The Southeast Produce Council, headquartered in Millen, Georgia, is honoring Steven Pinkston and Frank Swanson with one of its highest honors, the SEPC Lifetime Membership Award. Pinkston is a produce professional with more than 40 years in the industry. He retired June 15. Prior to retirement, Pinkston held the position of director of business development […]
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.
SEPC Names 2021 Next Generation Award Nominees
Millen, Georgia-based Southeast Produce Council has recognized several individuals who have been nominated for this year’s Next Generation Award. This award honors an SEPC member 39 years or younger who has been employed in the produce industry for at least four years and has made a significant contribution to the industry. To qualify for the […]
Kalera Acquires &ever GmbH To Form Global Leader In Vertical Farming
Kalera AS, one of the fastest-growing and largest vertical farming companies in the world, has entered into a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of all shares in &ever GmbH, a global leader in baby leaf indoor farming. The agreement is for a total consideration reflecting an enterprise value for &ever GmbH of 130 million […]
Mastronardi, AppHarvest Join In AgTech CEA Venture To Feed America
Mastronardi Produce Ltd. and AppHarvest have signed a non-binding letter of intent to form FarmCo, a joint venture to develop a portfolio of controlled environment agriculture facilities to expand the supply of fruits and vegetables, including leafy greens, to Mastronardi’s existing fresh produce marketing and distribution business. FarmCo will have its own leadership team and […]
AppHarvest Has Named Nelson As EVP Of Operations
AgTech leader AppHarvest, a certified B Corp., has named Julie Nelson its EVP of operations. Nelson will lead efforts to scale AppHarvest’s network of farms and to build manufacturing and supply chain capability to ensure efficient delivery of consistent, high-quality products to major grocers and restaurants. AppHarvest is focused on farming more sustainably, using up […]
Del Monte Fruit Infusions Offers Fruit Cup With Added Benefits
Walnut Creek, California-based Del Monte Foods Inc. has launched Del Monte Fruit Infusions, expanding the brand’s presence in the produce refrigerated aisle. This new line of products incorporates fruit chunks infused with antioxidants. According to a 2021 survey by the International Food Information Council, one in five Americans actively seek health benefits from foods, with energy, digestive […]
Sprouts Heats Up Summer With Seasonal Hatch Chile Lineup
Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide are turning up the summer heat with seasonal fresh Hatch Chiles now available along with Hatch flavored Sprouts Brand products on shelves. Named after the original growing area in Hatch, New Mexico, authentic Hatch Chiles have a meaty flesh with varying heat levels, making them ideal to add a punch […]
Hatch Chile Season Is Back At United Family Stores
United Supermarkets, Market Street, Albertsons Market and Amigos locations across Texas and New Mexico are kicking off Hatch chile season by roasting fresh Hatch chiles on site. Roastings will happen at all locations the first two weekends in August. Then, roastings will continue the following weekends at select locations until supplies run out. For years, […]
Weiss Joins Kalera As Advisor And Proposed Board Member
Orlando, Florida-based Kalera, one of the fastest-growing and largest vertical farming companies in the world, named Andrea M. Weiss as advisor to its board of directors. In this role, Weiss will work closely with Kalera’s Board of Directors as it prepares the firm for a future U.S. listing of its stock. She also will be presented […]
Plenty Executives Honored With Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40 Awards
San Francisco, California-based Plenty, one of the flavor-first vertical farming companies, said two senior executives – Dr. Michael Schwieterman and Brian Pedersen – were both recognized in the Fruit + Vegetable 40 under 40 Awards by Fruit Growers News and Vegetable Growers News. The list is reserved exclusively for outstanding young industry professionals who demonstrate […]
Gotham Greens Introduces Vegan Ranch And Caesar Salad Dressings
