At the United Fresh 2013 post-show Produce Marketing & Merchandising Conference, there were two presentations that focused on the country’s changing demographics: one on the growing multicultural population and one on how the ages of consumers will shift in the next 10 years. The good news for produce is that both of these trends can lead to increased category sales if the department takes advantage of the opportunities. Continue reading
Many times, a good straightening is in order for a produce department to go from messy to respectable presentation. This step is crucial, and it is especially beneficial after a wave of customers have shopped your department.A columnist from The Packer puts his two-cents on the subject matter. Continue reading
Posted in Industry News
Tagged Banana Marketing, Produce Marketing, Retail Marketing
Nearly all consumers who say they purchase organic products buy organic fruits and vegetables, according to a new survey on U.S. consumer attitudes about organic food.
According to the 2013 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study, released in early April by the Brattleboro, Vt.-based Organic Trade Association, 81% of consumers surveyed said they had purchased organic food products at least sometimes. Continue reading
Mayra Velasquez de Leon stepped into her parents’ banana plantation business when she was just a sixth-grader. She could speak English — and her folks couldn’t — and they needed her help when they began exporting bananas to San Diego from the states of Colima and Jalisco in Mexico in the 1970s.
Velasquez de Leon eventually began working full time for her father, who had found a niche in organic bananas. Continue reading
Bananas may be a staple produce item, but marketers say the category is not always that simple to promote. Packaging remains a key component to marketing. Continue reading
Fair Trade bananas continue to grow within the category thanks to consumer education efforts. In fact, Lauren Brock, communications specialist for Fair Trade USA, Oakland, Calif., said sales of Fair Trade bananas rose 40% from 2010 to 2011. Data from 2012 hasn’t been fully compiled, but Brock expects Fair Trade sales to be bigger than ever. Continue reading
Posted in Industry News
Tagged Fair Trade, Fair Trade Bananas, Organic Bananas, Organic Produce
Posted in Industry News
Analyzing scan data from almost 3,800 California supermarkets, the latest Market Report from the Fresh Produce & Floral Council showed that fresh fruit and vegetable sales volume grew by 4 percent in 2012 while there was a 1 percent increase in retail dollar sales. Continue reading
Consumers are finding more and more occasions to eat fresh fruits and retailers might be wise to try to capitalize on this trend.
That’s the takeaway message of a two-year study recently completed by The NPD Group, a leading market research company headquartered in Rosemont, IL. Darren Seifer, who has been an NPD food and beverage industry analyst for the past six years, said that fresh fruit consumption is climbing the charts, largely fueled by changing demographics in the United States. But he said increased awareness of health concerns is also a driving factor. Continue reading
Posted in Industry News
Tagged Produce Industry, Produce Marketing, Retail Marketing
Official organic sales figures from 2012 won’t be finalized until around the end of March, but the industry anticipates strong year-on-year improvement.
“Indications are that organic food sales continued to have strong growth during 2012 and are likely to have met the projected 9% increase over 2011 sales predicted in the Organic Trade Association’s 2012 Organic Industry Survey,” said Christine Bushway, executive director of the Brattleboro, Vt.-based OTA. Continue reading
Posted in Industry News
Tagged Organic Produce, Organic Produce Industry, Produce Industry
