West Concord, Massachusetts-based Divert Inc., an impact technology company, has shared new data highlighting that wasted food from grocery stores increases by an average of about 20 percent during the summer months compared to the winter months. “Summer marks peak growing season across the U.S. While this is a time to celebrate an abundance of […]
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
Memorial Day Produce Sales Illustrate Opportunities To Boost Sales
The four weeks in May generated $60 billion total food and beverage sales, increased 4.3 percent over May 2022, according to Circana, 210 Analytics and the International Fresh Produce Association. Perishables, including produce, seafood, meat, bakery and deli had a below-average dollar growth performance, but this was entirely prompted by different levels of inflation. May […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Local Bounti Becomes First Indoor Grower To Offer Salads With Chicken
Hamilton, Montana-based Local Bounti Corp. has expanded its Grab & Go salad kit line to include antibiotic-free white meat chicken in two new recipes. Consumers in the Pacific Northwest can find Local Bounti’s Artisanal Chicken Caesar and Memphis Style Barbecue Chicken Salad Kits in the produce department of select local grocery stores. Local Bounti is leveraging its indoor growing facilities […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Little Leaf Farms Plans To Open New Greenhouse In Fall 2023
Devens, Massachusetts-based Little Leaf Farms has plans to open a new greenhouse in McAdoo, Pennsylvania this fall. This will be the fifth greenhouse for Little Leaf Farms, and the brand’s second greenhouse in Pennsylvania. With the expanded capacity of 10 additional acres of indoor production of fresh, sustainably grown lettuce, Little Leaf Farms will increase its retail presence to […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Consumers Increase Produce Purchases Due To Favorable Prices
The April Circana sales results and survey of primary grocery shoppers underscore that economic pressure on income continues to result in consumers moving around dollars between channels, products and brands. Circana, 210 Analytics and the International Fresh Produce Association have teamed up to document the impact on sales patterns in fresh produce. April fresh produce sales […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Frutura To Begin Marketing Haas Avocados Under Brand Name
Reedley, California-based Frutura will begin marketing its Hass avocados in North America under the Frutura brand, beginning in the third quarter of 2023. Foundational to Frutura’s new branding strategy is the fact that several of its companies already have strong avocado portfolios. This shift is designed to create a more vertically integrated way for customers to […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Procurant Introduces Voice-Enabled Rating Feature To Application
Watsonville, California-based Procurant has unveiled a new voice-enabled rating feature in its Procurant Inspect application, streamlining retail produce inspections while providing real-time data to buyers and sellers of fresh produce. “The voice-enabled rating feature for Procurant Inspect is a good example of how it brings innovative solutions that save time and simplify complex processes for our […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest, Sustainability News
Flashfood Releases 2022 Food Waste Impact Report
Flashfood released its first impact report, “The State of Food Waste,” May 16-18 at the ReFED 2023 Food Waste Solutions Summit in St. Louis, Missouri. The report looks at the role of food waste in the current climate crisis and how reducing waste at the retail level has the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions, […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Proposal Aims To Increase Produce Consumption For Consumers
Reps. Mark Alford (MO-04) and Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) recently introduced H.R. 3127, the “Supporting All Healthy Options When Purchasing Produce” Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The American Frozen Food Institute has welcomed the introduction of the proposed legislation that will help families eat more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Four Star Fruit Appoints Dixon As Director Of Imports
Delano, California-based Four Star Fruit has appointed Justin Dixon as director of imports. Dixon will play a role in expanding Four Star’s presence in growing regions worldwide and building sustainable partnerships with grower priorities top of mind. Dixon brings extensive sales and leadership experience to the Four Star team. More recently, he was with Kingsburg Orchard […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, Anniversary Issues, West
Produce Is Driver, ‘The Heart’ When It Comes To Stores
At Super King Markets, produce is king. Eddie Avila, director of produce, joined the company in 2017, with more than 30 years of industry experience. Avila, who had worked for Albertsons in Southern California for 32 years, said he didn’t realize what a produce buyer was until he got into the independent grocer arena. “When […]
Posted inWest, Produce News
Full Harvest Expands Supply Chain Digitization To Produce Grades
San Francisco, California-based Full Harvest has announced its expansion beyond surplus to all USDA Grade 1 produce on its online marketplace for commercial buyers and sellers. Helping the food waste problem by bringing the entire produce market online for more efficiencies, the addition expands its reach to retailers, foodservice companies, and direct-to-consumer distributors, among others. Full Harvest is an end-to-end online […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
BelleHarvest Acquires Valley View Co.
Belding, Michigan-based BelleHarvest has acquired Valley View Co., an acquisition that increases its overall growing and storage capacity by 20 percent, providing the company with a greater ability to expand its varietal mix and enhance overall quality for the end consumer. The deal brings increased acreage, packing house operations and storage capacity to the BelleHarvest organization. As […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Ocean Mist Farms Expects High Quality, Volume On Spring Crop
Ocean Mist Farms, a year round producer of fresh California artichokes, is expecting a large spring crop from its growing region in Castroville, California. “The storms that devastated parts of California during the winter months put the season behind about four weeks,” said Ben Wilson, artichoke commodity manager. “That being said, we have recovered nicely, and are […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Fresh Del Monte Named ‘Most Trusted Company’ By Newsweek
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. has been named one of America’s Most Trusted Companies of 2023 by Newsweek for the second consecutive year. This award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., a statistics portal and industry ranking provider. “America’s Most Trusted Companies 2023” were identified in an independent survey based on a sample of […]
Posted inProduce News, West
FPFC Names 2023 Apprentice Program Class
The Fresh Produce and Floral Council has selected 12 people to participate in its 10th FPFC Apprentice Program. The participants are Dan Addiego, FreshSource; Shane Aldrich, D. Gardikas Produce; Morgan Bahri; Jake Beggin, Local Bounti; Noah Lines, Westlake Produce Co.; Courtney Ludford, Wonderful Citrus; Abby McPherson, Frieda’s; Jackie Nakashian, Trinity Fruit; Nick Schiavo, Allen Lund Co.; Elyse Seiler, Monterey Mushrooms; Alexis Storm, JLZ Produce; and Fernando […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Produce News
SF Market Achieves Climate Benefits Through Produce Recovery, Distribution
Seven million pounds of fresh produce donated since 2016 The SF Market, San Francisco’s original wholesale produce market, home to 26 independent merchant businesses, has reached a milestone in recovering and donating seven million pounds of surplus produce since the program began in 2016. The SF Market’s Food Recovery Program works with market merchants each […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News
Viva Fresh Donates 20K+ Pounds Of Fresh Produce
Donation to North Texas Food Bank aims to help close hunger gap The Texas International Produce Association again teamed up with the North Texas Food Bank of Plano, Texas, to help close the hunger gap. At the conclusion of the Viva Fresh Expo earlier this month, 21,806 pounds of fresh produce was donated. The donation […]
Posted inPackaging News, Produce News, Southeast
G&R Farms Releases New Packaging For Vidalia Onion Season
Glennville, Georgia-based G&R Farms has released redesigned packaging in coordination with the start of the 2023 Vidalia onion season. The moves aim to highlight the premium essence of their Vidalia onions and support retailers with increased sales. The redesign presents an illustrated and fresh feel donning a striking new color palette, with an art like aesthetic. […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Are Green Bananas Impacting Your Produce Gold?
Sponsored content Few things have greater impact on overall retail produce sales than banana quality. They are the most visible, most popular and profitable item in the entire produce department – if not the entire store. Numerous studies have shown that banana quality is central to overall customer satisfaction, and there are very few decision […]