Page 72 - Roduce Editorials News Today

Wakefern Food Corp. reported record retail sales of $18.6 billion for the 52-week fiscal year ending Oct. 1, 2022, a 4.69 percent increase from the prior year. The retailer-owned cooperative opened three new ShopRite stores, a Gourmet Garage and welcomed a new member, family-owned Gerrity’s Supermarkets in Pennsylvania, which now operates 10 Fresh Grocer supermarkets in northeastern Pennsylvania. Price Rite Marketplace reported retail sales of $850 million, up 6 percent from the previous year.

For more than a quarter of a century, Shuman Farms has been an industry leader in sweet onions, with its RealSweet brand supported by a family of farms in Vidalia and Peru helping it to offer a year-round sweet onion program.

Lipman Family Farms named fourth-generation Lipman family member Elyse Lipman as its CEO, set to succeed Kent Shoemaker after 13 years leading the company.

C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. has selected RELEX Solutions, a provider of unified supply chain and planning solutions, to further strengthen its planning processes. RELEX will help streamline C&S’s technical landscape for demand forecasting and automatic replenishment, which will drive C&S’s long-term growth plans with a scalable technology solution.

Playing to a full house, Cathy Burns greeted the fresh produce industry for the first time as International Fresh Produce Association CEO at the inaugural Global Produce & Floral Show.

Kopke Fruit, a leading importer of fresh fruit from around the globe, is looking forward to reconnecting with friends and forming new relationships at this year’s IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, taking place Oct. 27-29 in Orlando, FL.

Vick Family Farms is thrilled to be celebrating finally being back in person for the upcoming IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, exhibiting behind booth. No. 4358, and returning to the former PMA show for its 15th year.

Tropical fruit has never been more popular, thanks in part to the Covid pandemic that altered the consumption behaviors of consumers across the United States and around the world. And while the pandemic is largely in the rearview mirror, the popularity of exotic fruits remains strong, which is welcome news to HLB Specialties.

The RubyFrost apple will soon be available in select produce aisles just in time for family gatherings over the holiday season. The premium variety is grown by Crunch Time Apple Growers, a group of more than 150 New York state-based growers. Crunch Time also grows the official apple of the Buffalo Bills, SnapDragon. Last year, RubyFrost held its own, with strong growth at several of the top retailers; and the same is expected this year.

Country Sweet Produce’s Bako Sweet is unveiling its new three- and five-pound conventional and organic mesh sweet potato bags at the Global Produce and Floral Show this week. The new design includes a variety of helpful visuals and tools for consumers, including: