Online from publisher. 2 pages., "The effects of misinformation during a pandemic, especially via social media, highlight how important it is for produce companies to have a clear, correct, calm message." Author cites importance of being sensitive to the needs of those being served. Cites examples of adjusted messaging during the COVID-19 pamdemic.
Online from publication. 2 pages., Author reported on a presentation at the West Coast Produce Exposition. The speaker observed, "I think we've got a wild ride for the foreseeable future here, and noted that consumers will continue to order groceries online, and the "click and collect" model may have staing power through the crisis and beyond."
Online from publication. 3 pages., "Retailers care about sustainability because consumers care, but for many the pursuit of sustainability tends to be more of an afterthought than top priority. Sustainability is valued highly by growers, retailers and consumers, but there is not always common understanding of what it means."
Online from publication. 5 pages., Summary of a survey among U.S. consumers, performed by Aimpoint Research for The Packer. Findings suggested that the lack of a concrete definition of sustainability points to the need to earn consumers' trust regarding the food industry.
Online from publications. 3 pages., Report of thoughts about dealing with foodservice staffing and labor challenges from the chief operating officer of DNO Produce, Columbus, Ohio.
Online from publication. 7 pages., Merchandiser of fresh produce explains how theater events in a produce department can create fun and excitement and can make memorable impressions on customers.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11923
Notes:
Report printed, excluding full-page advertisements., Online from publisher. 84 pages., Summary report of responses obtained from an online survey (September 20-October 29, 2019) among 1,000 targeted respondents who are members of a nationwide panel. Respondents mirrored the U.S. population where possible in terms of gender, age, ethnicity and household income. Results included households that bought at least one of the more than 50 listed fresh fruits and vegetables in the past 12 months. "More than two-thirds of consumers said they were buying more fresh produce now than two decades ago."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11924
Notes:
Online from Well-Pict Berries website. 7 pages., Online catalog of resources for retail promotion materials available to food store produce buyers, social media managers and merchandisers.
Online from publication. 1 page., Describes growth of consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in the U.S., beginning in 1970 with introduction of the popular Miss Chiquita character and follow-up promotional efforts.
Online from publication. 2 pages., Report of a panel discussion at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit. Includes reference to need in marketing communications for greater orientation to consumer needs and desires.
Online from publication. 3 pages., Report of USDA decision to suspend a report used to set wages for guest workers in the H-2A program in 2021, with examples of responses and implications.
Online from publication. 2 pages., Report of success with using an avocado grove as the setting for a virtual meeting with customers. The concept involves videos and photos from the Index Fresh company's field department, "allowing the sales team to provide more in-depth information and personalized advice to customers.
Online from publication. 3 pages., "As we find evermore convenient ways to serve customers and work smarter, let's not lose the human touch. We all need it, no matter our age or location."
Online from publication. 4 pages., A senior fresh produce merchandiser offers advice about providing orientation and in-service training for professional development of new employees in produce departments of food stores.
Online from publication. 9 pages., Advice from a fresh produce marketer with more than 30 years of experience in a supermarket chain. "The environment you want is one of being a merchant. ... It is somewhat of a lost art in today's fast paced world of data, low price and lack of labor."
4 pages, Online subscription. 4 pages., Summary of grocery shopping patterns during the first 10 months of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began in the U.S.
Online from publication. 4 pages., Outlook perspectives from a panel of leaders of three of the largest organic fresh produce companies during the Organic Grower Summit Roundtable, December 9, 2020.
Online from periodical. 7 pages., Senior merchandiser of a produce wholesaler reports recent examples of successful events and displays in retail marketing of mushrooms and apples. "So, produce world, what will your customers see next when the curtain rises in your department? Create theater, create opportunity, and create sales!"
Online from periodical., Article briefly describes research indicating the windows of opportunity for encouraging babies to eat and like fruits and vegetables.
Online from periodical. 2 pages., Describes promotion activities of an apple growers cooperative, The Next Big Thing. with growers in Canada and five U.S. states.
Online from periodical. 3 pages., Author described the responsibilities and importance of the produce manager/specialist. "These hardworking individuals live in two worlds; they have one foot in the stores and one foot in the corporate office." Emphasized the need for communications leadership among the teams with whom they work.
Online from periodical. 5 pages., Article reports on promotion approaches that retailers are finding useful in marketing apples during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Online from the periodical. 2 pages., Reports marketing communications and leadership perspectives of Jeff Cady, the Produce Market Guide "Produce Retailer of the Year."
