Latest Fresh Produce News & Insights

Columnist Armand Lobato reflects on one exceptional trait that set Tom Cagle apart as a leader and mentor... Read More

Is your store skimping on its fresh produce program? Companies that commit to high-quality, prominent and well-executed produce departments are foremost in consumers’ perception, explains columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Knowing your produce business is a core management tenet. How well you take notes now — keeping a work diary, if you will — can impact your future sales, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Don't want to get burned by ordering too little or too much? Columnist Armand Lobato offers advice on maintaining a well-stocked produce department... Read More

While any store can appear fine from the front, a look out back can reveal telltale signs of inventory mishandling, health and safety hazards, theft and other problems, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Where's the best store for produce shopping? With so many factors to consider, columnist Armand Lobato shares a tale about finding his answer to this regularly asked question... Read More

Throughout the produce supply chain, consistency and follow-through are key to building one's business, reputation and trusting relationships, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

August is the highest-shrink month for produce, and managers should focus on critical control points that can affect gross profit margin and help keep shrink in check, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Columnist Armand Lobato takes a trip back to the early ’90s to share a lesson about being the produce "new guy" pushed into checking out one of those newfangled and unnecessary mobile phones... Read More

Columnist Armand Lobato shares discusses a journey to finding improved scheduling. .. Read More

Effective leaders shouldn’t shy away from a little grunt work to set the example for others, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

A roasting station for Hatch chili peppers can add some sizzle to your store's offerings. Columnist Armand Lobato offers insight on doing it right... Read More

Pricing is important to shoppers, especially during inflation, but is it the overwhelming factor? Columnist Armand Lobato shares the top grocery store preferences that he's heard from customers over the years... Read More

Few produce subcategories create more shopping appeal and more benefits than the cut-fruit section, says columnist Armand Lobato, who offers insight about making the most of a summertime opportunity... Read More

The journey for a new produce manager typically begins at a lower-volume store with fewer resources. Columnist Armand Lobato offers some thoughts on handling the challenges — and the opportunity to aim higher... Read More

With the time crunch of operating a produce department, it can be tempting to hurry that next order — but it will cost you even more time and money if you don’t take proper inventory first, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

You're qualified and check all the boxes for a coveted promotion, so why wouldn't it be yours to take? Columnist Armand Lobato offers a deeper look at some perceived strengths that may not matter as much as you think... Read More

Produce departments need advocates to ensure there's ample room to properly and safely receive, stage, break down and prep a load of product, and that ultimately helps a store's life span, says columnist Armand Lobato. .. Read More

Summer merchandising is ripe with opportunity. Columnist Armand Lobato shares some must-have steps and display tips to make the produce department stand out to shoppers this season... Read More

Signs are everywhere in the produce aisle, but what you express, how you present them, when you place them and why you choose the information conveyed can make a big difference, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Gross profit margin improvement is never easy or fast. Here are a few tips to set your plan up for success, from columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Want to send a message to customers that your store is the place to shop for fresh produce? Columnist Armand Lobato offers some "neat" advice... Read More

Most produce departments’ busiest period will begin around Memorial Day, and every business is looking for help amid a labor shortage. And if you have the people, there's more still to do, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

When a store's produce operations turn into disaster, "savior" managers are needed to right the ship — but their methods and personalities aren't what some expect from a department leader, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

With all the work to do in a produce department, it can be tempting to skip breaks — but ensuring workers and managers keep to their scheduled stoppages is vital to any operation, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More