Los Alamitos, California-based Frieda’s Branded Produce is celebrating passion fruit this summer, which was recently named “Flavor of the Year” for 2022 by Monin. Passion fruit is considered to be the largest berry of all berry-producing plants. The passion fruit’s purple skin wrinkles when ripe. Under its exterior are small, black edible seeds surrounded by […]
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
Fresh Solutions Releases Potato Market Report Highlighting Farmers
Newport Beach, California-based Fresh Solutions Network has released a new report, Potato Market – Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022-2027), highlighting the role of their network of farmers and potatoes. Experts in the report noted positive trends during the future forecast period as potatoes continue to gain popularity during concerns about food security, inflation, supply constraints and […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Revol Greens Prepares To Open New Facility In Temple, TX
Revol Greens is preparing to open a new lettuce facility in Temple, Texas. This facility, the largest to date, will work in tandem with the company’s growth plans to meet increasing consumer demand. Planting within the first of 20 planned acres in phase one of this new greenhouse is expected to start by the end […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
GrubMarket Acquires Quality Fruit And Vegetable Co.
GrubMarket has completed the acquisition of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas-based Quality Fruit & Vegetable Co., a fresh produce company that provides fruits and vegetables to the Southwest, sourced from the U.S., Mexico, South America and other parts of the world. QF&V is operated by its founder, Nick Delgado, a veteran in the fresh produce industry with more […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
SEPC Names Incoming Southern Roots Committee Members
The SEPC has named its new members and committee assignments for the Southern Roots platform. The new committee members are Desiree Forsythe of National Produce FB; Melissa Pine of Bolthouse Farms; and Kim St George of Renaissance Food Group. These women, part of corporate membership companies, have shown interest and participation and will continue their commitment to drive […]
Posted inProduce News, Midwest
Conagra Brands Opens Birds Eye Vegetable Processing Facility
Chicago-based Conagra Brands Inc. has opened a new vegetable processing plant in Waseca, Minnesota. The facility, which processes fresh vegetables to support Conagra’s frozen meals business and Birds Eye brand, was built from the ground up with a focus on maximizing automation to create greater efficiencies and enhancing food safety throughout. “The investment in our new […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast, Snacks Brands
Crispy Green Releases Single-Serving Bags For Fruit Snack
Fairfield, New Jersey-based Crispy Green has released new single-serve packaging for its Crispy Fruit line, adding more fruit to each container and making the bags recyclable. “Over the years, we’ve received many requests and comments from our customers that they love our product but wish there were a few more bites in each bag,” said Angela Liu, […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Giant Food Begins Summer Launch Of Local Produce Boxes
Landover, Maryland-based Giant Food has begun the relaunch of its Local Produce Boxes featuring locally sourced, in-season produce sold through Giant Delivers. Available throughout the summer without a subscription or commitment, the boxes retail for $20 and contain at least six items from farms in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Giant is sourcing all items from local […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Westfalia Fruit Enters The Colombian Avocado Season
Oxnard, California-based Westfalia Fruit Group has announced the beginning of its Colombian Hass avocado season with supply available through late spring of 2023. Westfalia has played a role in developing the Colombian avocado market since the company planted its first avocado orchards in 2015. This climate receives a large rainfall, so much so that irrigation or […]
Posted inProduce News, Southwest
Vita Coco To Create ‘World’s Biggest Coconut’ Roadside Experience
Vita Coco is creating the World’s Biggest Coconut roadside experience July 22-24 in Dallas, Texas. The coconut pop-up invites Texans to celebrate summer and Vita Coco’s hydrating Coconut Juice, which launched earlier this summer. Standing more than three stories tall, the giant inflatable coconut will be visible throughout the neighborhood, a nod to “Everything is Bigger […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast, Snacks Brands