7 pages, via Online journal, Hair fescue (Festuca filiformis) is a tuft-forming perennial grass that reduces yields in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) fields. Nonbearing year foramsulfuron applications suppress hair fescue, but there is interest in increasing suppression through foramsulfuron use in conjunction with fall-applied herbicides. The objective of this research was to determine the main and interactive effects of fall-bearing year herbicide applications and spring-nonbearing year foramsulfuron applications on hair fescue. The experiment was a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement of fall-bearing year herbicide (none, terbacil, pronamide, glufosinate, dichlobenil) and spring-nonbearing year foramsulfuron application (0, 35 g·ha−1) arranged in a randomized complete block design at lowbush blueberry fields in Portapique and Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, Canada. Spring-nonbearing year foramsulfuron applications did not reduce total tuft density or consistently reduce flowering tuft density, flowering tuft inflorescence number, or flowering tuft seed production. Fall-bearing year pronamide applications reduced hair fescue density for the 2-year production cycle, although additional bearing year density reductions occurred when pronamide was followed by spring-nonbearing year foramsulfuron applications at Stewiacke. Fall-bearing year dichlobenil applications reduced total and flowering tuft density at each site, although reductions in flowering tuft inflorescence number and seed production were most consistent when followed by spring-nonbearing year foramsulfuron applications at Stewiacke. Suppression extended into the bearing year at each site, and dichlobenil should be examined further for hair fescue control. Fall-bearing year glufosinate applications reduced hair fescue total tuft density at each site and flowering tuft density and flowering tuft seed production at Stewiacke. Fall-bearing year glufosinate applications followed by spring-nonbearing year foramsulfuron applications also reduced nonbearing year flowering tuft inflorescence number and bearing year hair fescue seedling density at Stewiacke, indicating that this treatment may reduce hair fescue seedling recruitment at some sites. Fall-bearing year terbacil applications did not suppress hair fescue and are not recommended for hair fescue management in lowbush blueberry.
8 pages, via Online journal, The use of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grafting is gaining traction across the United States, but small-scale growers face the challenge of creating optimum postgrafting healing conditions. The practice of blocking light for a period of 2 to 4 days while maintaining high humidity is commonly recommended for healing grafted tomato transplants; however, research is exploring alternatives to this practice. The present study investigated a low-input healing method for grafted tomato transplants with a specific focus on light and the use of propagation heat mats to regulate substrate and healing chamber air temperatures during the 7-day healing process. We hypothesized that 4 days of light exclusion and the use of propagation heat mats would improve grafted tomato transplant survival and growth. ‘Cherokee Purple’ was used as the scion and ‘RST-04-106-T’ was used as the rootstock. The whole plot factor was heat [propagation mats set at 80 °F (heat) or no propagation mat (no heat)] and the subplot factor was light exclusion (0, 4, or 6 days of dark). The highest survival rate among treatments was 97% in 0 days of dark with no heat treatment; survival decreased to 84% in 4 and 6 days of dark with no heat treatments. The plant survival rate was 96% with 0 days of dark and heat treatment; however, the survival rates were 63% and 45% for the 4- and 6-day dark treatments, respectively. The scion stem diameter was largest for transplants grown in 0 days of dark, but there was no difference in stem diameter due to heat treatments. There were no differences among scion or rootstock biomasses due to heat or light treatments. These results demonstrate that propagation mats set at 80 °F to regulate the substrate temperature were detrimental to grafted transplant survival under extended periods of light exclusion. However, this finding creates the basis to explore lower levels of substrate temperature modification. Our work also indicates that light exclusion may not be necessary for healing grafted tomato plants regardless of root-zone temperature treatments. Future work should examine the interactions of various substrate and air temperatures under full light conditions and their effects on grafted tomato transplant survival and growth. This work contributes to the ongoing research of how to optimize low-input healing methods that may be readily adopted by small-scale tomato growers.
Online from publisher. 2 pages., Announces a new series of stickers placed on individual bananas. These stickers feature a combination of vitamins and nutrients found in Chiquita bananas.
Online from publication. 3 pages., Author compares the produce departments of two food stores, in terms of appearance, organization, selection, and staff assistance. Emphasizes how loyal customer retention affects grocery bills, which are "everyone's single-largest bill, behind a mortgage or rent."
Online from publisher. 4 pages., "There are several ways to ensure profitability when considering whether to add distribution or delivery services to your company. Those same methods also can help you evaluate whether the services you already offer are making you money."
Online from periodical. 4 pages., In a report from the Packer's 2021 Global Organic Produce Expo, author cited speakers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Organic Trade Association. They indicated that the trend arrow is still pointing up for organic produce. Data from 2019 indicated that numerous organic fruit and vegetable crops have seen sharp increases since 2016. The Association estimated that about 14 percent of all produce sold in the U.S. is organic.
