Latest Fresh Produce News & Insights

It helps to grade well on quality assurance, because when things get out of control, it’s often a downward spiral that follows, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

If you wait for solutions to all your problems will flow downhill from a distant home office, you may be in for a long wait. Some of the best ideas sprout from those already around you, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Want to increase business? Start by taking exceptional care of the customers you already have. Otherwise, it'll be costly to mend that relationship — if it can be done at all. Columnist Armand Lobato explains more. .. Read More

Competition checks are an integral part of understanding your business and seeing how other stores are doing. Columnist Armand Lobato offers some observations to include in your checklist... Read More

An impressive produce lineup at the front entrance can elevate customer expectations for what they'll find further into the store, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Are you eating five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day? Produce department staff can easily surpass that while on the job and be better prepared to educate customers about items, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Adding these relatively simple showcases can compel customers to spend more time in the produce department — and raise the potential for purchases, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

The inclusion of food systems in global climate plans opens a realm of opportunities and challenges, underscoring a need for a thoughtful and nuanced approach, says guest columnist Tamara Muruetagoiena of the IFPA... Read More

How much is a good produce professional worth? Columnist Armand Lobato takes a look at how labor market conditions and employee intangibles factor into pay... Read More

Dumping produce onto a fixture may make for a quick and easy display, but that "shortcut" ultimately costs a department in terms of sales, increased shrink and lower customer satisfaction, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

After a produce show ends, the work begins with developing your new contacts into strong business relationships — and there's a surefire way to make a great early impression, columnist Armand Lobato explains... Read More

Don't miss out on sales because a customer wandered the store looking for an item they couldn't find. Columnist Armand Lobato explains how your produce merchandising can help shoppers... Read More

Like chess or any good board game, making sure that all the merchandising pieces fit together requires planning and anticipation, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

A powerful force in fresh produce, Hunts Point Produce Market is as rich in family history as it is passionate about feeding fresh fruits and vegetables to some 22 million people every year. .. Read More

Don't let a tight labor pool quash your great idea to boost seasonal sales. Retailers can find win-win opportunities with volunteers looking to earn money for their organizations, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Think no one buys fruit baskets anymore? It's more about a lack of inventory rather than a lack of shopper interest, says columnist Armand Lobato. A little foresight and preparation can nab additional holiday sales... Read More

Columnist Armand Lobato shares a message of thanks, reflecting on the demanding work to prepare for pre-Thanksgiving shopping — sharing a burden and bond with co-workers... Read More

So often in produce, a merchandising challenge or an issue can be identified by tearing things down to the mat, metaphorically speaking, and starting over, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

The price-friendly potato is nutritious and versatile in meals — but be sure to maximize your opportunities when advertising a sale, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Having a seasoned produce supervisor handle operations for major store events is good — having additional experienced personnel on hand to deal with the swarm of demands is even better, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

It's nice to have a great idea, but it's even better to execute the plan at some point. Columnist Armand Lobato has advice for getting over the hump... Read More

Check out the top 10 most popular podcast chats we’ve had with industry leaders, delving into the hot-hot-hot issues of the day... Read More

While CPMA supports improved data collection and a Grocery Code of Conduct, it has “significant concerns” with potential discounts, price freezes, price matching and the development of a Grocery Task Force... Read More

Strong leadership is a two-way street that includes creating trust with employees who in turn are motivated to do the job right. Columnist Armand Lobato explains how to get there... Read More

This column is from the September-October issue of PMG magazine. .. Read More