Category: Produce Blueprints

Much attention has been given to how to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. It’s not a new problem but a recurring issue, despite the efforts of many.

Finding enough quality workers has been a concern throughout the fresh produce pipeline. The pandemic made that situation worse, as many people quit the workforce in general, leading to an increase in wages and greater competition across industries.

Inflation is causing suppliers to look for ways to reduce costs in any way possible, from altering product lineups to forging new alliances.

Consumers, of course, are not the only ones affected by inflation. From grower-shippers and brokers to logistics providers and receivers, there have been plenty of headaches.

Of the many challenges that characterized 2022, the massive supply chain issues from early in the year have improved, at least to some degree, as we entered 2023.

The Problem: Breach of “good delivery” claimed against a carrier. The Solution: Recognizing that carriers are responsible for proper transportation, not suitable shipping condition.

There’s no question online grocery shopping is now mainstream, but the future may not be smooth sailing.

While convenience is a driver of online grocery sales, it comes with a price, and not everyone is willing to pay it. Click-and-collect appears more popular than delivery, Brick Meets Click research shows, with more than 45 percent of shoppers choosing curbside and/or store pickup.

Year-over-year ecommerce grocery sales remained strong through the first six months of this year, but the growth rate has slowed since the Covid spike that took place in 2020.

Early in the pandemic, ecommerce sales focused on canned and packaged foods along with long-lasting pantry vegetables like onions and potatoes. Since then, consumers have become more comfortable purchasing fresh produce items online.