By
February 9, 2021
February is heart month and there is no better reason to highlight the many ways our fruits and veggies fuel and maintain a healthy heart. Versatile veggies and fruit can be added to a variety of dishes or savored on their own to enhance a heart-healthy diet with fiber and essential nutrients. Make a habit of enjoying them with every meal and snack.
How do fruits and veggies enhance heart health? The answer is simple:
Many fruits and vegetables are rich in
soluble fiber, which can lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Soluble fiber may also reduce blood pressure and inflammation.
Registration for CPMA 2021 Fresh Week is now open and free. Designed with the entire supply chain in mind, Fresh Week is Connections: Reimagined. The event will officially kick off on April 13 with a live keynote address from Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, a Kansas City Chiefs player born in Canada and a medical school graduate.
February 8, 2021
Apple sales were up nearly 5 percent year over year from Nov. 7, 2020 to Jan. 23, 2021 while volume stayed relatively flat according to the latest 12 weeks of Nielsen retail scan data. Stemilt’s marketing director, Brianna Shales, and communications manager, Katie Harmon, analyze the most recent data during Fast Facts: The Cast video analysis with the data conveying there is plenty of promotional opportunity retailers can capitalize on in the coming months.
“Apple sales made up 6.1 percent of total produce department sales during the last 12 weeks,” said Shales. “Of that, Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji and Red Delicious made up the top five, with Honeycrisp accounting for 29 percent of apple category dollars, but only 21 percent of the pounds, which makes sense for an apple that does and should sell for a premium.”
By
February 10, 2021
Mexican sweet corn conditions were strong for IPR Fresh as the Nogales distributor rolled toward the spring deal.
“Our corn program has seen a big increase from last year,” said Jose Luis Obregon, the president of the firm.
Jose Luis Obregon
Generally, the fall and early-winter Nogales deals were difficult. But Obregon expected improved supplies and market conditions for the spring deal. He hoped for increased volume to support retail promotions. And he anticipated a revitalization of the national foodservice industry.
In a late-January interview, Obregon said IPR was already faring well with the corn.
“At IPR, we handle a full line, albeit less this year because of the weather. On our corn, prices have been up there. We’ve avoided frost in the growing area,” which is Obregon, Sonora. “That crop has really delivered.”
Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets announced Monday, Feb. 8 that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement that creates a powerful alliance between the two storied independent grocery chains, as it nearly doubles their collective footprint in the Northeast.