Latest Fresh Produce News & Insights

Ineffective effort is money wasted. Setting and maintaining daily organization is a must for produce managers, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

While some think produce retail specialists stop by only to criticize, a manager can seize the chance to tap into a valuable resource with experienced eyes, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Assumptions about covering for veteran clerks on vacation can backfire. Columnist Armand Lobato explains how to secure commitments for that vital extra help... Read More

A misguided approach to pricing can cost you loyal customers. Columnist Armand Lobato discusses how to achieve sales goals and keep shoppers satisfied... Read More

From sights, sounds and smells, stores have a variety of methods to entice shoppers, and produce has its own toolkit to capture maximum sales, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

All produce buying trips are educational, but some more memorable than others, says columnist Armand Lobato of a visit to meet grape growers and shippers in Chile... Read More

The start of workday can be an experience that benefits the produce aisle and its people, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Nothing beats great customer service, and having responsive and knowledgeable produce clerks helps a grocer stand out, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

A full produce markdown rack can be a symptom of inefficiencies contributing to increased shrink, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

By being available for weekend and evening shifts from the start, new employees can enhance their reputation and the chance of getting their preferred schedule later on, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

A well-kept produce department often is a profitable one. Columnist Armand Lobato explains how to build a regimen that gets results... Read More

When a manager takes a week off, someone has to step up. Columnist Armand Lobato discusses compensation for taking on those key responsibilities... Read More

Establishing rules, levying accountability and treating everyone fairly are keys to a well-run operation, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Columnist Armand Lobato discusses how hard work, a desire to learn and some good fortune can lead to opportunity... Read More

Plans are good, but not everything goes according to plan. Columnist Armand Lobato recalls when a 10-minute commute became an 8-hour trek... Read More

Columnist Armand Lobato reflects on how good managers make produce work look simple and his hope for the next generation... Read More

Working the occasional late night can show produce managers a lot about their operation and customers, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Columnist Armand Lobato explores finding success by embracing the ever-changing nature of the industry... Read More

Bringing these elements into a produce department requires added effort, but customers will notice, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

When hockey teams have a sloppy shift change, bad things follow. The same is true in the produce aisle, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

Amid times of division, this Thanksgiving message is as relevant today as it was over 160 years ago... Read More

Though some think higher-ups "don't know what it's like" being a clerk, these veterans have plenty of knowledge to share with those aspiring to advance... Read More

Columnist Armand Lobato explains one produce manager's system of fixing troubled stores by committing to a monthlong push with no days off to get the ship righted... Read More

Spontaneous visits to walk through operation areas still work well for the produce aisle, says columnist Armand Lobato... Read More

While some chains use a combination of hand-stacking and gentle pouring, depending on available labor and time, columnist Armand Lobato examines the pros and cons of both methods to see how they truly stack up... Read More