Hugo Tottino of Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned produce grower, passed away Nov. 6. He was 91 years old. Known for his warm and welcoming spirit, Ocean Mist says Mr. Tottino greeted employees every day one-by-one. “His hard work ethic and loyalty to his family and employees motivated countless long-tenured Ocean Mist Farms employees,” […]
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, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, West
Frieda’s Specialty Produce Offers ‘Trending’ Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, Frieda’s Specialty Produce is encouraging retailers to draw shoppers in to their produce departments with a sweet potato display featuring “Instagram-famous” Stokes Purple sweet potatoes. “Our retail partners say the best time of year to promote Stokes Purple sweet potatoes is the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving,” said Alex Jackson […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Produce News, Southwest
United Fresh To Present Lifetime Achievement Award To H-E-B Exec
United Fresh Produce Association will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to Hugh Topper, group VP of fresh foods for H-E-B, at its Foundation Gala Dinner Jan. 16, at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California. “As Hugh plans his retirement at the end of this year, I can’t think of a more deserving individual […]
Posted inFood Service News, Bakery News, Deli News, Grocery News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Produce News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, West
Letting The Food Speak For Itself: Bristol Farms’ New-Concept Mulholland Store
Bristol Farms’ new prototype store will open Nov. 11. The 25,000-s.f. store on Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills, California, located in a space formerly owned by Haggen, is the first major design departure for Bristol Farms in its 35-year history and is “a store that we’ve been dreaming up for a decade,” Kacie Davis, owner […]
Posted inAssociation News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Marketing News, Produce News, West
California Avocado Commission ‘Energized’ By Fresh Summit
For the California Avocado Commission (CAC), engaging with retailers, supermarket dietitians, the media and avocado stakeholders were among the highlights of the 2017 Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit in New Orleans. “The Commission held some very productive meetings with retailers and avocado stakeholders in our Fresh Summit booth this year,” said Jan DeLyser, CAC […]
Posted inGrocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Produce News, Suppliers
Robinson Fresh, Green Giant Fresh Debut Baby Vegetables Line
A full line of baby vegetables is now available from Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based Robinson Fresh under the Green Giant Fresh label. The product line, which includes baby squash, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, is “ideal for conscious consumers and likely to become popular for convenient, healthy snacking or easy meal preparation,” the company says. “There is rising […]
Posted inNortheast, Grocery News, Industry News, Packaging News, Perishables, Produce News
Key Food Stores Adopts AgroFresh Program To Manage Banana Quality
RipeLock Quality Systems, a quality management system for bananas, will be implemented at Key Food Stores. According to AgroFresh Solutions, the RipeLock program “offers Key Food an innovative fruit quality management system for bananas that look better, taste better and stay fresh longer.” “RipeLock is being rolled out to all of our stores in November […]
Posted inOrganic Natural, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Southwest, Suppliers
Harvey Relief Efforts Get A Boost From ‘Feeding Texas’ Organic Growers
Twenty-three Certified Organic produce growers and distributors from around the country, led by the team at Wholesum Harvest, have joined forces to help victims of Hurricane Harvey in Victoria and Corpus Christi, Texas. The growers have shipped 70,000 pounds of organic fruit and vegetables to Harvey Relief disaster zones. Jessie Gunn of Wholesum Harvest, who […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
‘Salad Bars To Schools’ Campaign Reaches 5,000th School Milestone
In just seven years, Salad Bars to Schools, a public private partnership founded by United Fresh Start Foundation, Whole Foods Market, Chef Ann Foundation and the National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, has given salad bars to more than 5,000 schools, investing more than $12 million across all 50 states and providing nearly 3 million children […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, West
Pear Bureau Northwest Hires Communications Specialist
Neil Ferguson has joined Pear Bureau Northwest as communications specialist. Ferguson brings a range of experience in communications, social media management, content strategy and journalism to the Pear Bureau Northwest team, the organization says. Most recently, he handled editorial and marketing responsibilities as media content developer for Coroflot, a site aimed at connecting creatives with […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News
