It will be a summer of adventure for the National Watermelon Promotion Board, thanks to a month-long collaboration with Disney and Pixar’s original feature film Luca, which streams exclusively on Disney+ starting June 18. “Luca” is a fun and heartwarming story about friendship, stepping out of your comfort zone and an extraordinary pair of sea monsters […]
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.
Avocados From Peru Available Now In U.S. Markets
With the ability to significantly increase its footprint in the U.S. market this summer season, the first shipments of Avocados from Peru have arrived and are available in promotional volumes now until late September. “As customary, Peru’s fruit will be heavily promoted from Memorial Day to Labor Day in the U.S.,” said Xavier Equihua, president […]
Avocados From Mexico Superfood Lab Launches At KidZania Dallas
Avocados From Mexico – a U.S.-based, non-profit marketing organization to promote Mexican avocados – has opened its Superfood Lab at KidZania Dallas, an indoor city where children can role-play professions in realistic settings. The lab is the latest offering from the brand known for its innovative approach to produce marketing. The Superfood Lab at KidZania […]
Dole Pays Tribute To Disney Princesses Through Ongoing Promotion
From the confidence and loyalty of Belle to the bravery of Mulan to the steadfast determination of Tiana, Disney Princess characters are known for exhibiting courage in the face of adversity and danger, and kindness in everyday acts throughout their kingdoms. Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole Food Co. is tapping into that spirit during an extended tribute […]
Local Bounti Adds Valiasek And Nelson To Leadership Team
Local Bounti Corp., a U.S. indoor agriculture company, has added Kathleen Valiasek and Mark Nelson to its leadership team. Biotech veteran Valiasek has assumed the role of CFO, and food industry innovator Nelson has joined the company’s board of directors. As Local Bounti’s CFO, Valiasek will help advance the company’s plan to more than double […]
Revol Greens Increases Production Of Organic Greenhouse Lettuce
Revol Greens’ first quarter 2021 launch of new USDA Certified Organic Spring Mix, Green & Red Duo and Romaine Crunch line has quickly sold out among new and existing customers. To meet growing product demand, the greenhouse lettuce grower is expanding its production capacity. Revol Greens’ USDA Certified Organic products feature a newly developed and proprietary […]
Kalera Unveils First Harvest For Atlanta Vertical Farming Facility
Kalera, one of the fastest-growing U.S. vertical farming companies in the world and a leader in plant science for producing high-quality produce in controlled environments, celebrated its first harvest in its Atlanta-area facility. Its largest farm to date — and the largest vertical farm in the Southeastern U.S. — the facility is 77,000 square-feet and […]
AppHarvest Names Bakhtiari As VP Of Investor Relations
Kaveh Bakhtiari has joined AgTech company AppHarvest in a newly created role as VP of investor relations, effective May 17. In this new position, Bakhtiari will focus on developing AppHarvest’s strategic positioning and building relationships with the global investment community. “Radical transparency is a core value at AppHarvest, and that’s why we’re so eager to upgrade […]
Ocean Mist Farms Names New Sales Commodity Manager
Ocean Mist Farms, a grower and marketer of fresh artichokes in the U.S., has hired John Georgalos as sales commodity manager. In this role, Georgalos will be responsible for managing iceberg lettuce, Ocean Mist Farms’ leaf program (red, green and romaine) and will handle select key accounts for the company. “We are glad to have […]
GoodFarms Strawberries Join Whole Foods’ Sourced For Good Program
GoodFarms strawberries will debut as the first Equitable Food Initiative-certified product in Whole Foods Market’s Sourced for Good program during May, which is also National Strawberry Month. EFI is the workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer groups. The Sourced for Good program helps support workers, communities and the environment […]
Country Fresh, Sun Rich Assets Acquired By Stellex Capital Management
Country Fresh and Sun Rich USA, two divisions previously part of the Fresh Food Group, will now operate as a standalone company following the acquisition of Country Fresh and Sun Rich USA assets by Stellex Capital Management, previous management and Country Fresh’s original founder. The new parent entity will operate under the Country Fresh name […]
Kalera Names Red Lobster CEO Lopdrup Chairman Of The Board
Orlando, Florida-based Kalera, a vertical farming company and a leader in plant science for producing high-quality produce in controlled environments, has appointed Kim Lopdrup as its new chairman as the company moves toward a U.S. listing. Lopdrup joined Kalera’s board last year and remains CEO of Red Lobster. Lopdrup’s appointment comes on the heels of […]
Noritake Promoted To Head Of Sales North America For Zespri
Susan Noritake has been promoted to head of sales North America as Orange County, California-based Zespri continues its expansion plans for the kiwifruit brand. Noritake brings extensive experience and market knowledge to this role during a pivotal period of Zespri’s continued accelerated growth in the North American market. “We are very pleased to announce Susan’s […]
Sun-Maid Selected As A 2021 U.S. Best Managed Company
Sun-Maid and its leadership are one of only three CPG companies, and 49 private businesses, named to the 2021 list of U.S. Best Managed Companies. The Best Managed Companies program is sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. It features some of the country’s most prominent and successful organizations from a wide range […]
Coalition Launches First Food Safety Standard For Indoor-Grown Produce
The CEA Food Safety Coalition, comprised of leaders in the controlled environment agriculture industry, has announced the first food safety certification program specifically for CEA-grown leafy greens. Members of the coalition can choose to be assessed for the CEA Leafy Greens Module and upon successful completion will be allowed to use the CEA food-safe seal on […]
Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Relaunches Honeyglow Pineapple
Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., a marketer and distributor of fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, has relaunched its Honeyglow pineapple. Every Del Monte Honeyglow pineapple is left to mature naturally on the plant for a few extra days, which ensures a riper and sweeter product while creating the perfect balance of color and taste. The […]
Fall And Winter Holidays Drive Higher Avocado Sales
Holiday avocado sales continued to grow as shoppers purchased a record number of fresh Hass avocados during the 2020 fall and winter holidays. The Hass Avocado Board’s recently published fourth-quarter holiday retail report indicates that Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve all reached record-high volume and drove a combined 187 million units in retail […]
Del Monte Fresh Produce Expands Organic Fresh-Cut Fruit Production
Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. is expanding its organic fresh-cut fruit production in North America, specifically in the U.S. and Canada. This will allow Coral Gables, Florida-based Fresh Del Monte to continue growing its fresh-cut fruit and organic fresh-cut fruit businesses nationally, while diversifying its variety of produce SKUs. For more than 20 years, Fresh […]
Revol Greens Adds Chopped Romaine Program To Offerings
Expanding what is already one of the most diverse greenhouse baby leaf and head lettuce portfolios on the market, Revol Greens is adding a large-scale chopped romaine program with three new retail varieties available at select retailers throughout the Midwest: Premium Romaine Salad, Leafy Romaine Chop and Vibrant Romaine Blend (SRP $2.99-$3.99 for 7.5-oz. packages). There also […]
Cabo Fresh Launches Only Avocado In Squeeze Pouch
Cabo Fresh has launched Only Avocado, supplying avocados on demand in a squeeze pouch guaranteed to stay green for 10 days after opening. With only three natural ingredients and zero preservatives, it offers perfectly green avocado for days. The magic is in the cap. Airlock technology allows Only Avocado to stay green by eliminating air […]