Via online issue. 3 pages., Results of a 2020 study by the Produce for Better Health Foundation indicate that fruit and vegetable consumption in the U.S. has declined almost 10 percent since 2004.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12122
Notes:
Online from organization. 34 pages., "State of the Plate" research during 2020 indicates that Americans have decreased their fruit and vegetable eating occasions by nearly 10 percent since 2004. Foundation suggests a behavioral framework for a path forward.
Online from publication. 3 pages., Report of a conversation with Hugo Hays, global director of compliance and food safety for international banana firm, Fyffes.
Online via the publication. 3 pages., Findings of a poll by The Packer indicated that "properly administered social responsibility programs
do exactly that, or at least can be a significant factor in helping accomplish that goal." They can help ensure that workers are treated well according to health and safety standards and compensated fairly. Such programs also provide to the wider company a greater sense of purpose that workers' jobs
contribute to something greater than profits.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12129
Notes:
Online via AgriMarketing Weekly. 2 pages., Research among registered dietitians indicates potential negative impact on fruit and vegetable consumption among consumers caused by the so-called "dirty dozen" list published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12131
Notes:
News release from the Pear Bureau Northwest introduces the first winner in a nationwide "Aisle of Red Pears" display challenge. This article features displays at the Fresh Thyme store in Iowa. 3 pages., "We have seen some amazing displays that are resulting in double digit sales increases."
Online from publication. 2 pages., Identification of produce items cited as problematic and acceptable by the Environmental Working Group. Article indicates that more than 99 percent of produce samples tested for these reports have residue levels that are compliant with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards (which EWG considers insufficient).
Online from publication. 3 pages., Food store produce specialist urges produce managers to get summer extra-help staff members identified early and begin to train them by mid-April. "June is too late, you know." The busiest quarter of the year for fruits and vegetables is often run with the least-experienced people, due in part to summer vacation schedules of experienced personnel.
Online from publisher. 3 pages., The chief merchandising office of a New-York-City-based online grocer, FreshDirect, describes methods used for successful online food shopping experiences for prospects and continuing customers. He observes that more than 30 percent of the grocer's customers shop exclusively from their "re-shop" baskets. However, he explains ways used to give customers reasons to branch out from their normal baskets.
Online from publisher. 3 pages., In this commentary, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Food and Farming argues that the "dirty dozen" list published annually by the Environmental Working Group is "scientifically unsupportable, negatively impacts consumers and it is insulting to farmers and farm workers working hard every day to provide produce to consumers." She says, "If we have learned anything from the pandemic, it is that science (not rhetoric or false claims) needs to guide our health and safety choices."
Online from publication. 3 pages., Ideas for staffing and promoting sales of fruits and vegetables in the produce departments of retail food stores during the Easter season, which features nearly as heavy volume as Thanksgiving.
USA: International Food Information Council, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12153
Notes:
Online from publisher. 3 pages., Author suggests that say one form of produce is safer and more nutritional than another should be avoided. Cites top seven things to remember about eating healthy and safe foods "when this year's (or any year's) "Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen" lists invade your social media streams."
Online from publisher. 4 pages., Article features findings of a Packer survey about social responsibility. The summary includes brief responses by 11 leaders in the produce industry about the meaning of social responsibility.
Online from publication. 4 pages., Suggestions from a New York City-based exotic fruit influencer and leadership developer Angela Scarfia in leading an online workshop about marketing produce brands and companies on social media.
Online from publication. 5 pages., Summarizes findings of a survey among members of a nationwide consumer panel. Charts identify ranked percentages of respondents who had bought 20 fruits and 20 vegetables during the past 12 months.
10 pages, While food biotechnology has been widely applied and benefited the food and agriculture sector, community acceptance of biotechnology is still low. The factors that drive consumer rejection of food biotechnology have been well studied, but knowledge on the factors that drive willingness to purchase, particularly on an international level, is limited. This study aims to identify driving factors for respondents’ willingness to purchase fresh fruit produced with biotechnology, using an international survey conducted in the US, Canada, UK, France, and South Korea. While the overall willingness to purchase biotechnology produced fruit is low across countries, French consumers have the highest rate of willingness to purchase biotechnology produced fresh fruit among studied countries, followed by South Korea. The factors influencing respondents’ willingness to purchase include demographics, lifestyle, and shopping behavior. While respondents behave differently across countries, factors like environmental awareness, self-reported healthiness, and habits of eating away from home, have been found to enhance the willingness to purchase biotechnology produced fruit across countries.
