The International Fresh Produce Association’s CEO Cathy Burns and 2025 board chair Tammy DeBoer, president of Harris Teeter, held a press briefing in early September ahead of its major gathering for the year, the Global Produce & Floral Show, Oct. 16-18. This year, the event is back in Anaheim, California. A couple of changes are […]
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, Association News, National, News
NWA Leaders Visit Washington, D.C. For Ag Labor Discussions
Representatives from the National Watermelon Association (NWA) recently advocated in Washington, D.C., for improvements to the U.S. watermelon industry. NWA representatives Bob Gibson, Jordan Carter, Greg Leger, John Lapide and George Szczepanski lobbied for legislative initiatives and industry priorities, particularly focused on agriculture labor reform. “As both a grower and as president of the National […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News
Fresh Del Monte, Disney Team For ‘Zootopia 2’ Campaign
Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. has partnered with Disney on a global, 360-degree campaign to celebrate the Nov. 26 release of the film Zootopia 2, featuring the return of characters Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman). Fresh Del Monte is bringing the film’s vibrant world to produce aisles […]
Posted inProduce News, Corporate Store News, National, News, Sustainability News
Sprouts Farmers Market, Careit Rescue 30M Pounds Of Food Waste
Since August 2022, Sprouts Farmers Market has used the Careit app to track more than 30 million pounds of food donated to 216 nonprofits across the U.S. In addition, more than 14 million pounds of surplus fresh produce has been given to local food-rescue agencies to distribute. Sprouts aims to be a leader in the […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Southeast
SEG, DLJ Produce Partner For Veterans Day Fundraiser
Southeastern Grocers (SEG), in partnership with DLJ Produce, will donate 5 cents to the USO for every pound of Razzle Dazzle Premium Grapes sold through Veterans Day, with a total contribution of up to $50,000. With more than 2.5 million veterans calling the Southeast home, the region represents one of the largest military populations in […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News
Fruit Posted Strong Sales In August While Vegetables Lagged
In the midst of fluctuating consumer sentiment and a shifting retail landscape, the fresh produce department saw a “tale of two categories” in August. After mild growth in July, the first in many months, vegetable dollar and volume sales once again fell behind year-ago levels, while fruit had a very strong month, representing eight of […]
Posted inProduce News, Food Lion, News, Southeast
Food Lion Feeds Launches Annual Apple Bag Campaign
Food Lion Feeds has launched its annual Gala Apple Bag campaign throughout Food Lion’s 10-state operating footprint. Through Oct. 7, shoppers can buy specially marked bags of Gala apples or make a cash donation to support community hunger-relief organizations. Through the campaign, $0.50 (monetary equivalent of five meals) from each bag purchase will be provided […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Northeast, Tops Friendly Markets
Tops, Allen Family Farms Team Up to Score Big for Western NY
Tops Friendly Markets is teaming up with Allen Family Farms, operated by the parents of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, to bring JA17-branded cantaloupes and honeydew melons to participating stores, with a portion of sales benefiting the Patricia Allen Fund at Oishei Children’s Hospital. The melons can be found in limited-supply JA17 boxes in the […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News, Organic Natural, Sustainability News
Dole Food Co. To Participate In OTA’s Organic Week 2025
Charlotte, North Carolina-based Dole Food Co. will participate in Organic Week 2025, taking place Sept. 15-17 in Washington, D.C., and hosted by the Organic Trade Association (OTA). As an event sponsor and one of the few produce supply companies in attendance, Dole will highlight its leadership in the organic category and reaffirm its commitment to […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News
IFPA To Recognize Retail Merchant Innovation Award Recipients
The winners of IFPA’s Retail Merchant Innovation Award will be recognized during the Retail Awards Reception on Oct. 17 at the Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, California. “This year’s winners exemplify how innovation and passion can transform the retail experience and inspire consumers to choose more fresh produce,” said Joe Watson, IFPA’s VP […]
Posted inProduce News, Affiliated Foods, Independent Store News, Lowes Markets, News, Southwest
Lowe’s Markets, EmpowerFresh Expand Produce Partnership
