What We're Talking About

A new Pew Research Report has some alarming numbers when it comes to the affordability of food for Americans.  According to the data, almost a quarter of Americans have trouble affording food. Read More

Women check and use food label components more often and thoroughly than  men, according to a recent study from the University of Alabama and published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Read More

Nearly a quarter of a projected food increase will come from meat, for which prices are seen rising almost one dollar per week from 2012 levels. Read More

A survey of shoppers in 58 countries across the globe revealed that fresh food continues to play an increasingly important role in the shopping decisions of most consumers. Read More

To satisfy consumers across store, online and mobile channels, be consistent and personalized, says new study. Read More

Whole Foods has changed the way many Americans shop for groceries, but is its decision to create a so-called "health-halo" with GMO-labeling going too far? Read More

By 2016, the report predicts U.S. retail fresh dollar market share for supercenters/hypermarkets will climb to 15%, up 1% from 2012. The share of fresh sales at U.S. warehouse clubs will rise to 12% by 2016, up 2% from 2012. In contrast, the share of fresh sales at U.S. supermarkets will decline from 66% in 2012 to 64% by 2016. Read More

These days it seems like just about every food is boasting about it's "antioxidant power" - but for many shoppers it is confusing and rightfully so. There are actually thousands of antioxidants, each with unique properties and benefits and therefore not interchangeable - one particular antioxidant will not offer the same protection as another, which is why we need to consume a variety of them. Read More

There is no doubt fresh produce packaging is going through a renaissance, as marketers come to grips with the importance of on-pack communication to drive shopper awareness and sales.  At the recent Produce Marketing Association's (PMA) Fresh Summit convention in Anaheim, there were some great examples of innovative packaging and packaging communication. Read More

A recent Stanford University nutritional comparison study has generated intense consumer interest about the differences between conventionally and organically grown fruits and vegetables. But a website - www.safefruitsandveggies.com - was created specifically for consumers who are interested in science-based information and perspectives about the safety of both conventional and organic produce. Read More

For your information, today PMA co-signed this letter to syndicated television host Dr. Mehmet Oz, to correct what we considered to be especially egregious misinformation about pesticide residues on fresh produce in a Dr. Oz Show segment that aired last Friday. The letter was organized by our colleagues at the Alliance for Food and Farming and co-signed by my counterparts at United Fresh Produce Association and Western Growers. Read More

A small company is trying to bring to market a genetically engineered apple that does not turn brown when sliced or bruised. But it has much of the rest of the apple industry seeing red. Read More

If the size of stone fruit thinning crews this spring is any indication, labor during the table grape season will be tight. The question remains of just how tight, said Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers League. Read More

Is it the Snickers or the Dirty Dozen that weighs on fresh produce demand? Is the Environmental Working Group or Doritos contributing more to the obesity epidemic? Or is it none - or all - of the above? Read More