Drive, designed to raise funds and increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables at food banks throughout Northern California and Nevada. During the school year, 21 million children from financially challenged homes in the U.S. eat a school lunch every day. The need for food assistance […]
Posted in, Bakery News, Deli News, Food Service News, Grocery News, Merchandising News, Northeast, Produce News
Study: Hispanic Shoppers Lead U.S. Market In Grocery Shopping Enjoyment & Engagement
Acosta and Univision Communications recently released the fifth edition of The Why? Behind The Buy U.S. Hispanic Shopper Study, which concludes that Hispanic shoppers enjoy the shopping experience and are highly engaged consumers. “Data clearly shows Hispanics are the driving force behind sales growth across many key grocery categories, but the bigger challenge is to […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, New Products, Produce News, Suppliers
Five Companies Honored For Innovation At United Fresh 2016
Five Produce Innovation Award winners were recognized June 22 at United Fresh 2016, which was co-located with the Food Marketing Institute’s FMI Connect in Chicago. This year’s honorees were selected by show attendees from a total of 49 contestants in five categories: Best New Food Safety Solution; Best New Fruit Product; Best New Packaging; Best […]
Posted in, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News
United Fresh Names McEntire VP, Food Safety And Technology
United Fresh Produce Association has named Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., as its new VP, food safety and technology. She succeeds Dr. David Gombas, who retired from the association June 1 after 11 years leading its food safety program. “I’m absolutely thrilled that Dr. McEntire is joining our team to begin a new era in food safety […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Produce News, Suppliers
FMI Report: Fresh Produce Growth Driven By Mega Trends
Fresh produce is in demand. At $61 billion in annual sales, fresh produce is big, growing (+4 percent) and lucrative, with a grocery basket with fresh produce averaging nearly $30 more than one without. The consumer trends in Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) second annual Power of Produce report substantiate the growth opportunities for fresh produce […]
Posted in, Grocery Store Equipment, Home Page Latest News, Merchandising News, National, Produce News
Five Ways To Maximize Banana Sales
With bananas at the top of most supermarkets’ register rings, it pays for distributors and produce managers to keep their banana inventories and displays in top-notch form. “The banana category is historically the largest retail produce category. Since bananas are available year-round, an effective prominent display draws customers into your produce department,” said Kevin Frye, […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Produce News, Suppliers, Supply Chain News, West
CMI Releases Behind-The-Scenes Video Of Rainier Cherry Harvest
The Rainier cherry harvest reached its seasonal harvest peak in mid-June, and Columbia Marketing International (CMI) expects its cherries to be 85 percent harvested by June 26. Because few retailers or consumers will ever have an opportunity to see the harvest in person, CMI has released a video highlighting one of its growers, offering a […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Perishables, Produce News, Southeast, Suppliers
SEPC-Led Initiative Gathers Produce For Appalachian County
The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC), along with several produce companies, collected more than 95,000 pounds of produce for Rockin’ Appalachian Mom Project (RAMP) to benefit Martin County, Kentucky. Rural Appalachia is home to some of the most impoverished people in the United States, and access to healthy food and economic opportunity in Martin County is scarce. […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Organic Natural, Produce News, Southeast, Suppliers
Southeastern Grocers Commits To Southeast Produce Growers
Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Bi-Lo, Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores, on June 14 announced a new local sourcing policy, committing to only source produce from local farms and orchards in the Southeast whenever possible. Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern Grocers says this policy should help grow Southeastern agriculture as well as provide customers with the freshest local […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Perishables, Produce News, Suppliers
More Than Half Of U.S. Households Purchase Fresh Mushrooms
The Mushroom Council recently released a study analyzing the latest mushroom shopper purchase trends. The Fresh Mushroom Fast Facts study provides key insights into the shopping behaviors that are driving fresh mushroom category growth. According to the study, more than half of U.S. households purchased mushrooms in 2015. Nearly four out of five purchasing households […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Perishables, Produce News, Suppliers
Second Mushroom Council, Beef Checkoff Veal Summer Grilling Promotion Under Way
The Beef Checkoff and the Mushroom Council have teamed up for a second Veal Mushroom Summer Grilling Promotion. A new Veal and Portobello Mushroom Blend Burger recipe has been introduced through labels placed on specially marked packages of veal. The promotion is supported with a consumer sweepstakes featuring a $500 grand prize and two $50 […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News, Store News, Suppliers
Produce For Kids Gears Up For Nationwide In-Store Campaigns
The 14th annual Produce for Kids campaign will kick off April 29 and is expected to push the organization closer to the 2016 goal of $6 million total raised for charities that support families and children. Shoppers will notice Produce for Kids signage next to partner fruit and vegetable brands in the produce departments of select nationwide […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Suppliers, West
Wonderful Citrus Broadens Lime Business With Acquisitions
Wonderful Citrus, America’s largest integrated grower, shipper and packer of fresh citrus, has acquired I. Kunik Co., a distributor of Persian limes grown in Mexico, and purchased the operations of B&S Grupo Exportador, a supplier of Persian limes to the worldwide market. As part of the transaction, Wonderful Citrus also acquired nearly 2,000 acres of […]
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Rauch To Address Innovation Culture At PMA Symposium
Former Trader Joe’s President Doug Rauch will explain to produce and floral executives why innovation is critical to business success when he joins a top-level group of speakers in May for the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) 2016 Executive Leadership Symposium in Dallas, Texas. “Today’s executives lead in an era of ‘innovate or die.’ I will […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Southwest
Avocados From Mexico Hashtag Most Popular At Recent SXSW Fest
Avocados From Mexico (AFM) made its first-ever South By Southwest (SXSW) appearance at the 2016 festival and, in the process, says it dominated SXSW-related social buzz. According to data from the social media monitoring company Keyhole, AFM’s #GuacNRoll activities generated more than 32,000 social media posts, making it the most popular hashtag used during SXSW. More […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Southeast, Suppliers
Bountiful, And Sweet, Georgia Peach Crop Expected This Year
The 2016 Georgia peach season is expected to be outstanding. Having just rounded the spring chill successfully, the state’s peach crop is shaping up to be sweeter than in years past, according to the Georgia Peach Council (GPC). “Our tree’s quest to accumulate cold hours got off to a slow start in December, but Mother […]