Lowe’s Markets, a Texas-based grocery chain, has expanded its partnership with EmpowerFresh, an AI-powered ordering and analytics platform built for independents’ produce departments. Building on the success of an initial six-store pilot, the rollout will extend EmpowerFresh’s solutions to 68 locations across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas. The produce department – often considered […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Southeast
Ark Foods To Showcase Full Produce Lineup At Southern Innovations
Ark Foods will be exhibiting at booth No. 504 during the SEPC Southern Innovations Conference Sept. 10-13 in Charlotte, North Carolina. “We set out to change how people think about fresh food,” said Ark Foods CEO Noah Robbins. “What started with a single vegetable – the Shishito pepper – has grown into a diverse portfolio […]
Posted inProduce News, News, Southeast
One Banana Opens Produce Distribution Center In Wilmington, NC
One Banana, a family-owned, vertically integrated produce company, has opened a new ripening and distribution center in Wilmington, North Carolina. Located 12 miles from the Port of Wilmington, the 19,800-square-foot refrigerated facility is designed to serve customers across the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic. The company said the center represents a significant investment in modern produce […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Deli News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, News, Produce News
Logile Helps Schnucks With Fresh Food Management Solutions
Schnucks Markets has implemented Logile Inc.’s Fresh Item Management Solutions across its 114-store network, enhancing the efficiency and precision of fresh food operations. Through the partnership, Schnucks is using automation to refine production forecasting and inventory management, reducing inefficiencies and delivering a seamless in-store experience. Schnucks has adopted a data-driven and automated approach that eliminates […]
Posted inProduce News, Dairy News, Deli News, News, Southeast, Walmart
Walmart Opens High-Tech Perishable Distribution Center In Wellford, SC
Walmart employees, elected officials and community leaders recently celebrated the grand opening of a new 725,000-square-foot perishable distribution center in Wellford, South Carolina. The facility is designed to receive and process fresh produce, eggs, dairy, meat and frozen goods for delivery to 180 Walmart stores. “The opening of our new high-tech perishable distribution center marks […]
Expert Article
Coming Soon To A DC Near You: Fully Automated, AI Assisted Banana Ripening
When Thermal Tech pioneered the TarpLess ripening room system back in the mid 1990s, it changed the way bananas are handled at retail distribution centers (DC’s), allowing truckloads of palletized fruit to be uniformly ripened to a predictable color with precision control for the very first time. The resulting increase in ripening efficiency and […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, News, West
Retail Trends Reshaping Produce Ahead Of IFPA Show
As the fresh produce industry prepares for the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show Oct. 16-18 in Anaheim, California, evolving forces are shaping what success will look like for the store perimeter. In an environment defined by rapid change, inflationary pressures and increasingly discerning shoppers, suppliers and retailers alike are under pressure to pivot fast […]
Posted inProduce News, Dairy News, Deli News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, News, West
Save Mart Expands Flashfood Partnership To 11 Additional Stores
The Save Mart Companies has expanded Flashfood to 11 Save Mart banner stores in Stanislaus County, California, with the rollout providing shoppers up to 50 percent off fresh produce, meat, dairy and other groceries. The company introduced Flashfood to California shoppers in March 2024, becoming the state’s first retailer to offer the program. Since then, […]
Posted inProduce News, National, News
B&G Foods Sells Le Sueur Brand To McCall Farms
Parsippany, New Jersey-based B&G Foods has sold the Le Sueur brand of premium sweet peas, green beans and carrots to McCall Farms. “Our sale of the Le Sueur brand represents continued progress in our ongoing efforts to reshape our portfolio, sharpen focus on our core brands and reduce long-term debt,” said Casey Keller, president and […]
Posted inProduce News, Giant Food, News, Northeast, Private Label Brands
Giant Food, BrightFarms Introduce New Ready-to-Eat Products
Giant Food has begun a new partnership with BrightFarms to bring fresher, ready-to-eat greens to customers under its private-label Nature’s Promise brand. The partnership introduces several new Greenhouse Grown greens to the produce aisle, including Sweet Baby Butter, Spring Mix, Green and Red Leaf and Crunchy Green Leaf. BrightFarms grows leafy greens indoors in high-tech, climate-controlled greenhouses […]