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Fresh Fruit Grows as Snack FoodAmericans are turning to fresh fruit as a snack alternative, according to a new study released by the California Tree Fruit Agreement based here.The study, based on surveys of 5,000 households nationwide, was conducted to measure the success of CTFA's generic marketing programs for peaches, plums, nectarines and Bartlett pears. The study found that the majority of these

Fresh Fruit Grows as Snack Food

Americans are turning to fresh fruit as a snack alternative, according to a new study released by the California Tree Fruit Agreement based here.

The study, based on surveys of 5,000 households nationwide, was conducted to measure the success of CTFA's generic marketing programs for peaches, plums, nectarines and Bartlett pears. The study found that the majority of these fruits are consumed as snacks: 57% of peaches, 69% of plums, 60% of nectarines and 51% of pears.

The study also found that consumers rate taste as the number one reason they purchase the four fruit items. "Other research we have conducted shows consumers feel the taste of our fruit has improved in recent years," said Robyn Wilk, CTFA's supervisor of advertising programs. These two findings combined are "at least partially responsible for the changing consumption patterns," she said.

Several Onions Get New PLUs

NEWARK, Del. -- Several onion varieties have recently been assigned new price look-up numbers, or PLUs, according to the Produce Marketing Association here.

Any existing stock of retailer-assigned PLU stickers is still valid, but new stickers should include the new numbers, PMA said.

The onion varieties and their new PLU numbers are: Vidalia -- 4159; 1015s -- 4161; Walla Walla -- 4163; Maui -- 4164; California sweet onions -- 4165; "other" sweet onions -- 4166.

Del Monte Offering Fact Sheets

CORAL GABLES, Fla -- Del Monte Fresh Produce here is making available to retailers consumer information sheets for four of its produce items: tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers.

The sheets are part of what Del Monte calls "Take-One Pads" -- tablets that can be attached to produce displays. Consumers can rip off an information sheet and take it home.

The full-color sheets include storage, handling and ripening information on the front and recipes on the back.

Fresh Express Alters Name, Design

SALINAS, Calif. -- Fresh Express, a salad mix distributor based here, has changed its brand name and package design.

The company is adding the word Farms to the end of its current name to convey its farming history, the company said. And each variety of salad mixes will be packaged using a different color to make it easier for supermarket shoppers to find the variety they want, the company said.

Fresh Express Farms plans to continue expanding its three lines of salad mixes: Family Classics, World Blends and The Works. Recent line extensions include an American mix added to the World Blends line and an Oriental mix to The Works line.

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