Morehead, Kentucky-based AppHarvest has named one of its board members, Tony Martin, as chief operating officer, effective immediately. Martin will retain his board seat, and as COO, he will lead efforts to optimize production and revenue across the AppHarvest four-farm network that includes 165 acres under glass. “I expect Tony’s extensive background in controlled environment […]
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, West
Sumo Citrus Expands Distribution Across North America
Dinuba, California-based Sumo Citrus will harvest its largest crop to date for the upcoming 2023 season beginning in January, doubling the amount of fruit from the previous season. Customers will find the fruit at more stores than ever before with increased distribution across North America, including Canada. Derived from satsuma, orange and mandarin citrus varieties, Sumo Citrus was […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Brighter Bites Partners With Sunkist Citrus Growers
Brighter Bites has partnered with Sunkist, an agricultural cooperative, to help improve the health of students and families in Bakersfield, California. Bakersfield serves as Brighter Bites’ third location in California, following Salinas and Los Angeles. In early December, Sunkist began providing monthly donations of citrus to the Brighter Bites Bakersfield locations, providing families with weekly access to fresh produce at no cost. “We […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
AppHarvest Completes Leaseback Deal For Kentucky Farm
AppHarvest has finalized the sale-leaseback of its indoor leafy greens farm in Berea, Kentucky, for more than $127 million and has opened its 60-acre high-tech indoor farm in Richmond, Kentucky. AppHarvest has entered an agreement with Mastronardi Berea, a joint venture between Mastronardi Produce and COFRA Holding, for the sale-leaseback of its Berea indoor farm […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Pacific Trellis Fruit Prepares For Cherry, Stone Fruit Import Season
Los Angeles, California-based Pacific Trellis Fruit is preparing for the upcoming import cherry season. “With increased volumes of cherries arriving in the U.S. from Chile and Argentina, we are looking forward to increased opportunities to work with our customers in promoting cherries well into March,” said Marcial Hernandez, director of imported fruit. Pacific Trellis Fruit is […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Pure Flavor Introduces Alonna Canary Melons
Pure Flavor has introduced its Alonna Canary Melons and has expanded production with a new greenhouse in Leamington, Ontario. “We are excited to introduce our second greenhouse grown melon this year. Our innovation pipeline continues to expand to remove the seasonality of fresh fruits and vegetables and believe that new, sustainably grown products like Alonna Canary […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Side Delights Shares Solutions For Upcycling Potato Peels
Newport Beach, California-based Side Delights suggests the emerging trend of upcycling as an economical and sustainable solution to rising inflation costs. Upcycling is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials or unwanted products into new materials and is used for everything from packaging to produce. According to the company, the potato industry is estimated to generate […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Blue Diamond Growers Celebrates Almonds, Bees In Parade Float
Blue Diamond Growers will be participating in the 2023 Rose Parade, an annual event held Jan. 2 in Pasadena, California. For the fifth year in a row, the company will honor the people and pollinators that make Blue Diamond products possible, highlighting the farmer-owned cooperative’s commitment to sustainability, pollinators and biodiversity with a custom-built float featuring […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Cold Hardy Citrus Association Reports Strong Mid-Season Outlook
Halfway through the selling season and Satsuma mandarins and other cold hardy varietals are still in abundant supply, according to the Cold Hardy Citrus Association. Growers had predicted this year’s harvest would be favorable at the season’s start. According to the association, the groves are producing beyond those early expectations. The Sweet Valley Citrus region […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Four Star Fruit Reflects On Concluding California Grape Season
Delano, California-based Four Star Fruit, a grower and marketer of year-round table grapes, is concluding the California grape season and is transitioning to the Peruvian and Chilean import season. The California growing season this year was difficult due to the hot weather, creating problematic growing conditions and higher input costs, resulting in a strain on retail […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Produce Sales Remain Similar To Last Year
IRI, 210 Analytics and IFPA have shared the latest analysis of fresh produce. Fresh produce prices were up from last year, but at a low 5.3 percent level on a per-unit basis and 5.6 percent on a per-pound basis. The deceleration is driven by fruit, for which prices increased a low 3.2 percent. Additionally, vegetable inflation […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Plant Agricultural Systems Acquires MightyVine
MightyVine, a glasshouse tomato producer in Rochelle, Illinois, is being acquired by Plant Agricultural Systems, an infrastructure service provider delivering infrastructure to support localized fresh produce demand in all regions. “Plant and MightyVine share a common goal of providing consumers with access to the highest quality produce available,” said Jim Murphy, founder of MightyVine. “Additionally, we believe […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, West
Blue Diamond Growers Appoints Bockmann As President, CEO
Sacramento, California-based Blue Diamond Growers and its board chairman, Dan Cummings, have announced that Kai Bockmann has been named as president and CEO, effective Jan. 17. The board selected Bockmann after working with executive search and leadership advisory firm, Egon Zehnder, to recruit and consider candidates from across the country. Bockmann will succeed Mark Jansen, who […]
Posted inProduce News, Executive News, West
Del Monte Foods Names Caltabiano As CFO
Walnut Creek, California-based Del Monte Foods has announced the appointment of Jim Caltabiano as CFO. Caltabiano will oversee the management of the company’s financial organization and report to Parag Sachdeva, COO. He is a finance professional with about 30 years of experience within large consumer packaged goods companies, including Ajinomoto Foods, Campbell Soup Co., Procter & Gamble and General […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Edible Garden Expands To Gristedes, D’Agostino Supermarkets
Edible Garden has announced an expansion of its distribution with Gristedes and D’Agostino supermarkets to sell its products in 29 of their combined locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Westchester. “We have a longstanding relationship with Edible Garden and look forward to enhancing our partnership by adding their products into our retail locations. They have been a […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Super Starr International Transitions To Winter Honeydew Melons
Super Starr International, a Mexico-based papaya and melon grower, shipper and processor, has begun the transition to Winter Honeydew Melon season with availability beginning early January. The company encourages retailers to place orders now to secure product for distribution as this is a limited time crop. “Our winter melon crop is right on schedule and looks great,” said […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Dole Releases Sustainability Report With 2030 Goals
Dole plc has announced the release of its first sustainability report since the 2021 merger of Total Produce plc and Dole Food Co. This report sets out the organization’s refreshed sustainability framework and offers a new set of environmental, social and governance goals through 2030. With global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and U.S. headquarters in […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Sun-Maid Appoints Loftus As President, COO
Fresno, California-based Sun-Maid Growers of California has appointed Steve Loftus as president and COO, reporting to Harry Overly, executive chairman of the board. Loftus will replace Braden Bender, who has been serving as Sun-Maid’s interim-president since September, and is returning to his role as CFO. In this new role, all functional areas within Sun-Maid will report […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
Study Shows Produce Remained Close To Last Year Sales
IRI, 210 Analytics and IFPA continue to share the latest trends and analysis in fresh produce. Fresh produce prices were also up from last year, but a relatively low 5.3 percent level on a per-unit basis and 5.6 percent on a per-pound basis. This is far below the total store average. The deceleration is driven by […]
Posted inProduce News, West
California Avocado Commission Announces DeLyser’s Retirement
Jan DeLyser has announced her plan to retire as VP of marketing from the California Avocado Commission after 24 years of service. The tentative timing for her retirement is mid-February. “Jan DeLyser is an icon in the produce industry and has been instrumental in the development of the avocado category and the premium California avocado […]