The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will return to South By Southwest (SXSW) again this year as a part of the organization’s ongoing work to bring the produce and floral industries to center stage. SXSW attracts half a million attendees each year to Austin, Texas, for 10 days of collaboration. From March 13-22, SXSW will feature speakers, […]
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.
Graphic Packaging Int’l. Launches PaperSeal Innovation To Increase Recyclability
Graphic Packaging International has launched a new line of PaperSeal trays, offering brands and retailers the opportunity to replace Modified Atmosphere (MAP) and Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) plastic trays with a new barrier-lined paperboard alternative. The development of the innovative PaperSeal food tray solution aligns with the company’s Vision 2025, leveraging its sustainability profile to expand and […]
SpartanNash, Family Fare Partner With Flashfood On New Mobile App
As part of its commitment to help customers save money and reduce in-store fresh food waste, SpartanNash is piloting a mobile app at five of its West Michigan Family Fare stores. The app was developed by Flashfood and allows store guests and community nonprofits to purchase food nearing its best-by date at savings of up […]
MIDWEST: Coborn’s To Celebrate Grand Opening Of 3 Newly Remodeled Stores
Coborn’s Inc. has planned the grand reopening of three newly remodeled locations in its chain of 28 Coborn’s stores. The company recently completed significant updates at locations in New Prague, Clearwater and Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. The grand openings will include several events to celebrate each location’s newly remodeled Coborn’s. New Prague will host a ribbon […]
Pete’s Introduces First-To-Market Butter Lettuce Wrap Kits
Pete’s, the California-based produce company specializing in hydroponically grown living lettuce and cress varieties, will debut a new line of fresh convenience products, Pete’s Butter Stuffers, in retail locations in and around the West Coast this spring. Available in three varieties—Asian Style Chicken, Southwest Style Chicken and California Style Chicken— Pete’s Butter Stuffers offers time-pressed […]
Driscoll’s Launches Limited Edition Sweetest Batch Blackberries
Driscoll’s has launched its Limited Edition Sweetest Batch Blackberries. The blackberry marks Driscoll’s as the first company to market a complete berry patch premium flavor offering across strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Driscoll’s Limited Edition collection is a curated series of best of season, ultra-flavorful offerings. The premium blackberries follow the marketplace success of Driscoll’s Sweetest […]
SEPC Unveils New Logo Ahead Of Southern Exposure 2020
Southeast Produce Council (SEPC), the premier produce resource in the Southeast, unveils a brand refresh to mark 20 years of success and symbolize progress as well as the future of the association. Ahead of Southern Exposure, to be held Feb. 27-29 in Tampa, Florida, SEPC is debuting a new logo and website to kick off the […]
USA Pears Campaign Creates Movement Around Healthy Habits
To encourage consumers to keep thinking about fresh fruit as a healthy staple during an optimal time of year, USA Pears once again is launching the #WhatsInYourFruitBowl initiative. This marks the third year USA Pears will be running #WhatsInYourFruitBowl, which takes place March 1-31. According to research, habits are more likely to be formed when there is a […]
Golden Farms Celebrates Newest Location In Philadelphia
Key Food Stores Co-Operative Inc., a chain of primarily independently owned and corporate grocery stores, recently held the grand opening of its newest Golden Farms location at 6710 Haverford Avenue, Philadelphia. District Representative Numa St. Louis and Key Food executives including CEO Dean Janeway, COO George Knobloch, CFO Sharon Konzelman, CIO Tammy Teague and VP […]
Sprouts Farmers Market to Open Mesquite, Texas, Store March 4
Sprouts Farmers Market will open in Mesquite, Texas, at 1220 North Town East Boulevard on Wednesday, March 4. To celebrate the new store, Sprouts is giving away a classic beach cruiser to inspire one fan to get outside and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Customers can enter to win through March 3 by visiting clicking here. […]
Natural Delights Remembers Industry Icon Isabel Nuñez
Natural Delights remembers date industry icon, Isabel Nuñez, who died on Friday, Feb. 7. Nuñez paved the way for growers and operations to thrive in the Bard Valley region, giving jobs to thousands and supplying the country with only the best Medjool dates. He was one of the original founding members of the Yuma, Arizona-based […]
MIDWEST: Price Chopper Plans Major Investment In Kansas City In 2020
Price Chopper, Kansas City’s locally-owned grocer, is planning to invest more than $54 million into new stores and remodels of existing stores over the course of 2020. This year’s investment is more than the previous two years combined and brings the company’s total investments to more than $104 million in just three years. According to […]
Sprouts Farmers Market To Open Redding, CA, Store On Feb. 26
Sprouts Farmers Market will open in Redding, California, at 1401 Hilltop Drive on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Sprouts’ store layout, inspired by farmers markets, features fresh produce at the center of the store, an expansive bulk foods section and an extensive vitamin department focused on wellness. To celebrate the new store, Sprouts is giving away a classic […]
2020 United Fresh Innovation Awards Application Period Now Open
United Fresh has opened the application period for the 2020 United Fresh Innovation Awards. Companies are encouraged to nominate their products and solutions in seven categories for the winning title, which will be announced at the United Fresh 2020 Convention & Expo, June 16-19 in San Diego. “The pace of innovation in the fresh produce […]
Golden Sun Marketing Welcomes Two New Team Members
Mound, Minnesota-based Golden Sun Marketing has hired two experienced professionals—Tim Rogers and Jason Fuller. Rogers joined the team as business development manager at the beginning of January. Fuller joined as VP, effective Feb. 1. Rogers joins Golden Sun Marketing from The Fresh Market, a specialty grocer in the southeast. “Tim’s deep understanding of both procurement […]
Berry Growers Commit to 100% Recycle-Ready Packaging
In another step to further reduce the produce industry’s environmental impact, major North American fresh berry producers have committed to use 100 percent recycle-ready packaging by 2025. The California Strawberry Commission, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC), Asociacion national de Exportadores de Berries (Aneberries, Mexico), members of the National Berry Crops Initiative (NBCI) and South […]
Sauter Takes Over Global Sustainability Duties At Fresh Del Monte Produce
Coral Gables, Florida-based Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. has appointed Hans Sauter as the company’s first chief sustainability officer. Under Sauter’s leadership, Fresh Del Monte Produce will continue its efforts to focus heavily on sustainability throughout the business. “If there is anything I’ve learned during my time with Del Monte, it is that we have […]
One Banana Certifies Organic Production With Fair Trade Standard
One Banana has certified its farm in Peru under the Fair Trade international standard, joining its sustainable family-owned farms that are all certified to the highest third-party standards. According to One Banana Co. President Robert Adams, this new certification benefits “all those involved in the supply chain, from producers to final consumers.” By certifying its […]
Sweet Grown Alabama Program Is Gaining Momentum
by Treva Bennett/web editor In an effort to support Alabama agriculture and clearly label local products, the Sweet Grown Alabama (SGA) program was launched in August 2019. Director Ellie Watson said SGA started accepting membership applications from growers in September and the program is “rolling right along.” Watson said SGA has more than 50 members […]
Del Monte Fresh Produce Introduces New Pineapple Tags
Coral Gables, Florida-based Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc., a marketer and distributor of fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, has launched a new way to communicate its ongoing sustainability efforts. Beginning in January, each Del Monte Gold pineapple will feature a new product tag displaying one of six unique Del Monte Fresh sustainability facts […]
