BENTONVILLE, AR - With over 120,000 products on its shelves, Walmart has an expansive inventory that boggles the mind. With so much inventory, it makes sense that the retailer would turn to turnkey solutions to enhance its operations. After testing this technology first in Texas, the retailer is set to roll out digital shelf labels (DSLs) to 2,300 stores by 2026.

“The transition to digital shelf labels is a game-changer for Walmart, our customers, and our associates,” remarked Daniela Boscan, Food and Consumable Team Lead. “It is not only about improving efficiency and customer satisfaction, but also about integrating sustainability into our work, in this case, to help reduce operational waste. As we continue to digitalize stores and expand digital shelf labels to 2,300 stores by 2026, we are excited about the positive impact this innovation will have on our operations and the environment.”

According to a blog post written by Boscan, this represents a significant shift in how the company’s store associates manage pricing, inventory, order fulfillment, and customer interactions.

But what does this mean for fresh produce? Admittedly, center store and the fresh department seldom mix. But with reduced operational labor on restocking, perhaps additional adjustments can be made to alleviate price pressures on suppliers as well.

We certainly hope that small decisions like this signal a wider ripple effect that efficiency should always be people-forward.

Keep checking back in with ANUK for the latest reports on the retail landscape.

EMERYVILLE, CA - SCS Global Services (SCS) is providing much-needed support to farmers in the United States, announcing it has been chosen as a certification body for the U.S. Farmed™ certification program. The impactful industry program aims to ensure at least 95 percent of a product's agricultural ingredients originate from United States farms and growers.

“We are thrilled to be approved to offer the U.S. Farmed Certification,” said Sandy Ledesma, SCS’ Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager. “This certification not only promotes the sourcing of high-quality ingredients from American farms but also provides essential support to farmers facing land preservation challenges.”

The certification is underpinned by a standard developed by SCS Standards, a subsidiary of SCS Global Services, for American Farmland Trust (AFT). As consumer demand for sustainably produced foods continues to grow, the U.S. Farmed certification empowers farmers to differentiate their produce in the marketplace and meet supply chain requirements for major food brands, SCS stated in a press release.

The certification addresses critical challenges associated with diminished farmland integrity and demographic-level shifts away from legacy family farms. By achieving this certification, brands can connect farmers and producers in their supply chain to get support for succession planning for farmland protection, as well as other tactics to safeguard American agriculture.

“We are proud to name SCS Global Services as the certification body for this new and important certification,” states Ryan Lauer, Director of Corporate Partnerships at American Farmland Trust. “SCS has 40 years of experience in food and agriculture auditing and certification making them the ideal partner for U.S. Farmed.”

To provide an efficient pathway for obtaining U.S. Farmed certification—along with other leading standards such as USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Sustainably Grown, GLOBALG.A.P., PrimusGFS, and SQF—SCS offers bundled certification services. This approach allows companies to streamline the certification process, saving time and resources while guaranteeing compliance across various credentials.

To learn more about the certification, click here.

More industry news is on the way to your screen, so keep reading ANUK.

IMMOKALEE, FL - Ark Foods is highlighting its Fairy Tale Eggplant this summer. Known for its petite size and striking purple stripes, this vibrant variety will reach peak production in July.

"July is the perfect time to showcase Fairy Tale Eggplants. As we approach peak production, retailers have a great opportunity to showcase these eggplants. They’re easy to prepare with just olive oil and salt, with a milder flavor than that of larger eggplants," shared Noah Robbins, Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Fairy Tale Eggplants have fewer seeds and more delicate skin, allowing them to cook more quickly."

Ark Foods encourages retailers to create their own fairy tales by showcasing the unique qualities of the Fairy Tale Eggplant through creative merchandising strategies.

A few ideas outlined in the press release include:

• Cross-department promotions
• Educational signage
• Prime placement

"We believe in the magic of vegetables, and our mission is to bring unconventional but approachable produce to market. The Fairy Tale Eggplant is a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation," shared Noah Robbins. "The eggplant category has been relatively flat for years regarding dollar sales and velocity. Introducing the Fairy Tale Eggplant is key to reenergizing this category and driving growth in stores. Its charming, personalized appearance makes it a standout choice that can boost interest and sales in the eggplant segment."

As children are out of school, it’s a great time to introduce them to new vegetables and light up the grill.

What will this purple vegetable do for your department sales this summer?

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - Brunch is back, baby! As the brunch experience sees a revival among consumers—with trends leaning toward flavorful breakfast and brunch dishes—potato products are gearing up for an exciting boost. Look no further than Fresh Solutions Network’s (FSN) beloved Side Delights® brand to provide convenient and cost-effective offerings for your shoppers.

