Page 211 - Roduce Editorials News Today

The continued growth of organic fresh produce has spurred a debate on the value of consumer brands compared to their private label counterparts — and its impact on overall sales. Private Label vs. Consumer Brand: The Competition for Shelf Space will explore the changing dynamics and challenges of traditional consumer brands as they face off against private label to win the wallet and minds of organic consumers, as part of the second announced educational session at Organic Produce Summit 2022.

DNO Produce and WCBE 90.5 joined forces again this year to benefit the underprivileged in Ohio by conducting a Fresh-Cut Food Drive on March 4 in Grove City, OH, just outside the capital city of Columbus. 

The iceberg lettuce market was at $45-50 per carton on March 7, with many grower-shippers suggesting that the market will remain strong through the end of the winter vegetable deal in early April. “We saw a meteoric rise in prices last week and there was no relief today,” said Mark McBride, veteran salesman at Coastline Family Farms, which is headquartered in Salinas, CA. “Today, (March 7) we are in the high $40s to low $50s, with some shippers quoting one price for any carton of iceberg t...

AM FRESH Group and Special New Fruit Licensing announced a definitive agreement under which AM FRESH is acquiring International Fruit Genetics and merging it with SNFL, creating a combined company that significantly advances their abilities to further develop breeding capacities and add to their innovative portfolio to address unprecedented industry demand.

United Natural Foods, Inc. announced that Louis Martin has been appointed to the newly created position of chief strategy and transformation officer, with oversight of the company’s long-term growth strategy. Martin, who currently serves as president of the global Walmart customer team at The Coca-Cola Co., will join UNFI on March 21 and will report to Sandy Douglas, UNFI’s CEO.

For operators and their customers, March roars in with two mango-related items worthy of their attention.

The first arrivals of Champagne Mangos from Ciruli Bros. have arrived in the United States, said Chris Ciruli, COO of Ciruli Bros. Operating out of Rio Rico, AZ, Ciruli Bros. is a third-generation grower and shipper, specializing in Champagne mangos.

E.W. Brandt & Sons, parent company for RemBrandt Masterpiece Fruit, is significantly expanding its operations with the acquisition of a 45,000-square-foot packinghouse as well as a major controlled atmosphere storage facility. Also included is an office complex, two covered shook storage areas, IT systems, machine shop, rolling stock, and 380 acres of leased orchards.  

The Kroger Co. will offer more Americans delivery through the addition of spoke facilities in Austin and San Antonio, TX, and Birmingham, AL, powered by the Kroger Fulfillment Network and Ocado Group. As a continuation of Kroger's successful entry into Florida in 2021 without physical stores, the new Texas and Alabama facilities will serve as new geographies for the organization, bringing innovation and modern e-commerce to the cities and extending the grocer's reach and ability to pro...

Ten years ago the Big Idaho Potato Truck hit the road for a year-long tour to celebrate the Idaho Potato Commission’s 75th anniversary. Fast forward a decade and three giant taters later to a national phenomenon that folks still clamor to photograph and share on social media. The Big Idaho Potato Truck was the inspiration for the New Year’s Eve Potato Drop and Big Idaho Potato Hotel, which have both been recognized by media around the globe.