Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole Food Company is introducing a more aromatic and golden pineapple in response to consumer demand for a sweeter pineapple-eating experience. The variety can be found at select supermarkets in the U.S. and Canada. Sustainably grown in Costa Rica, the new fruit has been cultivated to shine brighter and offer a more vibrant tropical flavor that […]
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, Southwest
MountainKing Helps Retailers Get Ready For Red Potato Season
As the prime summer selling season for red potatoes approaches and supplies of russets and yellows continue to tighten, Houston, Texas-based MountainKing reports it is packing record numbers of its Butter Reds as it ramps up social media and in-store support of the variety. “We’ve steadily increased production of our Butter Reds for summer knowing […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast, Sustainability News
Edible Garden Reports On Sustainability Initiatives
Belvidere, New Jersey-based Edible Garden has provided an update on its sustainability initiatives, including the company’s participation in Walmart’s Project Gigaton, an effort to remove emissions in the global value chain by 1 billion metric tons by 2030. Edible Garden’s 2022 Project Gigaton impact included: 32 metric tons of materials recycled; 200 barrels of oil […]
Posted inRaley's, Produce News, West
The Raley’s Companies Donates Apples To California Food Banks
Two divisions that operate as part of The Raley’s Companies – Bashas’, which has grocery stores in Arizona and New Mexico, and Raley’s, which has them in California and Nevada – were selected by FirstFruits to participate in the “Take a Bite Out of Hunger” initiative. They donated about 40,000 pounds of apples to local food […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Naturipe Farms Offers Blueberries From Southeast During Season
Salinas, California-based Naturipe Farms is promoting blueberries from its Southeast growing region in retailers. The berry grower will fill shelves with blueberries in all clamshell sizes, from the single serving six-ounce to the two-pound pack. Retailers can expect the crop between mid-April and mid-June. Weather plays a factor in the production of the superfruit in the […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Pricing Helps Improve February Fresh Produce Performance
Fresh produce prices were up over 2022, but a relatively low 2.4 percent on a per-pound basis, according to a monthly study conducted by IRI, 210 Analytics and the International Fresh Produce Association. February fresh produce sales reached $5.7 billion, up $18 million from January and an increase of 1.6 percent over February 2022 levels. […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Corrigan Introduces Préserve Produce Preservation System
Gurnee, Illinois-based Corrigan Corporation has launched Préserve, a non-wetting produce fogging system that creates a wet rack environment to protect and preserve produce. Préserve is a patent-pending technology designed to be unlike any other fogging system in the food retail market. The produce preservation system produces high levels of dry fog humidity to slow transpiration […]
Posted inProduce News, National
EFI Concludes Two-Year Produce And Reduce Pilot Program
Equitable Food Initiative and Measure to Improve have announced the completion of the two-year Produce and Reduce pilot program, which was implemented on three farming operations and funded by the California Workforce Development Board. The group reported reductions of CO2 emissions during the pilot equivalent of 1 million miles driven by an average gasoline-powered vehicle and […]
Posted inFood Lion, Produce News, Southeast
Food Lion Donates 1.6M Meals Through Orange Bag Campaign
Salisbury, North Carolina-based Food Lion Feeds has provided 1.6 million meals through its Orange Bag campaign, surpassing its 1 million meals goal. During the Orange Bag campaign, which ran from March 1-21, customers purchased specially-marked orange bags or made a cash donation at the register during checkout at stores. Each bag sold helped provide five […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
SEPC Opens Application Period For Fresh Chefs Scholarship
The Southeast Produce Council has opened the application window for its scholarship program, SEPC Fresh Chefs. The second annual opportunity for this program is open to any full-time college or secondary education student pursuing a degree in culinary arts or restaurant management. Student applicants will submit a video introducing themselves and explaining the importance of […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, National
Flashfood Adds Two Industry Executives To Leadership Team
Flashfood has appointed Jordan Schenck as chief brand officer and Sepideh “Sepi” Burkett as head of partner development. Schenck and Burkett’s appointments are the first executive hires under Nicholas Bertram’s leadership, who joined Flashfood in February as president. “I am extremely excited to welcome two visionary and seasoned leaders to the Flashfood organization. The appointments of […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, West
IFG Celebrates 20th Anniversary Of The Cotton Candy Grape
Bakersfield, California-based International Fruit Genetics, a large table grape breeder with 48 patented table grape varieties, 10 patented sweet cherry varieties and its first patented raisin variety, is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the breeding of the Cotton Candy grape. The Cotton Candy grape was first naturally bred in 2003 by David Cain, geneticist, horticulturalist and […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Instacart Expands Advertising To Produce Brands, Farms
Instacart has announced a new online advertising capability, enabling produce brands to advertise fresh, weighted items – such as carrots, grapes, onions, oranges, sweet potatoes and watermelons – from the produce department across the Instacart Marketplace. The announcement is in collaboration with the White House event on March 24 that continues the work begun at the White […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest, Organic Natural
Maintaining Health Remains Top Of Mind For Many Consumers
Cost difference between organic, non-organic foods may be decreasing Organic, natural and health foods are on many shoppers’ grocery lists today. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, staying healthy has become a priority for many. “Throughout the pandemic, health has been top of mind and many consumers began to take a deeper interest in their health in a […]
Posted inProduce News, Feature, West
Official: Fresh Organic Produce Industry Has ‘Optimistic Future’
Top trends in 2023 include sustainability, CEA, regenerative Organic produce is a vibrant industry with an optimistic future, according Matthew Seeley, CEO of Organic Produce Network in Monterey, California. “People are going to want to continue to eat healthy, nutritious products, and organic fits that bill,” he said. “And that’s why I think we’ve got an […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
National Watermelon Promotion Board Shares New Research
Winter Springs, Florida-based National Watermelon Promotion Board has partnered with Nutrition Impact on a research project to “determine intake of watermelon and assess association with diet quality, energy and nutrient intake and physiological parameters in children and adults.” A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Analysis, the study found that total diet quality was higher […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, West
California Avocado Commission Hires Splane As VP, Marketing
The California Avocado Commission has hired food industry veteran Terry Splane as VP of marketing. Splane fills the role vacated by Jan DeLyser, following her retirement last month. He has more than 30 years of sales and marketing experience in the foodservice and retail channels, most recently as head of partner success and strategy for […]
Posted inProduce News, West
FirstFruits Marketing Installs Advanced Cherry Production Line
Yakima, Washington-based FirstFruits Farms is making strides in the fresh produce industry with the construction of an advanced cherry production line at its facility in Prescott, Washington. The production line will feature advanced technology offering total automation, putting FirstFruits Farms at the “forefront of retail integration.” “As a company, we are constantly looking to improve our […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Tops Offers Little Leaf Farms’ Sustainable Fresh Lettuces
Williamsville, New York-based Tops is offering customers a sustainable produce option through Little Leaf Farms’ fresh lettuces. Little Leaf Farms’ hydroponic greenhouses use sunlight and captured rainwater to grow lettuce, which is harvested and delivered to stores within 24 hours, improving shelf life. “We get lots of calls and emails from Little Leaf Farms fans, […]
Posted inProduce News, Feature, Southeast
Produce Is ‘Heart And Soul’ Of Turnip Truck In East Nashville
Three locations serve shoppers seeking fresh, organic items The Turnip Truck in Nashville, Tennessee, has been dedicated to providing fresh and organic products since 2001. What began as a 2,800-square-foot organic shop now has three locations that also offer prepared foods and a full deli, among other features. Founder and CEO John Dyke was working […]