Registration has opened for IFPA’s 2024 The Washington Conference, with produce and floral’s most influential public policy event moving to June to better align with the congressional calendar and influence policymakers ahead of the election. Set for June 10-12 in Washington, D.C., the annual event unites all segments of the fresh produce and floral industry […]
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, National
IFPA Honoring Nine For Produce Excellence In Foodservice
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has named the winners of the 2024 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards. Sponsored by FreshEdge, the awards program honors chefs and foodservice operators across the country for their produce innovation, creativity and all-around excellence in using fresh produce in the culinary arts. Along with global exposure, the recipients also […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Sunsweet Growers Selects Schuler As Next CEO
As the company nears its 110th anniversary and seeks to widen the margin of its position as “the world’s premier dried fruit brand,” Sunsweet Growers Inc. has named Brad Schuler as CEO. “Brad becomes the fourth consecutive CEO to be hired from within based on demonstrated performance,” said Dane Lance, outgoing president and CEO who […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Registration Opens For IFPA Global Produce, Floral Show
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has opened registration for its annual Global Produce and Floral Show, which is set for Oct. 17-19 in Atlanta. “I’m always excited to see how this show evolves to meet the needs of our members and our industry,” said Nelia Alamo of Markon, co-chair of the show. “Just one […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Earlier Easter Helps Boost Fresh Produce Sales
March 2024 fresh produce sales reached $8.8 billion, according to a recent report by Circana and 210 Analytics. In a strong month, produce units increased by 3 percent, with gains for fruit and vegetables. The full year also experienced increases in dollars and units. While fresh produce unit sales rose 3 percent, volume in pounds […]
Posted inProduce News, West
FPFC Taps Lanter As New President
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) has appointed Bob Lanter as its new president. Lanter will assume the role May 5 and will be present at the upcoming FPFC Expo on May 1 to meet FPFC members. With an extensive background in the public sector and non-profit management, he brings more than 30 years of experience […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Ocean Mist Farms Names Wolfli CFO
Ocean Mist Farms, a grower and shipper of fresh artichokes in North America, has hired Tim Wolfli as CFO. With more than two decades of experience in fresh produce, including agriculture, aquaculture and foodservice, Wolfli brings with him a well-rounded set of skills and experience to help drive the century-old company into the future. “I’m […]
Posted inProduce News, Food Lion, Southeast
Shuman Farms Celebrates Beginning Of Vidalia Onion Season
Shuman Farms, a grower and shipper in the sweet onion industry, is celebrating the beginning of the Vidalia onion shipping season, marked by a series of events with partners Food Lion and Royal Food Service. The Vidalia onion season began on April 17 with Shuman Farms sending the first shipment from its Cobbtown, Georgia, facility. […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Sprouts Farmers Market Adds Wild About Sprouts Products
Rä Foods’ Wild About Sprouts brand is continuing its national expansion through a distribution agreement with Sprouts Farmers Market, starting with 134 Sprouts Farmers Market stores in California. The companies expect to expand distribution to additional regions. The Sprouts Farmers Market locations will carry five of the brand’s six varieties: alfalfa, broccoli, clover, clover and […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Flashfood Celebrates Milestone Of 100M Pounds Diverted
Flashfood has reached a major milestone on the path to eliminating retail food waste: 100 million pounds of food diverted from landfills to dinner tables across North America. This is the equivalent to more than 83 million meals and more than $250 million saved on groceries. “Flashfood was founded with the singular mission to reduce […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Produce News, West
Zespri Anticipates Successful Season As ‘Best Snack’ Winner
Zespri is anticipating a successful season this year, due to increased customer demand after receiving the 2024 Best Snack Award from Good Housekeeping. Retailers can expect shipments of the No. 1-selling kiwi brand soon as the first two shipping vessels left New Zealand. The vessels are expected to arrive at the Port of Philadelphia and the […]
Posted inProduce News, National
FMI, IFPA Welcome WIC Food Package Updates
FMI – The Food Industry Association and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) each welcomed provisions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule updating package sizes and increasing fruits and vegetables in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). FMI Chief Public Policy Officer and SVP of Government and […]
Posted inRaley's, Produce News, West
The Raley’s Companies Up Apple Donations To Food Banks
Two grocery divisions that operate as part of The Raley’s Companies – Bashas’, which has stores in Arizona and New Mexico, and Raley’s, with stores in California and Nevada – increased their annual apple donations by 44 percent to area food banks through FirstFruits Farms’ Take a Bite Out of Hunger initiative. Raley’s delivered 22,660 […]
Posted inAsk The Experts, National, Produce News
The Future Of Retail Ripening
Sponsored content We all know the importance of having ripe bananas on display. They are the most visible, popular and profitable item in the produce department, if not the entire store and play a pivotal role in customer satisfaction and loyalty. That’s why nearly all of today’s leading grocery retailers have banana ripening rooms in […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, Produce News
IGA, EmpowerFresh Help Independent Grocers With Produce Solutions
EmpowerFresh Co., a Kansas City, Missouri-based provider of AI-driven inventory management and retail optimization solutions for the produce department, has announced a strategic partnership with the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA). This partnership signifies a commitment to revolutionizing the retail produce landscape by providing cutting-edge technology and support to IGA’s independent retail members. “At the Independent […]
Posted inProduce News, Sustainability News, West
The Save Mart Companies, Flashfood Partner To Reduce Waste
Flashfood has partnered with The Save Mart Companies to divert food waste from landfills by offering reduced prices on groceries nearing their sell-by date. The Flashfood app is available at 44 Lucky stores in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and will expand to all of The Save Mart Companies’ banner locations in California and […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, Lipari Foods, West
Mission Produce Names Pawlowski Next President, COO
Mission Produce has appointed John Pawlowski to president and chief operating officer, effective April 1, with Steve Barnard continuing to serve as CEO and on the board of directors. Pawlowski has more than 25 years in the global food and foodservice industry, specializing in business development, system optimization and executive team management. He has led […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
GrubMarket Acquires NC-Based Performance Produce
GrubMarket has completed its acquisition of Salisbury, North Carolina-based Performance Produce, a vertically integrated fresh produce business that sells more than 80 different items to about 100 different retail customers across the Southeastern U.S. In addition to wholesale distribution, Performance Produce also provides comprehensive 4PL services, including inbound and outbound logistics, warehousing and cold storage, […]
Posted inProduce News, National
ReposiTrak Adds 10 Produce Suppliers To Traceability Network
ReposiTrak has announced the addition of 10 produce companies to the ReposiTrak Traceability Network. These members will exchange FDA-required key data elements for each critical tracking event in their supply chains, ensuring proactive compliance before the January 2026 deadline. The new members include: A California-based produce supplier in operation for more than 170 years; A […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Report: Shoppers Want To Add Produce To Meal Occasions
Consumers want to incorporate produce into more meal occasions, reduce produce waste and learn more about the nutritional value of fresh foods, identifying opportunities for growth within this fresh retail department. These were among the findings of the “Power of Produce 2024″ report, released March 8 by FMI – The Food Industry Association during the Southeast […]