Gotham Greens, a New York-based pioneer of sustainable greenhouse-grown salad greens, herbs, dressings, dips and cooking sauces, is expanding its fresh foods line to include two new plant-based, dairy-free salad dressings: Vegan Ranch and Vegan Caesar. Crafted with premium ingredients including its own greenhouse-grown basil, Gotham Greens’ new dressings are made with no added sugar and […]
Wyman’s Expands Wild Blueberry Supply And Freezing Capacity
As consumer demand increases for nutritious wild blueberries, and with the annual harvest fast approaching, Jasper Wyman & Son is expanding its wild blueberry supply and freezing operations. On July 15, Wyman’s acquired the wild blueberry assets of Ellsworth, Maine-based Allen’s Blueberry Freezer, which includes 2,800 acres of wild blueberry land, substantial freezing capacity and more than 50,000 square […]
Avocados from Peru Joins NBC, Telemundo TV On Olympic Coverage
The Washington, D.C.-based Peruvian Avocado Commission, under its Avocados from Peru banner, will feature TV, OTT (via the internet) and digital content of the Tokyo Olympics, to be held July 23-Aug. 8. The coverage will run in more than 20 major U.S. markets throughout the duration of the Olympics and the rest of the summer. […]
Dole Offers Big Ranch Flavor With New Chopped Salad Kits
Dole Food Co., headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is expanding its Dole Chopped! Salad Kits with two new offerings that leverage the consumer preference for ranch dressing. Dole Chopped! Buffalo Ranch Salad Kit and Dole Chopped! Peppercorn Ranch Salad Kit combine fresh chopped Dole lettuces and vegetables with special buffalo and peppercorn variations of Dole’s Ranch Dressing. The two […]
Del Monte Expands Sales Of Pinkglow Pineapple To Canadian Retailers
Coral Gables, Florida-based Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. has expanded its Pinkglow pineapple to select retailers in limited markets throughout Canada. The Pinkglow is a novel pineapple with a pink interior, exclusively grown by Fresh Del Monte and now available for retail. Pinkglow pineapples are currently available in the U.S. and now have made their way up to the Great White […]
Kalera Tour Offers Insight Into Indoor Vertical Lettuce Farming
by Eric Pereira / staff writer The Shelby Report of the Southeast recently had the opportunity to tour indoor vertical farming company Kalera’s new facility in Forest Park, Georgia. The 77,000 square-foot operation is Kalera’s largest to date — and the largest vertical lettuce farm in the southeastern U.S. It has the capability of producing […]
AeroFarms Expands Its Award-Winning Leafy Greens Product Assortment
AeroFarms, a Certified B Corporation and leader in indoor vertical farming, is expanding its line of leafy greens to include five new items: Baby Bok Choy-The New Spinach, Micro Arugula, Micro Broccoli, Micro Kale and Micro Rainbow Mix. AeroFarms award-winning retail brand of leafy greens is prized for its flavor and is grown using proprietary […]
McWilliams Proposed As Member Of Kalera Board Of Directors
Kalera, one of the fastest-growing and largest vertical farming companies in the world, has proposed the appointment of Curtis McWilliams to its board of directors. In addition, it is expected that McWilliams will chair Kalera’s Audit Committee, which is responsible for oversight of the financial reporting and disclosure process. McWilliams brings nearly 40 years of […]
Dole Goes For Big Ranch Flavor With New Chopped Salad Kits
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole Food Co. is expanding its Dole Chopped! Salad Kits with two new SKUs that leverage the No. 1 consumer preference for ranch dressing. Dole Chopped! Buffalo Ranch Salad Kit and Dole Chopped! Peppercorn Ranch Salad Kit combine fresh chopped Dole lettuces and vegetables with special Buffalo and Peppercorn variations of Dole’s Ranch Dressing. With a first-ship date of July […]
Frieda’s Fire Dragons Fruit Now Available And In Season
Straight from the volcanic hills of Nicaragua, Frieda’s Specialty Produce’s non-irradiated Fire Dragons red dragon fruit is in season and ready to fire up Fourth of July displays. According to research, 38 percent of shoppers say they are more likely to shop at stores that carry red dragon fruit, and 62 percent of shoppers say these bright-fleshed […]
