The United Fresh Produce Association is now accepting nominations for its annual Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. The program will honor 25 outstanding retail produce managers at the United Fresh 2016 Convention June 20-22 in Chicago, Illinois. The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, sponsored by Dole Food Co. and now in its 12th year, pays […]
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, National, Produce News, Store News, Suppliers
FSMA’s Produce Rule Among Latest Finalized By FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday said it took major steps to prevent foodborne illness by finalizing rules implementing the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that, for the first time, establish enforceable safety standards for produce farms and make importers accountable for verifying that imported food meets U.S. safety standards. The agency […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National, Produce News, Store News
Pear Bureau Northwest Honors Wegmans As Pear Retailer Of The Year
On behalf of the 1,600 fresh pear growers of Washington and Oregon, Pear Bureau Northwest has named Wegmans Food Markets the 2015 Pear Retailer of the Year for its merchandising performance and sales increase in the pear category. The award was presented at the Pear Bureau’s booth at PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta over the […]
Posted in, National, Produce News
PMA Fresh Summit Sets Attendance Record, Marks Other Milestones
Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit Convention and Expo, the annual homecoming of the fresh produce and floral industry, drew record-breaking attendance from the global supply chain attracting 19,332 attendees from 63 countries, Oct. 23-25 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. In its 66th year, the event surpassed the previous East Coast attendance […]
Posted in, Produce News, Southeast
Largest Donation Of Fresh Produce Expected On Sunday For Atlanta Community
Local food bank volunteers will work through the night on Sunday, Oct. 25, to “harvest” thousands of pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables and even flowers from the Georgia World Congress Center after the fresh produce industry’s largest U.S. convention and expo comes to a close. The fresh produce will be donated by exhibitors at Produce […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Produce News
PMA Teams With Group To Get Fresh Produce On Screen
In support of the produce industry’s efforts to drive demand for more fresh produce, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) on Friday during its Fresh Summit conference in Atlanta announced a strategic alliance with the Entertainment Resource & Marketing Association (ERMA)—the association of entertainment marketing professionals—to bring fresh produce center stage through television shows, movies and […]
Posted in, Produce News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, West
When Size Matters: Calif. Drought Raises Questions About How We Buy, Grow Food
by Karen Caplan/Special to The Shelby Report It always bugs me when I go into a produce department and all the fruits are so large. You know what I mean—strawberries the size of billiard balls, apples and oranges (or even bananas) so big that you could split the fruit with a friend! And these big […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Produce News, Store News, West
Associated Food Stores Offers ‘Misfit’ Robinson Fresh Produce
Available now, and just in time for Halloween, select Fresh Market, Dan’s and Macey’s locations—all banners of Salt Lake City-based Associated Food Stores—will sell produce that’s best described as odd or misshapen. Robinson Fresh and local grocers endearingly refer to this selection of produce as “Misfit.” Misfit produce will be sold at a discount, an […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest, Produce News, Store News
Sendik’s Food Market, Turbana Partner To Aid Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
For the third year in a row, Turbana will participate in Sendik’s Food Market “7 Days, 7 Ways to Save” promotion to benefit Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, a local food bank that feeds more than 330,000 people a year. Each Wednesday through Nov. 11, Sendik’s shoppers will be able to purchase two Fyffes pineapples for $4 […]
Posted in, Produce News, Southeast, Store News
Food Lion’s Bagged Apples To Help Provide 1M Meals To Needy Families
Food Lion is partnering with its customers to help solve hunger by launching specially marked Food Lion Feeds bagged apples for sale in its stores. In its second year, the bagged apple campaign will help provide one million meals to feed families facing hunger in local communities across the grocer’s 10-state footprint. With the sale […]
Posted in, National, Produce News, Shelby Signature Content, Women In The News
Vegetable-Centric: More Than ‘Meats’ The Eye
by Karen Caplan/Special to The Shelby Report Once upon a time, vegetables were served as a side dish or in a side salad. They were something you cooked to go with your meat. I even remember a time when fresh kale was used solely as a garnish! This is no longer the case. For the […]
Posted in, National, New Products, Produce News
Side Delights Gourmet Petites Adds To Small Potato Lineup
The Side Delights Gourmet Petites brand has been a standout in the petite fresh potato category since it launched and earned the PMA Impact Award for Excellence in Packaging in 2014. Now, the line is growing with consumer demand and retailer requests, according to the company. Side Delights Gourmet Petites is adding Sweet Fingerlings and […]
Posted in, Produce News, West
Hass Avocado Board Promotes Nutritious Eating, Diabetes Awareness In Latino Community
The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is joining the American Diabetes Association in the national Stop Diabetes movement and has set a goal to help increase awareness among Latinos about the role good fats play in daily nutrition. The campaign will accelerate the conversation about ways to prevent, delay and manage diabetes through sharing the benefits […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Produce News
Domex Superfresh Growers Kicks Off Apple Season With Social Media Promo
Domex Superfresh Growers, a global leader in the growing and shipping of fresh apples, pears, cherries and apricots, says it continues to provide retailers with innovative tools to connect with consumers with the relaunch of its social media promotion called “Your Awesome Apple Recipe Sweepstakes,” and with a new offering of apple related social media […]
Posted in, International Foods, National, Produce News
Asian Grocer Claims It’s First To Deliver Online Produce Nationwide
88MartGo.com, a leading online Asian foods grocer, is now selling fresh produce online nationwide, marking the first time that an online grocer has started delivering fresh produce across the U.S., according to the company. “We want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunity to get the best specialty ethnic foods no matter where […]
Posted in, National, Produce News, Suppliers, Women In The News
The Little Potato Co. Launches ‘Little Chef’ Program
The Little Potato Co. is launching a new program to provide tools and tips to make it easier for parents to cook with their kids, sharing new and important skills while having fun together. The program will include a growing collection of “Little Chef Approved” recipes featuring Creamer potatoes, as well as tips for cooking […]
Posted in, National, New Products, Produce News, Suppliers
United Fresh Reveals 2015 New Product Award Winners
The United Fresh Produce Association named the winners of the 2015 New Product Awards in five categories from a record 45 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations finalists during its annual convention in Chicago earlier this month. “We’re excited to announce the winners of the 2015 New Product Awards. Of the record 45 finalists, the five […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Merchandising News, Midwest, Perishables, Produce News
NatureFresh Farms Promotes Retail Innovations At United Fresh 2015
“Be the customer.” That’s what NatureFresh Farms says is its approach to retail partnerships. Then, “be the customer’s customer.” “Our best customers are our best partners,” says Peter Quiring, founder of NatureFresh. “They share the same culture and hunger to be different. They understand that they need to look beyond what a customer says they want […]
Posted in, New Products, Produce News
Skylar Rae Debuts As Sweetest Cherry Yet
For many years, sweet cherries have been commercially classified in two ways at grocery stores—dark sweet and Rainier—but now, a new cherry has created cause for a new classification due to its sweet flavor. Debuting in select grocery stores mid-June, the new Skylar Rae brand Tip Top cultivar cherry was discovered by chance in a […]
Posted in, Northeast, Produce News
EPC Executive Director John McAleavey Passes Away
Supermarket News In Brief… John McAleavey, 80, longtime executive director of the Eastern Produce Council, passed away at his home on June 5. Vic Savanello, Eastern Produce Council president, said, “John’s passing takes from us a man who was instrumental in building the EPC into one of the highest respected Produce Food Councils in the […]