Marketing

Top 10 vegetables increased in dollar sales versus year ago

Entering the latter half of August, the very different nature of this year’s back-to-school season is becoming evident. Wave 17 of the IRI COVID-19 shopper impact survey, conducted between Aug. 7-9, finds a growing number... more »

Vegetables continue to increase in dollar sales versus year ago

Five months after two of the biggest weeks in the history of food retailing, consumer demand for fresh, frozen and center-store food and beverages continues to ride well above the 2019 baseline. The week ending... more »

Mexican import impact stressed by Georgia specialty crop interests

Georgia Fruit and Vegetable producers joined Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, GFVGA, Executive Director Charles Hall Aug. 20 to testify before U.S. trade officials about the crisis Georgia farmers are facing because of a... more »

Costco members driving organic sales, Frank Padilla says

As one of the nation’s largest retailers, Costco has publicly advocated for increased production of organic fresh produce items. It is the chain’s member shoppers, however, who are driving organic sales growth as they vote... more »

Fresh produce sales rise 9.5% over year ago during week ending Aug. 9

The second full week of August was the fifth of eight non-holiday weeks between Independence Day and Labor Day, in which everyday demand alone had to drive the sales performance. Consumer concern over the COVID-19... more »

Jerry Mills: Adjusting to difficult times and misinformed messages

Market season is upon us as you read this. Much of our weekend pick-your-own business depends on wagon rides to the orchard. If rides are banned, and they probably should be, what can we do?... more »

Trust, transparency become more important than ever for farm markets

In the wake of COVID-19, we have all witnessed the impact on our food system. More importantly, so has the consumer. The average consumer got a front-row view of how long supply chains work or... more »

13-acre corn maze in Michigan has message for COVID-19

Johnson’s Giant Pumpkin Farm near Saginaw, Michigan, has a message for the Covinovel coronavirus, and it’s spelled out loud and clear in its 13-acre corn maze. From the ground, the fall attraction at the Saginaw... more »