“Brunch foods can be both fun and delicious without being high in fat or sugar,” emphasized Kathleen Triou, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Solutions Network. “Potatoes are a good source of fiber, which promotes a feeling of fullness, and are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Side Delights outshines the competition by offering shoppers a complete potato portfolio of healthy, satisfying, versatile, convenient, value-added, and cost-effective potato choices for breakfast and beyond. From microwave-ready potatoes to fresh-cut A Cut Above options, we have the potatoes to easily and quickly make brunch a fan favorite in every household!”

As a press release shared, Side Delights offers healthy breakfast and brunch options and a variety of versatile recipes that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Think a Festive Potato Frittata or Tri-Color Potato Hash with Kale & Pancetta!

With consumers re-embracing the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, retailers have a chance to increase demand through this often-skipped meal. In fact, the Center for Metabolism warns that skipping breakfast can lead to a disruption in insulin secretion, resulting in low blood sugar, which can cause fatigue, brain fog, and exaggerated emotional responses. As options like cereal and processed meats provide calories but few nutrients, what better way to satisfy the breakfast and brunch demand than with healthy, balanced Side Delights potato products and recipes?

The brand offers a variety of choices of nutritious, economical products, including bagged and bulk potatoes, potato kits, convenience potatoes, petite potatoes, fresh-cut potatoes, and organic potatoes.

To read more about the potential sparked by this rising consumer trend, click here.

And keep reading ANUK for the latest produce news!

YAKIMA, WA - Priding itself on being a one-stop shop for summer fruits like cherries, blueberries, apples, pears, and kiwi berries, Superfresh Growers® is constantly funneling increased opportunities into the produce department. Through its partnership with Oregon-based Norris Farms, the supplier is reaping the benefits of another successful blueberry season, delivering both conventional and organic berries for its partners.

“We take great pride in our partnership with the Norris family,” said Ryan Cleary, Director of Blueberry Sales at Superfresh Growers. “The Oregon fresh crop forecast is up 145 percent this year. Quality is off the charts at Norris Farms, and we’ll be able to hit the ground running right out of the gate on both conventional and organic. Our production in Washington will kick in shortly after Oregon, ensuring we have a promotable crop all summer long.”

Harvesting around 1,000 acres of exceptional blueberries and kiwi berries, Norris Farms is recognized for premium quality and standards. The grower implements a meticulous handpicking process that ensures every berry is picked with top quality in mind.

As Superfresh reported in a recent release, the unique climate and fertile soil of Oregon's Umpqua Valley contribute to the production of blueberries that are both delicious and nutritious, and Norris Farms' world-class packing facility further guarantees that each berry maintains its peak freshness and flavor from farm to table.

“The fruit set looks great this year,” commented Owner/Manager at Norris Farms. “There’s been a great combination of intermittent warm and cool days with periodic rains. Pollination was more successful than in previous years as well. We’re very excited about how early some of our fields have ripened and plan to start harvesting earlier than usual. We’re set to have a very successful season.”

While ringing in the Pacific Northwest blueberry season, Superfresh Growers remains committed to its sustainable farming practices, community support, and delivering high-quality fruit to consumers around the world.

ANUK will continue to alert you of the latest category opportunities, so stick around.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The California grapevines are beginning to buzz with the anticipation of a fresh harvest. As the Golden State’s season gets underway for Castle Rock Vineyards, Sales Manager Laura Berryessa lent me some insights for the coming weeks.

“We anticipate having good supplies of excellent quality grapes throughout the season,” Laura shares.

Castle Rock is all set to start harvesting in Coachella, California, usually kicking things in gear a little closer to summer when colors are full, sizing is up, and the fruit is at its best to eat well.

“Volume looks to be normal overall—of course, what we learned last year is that Mother Nature can put a snag in the best of plans,” Laura adds with the cautious optimism of an industry expert. “Current projections are looking good thus far.”

Castle Rock is committed to consistently delivering the highest quality grapes possible, reducing shrink at the store by hooking customers on an amazing eating experience. The grower offers a variety of red, green, and black grapes that can be explored here, controlling every aspect of the growing, picking, packing, cooling, and shipping of its product.

As we continue to report on the season, AndNowUKnow will keep you apprised of the latest in this and other dynamic fresh categories.

SALINAS, CA - The lengthier spring, pre-summer heat has been good news for California’s water levels, but has also meant a slower start to the state’s Salad Bowl for leafy greens.

“Since coming back to the Salinas Valley after the desert growing season, we’ve had unseasonably cool weather,” Jason Lathos, Church Brothers Farms' Commodity Manager, recently shared with me.

The result, he said, has been smaller head sizes on lettuce and light yields on pounds per-acre. The pattern, though, year over year, is that warmth will come, likely following the next couple of weeks.

“Thankfully the days are getting longer, but we’re still waiting for the heat,” Jason agreed. “Over the coming weeks, the supply quantity versus demand is level, which is very similar to 2023.”

With lettuce becoming a popular addition for the grill in general, not to mention the classic burgers and salads they’ll be critical for come 4th of July celebrations, AndNowUKnow will continue to report any changes in the lettuce market.