Food Lion reopened its Concord, N.C., store at 860 Union St. on Wednesday, launching the grocer’s newest format. The store has been fully redesigned to make grocery shopping easy and convenient for customers, Salisbury, N.C.-based Food Lion says. “I want to personally welcome our customers back to the redesigned Union Street Food Lion and invite […]
Tag: produce
Posted in, Southwest
2.5M Pounds Of Produce To Be Donated To Houston Food Bank
The holidays will arrive early for the Houston Food Bank and its more than 600 partner agencies with the donation of as much as 2.5 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. The donation will be made Dec. 13 as part of the Houston Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association’s annual “Gift of Produce.” Two and […]
Posted in, National
PMA’s Former President Dies
Mr. Bob Carey, former president of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), died Friday in Delaware. He was 82. Mr. Carey led PMA from 1958 to 1996, taking it from a near-bankrupt organization with fewer than 100 members focused on produce packaging to a vertically integrated association of thousands focused on marketing. His vision of bringing […]
Posted in, National
How Transportation Costs Affect Fresh Fruit And Vegetable Prices
Fuel prices, understood to be a major driver of food prices in the U.S., can have significant impacts on food price levels and volatility, according to a recently released report from the USDA’s Economic Research Service. Since consumer demand for fruits and vegetables has been proven to be price sensitive, fuel price surges could significantly […]
Posted in, National
Frieda’s Introduces Flavor Essentials Program
Much like the “pantry essentials” list of ingredients every kitchen should have, Frieda’s Flavor Essentials are fresh specialty produce items produce departments should always have on hand in high volume to help shoppers elevate their everyday menu, according to Frieda’s. The five Flavor Essentials are Shallots, Ginger, Jicama, Fingerling Potatoes and Heirloom Tomatoes. These items […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast
Meat- And Produce-Focused Freshfields Farm Opens In Jacksonville
Freshfields Farm, which converted a former Southside furniture store into a meat and produce market, opened in Jacksonville, Fla., last week. The Jax Daily Record reports that the former Liberty Furniture store at Interstate 95 and University Boulevard underwent a partial demolition and reconstruction into a barn-looking building that will house fresh produce and meats, […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Blue Diamond Posts Record Sales And Revenue
Blue Diamond Growers’ global almond sales soared to $1.2 billion, up $189 million in fiscal year 2012-13. Value-added sales volume increased by 14 percent, even with a crop that was 7 percent smaller, according to President and CEO Mark Jansen, who addressed the cooperative’s grower owners at the company’s annual meeting. Value-added sales now represent more […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Industry News, West
FPFC To Auction Off Retailers For Charity
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) will be auctioning opportunities during its Dec. 4 holiday luncheon to meet retailers for lunch, dinner or golf. Caterina’s Club, an Orange County-based organization that provides meals for homeless children, will be the beneficiary of the auction. Confirmed are Miguel Garcia and Brian Balladares of Ralphs Grocery Co.; […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Women’s Study: Eating Tree Nuts Reduces Pancreatic Cancer Risk
According to a long-term women’s health study recently published, women in the study who ate a 1-oz. serving of tree nuts two or more times a week had a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those studied who did not include nuts in their diet. This is the first study to measure the association […]
Posted in, National, New Products
MountainKing’s Steakhouse Roasters Provide Healthier Alternative To Frozen Fries
MountainKing has introduced its new Steakhouse Roasters, a slender, thin skin, tubular-shaped fresh potato variety filled with flavor that doesn’t require peeling and cooks fast to create steakhouse-quality, oven-baked wedge fries. Known within the produce industry as “fingerlings,” MountainKing says it has reinvented this specialty potato with a new name and new packaging to attract […]
Posted in, National
Progressive/Mission Asparagus Deal Creates Year-Round Program
Progressive Produce’s recent acquisition of Mission Asparagus has propelled the grower into the elite of asparagus suppliers, according to the company. Already growing thousands of acres in Mexico, Peru, California and Washington State, some in partnership with Keystone Fruit Marketing, Greencastle, Pa., Progressive’s increased Mexico and California acreage has solidified its year-round availability. “This year-round […]
Posted in, West
FPFC Donates $10K To Support Typhoon Relief In The Philippines
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) has made a contribution of $10,000 through The Philippines Red Cross to support relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. Thousands of Filipinos were killed during the storm that struck earlier this month and millions have been left homeless and without food. In addition to providing temporary […]
Posted in, National
Wonderful Halos Hitting Stores This Week
Wonderful Halos mandarins, a palm-sized sweet, seedless and easy-to-peel fruit, is launching this week. Grown exclusively in California, Halos mandarins are filled with “pure goodness,” are non-GMO and ideal for children of all ages. Wonderful Halos are available in 3-lb. and 5-lb. bags and in 5-lb. boxes in the produce aisle of grocery, mass and […]
Posted in, National
Mastronardi Produce Line Gets Airtime On ‘Biggest Loser’
Mastronardi Produce’s Sunset® One Sweet™ line will be featured on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” episode that airs Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. EST. The line will be used as part of a contestant cooking challenge using fresh produce. They will have access to Sunset One Sweet tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Mastronardi has been a partner of […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Murdock Completes Acquisition Of Dole Food Co.
David H. Murdock, Dole’s chairman and CEO, has completed his acquisition of Dole Food Co. Inc. The $13.50-per-share purchase price represents a total valuation of Dole at more than $1.6 billion, including net debt, fees and expenses. The going-private merger agreement was approved on Oct. 31 during a special meeting of the Dole stockholders. Dole’s […]
Posted in, National, West
Idaho Potato Commission Appoints Three New Commissioners
The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has appointed three new commissioners who will each serve a three-year term. Peggy Grover of BenchMark Potato in Rexburg; Ritchey Toevs, a grower residing in Aberdeen; and Tommy Brown of Lamb Weston in Pocatello were formally sworn in at the IPC’s October commission meeting in Sun Valley. The commissioners were […]
Posted in, National, New Products
DeLallo Rolls Out SaladSavors
DeLallo has introduced five salad topping combinations conveniently packaged for the produce department’s refrigerated section. SaladSavors include a featured specialty cheese with a combination of complementary flavors. The product is portioned to accompany one bag of lettuce. “Great food is one of the simplest pleasures of every day, but it’s hard to find time,” says […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
New Sun-Maid Products Attract New Consumers
Don’t let the yellow sun that appears behind the iconic Sun-Maid girl fool you—California-based Sun-Maid raisin and dried fruit products are available year round. In fact, the company has a number of new products rolling out, particularly for the holiday season. “We have a lot of exciting new products,” Sun-Maid Marketing Director Jackie Grazier told […]
Posted in, National
Baloian Farms Introduces Seasoned Squash Product
Baloian Farms has introduced a first of its kind, value-added product in the fresh vegetable category featuring yellow and green squash with a seasoning packet included. The new product is expected to drive a higher margin and new sales in the vegetable category year round. Each individually wrapped tray includes a mix of three fresh […]
Posted in, National
Hass Avocado Board Unveils New Spanish-Language Mark, Website
The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) has rolled out Saborea Uno Hoy, its new Spanish-language mark and website to offer information to Hispanic consumers in the U.S. and encourage them to include fresh Hass avocados in their everyday meals. The new mark visually invites consumers to enjoy the avocado’s unique and satisfying flavor by including the […]