Fresh produce remains a critical growth driver for food retail, with $97 billion in sales and a 2 percent increase in unit sales, according to FMI – The Food Industry Association’s The Power of Produce 2026 report, which debuted at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure 2026. The category’s future is increasingly shaped by generational […]
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, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Begins Annual Orange Bag Donation Campaign
Food Lion launched its annual three-week Orange Bag campaign Feb. 25, inviting customers to turn purchases of fresh navel oranges into meals for communities through its Food Lion Feeds hunger-relief platform. The campaign, which runs through March 17, benefits Feeding America and partner food banks throughout the retailer’s 10-state footprint. Since it began in 2019, […]
Posted inExecutive News, News, Produce News, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Giumarra Companies Promotes Carmona, Lorusso To VP Roles
Los Angeles-based The Giumarra Companies has promoted Sebastian Carmona to VP of international development and Kristina Lorusso to VP of retail partner services. “As we continue to increase Giumarra’s capabilities and plan for long-term growth, I am pleased to congratulate Sebastian and Kristina in expanded leadership roles that will bring impactful value to our operations,” […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Featured News, News, Southeast
Southern Exposure 2026 To Feature Grower Panel, Product Launches
The Southeast Produce Council will hold Southern Exposure 2026 from Feb. 26-March 1 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida, featuring educational sessions on agriculture challenges and consumer trends alongside new product debuts from exhibitors. The conference theme, “From Fields to Families: Nourishing Our Nation,” reflects SEPC Board Chair Sloan Lott’s platform emphasizing […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News
Little Potato Co. Celebrates 30th Anniversary With New Logo
The Little Potato Co. has unveiled an anniversary logo to mark 30 years in business, launching a year-long celebration that will include social and email campaigns, employee events and partner celebrations. The visual mark will appear across the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based company’s materials, marketing and select touchpoints throughout 2026. Additional activations are planned for later […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National, News, Produce News
IFPA Welcomes Ayoub As New Director Of Workforce, Business Policy
The International Fresh Produce Association has appointed Samantha Ayoub as director of workforce and business policy on the U.S. Government Relations team effective Feb. 23. Ayoub will lead Washington, D.C.-based IFPA’s policy and regulatory efforts on workforce, labor, immigration, transportation, logistics and broader business issues shaping the fresh produce and floral supply chain. She also […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, National, News
Shore Capital Forms Produce One Through Partnership, Acquisition
Shore Capital Partners has formed Produce One, a specialty produce distribution platform, through a partnership with Premier ProduceOne and the acquisition of Native Maine Produce. The platform combines Premier ProduceOne’s statewide distribution coverage across Ohio with Native Maine’s Northeast-focused distribution network across Maine, Connecticut and New York. Shore Capital plans to partner with additional produce […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, Independent Store News, News, Northeast
EmpowerFresh Enhances Produce Operations At Karns Quality Foods
EmpowerFresh has partnered with Karns Quality Foods, a 10-store family-owned grocer in central Pennsylvania, to enhance produce operations through artificial intelligence-powered ordering and inventory management. Founded in 1959, Karns Quality Foods has been recognized for its meat and produce departments. The partnership will leverage EmpowerFresh’s AI-driven forecasting and data analytics to help the grocer reduce […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Grocery Research, National, News
Fresh Produce White Paper Links Fruits, Vegetables To Reduced Disease Risk
The Foundation for Fresh Produce has released a white paper examining how fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases including heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer, the Newark, Delaware-based organization announced Feb. 9. “Fruits, Vegetables, and Human Health: Key Nutrients and Their Role in Chronic Diseases,” written by the foundation’s Chief Medical […]
Posted inSupply Chain News, Deli News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, News, Produce News
DeltaTrak Introduces FlashLink NOW Real-Time Loggers
Pleasanton, California-based DeltaTrak has introduced a new generation of its FlashLink NOW real-time loggers, giving fresh product suppliers expanded visibility into cold chain conditions as requirements for accepting shipments continue to tighten across the U.S. grocery sector. Inbound shipment requirements increasingly go beyond temperature data alone. When used with the UBQ Network, FlashLink NOW loggers […]
