Yakima, Washington-based Opal Apples, the only naturally non-browning, non-GMO apples in the U.S., has signed on dietitian and New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Sass as brand ambassador. Sass will educate consumers on the health benefits of Opal apples through recipes, healthy eating tips, public appearances and social media. Having advised Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy […]
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.
Reasor’s Celebrates Bountiful Harvest As Summer Ends
Reasor’s has begun a Bountiful Harvest celebration of autumn flavors, cooler weather and family gatherings that will last through Oct. 31. Summer is ending and cooler weather is on the way along with a new school year and football season. Reasor’s, an independent grocer with the tagline “Bring Your Table to Life,” says it is […]
Kind Fruit Bites Removed From Retail As Kids Want ‘Candy’-Like Options
Kind Healthy Snacks is calling attention to the use of synthetic dyes in a wide variety of foods consumed by children. The company not only hopes to highlight the excess use of synthetic dyes in obvious culprits—like cereals and sugary beverages—but also unexpected, seemingly healthy foods like fruit snacks, yogurt and applesauce. The consumption of […]
Column: Consumer Demand For Fresh Products Expands Role Of HPP
by Brad Key, Universal Pure Consumers’ shopping and eating behavior is changing, with many spending more time shopping the perimeter of the store for fresh products. In line with this trend, the perimeter—which includes fresh meat, deli, produce, bakery, seafood and prepared foods—is reported to comprise up to 40 percent of a store’s footprint in […]
Rainier Fruit Launches Second Annual Pears For Pairs Campaign
Selah, Washington-based Rainier Fruit is holding its second annual holiday marketing program, Pears for Pairs. The campaign, designed to exemplify Rainier Fruit’s “Wholesome to the Core” company values of giving back to the community, launches in stores in September. Rainier will contribute a portion of the proceeds of bulk pear and bag pear sales this […]
Harps Opening Remodeled Store In Bella Vista, Arkansas
Harps Food Stores plans to open its newly remodeled store at 404 Town Center NE in Bella Vista, Arkansas, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m. The updated Harps has an additional 10,000-s.f., which includes a full-service fresh meat and seafood counter, as well as expanded bakery/deli and produce departments. The store also has extended […]
Sprouts’ First Virginia Store To Open In Herndon Oct. 2
Sprouts Farmers Market will open its first store in Virginia in Herndon at 494 Elden Street on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts, which is one of the fastest–growing companies in the country, is known for its store layout inspired by farmers markets—which features fresh produce at the center of the store, an expansive bulk foods section, and extensive vitamin department focused on wellness. To […]
AFS Licenses Its First Location—A Macey’s Owned By Ridley’s
The new Macey’s store that opened Sept. 18 in Highland, Utah, is the first first store licensed by Salt Lake City-based Associated Food Stores (AFS). The store’s owner is Ridley’s Family Market. Being an AFS licensee mean that all business operations for the store will be performed in accordance with AFS policies and procedures, but […]
Fresh And Focused: The U.S. Retailer Path To Winning Brick And Mortar
In its latest CPG, FMCG & Retail report, Nielsen says that although e-commerce represents just 4 percent of grocery sales today, it accounts for nearly one-third of total growth. And Americans are increasingly heading online to shop for nonperishables, household items and pet products, making the concept of stock-up grocery trips a thing of the […]
Bay Food Brokerage President Honored As A Top Tampa BusinessWoman
Cammie Chatterton, president of Bay Food Brokerage Inc. in Tampa, Florida, received a Tampa BusinessWoman of the Year award at a gala Sept. 13 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street. Chatterton was chosen as one of 27 women in different fields to receive the award. The women were selected by the Tampa Bay Business Journal […]
Kroger First To Take Apeel Produce Coast To Coast
As Apeel Sciences builds its U.S., Peru, Mexico and Chile supplier base, its longer-lasting Apeel produce will launch in more than 1,100 Kroger Co. stores in the U.S. Kroger will also introduce two new produce categories, Apeel asparagus and Apeel limes, through a pilot in its Cincinnati market this fall. “Kroger is excited to offer […]
TIPA, EFI And Cierto Global To Host Workshop Day On Labor
The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) will be hosting two workshops at their corporate headquarters in Mission, Texas, on Sept. 24. The topics will focus on overcoming labor challenges which is proving to be a key concern in the produce industry. These sessions are available for free for TIPA members, along with Texas Vegetable Association, […]
Good Foods Declares Charitable Mission To Support No Kid Hungry
Good Foods is supporting No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger in America during the back-to-school season. Through education and charitable endeavors, Good Foods and No Kid Hungry are focused on a mutual dedication to bringing communities together around food. Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin-based Good Foods makes all-natural products such as guacamoles, dips, […]
Superior Grocers Opens Small-Format Store In Los Angeles
Superior Grocers, one of Southern California’s largest independent supermarket chains, opened a small-format store under a new banner, The Market By Superior. Traditionally known for large stores and displays, the retailer opened a 25,000-s.f. store at 4040 W. Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles, at the location of the former Washington Square Market. “Superior Grocers is […]
Sprouts Plans Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies For 2 Stores On Sept. 11
Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market will open two stores on Sept. 11, one in Laveen, Arizona, and the other in Lake Forest, California. Sprouts will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new 30,000-s.f. Laveen location at 7700 South 59th Avenue before doors open at 7 a.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the nearly 30,000-s.f. Lake […]
Fruitbelt Sparkling Tonic Names Mueller VP-Sales And Marketing
Fruitbelt Sparkling Tonic has hired Carol Mueller as its VP of sales and marketing. “One sip of Fruitbelt Sparkling Tonic and I knew I wanted to join the team,” says Mueller. “I am passionate about food that nurtures the body and the environment, and Fruitbelt’s focus on flavor and farmers makes this the perfect fit. […]
Harris Teeter, Titan Farms Peach Donations Exceed 200,000 Lbs.
Titan Farms and Harris Teeter came together to make a peach donation to Second Harvest Food Banks in Winston-Salem and Metrolina/Charlotte, North Carolina. Over the past five years, the two companies have continued to donate to the Peaches with a Purpose program. This year’s donation tipped the scales to reach a total of 219,000 pounds […]
AmazonFresh Delivery Now Available In Houston, Minneapolis, Phoenix
On Aug. 22, Amazon released news that AmazonFresh has expanded to three new cities: Houston, Minneapolis and Phoenix. Prime members in those cities can now for products ranging from meat and seafood to fresh produce and everyday essentials for free two-hour delivery. “We’re thrilled to introduce AmazonFresh to Prime members in Houston, Minneapolis and Phoenix,” […]
Successful ‘Superhero Summer’ For Wish Farms, Feeding America
An international grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, Wish Farms recently completed a summer partnership campaign with Feeding America. “The ‘Superhero Summer’ campaign was a great success on many levels. We reached a nationwide audience of over 1.1 million, with over 2.1 million impressions on Instagram. These results are even sweeter knowing […]
Sprouts Farmers Market Hiring For New Jupiter, Florida, Store
Sprouts Farmers Market soon will finish construction on its new store in Jupiter, Florida, and is hiring employees. The more than 30,000-s.f. store at 3757 Military Trail will open at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Details about the grand opening celebration will be announced at a later date. The new Jupiter Sprouts is bringing […]
