Month: February 2013

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will host two grower information sessions for farmers interested in selling their products to Lowes Foods and Merchants Distributors Inc. The sessions, which were first held last year, developed out of the need to meet growing demand for locally sourced foods in grocery stores. …

To support the recent launch of its Lil Snappers™ line, Sunkist and Stemilt are running an in-store radio spot at Winn Dixie and Bi-Lo as part of a Valentine’s Day promotion that highlights Cara Cara navel oranges and Pink Lady apples. The radio spots will run for 2 weeks and focus on the new Lil Snappers premium, kid-size fruit that comes packaged in re-sealable three-pound bags. …

Consumer desire for a stronger connection to the farmers who grow their food is creating a demand shift in the U.S. produce industry. The move is highlighted in a report released today by Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) group titled "Local Foods: Shifting the Balance of Opportunity for Regional U.S. Produce." The report finds the growing local food movement, in which consumers seek out and purchase foods grown in closer proximity to them, is causing smaller regional producers to take market share from established producers who don't qualify as locally sourced. …