The International Fresh Produce Association has announced the slate of new directors for the 2023 IFPA Board of Directors. The volunteer leaders will be confirmed by a ballot shared with membership and their board term will begin at the end of October. The IFPA Board of Directors is led by the officers of the executive […]
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, Amazon Fresh, West, Whole Foods
Bako Sweet Concludes Summer Merchandising Contest
Bakersfield, California-based Bako Sweet has concluded its retail merchandising contest that ran May 20-July 4. Produce managers from Sprouts Colton Distribution Center were challenged to create the most creative displays using the brand’s organic sweet potato bags and Traeger grill-themed bin to promote sweet potato consumption during historically low sales months. As a result, stores that […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Research Shows Prunes Help Support Bone Health
Yuba City, California-based Sunsweet Growers has continually shared information about prunes’ impact on bone health through multiple research studies. In a recently published study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers have found that eating five to six prunes a day over 12 months preserved bone hip mineral density and reduced hip fracture risk in […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Weis Markets Launches Annual Great Grape Event
Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based Weis Markets has launched its second annual Great Grape Event, which offers customers more than 15 varieties of grapes grown in California and the American South. The program runs through September. “The typical American supermarket sells five varieties of grapes, but since it’s the best time of year for grapes, we have decided to […]
Posted inProduce News, Marketing News, Snacks Brands, Southwest
Avocados From Mexico, Takis Collaborate On Shopper Campaign
Dallas, Texas-based Takis has partnered with Avocados From Mexico to launch a new shopper marketing campaign, “Guackeepers Keep it Good.” The companies have recruited two soccer players, Landon Donovan and Rafael Márquez, as the company’s “Guackeepers.” The “Guackeepers Keep it Good” promotional program includes in-store displays, consumer savings, digital engagement and innovative recipe inspirations for fans. “What […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Wholesum Celebrates 10 Years Of Fair Trade Certification
Amado, Arizona-based Wholesum is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of Fair Trade Certification. The company has maintained a commitment to sustainability, including 100 percent organic production. In 2012, the company solidified those commitments by obtaining Fair Trade Certification through the third-party certifier, Fair Trade USA. “More than 30 years ago, we began our transition to 100 percent […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
SEPC Holds Annual Summer Board Meeting
The Southeast Produce Council held its annual summer board meeting Aug. 9-11 at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina. Prior to their series of meetings, attendees were given a tour of the Biltmore Estate to commemorate the SEPC’s gathering. “It was a special board meeting in Asheville. We had extremely productive sessions, and […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Tops Recognizes Produce Manager For ’40 Under 40′ Award
Williamsville, New York-based Tops Friendly Markets has recognized Justin Rowe, category business manager for Tops, as one of Produce Business 40 Under 40 award honorees. This program spotlights rising entrepreneurs and leaders who have shaped the produce industry in a very short time and are paving the way for what comes next. Produce Business states […]
Posted inProduce News, West
GrubMarket Acquires Frantoni, Granite State Software
San Francisco-based GrubMarket has completed the acquisitions of New York-based Frantoni Corporation and Kansas-based Granite State Software. Both companies are led by software veterans with decades of industry experience in the fresh produce space. Founded nearly 40 years ago, GSS is managed by software engineer Glenn Sherman, who joined GSS in 1990 and took over ownership of the […]
Posted inProduce News, National
IRI: Consumers Navigate Produce Purchases Amid High Inflation
IRI, 210 Analytics and IFPA partner monthly to bring the latest trends and analysis relative to the produce department. “Inflation, COVID and consumer mobility continue to change shopping and consumption patterns,” said Joe Watson, VP, retail, foodservice and wholesale for IFPA. “The consumer reactions to the current environment combined with supply side volatility are keeping […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Weis Markets Employees Volunteer With America’s Grow-A-Row
Weis Markets store managers and employees from the company’s New Jersey and Northeast Pennsylvania stores volunteered Aug. 9 with America’s Grow-A-Row in Pittstown, New Jersey. America’s Grow-A-Row partners with organizations local to its farms to harvest and distribute fresh produce to food insecure families. During the volunteer day, Weis employees helped harvest more than 16,000 […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Kalera Expands Distribution Of Leafy Greens For Trader Joe’s
Orlando, Florida-based Kalera has announced expanded distribution of its non-GMO leafy greens to 40 Trader Joe’s locations throughout Texas. All varieties are grown at Kalera’s Houston facility, providing locally grown produce to urban areas with traditionally short grow seasons. Trader Joe’s shoppers can find Kalera’s leafy greens in krunch, butter and frisée whole-head-sized varieties in the produce aisle for $2.99. Kalera’s current […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Square Roots Celebrates New Indoor Farm At Distribution Center
Square Roots and Gordon Food Service held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 16 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to celebrate their largest indoor farm built to date. “Our new farm in Kenosha, built with our strategic partner Gordon Food Service, is our largest and most advanced farm yet. Together, we can deliver high-quality, pesticide-free, fresh produce to local […]
Posted inProduce News, Grocery Store Layout, Northeast
Stop & Shop Introduces Refreshed Grove Hall Store
Stop & Shop has opened a refreshed store Aug. 19 in the Grove Hall neighborhood of Boston. The grocer will unveil a new community wellness space built to host programming at no cost to the community. Another highlight of the updated Grove Hall Stop & Shop location is an in-store dietitian offering free nutrition programming […]
Posted inProduce News, West
California Fig Growers Celebrate Beginning Of Crop Season
Fresh Fig season is officially underway, according to the California Fresh Fig Growers Association. This year’s initial crop, known as the breba crop, delivered the first Mission figs of the season May-June. The main crop, now underway, is delivering plump varieties, such as Brown Turkeys and Sierras. Additional varieties will continue to become available through […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
IFPA Names Linney As Keynote General Session Speaker
International Fresh Produce Association has announced that Laura Linney will be the keynote speaker for the Women’s Fresh Perspectives General Session on Oct. 29 at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando, Florida. The session, titled “Women in Film: Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry” will feature Linney’s insights on her experience in Hollywood. Laura Linney is […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
505 Southwestern Hosts ‘25 Years Of Flavor’ Celebration Event
Albuquerque, New Mexico-based 505 Southwestern celebrates “25 Years of Flavor” with an event to celebrate the anniversary in the location it was originally founded by entrepreneur Roy Solomon. The celebration is scheduled for Sept. 15 at Tin Can Alley. Tin Can Alley has gained national recognition as an innovative venue featuring locally inspired food, beverages and […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Wisconsin Leads Nation In Cranberry Production
Wisconsin’s cranberry growers are expecting a solid 2022 crop at 5.2 million barrels based on crop projections, according to the U.S. Cranberry Marketing Committee meeting held Aug. 16 in Galloway, New Jersey. If the Wisconsin and other states’ projections stay on course, Wisconsin will remain the largest cranberry producing state growing and harvesting more than […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, National
Grocery Retailers Prepare For Hatch Green Chile Season
Grocery retailers across the country are preparing their stores in preparation for Hatch Green Chile season. Hatch chiles get their name from the village of Hatch, New Mexico, where the pepper is harvested only a few weeks of the year. The sunlight and cool nights of the Hatch Valley help to grow the chiles. These […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Brighter Bites, Zespri Kiwifruit Partner For School Programming
Houston, Texas-based Brighter Bites is partnering with Zespri Kiwi fruit as a key produce partner for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Through this partnership, Zespri Kiwifruit will provide product for Brighter Bites’ programming in New York City and Washington D.C., as well as south and central California, supply kiwi nutrition education, recipes and coupons through the upcoming school season and support national […]