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 […]
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, 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. […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Brookshire Brothers President, CEO Shares ‘Appealing’ Story With Students
Brookshire Brothers President and CEO Jerry Johnson talked to fourth- and fifth-grade students on March 23 about the grocery business. He did it in an “appealing” way, by taking a box of bananas and some swag (Chiquita sunglasses and string backpacks) to the children and explaining how the top-selling item in America’s grocery stores gets […]
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Whole Foods Expands Coalition Of Immokalee Workers Partnership
Whole Foods Market will be the first food retailer to offer strawberries certified by the Fair Food Program, a partnership that brings together workers, consumers, growers and retailers in support of humane labor standards and fairer wages in U.S. agriculture. Whole Foods Market began supporting the Fair Food Program in 2008, four years before any […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Suppliers, West, Women In The News
Frieda’s Karen Caplan Will Receive 2016 Agricultural Achievement Award
Karen Caplan, president and CEO of specialty produce company Frieda’s Inc., will receive the Cal Poly Pomona College of Agriculture’s 2016 Jim Hicks Agricultural Achievement Award. Karen heads the wholesale company in Los Alamitos, California, that was founded by her mother, Frieda Rapoport Caplan. Frieda Caplan is a pioneer who blazed the trail for women […]
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Hass Avocado Board Report Highlights Retail Trends For The Year
The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) recently published a Top 10 Retail Trends report that offers insight into the challenges and changes facing retail. The report also provides suggested actions for shippers/handlers and/or retailers to help build the Hass avocado category. “The industry is still witnessing dynamic changes in the retail landscape with traditional grocery retailers […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Produce News, Store News, West
World’s Largest Idaho Potato Display Unveiled At Northgate González Market
The team at Northgate González Market in Southern California recently made final preparations for the culmination of the grocer’s six-month mission to build the world’s largest Idaho potato display. Pallets? Check. Spuddy Buddies? Check. 100,000-plus pounds of Idaho potatoes? Check. But the real hopes of Northgate, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) and Melissa’s Produce lay […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Produce News, West, Women In The News
California Avocado Commission Hires One, Promotes Another
The California Avocado Commission (CAC) has appointed Carolyn Becker to retail marketing director for the northwest region and promoted Zac Benedict to online marketing director. Becker is a produce veteran with 20 years of experience representing growers and marketing associations of the retail produce trade. She has managed marketing programs for a variety of commodity […]
Posted in, Produce News, Southeast
Early Outlook Is Bright For South Carolina Peach Crop
South Carolina’s peach farmers are looking forward to an excellent peach crop in 2016 in spite of the challenges they faced last year. Favorable growing conditions have given growers a positive outlook for a fruitful crop. After delays from heavy rains in the fall, growers immediately began working on the upcoming season. Planting new trees, […]