Crispy Greens Promotes Torres As National Sales Director
Fairfield, New Jersey-based Crispy Green Inc. has promoted Janet Torres to the position of national sales director. In this capacity, Torres is responsible for leading and managing the sales team, including brokers and contractors. “No question, Janet has demonstrated leadership skills and abilities over her 2.5 years with the company and has earned the trust and […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
SEPC Announces Southern Innovations Speaker Lineup
The Southeast Produce Council has announced its lineup of speakers for upcoming Southern Innovations, Sept. 22-24. Held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, the conference will continue to build upon SEPC’s “What’s New?” platform, which debuted during last year’s conference. The sessions and speakers for the expo are: Keynote Speaker […]
Posted inProduce News, West
SAVRpak Debuts Moisture Control Technology To Triple Produce Shelf Life
San Juan Capistrano, California-based SAVRpak has launched its SAVRpak Drop-In, the first moisture control technology that extends the shelf life and freshness of produce up to three times. The technology does this by eradicating the No. 1 cause of premature molding, wilting and spoilage of peel-less and packaged produce, including berries, leafy greens and mini cucumbers: condensation. Trials […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Verloop Named Executive Director, CEO Of California Walnut Board
The California Walnut Board and the California Walnut Commission have named Robert Verloop as executive director and CEO, effective July 11. The CWB and CWC represent more than 4,500 California walnut growers and nearly 90 handlers, producing more than 1.4 billion pounds of walnuts in 2021 that ship to 50 countries. “We are excited to […]
Posted inProduce News, West
Driscoll’s Adds Tropical Bliss To Product Line
Watsonville, California-based Driscoll’s has created a new flavor, Tropical Bliss, that expands Driscoll’s strawberry collection, which also includes Sweetest Batch and Rosé Berries. With this new launch, Driscoll’s is the first fresh berry company to offer three very different high-flavor strawberries mapped to a proprietary sensory wheel. This curated collection was developed through traditional breeding methods […]
Posted inProduce News, Snacks Brands, West
Natural Delights Launches Truffles Product Line In Stores
Yuma, Arizona-based Natural Delights has launched Truffles, a take on chocolate covered fruit snacks. After a trial period with retail buyers and consumer media, the brand has launch a full-scale marketing campaign around the product, now available to order. Where traditional chocolate covered fruit snacks list high fructose corn syrup as a key ingredient, Natural Delights Truffles […]
Posted inProduce News, National
IRI: Inflationary Levels For Fresh Produce Stabilize In May
The height, the widespread nature and the continued acceleration of inflation dominated the headlines in May. Whether in the grocery store, at the pump or at the movies, consumers were paying more. “IRI, 210 Analytics and IFPA are committed to bringing the latest trends and analysis relative to the produce department,” said Joe Watson, VP, retail, […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
Lori Anne Peaches Available In Select Grocery Retailers
Ridge Spring, South Carolina-based Lori Anne Peaches are available at select retailers nationwide. Shoppers can find Lori Anne Peaches at Harp, Central Market, Lunds & Byerlys, Wegman’s and Rouses. Throughout July, Lori Anne Carr will continue holding in store demos at select retailer locations in Minnesota and Texas. “Every year, I look forward to traveling to […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Hydroponic Farm Company Says Lettuce Shortage Is A Global Crisis
Advanced Container Technologies Inc. has announced that GrowPods, transportable modular hydroponic farms, can help reduce the global lettuce shortage. The crisis began back in 2020. According to Growing Produce, California lettuce growers faced hotter-than-average temperatures and crop diseases that led to a shortage of iceberg and romaine lettuce. These tight conditions bled into 2021. Mintec reported that lettuce increased in price 67 […]
Posted inProduce News, Northeast
Little Leaf Farms Raises $300M In Capital To Continue Its Growth
Devens, Massachusetts-based Little Leaf Farms has raised $300 million in new capital, with equity financing led by The Rise Fund and debt funding from Bank of America. The capital will support the growth and expansion of farms and distribution, making Little Leaf Farms’ local lettuces accessible to more than half of the country’s population by 2026. Immediate expansion and […]