2018 Retail Produce Manager Award Nominations Now Being Accepted
United Fresh now is accepting nominations for the 2018 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program, which recognizes 25 outstanding retail produce managers for their innovative merchandising, produce-related community outreach, increased store sales and recognition among company peers. The Retail Produce Manager Awards Program sponsored by Dole Food Co. and now in its 14th year, pays special […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Produce News, West
CAC To Preview 2018 Marketing Programs At Fresh Summit
With the 2017 California avocado harvest wrapped up, the California Avocado Commission (CAC) is setting its sights on next season and introducing new plans at the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit in New Orleans. The Commission will have a booth during the expo on Oct. 20 and 21. “The California Avocado Commission invites retailers […]
Posted inProduce News, Bakery News, Center Store, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Suppliers
Favorable Midwest Weather Is Good News For Pure Pumpkin Fans
The Libby’s Pumpkin team in Morton, Illinois, the self-proclaimed pumpkin capital of the world, has been hard at work harvesting and canning pumpkins so that grocery shelves are stocked for the start of baking season, the company says. Shipments of this year’s crop of Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin are hitting stores now, and pumpkin lovers […]
Posted inPackaging News, Home Page Latest News, New Products, Organic Natural, Perishables, Produce News, West
Sous Vide Organic Vegetables: A New Ready-To-Eat Option
Las Vegas, Nevada-based Straight From The Root is bringing the French style of sous vide cooking to American kitchens with USDA organic, cut and fully cooked vegetables. Straight From The Root’s sous vide cooking method involves submerging a BPA-free, vacuum-sealed bag of cut, organic vegetables in heated water to cook them completely. The bags are then […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Southeast
SEPC Hosting ‘Auction For Irma’ At Southern Innovations Conference
The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) has added “Auction for Irma: A Benefit for Hurricane Irma Relief” to its Southern Innovations agenda this year. The fall conference will again benefit its traditional charities—Society of St. Andrew and a chosen local charity—through member donations as well. “Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Produce News
United Fresh, Western Growers Provide Produce Recall Insurance
The United Fresh Produce Association and Western Growers (WG) have entered into a formal marketing agreement to jointly promote the Western Growers Shield, an insurance program specifically designed to protect food companies from recall liability. “This program represents an innovative solution to a critical bottom line issue facing our members,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh […]
Posted inProduce News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Southeast
Food Lion Feeds To Provide 1 Million Meals To Families In Need
Food Lion is partnering with its customers to help end hunger by launching specially marked Food Lion Feeds bagged apples for sale in its stores. In its fourth year, the bagged apple campaign will help provide more than 1 million meals to families facing hunger in local communities across the grocer’s 10-state footprint. With the […]
Posted inSpecialty, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Organic Natural, Produce News, West
Honey Bee Produce Co. Opens First Store In Draper, Utah
Specialty grocer Honey Bee Produce Co. has debuted in Draper, Utah. A small-format store, Honey Bee says it is the first store of its kind in Utah, catering to shoppers looking for “the freshest produce, specialty items and Utah products.” Its grand opening was held Sept. 13, highlighted by a produce slicing demonstration from a “produce […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Latest News, Suppliers, West
POM Wonderful Acquires Pomegranate Company Ruby Fresh
POM Wonderful, a grower and producer of California pomegranates, pomegranate arils and pomegranate juice, has acquired Ruby Fresh, a processor and distributor of fresh pomegranates and arils. This acquisition, combined with existing operations, “enhances POM Wonderful’s position as North America’s leading pomegranate producer and distributor,” says the company. The Ruby Fresh brand, which leverages both […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, National, Produce News
Senator Jeff Flake To Keynote United Fresh Washington Conference
Arizona Senator Jeff Flake will serve as the opening keynote breakfast speaker at the annual United Fresh Washington Conference, Tuesday, Sept. 19. At a time of heightened political uncertainty in Washington, D.C., Senator Flake has become an outspoken voice on the need for compromise, civility and commitment to conservative values in our national government, says […]