Expert Article
Commercial Ripening 2026: An Interview With David Byrne
Commercial ripening has come a long way over the past 30 years. From air-stacking boxes in temperature-controlled holding rooms to today’s ultra-advanced, digitally controlled ripening room systems that can uniformly ripen multiple truckloads of palletized fruit to the exact same color at the exact same time. As the global leader in commercial ripening room design […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, News, Northeast, Produce News, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Markets Launches 2026 Produce Winter Olympic Games
Tops Markets has launched its 2026 Produce Winter Olympic Games, a four-week, company-wide competition Feb. 1-28 that challenges store teams to showcase produce displays, innovative merchandising and strong sales performance. Throughout the competition, stores participate in weekly themed events designed to highlight freshness, presentation and promotional creativity within the produce department. Teams compete for thousands […]
Posted inProduce News, Marketing News, News, Northeast
Keystone Fruit Marketing Promotes Gideon To Director Of Sales
Greencastle, Pennsylvania-based Keystone Fruit Marketing, a division of Progressive Produce, has promoted Matthew Gideon to director of sales. Gideon has been with Keystone since 2009, playing a key role in supporting the division’s growth and strengthening its year-round sweet onion program. In his new role, Gideon will be responsible for all aspects of sales for […]
Posted inProduce News, Southeast
NC Sweetpotato Commission Honors Yencho With Service Award
The NC Sweetpotato Commission presented its 2026 Distinguished Service Award to Craig Yencho at the organization’s annual meeting held in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Through his extensive work in agricultural research, Yencho has shared valuable knowledge with sweetpotato growers across the state, developing new cultivation techniques, improving pest management practices and innovating varieties that have boosted […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, News, Southeast
Fresh Del Monte Named Winning Bidder To Acquire Del Monte Foods Assets
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (NYSE: FDP) has been named the successful bidder to acquire select assets of California-based Del Monte Foods Corporation II Inc. for a purchase price of $285 million, plus assumption of certain liabilities, through a court-supervised sale under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The transaction remains subject to court […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, National, News, West
Mission Produce To Acquire Calavo Growers In $430M Deal
Mission Produce Inc. (NASDAQ: AVO) and Calavo Growers, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVGW) have entered into a definitive agreement under which Mission will acquire Calavo in a cash-and-stock transaction. The transaction would give Mission entrée into the high-growth prepared food segment, complementing its avocado business with Calavo’s value-added, avocado-based prepared foods. In addition to a variety of ready-to-eat […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Southwest
NatureSweet Introduces Employee Recognition On Product Labels
NatureSweet has launched a new marketing initiative called Hearts Behind the Harvest, spotlighting employees by featuring their names and stories on product labels. The program is designed to celebrate frontline team members, deepen connection with customers and showcase the people who contribute to growing, packing and delivering NatureSweet products. The company said the effort highlights […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, National, News
Avocados From Mexico Projects 2.5B Pounds For 2025-26 Season
Avocados From Mexico is projecting a record-breaking 2.5 billion pounds of Mexican avocado imports to the U.S. during the 2025-26 season, marking the highest volume Mexico has ever supplied to the U.S. market. The organization said about 280 million pounds of Mexican avocados are projected to be available for the Big Game alone, another record-setting […]
Posted inProduce News, Finance News, National, News
80 Acres Farms Broadens Retail Footprint Nationwide
80 Acres Farms, a vertical farming supplier of pesticide-free produce grown in controlled-environment farms, is expanding distribution of its microgreens to more grocery retailers across the U.S.. Shoppers can find 80 Acres Farms branded microgreens at retail banners including Albertson’s, Dorothy Lane Markets, The Fresh Market, H-E-B, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Meijer, Metro Market, Pick ’n […]
Posted inProduce News, News, West
California Pear Farmers Seek Relief From Surging Imports
California pear farmers are fighting for survival as a surge of low-priced pear imports from Argentina continues to flood the U.S. market each year just as the domestic harvest begins. Industry leaders are in discussions with staff at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to find relief from a situation they say has […]