Santa Paula, California-based Calavo Growers Inc., a global avocado-industry leader, has appointed Shawn Munsell as CFO, effective June 20. Prior to joining Calavo, Munsell led the finance and accounting functions for Tyson Foods’ chicken segment, with fiscal 2021 revenues of $14 billion, as SVP of finance and accounting. Before that role, he served as Tyson’s treasurer. […]
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.
Bowery Farming Unveils Smart Farm In Bethlehem, PA
Bowery Farming opened its largest technologically advanced and sustainable commercial smart farm May 26 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Transforming a former Bethlehem brown field from an industrial site into modern farmland, the company’s commercial farm lays the groundwork for the next chapter in climate-smart agriculture. The Bethlehem farm features technological advancements and pioneering sustainability initiatives and is […]
Daily Harvest Teams Up With Athletes To ‘Eat the Solution’
Daily Harvest is teaming up with athletes committed to encouraging people to “Eat the Solution” and consume more organic fruits and vegetables every day. Blake Griffin of the Brooklyn Nets, Carmelo Anthony of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, Trea Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kemba Walker of the New […]
Brighter Bites Partners With DoorDash’s Project Dash For Deliveries
Houston, Texas-based Brighter Bites has partnered with DoorDash through its Project DASH initiative to increase fresh produce accessibility to children and their families in New York City, Houston and Washington D.C. Through this partnership, DoorDash’s Project DASH makes it possible for families facing transportation barriers to participate in the Brighter Bites program. DoorDash drivers will go to select enrolled […]
TIPA Welcomes Three Produce Industry Executives To Board
The Texas International Produce Association has added three industry executives to the TIPA Board of Directors. Travis Catalani is one of the executive leaders recently named to the board. Catalani began his career at B. Catalani 14 years ago and has grown up around produce his entire life. B. Catalani was founded in 1914 and […]
Washington State Prepares For Asparagus Season
Washington State’s family farmers and packers are readying for the 2022 season with its fresh asparagus available at regional supermarkets, farmers markets and restaurants. In 2021, approximately 15 million pounds of asparagus were harvested, with an economic impact of $30 million for growers and packers. “We’re working in earnest to return to harvesting more than […]
Del Monte Foods Fights Against Food Waste With Upcycled Products
Walnut Creek, California-based Del Monte Foods has committed to reducing food waste and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 with the introduction of two new upcycled products. In this endeavor, the Del Monte Gut Love and Boost Me Fruit Infusions have been “Upcycled Certified” by the Upcycled Food Association, a third party certification program for […]
B&G Foods Acquires Growers Express’ Frozen Vegetable Operations
Parsippany, New Jersey-based B&G Foods Inc. has acquired the frozen vegetable manufacturing operations of Growers Express. Growers Express manufactures, produces, packages and sells frozen vegetable products, primarily Green Giant Riced Veggies and Green Giant Veggie Spirals. The purchased assets include inventory, equipment, a sublease for a portion of a manufacturing facility in Yuma, Arizona, and […]
The SF Market Hosts CA Official Ross, Highlights Food Redistribution
San Francisco-based The SF Market, a wholesale produce market home to 26 merchant businesses, hosted California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross May 20 for a store tour, highlighting the grocer’s food recovery program. Ross was joined by Natalie Krout-Greenberg, CDFA’s director for the division of inspection services; Joshua W. Bingham, CDFA’s public information officer […]
FullTilt Marketing Shares State Fruit Trends For Memorial Day
Minot, North Dakota-based FullTilt Marketing conducted a social media trend analysis of the most popular online fruit associated with Memorial Day in all 50 states to identify the fruits consumers were talking about. The social media and web analysis of fruit-based recipes highlights the fact that the most fashionable food is red, white and blue, with […]
Dole Releases Meal Kit Line For Single-Pan Vegetable Meals
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole has introduced its new Sheet Pan Meal Starter Kits in select markets across the eastern and southeastern U.S. The kits represent the industry’s first new fresh vegetable product line catering to the growing sheet pan meal trend. Available in Homestyle Roasted Herb, French Onion and Lemon Parmesan flavor varieties, the Dole Sheet Pan Meal Starter […]
The Giant Co., Empower At The Bridge Establish Garden For Food Relief
Empower at the Bridge Foundation and The Giant Company have partnered to feed underserved families and convert Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s food desert into a food oasis. At a press conference May 23, representatives of both organizations joined Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and first lady Frances Wolf to cut the ribbon and unveil the “Giant Bleacher Garden” […]
Pure Flavor Unveils First Commercial Greenhouse Grown Melon
Leamington, Ontario-based Pure Flavor has launched the produce industry’s first greenhouse grown melons, which will be branded under the Solara name. Jamie Moracci, president, said the melons are the result of many years of research and development. While many varieties have undergone product testing since the development process began in 2014, the company honed in […]
Green Life Farms Hires Grandmaison As General Manager
Lake Worth, Florida-based Green Life Farms has hired Donald Grandmaison as general manager of its Babcock Ranch facility. Grandmaison brings more than 20 years of experience to the role. Most recently, he served as sales and marketing manager for BrightFarms/Lef Farms Corp. Grandmaison joins Green Life Farms’ team with experience growing sales revenue, developing methods […]
Meijer Expands Fresh Produce Offerings With Revolution Farms
Revolution Farms, an innovator of sustainable farming in the Midwest, is partnering with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer Meijer to bring local lettuce and salad greens to consumers year-round, across the retailer’s six-state footprint. Products include cut, whole leaf and whole head lettuce varieties, as well as the cut lettuce for all of the retailer’s fresh, […]
Ocean Spray Promotes Cranberries Through New Brand Campaign
Boston, Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. is launching a brand refresh and new creative campaign. “What will you do with all that power?” uses animation to promote the power of the cranberry, inspired by the farmers, the science and the history of the original superfruit. Ocean Spray’s multichannel campaign explores the positivity and health benefits of […]
Stater Bros. Markets, FirstFruits Donate 20K Pounds Of Apples
Stater Bros. Markets recently donated 20,000 pounds of apples to Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino as part of the Take a Bite Out of Hunger program sponsored by FirstFruits Marketing of Washington. The donation helps local food banks to provide fruit to the underserved in the local community. “No one should ever go hungry, and everyone should have access to […]
Patriot Pickle Acquires Some Assets Of Farm Ridge Foods
Wayne, New Jersey-based Patriot Pickle has acquired the pickle assets of Farm Ridge Foods. The company distributes pickled products into the retail channel under its own name, as well as private label and third-party brands. “This is an exciting time to be a leader in fresh pickle manufacturing,” said Bill McEntee, CEO of Patriot Pickle. “The […]
Fresh Express Celebrates National Salad Month With Recipes, Contests
Orlando, Florida-based Fresh Express is celebrating National Salad Month with a series of promotional activities throughout May, anchored by an online and social contest that provides salad inspiration and encourages consumers to create a new salad every day. The company offers more than 100 varieties of fresh and healthy salads ranging from leafy salad greens like […]
Edible Garden Appoints 3 Industry Executives To Board Of Directors
Belvidere, New Jersey-based Edible Garden AG Inc. has appointed three new independent members to the company’s board of directors as of May 4: Mathew McConnell, Tracy Nazzaro and Ryan Rogers. McConnell has served as CEO of Marco Polo Securities Inc.’s MPS Chaperone and Distribution business since March 2020. In this position, he oversees international equities, […]
