Produce News | Grocery Industry Updates

News, Association News, Produce News, Southeast

SEPC To Unveil GLP-1 Findings At Southern Innovations

by Shelby Report Staff August 26, 2026August 26, 2026

This year’s study draws on 1,500 consumers, along with an additional sample of 150 medication users.

photo of Brie Reiter Smith in foreground with berry bushes and dirt road in background

Executive News, News, Produce News, West

Driscoll’s Names Reiter Smith CEO, Succeeding Bjorn

by Shelby Report Staff August 25, 2026

Brie Reiter Smith, vice chair of Driscoll’s board, has been named CEO of the berry company, succeeding Soren Bjorn. She takes the role effective immediately.

photo of fall produce display in grocery store

Colorful Fall Produce Displays Can Drive Sales, Increase Basket Size All Season

Colorful fall produce displays, seasonal merchandising, cross-promotions can boost grocery sales, increase basket size and inspire shoppers.

Association News, National, News, Produce News

Produce Industry Leaders To Talk Workforce At FPFC Showcase

by Shelby Report Staff August 21, 2026

A panel at the FPFC Produce and Floral Holiday Showcase, Aug. 26-27 in Costa Mesa, will examine career pathways and the produce talent pipeline.

Produce News, News, Supply Chain News, Sustainability News

Avocado Certification Program Now Covers 90 Percent Of U.S.-Bound Mexican Exports

by Shelby Report Staff August 18, 2026

The certification means the avocados do not come from orchards that have been deforested since 2018 or have unresolved environmental fines or administrative orders.

Produce News, Association News, Featured News, National, News

IFPA Names 2027 Board Slate To Be Installed At October Show

by Shelby Report Staff August 18, 2026August 17, 2026

Chair-Elect Elyse Lipman, CEO of Lipman Family Farms, will lead the International Fresh Produce Association board in 2027.

West Virginia grocers health well-being private label barriers experiences Southwest grocery

Produce News, Grocery Research, National, News

Survey: Shoppers Weigh Waste, Shelf Life In Grocery Buys

by Shelby Report Staff August 14, 2026August 12, 2026

A new nationally representative survey commissioned by the Idaho Potato Commission finds shoppers evaluating groceries on how far an ingredient stretches rather than unit price alone. The survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted by Talker Research, points to a set of purchase criteria that sit alongside price rather than beneath it. Key findings 73 percent […]

Produce News, Marketing News, News, Southeast, Suppliers

Continental Fresh Offers Toolkit To Help Retailers Promote Water For All Mangos

by Shelby Report Staff August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

The toolkit includes posters, a printable fact sheet about the clean water effort and pre-written social media posts.

Produce News, News, Northeast

Fruit Importer Peter Kopke Sr. Remembered For Chile Trade

by Shelby Report Staff August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

Peter Kopke Sr., who built William H. Kopke Jr. Inc. into the No. 1 importer of Chilean fruit, died Aug. 5 at age 89.

Produce News, Beverage News, Center Store, Marketing News, Suppliers, West

3 Wonderful Brand Patches To Adorn Fresno State Jerseys

by Shelby Report Staff August 10, 2026August 9, 2026

In addition, the Wonderful Pistachios logo will be painted on the field for home football games.

News, Featured News, Independent Store News, Northeast, Pharmacy, Produce News, Tops Friendly Markets

Tops Completes Niagara Falls Remodel, Adding A Pharmacy

by Shelby Report Staff August 10, 2026August 10, 2026

The store’s exterior changes included updated awnings, signage, paint, cart corrals and a refreshed fuel station.

Produce News, Independent Store News, Midwest, News

Busch’s Fresh Food Market Brings Back Hatch Chile Fest

by Shelby Report Staff August 7, 2026August 7, 2026

The peppers will be roasted at stores and also will complement made-in-house items like mac and cheese and coleslaw.

Produce News, Association News, National, News, Supply Chain News

IFPA Urges CDC To Weigh Factors Outside Food In Cyclospora Probe

by Shelby Report Staff August 5, 2026

The association encourages the agency to consider drinking water, recreational water and occupational exposures.

Produce News, Association News, Executive News, National, News

IFPA Names Torres VP Of U.S. Government Relations

by Shelby Report Staff August 3, 2026September 27, 2026

John Torres has nearly two decades of experience in agriculture, food, environment and life sciences policy.

Deli News, Independent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, News, Online Grocery Technology, Produce News

Heinen’s Expands Its Afresh AI Usage In Fresh Departments

by Shelby Report Staff July 30, 2026October 1, 2026

Heinen’s is extending its use of the Afresh AI platform to period ending inventory across its fresh departments, replacing manual after-hours counts with AI-generated inventory estimates in produce, meat, deli, cheese and bakery. The Warrensville Heights, Ohio-based grocer already used Afresh for store ordering, so adding the inventory review required no new integrations or devices, […]

Produce News, National, News, Organic Natural, West

Organic Produce Summit Marks 10th Year With Record Turnout

by Shelby Report Staff July 27, 2026July 27, 2026

The Organic Produce Summit (OPS) closed its 10th anniversary event July 16 at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California, drawing nearly 200 exhibitors and more than 750 attendees and buyers. Buyers made up 40 percent of attendees and traveled from more than 40 U.S. states and 12 countries to attend the event, said to […]

Produce News, Association News, National, News

IFPA Calls For Stronger Traceability As Cyclospora Outbreak Grows

by Shelby Report Staff July 20, 2026July 20, 2026

IFPA is calling for end-to-end traceability and stronger FDA food safety programs as the 2026 Cyclospora outbreak grows and a lettuce recall reaches retail shelves.

Produce News, Featured News, Independent Store News, News, Northeast, Wakefern

Wakefern Produce Summit Aims To Boost Local, Regional Growers

by Shelby Report Staff July 17, 2026July 17, 2026

Wakefern Food Corp. hosted its annual Local Produce Supplier Summit on July 15 at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey, bringing together local and regional growers, agricultural leaders and the cooperative’s produce procurement teams. At the event, Ross Farnsworth, VP of produce and floral for Wakefern, reaffirmed the cooperative’s recently […]