Produce News | Grocery Industry Updates | The Shelby Report
Posted inIndependent Store News, Midwest, News, Produce News, Schnucks

Schnucks Expands ‘Hyper Local’ Sourcing With Farm Direct-to-Store Program

Schnuck Markets Inc., in partnership with Foodshed.io, is expanding a farm direct-to-store concept – increasing the number and types of farms customers experience, with the goal of increasing flavor and freshness. The pilot program began in fall 2024, with one farm supplying multiple Schnucks locations across the St. Louis metro region. It has since expanded […]

Posted inProduce News, News, Publix Super Markets, Southeast

Village Farms Greenhouse Grown Supports Publix Produce For Kids Campaign

The Healthy Family Project Fall Publix Produce for Kids cause marketing campaign wrapped Nov. 5, with Village Farms Greenhouse Grown participating as one of 13 produce sponsors. This season’s program helped provide about 875,000 meals to 35 Feeding America partner food banks across the Publix market area. Since its launch in 2002, the biannual effort […]

Posted inProduce News, News, Sustainability News, West

Divert, General Produce Partner On Food Waste-to-Energy Plan

Divert Inc. and General Produce have formed a partnership that will convert unsold and non-donatable food into renewable energy and soil amendment for communities in Northern California. General Produce will send unused food from its Sacramento distribution center to Divert’s Integrated Diversion & Energy Facility in Turlock, California. There, the material will move through depackaging […]

Posted inProduce News, Association News, Frozen Food, Grocery Research, National, News

Pilot Program Highlights Benefits Of Frozen Produce

Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and Instacart have released the findings of a pilot program that expanded access to fruits and vegetables for families with lower incomes by including frozen produce as an option. Conducted as an extension of PHA’s flagship Good Food at Home program, the effort […]

Posted inProduce News, National, News

GrubMarket Acquires Procurant For Fresh Produce Supply Chain

GrubMarket has acquired Los Gatos, California-based Procurant, a software-as-a-service platform that streamlines fresh procurement, order management and regulatory compliance for the fresh food supply chain. Founded in 2018 by CEO Eric Peters, Procurant was created as a cloud-native alternative to legacy procurement systems. The platform supports real-time collaboration, operational efficiency and end-to-end visibility across the […]

Posted inProduce News, National, News

Taylor Farms Acquires Natures Way Foods

Taylor Farms has acquired Natures Way Foods, a U.K.-based fresh prepared food manufacturer that specializes in the supply of fresh food supporting retail and foodservice customers. Salinas, California-based Taylor Farms and Natures Way Foods will collaborate to share best practices rooted in their commitment to quality, innovation, food safety and sustainability. Together, they will accelerate […]

Posted inProduce News, Natural Grocers, News, Southwest

Natural Grocers Adds 10 Organic Frozen Vegetable Varieties

Natural Grocers has expanded its private label with 10 new varieties of organic frozen vegetables that also are processed and packaged without synthetic colors or artificial flavors and preservatives (as defined by the company’s standards). The new products include broccoli florets, California blend, cauliflower florets, chopped kale and spinach, cut green beans, green peas, mixed […]

Posted inProduce News, National, News

Instacart, PHA Deliver 10M Produce Servings To Families Nationwide

Instacart and Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) have shared a major milestone – together, they have connected families across the country to 10 million servings of produce. In addition, Good Food at Home, PHA’s nutrition security program, has delivered fruits and vegetables to the doors of more than 17,000 people in 12 cities. Prior […]

Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News

IFPA Calls For Momentum After Government Reopening

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) welcomes Congress’s overdue action to reopen the federal government, which helps restore stability to the essential programs that sustain America’s food system. “Congressional gridlock put 48 million Americans at risk of losing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. With government operations restored, critical nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC […]

Posted inProduce News, Food City, News, Southeast

Food City’s Brooks Named A 2025 IPFA Produce Manager Of The Year

Ragan Brooks, produce manager for the Food City in Abingdon, Virginia, has been named one of the 2025 IFPA Produce Manager of the Year grand-prize winners. Each year, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) hosts the annual Retail Produce Manager Awards. The program recognizes the top 20 produce managers within the industry and selects five […]

Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News

IFPA’s Barbieri To Retire, Nash Named Successor

International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) VP of Membership Engagement and Sales Anthony Barbieri has announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, after decades in the industry. IFPA’s Megan Nash, current director of education and talent, will become VP of membership engagement and business development on Jan. 1, reporting to Miriam Wolk, chief membership officer at IFPA. […]

Posted inProduce News, News, West

Main Street Produce Expands Strawberry Program

In preparation for what is expected to be a strong strawberry season in the coming months, Main Street Produce is expanding its program with broadened shipping operations across multiple key growing regions in Baja and Central Mexico, Florida and Santa Maria and Oxnard, California. “Our commitment has always been to provide exceptional strawberries our customers […]

Posted inProduce News, Gelson's, News, West

Gelson’s Markets, Flashfood Bring Produce Box To Los Angeles

Flashfood has debuted its signature Produce Box – a mix of affordable, fresh and high-quality produce – in Gelson’s Markets stores. Shoppers in West Hollywood, Silver Lake and surrounding neighborhoods can reserve $9 assortments of seasonal fruits and vegetables nearing peak freshness through the Flashfood app, then pick them up at participating Gelson’s stores. This […]

Posted inProduce News, Midwest, News

Edible Garden Expands Production Capacity At Grand Rapids Facility

Edible Garden AG Inc. has completed an additional production line at its Heartland facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that strengthens the company’s production capacity and enhances its ability to serve customers across the Midwest region. According to the company, the new production line increases the facility’s output while improving efficiency and scalability to meet growing […]

Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News

IFPA Launches First Global Intelligence Engine

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has launched Global Intelligence Engine, a members-only data and insights platform that aims to transform the way the fresh produce and floral industry accesses, understands and acts on information. Officially unveiled at the recent Global Produce & Floral Show, the Global Intelligence Engine was demo-ed at the IFPA booth, […]

Posted inProduce News, News, Vallarta Supermarkets, West

Vallarta Supermarkets Named National Mango Board Retailer Of The Year

The National Mango Board (NMB) presented Vallarta Supermarkets with the Mango Retailer of the Year award for 2025, recognizing the company for its year-over-year sales growth, creative in-store merchandising and consumer engagement campaigns. Each year, the award celebrates retail partners that go above and beyond in their support of the mango industry. Honorees are selected […]

Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News

IFPA State Of The Industry Highlights Advocacy Progress, Innovations, Opportunities

Following up from a commitment made a year ago to Fight for Fresh on behalf of its members and the worldwide fruit, vegetable and floral community, International Fresh Produce Association CEO Cathy Burns shared how the organization delivered on that promise in the 12 months since the last Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show. During […]

Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News

Record Buyers, Big Ideas Define IFPA’s Global Produce, Floral Show

The International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show has come to an end after three days devoted to fresh produce and floral. “The Global Show brought out the best in worldwide fresh fruit, vegetable and flower innovations this year,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “United by our bold beliefs and relentless advocacy, […]

Posted inProduce News, News, Southeast

Red Arts Capital Acquires Produce Distributor Forestwood Farm

Red Arts Capital, an investment firm specializing in supply chain-related and logistics businesses, has acquired Forestwood Farm, a family-owned produce distributor based in Birmingham, Alabama. With the acquisition, Red Arts continues to expand its produce distribution footprint in the Southeastern U.S. and represents the firm’s second investment in the sector within the market. “This investment […]

Posted inProduce News, Food Lion, News, Southeast

Food Lion Feeds’ Apple Bag Campaign Provides 13.8M Meals

Food Lion Feeds’ annual Gala Apple Bag campaign provided the equivalent of more than 13.8 million meals to families experiencing food insecurity. This year’s total marks the campaign’s second-largest number of meals provided since it began in 2014. Customers supported the effort from Sept. 17-Oct. 7 by buying marked bags of Gala apples or making […]